1861 F32 (Gouby J+f; Freeman 6+F) (R17)
Freeman recorded this variety as R16 (51-100 specimens) but I believe that it is rarer than that, probably R17, and to date I have accumulated just over 30 examples.
Note: although reverse Gouby f/Freeman F is uniquely distinguished by the rounded top to the lighthouse, another useful distinguishing feature is the small square-sided rock at the bottom left of the shield. This feature is often visible on very worn coins – see the examples below.
In the 2003 edition of his book “The Early British Bronze ‘Bun’ Pennies 1860 to 1865 and their Varieties”, John Jerrams’ census (up to September 2001) recorded 14 specimens.
Example 1
Sold at Croydon Coin Auction in May 2002
Example 2
Photographs courtesy of Dix, Noonan & Webb
Sold in June 2006 by Dix, Noonan & Webb as part of the Laurie Bamford collection
Resold in March 2016 by London Coin Auctions as part of the Elstree collection
Example 3
Sold in September 2009 by Colin Cooke as part of the Tony Crocker collection
Example 4
Sold in September 2009 on Ebay
Example 5
Sold in September 2010 by Colin Cooke as part of the James Workman collection
Example 6
Sold in November 2010 by Colin Cooke as part of the James Workman collection
Example 7
Sold in September 2013 by London Coins
Example 8
Sold in March 2014 by London Coins
Example 9
Sold in September 2014 by London Coins (for £210)
Example 10
Sold in December 2014 by Spink as part of the Trevor Legge collection
Resold by Dix, Noonan & Webb in September 2016
Photographs courtesy of Mike Hopkins
Example 11
Sold in September 2015 by Spink as part of the Andy Scott collection
Example 12
Held in a private collection
Example 13
Held in a private collection (pictures courtesy of Ian Fall)
Example 14
Details unknown (Ebay sale ?)
Example 15
Sold in June 2016 by London Coins
Re-sold by London Coins in December 2021 (for £444-60)
Example 16
Unsold by London Coins in June 2017
Example 17
Sold by Dix, Noonan & Webb in September 2017
Note: I am not totally convinced that this is reverse f; the rock to the right of the lighthouse resembles the rock on reverse d, the small rock to the left of the shield is not visible and the top of the lighthouse is sufficiently worn as to make it difficult to confirm as rounded.
Example 18
Pictures courtesy of Gary Schindler
Example 19
Pictures courtesy of Gary Schindler (although the right hand date figure 1 is in the right place, I’m not sure that one can categorically say that this is a Gouby reverse f)
Example 20
Pictures courtesy of Jerry Davis
Example 21
Pictures courtesy of Terry Eagleton
Example 22
Sold on Ebay in July 2018
Example 23
Sold by BAC Leipzig auction in December 2018 (photographs courtesy of Dr Jerry Davis)
Example 24
Sold on Ebay in June 2019
Example 25
Sold on Ebay in December 2020
Example 26
(photographs courtesy of Dr Jerry Davis)
Example 27
Sold on Ebay in January 2022
Example 28
Photographs courtesy of Steven Clegg
Sold by London Coins in December 2023 (for £397-80)
Example 29
Sold on Ebay in July 2022
Example 30
Listed/withdrawn from Ebay in December 2022
Sold by Noonans in February 2023 (for £1095)
Example 31
Sold by Spink in May 2023 (Part lot 86 with F21 & F38 pennies sold for $1500)