1933 F786 Pattern by Andre Lavrillier
Bertram Mackennal was the official mint engraver at this time, and his initials, B.M., appear on the pennies and other coins of this rule, and they appear here as well, on the king’s truncation, just to the right of the initials A.L, the “A” in the shape of a delta, standing for the French artist to whom this pattern is attributed, Andre Lavrillier. It would seem that his conception for this penny might have been engraved, or overseen, by Mackennal. Peck points out the various differences seen on this piece compared to design elements on the normal issue, the most distinctive being the fastidious detail given to engraving the king’s hair, beard and moustache. This creates a far more dramatic looking (and lifelike) image than the one seen on the standard coins of King George V. Freeman points out that this piece may well exist because the mint wished to produce a portrait which would eliminate the “ghosting” so frequently seen on the earlier pennies of King George. The smaller head which had first been used in 1928 (S4055 style) had reduced the ghosting effect, but it persisted to some extent, and evidently this pattern was the product of this ambition. It was never adopted, of course, and the coinage of this king ended within a few years. For numismatists, the result was the major rarity produced by Lavrillier and Mackennal.
There are 4 known specimens:
1) Royal Mint Museum
2) Fred Baldwin Collection Example – sold privately to Mrs E.M. Norweb, May 1958
Ex. Norweb Collection of English Coins, Part 3 (Spink Auction 56, November 1986, Lot 1149), sold for £4510 (including premium)
Ex. Colin Adams Collection (Spink Auction, July 2003, Lot 355), sold for £9775 (including premium)
Ex. Heritage (Auction 3004, January 2009, Lot 21452), graded PR65 Brown NGC, sold for $29900 (including premium)
3) Ex. Gregory Collection, Part 1 (Baldwin’s Auction 44, May 2006, Lot 461), sold for £18975 (including premium)
Ex. Baldwin’s (Auction 99, May 2016, Lot 1070), sold for £60000 (excluding premium)
4) Ex. The Alderley Collection (Colin Cooke Online Auction 2007, Lot 200), sold for £18000
4 known specimens
Example 1
Held in the Royal Mint museum
Example 2
ex-Baldwins
ex-Norweb
ex-Spink (Colin Adams sale – July 2003 lot 355)
Sold by Heritage Auctions in January 2009 for $29,900 including premium
Example 3
Sold by Heritage Auction in August 2017 for $64,625.00 (including premium)
Ex. Baldwin’s (Auction 99, May 2016, Lot 1070), sold for £60000 (excluding premium)
Ex. Gregory Collection, Part 1 (Baldwin’s Auction 44, May 2006, Lot 461), sold for £18975 (including premium)
Example 4
Ex. The Alderley Collection (Colin Cooke Online Auction 2007, Lot 200), sold for £18000