1861 F24 (Gouby F+f; Freeman 4+F) (R18)
The key indicators for this variety are, for obverse F – the signature L C WYON beneath the queen’s bust and for reverse f – the lighthouse with a rounded top and small rock to the bottom left of the shield.
Obverse F – with signature below bust |
Reverse f – lighthouse with rounded top and small rock |
Note: In his original book “The Bronze Coinage of Great Britain” (published in 1970) Freeman gave this variety a rarity of R15 (151-200 specimens) but updated that in his 1985 edition to R17 (16-50 specimens) but I believe it to be at the lower end of this range, possibly even R18 (6-15 specimens).
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 2 specimens.
Example 1
Sold in September 2005 by Croydon Coin Auctions
Example 2
Photographs courtesy of Dix, Noonan & Webb
Sold in June 2006 by Dix, Noonan & Webb as part of the Laurie Bamford collection
Re-sold in March 2016 by London Coins as part of the Elstree collection
Example 3
Sold in February 2010
Example 4
Sold in February 2011
Re-sold by London Coins in June 2017
Example 5
Sold in June 2012 by London Coins (this may be a “missing leaf” example – see below) – sold for £1287
Example 6
Sold in September 2013
Example 7
Held in a private collection
Example 8
Held in a private collection (Pictures courtesy of Ian Fall)
Example 9
Held in a private collection
Example 10
Held in a private collection (pictures courtesy A.T.)
Example 11
Held in a private collection (pictures courtesy A.T.)
Example 12
Held in a private collection (pictures courtesy A.T.)
Example 13
Sold on Ebay in December 2019 (for £495)
Example 14
Sold by Dix, Noonan & Webb in March 2020 as part of the Hiram Brown collection
Example 15
Pictures courtesy of Richard Fox (via Facebook)
Example 16
Pictures courtesy of Mario Martins
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Sub-variety of F24 – missing leaf (R19)
Michael Gouby records this variety as BP1861EA (normal F24 is recorded as BP1861E) and the picture in his specialist book on Victorian pennies is included below (my thanks to Michael). Note that the linear circle above the “missing leaf” is completely intact:
BUT, examination of these 2 pictures suggests that they are of the same coin – compare shading etc plus the dark spot on the right hand side. Perhaps the second photograph has been “doctored” (definitely not by Michael) innocently to illustrate what the “missing leaf” looks like ? Michael agrees and intends to include a different photograph in any future updates.
Note: this variety, with the top leaf of the first group of 3 leaves in the queen’s wreath worn away (or filled die), is reported as more common than the normal variety above, but I have only seen 6 specimens come to market in the last 10 years or so. All specimens seem to have been struck from the same reverse die with the final 1 of the date numerals noticeably lower than the other three.
However, all the specimens that I have seen have the same weakness in the linear circle above the “missing” leaf (unlike Gouby’s example) and there are often the faintest traces of the “missing” leaf still visible, suggesting that the effect is the result of a partially filled die (pictured below).
This suggests to me that all genuine examples of the type will have the weakened linear circle.
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 5 specimens.
Example 1
Sold in September 2010 by Colin Cooke as part of the James Workman collection (for £2300)
Example 2
Lot not sold in London Coins auction March 2016
Example 3
Held in a private collection
Example 4
Pictures courtesy of Dr Jerry Davis
Example 5
Sold by London Coins in September 2019 (for £2340)
Example 6
Listed (but probably sold privately) on Ebay in June 2022 (it appeared to be the missing leaf variety but the photos are not the greatest). The pictures below now confirm that it is indeed the missing leaf variety.
Sold by Noonans in April 2023 (for £1116)
Listed on Ebay in May 2023 for £1795 !
Example 7
Held in a private collection