Lot 1599

Description

George III, Bank of England, copper proof pattern five shillings and sixpence, 1811, plain edge, obv. laureate draped bust of King George III to left, around GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX, rev. Legend BANK TOKEN 5S 6D 1811 surrounded by a detailed oak wreath, the stem of which points slightly downwards, J.P. under the tie, (ESC 206, Linecar and Stone 126, Dickinson types Kiii/5a1, by J. Phillp, Selig 1251-3, Bushman 326-9). A superb blue and red coloured proof coin, FDC and rare.

Ex Dix Noonan Webb Ltd, 17 September 2013 Auction Sale 113 (lot 178).

This specimen comes from an era when there was a shortage of large silver coins to satisfy the national requirements, and the Bank of England experimented with the production of token coinage to fulfil the needs of commerce.