Change of Portrait Half Sovereign collection- not quite, some anomalies!

[richatthecroft]

As per title- here's my Change of Portrait Half Sovereign collection with some anomalies!

The photo's could be much, much better but I thought I'd practice my new found skill of stitching two photo's together and practiced on this little lot.  

Ok, I have fallen down pretty quickly- but I think it'll be a long, long time before I could afford to gather up a George IV 1821, 1823 or 1825 or a William IV 1831 or even a 1838 Victoria.    

Also, I just couldn't leave out my favourite Gillick Portrait- so I have added a 1957 Sovereign, which is clearly an imposter.

Anyone wishing to help me fill the gaps, I will gratefully receive with thanks any of the missing Half's!

Anyway, here's what I have managed to collect:

George III- 1817 Obverse: Benedetto Pistrucci; Reverse: William Wyon

1859 Victoria Young Head Type 1A Obverse 2 (Earliest one I have)- Obverse: William Wyon, Reverse: J.B. Merlen

1872 Victoria Young Head Type 1B, Obverse 3- Obverse: William Wyon, Reverse: J.B. Merlen

1887 Victoria Jubilee Head- Obverse: Joseph Edgar Boehm (JEB) 

1893 Victoria Old Head- Obverse Thomas Brock; Reverse Benedetto Pistrucci

1902 Edward VII (Matte Proof) Obverse: De Saulles; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1911 George V Obverse: Bertram Mackennal; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1937 George VI- Obverse: Thomas Humphrey; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1957 (The imposter!) Elizabeth II First Bust- Obverse: Mary Gillick; Reverse:  Benedetto Pistrucci

1980 Elizabeth II Second Bust- Obverse: Arnold Machin; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1985 Elizabeth II Third Bust- Obverse: Raphael David Maklouf; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1989 Elizabeth II Special Issue- Obverse & Reverse: Bernard Sindall

1998 Elizabeth II Fourth Bust- Obverse: Ian Rank- Broadley; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

2015 Elizabeth II Fifth Bust- Obverse: Jody Clark; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

2016 Elizabeth II Special Issue- Obverse: James Butler; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

[Coolsmp]

Thats an awesome collection, however, James Butler should be ashamed of his portrait of the Queen its appalling. All the other Sovereigns are beautiful.

[Derv]

Lovely collection. Thanks for posting

[shawy2510]

I have got to go to my lockup this week sometime so I should he able to hunt out 1838 in MS65, 1817 in MS64 & 1818 in MS65 if that helps

[sovereignsteve]

11 hours ago, Coolsmp said:

however, James Butler should be ashamed of his portrait of the Queen its appalling

I couldn't agree more, just don't understand why collectors search out this rubbish. also the way the portrait isn't centred on the coin drive me mad😜

[sixgun]

3 hours ago, sovereignsteve said:

I couldn't agree more, just don't understand why collectors search out this rubbish. also the way the portrait isn't centred on the coin drive me mad😜

Not only is it a monstrosity, the size of the head has forced it to be off centre. How dim witted can you get?

[Guest]

How about the Sydney mint half sovereign from 1855 to 1870? They are different effigy of Queen Victoria.

Type I: https://www.pcgs.com/valueview/victoria-1855-1901/1855-sy-1-2-sov/5057?sn=446016&h=pop

Type II: https://www.pcgs.com/valueview/victoria-1855-1901/1857-sy-1-2-sov/5057?sn=113006&h=pop

[richatthecroft]

42 minutes ago, leaunshu said:

How about the Sydney mint half sovereign from 1855 to 1870? They are different effigy of Queen Victoria.

Type I: https://www.pcgs.com/valueview/victoria-1855-1901/1855-sy-1-2-sov/5057?sn=446016&h=pop

Type II: https://www.pcgs.com/valueview/victoria-1855-1901/1857-sy-1-2-sov/5057?sn=113006&h=pop

Yes- acknowledged.  There are these two variations but in fact, there are 5 obverse variations to the Young Head Victoria Bust in terms of the Australia Half's, struck between two different Branch Mints and produced between 1855 all the way through to 1887.  

It would be nice to be able to collect all of these variations- I'm miles and miles away from collecting all the London mint varieties of half's to date, and I do need to eat now and then- so I think I'll likely leave some of these rarer half's to those with deeper pockets than I.   

[richatthecroft]

23 hours ago, Coolsmp said:

Thats an awesome collection, however, James Butler should be ashamed of his portrait of the Queen its appalling. All the other Sovereigns are beautiful.

 

12 hours ago, sovereignsteve said:

I couldn't agree more, just don't understand why collectors search out this rubbish. also the way the portrait isn't centred on the coin drive me mad😜

 

8 hours ago, sixgun said:

Not only is it a monstrosity, the size of the head has forced it to be off centre. How dim witted can you get?

I really hate using the cliche 'it's like Marmite, you either love it or hate it...' but I do like the Butler design.  The very poor photo of my Half does it no favours- and personally, I prefer the effigy on the 2015 Silver Crown/ Longest Reigning Monarch coins.  

[richatthecroft]

21 hours ago, shawy2510 said:

I have got to go to my lockup this week sometime so I should he able to hunt out 1838 in MS65, 1817 in MS64 & 1818 in MS65 if that helps

It would be great to own one or all of these but I'm not sure I'm quite in the market for them at this time- any one of these fabulous Half's would certainly enhance my lot.  

[1817Karl]

On 01/09/2019 at 01:53, richatthecroft said:

As per title- here's my Change of Portrait Half Sovereign collection with some anomalies!

The photo's could be much, much better but I thought I'd practice my new found skill of stitching two photo's together and practiced on this little lot.  

Ok, I have fallen down pretty quickly- but I think it'll be a long, long time before I could afford to gather up a George IV 1821, 1823 or 1825 or a William IV 1831 or even a 1838 Victoria.    

Also, I just couldn't leave out my favourite Gillick Portrait- so I have added a 1957 Sovereign, which is clearly an imposter.

Anyone wishing to help me fill the gaps, I will gratefully receive with thanks any of the missing Half's!

Anyway, here's what I have managed to collect:

George III- 1817 Obverse: Benedetto Pistrucci; Reverse: William Wyon

1859 Victoria Young Head Type 1A Obverse 2 (Earliest one I have)- Obverse: William Wyon, Reverse: J.B. Merlen

1872 Victoria Young Head Type 1B, Obverse 3- Obverse: William Wyon, Reverse: J.B. Merlen

1887 Victoria Jubilee Head- Obverse: Joseph Edgar Boehm (JEB) 

1893 Victoria Old Head- Obverse Thomas Brock; Reverse Benedetto Pistrucci

1902 Edward VII (Matte Proof) Obverse: De Saulles; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1911 George V Obverse: Bertram Mackennal; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1937 George VI- Obverse: Thomas Humphrey; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1957 (The imposter!) Elizabeth II First Bust- Obverse: Mary Gillick; Reverse:  Benedetto Pistrucci

1980 Elizabeth II Second Bust- Obverse: Arnold Machin; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1985 Elizabeth II Third Bust- Obverse: Raphael David Maklouf; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

1989 Elizabeth II Special Issue- Obverse & Reverse: Bernard Sindall

1998 Elizabeth II Fourth Bust- Obverse: Ian Rank- Broadley; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

2015 Elizabeth II Fifth Bust- Obverse: Jody Clark; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

2016 Elizabeth II Special Issue- Obverse: James Butler; Reverse: Benedetto Pistrucci

I recognise that 1893, I think... Nice collection!

[richatthecroft]

8 minutes ago, 1817Karl said:

I recognise that 1893, I think... Nice collection!

Yes- the one you sold me- nice coin.

[JackKlugman]

14 hours ago, sixgun said:

Not only is it a monstrosity, the size of the head has forced it to be off centre. How dim witted can you get?

Lovely collection OP. I don't know who the hell James Butler was engraving but that is not Queen Elizabeth. Let's hope he has retired, awful