The Douglas Collection Of Rare Farthings

Lot No. Picture Date DESCRIPTION Estimate
194 Click here to view picture 1956 V.I.P. Bronze Proof. BMC 2528. F 670 (R19). 2.86g. Reverse Upright. As Struck, exceedingly rare.

(The only specimen known to us, outside the British Museum)Sold For: £1550
£400-500
195 Click here to view picture 1949 V.I.P. Bronze Proof. BMC 2482. F 653 (R18). 2.86g. Reverse Upright. As Struck, now toning, excessively rare.

Bought F. S. Werner Dec 1973

Ex 'Norwich' Collection, DNW 7/10/2004 Lot 158Sold For: £550
£300-400
196 Click here to view picture 1937 Uniface reverse striking in Silver. BMC 2458. 3.38g. As Struck and of the highest rarity

Probably Ex E. M. H. Norweb, SCA 48, 13th Nov 1985, Lot 736Sold For: £1400
£1400-1800
197 Click here to view picture 1868 Cupro-Nickel Proof. BMC 1883. F 520 (R18). 2.78g. FDC, extremely rareSold For: £900 £400-500
198 Click here to view picture 1864 Copper issue. BMC 1589 (this piece). 4.70g. Reverse Upright. Proof in Copper. With a raised numeral 1 before incuse WW on truncation. FDC with attractive colouring and of the highest rarity.

Only 1 of 2 available for commerce.

Ex V. M Brand

Ex E. M. H. Norweb (19.11.1986, SCA 56, lot 1106)



We only know of four specimens:-

a) British Museum

b) Mint Museum (photographed in Peck)

c) In a Private Collection

d) This pieceSold For: £16000
£15000-18000
199 Click here to view picture 1839 Silver Proof. BMC 1555. 6.49g. Extremely Fine, minor hairlines. Excessively rare.

Ex Glendinings 20/3/1985, Lot 112 (photo)

See also Glendinings 25/10/1970 Lot 779 for another listing of either this piece or the other (Sainthill ?) piece.

Probably only 2 specimens in existence at most.Sold For: £3200
£1200-1400
200 Click here to view picture 1798 Silver Proof. BMC 1206A. 1.45mm thick flan. 6.47g.

The pattern of rust spots on the reverse is identical to the Norweb specimen (sole location recorded by Peck).

Almost FDC, extremely rare
£1800-2000
201 Click here to view picture 1797 Pattern in Silver. BMC --. (Similar to BMC 1197 but with reverse Upright). Reverse Upright. Normal, thin flan 1.75-1.90mm. 8.28g.

All 1797 Pattern Farthings have Reverse Inverted except for BMC 1186.

Very light cabinet friction on Britannia's helmet, and tiny edge bruise by R of GEORGIVS and old toned scoring in the field in front of the bust and under Britannia's outstretched arm, otherwise Practically As Struck. Extremely Rare
£1200-1400
202 Click here to view picture 1797 Pattern in Silver. BMC --. (Similar to BMC 1197 but with a Thicker flan). Thickness 2.25-2.55mm. 11.12g. Reverse Inverted. Light tone, Practically FDC. Extremely rare.

Ex J. J. Pitman (USA) (2001)Sold For: £2100
£1200-1400
203 Click here to view picture 1797 Pattern in Brass. BMC 1196. 8.73g. Reverse Inverted. As Struck and extremely rare.

(Peck records British Museum as sole location.)Sold For: £950
£800-1000
204 Click here to view picture 1790 Pattern by Droz in Copper. BMC 1031. Reverse Inverted. 6.83g. As Struck, extremely rare

Ex Rev. E. Rogers (1950)

Bought from SCA 95 Lot 349 25/11/1992Sold For: £800
£800-1000
205 Click here to view picture 1788 Pattern by Pingo. BMC 919. Copper. Grained edge. 28mm, with obverse stops. 8.89g. This huge coin is actually a Farthing !

When Pingo farthings occasionally turn up, they are invariably BMC 922 with a plain edge, larger module and unfinished die without obverse stops. However, this piece is BMC 919, a much, much rarer piece. Also, the date is differently aligned.

About As Struck, excessively rare.

Ex Clarke-Thornhill 28/5/1937

Ex E. A. Johnstone (1973)



Only four specimens are known to us :-

1) Ex Clarke-Thornhill (1937), ex Johnstone (1973), (This Piece)

2) Ex Baldwin (1964), ex Norweb (1985, Lot 575, with verdigris spot on obverse).

3) British Museum.

4) The Ex Oxford Collection 14/4/2008 Lot 216.Sold For: £3400
£1600-1900
206 Click here to view picture 1788 Pattern by Pingo. BMC 922. Copper. Plain edge. 30mm, larger module and unfinished die without obverse stops. 8.77g. This huge coin is actually a Farthing ! As Struck and extremely rare.

Ex Wight 21/6/1940

Ex Dr E. A. Johnstone (1973)Sold For: £2400
£1000-1200
207 Click here to view picture 1771 Copper Proof. BMC 910. 5.48g. FDC, with some original lustre. Extremely rare. £900-1000
208 Click here to view picture 1730 Copper Proof. BMC 857. Reverse Inverted. 4.47g. Superb FDC with some original lustre.Sold For: £750 £700-900
209 Click here to view picture 1718 Silver Proof. BMC 790. Reverse Upright. 4.52g. Near Extremely Fine/Extremely Fine with flashes of lustre from semi-prooflike surfaces. Extremely Rare. £800-900
210 Click here to view picture 1714 Queen Anne Struck in Copper. BMC 741. Small flan 22mm. Dies 2+E. Reverse Inverted. 5.44g. Superb, As Struck with Virtually Full Lustre, extremely rare so choice. Astonishing for a Queen Anne to have so much lustre.

Possibly the finest known specimen.

Bought from E. H. Sainsbury 16/4/1987Sold For: £2000
£2000-2400
211 Click here to view picture 1713 Queen Anne Struck in Copper. BMC 735 (This piece listed, 'P' in Peck). Large flan. 2.25mm thick. 1+A. 7.90g. Extremely Fine with traces of lustre, extremely rare.

(Almost Certainly the finest known example.)

Ex R. A. Hoblyn (Sotheby 7-8th Dec 1906 Lot 187)

Ex Dr E. C. Carter (1950)

Ex C. W. Peck (677)

Ex P. H. Westbrook (SCA 27, 16/3/1983 Lot 137 £462)Sold For: £1700
£1400-1800
212 Click here to view picture 1713 Queen Anne Struck in Brass. BMC 739 (This piece listed, 'P' in Peck). 6.21g. Medium flan. 2+C. Specific Gravity 8.801. Good Extremely Fine, About As Struck and excessively rare. The only known specimen. Unique?

Ex Dr E. C. Carter (1950)

Ex C. W. Peck (670)

Ex P. H. Westbrook, SCA 27, 16/3/1983 Lot 140 £535Sold For: £1700
£1500-1900
213 Click here to view picture 1713 Queen Anne Struck in Silver. BMC 747. Reverse with Britannia in portico or archway. Large flan. 4+D. Reverse Upright. 4.24g. Choice and Practically Mint State. Extremely rare.

Ex Major A. W. Foster, Glendinings 19/10/1953 Lot 54

Ex Slaney, SCA 163 Lot 258
£1500-1700
214 Click here to view picture 1713 Queen Anne Struck in Copper. BMC 753. 4*+B. Large, thin flan. Reverse Inverted. 4.78g. Good Extremely Fine with traces of lustre. Extremely rare (much rarer than Peck suggests in BMC).

Almost certainly the finest known example of this extremely rare coin.

Ex C. W. Peck (679, GEF), who bought it from B. A Seaby Ltd.

Ex R. H. Westbrook (SCA 27, 16/3/1983, Lot 152 £588)

Bought from B. A. Seaby 18/11/1983 £675Sold For: £1500
£1200-1400
215 Click here to view picture (1651) Oliver Cromwell Pattern Farthing Dated 1651. BMC 396. Listed as 'The Forged Cromwell Farthing' in Peck, Portrait probably tooled, see page 101 in the second edition of Peck for the lengthy discussion. This puzzling piece has been a subject of speculation by several writers.

4.26g. Good Fine, excessively rare.

(3 examples known but 2 are in Museums, this is the only example known outside Museums).

Ex Archbishop Sharp (Lot 139)
£5500-6500
216 Click here to view picture (1656) Commonwealth of England. Pattern Farthing in Copper. BMC 387. 4.54g. Obverse Three pillars, linked by a cord, bearing a cross, a harp and a thistle, respectively. Below the central pillar, .R.. All within a roped circle. A mullet at top centre. THVS VNITED INVINCIBLE. Reverse A ship in sail to left, within a roped circle. A mullet at top centre. AND GOD DIRECT OVRCORSE.

Near Extremely Fine with hints of lustre, extremely rare

Ex F. Brooks

Ex C. W. Peck

Ex J. Noble Lot 12Sold For: £1700
£1400-1700
217 Click here to view picture (1656) Commonwealth of England. Pattern Farthing in Copper. BMC 388. 4.74g. Obverse Three pillars, linked by a cord, bearing a cross, a harp and a thistle, respectively. R below omitted. All within a roped circle. A mullet at top centre. THVS VNITED INVINCIBLE. Reverse A ship in sail to left, within a roped circle. A mullet at top centre. AND GOD DIRECT OVRCOVRS. Near Extremely Fine, extremely rare

Ex Drabble

Ex Dr E. A. Johnstone (1973)Sold For: £1700
£1400-1700

Half Farthings

Lot No. Picture Date DESCRIPTION Estimate
218 Click here to view picture 1868 Cupro-Nickel Proof. BMC 1604. 2.32g. Reverse Upright. Lightly toned, Practically Mint State, with brilliance. Extremely Rare.Sold For: £850 £600-800

Quarter Farthings

Lot No. Picture Date DESCRIPTION Estimate
219 Click here to view picture 1868 Cupro-Nickel Proof. BMC 1615. 1.15g. Reverse Upright. Extremely Fine, extremely rareSold For: £600 £400-500