The Oxford Collection
Victoria Young Head (Bun) Coinage (1860 - 1895)

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In December 1860, the copper coinage was replaced by bronze, a change which had already been made in France in 1852. The old copper coins could be handed back in up to the end of 1869 at 102% of face value; thereafter, up to July 30th 1873, only at face value. The bronze coins were made of 95% copper, 4% tin (to harden the copper) and 1% zinc (to facilitate good castings).

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
76		1895	Young Head. BMC 1925. BU Full Lustre, extremely rare in this grade. SOLD FOR £250	£225-275
77		1894	BMC 1924. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £36	£36-42

Note on 1893

The Wider Date type, which is common, embraces 14 border teeth from the centre of the 1 to the centre of the 3.

The Closer Spaced Date type embraces 13 teeth and accounts for about 15% of the 1893 issue, though examples in high grade are very elusive.

Note on 1889: As we are frequently asked for this date, perhaps it is worth mentioning here that this date does not exist in the Farthing series.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
78		1893	Wider Date. BMC 1923. BU Full Lustre	£40-44
79		1893	Closer Date. BMC --. Uncirculated with good lustre/BU Almost full lustre, very rare so choice.	£80-120
80		1892	BMC 1921. BU Full Lustre, very rare SOLD FOR £120	£120-140
81		1891	BMC 1919. BU Full Lustre SOLD	£40-45
82		1890	BMC 1917. BU Full Lustre, superb SOLD FOR £50	£50-55
83		1889	BMC --. Unrecorded, unique? F561 (Recorded in the 1st edition of Freeman's book (This piece), but omitted from his 2nd edition). Now has been proven to be an altered die, but an interesting piece nevertheless. Very Fine, extremely rare Ex M. J. Freeman SOLD FOR £900	£200-300
84		1888	BMC 1916. BU Full Lustre, scarce SOLD FOR £60	£60-70
85		1887	BMC 1915. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £70	£70-90
86		1886	BMC 1913. BU Full Lustre, superb SOLD FOR £48	£36-40
87		1885	BMC 1911. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £35	£35-40
88		1884	BMC 1909. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £38	£35-40

Note on 1883

The Broken F type has a gap in the top, horizontal stroke, caused by a broken or damaged die; it accounts for only about 20% of 1883 farthings, so it is quite rare, given that 1883 is a rarer date anyway.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
89		1883	Perfect F in FD. BMC 1907. BU Full Lustre, reverse very lightly toning. Very rare SOLD FOR £100	£100-150

Note on 1882H

Again, the Broken F is seen for this date. However, this time it is the Perfect F which is rarer and occurs in about 25% of the 1882H farthings. Also, it is interesting to note how tiny the H (= Heaton) mintmark is when compared to 1881H or 1874/5/6H coins.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
90		1882H	Broken F in FD. BMC --. BU Full Lustre	£42-46

Note on 1881H

To view detailed descriptions of the 1881H varieties, including large close-up images for each type, please click here.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
94		1881H	Type A. BMC 1904. BU Full Lustre	£34-38
95		1881H	Type B. BMC 1904. BU Full Lustre	£46-50
96		1881H	Type D. BMC 1904. (Also with thicker lighthouse with rounded top, and longer helmet plume). BU Full Lustre, rare SOLD FOR £68	£45-50
97		1881H	Type F. BMC 1904. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £45	£45-50

Note on 1881:

Most collectors have difficulty distinguishing between Obverse 7 and Obverse 6. There are several differences but we find the easiest is not to look at the shape of the nose but to look at the nostril.

On Obverse 6 the nostril is a small, deeply-cut, oval, closed at both ends.

On Obverse 7 the nostril is longer and "open" at the right hand end.

This difference is observable in all grades from Fine upwards.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
91		1881	3 Berries. Obverse 6. BMC 1902. Straight nose, closed nostril. BU Full Lustre, lightly toning. SOLD FOR £175	£50-55
92		1881	3 Berries. Obverse 7. BMC 1902. Bent nose, open nostril. BU Almost Full Lustre SOLD FOR £45	£45-50
93		1881	4 Berries. BMC 1901A. Uncirculated, slight lustre on both sides, extremely rare SOLD FOR £350	£200-225

Note on 1880:

Most 1880 ¼ds have a weakly struck patch on the hair and a dimple centrally on the neck; both are interesting striking faults. (Note: this dimple occurs for quite a number of other dates as well, for example, 1883.)

The second 8 of the date can also be found as an "open-topped" 8.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
98		1880	4 Berries. Closed 8. BMC 1899. BU Full Lustre, lightly toning. Extremely rare in this condition.	£120-150
99		1880	4 Berries. Closed 8. BMC 1899. BU Full Lustre, extremely rare in this condition. SOLD	£140-180
100		1880	4 Berries. Open-topped 8. BMC --. Uncirculated with good lustre or better. Rare Ex C. Cooke (May 2006 Lot 119) SOLD FOR £90	£90-120
101		1880	3 Berries. Closed 8. BMC 1901. BU Full Lustre, a few toning patches. Exceedingly rare in this condition. (We have only seen one other to equal it in over 35 years and this is the finest we have ever listed) SOLD FOR £440	£380-420

Note on 1879:

Apart from Normal and Large-sized 9 in date, the date spacing also varies.

On some, the 8 and 7 of the date are noticeably closer together whereas more commonly all the numerals are evenly spaced.

On a few of the evenly spaced type, the numerals are even more spaced out, embracing 12 border teeth instead of the more usual 10½ to 11½ teeth.

Yet another variety has appeared recently. There appear to be variations in the size and spacing of the border teeth. This has not yet been fully investigated and any comments from collectors would be most gratefully received.

All 1879 farthings need sorting out just like we did for 1881H. Please contact us if you can help.

Large 9 only occurs with 87 closer together.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
102		1879	Normal 9 (same size as other figures). Evenly-spaced date. BMC 1898. BU Full Lustre, obverse lightly toning. SOLD	£55-75
103		1879	Large 9 in date. BMC --. Uncirculated with lustre, extremely rare in high grade. Note. The raised area of the flan around the lighthouse is a feature of this particular issue, i.e. "Large 9" type. SOLD FOR £90	£90-120

Note on RM issues 1875 to 1878:

All the Royal Mint issues of 1875 - 1878 have a forked tail to the R of FARTHING. This applies to 1875 LD, 1875SD (4B and 5B), 1877, and 1878. It does not apply to any of the Heaton mint issues of this same period.

If you find an 1875 SD ¼d without a forked tail -- as quite often found -- it is certain to be an altered 1875H and the H has been skilfully obliterated to increase the value of the coin twenty-fold. Be on your guard and check for the forked tail, which the perpetrator of this dastardly ruse clearly did not know about.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
104		1878	BMC 1896. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £40	£40-45
105		1877	Bronzed Proof. BMC --. (Similar to BMC 1895). Distinct from the Bronze Proof. About As Struck and of the highest rarity, excessively rare. Ex Gregory	£5000-6000
106		1876H	RF.G type. BMC 1894. BU Almost Full Lustre, very rare	£180-220
107		1876H	RF.G type. BMC --. F534A (Large 6). 6 struck over a lower 6 giving the effect of a 'large 6'. Good Very Fine, very rare SOLD FOR £130	£70-90

Note on 1876H:

These farthings appear to have the letter G of REG struck over another letter clearly protruding above the cross-stroke of the G." Following this note in 1998 and building on information suggested by one collector, interim results can be summarised :

Numbers quoted represent the number of coins so far examined:

With no trace of an underlying letter under the G:

35 x 1874H coins (includes 10 x G/sideways G, 3 x 4/7, 1 x Proof, 1 x 4/4, 20 x ordinary.)

3 x 1875H Obverse 3 (5 Berries)

12 x 1875 LD

11 x 1875 SD 5B (includes 5 x 7/7 type)

1 x 1878 (but see below)

With an underlying letter under the G:

45 x 1875H Obverse 5 (4 Berries, - Normal)

9 x 1875 SD 4B (includes 3 x 7/7 type)

20 x 1876H

1 x 1877 Bronze Proof

28 x 1878 (but see above)

We leave it for a collector to try and rationalise all the above information.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
108		1875	Large Date. BMC 1890. Uncirculated with good lustre, very rare in this grade. SOLD FOR £160	£160-220
109		1875	Small Date. 4 Berries. BMC 1891. Uncirculated with lustre, very rare SOLD FOR £300	£300-400
110		1875	Small Date. 5 Berries. 7 over a lower 7 in the date. BMC 1890A. BU Almost Full Lustre, extremely rare SOLD FOR £600	£320-400
111		1875H	RF.G type. BMC --. Unbarred H in FARTHING. BMC 1892 but with error. Near Extremely Fine, very rare and error extremely clear. SOLD FOR £55	£20-25
112		1875H	REG type. BMC 1892. BU Full Lustre	£80-100
113		1875H	Freeman 530. Obverse 3 + Reverse C. BMC --. Brooch full on bodice. Good Fine, extremely rare. SOLD FOR £350	£250-300
114		1874H	BMC 1887. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £70	£70-90
115		1874H	G's over sideways G's. BMC 1888. Good Very Fine, a very clear example. Extremely rare. SOLD FOR £420	£420-500
116		1873	Higher set 3 in date (Normal). BMC 1886. BU Full Lustre, choice and prooflike. SOLD FOR £50	£50-60
117		1873	Lower set 3 in date (Scarcer). BMC -- (similar to BMC 1886). BU Full Lustre	£60-80
118		1872	BMC 1885. Uncirculated with lustre, rare	£30-35
119		1869	BMC 1884. BU Almost Full Lustre, very rare SOLD FOR £180	£100-120
120		1868	BMC 1881. BU Full Lustre, very rare in this grade. SOLD FOR £150	£100-120
121		1867	BMC 1878. BU Almost Full Lustre, lightly toning. Rare SOLD FOR £80	£80-100

Note on 1866:

Two varieties for this year:

A) Figures 66 in date wide apart, using same spacing as for the other figures in the date.

B) Figures 66 close together, very noticeably so when compared to the rest of the date.

Lot No.	Picture	Date	DESCRIPTION	Estimate
122		1866	Type A (66 wide apart). BMC 1875. BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £80	£70-90
123		1866	Type B (66 close together). BMC 1875. BU Full Lustre, lightly toning. Very rare in this grade. SOLD FOR £100	£100-120
124		1865	Large, fat 8. BMC 1873. BU Full Lustre, lightly toning. Very rare SOLD FOR £110	£100-120
125		1865	Small, thin 8. BMC -- (similar to BMC 1873). Uncirculated with lustre, rare SOLD FOR £60	£60-80
126		1865/2	5 over 2 in the date. BMC 1872A. BU Almost Full Lustre, extremely rare thus. Ex E. L. Judson Collection SOLD	£140-180
127		1864	Plain 4 (scarce). BMC 1869. Lower 4 in date, in contact with linear circle. Uncirculated with lustre, rare SOLD FOR £70.	£70-90
128		1864	Serif 4 (rare). BMC 1869. BU Full Lustre, very rare thus. SOLD FOR £300	£200-240
129		1863	Without raised dot (normal), very rare. BMC 1867. BU Full Lustre, lightly toning. Very rare SOLD FOR £375	£180-220
130		1863	With raised dot below lighthouse, even rarer.. This variety looks quite deliberate and not accidental. BMC 1867. Good Fine, very rare. SOLD FOR £50	£50-60
131		1862	Small thin 8 in date (normal). BMC 1865. BU Full Lustre, choice SOLD FOR £150	£50-60
132		1862	Large fat 8 in date (extremely rare). BMC --. Almost Uncirculated, toned. Excessively rare. SOLD FOR £750	£250-300
133		1861	5 Berries. BMC 1861 (co-incidentally !). BU Full Lustre SOLD FOR £130	£100-120
134		1861	4 Berries. BMC 1860. BU Almost Full Lustre	£70-90
135		1860	Toothed Border. 5 Berries. BMC 1859. BU Full Lustre, lightly toning.	£80-100
136		1860	Toothed Border. 4 Berries. BMC 1858. BU Full Lustre, very lightly toning. SOLD FOR £40	£40-50
137		1860	Toothed Border. 4 Berries. Reverse inverted. BMC --. Near Very Fine. Excessively Rare. (Only one other specimen known which is the C. Cooke example in Unc) SOLD FOR £200	£175-225
138		1860	Beaded Border (rare). BMC 1854. BU Full Lustre, rare	£80-100
139		1860	Mule with TB on the obverse and BB on the reverse. 4 Berries. BMC 1857. Extremely Fine, one of the finest specimens extant. Excessively rare in this grade.	£700-800
140		1860	Mule with TB on the obverse and BB on the reverse. 5 Berries. Dies 3+A. Unknown to Peck and Freeman. Good Very Fine, one of the finest known and excessively rare. Ex Croydon Coins (2005) Mangahas recorded only two known specimens and it was claimed his was the nicest of the two in existence of which his came up for sale in Croydon Coin Auctions in 2005 graded VF+ light surface marks, estimated at £1750 (Which is this coin). SOLD FOR £1750	£1750-2000