Edward VII gold Matte Proof 1/2 Sovereign 1902 PR67 NGC, KM804, S-3974A, Marsh-505. Mintage: 15,000. In a word: immaculate. Simply unimprovable quality that is entirely unmatched within either the NGC or PCGS censuses out of over 300 certified, with the next finest at both companies being a PR65. Perhaps the most underappreciated denomination of Edward VII's coronation Proof set, and one that generally sees less enthusiasm from full sovereign collectors, the 1902 Matte Proof 1/2 Sovereign, like the remaining coins in the set, were frequently prone to swirling hairlines in the fields as a consequence of the sandblasting process applied to the dies--an as-made feature, to be sure, though one that often leads to them being conservatively graded. This specimen, however, seems to omit even this 'imperfection', the surfaces smooth and even with not the least ground for complaint. Almost certainly the nicest specimen a collector could ever hope to achieve, and one that is set to spike a new interest for this often overlooked type.

HID09801242017

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