Victoria gold Proof Pattern Double Florin (5 Francs) 1868 PR65 Deep Cameo PCGS, KM-PnS115, W&R-372 (R4). Plain edge. By William Wyon. Known for his extraordinary skills as an engraver, Wyon is the celebrated artist behind many of Great Britain's most esteemed coin designs, and his talents could not be represented more clearly than in the beauty and magnificence of this breathtaking specimen. During the 1860s, several countries were attempting to compete with the French 5 Francs with their own gold coin. This piece was Britain's answer; the 'Double-Florin', bearing on its reverse both this denomination and that of its French rival, and by its quality and elegance, this was evidently designed to win. Atop sparkling mirror fields devoid of all but the lightest marks float the intricate, frosted designs, picked out with the utmost skill, the stark contrast of matte and brilliance creating an exquisite eye appeal. Truly this coin is deserving of its impressive grade, tied with just three others at the highest level of certification across both NGC and PCGS, the most recent example featured at our auction 3051 in January 2017 where it achieved $21,150.

HID09801242017

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