CANADA. Magdalen Island. "Seal" Penny Token, 1815. PCGS MS-63 BN Gold Shield.

LC-1; KM-Tn1; Breton-520. Engrailed edge. One year type. A unique and fascinating design, conceived of by Sir Isaac Coffin for circulation in the scarcely populated islands located to the north of Nova Scotia in the middle of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. While readily available in circulated grades, it is very rarely seen at this lofty altitude, and in fact, aside from presentation issues, this is the finest we have seen, easily besting the John J. Ford example that we sold in August 2013 for $11,162.50. On both sides, the detail appears as crisp as it comes, with attractive chocolate color blanketing the silky, minimally marked centers and sprinkles of original mint red appearing around the peripheral lettering. Closer magnified inspection only helps to confirm the outstanding quality. To date, the single finest graded at PCGS as well as NGC (the lone MS-63 in the NGC census is this coin), and as such, an offering that is sure to generate unbridled enthusiasm among collectors until the hammer falls.