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PCGS Grades Rare 1860 Australian Port Phillip Kangaroo Office Pattern Shilling

1860 Port Phillip Kangaroo Office Pattern Schilling. Image: PCGS/CoinWeek.

Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) recently graded an 1860 Australian Port Phillip Pattern Shilling in silver. Known as one of the rarest and most coveted items in all Australian numismatics, the 1860 Australian Port Phillip Pattern Shilling carries a left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria on the obverse and a reverse showcasing the denomination “ONE SHILLING” within a decorative border that encircles a prominent numeral “1”.

“This is the first example of an 1860 Australian Shilling pattern of this type that we have graded,” explained PCGS President Stephanie Sabin. “Similar pieces are known in other compositions, but this type is unique in silver. This underscores the trust that collectors and dealers alike place in our grading and encapsulation services. The best coins always end up in PCGS holders.”

Andrew Crellin with Sterling and Currency, the firm that submitted the coin, said that “there are other examples of this pattern known in copper, but this example is unique in silver.” There were multiple types of patterns that British medallist and engraver William Joseph Taylor designed for the Port Philip Kangaroo Office in 1855. While he prepared these designs for regular production, none of the coins were ever officially struck for circulation. By 1856, the Kangaroo Office had been shuttered and its staff sent back to England. But it wasn’t the end of the line for Taylor’s Australian pattern designs.

Belgian sculptor and engraver Charles Weiner, hailing from a family of skilled engravers and himself renowned in the trade, moved to London in 1860 and worked with Taylor. Weiner eventually earned a role as assistant engraver of the London Mint. Among his projects was creating new patterns, some of which he fashioned by pairing his obverse engravings with some of Taylor’s earlier reverse designs from the Australian shilling patterns.

The rarity of this silver pattern from 1860 has been well recognized by generations of numismatists, inspiring some of the most notable collectors in the hobby to pursue this treasure.

“The provenance of the item goes back to 1892,” explained Crellin. Ownership traces back to the Alfred E. Copp Collection, with the coin later residing in the cabinets of Richard Armstrong Hoblyn, John Gloag Murdoch, and Albert Henry Baldwin. The 1860 Australian Shilling silver pattern was previously in the Quartermaster Collection before being offered for sale by Sterling and Currency, which submitted the coin to PCGS for encapsulation.

For more information about submitting coins to PCGS for grading, please visit www.pcgs.com/services.

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The post PCGS Grades Rare 1860 Australian Port Phillip Kangaroo Office Pattern Shilling appeared first on CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors.

3 thoughts on “PCGS Grades Rare 1860 Australian Port Phillip Kangaroo Office Pattern Shilling

  1. tunez says:

    1. I’m curious to know if Taylor received any compensation for his designs, even though they weren’t used for circulation initially. It seems a shame for his work to go unused for years.

    2. The combination of Taylor and Weiner’s artistry on this coin makes it a truly special piece of numismatic history. It’s like a cross-continental collaboration!

    3. Given its rarity and provenance, I wonder what this coin ultimately sold for. It must have fetched a considerable sum.

    4. It’s remarkable that this coin survived in such good condition, considering its age and the journey it must have taken through various collections.

    5. The fact that this pattern coin was struck in silver, unlike other known examples, adds another layer of intrigue to its story. What prompted this unique choice?

  2. thundertank says:

    1. I wonder if Taylor’s other Australian pattern designs ever saw the light of day, or if they’re still tucked away somewhere, waiting to be rediscovered.

    2. It’s remarkable how the paths of these different engravers intertwined across countries and continents, leading to the creation of this unique piece.

    3. The fact that this coin never circulated adds another layer to its mystique. It’s a tangible piece of history that exists outside the flow of commerce.

    4. Given its rarity and the impressive list of previous owners, I can only imagine the price this coin must have commanded.

    5. This coin is a testament to the enduring allure of numismatics, captivating collectors for well over a century.

  3. snowcream says:

    1. The journey of this coin, passing through the hands of such prominent collectors, adds another layer of value beyond its inherent numismatic rarity. It’s a tangible piece of collecting history.

    2. It’s remarkable how Taylor’s designs, initially intended for circulation, ultimately found a different kind of life as pattern pieces. It speaks to the enduring appeal of his artistic vision.

    3. The fact that this coin is unique in silver elevates its status significantly. It’s not just rare; it’s one-of-a-kind.

    4. The collaboration between Taylor and Weiner, bridging different countries and generations of engravers, is a testament to the interconnectedness of the numismatic world.

    5. I wonder what the original intent was for these patterns. Were they purely for design consideration, or was there a brief thought of actually using them in circulation?

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