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1901 Victoria Fantasy Pattern Four Shillings in Gold
Over the past few centuries, and popularised by Matthew Boulton of the Soho Mint Birmingham, later the Birmingham Mint, a number of private individuals and companies have produced unofficial fantasy pattern coins. Indeed, the practice had probably always occurred.

Growing Tradition
In the past few years, there appears to have been a revival of this tradition. Over a period of perhaps a decade, the grandly titled International Numismatic Agency, a one-man business from the northwest of England, promoted a number of officially sanctioned legal tender coins in conjunction with the treasuries or coin-issuing authorities of a number of Commonwealth countries.
During the design phases of these issues, a large number of pattern coins were produced. Some of these eventually went into production and issue, but many others did not. Some were in "off" metals, for example a gold or silver striking of a base metal coin, or vice versa. In addition, a number of "mules" were produced, with mismatched die pairings.
The quantities produced varied widely. In some cases, several thousand may have been minted and released, in other cases, one one piece was minted in a particular metal, making it unique.

Legal Status
The "coin" we feature on this page is best described as an unofficial fantasy pattern double florin or four shilling piece, struck in (22 carat) gold. As such, it has no legal tender status, and in fact no legal status as a coin. It could be considered as an unusual and attractive medal or medallion. We are informed that there was only a single piece produced of this design in gold, making it unique. Any rarer, and it would not exist!
While we are quite happy to buy and sell unofficial patterns, fantasy pieces, and other similar items, we are careful to protect and maintain our reputation, by describing the piece accurately.

Beware Fraudsters
We note with growing dismay on an almost daily basis the number of fantasy coins which are offered on the market, mainly by hordes of marginal disreputable dealers and individuals on internet auctions sites (eBay). In most cases, they are described as coins, pattern coins, and rare. This is at best marketing hype, but at worst pure deception and fraud. Despite eBay's claims about its trust and safety programmes, and the facilities provided on its sites to report misdescribed items and fraudulent listings, in our experience, they very rarely act on the reports, making eBay itself a party to the deception and fraud. As eBay are making plenty of money out of these deceptive auctions, it is obviously not in their short-term financial interest to stop the abuse. Whether and when they learn that it is not in their long-term financial interest, we do not know.
If you have any doubts about this, just go to the "Coins" category of eBay, search for "gold", and look how many items listed as gold are only gold-plated, possibly as many as 10%. Try reporting a few of them via eBay's reporting forms, and watch what happens. Our prediction, based on our experience is "nothing". In our opinion, this consistent and repeated failure to remove misleading listings, makes eBay a knowing partner in the deception. You may also conclude, as we do, that the forms themselves are either badly designed, or at least designed in such a manner as to make them difficult to use, and they collect only a limited amount of information. They fail, for example, to give space for the reporting party to state or explain the nature of the offence, leading us to believe that eBay do not take the matter seriously, and are not interested in learning in what way an item is misleading or deceptive.

Back to Our Coin
After some digression, we can get back to our "coin". We believe it is an attractive piece, and worthy of inclusion in a collection, if only for its aesthetic values. As usual, we offer it at what we consider to be a very fair and reasonable price.

Description
Obverse
Veiled, old head portrait of Queen Victoria, modelled closely on, and almost identical to, the original used on official legal tender UK coins from 1893 to 1901, with the legend:
VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP

Reverse
A crowned harp, the symbol of Ireland or Eire, in a four cusped tressure, reminiscent of a shamrock, with the Roman numerals XXXX and VIII at either side, signifying 48 pence. The outer circle contains garlands of three-leaved clover or shamrocks (please excuse our lack of horticultural expertise), with the legend:
HIBERNIA
1901

Technical Specifications
DescriptionDiameterWeightFinenessGold Content
1901 Victoria Fantasy Pattern 4 Shillings in Gold35.533.1.9160.975

Notes
Weight = weight in grams
Gold Content = Actual fine gold content in troy ounces.

Price & Availability
All prices subject to fluctuation. Please contact us for current pricing and availability.
DescriptionGradeMintageStockPrice £Price $
1901 Victoria Fantasy Pattern 4 Shillings in Gold (Original Price)Proof, about FDC1Ask£495$975
1901 Victoria Fantasy Pattern 4 Shillings in Gold (Price Revised August 2009)Proof, about FDC1Ask£850$1,450

Value
It has come to our notice that a "similar" fantasy pattern, of similar rarity, was sold by Regency Coins for £3,500. While all valuations remain to some extent a matter of opinion, it is our opinion, that £3,500 makes this other "coin" overpriced, it certainly makes ours seem more than reasonable priced at our newly increased price of £850. It was and would have been only £750, but we feel we ought to allow ourselves to be influenced by the evidence that if a willing buyer thought £3,500 was a reasonable price to pay, then we should at least ask slightly more for our piece.

Order Form

Postage & Packing
UK Registered Post (Special Delivery) £9 per order
EU Insured Post £10 per order
USA Airmail $10,
Insured Shipping $20
Canada Airmail $15,
Insured Shipping $30

Veiled Old Head Portaitt of Queen Victoria on Obverse of 1901 Irish Gold Fantasy Four  Shillings
Veiled Old Head Portrait of Queen Victoria on Obverse of 1901 Irish Gold Fantasy Four Shillings

Hibernia

Countries Index

Reverse of 1901 Irish Gold Fantasy Four Shillings

Reverse of 1901 Irish Gold Fantasy Four Shillings

 


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