English Gold Coins:

Gold Proof Coins

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Over the centuries a number of gold proof coins have been issued of English / British coins that were normally made in silver, copper or other metals. These were not for general circulation and were generally intended as presentation pieces, trial pieces or collector's items. In old times, typically only a very small number of each were made, often less than half a dozen, hence they are typically rare and valuable. In more recent times, the Royal Mint has been issuing proof coins in larger numbers (generally between 1,000 and 5,000 per issue) as collector pieces.

Here is a list: If I have missed any, please let me know!

Gold Proof Five Pounds

These are listed on the page for the Five Pound Coin.

Gold Proof Two Pounds

These are listed on the page for the Two Pound Coin.

Gold Proof Fifty Pence

1992-1993 "Conference Table Twelve Stars" (1,864 issued)
1994 "D-Day 50th Anniversary" 50 pence proof in gold (1,877 issued)
1998 "Twelve Stars" European Union 25th anniversary 50 pence proof in gold (1,177 issued)
1998 "NHS 50th Anniversary" 50 pence proof in gold (651 issued)
2000 "Public Libraries 150th Anniversary" 50 pence proof in gold (710 issued)
2003 "Suffragettes" 50 pence proof in gold (942 issued)
2004 "Roger Bannister 4-Minute Mile" 50 pence proof in gold (644 issued)
2005 "Johnson's Dictionary 250th Anniversary" 50 pence proof in gold (584 issued)
2006 "Victoria Cross 150th Anniversary" 50 pence proof in gold (Two different designs, 1,000 of each issued)
2007 "Scout" 50 pence proof in gold (1,250 issued)
2008 "Jigsaw" 50 pence proof in gold (complete set of coins makes Matthew Dent's shield-of-arms design) (2,008 issued?)
2009 "Kew Gardens" 50 pence proof in gold (1,000 issued)
2009 "Farewell to Britannia" 50 pence proof in gold
2010 "Girl Guides" 50 pence proof in gold (1,000 issued)
2009 "Olympic Countdown" 50 pence proof in gold
2009 "40th Anniversary" 50 pence proof piedfort set in gold - featuring all 16 designs since the beginning of the 50p coin. (40 issued)
2010 "Olympic Countdown" 50 pence proof in gold
2011 "Olympic Countdown" 50 pence proof in gold
2011 "World Wildlife Fund" 50 pence proof in gold (1,500 issued)
2012 "Olympic Countdown" 50 pence proof in gold

*Note - some "gold on proof" coins may be seen for sale. These are post-production Gold plated coins, not as originally issued. I have seen one such of the 1973 50p coin, which was originally a cupro-nickel proof before being gold plated.

Gold Proof Crowns

From the time of Charles II onwards, regular-issue crowns were minted in silver - however there have been occasional gold proof crowns or pattern crowns created as presentation pieces. In general these coins are spectacularly rare and valuable; worth high five figure 5 or even 6 figure sums in some cases. Dates include:

1658 Cromwell crown (8 over 7, struck in gold, similar in design to the silver 1658 crown). Catalogue price £75,000.
1663 Proof in gold. Catalogue price £40,000.
1817 "Three Graces" pattern-only gold crown; not listed in catalogues. Three in existence - one sold in 1999 for a then-record £170,500.
1825 Proof or pattern in "Barton's Metal" (copper overlaid with a thick layer of gold) - catalogue price £3,500
1831 Proof in gold, edge plain. Catalogue price FDC £85,000
1847 Gold proof gothic crown. The only one available to collectors of this legendary coin sold in July 1988 for £120,000.
1935 Jubilee Crown. (S.4050) Only 28 of these were struck in gold, weight c. 48 grams, raised edge lettering. Catalogue price £20,000

Gold Proof Three Shillings

1812 Proof in Gold. Catalogue price £10,000 Also appears in platinum. Three shilling tokens were issued by the Bank of England.

Gold Proof Halfcrown

1658 Cromwell half crown. Around 6 known. Catalogue price £30,000.
1825 Proof or pattern in "Barton's Metal" (copper overlaid with a thick layer of gold) - catalogue price £1,700
1874 Victoria young head proof in gold half crown - catalogue price £15,000

Gold Proof Florin

1922 Proof in Gold. Around 5 in existence. Catalogue price £8,000.

Gold Proof Shilling

1816 Proof in Gold shilling. Extremely rare. Catalogue price £10,000.
1825 Proof or in "Barton's Metal" (copper overlaid with a thick layer of gold), edge plain - catalogue price £1,000

Gold Proof Sixpence

1816 Proof in Gold sixpence. Extremely rare. Catalogue price £7,500.

Gold Proof Groat

1836 William IV groat proof in gold. Catalogue price £4,000.

Gold Proof Twopence

1797 George III Twopence proof in gold. Catalogue price £15,000.

Gold Proof Penny

1797 George III penny proof in gold. Catalogue price £12,500 FDC.
1860 Victoria young head penny proof in gold. c. 13.7 grams, catalogue price £15,000 Unc.
1861 Victoria young head penny proof in gold. c. 16 grams, Reverse upside down. catalogue price £8,000 Unc.
1965 Elizabeth II penny proof in gold. c. 18.3 grams, Catalogue price £2,500 Unc.

Gold Proof Halfpenny

1694 William and Mary gold proof halfpenny on thin flan. Possibly unique, catalogue price £8,000 Unc.
1861 Victoria young head halfpenny proof in gold. Reverse upside down. catalogue price £5,000 Unc.
1965 Elizabeth II halfpenny proof in gold. c. 12.5 grams, Catalogue price £1,500 Unc.

Gold Proof Farthing

1713-1714 Queen Anne farthing pattern / trial proof in gold. Mentioned by John Laskey. [5]
1799 George III farthing proof in gold. "Late Soho" issue. Catalogue price £6,000 FDC.
1806 George III farthing proof in gold. "Late Soho" issue. Catalogue price £6,000 FDC.
1825 George IV farthing proof in gold. Catalogue price £4,000 FDC.
1861 Victoria young head farthing proof in gold. Reverse upside down. catalogue price £5,000 Unc.

Gold Proof Maundy Coins

Gold Maundy coins have only been issued on a very few occasions as proof sets. Normally the maundy coins, a set of four coins of value four, three, two and one penny, are issued in silver and the coins are still made in 925 silver in continuation of the ancient tradition. Gold proof maundy sets, especially of older coins, may be very valuable.

Gold maundy sets have been issued in the following years:

1831 (S.3840) Catalogue price £18,000
1838 reverse upside-down. Catalogue price £18,000
1953 Catalogue price £7,000
2002 (S.4212-4215)

References:

[1] http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/dept/coins/exhibitions/CoinOfTheMoment/HenryIIIgold/
[2] http://legacy.stacks.com/Lot/ItemDetail/11258
[3] http://www.spink.com/auctions/pdf/6013.pdf p.55
[4] https://www.sceatta-rie.com/anglo-saxon_gold_coinage_in_light_of_crondall_hoard
[5] http://books.google.com/books?id=pWNHAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA86