Acquiring an 1852 Adelaide Pound in Uncirculated quality is a difficult enough task. (We estimate that we might sell one such coin every three to four years.)
But this coin is not just graded Uncirculated. It is assigned the far higher rating of Brilliant Uncirculated which reflects the stunning state of the fields.
This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity.
The lustrous condition of the Hammel Adelaide Pound indicates that for the coin’s lifetime, every owner has absolutely known that it was special.
Over and above the fields, the coin is incredibly well struck and is certainly impressive.
The cross on the orb at the top of the crown, the pearls, the fleur-de-lis and the lower band of the crown are all perfectly defined.
It also has exceptional strength in the legend and the denticles.
The Hammel Adelaide Pound was part of the Mortimer Hammel Collection, a name and collection so esteemed in numismatic folklore that it adds a special cachet to any coin associated with it.
Mortimer Hammel's preference was gold coins and he was particularly drawn to coins in the highest state of preservation. Such as this coin and his Cracked Die Adelaide Pound.
His entire Collection of 1086 coins was auctioned in the U.S. in September 1982 by Stacks New York.
One hundred and twenty four coins were photographed and featured in the Catalogue.
Testimony to the calibre of Hammel's 1852 Adelaide Pounds, Cracked Die (Type 1) and Type 2 coins, both were photographed.
© Copyright: Coinworks