Description
Victoria (1837‑1901), Copper Penny, 1858/3, Large Rose, large date variety, ornamental trident,
young filleted head left, W.W. incuse on truncation for engraver William Wyon, date below, legend
surrounding VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Rev, Britannia seated right with ornamental trident and shield,
legend reads BRITANNIAR REG FID DEF, emblems in exergue (S.3948 var; BMC‑ ). Encapsulated and
graded by NGC as 1858/3, MS62 BN.
NGC: 6029310-013
Extremely rare, only a handful believed to be in existence, the above coin is a perfect example of a true Victorian copper penny rarity. Victorian Copper Pennies have seemingly seen little change over their lifetime of issue; fairly large quantities were issued in comparison to earlier reigns but are scarce in number when compared to the massive issues of the smaller bronze pennies of 1860‑94.
The pure copper composition caused the coins to wear more quickly than other metals or composites, making high grade specimens very scarce indeed. Varieties and changes in design have been recorded throughout this age by Greuber, Bramahs, and notably in more recent times, Pecks and Gouby. These varieties representing the smallest fraction of the already relatively small issue, it is little wonder that some are not spotted or recorded by such notable numismatists.
1858 has notably the largest number of reworked dies within the whole of the Victoria copper issues; the actual obverse dies used have been recorded as 1852, 1853,
1856, 1857. This in turn would lead one to believe the same process would have been undertaken with the reverse dies, but little to no interest has been paid to their study. A reference was found by chance, and noted, in an old Coin Guide of an 1858 penny reverse with a Large Rose, this reference was taken as no more than the recording of a newly completed rose whereas before the top petal was missing from most copper penny reverses. No images or other distinguishing factors were given (this was an age of
typed descriptions not images).
It wasn’t until a few years later after inspecting all 1858 Pennies available for commerce that the 1858 Large Rose Penny was finally discovered. The Rose, much larger, along with the Thistle, leaves, and shamrock within the exergue had been reworked and the emblem was proportionally similar to that of the Halfpenny.
