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This is not the
prettiest gold
quarter stater that
we have seen on Coin
of the Week, but it
merits a place here
- its brief moment
of glory - by virtue
of its extraordinary
scarcity. Being
astute, you will
have realised by now
that it is an
Icenian gold quarter
stater called
Gisleham Glory (say
'guy-lum' not 'gizzle-hum')
and that only five
other specimens have
been recorded. This
is one of the rarest
and most
distinctively
designed quarter
staters minted in
East Anglia. The
tap-like devices on
the obverse may be
seen as little
hidden faces. Dr
Philip de Jersey
says: "The first
example of this
intriguing quarter
stater was published
in the Coin Register
of the BNJ
for 1991, no.70,
found earlier that
year near Gisleham
in Suffolk." John
Talbot says: " I
believe that this
quarter forms part
of the
denominational group
with the Saham Toney
unit." The only
other Gisleham Glory
we have had was two
years ago (Chris
Rudd list 90,
no.25) and that was
sold for £3,500.
One of the many rare
and fascinating
coins in Chris
Rudd's September
list.
26.8.08 |
