1826 Proof Half Sovereign without tuft - PCGS PR63CAM

Great Britain, 1826 Proof Half Sovereign without tuft -

There are two types of 1826 proof half sovereigns: On one variety, George IV sports an energetically coiffed sideburn, while the sideburn on the second variety is far less pronounced. (There are also minor differences in the appearance of the obverse denticles.) While both varieties are naturally rare (being proofs), the variety with the less prominent sideburn is significantly harder to obtain, with just one in four coins presenting in this way. The coin photographed here is a pleasing example of the rarer variety, exhibiting richly frosted devices amidst deeply reflective fields. Light abrasions and die polish make the grade, but do not diminish the coin’s eye appeal. On the whole, the coin is an ideal piece for the collector seeking an affordable example of one of the Royal Mint’s first proof issues.