1893(95) ($1) 2MH-5B Reginald Huth Copper, BN PR(PCGS#636887)

Spring 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

競売業者

Stack's Bowers

ロット番号

3190

グレード

PR65BN

価格

102,000

ロット詳細

An extraordinary rarity in an already rare series of beautifully designed, specially produced medals. Gorgeous surfaces are warmly toned overall in medium brown with hints of olive intermingled on both sides. The persistent viewer aided by strong lighting will further discern traces of faded mint orange color as well as iridescent undertones of lilac and cobalt blue, the latter colors more prevalent on the reverse. The fields also present as semi-reflective at direct viewing angles, the finish otherwise lightly frosted, and in any event highly appealing. Fully struck and carefully preserved, provenance concerns alone compel us to mention a few tiny speckles of carbon in the right obverse field, between the letters SO in SORORIS and the adjacent dolphin. There are no handling marks or otherwise troublesome blemishes, the eye appeal outstanding and the Gem quality assured.<p>This is a rare type that does not represent a pattern or circulating issue. Rather, these medals were produced by Messrs. Pinches & Co. of London expressly for Reginald Huth's private collection and distribution to friends and admirers of royalty. Huth was a wealthy Londoner and numismatist. He also had limited quantities of medals produced for Spain and Madagascar. The first of the Huth Hawaiian medals appeared in Honolulu in 1901; they remain extremely rare and are seldom offered for sale in today's market. The present specimen is believed unique for this die pairing in copper, for the mintage of "2 copper" given in the 1991 edition of the Medcalf-Russell reference <em>Hawaiian Money</em> is believed to include one each of the single dolphin (2HM-3) and dour dolphins (2HM-5) Princess Kaiulani types.<p>Regarding Reginald Huth (1853-1926) this numismatist and patron of the medallic arts had his estate coin collection sold through Sotheby's in April and June 1927. As a humorous aside, it has been said that Huth's abject terror at the thought of germs led him to wash his coins before admitting them to his cabinet; we wonder if these numismatic baths affected the prices of his pieces when they were sold.