British East India Company, Victoria, Gold One Mohur, 1841, MS62 PCGS

British East India Company, Victoria, Gold One Mohur, 1841, MS62 PCGS
Bombay or Calcutta mint, KM-461.1, Prid-18, S&W-2.1, Fr-1595. Continuous Legend variety. An inaugural, singular type that presents a continuous, obverse legend, showing the youthful portrait of the Queen, and an intricate reverse design featuring a lion and a palm tree. The raised design features are choice and well defined, and green-golden mint luster easily rolls across the surfaces. As expected at this grade level, a number of tiny contact marks are noted particularly on the obverse. An impressive numismatic treasure from the Bombay Mint that is not often encountered, especially so choice, and for the collectors of British India.

THE FERNSIDE COLLECTION

I first started collecting gold coins after subscribing to the Harry Schultz Newsletter in the late 1970s. Harry always emphasized the importance of providing for a "rainy day," and also keeping a proportion of one's savings in a readily transportable and disposable manner. In Australia, I came in contact with Robert Jaggard whose advice was to collect quality, and secondly, he suggested collecting sets of coins.

This resulted in my Queen Victoria series with the Old Head, and the Veil Head types. This collection goes from about 1880, until the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. I subsequently collected the series for King Edward VII then, most of the Perth Mint series. In each case Robert always recommended buying Extremely Fine or Uncirculated coins, as these were more sought after by truly discriminating collectors.

I also had the opportunity to buy several other coins which are included in this auction. They are termed the Fernside Series, as a memento of my family's original home building in Toowoomba, Queensland, circa 1880. I have now reached retirement age, and fortunately my rainy day never came. Hence, I am making my collection available for discerning and discriminating collectors to add to their gold collections -- and their enjoyment of collecting. Good luck to all.