Commemorative issue
Coronation of Edward VII
Obverse
Uncrowned bust facing right
Script: Latin
Lettering: EDWARDUS VII DEI GRATIA REX
Engraver: George William de Saulles
Reverse
St. George and dragon
Script: Latin
Lettering:
·CORONATION MODEL·
HALF FARTHING
1902
Designer: Benedetto Pistrucci
Mint
Ludwig Christian Lauer, Nuremberg, Germany (1790-1924)
Choice Uncirculated with lustre
Model farthings were unofficial “trial” pieces produced by coin manufacturers to advertise the quality of the products they were manufacturing. They were also in some cases intended as a suggestion for possible future coin designs.
Many of the official trial pieces, or the scarcer varieties can command a premium and are extremely collectable due to the lower mintages involved. There were however a few series produced that were more common and can be readily found and collected. Due to the unusual designs, sizes and denominations their origin and purpose tends to cause confusion.