SMITH, Adam.

£7,500 · Offered by Peter Harrington · No longer available

The Penny of Scotland. A very good example of the one ounce Penny of Scotland commemorating Adam Smith. The portrait of Smith is after the Tassie medallion of 1787, which is described by John M. Gray as follows: 'The head, which appears turned in pure profile to the right of the spectator, shows a particularly full forehead, a full nose, slightly aquiline in its curve; a long thin upper lip, and a lower lip that protudes a little; and a firm, well-shaped chin and jaw. The eyebrow is strongly curved, the upper eyelid heavy and drooping, the eyeball particularly prominent; and beneath the lower eyelid the skin is loose and wrinkled. A wig is worn, tied behind in a bag with ribbons, showing small curls in front, and two large curls at the side which cover and conceal the ear' (quoted in Bonar, A Catalogue of the library of Adam Smith, 1932, p. xxi).The reverse of the penny, entitled 'Wealth of Nations', depicts the various elements of commerce; in the foreground of a harbour scene are a plough and a spinning wheel, along with other symbols of agriculture and industry, in addition to which there are a wool-pack and a barrel standing on the quayside, with two three-masted ships sailing out of the harbour.

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