Gold 1853 Five Shilling!

[SohoMint]

Just thought I'd share this image of a pattern five shilling piece in gold from 1853 which I handled in the RMM. Keep in mind, contemporary records show that there was discussion in parliament around this time that the half sovereign should be abolished for being too small a denomination to be made of gold, and of course the Royal Mint decided to make a smaller gold coin in response!

[wlewisiii]

13 mm & 2.08 g. 

Smaller than even the current Mexican 10 centavos or my 1940 Netherlands 1/2 cent at  14 mm!