Sovereign Rarities Auction XVIII Highlights: Rare Coins, Medals and Royalist Treasures

Sovereign Rarities Auction XVIII presented an exceptional selection of ancient coins, Anglo-Saxon rarities, British gold coins, Civil War medals and Royalist badges. The sale brought together more than two millennia of numismatic history, with standout results led by the legendary 1820 George III Pattern Five Pounds, which realised £200,000.

George III 1820 Pattern Five Pounds Sells for £200,000

The headline lot was Lot 40, the George III 1820 Gold Pattern Five Pounds, graded NGC PF60 Cameo, which achieved £200,000.

Engraved by Benedetto Pistrucci, this landmark British gold coin is the first Five Sovereign piece ever minted. With only 25 lettered-edge examples officially struck, it remains one of the most coveted rarities in the British milled series. Its importance is enhanced by provenance to A.H. Gilbert and the St Helier Collection, as well as its direct connection to Pistrucci's famous St George and the Dragon design.

Ancient Gold Coins: Philip II Stater and Vespasian Aureus

Ancient coin collectors were drawn to Lot 3, a Philip II of Macedon Gold Stater, struck circa 340/336–328 BC, which realised £4,000. Graded NGC AU, it features Apollo on the obverse and a charioteer driving a biga on the reverse.

Lot 9, a Vespasian Gold Aureus from AD 75–79, also sold for £4,000. Roman gold Aurei remain popular with collectors seeking historically significant ancient gold coins.

Rare Offa Silver Penny Achieves £5,200

One of the most important early English coins in the sale was Lot 22, an Offa Silver Penny of Mercia, which achieved £5,200.

This portrait penny is of the highest rarity, with only one other known example recorded in the British Museum. Found at Empingham in 2007 and offered for sale for the first time, it represents a remarkable opportunity for collectors of Anglo-Saxon coinage.

George III Military Guinea and Victorian Gold Highlights

Lot 36, the 1813 George III Military Guinea, sold for £7,200. As the final date of the Guinea before the transition to the Sovereign, it remains an essential coin for collectors of British gold.

Victorian gold also performed well. Lot 65, an 1893 Victoria Gold Proof Five Pounds, realised £9,700, while Lot 71, the rare 1838 Victoria Narrow Shield Sovereign, achieved £4,300. The 1838 Narrow Shield variety is especially prized by Sovereign collectors, as only a small proportion of the year's mintage used this scarce reverse type.

Civil War Medals and Royalist Badges

Lot 419, a 1645 Prince Rupert silver-gilt medal or Military Reward, realised £18,000. Rare and historically evocative, it depicts Prince Rupert, one of the most famous Royalist commanders of the English Civil War. Its provenance includes the Dr Jerome J. Platt Collection, Baldwin, Spink, Glendining's, Sotheby's and H. Montagu.

Lot 423, a Charles I Gold Royalist Badge by Thomas Rawlins, also sold for £18,000. Described as extremely fine and of the highest rarity, the badge features the crowned bust of Charles I and the Royal arms within the garter. It is a major highlight for collectors of Stuart medals, Royalist badges and English Civil War material.

Why Auction XVIII Matters for Collectors

Sovereign Rarities Auction XVIII demonstrated strong demand across multiple collecting fields, from ancient Greek and Roman gold to Anglo-Saxon pennies, Georgian pattern coins, Victorian Sovereigns and Civil War medals.

The results show that collectors continue to value rarity, provenance, historical importance and artistic quality. Whether represented by the George III 1820 Pattern Five Pounds, the rare Offa Penny, or the exceptional Charles I Royalist Badge, the auction offered pieces with lasting significance in British and world numismatics.