Auction 4, London, 21 September 2021, lot 156

George IV (1820-30), gold proof Five Pounds, 1826, engraved by William Wyon, bare head left, date below, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEO...

George IV (1820-30), gold proof Five Pounds, 1826, engraved by William Wyon, bare head left, date below, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA, rev. quartered shield of arms with an escutcheon of the Arms of Hanover upon crowned ermine mantle, legend and toothed border surrounding, BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:, edge inscribed in raised letters and dated, DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI SEPTIMO (WR 213 R3; L&S 27; Hill F6 S; S.3797; Fr.373; KM.702). Some light hairlines and nicks, has been graded by NGC in their early period circa 1989-92 as PF63, before any extra accolade to the grade number existed, becoming rare to see in European auctions and especially in such an impressive state of preservation. NGC certification 162062-005. Circa 400 pieces struck. The Latin obverse legend translates as "George the Fourth, by the Grace of God" continuing on the reverse as "King of the Britons, Defender of the Faith," and on the edge "an ornament and a safeguard, in the seventh year of the reign." Provenance: Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, August 2004, item MG1255.

Auction 3, London, 27 April 2021, lot 182

Elizabeth II (1952 -), gold proof One Thousand Pounds, 2020, 1 Kilogram of 999.9 fine gold, from the Great Engravers series commemorating the Three...

Elizabeth II (1952 -), gold proof One Thousand Pounds, 2020, 1 Kilogram of 999.9 fine gold, from the Great Engravers series commemorating the Three Graces Crown by William Wyon first struck in 1817, crowned head right, JC initials below for designer Jody Clark, Latin legend surrounding, ELIZABETH II. D. G. REG. F. D. 1000 POUNDS. 2020, rev. three female figures representing England, Scotland and Ireland embracing with a harp, thistle and shield at their feet quiver and palm branch in exergue, FOEDUS INVIOLABILE (unbreakable league) around, W. WYON in the left field, milled edge, 1000.00g. As struck, has been graded by NGC as PF70 ULTRA CAMEO, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE, accompanied by its original Royal Mint box, outer packaging and with Certificate of Authenticity no.009. NGC Certification 6135167-001 Mintage: limited edition of 20 coins only

Auction 1, London, 25 September 2018, lot 88

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Five Pounds, 1839, young filleted head left, front fillet with six full scrolls cresting to right, rear hair fillet with...

Victoria (1837-1901), gold Five Pounds, 1839, young filleted head left, front fillet with six full scrolls cresting to right, rear hair fillet with eleven leaves, W WYON. RA. raised on truncation for engraver and designer William Wyon, legend and ornamental toothed border surrounding both sides, VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D:, rev. The Queen as Una leading the British lion left, holding orb and sceptre, thick plain ground line, date in Roman numerals below, MDCCCXXXIX, W. WYON R.A. curving below, legend around upper half, DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS. edge inscribed in raised letters of upright orientation to obverse, wire line raised border above and below, rose stops, DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI TERTIO *, weight 39.26g (L&S 17 dies 2AW; W&R 278; S.3851). Toned with a light red colour, number of light handling marks and hairlines in the fields both sides, small dig on neck, two light hairline scratches in obverse field behind head, the raised design both sides, relatively problem free, tiny black spot on reverse field below second G of legend, otherwise in UK grading terms good extremely fine and rare; has been graded and encapsulated by NGC as PF62 Cameo. NGC certification 4697969-001. Provenance: Ex Spink Coin Auction 141, 22nd March 2000, lot 351. Illustrated on front cover. The Latin legend upon this coin translate as on the obverse "Victoria, by the grace of od, Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith," and on the reverse as "May God direct my steps," a Psalm from the Bible. The edge inscription translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the third year of the reign," a reference to safeguarding the coin from the then defunct illegal practice of edge clipping gold coins. The gold "Una and the lion" Five Pounds of 1839 represents the pinnacle of the modern milled British gold coin series. Amongst the most classic of the coin designs in the entire British series, engraver William Wyon's master work at the height of his career, was produced as the key coin for the anticipated proof set of all the young head denominations that are dated 1839. Royal Mint record shows that some 400 sets were issued, which were sold gradually over the following decade or more, though undoubtedly single coins like this were available too. The obverse design depicts the young Queen then only around 20 years of age with her hair bound and filleted, the leading front fillet ornamented with six full scrolls like cresting waves passing to the right; the rear fillet with ten pairs of leaves pointing upwards along a stem, with an extra one at the lower extreme and a partial extra pair at top. The Wyon name is displayed prominently raised on the truncation of the neck, with his credentials as a member of the Royal Academy of Art. The reverse depicts a classical scene of the Queen as Una leading the British lion which is based on one of the longest poems ever written "The Faerie Queene" by the Tudor poet Edmund Spenser (1553-99). The Queen as "Una" represents Truth, as truth is one, and is depicted in book one of the fable upon adventures with the Patron Saint of Great Britain, St George. They are driven by a storm into the "Wandering Wood" where they shelter in Hypocrisy's cell together. Once the storm has passed, St George then leaves Una behind, who is then attended to by the lion and leads her onwards in her quest to ultimately reunite with St George.

Auction 1, London, 25 September 2018, lot 34

Henry VIII (1509-47), gold George Noble of six shillings and eight pence, second coinage (1526-44), initial mark rose (struck November 1526-29) bot...

Henry VIII (1509-47), gold George Noble of six shillings and eight pence, second coinage (1526-44), initial mark rose (struck November 1526-29) both sides of coin, ship sailing right with large Tudor rose on mast, h and K above for Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon, linear circle and abbreviated Latin legend surrounding which reads in Gothic lettering, hEnRIC'x DI'x G'x R'x AGL'x Zx FRAnC'x DnS'x hIBERnI, rev. St George in armour on rearing horse slaying the dragon with a long lance, linear circle and abbreviated Latin legend surrounding which reads in Gothic lettering, TALIxx DICA'xxSIGoxx mES'xx FLVCTVRIxx nEQVIT, weight 4.51g (Whitton p.187, plate XII, No.14; cf.Schneider 576; North 1785; S.2270). Slightly finer than the Schneider example and the finest example we know of for this denomination, with a lengthy provenance from some of the most well-known collections of the past, well struck on a full flan, good very fine and extremely rare. Provenance: Ex James Dodsley Cuff, Sotheby, 8th June 1854, lot 986. Ex Lord Hastings (Jacob Astley, 16th Baron, died 1859), sold as "Nobleman" Sotheby, 15th November 1880, lot 287. Ex James Edward Moon, Sotheby, 7th May 1901, lot 95. Ex Thomas Bliss (1849-1914), Sotheby, 22nd March 1916, lot 256. Ex Alexander Mann (1857-1916), Sotheby, 29th October 1917, lot 266. Ex Dr Ernest Christison Carter (1865-1950), collection sold en bloc to A H Baldwin, 1950. Ex Gordon Vincent Doubleday (1914-93), Glendining, 20th November 1961, lot 90. Ex R. Duncan Beresford-Jones (1903-2000), Spink Auction 29, 2nd June 1983, lot 32. Ex "Danny Arnold" Collection, sold as anonymous, Spink Auction 97, 13th May 1993, lot 6. Ex Lucien M La Riviere (1922-2012), Spink Auction 124, 18th November 1997, lot 1729. Ex Samuel King, Spink Auction 173, 5th May 2005, lot 29. The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Henry by the Grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland"; and on the reverse "Consecrated by such a sign the mind cannot waver:" taken from the 4th Century hymn "Hymnus Ante Somnum" by Prudentius. The George Noble was a new denomination in the reign of King Henry VIII and appears on the indenture for the second coinage of 5th November 1526 at a value of six shillings and eight pence and a weight of 71.1 grains (4.607g) in 23 carat 3 ½grains fine gold probably to meet the demand for a coin equivalent to half the continental mark. The indenture occurred in response to Cardinal Wolsey being commissioned on 24th June 1526 authorising him to make whatever adjustments were necessary to bring English coins into parity with the principal Continental currencies and therefore encourage bullion into the Mint for coining. The Tower pound of weight of 5,400 grains (349.914g) was also abandoned this year in favour of the Troy pound of 5,760 grains (373.242g). These coins also feature the initial K of Queen Katharine of Aragon as is seen on the Crowns of the Double Rose that also date from this coinage. The George Noble was apparently never struck in large quantity nor for very long and the surviving sample of coins we have today is minuscule, as is the Half George Noble of the highest rarity with only three examples known. The George Noble offered herewith is perhaps the finest survivor in private hands with a wonderful provenance trail.

Auction 1, London, 25 September 2018, lot 72

Anne (1702-14), gold Five Guineas, 1711, second draped bust left, legend and toothed border surrounding, ANNA. DEI. GRATIA., rev. crowned cruciform...

Anne (1702-14), gold Five Guineas, 1711, second draped bust left, legend and toothed border surrounding, ANNA. DEI. GRATIA., rev. crowned cruciform Post-Union emblematic dimidiated shields, ten strings to Irish harp, emblematic sceptres in angles, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, legend and toothed border surrounding, .MAG BRI. FR ET.HIB REG., edge inscribed in raised letters, .+. DECVS. ET. TVTAMEN. ANNO. REGNI. DECIMO., weight 41.86g (Schneider 531; M.C.E. 202; S.3568). Lightly toned with underlying brilliance, small nick on shoulder, some other light marks, otherwise extremely fine, reverse better, rare, in NGC holder graded MS61, the highest graded by NGC, only one graded higher by PCGS. NGC certification 4829505-006 Provenance: Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, April 2007, item MG1801.

Private treaty

Auction 2, London, 24 September 2019, lot 198

Charles II (1660-85), silver Pattern "Reddite" crown, 1663, engraved and signed by Thomas Simon, struck from the same dies as the famed "Petition" ...

Charles II (1660-85), silver Pattern "Reddite" crown, 1663, engraved and signed by Thomas Simon, struck from the same dies as the famed "Petition" crown, "fine work" laureate and draped bust right, Simon italic below, legend and toothed border surrounding, CAROLVS II. DEI. GRA, rev. struck en medaille, crowned cruciform emblematic shields, interlinked Cs in angles, St. George and dragon in ruled Garter in centre, French inscription in garter, HONI. SOIT. QVI. MAL. Y. PENSE, date either side of top crown, legend and toothed border surrounding, .MAG BRI. FR ET. HIB REX. edge inscribed in raised letters, last two words half size font, REDDITE . QVÆ . CÆSARIS . CÆSARI & CT. POST, followed by depiction of the sun appearing out of a cloud, weight 31.39g (L&S 7; Bull 431 R5; ESC 73 R5; S.3354B). Peppered with light surface marks, some nicks both sides, short scratch from eyebrow along junction with hair, toned, more attractive on reverse, otherwise about very fine / a bold very fine, has been graded and slabbed by PCGS as SP35, extremely rare. This is the actual coin illustrated in the 1974 edition of 'English Silver Coinage'. PCGS certification 34313450. The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Charles the second by the grace of God" and on the reverse "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland." The French words on the garter translate as "Evil to him who evil thinks." The Latin inscription on the edge is what gives this pattern its name and translates as "Render to Caesar, the things which are Caesar's," with the smaller font abbreviation for "POST NUBILA PHOEBUS" meaning "After the storm, the sun shines" alluding to the Restoration of the monarchy after the Commonwealth period. Celebrated Victorian numismatist J. B. Bergne published the whereabouts of ten examples of the Reddite crown in silver in his 1854 article in the Numismatic Chronicle, three of which were institutionalised and seven in theory still privately held if they all survive till today. Four examples of these seven have appeared in the last forty years for sale whether privately or through auction. The other three have either not surfaced since Victorian times, or may have been last offered over 90 years ago, and are all examples that are apparently in lower grade. The choices of Reddite Crowns available to the market are few and far between, and the finest one from the Glenister collection, hammered at auction for £330,000 in March 2014, representing a total price including premium of £399,000. It is interesting to note that Bergne recorded the whereabouts of fifteen examples of the companion "Petition" Crown piece in 1854, and at least one though perhaps as many as three may have emerged since then of this more highly coveted piece. In summary these "Reddite" Crowns are much rarer than the "Petition" crown with only ten examples known as of 1854 and seemingly less known today. Provenance: Ex Sir John Evans Collection, portion sold to J P Morgan. Ex J. P. Morgan Collection portion sold privately with first offer to British Museum and secondly R C Lockett 1915. Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, Sotheby, 28 May 1927, lot 55. Ex T.B. Clarke-Thornhill, Glendining, 27 May 1937, lot 605. Ex H.E.G. Paget, Glendining, 25 September, 1947, lot 230. Ex Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin, March 1948, item CR79. Ex G.R. Blake, Seaby Coin and Medal Bulletin, June 1957. Transacted privately by Spink to Norweb family, USA July 1962. Ex Mrs E.M.H. Norweb, Spink Coin Auction 48, 13 November 1985, lot 442. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1990, no. 1107. Ex Dr. D. Rees-Jones, Spink Coin Auction 117, 19 November 1996, lot 118. Transacted privately by Noble Numismatics of Australia to Mr Rowley Butters. Ex Rowley Butters, St James Auction 9, 18th June 2008, lot 334.

Auction 3, London, 26 April 2021, lot 187

Elizabeth II (1952-), gold proof Two Hundred Pounds, 2019, 2 Ounces of 999.9 fine gold, from the Great Engravers series, commemorating the Una and ...

Elizabeth II (1952-), gold proof Two Hundred Pounds, 2019, 2 Ounces of 999.9 fine gold, from the Great Engravers series, commemorating the Una and the Lion design by William Wyon, crowned head right, JC initials below for designer Jody Clark, Latin legend and border surrounding, ELIZABETH II. D. G. REG. F. D. 200 POUNDS. 2019, rev. Queen Victoria as Una leading the British lion left, holding orb and sceptre, thick plain ground line, date in Roman numerals below, MMXIX, W. WYON R.A. curving below, legend around upper half, DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS., milled edge, 62.62g (S.GE2). Amongst the most popular modern coin designs, a flawless piece, graded by NGC as PF70 ULTRA CAMEO. NGC Certification 6135171-001. Mintage: limited edition of 225 coins issued Faithfully recreated by the Royal Mint with a 'soft' proof finish, the 2019 Una and the Lion design issued as part of the Great Engravers series has proved to be one of the most popular modern Mint issuances ever struck.

Auction 4, London, 21 September 2021, lot 236

Oliver Cromwell (d.1658), gold Broad of Twenty Shillings, 1656, engraved by Thomas Simon, laureate head left, legend and toothed border surrounding...

Oliver Cromwell (d.1658), gold Broad of Twenty Shillings, 1656, engraved by Thomas Simon, laureate head left, legend and toothed border surrounding, OLIVAR. D. G. R.P. ANG. SCO. ET. HIB. &c PRO. rev. crowned quartered shield of arms of the Protectorate, date either side of top crown, .PAX. QVÆRITVR. BELLO., edge straight grained, 9.08g (Schneider 367; WR 39 R2; Lessen A2; N.2744; S.3225). The usual light hairlines in the field, otherwise almost as-struck, an exceptional representative of this coveted issue with handsome deep-red toning in the legends.

Auction 5, London, 15 March 2022, lot 14

Brutus with L. Plaetorius Caestianus, silver 'Eid Mar' Denarius, c.43-44 BC, struck to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides o...

Brutus with L. Plaetorius Caestianus, silver 'Eid Mar' Denarius, c.43-44 BC, struck to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, head right, BRVT [ ] L·PLAET·CEST, rev. Pileus between two mismatching daggers, EID. MAR. below (FFC 10. B. Iunia 52 and Plaetoria 13. Syd. 1301. C 15. Sear Imperators 216. Kent-Hirmer pl. 27, 98 [these dies], Cahn, EIDibus MARtiis, Q. Tic. 18, 1989, 10b and pl. 2, 108, Cr. 508/3); together on necklace with 12 Republic/Imperatorial Denarii including Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scorpio, silver Denarius, 47-46 BC, Utica mint, struck during African campaign. An intriguing group, each coin darkened with saltwater porosity from their time in the sea, all later coated with silver plate, each holed two or three times, the Ides of March Denarius clearly identifiable with some good detail remaining, extremely rare and one of the most iconic numismatic issues of the ancient world. (13) 'Roman Coins Found at Joppa' – these coins, Spink Numismatic Circular XC, November 1982, p.306

Auction 3, London, 26 April 2021, lot 234

Bermuda, Sommer Islands Company, 'Hogge Money' token or coin, c17th-18th century, potentially a near-contemporary tribute piece, boar facing left a...

Bermuda, Sommer Islands Company, 'Hogge Money' token or coin, c17th-18th century, potentially a near-contemporary tribute piece, boar facing left atop vegetation, no mark of value above, toothed border, rev. ship sailing left, four gunports, toothed border, 1.41g/21.76gr. Crude as is typical for this issue with green patina and minor surface corrosion, otherwise sharply struck with bold detail to the designs, about very fine, a potentially unique piece and unmatched offering within the Bermudian numismatic series, accompanied by NGC 'No Decision' insert. NGC Certification 5880765-001. Discovered by a metal detectorist in Kent, June 2019. PAS record ID 960656 – accessible at https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/960656 'Unique Bermuda Hogge Money "Penny" Discovered in Kent' - this coin, Coin News, March 2021 'Question marks over rare Bermuda coin up for auction in the UK' – this coin, The Royal Gazette, Bermuda, 15th March 2021