Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Sale 26 (Coins of the World)
Auctioneer: St. James’s Auctions Ltd (Knightsbridge Coins) Location: Cavendish Hotel, 81 Jermyn Street, St James’s, London SW1
Contact: Tel: 020 7930 7597
Date: 5th March 2014 Time: 1:30PM
Details: Monday 3rd - Tuesday 4th March
10.30am to 4.30pm

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Auction Lots - Page 1

Ancient Coins

1
†    Domitian, under Vespasian, aureus, A.D. 75, CAES AVG F DOMIT COS III, legend anticlockwise, laur. bust r., rev. PRINCEPS IVVENTVT, Spes stg. l. holding flower, wt. 7.3gms. (RIC.V.787), extremely fine £4000-5000
2
†    Constans II (AD 641-668), solidus, D N CONSTANTINYS C CONSTAN, busts of Constans and Constantine IV facing, wearing crown and chlamys, between their head, cross, rev. VICTORIA, AVGYO cross potent on three steps, CONOB beneath, wt. 4.5gms. (S.959), extremely fine £200-300

British Coins

3
Mercia, Offa, light coinage (c.779-792/3), penny, London, Ibba, OFFA REX, diad. bust right with diadem ties, with curved shoulders and a collar, rev. +I/B/B/A, (initial cross beaded) in angles of lozenge cross fleury with plain cross in centre, wt. 1.06 gms. (S.905; N.294; Chick 57, same dies), light surface corrosion, almost extremely fine £3500-4500
We believe this to be one of only three known of this type.
4
†  Richard II (1377-1399), noble, mm. cross pattée, London, king holding sword and shield stg. facing in ship, annulet over sail, rev. ornate cross within a tressure of eight arches, with alternating crowned lions in angles and lis at ends of cross, R at centre within square cartouche (S.1654; N.1302), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Mint State 65, virtually as struck, a coin having mint bloom and bold details throughout, including on the king's tiny face and on his initial at centre of reverse, in all an unusually choice example of this golden classic and a rare piece £6000-7000
5
Henry VI, noble, annulet issue, mm. lis (1422-27), London, king with sword and shield stg. facing in ship, annulet by sword arm, rev. ornate cross within a tressure of eight arches, with alternating crowned lions in angles and lis at ends of cross, h in centre within square cartouche, annulet in one spandrel (S.1799. N.1414), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Mint State 64, a consistently sharp strike on a broad flan showing full legends and rims, the king's tiny face sharply defined, very light flan wave, exceptionally fine gold colour and surfaces £5000-6000
A particularly choice example of this classic type.
6
†  Henry VII, sovereign, mm. small lis/cross crosslet (1504-1505), Tower mint, crowned king seated on throne holding orb and sceptre with portcullis below feet, rev. broad Tudor rose with royal shield at centre, wt. 15.33gms. (S.2176; N.1692/2; Schneider 551), small crease vertically down centre, boldly and evenly struck on each side showing all major details of the intricate designs, the letters of the legends fully struck with infinite detail in evidence including the stops, the flan broad and showing wide rims, in all particularly choice and with a lovely old-cabinet gold patina, almost extremely fine, very rare - an extraordinary piece £80,000-100,000
7
Henry VIII, third coinage (1544-47), sovereign, Tower mint, mm. lis, crowned bearded king seated on throne, holding orb and sceptre with large double Tudor rose below feet, rev. lion and griffin supporting crowned royal shield, HR monogram below, wt. 12.84gms. (S.2289; N.1823; Schneider 607), nearly extremely fine, evenly struck on a broad and almost perfectly round flan, king's portrait unusually well defined as is his royal shield and its supporters, the legends complete, bold for type and clearly lettered, with much of the outer rim on each side in evidence, an unusually choice example of this early representation of a golden denomination that has lasted into our own time, a famous piece, extremely rare and the finest known of the three pieces in private hands £130,000-140,000
*ex British Museum (Sale of Duplicates, 1811)
  ex Durrant
  ex Bergne
  ex Brice
  ex Montagu
  ex Lockett lot 1751
  ex Strauss, Sotheby 26 May 1994, the cover coin
8
†  Edward VI, second period (1549-1550), half sovereign, mm. grapple, crowned young bust r., EDWARD VI…legend, rev. crowned, garnished arms, E-R at sides, SCVTVM… legend (S.2438; N.1911; Sch.681), very fine    €£3500-4000
9
†  Edward VI, fine silver coinage, crown, mm. y, 1551, crowned figure of king on horseback r., shouldering sword, date below, rev. long cross fourchée over shield of arms (S.2478; N.1933), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Very Fine 20 £2000-2500
10
Mary (1553-1554), ryal, MDLIII (1553), mm. pomegranate, crowned queen stg. facing in ship, holding sword, other hand upon top of royal shield, Tudor rose below, M on fluttering flag at stern, rev. floriated cross with a lis at the end of each limb, rose on sunburst at centre, in each angle a lion passant crowned, all within a tressure of eight arches, annulet stops in legends, wt. 7.62gms. (S.2489; N.1957; Schneider 709 - same dies), light crease, small striking crack in centre of obverse, otherwise good very fine, extremely rare £130,000-140,000
This is an unusually full round and well struck coin with an attractive portrait.
*ex Spink, 13 December 2011, lot 92
  ex V. J. E. Ryan, Glendining, 28-30 June 1950, lot 260
  ex B. Roth, Sotheby, 19-20 July 1917, lot 274
  ex A. W. Hankin, Sotheby, 29 March 1900, lot 308
11
†  Elizabeth I, sixth issue, ship ryal of 15 shillings, mm. escallop (1585-87), London, crowned queen wearing ruff stg. facing on ship, holding orb and sceptre, Tudor rose at centre, E on waving flag on forecastle, rev. floriated cross with a lis at end of each limb, rose on sunburst at centre, in each angle a lion passant crowned, all within a tressure of eight arches, Lombardic lettering in legends on both sides, wt. 7.93gms. (S.2530; N.2004; Schneider 785), short of flan in only one small area but otherwise showing full legends and most of the beaded rims, evenly struck and smoothly worn, the queen's visage sharply outlined, the entire reverse also well detailed for the grade, rich old gold tone, about very fine, very rare £35,000-40,000
12
†  Elizabeth I, milled coinage, gold crown, mm. lis (1567-1568), crowned bust l., rev. crowned shield of arms, wt. 2.76gms. (S.2544; N.2020/3), a couple of small creases, otherwise almost extremely fine £12,000-14,000
A charming piece and very rare.
13
Elizabeth I, milled coinage (1561-1570), gold halfcrown, mm. lis, crowned bust l., in elaborate dress and long hair, low ruff exposing the queen's ear, rev. crowned square shield of arms dividing E R, serrated edge, wt. 1.4gms. (S.2545; N.2021; Schneider 764), very faint traces of repair above the bust and on the corresponding area on the reverse, otherwise very fine or better, exceedingly rare £7500-8500
Very few specimens known.
14
James I, second coinage, spur-ryal of 15 shillings, mm. rose (1605-06), crowned figure of king with sword and shield stg. facing in ship with rose on side and flag featuring I insignia flying from forecastle, rev. floriated cross with a lis at end of each limb, rose on spur-rowel at centre, in each angle a lion passant crowned, all within a tressure of eight arches, wt. 6.83gms. (S.2614; N.2080; Schneider 11), extremely fine with sharply struck features, on a broad flan with complete rims, fully detailed legends and a sensitive portrayal of the king's bearded face, a classic of the English Renaissance, in all, a lovely example £40,000-50,000
* ex Hazeldine Collection
  ex Ryan Collection, Glendining, 28/6/1950, lot 364 (the best of his three ship ryals)
  ex Norweb, lot 388, Spink, 13 November 1985
15
†  James I, third coinage, laurel, mm. lis (1623-1624), fourth laur. bust l., mark of value behind, rev. long cross fleury over crowned shield of arms (S.2638C; N.2114), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 55 £2250-2750
16
†  James I, second coinage, halfcrown, mm. escallop, king on horseback r., rev. garnished shield of arms (S.2653; N.2098), about fine, very rare £1500-2000
17
Charles I, unite, Tower mint, mm. cross calvary (1625-1626), crowned second bust l., wearing ruff and collar, mark of value behind, rev. crowned, square-topped, garnished shield (S.2687; N.2148), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 58 £2000-2500
18
†  Charles I, unite, Tower mint, mm. cross calvary (1625-1626), crowned second bust l., wearing ruff and collar, mark of value behind, rev. crowned, square-topped, garnished shield, wt. 9.04gms. (S.2687; N.2148; Schneider 121), some weakness in the legends, otherwise extremely fine with a good portrait £2250-2750
19
†  Charles I, triple unite, Oxford mint, mm. plume, 1642, crowned half-length long thin figure l., holding heavy sword close to face and short olive branch, plume behind head in field, no scarf, rev. declaration set on three wavy lines with three plumes above, with mark of value set among the plumes centred above top of scroll, date centred below scroll, wt. 27.16gms. (S.2724; N.2381), on a large flan without damage, weakly struck in places, and some weakness on the king's shoulder due to a worn die, but very little sign of wear, good very fine £55,000-65,000
*ex Beresford-Jones, lot 111
An appealing example of this first date, exceptional for grade and extremely rare.
20
†  Charles I, triple unite, Oxford mint, mm. plume, 1643, crowned taller half-length figure l., holding sword midway in field and long olive branch in left hand not touching upper shoulder, no scarf, rev. declaration on continuous scroll, three plumes above and mark of value set among the plumes, date centred below scroll, wt. 26.70gms. (S.2727; N.2382), almost very fine, reverse better, notable even wear with especially pleasing fields, lacking heavy abrasion and thus offering an exceptional portrait of the king £35,000-40,000
*ex Wayte Raymond, 18 May 1962, lot 76
  ex J. Rashleigh, 10 June 1953, lot 57
21
†  Charles I, pound, Oxford mint, mm. plume, 1642, crowned figure of king on horseback, brandishing sword, plume behind, rev. declaration in two lines, three plumes and value above, date below (S.2939; N.2399), slightly double struck, otherwise very fine £5500-6500
22
†  Charles I, Newark besieged, ninepence, 1645, arched crown between C-R, mark of value below, rev. OBS NEWARK, date below (S.3144; N.2641), weakly struck above crown, otherwise extremely fine to mint state and beautifully toned £3000-3500
An exceptional specimen and very rare thus.
*ex St James's Auction 5, 27 September 2006, lot 332
  ex Bridgewater House collection, Sotheby's, June 1972, lot 307
23
†  Charles I, Newark besieged, sixpence, 1646, arched crown between C-R, mark of value below, rev. OBS NEWARK, date below (S.3146; N.2642), a little flat in top corner, toned, very fine £1750-2250
An attractive piece.
*ex St James's Auction 5, 27 September 2006, lot 333
24
†  Charles I, Pontefract besieged, two shillings, 1648, lozenge-shaped, crown above C R with central dot, Latin legend surrounding, rev. castle gate and turrets between OBS and sword, P C above, date immediately below gate, each side encircled by a border of connected beads, wt. 9.85gms. (S.3147; N.2645 [extremely rare]), fully original flan of sound metal showing patchy toning, unusual sharpness of detail throughout, good very fine, exceedingly rare £25,000-35,000
*ex Devonshire, 1844 (lot 467)
  ex Bergne, 1873 (lot 788)
  ex Addington, 1886, purchased by Montagu, 1893
  ex Montagu part 3, 1896 (lot 642)
  ex Moon, 1901 (lot 237)
  ex Murdoch, 1903 (lot 347)
  ex St James's Auction 2, May 2005 (lot 137)
The siege of the ancient castle at Pontefract in West Yorkshire was an endurance test for the defending royalists, lasting from June 1648 through the end of March 1649, two months after King Charles was captured, tried, and executed on 30 January. The castle was held with the hope that an army being raised in Scotland by the Duke of Hamilton would arrive in time to scatter the attackers but his army was defeated before reaching Pontefract. While Cromwell's generals Rainsborough and Lambert kept their forces before the walls, attempting to allow no passage in or out, the defenders issued emergency monies for the purchase of necessities. These were almost entirely shillings fashioned from hand-cut dies and struck on pieces of silver taken from plate. Pieces struck during King Charles's life offered an image of the castle as seen here with the initials OBS for 'besieged' placed sideways along the left turret, while the legend of the other side, DVM SPIRO SPERO, translates from Latin to mean 'Whilst I live, I hope' which seems more of a plea than a stance in wartime, and in fact Pontrefract's defence was Charles's last hope for victory. So resented was the castle's resistance that the victors ordered it torn down within weeks of its fall. Of the coins made during this siege, relatively few shillings and apparently only a few two-shillings coins have survived. This is one of the most historic of all English coins.
25
†  Charles I, Pontefract besieged, shilling, 1648, lozenge-shaped, crown above C R, rev. castle between OBS and XII dividing P C, date below, wt. 5.12gms. (S.3149; N.2647), sharply struck but weak in places, virtually extremely fine for issue, rare £6500-7500
26
†  Oliver Cromwell, broad, 1656, by Thomas Simon, laur. bust l., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3225; N.2744), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Mint State 62, a handsome example with a most pleasing golden red tone, nearly as struck with deeply frosted portrait and shield, light handling in the fields, finer than many seen, rare and appealing as the first milled gold coin equivalent in value in its day to the early guinea, which would appear within a few years of this historic coinage £20,000-25,000
27
†  Charles II, crown, 1666, XVIII, elephant below, second laur. bust r., rev. crowned cruciform shields, interlinked Cs in angles, variety reading RE.X (S.3356; ESC.34), some weakness on the high points, otherwise almost extremely fine £8000-10,000
*ex Bridgewater House, lot 345
The scarcer of the two varieties of this date, this is certainly one of the finest known, with an impeccable pedigree from the Bridgewater House collection.
The first time to appear in a London saleroom for many years.
28
†  Charles II, crown, 1673/2, V. QVINTO, third laur. bust r., rev. crowned cruciform shields, interlinked Cs in angles (S.3358; ESC.48), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as About Uncirculated 53, very rare £2250-2750
29
†  William and Mary, five guineas, 1694, sexto, conjoined laur. busts r., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3422), some tiny obverse marks, otherwise extremely fine or better, rare £15,000-20,000
30
†  William III, five guineas, 1701, D. TERTIO, 'fine work', second laur. bust r., rev. crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles (S.3456), extremely fine or better with a rich red tone £17,500-20,000
31
Anne, half guinea, 1710, dr. bust l., rev. crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles (S.3575), almost extremely fine £1750-2250
32
Anne, The Peace of Utrecht, 1713, gold medal, by John Croker, laur. bust l., rev. Anne as Britannia in land and seascape, COMPOSITIS VENERANTVR ARMIS, 35mm, wt. 22.99gms. (MI 400/257; Eimer 458; vL V, 230), light scuff marks and bruises, otherwise very fine £2000-2500
The gold medals were distributed (at public expense) to members of both Houses of Parliament.
33
†  George II, pattern halfcrown, 1731, young laur. and dr. bust l., rev. crowned cruciform shields, plain angles (S.3691; ESC.594), extremely fine or better £3500-4500
34
†  George II, proof halfcrown, 1746, VICESIMO, old laur. and dr. bust l., rev. crowned cruciform shields (S.3696; ESC.608), toned, good extremely fine or better £1800-2200
35
†  George III, pattern 'Military' guinea, 1813, by Lewis Pingo after Marchant, short-haired laur. bust r. with long bow down neck, within a border of denticles, rev. crowned royal crest with legend of the Order of the Garter surrounding, date divided as 18 13 immediately below, legend in small letters encircling with beaded border, curved grained edge (W&R.115 [R7] - 1 or 2 known [incorrect photos in W&R]), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Proof 63 CAMEO, boldly detailed and thoroughly delightful in appearance, an exceedingly rare pattern in choice state £30,000-35,000
36
†  George III, guinea, 1813, sixth laur. head r., rev. crowned shield of arms within Garter (S.3730), almost extremely fine £2000-2500
Known as the 'military' guinea, this was used as payment to the troops in the Napoleonic wars.
37
†  George III, Bank of England, pattern 5 shillings and sixpence, 1811, in copper, laur. bust l., rev. BANK/TOKEN/5S. 6D./1811 within wreath (ESC.206; L&S.126), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Proof 64 Brown £800-1000
38
†  George III, Bank of England, pattern 5 shillings and sixpence, 1811, in copper, laur. bust l., rev. BANK/TOKEN/5S. 6D./1811 within oak wreath (ESC.206; L&S.126), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Proof 63 Brown £800-1000
39
†  George III, Bank of England, uniface pattern 5 shillings and sixpence (1811), in copper, laur. bust l. (cf.L&S.126), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 64 Brown £500-550
40
†  George III, proof penny, 1797, struck in silver, dr. bust r., rev. Britannia seated l. with shield and trident (P.1139; S.3777), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Proof 63 CAMEO, extremely rare £2500-3000
Peck lists this variety as struck in whitemetal only.
41
†  George III, mule penny, obverse dated 1806, reverse dated 1805, laur. bust r., rev. Britannia std. l., holding trident and olive branch (P.1336; cf. S.3780), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 62 Brown, extremely rare £1500-2000
42
†  George III, mule penny, 1806, laur. bust r., date below, rev. laur. bust r. (P.1340; cf. S.3780/6620), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 58 Brown, extremely rare £1500-2000
The 'reverse' is struck from an obverse die of the current 1805 Irish penny.
43
†  George III, pattern crown, 1817, by W. Wyon, the 'Incorrupta Crown', laur. head r., date below, W. WYON below truncation, rev. crowned shield of arms, edge plain (ESC.229 [R4]; L&S.159), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Proof 65, beautifully toned, extremely rare £30,000-35,000
*ex Willis II, Glendining's, October 1991, lot 465
  ex Ariagno, Goldbergs, June 1999 lot 1838 (back cover picture)
  ex Kardatzke III, Goldbergs, June 2000, lot 4663 (front cover picture)
  ex St James's Auction 1, October 2004, lot 520
Only 18 silver and 7 gold proof examples struck.
This is one of the two 1817 pattern crowns designed and engraved by a young William Wyon as entries in a competition for the production of a new crown coinage for Great Britain to begin in 1818. This would be the first crown coinage struck by the new Tower Hill Mint's steam presses which began striking other coins in 1816.
As all students and collectors of British coinage know, William Wyon went on to a very successful career as the chief engraver for the British Empire, but at this point in his life, having recently gained an assistantship at the Mint under his cousin, Chief Engraver Thomas Wyon, William was in a competitive battle with a foreigner, Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, whose beautiful engravings had caught the eye of Sir Joseph Banks, an influential friend of the Master of the Mint.
After Thomas Wyon's death in 1817, Banks determined to make Pistrucci his successor as chief engraver but ran into problems as the law prohibited a foreigner from holding the position. Since the government had decided to produce a new Crown coinage in 1818, both men, Wyon and Pistrucci, were tasked with producing samples for the new coinage. As is well known, Pistrucci ultimately won that competition with his design of St. George and the dragon which appeared on the new crown series of 1818-1820.
However, William Wyon's design entries, the Incorrupta crown in this lot, as well as the 1817 Three Graces Pattern, show clearly the talents for design and engraving that would shortly put an end to Pistrucci's coinage ambitions, catapult William to fame during the reigns of George IV and, most importantly, Queen Victoria, and establish him forever as one of the pre-eminent engravers in the history of coinage.
The popular name of this crown, 'Incorrupta', derives from the reverse legend, in Latin, which translates as 'An Untarnished Faith', or roughly 'A Faith that is Beyond Corruption' or incorruptible. A superb example of this famous rarity with its masterful bust of George III, it exhibits lovely bluish purplish toning acquired over centuries, and its fields and devices show very few distractions and no wear. NGC has graded it PF65, equivalent to gem proof in the American system, FDC in the British. It is the finest graded at NGC and tied for finest at PCGS, the two main US grading services. Its rarity and outstanding condition for a 200-year old coin combine to make this a prize for the advanced collector of British crowns. That this coin's prior ownership traces to a set of very discriminating collectors also attests to its desirability as does its appearance on the back and front covers of two previous auctions. When bidding on this coin, remember that it is almost impossible to find early 19th century proof coins in such a state of preservation given the sensitivity of proof surfaces and the lack of concern about handling and surface marks that characterized the habits of past generations of collectors.
44
†  George III, crown, 1818, LIX, laur. head r., rev. St. George and dragon (S.3787; ESC.214), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 65 £1750-2250
*ex Millennia Collection
45
†  George III, crown, 1819, LIX, laur. head r., rev. St. George and the dragon (S.3787; ESC.215), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Mint State 65 £1750-2250
46
†  George III, pattern crown, undated (1820), by Webb and Mills for Mudie, laur. head r., rev. crowned, cruciform shields, rose, thistle, shamrock and prancing horse in angles (ESC.221; L&S.214; KM.Pn880), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Proof 63 £1750-2250
47
George III, The Beilby Porteus medal of Christ's College, Cambridge, 1808, in gold, by J. Phillp, laur. bust l., rev. main gateway and façade of the College, awarded 1846 and named on edge to Joseph Richards, 49mm, wt. 84.41gms. (BHM 634; JT 29b), scuffed and edge 'gouge' at 3 o'clock, otherwise very
fine £2000-2500
48
G  George IV, proof five pounds, 1826, bare head l., rev. crowned shield of arms over mantle, SEPTIMO in raised letters on edge (S.3797; W&R.213 [R3 - very rare]), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Proof 65, a splendid coin in every way, virtually as struck for the sets of this year, with deeply mirrored fields and a perfect proof impression of the dies, lovely gold colour – not only wonderful in its own right but also among the finest certified pieces in a truly elusive '65' holder! £35,000-45,000
49
George IV, pattern or trial two pounds in copper, 182- (1824-26), by William Wyon after Chantrey's model, uniface obverse striking, bare head l., edge reads DECUS ET TUTAMEN.ANNO REGNI NONO., floriated stops (Nobleman 130 [part]), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 64 Brown £750-850
50
George IV, pattern or trial two pounds in copper, 182- (1824-26), by William Wyon after Chantrey's model, uniface reverse striking, crowned shield of arms over mantle, edge reads DECUS ET TUTAMEN.ANNO REGNI NONO., floriated stops, in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 63 Brown £750-850
Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Sale 26 (Coins of the World)
Auctioneer: St. James’s Auctions Ltd (Knightsbridge Coins) Location: Cavendish Hotel, 81 Jermyn Street, St James’s, London SW1
Contact: Tel: 020 7930 7597
Date: 5th March 2014 Time: 1:30PM
Details: Monday 3rd - Tuesday 4th March
10.30am to 4.30pm

Viewing at other times by appointment
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