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Admiral Edward Vernon, the capture of Porto Bello, bronze/pinchbeck medal, 1739, half-length figure three-quarters l., rev. ships enter harbour, WITH SIX SHIPS ONLY, 39.5mm., pierced and portrait rubbed; together with medallets (2) of William and Mary and Mary alone, the so-called pattern farthings; and a halfpenny token of John Jervis, all fine (4) £30-50
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The Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, silver medal, by William Wyon, awarded 1829 to 'Miss Mintorn – For an Original Group of Portraits in Miniature', Mercury and Minerva, conjoined busts l., rev. engraved inscription within and around wreath, 52mm., good very fine, deeply toned £120-160
Miss Mintorn, of Woodfield Cottage, Bristol, had won a similar medal the previous year for 'an original portrait in miniature'. She was the daughter of John Mintorn (1773 - 1870), a Bristol artist, dealer and the owner of a 'revolving library and bookshop' at 43 College Green, Bristol. His sons, John and Horatio became very well-known as artists and modellers of botanical subjects in wax and Miss Mintorn, by now Mrs. Mogridge, worked with them (Pyke, p. 93).
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Victoria, Visit to the Guildhall, 1837, copper medal, by William Wyon, for the Corporation of the City of London, diademed bust l., rev. façade of the Guildhall with large flag flying, 55mm. (BHM.1775; Eimer 1304), some spotting on obverse, otherwise as struck £80-120
This medal is the first appearance of the diademed portrait that was soon to be adapted for the Penny Black postage stamp.
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Royal Humane Society, instituted 1774, small copper (unsuccessful) medal, 1867, by W. J. Taylor, after Benedetto Pistrucci, a scarce double award, cherub protects the flame of life, LATEAT SCINTILLVLA FORSAN, rev. oak wreath, legend around, HOC PRETIVM CIVE SERVATO TVLIT, named on edge, 'Patrick O'Connor, 12 May 1881', 38mm., with original ribbon and suspender and 2nd award clasp engraved '17 Nov. 1884' (MYB L1), about extremely fine £100-150
Medal, issue no. 21276 'River Thames'; clasp, 22607 'River Thames Horsleydown'.
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L'exposition Universelle Internationale, Paris, 1867, copper medal 'Pour Services Rendus', awarded to Major-General Sir John William Gordon, KCB (1805-1870), by H. Ponscarme, laur. head l., rev. Napoleonic eagle between two winged cherubs holding a named tablet, 67.5mm. (Divo 539), extremely fine £80-120
Major-General Sir John William Gordon, KCB (1805-1870), was the Inspector-General of Engineers and later commanded the Royal Engineers. He received this medal for his work on the British Pavilion at the Exhibition.
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The Times Newspaper, Centenary, silver medal, 1885, by Strongi'tharm, conjoined busts of three generations of the Walters family r., rev. the Times clock heading, BEARWOOD, 45mm. (BHM.3202; Eimer 1712), in case, virtually mint state £80-120
The figures are all named John Walters - the founder (1739-1812), his second son (1776-1847) and the latter's eldest son (1818-1894). Bearwood was the family home.
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Victoria, Eisteddfod Prize, an old head crown, the reverse smoothed and engraved EISTEDDFOD / GWYNFE / MAWRTH 2L 1896, with foliate scrolls above and below, about very fine, a rare memento £40-60
Capel Gwynfe is a small village about 3 miles from Llangadog in Carmarthenshire. Mawrth 2L – March 2nd.
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Life Saving: Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, established 1835, Marine Medal, in silver, by William Wyon, named on edge, 'To David A. Wilson. For Gallant Service. 3/4/1931', life-saving scene, rev. liver-bird within wreath, 39mm., scroll suspender and silver buckle clasp, matt surface, extremely
fine £150-200
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Our Royal Sovereigns, a set of seventy gilt-silver sovereign-size medals, Wiglaf to Elizabeth II, each with portrait obverse and armorial shield on reverse, each approx. 21.5mm. and weighing 4.43gms., hallmark on edge, contained in two fitted trays in wood cabinet, mint state (70) £200-250
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Elizabeth II, 'Britannia Masterpiece', 2011, issued by The Royal Mint, a massive 10 ounce pure gold medal, by Robert Evans, Britannia, brandishing her sword, stands before an abandoned Roman building, armoured trophies in two of its arches, rev. Britannia, the wheels of industry in her skirts, three sailing ships beyond, demonstrating her mastery over the waves, 65mm., wt. 313gms., hallmarked on edge as 999 fine, with certificate (numbered 21 of an issue of only 25 specimens), with historical details of Britannia on Britain's coinage; in fitted lacquered wood case with folding display section, and outer card box, matt surface, mint state £6000-7000
| Foreign Medals | |
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France, General Lafayette, bronze medal, 1791, by Dumarest, bust l., rev. legend within wreath, 35mm. (Julius 183), minor verdigris on edge, about extremely fine £50-60
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France, Napoleon, Marriage to Marie-Louise of Austria, 1810, gold medal, by Andrieu and Galle, jugate busts r., rev. the couple standing by altar at l., 15mm., wt. 2.8gms. (Br.956; Julius 2265), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 55 £220-250
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France, Louis XVIII, miniature gold medal, c.1815, for the Accession, signed D.D.R.G.F, bust r., rev. crowned double-L cipher in spray, 12mm., wt. 2.41gms., very fine £75-100
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France, Napoleon III, école Communale de Dessin, Nimes, gold prize medal, 1859, by H. Ponscarme, awarded to Henri Audibert, bare head l., engraved presentation inscription within wreath, 28mm., wt. 14.10gms. (cf. Divo 281 for obv. image), extremely fine £380-420
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France, Napoleon III, gold medal, 1860, Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Public Works, by A-A. Caqué, Concourse Régional – Troyes, Animaux Repros', bare head l., rev. legend within and around wreath, 33.5mm., wt. 24.9gms. (cf. Divo 281 for obv. image), choice, virtually mint state £500-600
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Sport, France: Olympic Games, Paris, 1924, Second Place Winner's silver medal, by André Rivaud, un-named, a winning athlete helping fallen athlete, rev. legend on tablet, sports equipment around, 55.5mm., in red leather case of issue, virtually mint state, choice, extremely rare £1500-2000
Only 304 specimens struck.
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Germany, Hamburg, copper tribute medal to Dr. Gabriel Riesser (1806-1863), 1836, by Loos and Held, allegorical group showing Jewish and Christian infants with divine mother, rev. legend in six lines, 60mm. (Gaed. 2064; J&F.2862), small piercing at 12 o'clock, some light edge bruising, good very fine £70-90
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Germany, Regensburg, Sede Vacante, 1763, silver medal, by J. C. Busch and J. L. Oexlein, arms surrounded by 15 shields, rev. view of Regensburg cathedral, 55mm., extremely fine £80-100
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Italy, Mantua, Alfonso V of Aragon, King of Naples (1396-1458), cast bronze portrait medal, c. 1458, by Cristoforo di Geremia (active 1456-1475), armoured bust r., resting on a crown, the armour decorated a Medusa head and two winged genii holding a medallion of a centaur carrying a nymph, ALFONSVS REX REGIBVS IMPERANS ET BELLORVM VICTOR, rev. Alfonso enthroned holding sword and orb, crowned by Mars and Bellona, VICTOREM REGNI MARS ET BELLONA CORONANT (Mars and Bellona crown the victor of the realm), signed on exergual line, CHRISTOPHORVS HIERIMIA 74.5mm. (Hill, Corpus 754; Armand I, 31, 1; Pollard (2007), 240; Kress 210; Pollard, Bargello 156; Börner 279; Johnson/Martini 99-100; Scher 35; John R. Gaines [Morton & Eden, 21 April, 2005], lot 7), on thick (approx. 6mm.) flan, an early, though not contemporary cast, very
fine £500-800
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Italy, the Two Sicilies, Francesco I di Borbone, the Provincial Council of Palermo, copper medal, 1825, by the Costanza brothers, struck in Palermo, conjoined busts r. of Francesco and Queen Maria Isabella, rev. classical figures greet the Royal couple, SICILIENSIVM AMOR, 57.5mm. (Ricciardi 134; D'Auria 149), struck from breaking dies with distinct crease, bad edge knock on reverse at 10 o'clock, very fine £80-120
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Sport, Netherlands: Olympic Games, Amsterdam, 1928, bronze participation medal, unsigned [by J. C. Wienecke], naked male and female athletes stand on podium, holding a torch over the Olympic flame, rev. Nike over Marathon Tower, stadium and flags, shield of Amsterdam between two hemispheres, 55.5mm., virtually mint state, choice £140-180
5,901 specimens struck (for 2,971 participants).
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Portugal, The Virgin Mary, Patron Saint of Portugal, gold medal, 1946, restruck in 1947, celebrating the three-hundredth anniversary of her solemn consecration by John IV, honouring the restoration of national independence, statue of the Virgin with her associated symbols, rev. coin-like design of crowned arms on cross, 69.65gms., 43mm., extremely fine £4000-5000
Only 35 examples struck.
*ex Numisma Auctions, December 2002
ex Collection Rive Gauche
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South Africa, President Paul Kruger, Opening of the Pretoria to Delagoa Bay Railway, 1895, bronze medal, by J. P. M. Menger, bust of Kruger l., rev. winged wheel within legend, 44mm. (Hern 16); Moyaux 52; BDM IV, 26; BM Acq 1983-1987, pl.107, 3; Swan 405-406), extremely fine £120-160
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South Africa, President Paul Kruger, Death, 1904, bronze medal, by Begeer, issued by De Volksstem newspaper, bust of Kruger l., SJP KRUGER, STAATS PRESIDENT DER Z.A. REPUBLIEK 1883-1900 around, rev. VOLKSSTEM AANDENKEN BEGRAFENIS VAN DE GROTE AFRIKANER PAUL KRUGER TE PRETORIA DEC 1904, 28.5mm. (Hern 384), with suspension loop and ring, black ribbon bow attached, good very fine, scarce £50-80
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USA, The Humane Society of Massachusetts, instituted 1785, copper medal, awarded 1819 [?], to …. PREBLE, by C. Schollan and Charles Cushing Wright, a boat with survivors from a distant shipwreck is hauled ashore next to a little 'house of refuge', marked SUCCOUR, with smoke rising from chimney, rev. legend and central engraved inscription, 51mm. (cf. J. J. Ford V, 12 Oct, 2004, lots 281 & 282), the medal itself appears to have been shipwrecked, fair to fine and the legend mostly illegible, however extremely rare £80-120
The Humane Society of Massachusetts established a system of refuge huts along isolated beaches, fitted with firewood and provisions for survivors until local townspeople could come to their rescue. The first such hut was placed at Scituate Beach in 1787 and by 1806, there were 18 along the coast and on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
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USA, Rhode Island, copper 'Ship' token, a 20th century copy of the 18th century token, made for Horace M. Grant, map of Aquidneck, rev. ship sailing r., HMG in sea, 32mm. (cf. Eimer 783; cf. Betts 562), very fine with clear images, rare £60-80
This copy was made in 1936 by the Robins Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts for Horace M. Grant, the owner of a hobby shop at 109 Empire Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
| Foreign Coins | |
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1860/5, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), light marks in fields, very fine and extremely rare – very few examples known £600-700
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1866, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), about mint state £550-650
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1866, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), good fine £200-250
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1867, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), a couple of tiny edge nicks, about extremely fine £400-500
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1868, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), fine £200-250
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereigns, 1868 (2), Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), both fine (2) £400-450
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G Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1870, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10), some very light scuffs, otherwise practically mint state £1000-1200
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G Australia, Victoria, half sovereign, 1857, Sydney mint, inverted A for V in VICTORIA, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA crowned within wreath (KM.3; Fr.10a), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Very Fine Details, surface hairlines, extremely rare £1200-1500
The variety unlisted.
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G Australia, Victoria, half sovereign, 1862, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA crowned within wreath (KM.3; Fr.10a), about very fine, scarce £150-200
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G Australia, Victoria, half sovereign, 1864, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA crowned within wreath (KM.3; Fr.10a), fine £150-200
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Australia, George V, florin, 1918M, crowned bust l., rev. shield of arms with supporters (KM.27), toned, good very fine £60-80
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\† Australia, George V, proof florin, 1927, crowned bust l., rev. Parliament House (KM.31), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Proof 66 £12,500-15,000
One of the finest known – catalogues at A$70,000.
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Australia, George V, threepence, 1921, crowned bust l., rev. shield of arms with supporters (KM.24), extremely fine £120-150
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Austria, Salzburg, Johann Ernst, thaler, 1690, Madonna and child above cardinal's hat and shield of arms, rev. St. Rupert over shield of arms (KM.254; Dav.3510), extremely fine £200-240
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Austria, Salzburg, Hieronymus, Count von Colleredo-Waldsee, thaler, 1777M, bust r., M below, rev. crowned mantled shield of arms (KM.435; Dav.1263), extremely fine or better £200-240
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Austria, Republic, 25 schillings, 1957, Mariazell Basilica Centennial, value surrounded by 9 shields, rev. view of the basilica (KM.2883), about uncirculated £40-60
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Austria, Republic, proof 25 schillings, 1964, value within circle of 9 shields, rev. head of Franz Grillparzer r. (KM.2895.2), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Proof 63, an error issue £100-150
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Belgium, Brabant, Jeanne and Wenceslas (1355-1383), pieter d'or, St. Peter holding book and key above shield of arms rev. ornate cross (Delm.45; Fr.11), carefully mounted in a claw frame with pin brooch setting, the coin with a small edge knock on reverse, otherwise extremely fine £500-600
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Bolivia, Carlos III, 8 reales, 1780PR, Potosi, laur. bust r., rev. crowned arms (KM.55; Cal.8320; CCT.883), extremely fine £700-800
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Bolivia, Carlos IV, 8 reales (2): 1792PR; 1806PJ, Potosi, laur. bust r., rev. crowned arms (KM.73; Cal.9940/10034; CCT.669/684), the first a little weak and with traces of peripheral encrustation, both nearly extremely fine (2) £250-350
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Bolivia, Ferdinand VII, 8 reales, 1813PJ, Potosi laur. bust r., rev. crowned arms (KM.84; Cal.11803; CCT.528), nearly extremely fine £200-220
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Bolivia, Republic, boliviano, 1871PTS FP, crossed flags and weapons behind shield of arms, rev. denomination within wreath (KM.155.3), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 62 £100-150
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Brazil, Maria I, 6400 reis, 1795R, Rio, bust r., rev. crowned ornate shield (KM.226.1; Fr.87), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 62 £650-750
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Brazil, Maria I, 6400 reis, 1801R, Rio, bust r., rev. crowned ornate shield (KM.226.1; Fr.87), in plastic holder, graded by NGC as Mint State 62 £800-900
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