Lockdales Auctions

Founded in 1996, Lockdale Coins Ltd started out as a specialist coin dealers with a retail shop in Ipswich. In 1997, and with militaria and collectables expert James Sadler on board, they decided to start their own auction house in Suffolk.

The first Suffolk auction of just five hundred lots took place in July 1997. By 1998, they went on to open a second shop in Lowestoft and, in 2003, a third in Cambridge. In 2005, Lockdale Coins began holding Valuation Day Roadshows, with a team of experts travelling all over the country acquiring consignments for their expanding calendar of auctions.

By the end of 2006, a decision was made to concentrate entirely on auctions and they expanded into three neighbouring units on Upper Orwell Street in Ipswich, while conducting auctions in Suffolk at local hotels.

In 2011, due to the increasing success of the auctions, Lockdale Coins made their most significant move to their current premises at Martlesham Heath, just outside Ipswich, part of the historic former Martlesham airfield, nearby BT’s Adastral Park.The premises is a fine building with spacious off-road car parking all around. Large enough to house their own sales plus run the day-to-day business of a busy auction house, this ideal location couldn't be more fit for purpose.

The ongoing success of the Valuation Days created an unexpected opportunity, with increasing numbers of visitors wishing to consign everything from unwanted jewellery and watches, to vintage toys and antiques. Consequently, in June 2011, Lockdales' Fine Sale Auction was introduced and has been expanding ever since.

Now in their 25th year, Lockdales' success has continued to grow and expand. Now boasting four different specialist auctions, to include Coins & Militaria, The Fine Sale, The Paper Sale and a stand-alone Banknote sale, 2020 saw Lockdales hold a record number of auctions culminating in a total sales figure in excess of £4.4m and auctioning over 26,800 lots.

Today, Lockdales is one of the country’s leading auctioneers of coins and militaria with a track record of achieving record-breaking auction prices, dealing with many distinguished collections by virtue of our reputation, photography, presentation and expert research.