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Lot 56
British Coins, Charles II, hammered coinage (1660-1662), first issue, unite, mm. crown, laur. bust l., without mark of value, rev. crowned oval garnished shield, CR at sides, wt. 9.07gms. (S.3301; N.2753), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 62, an exceptionally fine example of the transitional coinage made just prior to the introduction of the milled coins, the flan essentially perfect with no cracks or flaws, the toothed rims unusually full and well detailed, the royal portrait generally bold though lacking in fine details on the face due to striking, reverse well centred and sharp except for an area to left of the shield, the legends clear and well detailed, and the surfaces free from abuse while retaining considerable lustre, certainly one of the finest known
Lot 305
World Coins, Switzerland, Chur abbey, Joseph Benedict von Rost (bishop 1728-1754), 8 ducats, 1747, cloaked bust r., rev. ornate central shield of arms surmounted by mitre, wt. 27.54gms. (Fr.218), certified and graded by NGC as Mint State 60, highly lustrous and well detailed, very rare (R5) and the only year of issue for this elegant type coin Chur in eastern Switzerland, now the capital of canton Graubunden, has existed since Roman times and has been the seat of dozens of Catholic bishops since the early Middle Ages. It is believed that the first bishop was in fact Saint Lucius, an obscure king of England who died at Chur about the year AD 176. Over time, the bishops acquired considerable temporal or civic power until the town became part of the Holy Roman Empire, and by the 12th century its bishops were selected in turn by either the emperor or the pope. Chur remains a diocese to this day, overseen by a bishop.
Lot 72
British Coins, Anne, threepences (2): 1706; 1708, bust l., rev. crowned mark of value (S.3596A,B), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 64 and About Uncirculated 58 respectively; George III, fourpence, 1786, bust r., rev. crowned mark of value (S.3750), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 65+ (3)
Lot 73
British Coins, George II, twopence; penny, 1743, bust l., rev. crowned mark of value (S.3714A, 3715A), certified and graded by PCGS as About Uncirculated 55 and About Uncirculated 58 respectively; George III, ‘wire money’ pennies, 1792 (2), bust r., rev. crowned mark of value (S.3760), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 64 and Mint State 63 (4)
Lot 51
British Coins, Oliver Cromwell, crown, 1658/7, by Thomas Simon, laureate draped bust l, rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3226; ESC.10; Bull 240), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 62, evenly and sharply impressed, handsome old grey toning, advanced die-break across the Protector’s throat, one of the better seen examples of this classic first milled crown
Lot 168
British Coins, George V, sixpence, 1911: lead impression from an obverse matrix, before hardening for use, the coinage bust l., with full legend, on a wide (33.26mm.) and thick (4.60mm.) planchet, extremely fine *ex Colin Mackennal Kraay Collection and Baldwin’s vault ‘From the first matrix of 31 January 1911 two punches were made but it was found that the dies sunk from these punches did not coin well. A new matrix was accordingly made with a flatter table and with the King’s neck modified after the style of the halfcrown. This second matrix was finished on 28 February 1911 and punches from it were completed on 8th and 10th March. Since the lead impression shows the altered neck, it cannot be from the first matrix. Nor, unfortunately, do its striations match those of the second matrix, but this nevertheless remains the most likely source for the impression. Subsequent treatment of the matrix, which remained in use for several years, may well have changed its pattern of striations, though this cannot now be established with certainty since the punches of 8 and 10 March have not survived.’
Lot 323
Commemorative Medals, Russia, Alexander III, the Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928), national gold medal for Good Behaviour and Success in Sciences, undated, by Avenir Crigorievich Griliches (1849-1905), bust of Empress r., rev. Minerva stands with lamp and wreath, by owl and emblems of learning, 33mm., wt. 25.58gms. (Diakov 909.9; Sm.1107/a), minor scuffs, extremely fine, the reverse with peripheral red bloom
Lot 180
British Coins, France, Bordeaux, Société Philamathique de Bordeaux, XIIIe exposition de Bordeaux, silvered bronze medal, 1895, by Adolphe Rivet, bust of Burdigala l., rev. semi-draped female writes on tablet, 43.67mm., very fine*ex Colin Mackennal Kraay Collection and Baldwin’s vault This unrelated medal has always been kept with the Mackennal trials - perhaps he attended the Exhibition. It is offered here simply as an associated item.
Lot 230
World Coins, Austria, Maria Theresia, 5 ducats, 1754, Vienna, draped bust r., rev. crowned double eagle, value in cartouche beneath royal shield (Fr.402), certified by NGC as About Uncirculated Details - Obverse Tooled, nonetheless an impressive piece, boldly detailed, almost perfectly centred, retaining much lustre and pleasing overall, rare
Lot 165
British Coins, George V, half sovereign, 1911: lead impression from the obverse matrix of 3 January, 1911, before it was ready for use, the coinage bust l., with full legend, on a wide (25.63mm.) and thick (3.95mm.) planchet, extremely fine*ex Colin Mackennal Kraay Collection and Baldwin’s vault‘After the matrix was hardened two punches were immediately raised from it, but about the 18th March 1911 the matrix was softened and an alteration made to the King’s neck. The lead impression shows the prominent neck muscle which the alteration was intended to modify and it is therefore clear that the impression was taken before 18th March. This is confirmed by the fact that the striations on its surface match those on the two punches which were raised in January 1911 but no longer match those on the matrix, the subsequent treatment to the surface of the matrix in March having left a different pattern of polishing lines.’
Lot 228
World Coins, Austria, Salzburg, Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, 4 ducats, 1616, tonsured and bearded bust r. in cloak, rev. two facing saints seated among religious relics, date in Roman numerals at end of surrounding legend (Fr.705), certified and graded by NGC as Mint State 62+, a lovely example, highly lustrous and boldly struck on a superb round flan, minor abrasions from four centuries of collector handling, one of the finest to be found, very rare
Lot 70
British Coins, Anne, guinea, 1703, VIGO, dr. bust l., rev. crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles (S.3563), certified and graded by PCGS as About Uncirculated 50, a handsome example of this classic war-booty rarity, retaining some lustre and displaying even wear but no damage, as well as only light abrasions, the queen’s portrait especially appealing, well balanced and centred, the reverse sharply and evenly struck and, again, well centred; in all, a fine example, and extremely rare The British capture of Spanish gold at Vigo Bay resulted in the celebratory issue of coins commemorating the victorious action, almost all of which were silver coins. A tiny amount of gold was among the booty; it is evident that over the centuries quite a few of the issued coins struck in gold bearing the VIGO hallmark were lost to melting before their rarity was appreciated. Fewest struck and rarest of these is the 5 guineas, but the other two denominations bearing the hallmark, the guinea and its half, are both elusive.
Lot 69
British Coins, Anne, five guineas, 1703, SECVNDO, VIGO, dr. bust l., rev. crowned cruciform shields, rose in centre, sceptres in angles (S.3561; cf. Schneider 523: on this specimen the hallmark is higher and closer to the queen’s shoulder), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 62, some light marks on bust prevents this from grading 63-64, the queen’s portrait boldly detailed and superbly centred (note the placement of the hallmark), the royal shield similarly sharp and centred, much lustre remaining, surfaces showing light abrasions in the soft gold but no damage; in all, one of the finest surviving examples of this great rarity, a spectacular mint state example Curiously, three variant positions of the hallmark are now known to exist, of which the variety seen on the present specimen appears to be the rarest. As the coin was struck in extremely limited numbers, according to all historical accounts, this represents quite an opportunity for research to explain how three obverse dies were created. The most recent history of the Royal Mint, edited by C. E. Challis, underscores the mint’s considerable need for gold specie at this time. Just as Anne assumed the throne, the War of Spanish Succession broke out, in 1702; it was a battle for dominance in much of Europe between two sets of allies (and old enemies), England and the Dutch Republic, against the hated French and the Bourbon Spanish. Hard money ruled the day, not credit nor good will. The vigours of war were upon the British just as the coffers of the Bank of England suffered from a lack of gold. Fate, however, was about to intervene in a battle which no one could have predicted to become memorable. The result was more patriotically stimulating than financially helpful, yet its influence was considerable. The action commenced when a fleet of Anglo-Dutch warships tried to seize Cadiz in mid-September 1702, but the attempt was a failure. The commander of the fleet, Admiral Sir George Rooke, had just turned in disgust to begin his homeward journey when he was informed by spies that a Spanish treasure fleet was known to have recently anchored at Vigo Bay on the northwest shore of Spain. Rooke’s warships turned about quickly. What was at hand, he had learned quite unexpectedly, was an armada of Spanish ships carrying gold and silver specie mined in colonial Mexico. Spies informed Rooke that the fleet had sailed from Veracruz protected by a French squadron of fifteen warships, and that three galleons were loaded with silver and gold. Frigates and support ships added up to what must surely have seemed a daunting fleet of 56 vessels, many carrying merchandise intended for sale in Spain – all of them now moored in Vigo Bay. Eager for booty, Rooke did not hesitate to engage the enemy. A furious naval battle was fought on 23 October and the victory this time was England’s despite a forbidding boom consisting of heavy chain and timber that stretched across the entrance to the bay, as well as a battery of cannons, meant to block and defeat any attack. But the allies’ men o’ war crashed through the boom with little difficulty. To stall the advance, the Spanish even set fire to one of their own vessels, alongside the Dutch admiral’s flagship, intending to burn the Dutch ship. The Spanish ship, however, was loaded with snuff from the Indies, and it blew up! Rooke’s engagement was successful. The Spaniards’ cannons were overcome. The boom intended to block passage to the harbour was broken through. With all resistance gone, the Anglo-Dutch warships sailed right towards the docked Spanish ships, easily destroying or capturing the remaining enemy ships. In a day and a half, the Battle of Vigo Bay had been won, and the booty was ready to be seized. It was a tremendous victory! Jubilation reigned until the English discovered that most of the ships’ holds were nearly empty, that the treasure from the New World mines had been unloaded and carted away before they arrived at Vigo. Nevertheless, winning the battle was a significant moment in the war and what remained of the specie was taken and delivered to the Royal Mint. Although it fell far short of expectations, and was not in the form of New World cobs, most of the booty was a hefty 4,500 pounds of silver that had been ornaments and ‘plate’ belonging to the Spanish and French officers. Challis notes, as have previous chroniclers, that the gold specie weighed just 7 pounds, 8 ounces. It has long been believed that, from this small amount, all British gold coins given the boasting hallmark VIGO were minted: a mere handful of the large 5-guineas, it is said, as well as a small number of the two other denominations, guineas and half-guineas. The coins’ celebrity has only intensified through the centuries. Just as they were about to be minted, however, Queen Anne issued a royal warrant authorising their creation in which she poignantly stated that the VIGO hallmark would be applied to the coins so as to ‘Continue to Posterity the Remembrance of that Glorious Action’ at Vigo Bay. And, indeed, Anne’s Vigo coinage remains some of the most desirable of all British coins.The finest graded
Lot 160
British Coins, Victoria, proof set, 1893, crown to threepence, veiled bust l., rev. various (S.PS.8), all deeply toned and certified and graded by PCGS as follows: crown, Proof 65 Cameo; halfcrown, Proof 66 Deep Cameo; florin, Proof 64; shilling, Proof 65; sixpence, Proof 65+ Cameo and threepence, Proof 64 (6)
Lot 81
British Coins, George I, halfpenny, 1718, R over B on reverse, laur. bust r., rev. Britannia std. l., with shield and spear (S.3659), some rubbing on the highest points, otherwise choice with much original lustre, certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 64 Brown, possibly the finest known of this variety and very rare
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110041 item(s)/page