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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
Lot 313
Commemorative Medals, Great Britain, Charles II, gold coronation medallion, 1661, crowned, draped bust r., rev. king enthroned l., crowned by Peace hovering above, EVERSO. MISSVS. SVCCVRRERE. SECLO. XXIII. APR.1661, 29mm., wt. 11.77gms. (Eimer 221), certified and graded by PCGS as Cleaned - Uncirculated Detail, scarce
Lot 164
British Coins, George V, five pounds, 1911: lead impression from the obverse matrix of 14 March, 1911, before it was ready for use, the coinage bust l., with full legend, on a wide (44.32mm.) and thick (5.69mm.) planchet, extremely fine*ex Colin Mackennal Kraay Collection and Baldwin’s vault
Lot 167
British Coins, George V, halfcrown, 1911: lead impression from the obverse matrix of 28 February, 1911, before hardening for use, the coinage bust l., with full legend, on a wide (41.56mm.) and thick (6.14mm.) planchet, extremely fine*ex Colin Mackennal Kraay Collection and Baldwin’s vault‘Before hardening this matrix was worked on to reduce the strong muscle at the back of the King’s neck. The lead impressions (lots 166 and 167) were taken before the matrix was finished and it would seem from their being numbered [separately] that they may have been taken at different stages in the alteration of the neck. There is some indication of this in the dissimilar way the two impressions have been turned, and it may also be significant that the engraving records state explicitly that the alteration to the halfcrown was intended to serve as a pattern for other denominations. Two punches from the altered matrix were finished on 10 March 1911.’
Lot 7
Ancient Coins, Roman Empire, Antoninus Pius (AD.138-161), Æ as, believed to be struck at a British travelling mint, laur. bust r., rev. BRITANNIA COS III S C, Britannia seated on rock in an attitude of sadness, wt. 12.69gms. (Sp. COE no. 646; RIC.934), patinated, almost extremely fine, an exceptional example of this very poor issue This was struck to commemorate the quashing of a northern uprising in AD.154-5 when the Antonine wall was evacuated after its construction. This issue, always poorly struck and on a small flan, is believed to have been struck with the legions.
Lot 169
British Coins, Coins, George V, Indian coinage, lead impression of the ‘intermodel’, as supplied to India for the coinage, (faintly) signed B.M. on truncation, crowned bust of the King l., wearing ermine robes and the collar of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, without legend but neatly (though faintly) incised before the bust ROYAL MINT. LONDON. 19.6.1911., on a wide (80.29mm.) and thick (6.26mm.) planchet, slight curvature to the flan and scuff marked, otherwise very fine *ex Colin Mackennal Kraay Collection and Baldwin’s vault Being the ‘intermodel’, the image is enlarged and the trunk of the elephant seems to almost join the links of the collar. When reduced this became the infamous ‘pig’ (see below). ‘The impression … corresponds to an incuse brass intermodal in the Royal Mint collection which includes the additional descriptions INDIAN “COINAGE” HEAD – 1911. and INTERMEDIATE MODEL. REDUCTION. The preparation of the steel originals is referred to in the Royal Mint Annual Report for 1911 and its arrival in India is confirmed by the Calcutta Mint Report for 1911/1912’. The report (p.4, para. 29) reads, ‘The obverse punch for the new coinage bearing the image and superscription of King George V was received from the Royal Mint, London, in July 1911, and in November and December rupees and fractional silver coins were struck and supplied to treasuries so that the first issue should be made to the public on Durbar day, the 12th December. Soon after that date complaints began to be made by various members of the about the shape of the elephant depicted on the insignia of one of the orders on the obverse of the rupee. The dies were slightly altered and in the 1912 coins the figure of the elephant is more distinct and correct in outline’.
Lot 214
World Coins, Australia, Victoria, 1887S, ‘Jubilee’ bust l., Type 1 legend, normal JEB, rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (McD.174a), choice uncirculated, extremely rare This example is superior to the one in the Quartermaster collection (lot 125) which was thought to be unique at the time. It was not in the Bentley collection and is unlisted in the Standard Catalogue.
Lot 316
Commemorative Medals, Great Britain, George VI, Coronation 1937, official small gold medal, by Percy Metcalfe, crowned bust l., rev. crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth l., 32mm., wt. 22.90gms. (BHM.4314; Eimer 2046b; Woll.29), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 63 Deep Cameo Only 422 specimens struck.
Lot 148
British Coins, Victoria, proof two pounds, 1893, milled edge, veiled bust l., rev. St. George and the dragon (S.3873; W&R.294), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65 Deep Cameo, light haziness, lovely gold colour, a premium coin which deserves close inspection, which is sure to reveal its gem status, quite rare thus As issued in the proof sets.
Lot 152
British Coins, Victoria, proof half sovereign, 1893, milled edge, veiled bust l., rev. St. George and the dragon (S.3878; W&R.363), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65 Deep Cameo, some faint hairlines in the obverse field as well as tiny scuffs in the mint frost, the reverse close to perfect, rare so fine As issued in the proof sets.
Lot 145
British Coins, Victoria, proof five pounds, 1893, milled edge, veiled bust l., rev. St. George and the dragon, tiny raised letters B.P. in exergue to right of date (S.3872; W&R.287), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65 Deep Cameo, an especially beautiful example, very near to pure or ‘as struck’ mint condition, with heavy frosting on motifs and legends set against ‘pool black’ deeply mirrored surfaces, scarce in all states of preservation but quite rare so splendid As issued in the proof sets.
Lot 710
A Carrara marble portrait double bust, early 20th century, modelled as an elderly couple, apparently unsigned, 26 by 19 by 25cm high, on a canted rectangular purple veined marble base, possibly Campan Rubane, engraved 'Goldene Hochzeit' translating frmo German to 'Golden Wedding', 26cm high overall.
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110054 item(s)/page