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Lot 2067
British Coins, James I, second coinage, spur ryal, mm. escallop (1606-1607), crowned figure of king with sword and shield stg. facing in ship, rev. spur rowel, small rose at centre, encircled by a ring of lis and crowned lions, all enclosed in beaded treasure of eight arches, wt. 6.77gms. (S.2614; N.2080), has been repaired, weak on king’s face, good fine, very rare *ex Lingford, lot 892 This mintmark is not represented in the Schneider collection. The coin is sold with an old Baldwin’s ticket pricing it at £6500.
Lot 2068
British Coins, Charles I, triple unite, Oxford mint, mm. plumelet on obverse only, 1644, small module, crowned half-length armoured bust l. holding long thin sword and olive branch, gloved hand on top of beaded circle, no scarf, diamond-shaped stops, rev. Declaration in three bands of a wavy scroll, mark of value ‘III’ centred above with three plumes around, date below with OXON underneath, wt. 26.52gms. (S.2729; N.2385 [extremely rare]; Brooker 842, this coin; Sch.304; B-J dies VIII/L8), about extremely fine, on a fully round uncracked flan, portrait of the king and much of reverse sharply detailed but softly struck in areas, as illustrated, because struck from rocker dies, no serious abrasions, pleasing gold colour *ex J. Nunn, 27 November 1896, lot 434, £12-8-0 ex O’Hagan, 16 December 1907, lot 154, £5-5-0 ex J. Dudman, 15 December 1913, lot 111, £8-12-6 ex J. Bliss, Sotheby’s, 22 March 1916, lot 347, £9 ex J. G. Brooker, SCBI, 33:842 ex Spink Numismatic Circular, February 1983, 177 ex Glendinings, 15 October 1985 ex St. James’s Auction 20, 18 November 2011, lot 55 In our modern collectors’ world, obsessed with quality, it is easy to forget that for many coins ‘MS63’ or whatever numerical grade might apply is not especially relevant to the pursuit of quality historical coinages. In the case of emergency issues or siege coins, mere survival is something of a miracle. Such coins were typically born of momentary good fortune in the face of impending doom, and survivors somehow escaped the punishments of the ages that followed their creation. Certainly this is true of the massive Triple Unites of King Charles I, each valued contemporaneously at three pounds sterling and struck in soft gold. Literally speaking, a mere handful of those created at the temporary Oxford Mint during the Civil War have survived the ages. Perplexing difficulties compromised Charles’s traditional divine right, ranging from his marriage to the Catholic princess Henrietta Maria of France to revolts in Ireland and Scotland, but most serious of all were his seemingly endless clashes with Parliament. Early in his reign he enjoyed a strong popularity with his subjects at large and with his aristocratic court, but this began to fail during the Thirty Years War, when his alliances suggested that he sided with Catholic ecclesiastics. As time went on, needing funds he reintroduced, against the wishes of Parliament, long-obsolete feudal taxes including the widely hated Ship Tax. Through his first quarter century as monarch, an unusual number of internal political/religious battles lessened his popularity while external war threatened his kingdom. At last, members of the ‘Long Parliament’ seized power in January 1642, forcing Charles to march north. He reached Nottingham by late August, then went on to Oxford, where he set up court in October and began to make ready for war. Lacking income from taxes, he had a dire need for support from local loyalists. On 26 October, the Civil War commenced at the Battle of Edgehill. In the college town of Oxford, the king found friendly souls; they must surely have been most welcome sights for the beleaguered monarch. His supporters saw first and foremost, beyond the instant need to protect the king’s person, that his cause would quickly fail without financing of his army. Lacking such aid, Charles would be captured and dethroned, and quite possibly killed. Loyalists rallied, and the king’s mint at Oxford continued to issue money in his name until sometime in May 1646. All during this time, coinage was solely the king’s prerogative, traditionally his right and his alone in the kingdom, and the history abounds with stories of college plate and other local riches being converted to money bearing the king’s name, perhaps most famous of all being his massive Triple Unites in gold, which were the ultimate pledges of his monetary power and by far the largest repositories of wealth in coinage form. Most of this money coined at Oxford saw use for procuring supplies, arms, rents and other necessities, not least of which was loyalty. The smaller denominations from Oxford and other local, temporary mints paid soldiers and bought goods for the cause. At one of the war’s early skirmishes, at Wellington, the king had urged support when he made what has come down through history to be called the Wellington Declaration. He vowed to uphold, even enforce, the Protestant religion, the laws of England, and the liberty of parliament—thereby seeking to dissuade any and all opponents that he was pro-Catholic, or a monarch who might disavow laws for his convenience. His vow became his war slogan and it appears as the central reverse inscription on this and other triple unites. Most of the war’s famous battles and sieges - at Naseby, Newark and Oxford - ended by the spring of 1646 but negotiations for peace failed and open hostilities began again in the summer of 1648, led by a Scots invasion. The Civil War ran intermittently from the autumn of 1642 until Charles was beheaded on 30 January 1649. Never before had an English king been brought to trial as a monarch, accused of treason, and executed. Although they outlived him, most of the coins made at Charles’s rudely established mints disappeared long ago. At their best, even when new, most bore witness to the anguish of the king as they were sometimes poorly engraved, unevenly struck, and blemished at issue. None of this money was likely to be saved for posterity. Some was intentionally defaced and melted by the king’s enemies. By the time the Civil War ended, the concept of monarchy had changed forever. Even the king’s centuries-old sole right to issue money had vanished. The Triple Unite we see in this lot was one of the last of its kind made at the king’s mint at Oxford - in fact, the last of the truly royal money. It remains as mute testimony to some of the nation’s most troubled times. Within five years of its creation, the kingship it proclaims had ended. The Latin legend which appears above and below the Declaration, on the reverse of this coin, expressed more hope than reality. Exurgat Deus Dissipentur Inimici translates to mean ‘Let God Arise, Let His Enemies Be Scattered’, but the royal assertion failed. Divine right was gone. The king was dead. The age-old monarchy died off with him. And yet, today’s collectors may still hold the king’s hopes in their hands, here in this golden emblem of its age.
Lot 2070
British Coins, Commonwealth, gold crown, mm. sun, 1651, English shield of arms of St. George within wreath, rev. conjoined shields of St. George and Ireland, mark of value above (S.3212; N.2719), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 62, a jewel of a specimen having a bold, even strike on each side albeit slight die-crumbling on the centre two digits of the date, choice surfaces and lovely gold toning, rare and especially so in this fine condition
Lot 21
British Coins, George IV, sovereign, 1828, bare head l., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3801), so rare a date that it is missing in almost all collections of sovereigns, even those worked on for many years, this piece showing obvious wear from commercial circulation, which to some may add to its appeal (see comments to follow), certified and graded by PCGS as About Uncirculated 50, the key date in the reign The 1828 sovereign has long been recognized as a rarity in all conditions. Marsh states that during the calendar year of 1828 most sovereigns struck by the Royal Mint bore the date 1827, and that the new obverse die bearing the date 1828 was not used until December of that year. This accounts for the small mintage of 386,182 sovereigns of this date, compared to other dates in this series having mintages ranging from about 2.2 million to more than 5.7 million. Reflecting his experience, Marsh assigned an R4 rating to this date (15 to 25 specimens known). While the overall population may be towards the high end of his estimate, the date appears infrequently enough to call it extremely rare among the gold coins of this king. And, most important of all, better grade examples are truly elusive. In point of fact, most sovereigns minted during the first four decades of the 19th century are exceptionally difficult to locate in choice, lustrous conditions, and even the seemingly common 1826 ‘bare head’ sovereign (with a mintage of more than 5.7 million) is not very often available in the best grades. Challis (A New History of the Royal Mint) offers a solid explanation, noting that contemporary accounts often mentioned the preponderance of ‘light coins’ circulating by the 1840s, meaning that the New Coinage was wearing quickly in commerce and that light, or worn, gold coins in particular represented a loss versus face value to owners. The Treasury decided to do something about the situation, Challis says (page 484), and it steadily withdrew more than fourteen million pounds’ worth of ‘light’ gold between July 1842 and March 1845, ‘roughly one-third of the total gold circulation’. All these earlier dated coins, sovereigns and their halves (‘and this exercise probably removed most of the remaining guineas’), were melted by the Royal Mint, which then replaced them with new coins. This explains the relative rarity of all of these coins today, and if an 1826 sovereign is a scarce coin then consider the magnitude of rarity of the 1828 sovereign, and in particular the exceptional coin in this lot.
Lot 2119
British Coins, William IV, sovereign, 1837, 2nd bust, rev. crowned garnished shield of arms (S.3829B), certified and graded by PCGS as MS64, lovely satiny lustre with minor abrasions in the soft gold on obverse, fully struck on reverse and superb, with a tiny die-break through the last digit of the date, another wonderful sovereign of this reign, rare thus
Lot 2122
British Coins, Victoria, sovereign, 1851, young head l., engraver’s initials W.W. in relief, rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath (S.3852C), certified and graded by PCGS as MS65, a truly beautiful coin having very little disturbance in the soft lustre on either side, the portrait and royal shield both sharply struck, rare thus and among the finest to be found
Lot 2123
British Coins, Victoria, sovereign, 1874, later young head l., engraver’s initials W.W. in relief, rev. crowned shield of arms within wreath, die number 35 (S.3853B), certified and graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 55 showing numerous abrasions in the soft gold having somewhat prooflike surfaces, both sides sharply detailed, extremely rare date of this type and also an unrecorded die number, previously the highest number being 32 in the Douro Cargo hoard
Lot 2136
Foreign Coins, China, Republic, gold ten dollars, undated (1919), Yuan Shih-kai as Hung-hsien facing l. in military uniform with shoulder epaulet as 5-star general, rev. Chinese legend above and in centre of wreath, broad border on each side (KM.Y330; LM.1030; Fr.5), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 63, a beautiful companion piece to the twenty dollars, rare
Lot 2137
Foreign Coins, China, Republic, gold five dollars, Year 1 (1916), Yuan Shih-kai as Hung-hsien facing l. in military uniform with shoulder epaulet as 5-star general, sharply denticled border, rev. curled dragon without legend, broad border with a ring of tiny beads inside (Kann 1518; LM.1113; Fr. unlisted), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 62, some abrasions in the toned gold surfaces, very rare, the inaugural year
Lot 2158
Foreign Coins, Switzerland, pattern 20 francs, 1871, engraved by Durussel, crowned head l., in circle of stars, date below, rev. HELVETIA, shield of arms between sprigs, value below (KM.Pn19; Fr.492), certified and graded by PCGS as Specimen 64, a beautiful example having a full proof impression of the dies and lovely colour, very rare Edouard Durussel (1842-1888) apprenticed in Switzerland but was trained at the Royal Mint, London, for three years; recommended by Antoine Bovy, he was employed as an engraver in Paris from 1865-67, after which he married in London and again worked as an engraver. In 1869, he settled in Berne and set up a die-sinking business, principally producing medals from 1876-88. This pattern for the gold 20 francs was one of his finest pieces, which he himself described as portraying a symbolic image of Liberty. All of his patterns are very rare, this one especially so; the dies were destroyed in 1890, shortly after Durussel’s death.
Lot 2160
Foreign Coins, Switzerland, 5 francs, 1928B, bust of William Tell r., rev. shield of arms, denomination above, date below (KM.38), faint wear, tiny abrasions, original light silvery toning, certified and graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 58 The final date of this type, very rare with a mintage of just 24,000, of which many have perished over the years - one of the truly rare modern Swiss coins.
Lot 2170
Foreign Medals, World War II, the completion of the Burma-Siam Railway, bronze medal, 1943, designed by Captain Ewart Esercitt; map of the Malay peninsular, the railway marked with a line, the Islands of Borneo and Java, to the fore the railway track recedes to the distance, to r., a palm tree, rev. legend in Japanese characters (IN COMMEMORATION OF THE BURMA-SIAM RAILWAY, SHOWA [OCTOBER] 18TH), 49mm. (Fearon, D., A Bronze Medal for the Burma-Siam Railway, 1943, Numismatic Circular, LXXXIV, January 1976, p.8), cast on a thick flan?, as made - very fine, an extremely rare and emotive medal It is not the place of an auction catalogue to record the horrors of the Burma-Siam Railway. The railway was actually completed seventy-five years ago on the 17th October 1943 and the ceremony for its opening was held a week later on the on the 25th, when a golden nail was hammered into the final section of track. Captain Charles Ewart Esercitt of the Royal Army Service Corps who commanded many of the British prisoners working on the railway and at the rail base camp at Nong Pladuk, was a talented amateur artist specialising in lino-cuts. It seems safe to attribute the medal design to him. The medal was kept as a souvenir by Pte. Frederick Arthur Knightly, RASC (T/205155), serving as a driver with 54 Infantry Brigade Group and captured at Shanghai. The medal is sold with his service medals, 1939-45 and Pacific stars and War medal, brooch mounted; dress miniatures and ribbon brooch (both these include Defence medal); duplicate Pacific star; RASC cap badge; Far East POW Social Club lapel badges (2); more recent FEPOW badges, pins, etc (8); with photocopied research. The 1976 article records three specimens and the example now in the Imperial War Museum (not on display) is believed to be one of these three. Since then the cataloguers know of only a single example being offered for sale (by private treaty some 20 years ago) and none has been offered for sale at auction. There are possibly between 5 and 10 pieces extant.
Lot 2173
Foreign Medals Russia, Paul I, silver coronation medal, 1797, by C. Leberecht, from a design by the Empress Maria Feodorovna, uniformed bust r., wearing sash, rev. plain, cross-hatched cross, 43mm. (Diakov 243.7; Reichel 2960), certified and graded by NGC as About Uncirculated 58, very rare *ex Numismatic Auctions, 30 November 2015, lot 751
Lot 219
British Coins, George IV, sixpence, 1824, laur. head l., rev. crowned shield within Garter (S.3814; ESC.1657; Bull 2425), certified and dated erroneously by PCGS as 1826 and graded as Mint State 64 Prooflike, the obverse struck like a proof, the reverse toned mint state, very rare The only example graded MS64PL by PCGS.
Lot 227
British Coins, Victoria, proof shilling, 1838, young head l., rev. value within wreath (S.3902; ESC.1279; Bull 2974), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 64 Exceedingly rare as a proof - very few examples known. The only example graded PF64 by PCGS and the only proof example graded by PCGS.
Lot 24
British Coins, William IV, pattern sovereign, 1830, plain edge, second portrait, bare head r., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3829B; W&R.260 [R5, 6-10 known]; Nobleman 203; DM.178), evidence of some handling, bold proof impression, beautifully mirrored fields surrounding frosted images of the king and his royal shield, certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 62 Deep Cameo, only one other example graded PF62DC by PCGS Victoria’s uncle reigned just short of a decade, having spent most of his adult life in the Royal Navy, where he was influential in its modernisation and as a result of which he was sometimes called ‘the sailor king’ by admirers, who were relatively few as he was not an outgoing person; he seemed lacking in many kingly qualities, doubtless as a result of his experience at sea and in the Admiralty until his older brother, George IV, left the crown to him. The kingdom itself enjoyed prosperity during these years, which marked the end of the Romantic Age in the arts. Politically and militarily this was the beginning of the modern empire; it would be Victoria who led the nation into a new period of military might, but it was her Uncle William who prepared the way by advancing the naval forces. William’s coinage included tiny silver and bronze coins made purposely for use in far-flung reaches of the empire, where few of his subjects would encounter his gold sovereigns and none would ever have set eyes on a coin like this, a deluxe proof specially made to show off the coin’s qualities to best advantage, and an image of the king as custodian of the realm. Commercial sovereigns of this reign are invariably entirely different from this coin, as their lustre is satiny, whereas here we see the king’s image set off by watery mirrored fields. J. B. Merlen’s elegant royal shield on reverse also captivates the viewer’s eye. ‘Regal’ is a fitting description of this very rare golden treasure.
Lot 250
British Coins, Victoria, pattern sixpence, 1887, in silver, by Spink & Son, milled edge, veiled bust l. wearing small crown, rev. SIXPENCE above royal arms with supporters, date in Roman numerals below (ESC.1778; Bull 3303), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 62, unlisted with milled edge and therefore presumably very rare The only example graded PF62 by PCGS.
Lot 26
British Coins, William IV, sovereign, 1831, WW without stops, first portrait, bare head r., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3829A; Marsh 16 [R2 for the date]), certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 64+ Certainly the finest known - the only example graded MS64+ by PCGS - and as such exceedingly rare.
Lot 262
British Coins, George VI, VIP proof shilling, 1940, ‘Scottish’ reverse, bare head l., rev. crowned lion holding sword and sceptre seated facing on crown (S.4083; ESC.1459 A; Bull 4160), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65 Cameo, rare Very few specimens known. The only example graded PF65CAM by PCGS, and the only proof example graded by PCGS.
Lot 264
British Coins, George VI, VIP proof shilling, 1947, ‘Scottish’ reverse, bare head l., rev. crowned lion holding sword and sceptre seated facing on crown (S.4104; ESC.1473 A; Bull 4189), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65 Cameo, extremely rare Very few specimens known and the only example graded PF65CAM by PCGS.
Lot 27
British Coins, William IV, proof sovereign, 1831, plain edge, second portrait, bare head r., rev. crowned shield of arms (S.3829B; W&R.261 [R3, extremely rare]; Nobleman 205/6; DM.179), a beautiful example taken from one of the coronation sets of this year, nearly as struck with only faint handling, certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 64 Deep Cameo, among the finest available - only five other examples graded PF64DC by PCGS
Lot 271
British Coins, Elizabeth II, VIP proof crown, 1960, laur. head r., rev. crown in centre of emblematical cross, shield of arms in each angle (S.4143; ESC.393M; Bull 4338), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65 Deep Cameo, very rare A spectacular piece and the only example graded PF65DC by PCGS.
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