SOVEREIGN RARITIES SEPTEMBER 2022 SALE

Sovereign Rarities are pleased to present to the numismatic community their seventh auction - taking place on 21st September 2022 - consisting of 360 lots of Ancient, British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals. The sale features a superb run of ancient, world and British offerings, and pre-bidding will open within the next month at www.sovr.co.uk until the live auction on the day.

 

Lot 37, Kingdom of Macedon, Perseus, silver Tetradrachm, c. 179-168 BC, ex. Lockett

 

Lot 38, Thrace, Maroneia, silver Stater, c. 380 BC

 

Lot 52, Corinth, silver Stater, 405-345 BC

The sale begins with lots 1-114, ‘Selected coins from the Property of an English Gentleman', an impressive run of ancient coins tracking the progression of art in the ancient Greek and Roman world. Many of these pieces have been off the market for decades and boast impressive provenances. Lot 37, a Tetradrachm of Perseus struck c.179-168 BC, was part of the celebrated Lockett collection dispersed in 1958. The next lot, 38, is a silver Stater of Thrace, Maroneia, struck around 380 BC. This piece is beautifully toned, as is lot 52, an exquisite Corinthian Stater struck 405-345 BC.

 

Lot 148, Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III, gold Distater, 336-323 B.C., Ch XF 5/5, 3/5 NGC

The collection runs through many of the major eras and regions in the ancient world, including Athens, Syracuse, Bactria, Judea, Rome, and electrum staters of Lydia. The Property of a Gentleman concludes with some miscellaneous coins, including British hammered and milled and world material, followed by lots 115-147, the collector's cabinet and numismatic books. Lots 148-150 are three ancient gold coins from other properties, the highlight certainly a gold Distater struck during or just after the lifetime of Alexander the Great, graded by NGC as Ch XF 5/5, 3/5, edge marks.

 

Lot 153, James VI, Six Shillings, 1615, MS61 NGC

After the auction's impressive ancient coin section begins the British material, running from lots 151-264. This section kicks off with a group of hammered and milled Scottish coins, with the highlight being lot 153, a rare James VI Six Shillings dated 1615 and graded by NGC as MS61. No other examples of this denomination are present within NGC or PCGS's databases, making this Mint State example possibly the finest known.

 

Lot 167, Victoria, gold Sovereign, 1853, Roman I in date, inverted A for V in VICTORIA

The British section continues to hammered and milled gold, including a Mint State James I Laurel and a rare 1699 Guinea of William III. A standout is lot 167, a very rare Victorian Sovereign struck in 1853 with a Roman I in date and inverted A for V in VICTORIA. To make this piece even more special, it was recovered from the wreck of RMS Douro, a steamer that was shipwrecked in 1882. After the Sovereign series has concluded, the sale goes on to silver and base metal offerings – certainly one of the strongest section of the auction.

 

Lot 186, Victoria, Gothic Crown, 1853, PF63+ ULTRA CAMEO NGC

 

Lot 192, George VI Proof Crown, 1951, Plain Edge, PF66+ NGC

This next section begins with a run of 19th and 20th century Crowns. The eye is immediately drawn to lot 185, an appealing example of Victoria's 1847 plain edge Gothic Crown graded by NGC as PF62, but lot 186 throws even this choice offering into the shade. This next lot is another Gothic Crown but the much rarer 1853 version, graded by NGC as a spectacular PF63+ ULTRA CAMEO – one of only a handful of this denomination to have received a UCAM/DCAM accolade, and the only 1853 to bear this description. The Crown section continues through Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth, with some true rarities for each monarch. Lot 192 stands out, a presumed unique plain edge proof 1951 Crown graded by NGC as PF66+, with both a matte proof and VIP proof of the same year also included in the sale.

 

Lot 204, Charles II copper pattern Shilling, 1663, MS63 BN NGC

 

Lot 206, Anne, Shilling, 1708-E*

After the Crown section follows the ‘Collection of Patterns and Proofs, the Property of a Gentleman'. This assemblage consists of several extremely rare and desirable pattern Shillings, from the Commonwealth through to George V. A highlight of this group is lot 204, a copper pattern Shilling of Charles II from 1663, one of only a few known examples. Also featured are patterns of George III, George IV, Victoria and George V. One Shilling in this section, lot 206, stands out despite its not being part of the Property – a 1708-E* Shilling of Anne, struck in Edinburgh. This rarity is almost always encountered heavily worn, whereas this piece is a true extremely fine and beautifully toned, presumed to be the finest known.

 

Lot 230, Edward VIII, brass pattern Threepence, 1937, MS61 NGC

Once the run of patterns concludes comes the base-metal minors- but this by no means is the end of the sale's highlights. Indeed, lot 230 is perhaps the most significant coin in the auction: a brass pattern Threepence of Edward VIII dated 1937. One of only a handful of examples in existence, this coin was produced in 1936 bearing Edward VIII's portrait as a trial for vending machine manufacturers to adapt their machinery to the new 12-sided design in advance of the coinage's intended release in 1937. When the King abdicated, the coins were recalled, with just a few examples escaping. This example is graded by NGC as MS61.

 

Lot 271, Victoria, gold Jubilee Medal, 1887, SP63 PCGS

Lots 269-274 follow a small group of historical medals from gold down to base metal. Amongst these are two impressive Regency-era silver offerings in exemplary condition, as well as a large-size gold Royal Astronomical Society medal awarded to physicist Alfred Fowler in 1918. Likely the most appealing of this group is lot 271, an immense gold medal struck to celebrate Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 graded by PCGS as Specimen 63.

 

Lot 334, Australia, Victoria, gold Sovereign, 1856-SYDNEY, AU58 PCGS

 

Lot 342, Australia, George V, gold Sovereign, 1922-M, MS63 PCGS

Finally, a group of superior World coins conclude the sale, the highlight being within the Australian material. Lot 334 is an extremely rare gold Sovereign struck in Sydney, 1856, graded by PCGS as AU58; a younger Sovereign but one that is perhaps rarer still is lot 342, a 1922 Melbourne Sovereign graded by PCGS as MS63. The auction will be open for pre-bidding from the 1st of September and will end with the live sale at 10am GMT on the 21st September. Enquiries are welcome to info@sovr.co.uk, and we wish our bidders the very best of luck.

For more information, see:
https://www.sovr.co.uk/

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