MDC MONACO AUCTION 15, PART TWO

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V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 40, October 6, 2024, Article 22

Here's the second part of the announcement for MDC Monaco's Auction 15. -Editor

Lot 1218 - FRANCE 2nd Republic (1848-1852). 20 francs Ceres, Proof 1851, A, Paris. Obv. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Republic's head facing right, represented as Ceres, under a star, between a fasces and a branch; below signature L. MERLEY. F. Rev. (different) LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE (different). In a crown composed by an olive branch and an oak branch : 20 FRANCS. Below (mint) and (date). G.1059 - F.529 - Fr.566; Gold - 6,44g - 21 mm - 6h. This is the second highest grade! PCGS PR66CAM. Proof with Cameo, mirror fields and matte reliefs. Tiny notch on the rim at 6 o'clock on the reverse and minimal rubbing on the neck on the obverse. Very rare and spectacular.

Lot 1240 - FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870). Gold pattern of 100 francs bare head, Proof, smooth edge, A under the bust, 1855, A, Paris. Obv. NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR. Bare head facing right, below (mint) and signature BARRE. Rev. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS. Imperial coat of arms set on a crowned mantle and over the scepter and the hand of justice, 100 and FRs on the sides; below (different) (date) (different). Maz.1600 - G.1135 p.583 = this example! - VG.-; Gold - 32,25g - 35 mm - 6h. Top Pop : this is the only graded example! From the Farouk Collection, king of Egypt, Sotheby' sale February 1954, No. 575 then Heritage sale 3033, Chicago, august 8th 2014, No. 23223 NGC PF65 CAMEO. Proof with mirror fields looking glazed and matte reliefs, with full mint lustre, creating a Cameo contrast. Very rare. Remarkable pedigree.

Lot 1272 - FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870). Gold pattern of 100 francs laureate head, Specimen (SP) 1862, E, Paris. Obv. NAPOLEON III - EMPEREUR. Laureate head facing right, below (mint) and signature BARRE. Rev. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS. Imperial coat of arms set on a crowned mantle and over the scepter and the hand of justice, 100 and FRs on the sides; below (anchor) (date) (anchor). G.1136 - Maz.1603 - VG.3613; Gold - 35 mm - 6h. This is the second highest grade! Only a SP67 example, MDC sale 9 No. 735 (440 000€+fees) is in higher grade. PCGS SP65CAM. Specimen with smooth edge and date between two anchors on the reverse. Mirror glazed fields and sandy reliefs give a Cameo aspect. Only some minor fingerprints on the obverse. Exceptional presentation quality, in its mint state, with a golden patina with barely greenish tones. Very rare.

Lot 1767 - GREAT BRITAIN William IV (1830-1837). Crown, gold strike, Proof 1831, London. Obv. GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:. Bust facing right, signature W. W. on the edge of the neck. Rev. Shield surrounded by the Collar and laying on a crowned mantle; below ANNO (date). KM.PnA98 - Esc.2463 (R5, previously. Esc.272) - S.3833 - Fr.381; Gold - 38 mm - 6h. Top Pop : this is the only PCGS graded example! PCGS PR62DCAM. Proof with smooth edge and a Deep Cameo effect between mirror fields and matte reliefs. Minimal notches on the rim, minor hairlines on the fields and some micro-scratches. Very nice light, golden patina with barely greenish tones. Very rare.

The bust, on the obverse, is inspired by Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1782-1841), a renowned sculptor during the Georgian era, famous for his busts. The reverse is made by Jean-Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850), who was an engraver and medalist in Paris before moving to London after the Battle of Waterloo. He joins the Royal Mint in 1820, recommended by Benedetto Pistrucci, as assistant engraver to the chief engraver William Wyon. Merlen mainly worked on reverses, such as the ones used on the half-sovereigns of William IV, a theme that will be taken up again under Victoria, or the reverses of the Maundy set coins, used from 1822 to 1887.

Lot 1773 - GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). 5 pounds "Una and the lion", headband with 5 rolls and 9 leaves, Proof 1839, London. Obv. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D:. Bust facing left, wearing headband; signature W. WYON R. A. Rev. DIRIGE DEUS - GRESSUS MEOS. The queen facing left leading a lion with her sceptre : below (date) and signature W . WYON R. A. Fr.386 - S.3851 - W&R.279 - GH.103; Gold - 37 mm - 12h. Top Pop : this is the higher graded example! For this variety (headband with 5 rolls and 9 leaves), our example is the higher graded by NGC amongst 41 proof examples [The top pop example graded PF is 63 ; the top PFCA is 63 ; the top PFUC is 66 (our example) and the second highest in PFUC is far behind, graded 64*] NGC PF66* ULTRA CAMEO. Proof and Ultra Cameo. Raised letter edge : DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI TERTIO*. In its mint state with minor micro-scratches on the glazed fields. Intact mint lustre.

Conceived by William Wyon (1795-1851) in 1839 to commemorate the beginning of queen Victoria's reign (1837), the "Una and the lion" 5 pounds is considered one of the most beautiful British coins. Victoria, standing with a lion, is moving left, with the motto "May God directs my steps" above her. The young queen, 20 years old, is represented as Lady Una, from Edmund Spencer's The Faerie Queene, a poem written in 1590. This is the first time a British monarch is represented as a fictitious character : England as a lion is guided by Una, personified by queen Victoria, and her sceptre.

Lot 1776 - GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). Crown pattern, smooth edge, by William Wyon, Proof 1845, London. Obv. VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Diademed bust facing left; signature W. WYON RA. Rev. * BRITANNIARUM - REGINA FID: DEF: *. In a two laurel branches crown, crowned shield. S.- (3882 type) - Bull 2656 - Esc.-; Silver - 37 mm - 12h. Top Pop : this is the highest graded example! NGC PF64. Proof. With smooth edge and medal alignment. Very rare date, slightly different from the 1844 patterns. With a collector's patina and slightly satin reliefs.

Lot 1787 – GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). Pattern of 5 international francs or Double florin, smooth edge, by William Wyon, Proof 1868, London. Obv. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:. Crowned bust facing left. Rev. 5 FRANCS / INTERNATIONAL. In a two oak branches crown : DOUBLE FLORIN (date). W&R.372 (R4) - KM.Pn115; Gold - 1,52g - 16 mm - 12h. NGC PF64 ULTRA CAMEO. Proof : the mate mint lustre on the reliefs is barely touched and mirror fields only show some fingerprints. Less than 20 known examples.

In 1867, under the reign of Napoleon III, France seeks to create a universal currency based on the Germinal franc. The Universal Exposition attracts 7 million visitors from all around the world. In the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts an international monetary conference with European countries, including Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and the United States of America. In 1865, the Second Empire already succeeded in establishing the Latin Union between France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. After 2 months of discussions, the project is abandoned but a theoretical agreement is reached on some points : the gold standard (the silver is abandoned); the fineness of 9/10th and the unified weights; the decimal system (the duodecimal system is abandoned); common monetary unit. In France, a 25 gold francs coin is desired, a coin close to the American 5 dollars, the USA being the first country to have a decimal system in the world, but also close to the British sovereign and to the 10 Dutch forints. 1868 should have been the year of realization for the project but it has to face lack of political consensus and then the shift to protectionist blocs. For Great Britain, this double florin or 5 francs project is the work of William Wyon; he took special care of this strike, intent to impress internationally.

Lot 1872 - ITALY Guastalla (county then duchy), Ferdinand II Gonzaga (1575-1630). 10 doppie 1610, Guastalla. Obv. FERDIN. GON. - MELF. P. TE. G. D. [Ferdinand Gonzaga, Prince of Melfi and Lord of Guastalla]. Draped and cuirassed bust, with the golden Feece, standing three-quarters facing right. Rev. ECCE. ANCI. - DOMINI. FIAT. - MICHI. Annunciation scene; below (date). MIR.353 - CNI.IX.17 and 19 - Bellesia 8 - Fr.458 = this example; Gold - 66,35g - 46 mm - 6h. Top Pop : this is the only graded example! From The Paramount collection, No. 30364. This example is illustrated in Friedberg, 9th edition, p.555. NGC MS61. Only 4 examples seem to be known, including 3 in public collections (Milan and CNI)! Big module strike, well struck, barely off centered with a minor double strike. Spectacular bust on the obverse and very nice Annunciation scene on the reverse. Beautiful golden reflections. An unique opportunity to acquire a museum piece!

Ferdinand II Gonzaga (or Ferrante II Gonzaga), Lord and Count of Guastalla, is the son of Caesar I of Guastalla and Camilla Borromeo. In 1621, his county became a duchy. He is married to Giovanni Andrea Doria, coming from the family of great Genoese admirals.

Lot 1899 - ITALY Savoy, Victor Amadeus II (1675-1730). Gold medal, module of 20 ducats, Capture of the city of Cremona by Prince Eugene of Savoy and capture of the Marshal Villeroy, by P. Müller, Specimen (SP) 1702, Augsburg. Obv. PATIENS VOCARI - CÆSARIS VLTOR [Horace, Odes, Allow yourself to be called the Caesar's avenger] To the left, Pheme holds a medallion with a cuirassed effigy facing right of Prince Eugene, surrounded by palms, and circular legend : EUGEN: PR: SAB: CÆS: EX: GENER: COMD. Under the medallion, an eagle is holding a rooster between its talons and some chickens are fleeing. Below : VILLAREGIO SVPR. GALL/ DVCE INTRA MOENIA/ CREMONÆ CAPTO/ 1702 [Villeroy, Marshal of France, captured in Cremona]. Rev. FLANTIBVS AVSTRIS. Allegory of the Holy Roman Empire, as Athena, seating with spear and shield, holding a Victory while the wind is destroying lilies fields. Below : VIRTVS GERMA/ NORVM. VL.IV p.370 - Coll. Julius cf. 627 - Montenuevo cf. 1166; Gold - 69,13g - 40,5 mm - 12h. Top Pop : this is the only graded example! PCGS SP61. Raised letter edge : : + FLORENTES FERVLAS ET GRANDIA LILIA QVASSANS [He tears down the flowering rods and the highest lilies]. Still has some mint lustre under a thin patina. Scratch on the leg of Pheme and minimal hairlines on the reverse's fields. Probably unique!

By Philipp Heinrich Müller (1654-1719), one of the most famous European medalists from late 17th to early 18th century. Born in a modest family, Müller begins working for a goldsmith in Augsburg. Thanks to his talent, he's spotted by Leonard Weiss, city councillor, who allows him to become a medal engraver. He is working for Augsburg, but also in Nuremberg for Caspar Gottlieb Laufer, Mint-master in Nuremberg. He becomes known and admired throughout Europe where he reproduces portraits of many Princes and rulers of his time

Lot 2120 - SWITZERLAND Helvetic Confederation (1848-present day). Pattern of 20 francs Vreneli, gold from Gondo's mines, in Valais, with small cross, Specimen 1897, B, Bern. Obv. HELVETIA. Bust of Helvetica facing left; signature F. LANDRY. Rev. On two oak branches, shield of the Confederation with 20 and FR on the sides; below (date) and (mint). Fr.501 - HMZ.1195b - OC.405.1a; Gold - 21 mm - 6h. This is the third PCGS highest grade! PCGS SP64. Specimen. With small crosses. Struck with the gold extracted in Gondo, in Valais, with a characteristic greenish color. Only 29 struck examples! Almost in its mint state, with only some micro-scratches.

In 1291, year of the pact between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, Gondo has been bought by the Bishop of Sion, Boniface de Challant, to the territory of Novara. Thanks to a post office linking Lyon to Milan, the main resource for the inhabitants of Gondo was trade with Italy. Some gold mines were exploited from the middle of the 16th century to the end of the 19th century. Gold exploitation was definitively abandoned in 1897. Only 29 coins of 20 francs were struck with the gold extracted in Gondo in 1897, last year of minting with that gold. Only a few examples are known : one in the Swissmint collection, without the cross; one in the Museum of Zurich, with the cross; finally, 2 or 3 examples sold in 2002, 2013 (NGC SP66) and our example.

MDC Monaco, 27 Avenue de la Costa, 98000 Monaco (+377) 93 25 00 42 – info@mdc.mc – www.mdc.mc

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MDC MONACO AUCTION 15, PART ONE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n39a23.html)