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SOVEREIGN RARITIES AUCTION XXIISovereign Rarities will be hosting Auction XXII on June 3. Select items are discussed below. -Garrett We are proud to present Sovereign Rarities Auction XXII which is now open for pre bidding with the live sale commencing on Wednesday, June 3rd at 10am BST. The sale spans centuries of numismatic history, bringing together rare, hammered issues and proof strikes and pattern pieces. Opening with medieval Scottish coinage, including a rare silver Penny of William I "the Lion," struck during the late 12th or early 13th century (lot 1). Irish coinage is particularly well represented throughout the sale. A silver Groat of Henry VII from the Dublin Mint (lot 2), estimated at £200–300, provides a glimpse into late medieval Ireland and the Tudor consolidation of power. Collectors of Irish milled coinage will also be drawn the Bank of Ireland silver Six Shillings of 1804, struck over a Spanish Eight Reales with iridescent blue toning to the reverse (lot 4) estimated at £600–800, the piece highlights the fascinating emergency token coinage produced during a period of silver shortage. Among the highlights is an exceptionally rare copper Pattern Farthing of George IV dated 1822 from Ireland, graded PF64 Brown by NGC and believed to be one of only six known examples with an estimate of £4,000–6,000 (lot 6). The auction also showcases several high-grade proof issues from the Isle of Man, a highlight being a 1733 silver proof Penny issued under James Stanley, Earl of Derby. Graded PF64 by NGC, the highest known grade, is estimated at £2,000–2,500 (lot 7) and features the famous Manx triskeles emblem and motto, "Quocunque Jeceris Stabit. Another major rarity is the 1758 silver proof Penny of James Murray, Duke of Athol, graded PF45 and estimated at £1,000–1,500 (lot 8). Standing out among the medieval selection are the Edward III Half-Noble (lot 12) and Quarter-Noble (lot 13) belonging to the Treaty and Transitional Treaty periods of the 1360s, when England briefly secured vast territorial claims in France. Their inscriptions invoke Biblical Psalms, demonstrating how medieval rulers fused monarchy with divine authority, with iconic design depicting the king standing in a ship, symbolizing England's naval power and overseas ambitions. The Richard II Noble (lot 14), struck at Calais, reflects England's continuing continental presence. Calais remained England's last major possession in France until its loss under Mary I in 1558. Perhaps the most intriguing medieval coin in the catalogue is the Anglo-Gallic Denier au Leopard of Edward III (lot 11). This heavy-weight issue is around ten times heavier than a normal denier, the purpose of such heavy-weight presentation pieces remains unknown although it is speculated that they may have served as ceremonial gifts, display pieces, or elite diplomatic objects. This coin was discovered on a metal- detecting search in 2025 and will be a new addition to the 2027 Standard Catalogue. The Tudor section of the catalogue is especially remarkable, with some of the most celebrated hammered gold coins in British numismatics being offered. The standout piece (lot 17) is a fine gold Sovereign of Henry VIII, with only eight examples known, three of which reside in museums - this is among the rarest coins in the catalogue. Issued during the early stages of Henry VIII's Great Debasement, the coin represents a pivotal moment in English monetary history. As Henry's wars and extravagance strained royal finances, the Crown gradually reduced the precious metal content of coinage. The fine gold Sovereign of Mary I (lot 18) is especially significant because it carries an actual date — 1553 — something extremely rare for hammered sovereigns. Mary's reign saw England briefly restored to Catholicism, and her coinage maintained exceptionally pure gold standards. The fine gold Sovereign of Elizabeth I (lot 19) a highly respected and famed coin in the acting world during the time of William Shakespeare, as the coin of choice to be honoured with should the Queen attend a performance personally. These coins were deeply symbolic objects of royal prestige and were associated with courtly reward, theatrical patronage, and imperial ambition. The early Stuart period produced some of the final masterpieces of English hammered coinage. The catalogue's Rose Ryal and Unite of James I of England (lot 20) reflect the union of the English and Scottish crowns after 1603. Their legends proclaim James as "King of Great Britain," emphasizing the political transformation underway. The Rose Ryal, valued at thirty shillings, was struck in fine gold and produced in very small numbers. The catalogue estimates that perhaps only around 1,350 examples were originally minted for the featured issue. These magnificent gold pieces represent the pinnacle of the hammered tradition before machinery transformed minting forever. 
Scotland, William the Lion (1165-1218), Scotland, William the Lion (1165-1218), silver Penny, late issue or posthumous under Alexander II, no mint name, Moneyers Hue and Walter, short cross and stars coinage (1195-1214), phase B (c.1205-30), crude crowned head with sceptre left, legend and beaded border surrounding, initial cross at end of legend before sceptre head instead of after, appears to read [LE?] WLA: TER:, rev. short voided cross pattée, six-pointed star in each angle, legend and beaded borders surrounding, +hVE WAL: TRO., 1.32g (SCBI 35 [Scottish], cf.71-75; cf.Burns 25, fig. 60; S.5029). Unevenly toned with uneven texture to surfaces both sides for this cruder issue, blundered obverse legend not recorded in Burns or sylloge, about very fine and rare.
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Scotland, Charles I (1625-49), Scotland, Charles I (1625-49), copper Turner or Twopence, Earl of Stirling coinage (1632-39), type 1a, English style crown with central cross over CIIR, three lozenges below, linear circle and legend surrounding, initial mark lozenge, CAR D G SCOT ANG FR ET HI R, rev. Thistle head and leaves within linear circle, legend surrounding, initial mark lozenge, NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSET, 0.55g (Burns 8, fig. 1042-3; S.5598). Toned with black patch at one part of rim both sides, bold very fine.
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Ireland, George III (1760-1820), Ireland, George III (1760-1820), silver Bank of Ireland Six Shillings, 1804, struck on a 41mm flan, laureate and draped bust right, top leaf of laurel wreath points to upright of E, C.H.K on truncation, legend and toothed border surrounding, GEORGIUS III DEI GRATIA REX., rev. struck en medaille, Hibernia seated left, holding spray of leaves, harp to right with 10 strings, raised K on ground-line which extends into legend, date and value in exergue, 1804 / SIX SHILLINGS, legend around upper half, BANK OF IRELAND TOKEN, the whole coin struck over a Spanish Empire Eight Reales, 26.93g (Vice 1 dies 1a/A2; D&F 614; S.6615). Toned with some residual blue colour and underlying brilliance, some raised die flaws on rim and at ties of hair, some ghosting of host coin underneath, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as UNC Details, Cleaned.
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Ireland, George IV (1820-30), Ireland, George IV (1820-30), copper Pattern Farthing, 1822, struck presumably on a thin flan, laureate and draped bust left, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding both sides, GEORGIUS IV D: G: REX., rev. slightly off centre from en medaille die axis, crowned Irish harp with eight strings, date below, HIBERNIA. above (KM.Pn42; S.6624B). Toned practically as struck, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as PF64 Brown and extremely rare, thought to be one of only six examples.
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Isle of Man, James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby (1702-36), Isle of Man, James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby (1702-36), silver proof Penny, 1733, Stanley family crest of eagle over child in wicker basket, above the cap of maintenance with frosted interior, date below, legend with pellet stops, SANS . CHANGER, rev. triskeles, I with D and value 1 in gaps between legs, legend surrounding, QUOCUNQUE . IECERIS . STABIT., 7.95g (KM 5d.2; S.7408a). Toned, a little uneven in colour, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as PF64, rare.
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Isle of Man, James Murray, 2 nd Duke of Athol (1736-65), Isle of Man, James Murray, 2nd Duke of Athol (1736-65), silver proof Penny, 1758, crowned DA cypher over date, toothed outer border both sides, rev. triskeles, legend surrounding, .QUOCUNQUE . JECERIS . STABIT, edge with chevron bar type pattern, 11.70g (Pridmore 15A; KM 7A; S.7411b). Toned with "pocket piece" type wear, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as PF45, very rare.
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Anglo-Gallic, Edward III (1327-77), Anglo-Gallic, Edward III (1327-77), silver Denier au Leopard, second type, piedfort struck or likely cast on a heavy-weight flan, lion prancing left, ANGI below within ruled lines, sexfoil in exergue below, legend and beaded borders surrounding, +EDVARDVS: REX, continues to word in centre, rev. struck with a 3 o'clock die axis, cross pattée at centre, legend and beaded borders surrounding, +DVX: AQITAnIE, gothic letters with annulet topped T, diameter 18.5mm, thickness 2.5mm, 7.80g (cf.Elias 95b; AGC 115/115D rev b; S.8090). Of good style, unevenly toned from recent ground recovery, with wear and porosity to high points, base brown look to edge, some rim nicks, good fine and better than most of the enigmatic heavy-weight Anglo-Gallic coins that exist, this is currently the only known example of the Denier au leopard in a heavy-weight format, of the highest rarity, unique.
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Edward III (1327-77), Edward III (1327-77), gold Half-Noble of three Shillings and four Pence, Tower Mint London, Transitional Treaty Period (1361-63), with abbreviated name of King and error reverse omitting "me" after "Domine", King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, no bowsprit to ship, right forecastle does not break inner circle, beaded circle surrounding, E DWARD'x DEI'x G'x REX'x An GL'x D'x hIB'x, rev. large E at centre of ornamental cross with lis terminals, crowns over lions in angles, lis over lion in upper right quadrant, all within a beaded and linear tressure, fleurs in spandrels, legend +DomInExx Inxx FVRORExx TVOxx ARGVTSxx mE, 3.86g (Schneider 65; Lawrence dies m/7*; Doubleday 187/173; N.1223; S.1500). Flan lightly creased and a little ragged around rim, scuffed in places from being once in the ground, otherwise about very fine and a desirable example of the "cursing half-noble reverse".
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Edward III (1327-1377), Edward III (1327-1377), gold Quarter-Noble of one Shilling and eight Pence, Tower Mint, fourth coinage (1351-61), Treaty period (1361-69), initial mark cross potent, quartered shield of arms in tressure of eight arcs, trefoils on cusps, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, EDW?RDxx DEIxx GR?xx REXxx ?nGL, treaty style X obverse, rev. lis in central compartment of ornate cross with lis terminals, lion over trefoil in each angle, all within beaded and linear tressure of eight arcs, legend and beaded border surrounding, EX?LTABITVRxx Inxx GLORI?, curule style X reverse, 1.89g (Schneider 84; N.1243; S.1510).Toned with some soil residue, a field find with bends and folds in edges of flan, otherwise very fine.
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Richard II (1377-99) Richard II (1377-99), gold Noble of six Shillings and eight Pence, Calais Mint, type 3a, with French title resumed, armoured King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, flag at stern of ship for Calais Mint, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, double saltire stops in legend, RIC ARD'x DI'x GRA'x REXxx AnGL'x Zx FRAnC'x DnS'x hIB Z AQ T, rev. R at centre of ornate cross with lis terminals, crown over lion in each angle, all within a tressure of eight arcs, fleurs in spandrels, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, initial mark cross pattée, +IhCxx AVTEmxx TRAnSIEnSxx PERxx mEDIVmxx ILLORVmxx IBAT, unusual style cross pattée and letter As which are all unbarred, 7.62g (Schneider 168/169; N.1307; S.1661). Toned, well centred and struck, small patch of scratches above right side of shield, a bold very fine and rare.
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Henry VIII (1509-47), Henry VIII (1509-47), gold Sovereign, third coinage (1544-47), Tower Mint, type I (issued 1544), large module, struck at a 23 carat gold standard of 200 grains full weight, initial mark lis both sides, facing crowned robed figure of King on ornate throne with large head, candlestick on each throne pillar, rose below, crown breaks inner beaded circle with fleur topped tressure, 8 type legend with tall Gothic lettering, beaded border surrounding, saltire stops both sides, x+ hEnRIC'x 8x DI'x GRA'x AnGLIEx xFRAnCIExx ETx hIBxExx REXx, second G struck over an n or A, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, with crowned lion and dragon supporters, crown with interior and inner crown band showing, HR ligatured on fleur topped banner below, Latin legend with Gothic lettering with Roman Ms, beaded border surrounding, + IhESVSxx AVTEMxx TRAnSCIEnSxx PERxx MEDIVMxx ILLORVxx IBATxx, unbarred As, 12.60g (Whitton A/a plate III; Schneider 607; Stewartby plate 34, 599; Hill H15 R5; N.1823; S.2289). Toned, creased and cracked from edge to centre vertically along left side of King's head, continues at lower rim to right of rose, another flan split between R and I of King's name to inner tressure, otherwise with some black deposit in parts of legends, otherwise design detail and lettering all apparent and clear, very fine and extremely rare, one of eight known examples of this type in existence, three of which are in museums.
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Mary (1553-54), Mary (1553-54), fine gold Sovereign of Thirty Shillings, Tower mint, dated 1553 in Roman numerals at end of obverse legend (issue period 20 August 1553 to 24 December 1554), mintmark pomegranate in legend both sides, crowned full figure of Queen seated facing on ornate throne, holding orb and sceptre, portcullis below extending to rim, ornate throne back with pellet sides to back and large side pillars, multi arc tressure and beaded circle surrounding, pellets in arcs, trefoils on cusps, mintmark pomegranate after Queen's name, annulet stops in legend, legend reads :MARIA:+: D': G': AnG; FRA Z: hIB': REGInA: m:D:LIII, outer beaded circle surrounding, rev. quartered shield of arms upon Tudor rose, surrounded by beaded and linear tressures of ten arcs, each cusp overlaid with alternating leaf and lis fleury device, linear circle surrounding, legend reads A: DnO+ FACTV: EST: ISTV; Z: EST: MIRA: In: OCVL': nRIS': with pomegranate between O and F, outer linear circle surrounding, 15.34g (Schneider 704; Hill H36; North 1956; S.2488). Toned with some red colour in places both sides, some residual dirt in legends, scratch on tie of Queen's robes and on shoulder, a small cross shape scratch by left lis topped pillar, other light marks and hairlines, otherwise with good detail and face visible, about very fine.
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Elizabeth I (1558-1603), Elizabeth I (1558-1603), fine gold Sovereign or Double Noble of Thirty Shillings, sixth issue (1583-1600), full facing robed figure of Queen seated on large throne, lis headed pillar either side, throne back of pellets in hatching, five small pellets up each side of throne back, portcullis below Queen, tressure and beaded border surrounding, Latin legend and outer beaded border on both sides, initial mark tun (1592-95), Roman lettering, ELIZABETH. D; G; ANG FRA; ET. HIB; REGINA., rev. quartered shield at centre of ornate rose, beaded circle surrounding, +A; DNO'. FACTV; EST. ISTVD. ET. EST. MIRAB' IN. OCVL; NRS;, low stop after IN, 15.27g (Brown and Comber A26; Holloway 18-24-034 (lot 32); Schneider 783; Hill H60; N.2003; S.2529). Lightly toned and boldly struck, just a touch weak on face, tooled around knee area of robes and at corresponding part of reverse to right of lowest leaf, saltire shape scratch to left of shield in petals, short hairline striking crack at centre both sides running along vertical line of shield, otherwise an imposing coin with its larger lettering style for the final issue of the fine Sovereign in this reign, a bold very fine.
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James I (1603-1625) James I (1603-1625), fine gold Rose Ryal of Thirty Shillings, second coinage (1604-1619), King in robes seated facing on throne within tressure, holding orb and sceptre, portcullis below, initial mark tower (1612-13) both sides, struck over mullet over coronet on obverse, IACOBVS. D; G; MAG; BRIT FRAN; ET. HIBER; REX., pellet and contraction mark stops,rev.quartered shield upon large rose, within beaded circle, .A. DNO. FACTVM. EST. ISTVD. ET. EST. MIRAB. IN. OCV'. NRIS., pellet stops, inverted N in IN, 13.51g (Schneider 10; Stewartby dies C/j; N 2079; S.2613).Toned, struck from lightly rusted dies, a little off-centre on reverse, with one light crease across centre, a little weak on higher points and around periphery, obverse detail a little soft as this die survived in use through three mint marks, with an excellent portrait of the King especially at his face, a bold very fine and a rarer mint mark.
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See www.sovr.co.uk for much more detail about all of these coins, medallions and more!
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