| Chaponnière & Firmenich SA > Auction 17 | Auction date: 19 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 563 Price realized: 2,700 CHF (Approx. 3,046 USD / 2,797 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: POLAND. Important lot of 168 coins (sold as is, no return). - F to Nice AU All pictures available here POLAND. Stanislas II August Poniatowski, 1764-1795. Grosz 1766, 1788 (2 ex.) ; 3 Groszy 1778, 1789 ; 2 Grosze 1766, 1767 ; 10 Groszy 1789, 1790. Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. 3 Groszy 1794. Friedrich Augustus, 1807-1815. Grosz 1811, 1812 ; 3 Groszy 1811 ; 5 Grosz 1811. Alexander I, 1815-1825. 1 Zloty 1832 ; 2 Zlote 1823 ; Medal 1826 « dobroczyńcę swoiego opłakuiąca Polska ». Nicholas I, 1825-1855. Grosz 1840 ; 3 Grosze 1830, 1839, 1840 ; 10 Groszy 1840 (5 ex.) ; 40 Groszy 1850 ; 1 Zloty 1838, 1839 (2 ex.), 1840 ; 2 Zlote 1835, 1838, 1839 ; 5 Zlotych 1835, 1838, 1840. Kingdom of Poland, 1917-1918. 1 Fenig 1918 ; 20 Fenigow 1918 (3 ex.). Second Republic, 1918-1939. Grosz 1938 ; 2 Grosze 1923, 1925 (2 ex.), 1928 ; 5 Groszy 1923 (2 ex.), 1938, 1939 ; 10 Groszy 1923 (5 ex.) ; 20 Groszy 1923 (7 ex.) ; 50 Groszy 1923 (9 ex.) ; 1 Zloty 1925 (2 ex.), 1929 (5 ex.) ; 2 Zlote 1925, 1932 (3 ex.), 1933 (11 ex.), 1934 (2 ex.), 1934 Pilsudski (3 ex.), 1936 Gdynia (6 ex.) ; 5 Zlotych 1928 Nike (3 ex.), 1930 November Uprising (2 ex.), 1933 (4 ex.), 1934 (3 ex.), 1934 Riffle Corps (2 ex.), 1934 Pilsudski (5 ex.), 1936 Pilsudski, 1936 Gdynia (2 ex.), 1938 Pilsduski ; 10 Zlotych 1932, 1933, 1933 Traugutt, 1933 Sobieski, 1934 Pilsduski, 1936 Pilsudski (11 ex.), 1937 Pilsudski, 1938 Pilsudski. Danzig Free City, 1920-1939. 1 Pfennig 1930 ; 5 Pfennig 1932 (2 ex.) ; 10 Pfennig 1923, 1932. - AUSTRIA. Franz Joseph I, 1848-1916. 6 Kreuzer 1849. GERMANY, Prussia. Friedrich Wilhelm II, 1786-1797. 4 Grosze 1797. Saxony. Friedrich Christian, 1763. 1/24 Thaler 1763. LATVIA. Republic, 1918-. 2 Santimi 1939 (4 ex.) ; 2 Lati 1925. LITHUANIA. Republic, 1918-. 5 Litai 1936 Basanavicius. RUSSIA. Nicholas I, 1825-1855. Rouble 1831. Alexander II, 1855-1881. 3 Kopek 1873. Alexander III, 1881-1894. 20 Kopek 1890. Nicholas II, 1894-1915. 3 Kopek 1908 ; 10 Kopek 1905 ; 20 Kopek 1913, 1914 ; Rouble 1897. SWITZERLAND. Waadt / Vaud. 1 Batz 1805. Starting price: 500 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Chaponnière & Firmenich SA > Auction 17 | Auction date: 19 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 564 Price realized: 4,000 CHF (Approx. 4,513 USD / 4,144 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: POLAND. Lot of 399 banknotes (sold as is, no return). - G to UNC All pictures available here Billet Skrabowy. 4 Zlote 1794. Polska Krajowa Kasa Pozyczkowa. 1916-1917 issue : ½ Marki (2 ex.), 1 Marka (2 ex.), 20 Marek, 50 Marek, 100 Marek. / 1919 2nd issue : 1 Marka (5 ex.), 20 Marek, 100 Marek, 1000 Marek (5 ex., variants). / 1919 3rd issue : 1 Marka (3 ex.), 5 Marek (2 ex.), 10 Marek (3 ex.), 20 Marek, 100 Marek (2 ex.), 500 Marek (2 ex.), 1000 Marek (7 ex.) ; 1920 issue : ½ Marki (2 ex.), 5000 Marek (2 ex.), 10'000 Marek (4 ex.), 50'000 Marek (10 ex.), 100'000 Marek (2 ex.), 250'000 Marek, 500'000 Marek. Ministerstwo Skarbu. 1924 Bilet Zdawkowy : 1 Grosz, 5 Groszy. Bank Polski. 1919 (1924) issue : 100 Zlotych (2 ex.), 500 Zlotych (2 ex.). / 1929 issue : 10 Zlotych (4 ex.), 50 Zlotych (2 ex.). / 1930-32 issue : 5 Zlotych (5 ex.), 20 Zlotych (3 ex.), 100 Zlotych. / 1934 issue : 100 Zotych (2 ex.). / 1936 issue : 2 Zlote (2 ex.), 20 Zlotych (5 ex.). Bank Emisyjny w Polsce. 1940 issue : 10 Zlotych (4 ex.), 20 Zlotych (3 ex.), 50 Zlotych, 100 Zlotych (3 ex.), 500 Zlotych (3 ex.). / 1941 issue : 1 Zloty (3 ex.), 2 Zlote (2 ex.), 5 Zlotych (5 ex.), 50 Zoltych ( 3 ex.), 100 Zlotych (3 ex.). Narodowy Bank Polski. 1944 issue : 50 Groszy, 1 Zloty (2 ex.), 2 Zlote, 5 Zlotych, 10 Zlotych, 20 Zlotych (2 ex.), 100 Zlotych, 500 Zlotych. / 1946 1st issue : 500 Zlotych, 1000 Zlotych. / 1946 2nd issue : 1 Zloty (2 ex.), 2 Zlote (2 ex.), 5 Zlotych (2 ex.), 10 Zlotych (4 ex.), 50 Zlotych (3 ex.), 100 Zlotych (2 ex.). / 1947 issue : 20 Zlotych, 500 Zlotych, 1000 Zlotych (2 ex.). / 1948 issue : 2 Zlote (3 ex.), 10 Zlotych (2 ex.), 20 Zlotych (2 ex.), 50 Zlotych (3 ex.), 100 Zlotych (2 ex.), 500 Zlotych (3 ex.). / 1974 reprint : 50 Groszy to 500 Zlotych 1944 (8 notes). / 1979 reprint : 100 Zlotych 1919. / 1962-65 issue : 1000 Zlotych 29.10.1965 WZÓR (specimen), 1000 Zlotych (2 ex.). / 1974-77 issue : 50 Zlotych (5 ex.), 100 Zlotych (6 ex.), 200 Zlotych (4 ex.), 500 Zlotych (5 ex.), 1000 Zlotych (8 ex.), 2000 Zotych (3 ex.). / 1982 to 1993 issues : 10 Zlotych (13 ex.), 20 Zlotych (3 ex.), 5000 Zlotych (3 ex.), 10'000 Zlotych (3 ex.), 20'000 Zlotych (2 ex.), 50'000 Zlotych (3 ex.), 100'000 Zlotych (3 ex.), 200'000 Zlotych (2 ex.), 500'000 Zlotych (2 ex.). / 1990 (1996) Nieobiegowy issue : 3 series from 1 to 500 Zloty (27 notes). / 1994 to 2012 issues : 10 Zlotych (5 ex.), 20 Zlotych (4 ex.), 50 Zlotych (4 ex.), 100 Zlotych (5 ex.), 200 Zlotych (1 ex.). World banknotes. Austria (5), Brazil (1), France (2), Germany (1), Iceland (1), Italy (4), Russia (15), Switzerland (4), Ukraine (2). Notgelds and emergency issues. 73 notes. Starting price: 500 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Chaponnière & Firmenich SA > Auction 17 | Auction date: 19 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 562 Price realized: 6,000 CHF (Approx. 6,769 USD / 6,217 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: POLAND. Important lot 229 of coins (sold as is, no return). - G to Nice AU All pictures available here Medieval Poland. Anonymous Denar ; One-sided Adler-pfennig (2 ex.). - KINGDOM OF POLAND. Wenceslaus II, 1278-1305. Grosz, Praha. Wladislaw II Jagellon, 1386-1434. Polgrosz (3 ex.) ; Casimir IV Jagellon, 1447-1492. ½ Groschen (2 ex.) ; Johann I Albert, 1492-1501. Denar ; ½ Groschen (8 ex.) ; Alexander I Jagellon, 1501-1506. ½ Groschen (8 ex.) ; Sigismund I, 1506-1548. ½ Groschen (10 ex.) ; Groschen (9 ex.) ; Groschen Danzig 1534, 1538 ; Groschen Elbing 1535 ; Groschen Thorn 1531. Sigismund II Augustus, 1548-1572. ½ Groschen 1548, 1557, 1560, 15-- ; Grosz 1547. Stefan Batory, 1576-1586. Szelag 1581 ; 3 Groszy 1565 Poznan, 1585 Riga. Sigismund III Vasa, 1587-1632. 3 Polker 1617 Bromberg ; 1620, 1621 (5 ex), 1622 (7 ex), 1623 (3 ex.), 1624, 1625, 1626, Riga ; 3 Groszy 1595 Bydgosz ; 1612, 1620, 1622 Kraków ; 1595 Lublin ; 1593, 1594 Malbork ; 1590, 1591 (?), 1592, 1597, 1598 Olkusz ; 1590 (3 ex.), 1591, 1592, 1595 Poznan ; 1589, 1591 Riga ; 1593, 1595 (2 ex.), 1597 Vilnius ; 1595 Wschowa (2 ex.) ; 6 Grosze 1625, 1627 Krakow ; 1596 (2 ex.), 1599 Malbork ; Ort 1622, 1623 (5 ex.), 1624 (2 ex) Bydgoszcz ; 1623 Danzig. John II Casimir Vasa, 1548-1668. Szelag (2 ex.) ; 6 Groszy 1660, 1661 (2 ex.), 1662 (3 ex.), 1663, 1664, 16-- (2 ex.) ; Ort 1668 ; Tymf / Zloty 1663, 1664, 1665. John III Sobieski, 1674-1696. 6 Grosze 1682, 1684. Augustus III, 1734-1763. 3 Szelag 1755 ; 6 Groszy 1754 ; 8 Groszy 1762 ; 18 Groszy 1754 (3 ex.). - SILESIA. Fryderyk II, 1505-1547. Grosz 1543, 1544 (2 ex.), 1545. Jerzy III Brzeski, Ludwik IV Legnicki, Krystian Wolowski, 1639-1663. Krajcar 1651, 1652, 1653 (3 ex.), 1654 ; 3 Krajcar 1654 (2 ex.), 1655 (2 ex.), 1656 (3 ex.), 1657, 1658 (3 ex.), 1659 (2 ex.). Jerzy III Brzeski, 1639-1663. 3 Krajcar 1660 (2 ex.), 1661, 1662. Chrystian Wołowski, 1639-1673. Krajcar 1669 ; 3 Krajcar 1665, 1668 (3 ex.), 1669 (3 ex.), 1670 (2 ex.). Ludwika, 1672-1680. 6 Krajcar 1673 (4 ex.). Leopold I, 1658-1705. Krajcar 1671 Breslau ; 1698 Brzeg ; Gröschel 1694, 1697 Brieg ; 1696 Oppeln ; 3 Krajcar 1696, 1697, 1699, 1700, 1701 (2 ex.), 1702 (2 ex.), Brzeg ; 1668, 1669 (2 ex.), 1670, 1705 Wroclaw ; 15 Krajcar 1662, 1673, 1675, 1676, 1683, 1689, 1693 (2 ex.), Wroclaw. Fryderyk Heski, 1671-1682. 6 Krajcar 1680. - Teutonic Order, Winrych von Kniprode, 1351-1382. Szelag (Schilling). Duchy of Pomerania, Bogislaw X, 1478-1523. Wit 1505 ; Szelag 1505. Hungary, Vladislav I, 1440-1444. Denar. Hungary, Vladislav II, 1490-1516. Denar 1504, 1506, 1510. Schweidnitz (Świdnica), Ludwig II Jagellon of Hungary, 1516-1526. ½ Groschen (8 ex). Duchy of Courland, Friedrich Kettler, 1587-1642. 3 Grosze 1599, 1606. Sweden, Gustav II Adolf, 1611-1632. Poltorak 1624, Riga. Montfort, Anton, 1693-1733. 4 Kreuzer 1694. Starting price: 500 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Spink > Auction 392 | Auction date: 14 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 204 Price realized: 35,000 USD (Approx. 31,976 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Edward VIII (1936), Winchester College, The King's Gold Prize Medal, 1936, awarded to Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson MC*, by Thomas Humphrey Paget and Bertram Wyon, EDWARDVS VIII REX ET IMPERATOR HONOREM PROPONIT, 'classical' bare head left, rev. the tomb of William of Wykeham, ETIAM SEPULTI VIVIT FAMA WYKEHAMI OB MCCCCIV in three lines in exergue [\Even buried the fame of Wykeham lives, died 1404"], 49mm., 86.35g., [Unhallmarked, Spink XRF: 18ct. Gold, London (Royal Mint)], struck retrospectively on 2 March 1937, edge largely plain but inscribed upwards C. I. W. SETON-WATSON. 1936. in New Roman capitalised script 9 and 4 o'clock (BHM - [cf. 4383/3720]; Eimer - [cf. 1240]; Jeremy Cheek, 'Royal Prize Medals', BNJ, 2018, pp. 175-188), faintly hairlined and lightly wiped in otherwise lustrous, original fields, an unfortunate but largely imperceptible scratch above Wykeham, otherwise extremely fine and much as issued, OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, as a 'one-year type' of which only two examples were struck off in gold for English and Latin Speech at Winchester College, the oldest continuously operating patron of an annual Royal Prize Medal, and whose unique obverse legend: 'Edward VIII, The King and Emperor Proposes this Honour' elevates this prestigious award to truly exalted numismatic heights especially when viewed alongside the approved 'Coin Portrait' in a format larger even than his legendary Pattern Five-Pounds, and critically struck in gold, by and housed in, the Royal Mint official case of issue with the stunning and seldom-encountered Edward VIII Cypher in gold-letter Provenance The Estate of Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson MC and Bar (1918-2007). Christopher was born 6 August 1918, the younger son of Robert William and Marion Esther Seton-Watson. He was baptised at St Margaret's (Westminster) on 7 October that same year. Prior to education, he resided at No. 1 Buckingham Street, Buckingham Gate, London. His father, often writing under the pseudonym 'Scotus Viator' from here, proved a troublesome thorn in the side of the British Government for his outspoken beliefs on a federal solution to Austro-Hungary. Conscripted into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1917, his allies soon rescued him to the Intelligence Bureau of the War Cabinet and the Enemy Propaganda Department. It was during this posting that Marion would fall pregnant and Christopher would be born. Whilst his second son was still an infant, Robert journeyed to Paris on his own diplomatic mission for the Peace Conference of July 1919. He continued to rile European officials with his jibe about the 'pygmies of Paris', but equally sought the renewal of friendships with ministers of the new state of Czechoslovakia. His allies Tomáš Masaryk would become the first premier; and Edvard Beneš its Foreign Minister. Unsurprisingly Seton-Watson Senior would prove instrumental in the establishing the post-war frontiers of Yugoslavia and Italy. Robert separately established the School of Slavonic Studies and from 1922 held its post as the first Masaryk Chair of the Faculty. Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Robert devoted his time to academic teachings; although was reportedly unpunctual, untidy, and too preoccupied with other matters". Unsurprisingly, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's later policy of appeasement to Nazi Germany about the subject of Czechoslovakia, found in Seton-Watson one of his governments most pointed critics. This lead to his publication of "Britain in Europe: 1789-1914 - A Survey of Foreign Policy, 1937, in which he argued for the strengthening of the enforcement role of the League of Nations as a 'united European front against the disturbers of the peace'; in short to be an active deterrent against the 'inverted Bolshevism of Italy' and naked aggression of Germany. Following the Second World War, Seton-Watson lamented the loss of the former Easter blocs new-found democratic freedoms, retiring to the Isle of Skye where he died in 1951. With the pursuit of geo-political and military history firmly embedded within the traditions of this family, it is unsurprising to see first Hugh (born 1916), and then Christopher follow in their father's footsteps. Educated at Horris Hill, Christopher became a scholar of Winchester College in 1931. In the Summer of 1936, Christopher would receive this prestigous King's Gold Prize Medal for Latin Verse; and subsequently serve as Head Boy, or 'Aule Prae' until he left the school the following year. His academic record was excellent - having further distinguished himself in History and Latin Speech; a School Exhibition; and as the recipient of the main Classical Prize for an Old Wykehamist - the Goddard Scholarship. The following year, Christopher commenced his Bachelor degree at New College, Oxford with the study of Classics and PPE, and helpfully where his elder brother Hugh was already working as a lecturer. Also revealed on the 1939 Census is the fact Christopher had joined the Officer Training Corps as a Cadet. This would expedite his transition into the colours upon the outbreak of hostilies in September 1939. The history of the Winchester College Prize Medal dates to at least as early as the first decade of the reign of King George III in the 1760s. However, it was not until 1797, that the Prince of Wales (the then Prince Regent) took up the patronage of the award and the addition of HONOREM PROPONIT ("Proposes the Honour") was made to the design. This Royal Prize Medal is the oldest of the now 24 annual awards bestowed by the Sovereign across the Armed Forces, Education, Architecture, Science, Poetry and Geography. As noted by Christopher Eimer (Author, British Historical Medals): "the medal was established by the Prince of Wales... two each in gold and silver, to be awarded in gold for Latin speech and in silver for Latin prose; the other two medals to be awarded for English, gold for speech, silver for verse, these to be awarded in alternate years." Today, Winchester College preserves an early example of the award for 1801, stating the transitional legend 'HONOREM PRINCEPS PROPONIT' and the device of the Prince of Wales (the Ostrich Feathers). When the Prince Regent became King George IV in January 1820, the bestowal of the Prize Medal became the preserve of the Sovereign, a tradition that endures to the present day over two centuries later. The present design was updated by Bertram Wyon during the reign of Queen Victoria to depict the tomb of school founder William of Wykeham, who died in 1404. Winchester College also preserves a small collection of prize medals from the reign of King George V (1919); King George VI (1945) and the late Queen Elizabeth II (2008). As Cheek notes: "Laurence Brown went to great lengths to define which medals should or should not be included in his book. Generally prize medals were excluded, as he felt that if he did not do so the book would never be complete or be published. However his overriding consideration was that medals of national importance would be included. As Royal Prize Medals were thought to be of national importance they were there confusingly in both categories. The result was that Royal Prize Medals issued during the reigns of George IV (1820-30) to George VI (1936-52) were included in BHM.... He continues: "There are also other Royal Price Medals not listed in BHM and not present in the following set: those medals produced with the effigy of Edward VIII, of which twenty-six were produced late in 1937. Equivalent issues to nos. 1-7, 10-12, 14-16, 18 and 20-21 were produced bearing the effigy of Edward VIII; no Edward VIII medals were produced for the Royal Geographical Society (Founder's Medal); the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Police Essay Competition or the Poetry Medal. A Royal Household Long and Faithful Service medal of Edward VIII was produced but never awarded; there is an example in the Royal Mint Museum. The other medals listed in the set described below were only initiated after the abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936. Laurence Brown was an assiduous researcher and I am sure that the omission of these medals from BHM was deliberate, presumably because he believed that they should be considered as Patterns for medals that were not issued, and thus lay outside the scope of his book. However since the publication of BHM two examples of Royal Prize Medals with the effigy of Edward VIII have appeared at auction inscribed with receipients' names, so it would appear that at least two were in fact awarded. There are no specimens of Royal Prize Medals with the effigy of Edward VIII in the Royal Collection." Corpus: 1. Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst) 2. Britannia Royal Naval College (Dartmouth); Awarded to Peter S Wilson; Morton & Eden, Auction 8, 25 May 2004, lot 133 (£6,200 HP); Joseph S Giordano Collection 3. Royal Air Force College (Cranwell) 4. King Edward VIII School (King's Lynn) The abdication of King Edward VIII on the 11 December 1936 brought to an end a tumultous 325-day reign. The termination of his reign brought with it the logistical headache of scrapping his approved effigy for a replacement in the likeness of King George VI. Deputy-Master of the Royal Mint (1922-1938), Sir Robert Arthur Johnson conceded: "The work of the two artists was all but completed when the events of last December rendered it nugatory. Over 200 dies of coins, medals and seals were thus rendered useless and the Mint was faced with the task of securing portraits of his present Majesty with but limited time available." He added in the same December 1937 interview shortly before his death: "I am betraying no profound secret in stating that the coinage effigy of the former King was, at his personal wish, prepared facing to the left. But as there has been no coinage bearing the bust of the former King, the old tradition has maintained by showing the effigy of the present monarch facing in the same direction as the last monarch but one. The new King's effigy faces left, as did those of King George V and Queen Victoria, a fact which is surely one of the most happy augury." He concluded: "During 1936, in the early stages when the coinage for King Edward was in question, I was made aware that some desire existed for a complete departure from the heraldic tradition which has been associated for several centuries with our principal coins." Based on surviving Royal Mint Archives, Official Gazette entries, contemporary newspaper reports and eyewitness accounts, the following timeline can be reconstructed for the numismatic and philatelic record of the short-lived King's reign. 20 January 1936 - At five minutes to midnight, King George V dies at Sandringham and his eldest son David, Prince of Wales becomes King Edward VIII. Thursday, 6 February 1936 - An official at the General Post Office informs the Daily Telegraph, that: "New postage stamps and postal orders bearing the portrait of King Edward VIII are not likely to be issued until the end of the year. It can also be authoritatively stated that no mourning stamps are to be printed. The annual sale of stamps in Britain totals 7,000,000,000. Postal orders number 225,000,000. Of the 70,000 letter boxes in the country, comparatively few will bear King Edward's initials for some time. New boxes will do so. Letter boxes bearing the inscription E.R. VII are still in existence, and there are still a few old ones marked V.R. On the 9,000 mail vans, the Royal initials will be altered as the vehicles are repainted." It is estimated that only 271 post-boxes bearing the cypher of Edward VIII were eventually produced. The same day, the 4th Winter Olympiad is opened in Garmisch-Partenkirchen by Adolf Hitler. Friday, 21 February 1936 - "The King received Sir Robert Johnson, Deputy Master of the Royal Mint at Buckingham Palace, and inspected a plaster cast of his own head, which had been prepared at the Mint. The cast will, with Royal Approval, be used not only for the new coins, but also in the preparation of dies for medals and other purposes." Friday, 13 March 1936 - "The King has approved two designs for the new Royal cypher: "E.R. VIII.". The War Office will make known to the public next week the designs submitted by Garter King of Arms which have been approved by the King. One Cypher in plain modern block letters surmounted by the Imperial Crown, will be used by the postal authorities and Government offices, Embassies, Legations and Consulates abroad, and by Dominions, India and the Crown Colonies. The other cypher follows the traditional style of interlocked initials with oak-leaf fringes. This will be used by the armed forces and the constabulary of the Empire." Tuesday, 28 April 1936 - The King sat at Buckingham Palace for the two medallionists [Thomas Humphrey Paget and Percy Metcalfe] of the Royal Mint, for the head which will appear on the new coinage and the medals which will be granted by King Edward the Eighth. Friday, 1 May 1936 - In what is estimated to be a £1,000,000 stimulus to the manufacting and stationery industry of Britain, the first printed examples of the King's Cypher appear in circulation. Saturday, 30 May 1936 - Bradford Post Office becomes the first building in Britain to feature the King's new cypher. Monday, 20 July 1936 - The Annual Swan Voyage of His Swan Master's Skiff along the River Thames exhibits the new Royal Cypher 'in red surmounted by a gold crown'. Friday 31 July 1936 - Sir William Currie, Chairman of the Worcester Committee announced that the King had been graciously pleased to become the patron of [Thames Nautical College, H.M.S.] Worcester. The King's gold medal was won by Kenneth Hodson. "A letter from the Secretary of the King's Privy Purse was read explaining that the medal could not be presented yet as a new one had to be cast bearing King Edward's head." This same medal was later sold by Sotheby's at an auction of 5 July 1994 (lot 211) and is believed to remain in a Private British Collection. Friday, 7 August 1936 - The King approves the uncrowned effigy submitted by Mr Thomas Humphrey Paget for his coins and medals, and the designs for the reverse of the new silver coinage by Mr George Kruger Gray. Tuesday, 1 September 1936 - Edward VIII's uncrowned effigy is released on stamps at midnight, featuring the series of halfpenny, threehalfpenny and twopence-halfpenny. London's three 'all-night post offices' in Fleet Street were besieged by collectors with queues forming two hours beforehand. "The issue was regarded as the greatest success of any recorded by the Post Office as over 30,000,000 stamps were sold on the first day." The following day however, critics were quick to note: "The head of the King is far from being the best photograph that has ever been taken and makes him appear more youthful than he really is. People are asking why there could not have been a break from tradition. Why always a face in profile? Why not full face, with the King wearing that boyish smile which has endeared him to millions? The new Australian stamp shows the King full face, so why not the English?" The Belfast Newsletter notes: "People are expressing the hope that a little more imagination will be displayed in the preparation of the new King Edward coins than has been manifested in the printing of the new stamps." Monday, 14 September 1936 - The penny stamp of Edward VIII is released. Wednesday, 16 September 1936 - The Royal Mint submits proposals to the Treasury for a new larger Threepence coin. An official stated: "the size is midway between that of a sixpence and a shilling. Efforts are being made to find a distinctive edge for the coin. The metal to be used has not yet been decided upon. The new coin will not however be made of silver or nickel." As Prince of Wales, Edward had described the silver issue, colloquially dubbed a 'joey' as an 'annoying coin'. Monday, 8 December 1936 - The Official Gazette, Notice No. 769 states: His Majesty the King has approved the issue of the customary official medal to commemorate His Majesty's Coronation. The medal will show on the obverse the crowned effigy of His Majesty with legend, and on the reverse the gateway of St James's Palace. "The Royal Mint are prepared to accept orders for these medals in Gold, large size, diameter 2.5 inches, price 50 guineas; small size, diameter 1.25 inches, price 12 guineas." Notice No. 770, states: "It has been announced that His Majesty the King will broadcast a message to the Empire on the day of his Coronation, Wednesday 12 May 1937. This will be His Majesty's first act after the Coronation ceremony is over. It is understood that a message to the Empire will not be broadcast by His Majesty at Christmas." Wednesday, 10 December 1936 - King Edward VIII signs his 'Instrument of Abdication' Thursday, 11 December 1936 - King George VI acceeds to the throne Tuesday, 2 March 1937 - The Royal Mint produces the obverse die hub for the Winchester College, King's Prize Medal. As each Royal Award is the preserve of the incumbent Sovereign, it is elected to retrospectively strike the medals with the 'classical' uncrowned effigy of the former King Edward VIII for those awarded in 1936. These are distributed to recipients over the following month. i) The Royal Collection boasts the artist's approval in gilt metal of King George VI sent for the monarch's personal assent (RCIN 443736). No artistic trials of Edward VIII were produced for the same purpose as the medals were to be produced retrospectively. ii) Spink has offered Marcus William Dick's, 1938 award in 2014, lot 628 iii) Spink has offered John Christopher Dancy's, 1939 award in 2021, lot 8110 Estimate: 15000 - 20000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Spink > Auction 23051 | Auction date: 27 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 1035 Price realized: 10,500 GBP (Approx. 13,335 USD / 12,311 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Eadgar, King of the Mercians (957-959), latterly, King of All England (1 October 959 - 8 July 975), "Circumscription Cross" Type, Round Halfpenny, struck October 959 - 963 [?], Southampton, + EADGA•R REX, small cross pattée, rev. H-A-M-T• divided by cruciform of crucifixes, with pellet at centre, [Spink XRF: 95.10% Ag; 2.39% Cu; 0.81% Au; 0.69% Zn; 0.647% Pb; 0.36% Fe], 0.497g [7.67grns], 15.25mm., 7h (Kevin Hoffman, 'Anglo-Saxon and Danelaw halfpennies, c. 877–c.970', BNJ 93 (2023), p. 82 and EGSH-01 this coin; EMC 2023.0244 this coin; North - [cf. 749.1]; Spink - [cf. 1140C]), an extraordinary fractional issue and evident contemporary of the Winchester-signed Halfpence found at Preston Candover in October 2022 and sold in these rooms earlier this year; beautifully fresh for strike and sharp in relief, with a speckle of inconsequential verdigris in recesses, otherwise near extremely fine, the design previously unrecorded, UNIQUE, and of great importance to 10th Century English numismatics thus. Provenance, Found at 1:37pm on an organised metal detecting rally between Winchester and Basingstoke, Sunday 16 April 2023, Reported to the Fitzwilliam Museum, ref. EMC 2023.0244, 8 June 2023, Recorded by Spink, 2 September 2023, Reported to Spink, 22 September 2023, Consigned for sale at Spink, 29 September 2023, , , Spink XRF Analysis (Conducted 2 October 2023, Olympus VANTA Series L, from which the reading is calculated) , , Corpus: , , Eadwig (955-959), , North 738 (Floral type C, Chester, Eadwine), a) EMC 1034.0857 = SCBI 34 [BM], 857; 0.60g, Found at the Castle Esplanade, Chester, 1950 , , North 738 variety (Floral type C, Chester, Wigelm), b) EMC 2004.0221; "0.66g", but a fragment in five pieces; Found at Ockley (Surrey), by May 2003, , , North 740.3; Spink 1128A; CTCE - (Two crosses dividing VV-IN) -) EMC 2006.0203; 0.56g, 3h; Found by Robert Fry at Calbourne Parish (Isle of Wight), Wednesday 3 May 2006; Recorded with the Isle of Wight Museum (internal ref. IOW2006-40-49; public ref. PAS IOW-FA69C3) ; Listed in the BNJ, Coin Register 2007, no. 290; R Fry by private treaty with A H Baldwin; Baldwin, Summer FPL [published 1 August 2011], AS009 - "chipped around nearly half of rim, otherwise toned, a bold very fine and of the highest rarity" - £6,500; "The Collection of an English Doctor" ["7-367"], dispersed by Sovereign Rarities in three portions from 7 March 2022; this coin advertised exclusively 8 September 2022; and remaining in company stock inventory, ref. GM23854 (£9,750), October 2023 , , Eadgar (957-959), latterly, King of All England (1 October 959 - 8 July 975), , North 754 (Two crosses dividing VV-IN, and five pellets), -) EMC 1991.0256; fragmented and lost; Found at St Bartholomew's Church (London), during widening of Threadneedle Street, August-October 1840; cf. Lindsay, Heptarchy [1842], pp. 89; cf. "Catalogue of the Museum of London Antiquities" [1854], pp. 108 - the latter recording that coin's accidental destruction; CTCE 395, Pl. 25, -) EMC 2022.0360; 0.52g [8.4grns], 10h; Found at Preston Candover (Hants), Sunday 9 October 2022; Spink 286, 3 April 2023, lot 404 (£7,800); Private US Collection , , Kevin Hoffman, in his forthcoming article on Anglo-Saxon and Danelaw Halfpennies c. 877-970' for the BNJ (2023, pp. 37-93), noted: "Since the finalisation of this article an important new halfpenny has come to light. This coin, which was found in the Winchester area of Hampshire on 16 April 2023 (EMC 2023.0244), is the first of a new type for Edgar. The obverse is of a standard 'Circumscription Cross' type. The reverse, however is unique: it has a long-armed cross crosslet with a pellet at the centre; in the arms of the cross are the letters HAMT with a final pellet. The mint is certainly Southampton, although the coin was found near Winchester. Like most coins of Edgar this halfpenny is light, at 0.50g, and its diameter is 15.2-15.3mm. , , The long-armed cross design is quite rare; before the reign of Edgar it last appeared on some of the 'Early York' types (e.g. ECCP-12), in the early tenth century. For the abbreviated mint-name without a moneyer's name the most relevant comparison is the 'Winchester' type of Edgar (WIEG-01 and WIEG-02). As with the 'Winchester' type, the design does not appear on Pennies. From the extremely small sample of three coins that is currently known, the abbreviated mint-name seems to be a style associated with the West-Saxon heartlands. On the pattern of the 'Winchester' type, the new halfpenny should be described as the first representative of the 'Southampton' type: EGSH-01." Estimate: £10000 - £12000 |  |
Match 5:
| Spink > Auction 23151 | Auction date: 14 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 2006 Price realized: 370,000 GBP (Approx. 464,766 USD / 430,977 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (g) NGC PF63+ UCAM | William IV (1830-1837), Pattern Proof Five-Pounds, 1831, struck from the Coronation 'W.W.' Crown dies in .999 Fine Gold, by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey and Jean-Baptiste Merlen for the Royal Mint, GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D: bare head right, W.W. buried in truncation, rev. crowned shield-of-arms within the Collar of the Order of the Garter and draped with ermine mantle, St George pendant below, edge plain, [Median Spink XRF: 99.99% Au], 39.828g [614.64grns], 5h ("A Memoir of the Life and Works of William Wyon ESQ A.R.A, Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint", Nicholas Carlisle [1837], pp. 107-109; "The Wyons", L S Forrer [Spink, 1917], p. 103; KM Pn99; Fb. 381; PCGS ID 531509/542036; MCE p. 94, Pattern 34a; L&S 2, p. 71 this coin mentioned; Davies 300; W&R 270 [R5]; ESC 272 [R5]; Bull 2463 [R5]; Holloway GH 102; Sainthill -; Montagu 1086; Murdoch 437; Nobleman 198; Wertheimer 176 = Lingford 533; Blake BL310 this coin ['6 known']; Lady Duveen 64 = Douglas-Morris 184 ['about 10 known']; Spink 3833), an historic scratch to forehead with the faintest wisps to fields, below neckline and to right of mantle above the expected die flaw, with delicate carbon spotting to peripheries, otherwise entirely original and utterly splendiferous, the "frabjous" fields of Wyon's auriferous "wonderland" canon a befittingly exalted canvas for the strikingly high relief and stupendously cameo "Coronation portrait" personally approved by the King from this very obverse die, from an exceedingly limited corpus; this the viable finest of the nine confirmed specimens; truly "fresh from the die" and technically FDC, totally unblemished by recent 'conservation' or even rim contact marks that plague the extremities of every other known survivor, simply put: outrageous; extraordinary; and practically peerless; unseen at public auction for almost a CENTURY, having previously blessed the Alfred John Morris; George Hamilton-Smith; Hugh Vincent Summers, George Blake and Charles Dabney-Thompson cabinets, in NGC 'St. Helier' holder, conservatively graded PF63+ ULTRA CAMEO (Cert. #6767923-004) [Only 1 Certified Finer]. Provenance, ~ Recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records (1969) as the most expensive British coin ever sold at the time. For context, the average house price in the United Kingdom in July 1966 was £3,558.0.0 ~ , Spink, by private treaty, 4 July 1966 - £5,350.0.0, Charles Dabney-Thompson, collection purchased en bloc by Spink, 1965, SCMB, June 1956, BL310* - "AV Five Pounds, 1831, Pattern by William Wyon and Merlen...only six coins of this denomination are believed to have been issued. brilliant, FDC, RRRR" - £800.0.0, George Blake, collection purchased by Seaby, May 1956, ~ 1956: "In May of this year we were able to announce the purchase of the George Blake collection, which was one of the best we have bought in recent years. Pieces worth noting where the Cromwell half-broad, Charles II Petition and Reddite crowns, the George III five guineas of 1777, and the William IV five pounds of 1831" (H A Seaby, SCMB, July 1966, p. 241) ~, B A Seaby, by private treaty with George Blake, by February 1947, Hugh Vincent Summers ['XYZ'], collection purchased by Seaby, 1946, George Hamilton-Smith (died 18 November 1926), Glendining, 23-25 May 1927, lot 189 - "Pattern Five Pound Piece, 1831....edge plain, brilliant and of great rarity" - £110.0.0 [Spink for H V Summers], "Formerly in the Morris Collection", Alfred John Morris (5 February 1880 - 16 January 1943), collection sold by private treaty to Hamilton-Smith, between April and July 1922, Little is known about the Morris collection, as only Hamilton-Smith seems to have directly or at least publicly benefitted from it. It contributed at least three coins, a 1770 Pattern Five Guineas, an 1820 Five Pounds and this 1831 Five Pounds which is rather telling of its calibre and quality. Indeed Morris, first appears on the radar at the Nobleman sale of 27 March 1922, when he newly-registers as a commission bidder with Spink for the sale. Presenting the profile of an investor, strangely Morris targets only four lots - the strikings in silver of the 1820 Five-Pounds and Two-Pounds; a Pattern 1816 Sovereign, and finally lot 67A - the Incorrupta Crown in Gold. Strikingly no effort was made towards bidding for the Pattern Five Guineas, the 1820 Five Pounds or indeed the Renotiere example of the 1831 Gold piece - highly suggestive of a pre-existing collection, but an especially targeted focus when bidding. In each case Morris would be defeated by Spink's separate commission bidder Virgil Michael Brand, perhaps initiating Morris to apply for membership to the British Numismatic Society only a month later whereupon he would undoubtedly have met one of its council members, George Hamilton-Smith who probably persuaded him to approach him in his separate capacity as newly acting director of auctioneer Glendining's. His father had founded a company of upholsterer spring manufacturers, having started his career as a book-keeper in Belper, Derbyshire. Partnering with Edward Bagshaw, the firm of Bagshaw and Morris operated under the Morris' sole ownership from 43 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch between 1889 and 1935. It claimed to be the oldest manufacturer of coppered-steel springs for the upholstery trade. , , Corpus:, , 1) The Arnold Specimen (May 1993); Private Collection [PCGS PR63 DCAM] , , 2) The Murdoch Specimen (January 2020), 39.87g; Private Collection [PCGS PR63 DCAM - Cert. #39237162] , , 3) The Duveen Specimen (October 2020), 39.90g; Submitted for grading, Sarasota, Florida (January 2014), and 'brown'-holdered [NGC PF63 UCAM - Cert. #3731659-001]; Resubmitted and "conserved" before sale in Monaco; Private Collection [NGC PF66* UCAM - Cert. #5744153-004] , , 4) The St. Helier Specimen (May 1927), 39.828g, this coin; [NGC PF63+ UCAM - Cert. #6767923-004] , , 5) The Paramount Specimen (January 2023), 40.446g; graded NGC Proof Details ~ Obverse Tooled [Cert. #6066350-025]; Private Collection, presently unencapsulated. , , 6) The Thomas H Law Specimen (August 2013); [NGC PF63 UCAM]. , , 7) The Strauss Specimen (May 1994); [PCGS PR61 DCAM] , , 8) The Hunterian Specimen (-), ex Major-General William Yorke-Moore, Sotheby's, 21 April 1879, lot 340 - £22.0.0 [Rollin & Feuardent for Burns]; Edward Burns, by private treaty with Coats; Thomas Coats, collection bequeathed to Hunterian Museum, 1921 , , 9) The Ashmolean Specimen (-) , , https://www.ngccoin.com/certlookup/6767923-004/63/ Estimate: £240000 - £300000 |  |
