| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > January 2024 NYINC Auction | Auction date: 12 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 52255 Price realized: 550,000 USD (Approx. 501,545 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: GREAT BRITAIN. Gold 7 Kilogram Platinum Jubilee Commemorative (7000 Pounds), 2022. Llantrisant Mint. Elizabeth II. GEM PROOF. This unique masterpiece is perhaps the most significant modern issue from The Royal Mint to be offered publicly. Produced in 7 kilograms of .999 fine gold and measuring a massive 185mm in diameter, it is as visually spectacular as it is historically significant. This piece was created in celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, which marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952. In the seven decades since, the world had seen her grow from a young queen crowned in post-war Britain, into a widely respected Head of State and a loving great-grandmother. Under Queen Elizabeth II's leadership, the monarchy adapted to the modern era while preserving its historical traditions and constitutional role. Her reign was marked by profound historical events, cultural shifts, and remarkable achievements including the expansion of the British Commonwealth and the transition from empire to a more diverse and inclusive society. As the longest serving monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II has left an indelible mark on the United Kingdom and the world which will continue to inspire generations to come. And much like this legacy, the present gold 7 kilo commemorative coin is unique and without parallel. Large gold coins have long been used to recognize and celebrate head's of state going back thousands of years to the very beginnings of coinage. Perhaps the most famed from antiquity are the large gold octodrachms first struck by the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt shortly after the death of Alexander III the Great in 323 BC. This oversized format was also adopted by several Roman emperors who struck large multiple-aurei gold medallions during the second quarter of the first millennium AD. This tradition was elevated to new heights beginning in the 16th century when gargantuan medallic multiple-ducats were struck by the Kings of Austria, Germany, and Poland. Large gold coins also have a storied legacy within British numismatics specifically, perhaps the most famous of which are the large gold Una and the Lion 5 Pound coins struck beginning in 1839 to commemorate the ascension of Queen Victoria in 1837. A century later, an unforeseen rarity was created by the premature striking of gold 5 pound coins to mark the coronation of King Edward VIII, who ultimately abdicated the throne five months shy of coronation. While both the Una and the Lion and the King Edward VIII 5 pound coins are prized treasures, their respective rarities pale in comparison to this unique 7 kilo masterpiece celebrating Queen Elizabeth II. The Production and design of this piece required hundreds of hours of craftsmanship and utilized state-of-the-art engraving and laser technology. Instead of being struck on a press between two dies like a traditional coin, the details of this piece were cut into a solid gold ingot by a high-speed precision computer numerical control (CNC) engraving machine. The gold ingot originally began at a weight between 9 and 10 kilograms before being machined into the 7 kilo finished product over several weeks. The master craftsmen at The Royal Mint closely inspected the ingot for quality before positioning it in the CNC machine, which was programed with unique parameters to properly scale the design to this massive format and achieve the technical and aesthetic requirements intended by the designers. It took 3 to 4 days to engrave each side, after which the design was further hand finished over 2 days to remove imperfections and enhance key elements. As a final step, the surfaces were then hand-polished to a high luster over 2 to 3 days before the coin was set into its acrylic mount and oak display case, both of which were produced in the UK. Complementing these advanced production techniques are bespoke commemorative designs on both sides that had been personally approved by The Queen. This numismatic triumph was designed by respected coinage artist John Bergdahl, who has created numerous designs for UK coins including the 2008 Britannia coin, coins celebrating the London 2012 Paralympic and Olympic Games, the £2 coin commemorating Tudor naval ship the Mary Rose, and coins commemorating Magna Carta and the Battle of Hastings. On the obverse of this 7 kilo Platinum Jubilee coin is a special commemorative design depicting The Queen on horseback surrounded by the garter from the Royal Coat of Arms. It draws inspiration from the similar equestrian designs seen on the 1953 coronation crown coin created by Gilbert Ledward RA and the 2002 Golden Jubilee crown by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. The reverse depicts a crowned EIIR cypher surrounded by roses, daffodils, thistles and shamrocks, representing the United Kingdom. When reflecting on this special reverse design, Bergdahl explained that he "decided to make use of the royal cypher (EIIR) and looked for a way of differentiating it from the modern more simplistic, minimalistic treatment and adopt a richer, more regal, portrayal. To achieve that, I looked to the past and decided to utilize the kind of rococo cartouche used in the mid eighteenth century." An absolute triumph in every sense, this gold 7 kilo masterpiece combines the pinnacles of rarity, artistry, and minting technology to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. This unique piece is sure to serve as crowning jewel in the most advanced collection of British or world gold coins, and Stack's Bowers Galleries is beyond honored to present this treasure to collectors on behalf of The Royal Mint. Estimate: $600000 - $800000 |  |
Match 1:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > December 2023 World CCO Auction | Auction date: 7 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 31005 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: ALDERNEY. Gold 10 Pounds, 2011. Llantrisant Mint. Elizabeth II. NGC PROOF-69 Ultra Cameo. KM-213. AGW: 4.6245 oz. Mintage: 500. Commemorative of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine 'Kate' Middleton. Sold with COA #092. Quite enthralling and impressive, as well as being one that is RARELY encountered, this specimen may be seen as a dynastic issue, featuring the former queen along with her grandson and heir-apparent to current sovereign, Charles III. Estimate: $8000 - $12000 |  |
Match 2:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > January 2024 NYINC Auction | Auction date: 12 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 52202 Price realized: 280,000 USD (Approx. 255,332 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: GREAT BRITAIN. Gold "Una and the Lion" 5 Pounds Pattern, 1839. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS PROOF-63 Deep Cameo. S-3851; Fr-386; KM-742; WR-278 (R4). By William Wyon. Wilson and Rasmussen lists a total of eight die varieties for this type, with the present example identified by its "DIRIGE..." reverse legend, small lettered edge, and six full scrolls on the obverse headband. Masterfully produced in medallic high relief, this hefty gold five sovereign issue is often found with fully intact frost over the devices, rendering the portrait and the figures of Victoria and the Lion in stark, striking detail that only accentuates the beauty of Wyon's artistry. The present example is no exception, the matte-like texture of the raised portions of the design offering an eye-catching contrast to the watery and deeply mirrored yellow-golden fields beneath. Mild hairlines are present but well-hidden in the fields, in line with the assigned grade. William Wyon (1795-1851) led a long and illustrious career as an engraver of British medals and coinage, hailing from a family of diesinkers in Birmingham and serving as Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death in 1851. He was a prolific and highly regarded artist in his lifetime, the creator of such famed pieces as the 1817 "Three Graces" and "Incorrupta" pattern Crowns, the 1847 "Gothic" Crown, and the 1831 coronation medal for William IV, among many others. His work can primarily be classified under Neoclassicism, a popular art movement of the 18th and 19th centuries that drew heavily upon works of the Renaissance and classical antiquity, featuring themes of grandeur in conjunction with a simplicity of style. Wyon's most renowned work may be his 1839 "Una and the Lion" 5 Pounds issue, produced for the delayed coronation of Queen Victoria, who ascended to the throne in 1837. The design, in characteristic Neoclassical fashion, draws direct inspiration from Edmund Spenser's Renaissance-era epic poem, "The Faerie Queen." Book I of the epic follows the adventures of the noble Redcrosse Knight and his lady, Una. In one scene, Una is charged upon by a wild lion after becoming separated from her companion, but in the face of Una's beauty and purity, the lion is instantly tamed, and thereafter accompanies her as a faithful protector. In a time of great social mobility, with the Industrial Revolution in full force, coupled with a gradual movement away from a traditional rigid social hierarchy in the wake of two centuries of mercantilist policies (which led to a significant redistribution of wealth from the nobility to the middle class), and following the largely unpopular and at best ineffectual reigns of George IV and William IV, the structure of the British monarchy as a whole had increasingly become regarded as archaic. Indeed, the accession of Victoria on 20 June 1837, less than a month after her 18th birthday, would mark the beginning of the transition of the monarchy to a primarily ceremonial role. Victoria's coronation took place on 28 June 1838, a little over a year after her accession to the throne, presumably having been delayed in an effort to train and prepare her for her new role, as she had not been raised with the expectation of queenhood. Wyon's coronation set would be issued a year later. His usage of the Una and the Lion imagery for his representation of Victoria upon the largest denomination within the set was clever in its execution but controversial by nature; it was the first time in history that a British monarch had been depicted on a coin as a fictional character. Nevertheless, it served its function as propaganda, highlighting and romanticizing the Queen's youth and purity while simultaneously portraying her as a noble and capable leader, in an effort to sell her to the public. Wyon's Una is rendered as the upright figure of a young Queen Victoria, royal orb and scepter in hand, clothed in an elaborate medieval gown. At her side, the enormous strolling lion functions both as the character from Spenser's epic and as a symbol of Great Britain, a mighty force diligently following its queen. Above the figures are the words "DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS" ("May God Direct My Steps"), a holy entreaty and a message of hope in the wake of the accession of a vibrant young leader. This large and impressive gold Pattern issue found immediate popularity, and the original mintage of approximately 400 pieces was soon found to be wanting. The beauty and grace of Wyon's imagery and the mystical romanticization of the young queen appealed to many, and the Royal Mint assuaged the heavy demand by striking additional examples upon request for nearly fifty years, reportedly until 1886, an endeavor that resulted in the production of several additional dies. Of the eight known die pairings, the most common is W&R-279 (R2), which is most often associated with the original proof set. The present W&R-278 (R4) is a close second, with the other varieties generally being scarce to rare. To view all items from the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, click here. From the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection. Estimate: $200000 - $400000 |  |
Match 3:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > 2023 Trial of the Pyx Auction | Auction date: 13 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 1224 Price realized: 550 USD (Approx. 513 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Gold Sovereign. Final Assayed Sovereign. Queen Elizabeth II. Trial of the Pyx Test Piece. Jessopp Facsimile Signature Label. Matte Uncirculated (NGC). 7.98 g of .9167 Fine Gold. 22.05mm. Immediately tickling the eye with the beauty and allure of a Matte Uncirculated finish, this exciting and wholly presentable representative delivers much in the way of commendability. A Sovereign that will certainly be treasured by its next owner, as this piece ties together the life of Elizabeth II, the Trial of the Pyx, and the historic denomination all into one. From a Collection of Historic Test Pieces from the 2023 Trial of the Pyx, Presented on Behalf of The Royal Mint. |  |
Match 4:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > 2023 Trial of the Pyx Auction | Auction date: 13 February 2024 |
| Lot number: 1193 Price realized: 2,200 USD (Approx. 2,053 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee 1oz Platinum 100 Pounds. Coronation Obverse. First Platinum Jubilee Assayed. Queen Elizabeth II. Trial of the Pyx Test Piece. Jessopp Facsimile Signature Label. Brilliant Proof (NGC). 31.21 g (1oz) of .9995 Fine Platinum. 32.69mm. Maximum Mintage180. There is perhaps no more fitting of a way to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II than this captivating issue produced in 1oz of Platinum. The obverse depicts a special commemorative equestrian portrait of Her Majesty The Queen. The reverse features an elaborate royal mantle design which was inspired by the mantle, or robe, worn by Her Majesty at the coronation in 1953 and also by the designs on the coinage of King William IV. With a maximum mintage of only 180 pieces, this is a truly important offering from the Trial of the Pyx. From a Collection of Historic Test Pieces from the 2023 Trial of the Pyx, Presented on Behalf of The Royal Mint. |  |
Match 5:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 43191 Price realized: 65,000 USD (Approx. 61,165 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: GREAT BRITAIN. Gold 1000 Pounds, 2018. Llantrisant Mint. Queen's Beasts, Red Dragon of Wales. Elizabeth II. SUPERB-GEM PROOF. S-QBCE3. AGW: 32.1507 oz. Mintage: 13 maximum. A stunning and hefty Kilogram of Fine Gold from the Queen's beast series, this tremendous representative yields exceptional hard cameo contrast, with the intricate details well presented and no appreciable signs of fault or handling. A hefty and charming representative that will certainly attract the attention of many collections of modern British issues. The Queen's Beast Series was produced in honor of 10 Heraldic statues that represent the Genealogy of Queen Elizabeth II. The statues were placed in an Annex of Westminster Abbey for the Queen's coronation in 1953, with each statue weighing approximately 700 Pounds and being 6 Feet tall. The statues now reside in the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec. This example features the Red Dragon of Wales, a historic symbol of Wales mentioned in early Welsh chronicles. This association with Wales was firmly established by Owen Tudor, grandfather of Henry VII. Estimate: $65000 - $75000 |  |
