| Spink > Auction 25005 | Auction date: 30 September 2025 |
| Lot number: 473 Price realized: 155,000 GBP (Approx. 207,998 USD / 177,318 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (g) NGC PF64 UCAM - PF65BN | George IV (1820-1830), Proof Set, 1826 (11), Specimen Five-Pounds to Half-Sovereign, Crown to Sixpence, Penny to Farthing (S.PS1), a pleasingly honest and original set with glorious cabinet tone interspersed with mint brilliance on key pieces, a connoisseur's great opportunity!, with NGC Certification (Cert. #8534313) (11). Provenance, The "Pallas" Collection of English Coins , Spink, by private treaty, 25 April 1983 - £20,600 , , i) PF64 UCAM | Proof Five-Pounds, 1826 SEPTIMO, edge lettered downwards, 39.874g, 6h (L&S 27; W&R 213; Marsh F6; GH 98; EGC II, 940 [R3]), some haziness in arresting pools of gloriously full and honest orange cabinet-tone, with sharp cameo definition, much as struck, a glorious specimen, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 64 ULTRA CAMEO (Cert. #8534313-001) , , ii) PF63 CAM | Proof Two-Pounds, 1826 SEPTIMO, edge lettered downwards, 15.951g, 6h (Douglas-Morris 168; W&R 228; EGC II, 957), highly superficial pecks to truncation and wisps of cabinet friction in otherwise brilliant fields, the portrait in pleasant contrast, a wholesome example, a bold extremely fine, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 63 CAMEO (Cert. #8534313-002) , , iii) PF61 CAM | Proof Sovereign, 1826, rev. eight hearts, edge milled, 7.971g, 6h (Stratos 216; W&R 237 [R2]; EGC II, 969), linear cabinet friction and deft handling marks in otherwise attractively brilliant fields, with sumptuous golden-orange cabinet toning, a most pleasingly honest and original example, a bolder extremely fine, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 61 CAMEO (Cert. #8534313-003) , , iv) PF65 UCAM | Proof Half-Sovereign, 1826, without 'extra tuft', edge milled, 3.985g, 6h (Douglas-Morris 153; Hill 407A; W&R 249; EGC II, 997), the deftest cabinet friction in otherwise brilliant fields, a beautifully honest and wholesome example of this treasured rarity, virtually as struck, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 65 ULTRA CAMEO (Cert. #8534313-004) , , v) PF65 | Pattern Proof Crown, 1826 SEPTIMO, edge lettered downwards, 28.168g, 6h (L&S 27; Bull 2336; ESC 257; Davies 151), an outstanding example, richly and deeply cabinet toned overlying brilliant original fields, practically FDC, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 65 (Cert. #8534313-005) , , vi) PF64 | Proof Halfcrown, 1826, edge milled, 14.078g, 6h (Bull 2376; ESC 647; Davies 192; MCE [1950], p. 106, 'Reverse 3' this coin), the reverse and milling concreted with red wax where previous plated, otherwise outstandingly cabinet toned with petrol-blue hues, much as struck, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 64 (Cert. #8534313-006) , , vii) PF62 | Proof Shilling, 1826, edge milled, 5.674g, 7h (Bull 2411; ESC 1258), some surface marks in brilliant but very darkly toned fields, a bold extremely fine, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 62 (Cert. #8534313-007) , , viii) PF63 | Proof Sixpence, 1826, "extra tuft", edge milled, 2.833g, 7h (Bull 2435; ESC 1663), spots of red wax in previously wiped but brilliant and darkly retoned fields, a pleasingly bold extremely fine, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 63 (Cert. #8534313-008) , , ix) PF64 BN | Bronzed Proof Penny, 1826, rev. Rev. C, thick raised line on saltire, edge plain, 19.224g, 12h (BMC [Peck] 1426), some carbon spotting and organic residue to peripheries, otherwise brilliant, a pleasingly good extremely fine, with harmonious chocolate brown patination, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 64 BROWN (Cert. #8534313-009) , , x) PF64 BN | Bronzed Proof Halfpenny, 1826, rev. Rev. A, two incuse lines on saltire, edge plain, 9.525g, 12h (BMC [Peck] 1434), small rim bruise at 8 o'clock, other brilliant, a really bold extremely fine and much as issued, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 64 BROWN (Cert. #8534313-010) , , xi) PF65 BN | Bronzed Proof Farthing, 1826, edge plain, 4.699g, 12h (BMC [Peck] 1440), small rim bruise at 8 o'clock on reverse, otherwise brilliant, good extremely fine, in NGC 'Black' Pallas holder, graded PROOF 65 BROWN (Cert. #8534313-011) , , The Morning Post (27 October 1826), reports: 'A new coinage of gold, silver and copper has just been completed at the Mint. Four or Five of the principal bankers had each one set as a specimen, and no more. A set consists of one 5l. piece, one 2l. piece, a 1l. piece, and a 10s. piece (gold); a 5s. piece, a half-crown piece, a 1s and a 6d. (silver); a penny, a half-penny, and a farthing in copper. The 5l. piece bears on one side the arms of Great Britain engraved on drapery, with the motto DECUS ET TUTAMEN, and the date of the year: on the other side, the head of His Majesty, similar to the one on the new Sovereign. This piece is supposed to be taken from the forty Liri piece of Parma. The 2l. piece is the same as the above; the 1l. piece is also the same, but not engraved on drapery. The 5s. piece, the half-crown piece, the 1s. and 6d. bear the arms of Great Britain, the same as these already issued. The penny, half-penny and farthing, dated 1826. , This enlightening report provides further background to a contemporary fiscal policy to withdraw the Bank of England's circulation of one and two pound bank notes by April 1829. However, opponents at the time feared a rush to gold requiring an extra 5 million gold pounds to cover the promissory short fall explaining the subsequent upsurge in mint productions of Sovereigns for 1825 and 1826. , The Globe continues (Friday, 27 October 1826): 'We yesterday announced the completion of a new coinage. As these new coinages are frequently made at some expence to the public, we are at a loss to know why the larger gold coins (the 5l. and 2l. coins) are not put into circulation? In some cases these coins would be convenient as currency, and like crowns and half-crowns in silver, would save trouble in counting. At any rate, if the expence of making the dies be incurred, as many of them should be put into circulation as the public demand, instead of making them, as at present, artificially scarce, for the purpose of apparently giving them a value in the absurd estimation of collectors. Even these worthies might be satisfied, if there were proof impressions exclusively for them. , On Thursday 11 January 1827, the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette ran the story of a break in at Chilton Lodge, the dwelling house of one John Pearse MP. 'During the night of Saturday the 30th of Dec. 1826, thieves forced the locks and ransacked the drawers of the principal rooms of the ground floor and stole the following articles....a silver inkstand, a French Gold repeating watch and proof Impressions of the Coin of the Present reign, George the 4th. IN GOLD - A Five Sovereign; a Two Sovereign; a Sovereign and a Half-Sovereign. IN SILVER - A Five Shilling Piece; a Half-Crown; a Shilling; a Sixpence. IN COPPER - a Penny; a Halfpenny; a Farthing.' Besides serving his Hungerford parliamentary constituency for over a decade, he would also occupy the seat of Director of the Bank of England (1812-1828), and was therefore evidently one of our original four of five recipients of the October 1826 strikings. , For collectors however the wait would be rather longer to legitimately obtain examples. The dispersals of Mr Ralph Willett (Sotheby's, 15 March 1827) and Royal Mint Engraver John Milton (Sotheby's, 23 April 1827) did not offer the new proofs, despite both gentlemen clearly having the means and the access to them. In fact it is not until the sale of the appropriately named Mr Rich (Sotheby's, 7 July 1828, lot 189), that a similarly designed 1825 Proof Halfcrown appears at public auction, with examples of the specimen copper specie following with the sale of the late Joseph Miller of Barnard's Inn, Holborn (Sotheby's, 25 February 1829, lot 180). , The death of William Simonds Higgs afforded the market the earliest auction record this cataloguer can trace for the offering of a full set (Sotheby, 29 April 1830, lot 313), wherein the description simply states: 'His present Majesty's Proof Coins, from the Five Sovereign Piece to the Farthing', by. W. Wyon, in a morocco case' - £4.13.6 [Higgs]. This would suggest the lot was bought in by the estate, having extraordinarily failed to reach even its face value. The following year the result would not be replicated with the sale of esteemed collection of Mr Barclay's cabinet in Sotheby's rooms (21-23 March 1831). His 1826 Proof set would be split up into a group lot of the silver pieces (lot 321 - £1.14.0) and individual and paired lots for the gold (£5 - lot 364 - £8.10.6; £2 - lot 365 - £4.0.0; £1 and Half-Sovereign - lot 366 - £2.2.0). Most interestingly of all is the description for the subsequent lot 367 which alludes directly to the Globe's earlier commentary: 'George IV. UNIQUE PATTERNS with plain edges. IN FINE GOLD, of the beautiful FIVE-SOVEREIGN and TWO SOVEREIGN PIECES, 1826, by William Wyon; weight 1oz. 8 dwt. 12grs and 13 dwt. 18gr. - Struck by order of the Right Honourable T. Wallace for this collection. - £21.18.0 (W&R 214). An example of just such a contemporary plain edge specimen is offered elsewhere in this sale. Estimate: £100,000 - £140,000 |  |
Match 1:
| Spink > Auction 25005 | Auction date: 30 September 2025 |
| Lot number: 460 Price realized: 60,000 GBP (Approx. 80,515 USD / 68,639 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (g) George IV (1820-1830), Specimen Plain Edge Five Pounds, 1826, 'Low 6', hot-struck in Experimental 22ct Binary "Yellow Gold" Alloy from Refurbished Proof Dies [c. 1827], GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA, bare head left, rev. BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:, crowned shield in mantle, seven semée of hearts, edge plain, 39.797g [614.16grains], 6h (Hill F7; L&S 26; Hocking -; Douglas-Morris 170 [46.515g]; May 277 = Murdoch 363 = Nobleman 117 = Newcomer = "Traveller" 2151 [39.89g]; W&R 214 [R6]), minor wisps in otherwise sumptuously brilliant fields, with characteristic "orange-peeling" from Mint annealing processes; an exquisite and choice "VIP" Pattern, as if 'fresh from the die', OF THE HIGHEST RARITY with only THREE documented; unquestionably one of the most significant numismatic offerings to appear at public commerce in Britain; this being the influential 'trend-setter' for the metallic composition, dimension and subsequent global popularisation of the Five Sovereign Piece amongst cognoscente for nigh 200 years, proudly offered by Spink on the eve of its Bicentennial and with a most prestigious pedigree from the cabinet of a Senior Royal Mint Official, in NGC Black 'Pallas' holder, erroneously certified (Cert. #8534310-004). Provenance, The "Pallas" Collection of English Coins , Seaby, by private treaty (ref. COMM 413), 4 September 1975 - £4,000 , SCMB, April 1975, G227* and Front Cover - "Pattern Five Pounds , plain edge, 1826, FDC, RRR" - £7,500 , ~ Examined by E G V Newman of the Royal Mint, 23 December 1974 ~ , "From the Cabinet of a High Mint Official, Deceased", Spink Numismatic Circular, July-August 1922, no. 6740 - "Of highest rarity, only one other specimen being known, which was successively in the Murdoch and "Nobleman" collections. In brilliant perfect state., F.D.C. - £50.0.0 , Understood to be: , Robert Smith Mushet (28 November 1858 - 25 March 1925), a Barrister, died without issue, the remnants of his late Father's collection then offered at auction by Puttick & Simpson on 9 June 1925 (lots 163-243), but noteworthy in its omission of his great uncle's Pattern Five Sovereign, received in 1820 as documented in official Royal Mint records. It is this cataloguer's working assumption that the wide-spread publicity of the Nobleman sale in March 1922 and Spink's high profile spending at said sale prompted Smith Mushet to seek our appraisal of his heirlooms, ultimately selling the 1820 alongside this 1826, and an 1831 Gold Pattern and 1839 'Una and the Lion', when both Mushet Senior and Junior were in respective positions at the Royal Mint to acquire such exclusive examples direct from source. Their ongoing position as Refiner is interesting given the experimental 'hard alloy' composition utilised in the striking of this Pattern and other 'Barton's Metal' emissions at this time , Mary Anne Blakeway (Mushet) (27 October 1828 - 15 September 1913), died at Bushey, Hertfordshire, but lived at 29 Leinster Square, Bayswater, with her son, ~ thence to him ~ , Robert Mushet [Junior] (26 October 1810 - 4 September 1871), Head of the Melting Department at the Royal Mint, ~ thence to his widow ~ , Robert Mushet [Senior] (12 November 1782 - 1 February 1828), Master's First Clerk and Melter at the Royal Mint for the Great Recoinage, thence to his nephew , , "X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry confirms the difference in densities, viz., that the Royal Mint coin [Hocking 1906: 1826 SEPTIMO] is a ternary 22 carat alloy consisting of gold alloyed with silver and copper whereas the Seaby coin is a binary 22 carat alloy consisting of gold alloyed with copper. No differences can be found in the obverse and reverse design details of the two coins. However, the table of the Seaby coin is "orange-peeled", i.e. the alloy crystals are of large grain size, whereas the Royal Mint coin has a normal smooth table. The "orange-peel" effect of the Seaby coin, is possibly, due to the fact that a binary 22 carat gold/copper is appreciably harder than a ternary 22 carat alloy containing silver in addition to the copper; therefore the former would need extra annealing with consequent grain (crystal) growth - in this case secondary recrystallisation appears to have occurred - in order to be soft enough to strike. The coin appears to be genuine, but the fact it is a binary gold/copper alloy rather than a normal ternary gold/silver/copper alloy of the period indicates that it was probably struck at a later date than 1826." , , However, contrary to Newman's conclusion about 'a later restriking', compelling evidence has been unearthed to indicate experimental alloying and hot-striking techniques were entirely concurrent with the production of the SEPTIMO-issued Proofs for 1826 Specimen Sets. Lord Wallace is known to have ordered the striking of 'Fine Gold' Plain Edge Piedfort Proofs of the Five-Sovereign and Two Sovereign as a special commission for the collection of Charles Barclay during his short tenure as Master of the Mint (1823-1827). This very piece would later pass into the fabled trays of James Dodsley Cuff (1780-1853), of the Bullion Office at the Bank of England. , , It is rather telling that a second specimen also featured in the private cabinet of the former Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, Frank May (1873-1893). It is noteworthy that during his tenure, May oversaw the dispersal of the Bank of England coin collection at Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge in July 1877. It is possible that May benefitted from first refusal of the trays before they were offered publicly, explaining the presence of an array of excessively rare Pattern Five Pounds of 1820; 1826 and 1831 alongside the 1889 'Full US Proof Set' ordered directly from his American counterpart in February 1889. Perhaps this also explains his rejection of the 1820 Pattern Five Pounds, on account of the plain edge already existing within his cabinet. It can only be speculated if he regretted subsequently turning down their Petition Crown on account of its piercing. Frank May: 1873 to 1893 George Forbes: 1866 to 1873 William Miller: 1864 to 1866 Matthew Marshall: 1835 to 1864 Thomas Rippon: 1829 to 1835 Henry Hase: 1807 to 1829 , https://www.ngccoin.uk/certlookup/8534310-004/NGCDetails/ Estimate: £60,000 - £100,000 |  |
Match 2:
| Spink > Auction 25007 | Auction date: 10 December 2025 |
| Lot number: 438 Price realized: 62,000 GBP (Approx. 82,535 USD / 71,005 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PCGS SP61 | Edward VIII (20 January - 11 December 1936), Rugby School (Sovereign's Prize: The Dr Thomas Arnold Award for Modern History), His Majesty The King's Gold Medal, 1936, awarded to Captain Patrick Findlater Stewart MC, SSM, late 11th Hussars (Royal Armoured Corps), by Thomas Humphrey Paget and Leonard Charles Wyon for Sir Robert Arthur Johnson, Deputy Master and Comptroller of the Royal Mint (London), EDWARDVS VIII D. G. BR: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP. 'classical' coin legend and bare head left, rev. HISTORIAE RECENTIORIS STUDIUM APUD SCHOLAM RUGBEIENSEM ARNOLDO AUCTORE INSTITUTUM PRAEMIO FOVET MUNIFICENTIA REGIS in nine lines, edge plain but for Official Hallmark at 12 o'clock [RJ | London | A | Crown | 18] and Officially Mint-Engraved in New Roman capitalised script: PATRICK. F. STEWART, 1936. at 6 o'clock, 57.56g, 45mm., 12h (Giordano CM 157; Jeremy Cheek, 'Royal Prize Medals', [BNJ 2018], pp. 177-188, no. 20), light fingermarks in otherwise brilliant fields, as struck, UNIQUE; AND OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, one of very few Sovereign Prize Medals bestowed by the Duke of Windsor during his infamous 325-day reign as King Edward VIII still available to the private collector, accompanied by the Official Royal Mint maroon case of issue, bearing the rare Gilt Block cypher EVIIIR, in PCGS holder, graded SPECIMEN 61 (Cert. #55968554). Provenance, Sold by Order of the Direct Descendant , , 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 (1820-1830) to George VI (1936-1952) 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. , , 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 recipients' 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 (Woolwich) (1 AV); Awarded to Hugh Acton Jefferies, July 1936. Late Captain, Royal Irish Fusiliers. Killed in Action, 19 May 1940 at Dunkirk. Medal and Sword of Honour on display at Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum. , , 2. Britannia Royal Naval College (Dartmouth) (1 AV); Awarded to Peter Sumner Wilson; Morton & Eden, Auction 8, 25 May 2004, lot 133; Private Collection. , , 3. Royal Air Force College (Cranwell) (1 AV); Awarded to Douglas Andrew Kerr, July 1936. Late Wing Commander, 148 Squadron. Killed in Action, 22 June 1942 at Gazala, near Benghazi (Libya). , , 4. King's Lynn Grammar (King Edward VII School, Norfolk) (1 AV); Awarded to Ronald Neville Aldrich-Smith, October 1936. , , 5. Royal Victoria College, Jersey (3 AV); Prizes for Classics, Modern Languages and Mathematics. , , 6. Nautical College (Pangbourne) (1 AV); Awarded to George Lainchbury Bown; DNW Auction, 7-8 September 2021, lot 1397; Purchased by Chairman Phillip Plato (Old Pangbournian Society). Loaned to Pangbourne College, 28 October 2021. , , 7. Royal Naval Australian College (Creswell) (1 AV). , , 8. Royal Geographical Society (London). Founder's Medal. Not awarded in 1936. , , 9. Royal Institute of British Architects. Not awarded in 1936. , , 10. Royal Geographical Society (London) (1 AV); Patron's Medal. , , 11. Thames Nautical College (H.M.S Worcester) (1 AV); Awarded to Kenneth Hodson; Sotheby's, 5 July 1994, lot 211; Private Collection. , , 12. Royal Military College of Australia (Duntroon, Canberra) (1 AV). , , 13. Police Essay Competition. Not awarded in 1936. , , 14. Royal Society (2 AV, 1 AR); Newton Medal. , , 15. Winchester College (2 AV; 2 AR); Prizes for Latin and English Verse. , i) Awarded to Christopher Ivan William Seton-Watson; Spink, NYINC Sale 392, 14 January 2024, lot 204. Private Collection. , , 16. Merchant Navy Cadet School (H.M.S Conway) (1 AV); Awarded to Richard Ewart Hutson, July 1936. Held by the Liverpool Maritime Museum. , , 17. Royal Australian Air Force College (Point Cook). Not awarded in 1936. , , 18. Wellington College (Sandhurst) (1 AV). , , 19. King's Medal for Poetry. Not awarded in 1936. , , 20. Rugby School (1 AV); History Prize. Awarded to Patrick Findlater Stewart. This Medal. , , 21. South African Nautical College (General Botha) (1 AV). , , 22. Junior Nautical Schools. Not awarded in 1936. , , 23. Long and Faithful Service (Royal Household). Designed, but never awarded. A pattern in Silver exists in the Royal Mint Museum. , , 24. Shipwrights Company. Not awarded in 1936. , , , , The abdication of King Edward VIII on the 11 December 1936 brought to an end a tumultuous 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. , , 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 manufacturing 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 on 5 July 1994 (lot 211) and is believed to remain in a Private 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 accedes 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. , , https://www.pcgs.com/cert/55968554 Estimate: £14000 - £20000 |  |
Match 3:
| Sovereign Rarities Ltd > Auction 19 | Auction date: 23 September 2025 |
| Lot number: 73 Price realized: 7,000 GBP (Approx. 9,467 USD / 8,026 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Victoria (1837-1901), silver proof Set (7), 1887, struck for the Golden Jubilee, silver Crown, Double-Florin, Halfcrown, Florin, Shilling, Sixpence and Threepence, Jubilee crowned and veiled bust left, J.E.B. initials on truncation, at junction with field on Crown, Double-Florin and Shilling, I.E.B. on Halfcrown and Florin, J.E.B. below truncation on Sixpence, blank truncation on Threepence, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, rev. Crown with St George and dragon right, date in exergue, bulb top 1 in date, B.P. to upper right, Double-Florin with close 7 to 8, crowned cruciform shields, sceptres in angles, garter star at centre (florin with same reverse), Arabic 1 in date of Double-Florin, Halfcrown with crowned quartered shield of arms, within Order of the Garter, date at bottom, legend surrounding, obverse with top left pearl of crown pointing partly to tooth, 1 and 7 of date pointing to a border tooth, Florin as per Double-Florin design with I for J initials fully upon truncation, Roman I in date, Shilling and Sixpence with crowned quartered shield of arms, within Garter motto, long tailed Q on Shilling, date below, Threepence with crowned mark of value within wreath, date either side of 3 (S.PS6; Crown Thorburn variety 2/B, Bull 2586, ESC 297, L&S 74, Davies 480, S.3921; Double-Florin Bull 2698, ESC 396, L&S 98, Davies 541 dies 2+B, S.3923; Halfcrown Bull 2772, ESC 720, Davies 641, S.3924; Florin Bull 2954, ESC 869, Davies 810, S.3925; Shilling Bull 3138, ESC 1352, Davies 980 dies 1+A, S.3926; Sixpence Bull 3269, ESC 1753A, Davies 1151 2+A, S3929; Threepence Bull 3437, ESC 2097, Davies 1331 dies 2+A, S.3931). A well struck up set with matching tone, some with some hairlines, and all have been graded and slabbed consecutively by PCGS in descending order from crown as PR62, PR65, PR64, PR64, PR63, PR65 Cameo, PR62, with the original case of issue which is an extreme rarity in itself, the proof Shilling seemingly extremely rare with reverse A.PCGS Certification:Crown 206461.62/24998391 = PR62.Double-Florin 206336.65/24998390=PR65 .Halfcrown 206125.64/24998389=PR64 - extremely rare die variety.Florin 205776.64/24998388=PR64 - extremely rare die variety.Shilling 205355.63/24998387=PR63 - extremely rare die variety.Sixpence 501740.65/24998386=PR65 Cameo.Threepence 204603.62/24998385=PR62.The silver proof sets sold in much smaller quantities than the sets with the gold coins at the time of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The actual number sold was a mere 287 sets and not all of them would have opted to have the deluxe fitted case like we have with this set, the survival of which in itself is an extremely rare occurrence. This set is also unusual in that the Halfcrown, Shilling, Sixpence and Threepence are unusual Davies die varieties, probably suggesting the silver sets only were struck on a different day a journey in mint terms, to the other proof sets that came with the gold coins.The Proof Crown is Mr Thorburn's 2/B with obverse having J.E.B. at the juncture between truncation and field and the date on reverse with the bulbed top to the upper serif.The Proof Double-Florin is Davies dies 2/B for this Arabic 1 reverse. The Proof Halfcrown is unusual in having the top left pearl of crown point partly to a border tooth rather than a gap, the J of J.E.B. is a letter I too. The reverse more unusual in that the 1 and 7 point to a border tooth rather than a gap.The Proof Florin is more unusual in that the obverse has the I of DEI to space like Davies die 1 but has a straight vertical I for the J in the truncation initials with broad rims as per the footnote. This I for J is extremely rare and in Mr Thorburn's survey of 121 florins detailed in the Florin section, he only came across one example of the I type J on a currency coin and only obtained two for the collection. This is the only proof version he is aware of for this I type J. The reverse is type A with harp's cross to space in border and date cross to border tooth.The Proof Shilling in this set is the only example noted by Mr Thorburn with this reverse A when other proofs usually seen are Davies reverse C.The Proof Sixpence has the weaker short serifs on the Rs and As in legend as detailed in the Sixpence section of this auction.The Proof Threepence has a tiny pellet in the obverse field each side of the cross on top of the crown.This set can be deemed extremely rare for the number of unusual die variations across the denominations it contains. provenance:Ex George Kountourides of GK Coins, purchased 28th September 2012 Starting price: 7000 GBP |  |
Match 4:
| Spink > Auction 25005 | Auction date: 30 September 2025 |
| Lot number: 408 Price realized: 29,000 GBP (Approx. 38,916 USD / 33,176 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (g) Charles III (2022-Present), "Royal Mint Silent Auction" Coronation Specimen Matte Proof Five-Coin Set, 2023, Llantrisant (5), Proof Five-Pounds to Quarter Sovereign, crowned bust left, rev. St George and Dragon, 12h, a true Modern Day Numismatic Rarity, with only 25 Produced, and just 23 actually released to Private Collectors, this 'Snake Eyes' No. 11 Set, never certified and exactly as issued by the Royal Mint on 17 March 2024, choice as struck, with a specialist sandblasted finish, a wonderful opportunity to acquire what is destined to become amongst the rarest issue of His Majesty King Charles III's reign (Cert. 11 of 25) (5). Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000 |  |
Match 5:
| Spink > Auction 25005 | Auction date: 30 September 2025 |
| Lot number: 458 Price realized: 52,000 GBP (Approx. 69,780 USD / 59,487 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: (g) NGC PF61 UCAM | Mint Error | George IV (1820-1830), Pattern Five Pounds, 1826 SEPTIMO, 'Narrow 6' in date, struck in ternary 22ct "Red Gold" Alloy, GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA, bare head left, rev. BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:, crowned shield in mantle, seven semée of hearts, DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI SEPTIMO * in raised lettering downwards on edge, 39.970g [616.8grns], 6h (L&S 27; W&R 213; Hocking 1906; S.3797), struck with a defective planchet with resulting rim manufacturing flaws at 11 and 4 o'clock and an annealing flaw through NO of ANNO on edge, otherwise with light cabinet friction to brilliant original fields, handsomely and naturally toned, a bold extremely fine , a scarcely imaginable and excessively rare "Mint Error" for this seminal collector's Proof!, in NGC Black 'Pallas' holder, curiously graded PF61 ULTRA CAMEO (Cert. #8534310-002). Provenance, The "Pallas" Collection of English Coins , Messrs Spink & Son, by private treaty, 26 September 1964 - £550.0.0 , Brigadier Basil Charles Lake, D.S.O., Glendining, 19 May 1964, lot 46* - "brilliant, near mint, rare" - £520.0.0 [Spink], , https://www.ngccoin.uk/certlookup/8534310-002/61/ Estimate: £60,000 - £80,000 |  |
