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Marvin Lessen
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21 January 2021
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Pattern Broad or Fifty Shillings, 1656, by T. Simon, in gold, laureate bust left, olivar d g r p ang sco et hib &c pro, rev. pax qværitvr bello, crowned shield, edge protector literis litteræ nummis corona et salvs, 22.66g/350.2gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, A1; WR 38; N 2743; S 3224). Some minor marks and hairlines, otherwise better than extremely fine, extremely rare; about 12 specimens believed known £100,000-£150,000
Hammer Price: £380,000
III: Commonwealth Coins of 1651, Patterns, Pattern Shilling, 1651, by D. Ramage, in silver, mm. mullet, small shield of England within laurel wreath, the common wealth of england, rev. gavrded · with · angeles, conjoined shields of England and Ireland within the protective arms of a winged angel, edge grained, 6.30g/97.3gr/6h (ESC 175 [1003]; N 2734; cf. Tisbury I, 817). About extremely fine with old cabinet toning and a distinguished pedigree, extremely rare £15,000-£20,000
Hammer Price: £60,000
IX: Original Naval Rewards (and Electrotypes), Naval Reward, 1653-4, a struck gold medal by T. Simon, shields of England, Scotland and Ireland superimposed on anchor surrounded by rope, signed ts monogram, rev. elaborate naval battle scene, signed simon and ts, edge plain, 41 x 36mm, 26.55g (Lessen, BNJ 1997, p.63, PB3, and pl. xiii, 16, this piece; Platt II, p.335, type C; MI I, 400/28; v. Loon II, 366; E 185). Trifling surface marks, otherwise extremely fine and extremely rare; with integra...
Hammer Price: £40,000
XII: Machine-made Coins of Charles II, Pattern ‘Reddite’ Crown, 1663, by T. Simon, in pewter, laureate bust right, signed simon in script below, carolvs ii dei gra, rev. mag bri fr et hib rex, crowned cruciform shields, conjoined Cs in angles, Order of the Garter in centre, edge inscribed reddite qvæ cæsaris cæsari & ct post, followed by clouds with sun emerging, 21.46g/331.6gr/12h (Lessen, BNJ 2005, pl. 7, 5 and 8, this coin; L & S 7A; ESC 432 [74]). A few light obverse surface marks, otherw...
Hammer Price: £36,000
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Pattern Farthing, undated, by D. Ramage, from the same dies as previous, edge plain, 3.44g/53.4gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, Q47; Cooke –; BMC 394; Montagu 5; cf. N 2750; S 3230). Extremely fine and excessively rare; one of only five specimens known, two of which are in institutional collections £10,000-£15,000
Hammer Price: £32,000
VIII: Original struck gold Medals by Simon, Lord Protector, c. 1655-8, a struck gold medal by T. Simon, armoured and draped bust left, signed tho:simon:f below, olivervs dei gra reipvb angliæ sco et hib & protector, rev. pax qværitvr bello, lion séjant displaying arms, 39mm, 29.68g (Lessen, BNJ 1977, type 1 and pl. xii, 1, this piece; Nathanson p.25; MI I, 409/45; E 188a). Numerous surface and rim marks and scratches, otherwise about extremely fine with reflective fields, extremely rare and i...
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Pattern Broad of 20 Shillings, 1656, by T. Simon, in gold, from the same dies as previous, edge grained, [140.0gr], 9.06g/140.0gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, A2; SCBI Schneider 367; WR 39; Nathanson p.27; N 2744; S 3225). Some minor surface marks and hairlines, otherwise extremely fine with reflective fields and peripheral red toning, rare £20,000-£30,000
Hammer Price: £26,000
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Farthing, undated, by D. Ramage, from the same obv. die as previous, rev. thvs vnited invincible, three columns bound together, r below, lozenge stops both sides 4.22g/65.5gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, O44; Cooke 813; BMC 391; Montagu 1; N 2749; S 3230). About very fine, extremely rare £6,000-£8,000
Hammer Price: £19,000
XII: Machine-made Coins of Charles II, Trial Broad, 1662, by T. Simon, in silver, laureate draped bust left, s below, car ii d g m br fr et hi rex, rev. florent concordia regna, crowned shield, dies 1/2, edge plain, 9.46g/146.2gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1995, type G, and pl. 12, 15, this coin; cf. N 2780). Extremely fine and attractively toned, excessively rare, possibly UNIQUE £3,000-£5,000
VI: Original struck Dunbar Medals by Simon, Battle of Dunbar, 1650, a large oval struck gold medal by T. Simon, bust left, battle scene in background, signed tho.simon.fe below, the lord of hosts word at dvnbar septem y 3 1650, rev. view of the Long Parliament, 36 x 31mm, 18.52g (Lessen, BNJ 1981, p.119 and pl. ix, 9, this piece; Nathanson p.24; MI I, 392/14; E 181a). Small piercing for suspension, very fine, reverse better, peripheral reddish toning, excessively rare and important; the only...
Hammer Price: £18,000
XII: Machine-made Coins of Charles II, Broad, 1662, by T. Simon, in gold, laureate draped bust left, s below, car ii d g m br fr et hi rex, rev. from the same die as previous, dies 3/3, edge plain, 9.00g/139.3gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1995, type G; SCBI Schneider 422; N 2780; S 3337A). Reverse die rusty in places, about extremely fine with reddish tone, rare £6,000-£8,000
25 April 2018
Kings of Wessex, Alfred the Great, Penny, Phase III, London Monogram type, ælfr ed re around diademed bust right, group of sixteen pellets above, rev. londonia monogram, cross pattée above and pyramid of six pellets below, 1.60g/9h (CNG Triton XX, 1527, same dies; SCBI Merseyside 436, same obv. die; N 644; S 1061). About extremely fine and toned, rare £8,000-10,000
Hammer Price: £17,000
VI: Original struck Dunbar Medals by Simon, Battle of Dunbar, 1650, a small oval struck gold medal by T. Simon, bust left, battle scene in background, signed t.simon.f below, the lord of hosts word at dvnbar septem y 3 1650, rev. view of the Long Parliament, 25 x 21mm, 8.33g ([Pembroke, T., 8th Earl], Nummi Anglici et Scotici...et Montis Gomerici Comes [1746], pl. iv, 19, this piece; Lessen, BNJ 1981, p.117 and pl. vii, 2, this piece; MI I, 391/13; E 181b). Extremely fine and extremely rare;...
Hammer Price: £16,000
Carausius (286-293), Antoninianii (2), both ‘C’ mint, revs. salvs avg, Salus standing left, holding sceptre and feeding serpent rising from altar, c in exergue, 4.64g, 3.53g (RIC 400; Sear –; S –) [2]. First fine or better, second excavated, both extremely rare £100-200
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Pattern Farthing, undated, by D. Ramage, in silver, laureate bust left, olivar pro eng sc irl, rev. charitie and change, crowned shield, lozenge stops both sides, edge plain, 3.40g/52.8gr/6h (Lessen Q46, this coin; Cooke –; BMC 393, this piece; cf. Montagu 5; cf. N 2750). Perhaps at one time gilt, some test scratches in front of face, otherwise fine; UNIQUE as a silver Farthing of Oliver Cromwell £10,000-£15,000
Hammer Price: £14,000
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Farthing, undated, by D. Ramage, laureate bust left, olivar pro eng sc irl, rev. charitie and change, crowned shield, lozenge stops both sides, 3.93g/60.9gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, N43; Cooke –; BMC 390; Montagu 2; N 2750). Good fine, very rare £4,000-£5,000
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Halfcrown, 1656, laureate bust left, olivar d g r p ang sco et hi &c pro, rev. pax qværitvr bello, crowned shield, edge has nisi peritvrvs mihi adimat nemo, 14.86g/229.6gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, H25; ESC 251 [446]; S 3227). Characteristic small die flaws in front of face and other minor marks on obverse, otherwise about extremely fine and toned, arguably the finest known specimen £8,000-£10,000
XV: Dutch and French Medals, Cromwell and Tommaso Aniello, c. 1670 (?), a satirical engraved silver medal, unsigned (by P. Aquila or more plausibly P. van Abeele), laureate and draped bust of Cromwell left atop a beer barrel, his coat-of-arms hanging behind on the brewery wall, barrels and brewing equipment at left, cromwellus victor perduellis, rev. massanello vanus es rebellis, Aniello standing three-quarters right with fishing nets, Naples burns in the background, 64mm, 36.55g (Platt I, p....
Hammer Price: £13,000
XIII: Medals of Charles II by Simon, Charles II, Coronation, 1661, a struck gold medal by T. Simon, crowned bust right, signed ts on truncation, carolvs ii d g ang sco fr et hi rex, rev. everso missvs svccvrrere seclo xxiii apr 1661, King enthroned, being crowned by Peace, 29mm, 11.80g (Lessen, BNJ 1995, type A; Nathanson p.34; MI I, 472/76; E 221). Very fine, rare £2,000-£2,600
Hammer Price: £12,000
XII: Machine-made Coins of Charles II, Broad, 1662, by T. Simon, in gold, from the same dies as previous, edge plain, 8.85g/137.0gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1995, type G, and pl. 12, 16, this coin; SCBI Schneider 420; N 2780; S 3337A). Light traces of tooling to right of shield, otherwise about extremely fine with reddish toning, rare £5,000-£7,000
III: Commonwealth Coins of 1651, Patterns, Pattern Halfcrown, 1651, by T. Simon and P. Blondeau, in silver, mm. sun on obv. only, from the same dies as previous, edge petrvs : blondævs : inventor : fecit : trvth : and : peace : 1651 · , 15.08g/232.9gr/6h (ESC 63 [444]; Nathanson pp.16-17; N 2732; cf. DNW 113, 75). Some very minor surface scratches on reverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine, old cabinet toning, very rare £4,000-£5,000
Hammer Price: £11,000
XII: Machine-made Coins of Charles II, Broad, 1662, by T. Simon, in gold, laureate draped bust left, s below, car ii d g m br fr et hi rex, rev. florent concordia regna, crowned shield, dies 2/3, edge plain, 9.13g/141.1gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1995, type G, and pl. 12, 17, this coin; SCBI Schneider 421; N 2780; S 3337A). Small edge flaw at 7 o’clock (and corresponding on reverse), otherwise obverse about extremely fine, reverse very fine, reddish tone, rare £5,000-£7,000
3 July 2019
Richard I (1189-1199), Penny, class IIa, Lichfield, Johan, ioan · on · lihef’l, 1.21g/10h (Lessen, SNC 1974, p.191, this coin; Mass, SNC 1988, p.314, ‘2nd Specimen’, this coin; SCBI Mass 714, same dies [= DNW 61, 148]; Brand pl. 1, 28, same dies; N 965; S 1346). Flat in parts, otherwise good fine and toned, exceptionally rare; only two Pennies of this mint available to commerce £3,000-£4,000
Hammer Price: £9,500
29 January 2020
Edward VI (1547-1553), First period, The first English coin to bear a date in Roman numerals: Pattern Shilling, mdxlvii [1547], in silver, possibly by A. Levens, mm. rose, crowned bust right, edward vi rex angl franc hiber z c, rev. timor domini fons vitæ and date, crowned oval garnished shield dividing e r, 5.72g/3h (Bispham pl. 2, 1, same dies; Potter, BNJ 1962, p.128, this coin mentioned; N 1953). A tiny attempt at piercing at the end of the obverse legend, some minor surface marks in o...
Hammer Price: £9,000
VI: Original struck Dunbar Medals by Simon, Battle of Dunbar, 1650, a large struck silver medal by T. Simon, bust left, battle scene in background, signed tho.simon.fe below, the lord of hosts word at dvnbar septem y 3 1650, rev. view of the Long Parliament, 35 x 30mm, 10.49g (Lessen, BNJ 1981, p.119 and pl. ix, 10, this piece; MI I, 392/14; E 181a). Trace of suspension loop on edge, extremely fine, dark tone, excessively rare £4,000-£6,000
I: Briot, Warin and Rawlins, England, Charles I, Briot’s Second Machine-made issue, Shilling, mm. anchor (flukes to right), bust just breaking inner circle, carolvs d g mag brit fr et hib rex, rev. christo avspice regno, square-topped shield over long cross fourchée, 5.87g/90.9gr/6h (SCBI Brooker 728, same obv. die; N 2305; S 2859). Struck on a full flan showing few of the usual signs of blank filing, minor die flaw in second quarter of reverse, otherwise extremely fine and attractively toned...
Hammer Price: £8,000
XI: Hammered Coins of Charles II, First issue, Halfcrown, mm. crown on obv. only, crowned bust left, no inner circles or mark of value, carolvs ii d g mag brit fran et hib rex, rev. christo avspice regno, shield, no stop above, dies 1/1, 14.69g/227.0gr/2h (ESC 270 [448]; N 2759; S 3307). Some light rubbing to high points of obverse, otherwise very fine, dark blue/grey tone, very rare £3,000-£4,000
Edward the Martyr (975-978), Penny, Stamford, Oio, ogea m¯o stanford :·, obv. legend ends anglo, 1.29g/12h (SCBI Lincolnshire 1094, same dies; Jonsson p.55, coin f), this coin; BMC 30; N 763; S 1142). A trifle weak on high points of obverse, otherwise extremely fine and well-centred, toned, very rare £4,000-£5,000
XIII: Medals of Charles II by Simon, Restoration of the Monarchy, 1660, a struck silver medal by T. Simon [formerly known as a Pattern Broad], laureate bust right, draped and cuirassed with lion’s head on breast, hair falling over shoulder, s below, carolvs ii rex, rev. magnalia dei 1660, crowned royal cyphers cruciform, small shields between, edge vertically grained, 31mm, 9.26g (Lessen, BNJ 1995, type Db, and pl. 11, 10, this piece; MI I, 464/62; N 2777). Extremely fine with old cabinet ton...
XV: Dutch and French Medals, Death of Oliver Cromwell, 1658, a small struck gold medal, late 17th century (?), unsigned (of Dutch origin), after T. Simon, laureate bust left, olivar d g r p ang sco hib pro, rev. non defitient oliva sep 3 1658, shepherd with his flock under an olive tree, landscape in background, edge grained, 29mm, 18.22g (Lessen, BNJ 1982, dies 1/1; Henfrey pl. v, 4; Platt II, p.26, type B; MI I, 434/84; v. Loon II, 420; E 201). Extremely fine, attractive reddish toning £2,...
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Pattern or Trial Broad of 20 Shillings, 1656, by T. Simon, in silver, from the same dies as previous, edge grained, 6.16g/95.3gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, A3; cf. N 2744; cf. S 3225). Good very fine and toned, extremely rare; very few specimens known £6,000-£8,000
Charles I (1625-1649), Carlisle, Shilling, 1645, type I, c : r crowned flanked by trefoils of pellets, value below, rev. obs carl and date, rosette above and below, 5.15g/1h (Hird 244 and SCBI Brooker 1220, same dies; N 2635; S 3138). Weak to right of crown (and corresponding on reverse), otherwise good fine, toned, very rare £6,000-£8,000
Hammer Price: £7,500
Allectus (293-296), Antoninianus, ‘C’ mint, 293-5, radiate and cuirassed bust right, rev. fides militvm, Fides standing left, holding two ensigns, s p in field, c in exergue, 4.30g (RIC 69; Baldwin, NC 1930, no. 109 and pl. xiii, 10, this piece; C 8; Sear 13804; S 687A). Extremely fine and exceptionally well struck, the obverse almost perfectly centred, brown patina; one of the finest Antoninianii of Allectus in private hands £300-400
III: Commonwealth Coins of 1651, Patterns, Pattern Shilling, 1651, by T. Simon and P. Blondeau, in silver, mm. sun on obv. only, shield within wreath of oak and palm, the commonwealth of england, rev. god with vs, conjoined shields, mark of value above, edge grained, 5.92g/91.7gr/6h (ESC 173 [1002]; N p.206; cf. Tisbury I, 816). Good very fine and attractively toned, rare £2,000-£3,000
Hammer Price: £7,000
V: Original Medals by Simon, Sir Thomas Fairfax, 1645, a contemporary cast and chased gold military reward, unsigned, draped and armoured bust left, no legend, rev. post hac meliora, mervisti across field, 24 x 20mm, 4.71g (Platt II, pp.98-100, type B; Nathanson p.13; MI I, 318/151; E 146b). Very fine and very rare; with loop and ring for suspension £3,000-£4,000
XV: Dutch and French Medals, Death of Oliver Cromwell, 1658, a small struck gold medal, late 17th century (?), unsigned (of Dutch origin), after T. Simon, laureate bust left, olivar d g rp ang sco hib pro, rev. from the same die as previous, edge plain, 29mm, 16.79g (Lessen, BNJ 1982, dies 2/1; Henfrey pl. v, 4; Platt II, p.26, type B; MI I, 434/84; v. Loon II, 420; E 201). Good extremely fine, brilliant fields £2,000-£3,000
Hammer Price: £6,500
Claudius (41-54), Aureus, Rome, 46-7, laureate bust right, ti clavd caesar avg p m tr p vi imp xi, rev. de britann on architrave of triumphal arch, surmounted by equestrian statue, 7.83g (Calicó 349; RIC 33; C 17; Sear 1830; S 633). About very fine, rare £3,000-4,000
XII: Machine-made Coins of Charles II, Crown, undated [1663], a uniface trial striking on thin silver of the obv. die of the Petition and Reddite Crowns by T. Simon, laureate bust right, the details minutely and delicately stippled and shaded, signed simon in script below, carolvs ii dei gra, mounted on a later (19th century?) silver disc, engraved (A proof in thin silver of the finest coin ever engraved in England by T. Simon), edge plain, 16.41g/253.4gr (Lessen, BNJ 2005, pp.102-4 and pl.7,...
VIII: Original struck gold Medals by Simon, Death of Oliver Cromwell, 1658, a struck gold medal by T. Simon, laureate armoured bust left, signed t simon below shoulder, olivar d g r p ang sco hib &c protector, rev. non defitient oliva sep 3 1658, shepherd with his flock under an olive tree, landscape in background, 22 x 20mm, 6.21g (Lessen, BNJ 1982, p.152 and pl. i, 1, this piece; Nathanson p.30; MI I, 433/82; v. Loon II, 420; E 202a). About extremely fine and extremely rare; with integral s...
V: Original Medals by Simon, Death of Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, 1646, a struck oval gold medalet by T. Simon, draped bust right, signed t s f below, rob essex com mil parl dvx gen, rev. hinc illæ lachrymæ, Grief seated left on broken pillar, in exergue abrvp sep 14 1646, 20 x 17mm, 4.51g (Platt II, p.88, type C; MI I, 327/167 [dies 1/3]). Very fine, red tone, extremely rare; with traces of suspension loop £4,000-£5,000
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