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Sold between 21 January & 25 April 2018
4 parts
Marvin Lessen
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1,310 lots found
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Hammer (High–Low)
29 January 2020
Philip and Mary (1554-1558), Shilling, undated, full titles, mark of value, no stops on rev., 5.98g/12h (Tooze 1175, same rev. die; N 1970; S 2498). Some detail of faces weak, otherwise very fine and carefully struck, a very rare variant £1,000-£1,500
Hammer Price: £2,600
25 April 2018
Northumbria (York), Cnut/Siefred, Penny, dnsds orex in two lines divided by cross pattée, rev. miriabia fecit around cross pattée, pellets in second and third quarters, 1.43g/12h (Lyon/Stewart Gp VIa; SCBI Ashmolean 204, Copenhagen 582 and Merseyside 381, same dies; N 509; S 1002). Very fine and well-struck, toned, rare £1,200-1,500
3 July 2019
Edward III (1327-1377), Pre-Treaty period, Noble, series Gf, London, mm. cross 3 on rev. only, ropes 3-1, quatrefoils 3-3, three lis in French arms, saltire stops, two pellets flanking lis at end of top limb of cross, 7.75g/4h (SCBI Schneider 50; LAL BL/32ff; N 1182; S 1490). Slightly creased and a little small of flan, otherwise very fine £1,500-£2,000
21 January 2021
XVI: Later Cromwell Medals, Tercentenary of the Resettlement of Jews in England, 1956, a gold medal by P. Vincze for Spink, busts of Cromwell and Menasseh ben Israel in roundels, rev. female figure seated left holding scroll, 38mm [662.2gr], hallmarked Birmingham 1956, 22ct, 42.89g (BHM 4467 [not listed in gold]). About as struck, very rare £1,500-£1,800
Constantine I (Cæsar, 306-307), Follis, London, November-December 307, second reduction, laureate and cuirassed bust right, rev. mars victor, Mars advancing right, holding transverse spear and trophy over shoulder, pln in exergue, 6.59g (CT 5.03.006; RIC 92; Sear 15537; S –). About extremely fine, attractive brown patina, very rare; superior to the Cloke/Toone plate coin £90-120
Hammer Price: £2,400
John de Courcy (c.1185-c.1205), Anonymous ‘St Patrick’ issues, Cross Potent with Crescents coinage, Farthing, Downpatrick, patricii around processional cross, rev. de [d]vno around cross potent with crescents in angles, 0.32g/6h (Allen dies Be [this specimen not listed]; SCBI Ulster 336, same obv. die; S 6227; DF 47). Edge chipped, otherwise about very fine, very rare; only one other of this die combination listed by Allen £1,000-£1,500
William I (1066-1087), Penny, Profile Right type [BMC VII], London, Godwi, godpi on liindii, 1.38g/12h (Allen, BNJ 2012, p.77; BMC –, but listed on table of moneyers at p.ccxxii from this coin; N 847; S 1256). Slight crimp, otherwise extremely fine and toned, rare £1,200-£1,500
Charles I (1625-1649), Newark, Shilling, 1646, smaller jewelled crown, 10 pearls either side of orb, reads newark, 5.56g/12h (Hird 255-9 and SCBI Brooker 1225, same dies; N 2640; S 3143). Cleaned in the past, otherwise about extremely fine £1,500-£2,000
XV: Dutch and French Medals, Cromwell and Tommaso Aniello, c. 1665, a cast hollow silver medal or plaquettepenning, unsigned (by O. (Wouter) Muller [?]), bust of Cromwell three-quarters right, supporters at sides holding wreath above his head, olivar cromwel protector v engel schotl yrlan 1658 in cartouche below, rev. bust of Aniello three-quarters right, two fishermen at sides holding coronet above his head, masaniello visschr en coninck v napel 1647 in cartouche below, 71mm, 78.70g (Platt...
Kings of Wessex, Alfred the Great (871-99), Penny, Phase I, Wessex Lunettes type, Bosa, aelbred rex around diademed bust right, rev. bosa moneta in and between two unbroken lunettes, 1.41g/3h (Lyons/Mackay AfL 1.8, this coin; SCBI BM 1375 [BMA 455], same obv. die; Lockett 485, same rev. die; N 625; S 1057). Fine, reverse better, dark patina £600-800
Kings of All England, Eadgar, Penny, Bust Crowned type, no mint name [East Anglian style], Folcard, eadgar rex around crowned bust right breaking inner circle, rev. folchard moneta around small cross pattée, 1.53g/12h (CTCE 377; cf. BMC 207; N 750; S 1138). Some peripheral weakness, a slight surface crack and some light scratches on reverse, otherwise very fine and toned, rare £1,800-2,200
Charles II (1660-1685), Shilling, 1671, second bust, plume below and in centre of rev., no stop before dei or after hib, harp with 5 strings (ESC 520 [1035]; S 3376). Light haymarking on French arms, otherwise extremely fine and virtually as struck, reverse with considerable mint bloom, very rare; the best specimen offered at auction for many years £3,000-£4,000
Richard III (1483-1485), Groat, London, type 1, mm. halved sun and rose (no.1), nothing below bust, reads di, barred a in civitas, 2.98g/3h (Webb Ware 20 [obv. 3/rev. 51], this coin; Stewartby p.434, I; Winstanley 1; N 1679; S 2154). Very fine with a good portrait, toned £1,500-£2,000
I: Briot, Warin and Rawlins, England, Charles I, Briot’s First Machine-made issue, Shilling, mm. daisy on obv. only, signed b both sides, bust within inner circle, carolvs d g magn britann fran et hib rex, rev. christo avspice regno, square-topped shield over long cross fourchée, 6.03g/93.1gr/6h (Sharp type 2; SCBI Brooker 717, same dies; N 2300; S 2854). Small reverse edge flaw, otherwise very fine, toned £700-£900
Hammer Price: £2,200
III: Commonwealth Coins of 1651, Patterns, Pattern Sixpence, 1651, by T. Simon and P. Blondeau, in silver, mm. sun on obv. only, from the same dies as previous, edge grained, 2.95g/45.8gr/6h (ESC 217 [1498]; N p.206; cf. Tisbury I, 818). Good very fine and toned, rare £1,200-£1,500
III: Commonwealth Coins of 1651, Patterns, Pattern Sixpence, 1651, by T. Simon and P. Blondeau, in silver, mm. sun on obv. only, from the same dies as previous, edge grained, 2.98g/46.2gr/6h (ESC 217 [1498]; N p.206; cf. Tisbury I, 818). Very fine and toned, rare £900-£1,200
Archbishops of Canterbury, Jænberht (765-92), under Offa [c. 782-92], Penny, iaenberht are around cross with wedges in angles, rev. offa rex in lunettes divided by a beaded bar with fleurs at either end, 0.97g/11h (Chick 157d, this coin; Blunt 131; N 223; S 882). About very fine, extremely rare; only four specimens of this type listed by Chick £2,400-3,000
Henry VI (First reign, 1422-1461), Annulet issue, Halfgroat, York, mm. cross II on obv. only, lis by neck, 11 arcs to tressure, 1.73g/6h (Lessen dies 1/1, and BNJ 1993, pl. 8, 14, this coin; DIG 1/1, this coin illustrated; Whitton 4; N 1430; S 1843). Small edge flaw at 1 o’clock on obverse, otherwise very fine and toned, extremely rare; only 8 specimens believed known, 3 of which are in institutions £2,000-£2,600
Kings of Wessex, Æthelwulf, Penny, Inscribed Cross Phase [IV], Canterbury, Æthelnoth, aedelvvlf rex around draped bust right breaking inner circle, rev. edelnod moneta arranged on limbs of and around beaded cross, 1.25g/12h (Naismith C139, this coin listed as untraced; BMC 68; N 618; S 1051). Good very fine with an excellent portrait, toned £2,000-2,600
Southern Danelaw, Alfred, Halfpenny, Viking imitation of Two Line type, el fr ed re around small cross pattée, rev. diarvald mo in two lines, pellet above and below, 0.55g/12h (BMC –; N 640 [475.9 new]; S 970). About very fine, very rare £800-1,000
Stephen (1135-1154), ‘PERERIC’ variants, Penny, Cross Moline type [BMC I], reading pereric m, Lincoln, Siward, [si]pard : on : n[ico], 1.22g/12h (Allen, BNJ 2012, p.112; Mack 46b, this coin; Mossop 13-14, and pl. lxxxvii, SCBI Lincoln 950 and Williams 716, same dies; BMC –; N 928; S 1279). Legend partly weak, otherwise very fine and attractively toned, very rare £1,500-£2,000
Stephen (1135-1154), ‘Baronial’ issues, Penny, Cross Moline type [BMC I var.], mint and moneyer uncertain, crowned bust right holding sceptre, [—]ii :· cmaf · ce, rev. [——]iio : rrci : l, cross moline with no distinguishing features, 0.91g/12h (Mack 199c, this coin; BMC –; N 948, this coin; S 1278 var.). Crudely executed portrait and some legend missing, otherwise fine and toned, an intriguing piece of the highest rarity and believed the only known specimen £500-£1,000
Edward IV or V (1483), Groat, London, class XXII, mm. halved sun and rose (no.1), no fleur on breast, no pellet below tressure, reads edward, barred a in civitas, 2.62g/12h (Webb Ware 34 [obv. 11/rev. 9], this coin; Lessen, BNJ 1983, p.180, this coin illustrated, and p.182, obv. die 11, this coin listed; Stewartby p.434; B & W XXII, 10; N 1631; S 2146A). On a slightly small flan, about very fine, very rare £1,200-£1,500
XIII: Medals of Charles II by Simon, Charles II, Household or ‘Cooks and Musicians’ Medal, 1661, a cast and chased silver medal by T. Simon, laureate bust left, carolvs ii d g mag brit fra et hib rex fi de, rev. iam florescit, oak tree, three crowns in branches, 43mm, 31.68g (MI I, 475/83; E 219). Very fine and very rare; with loop for suspension £1,200-£1,500
Carausius (286/7-293), Denarius, London, 286-7, laureate and draped bust right, rev. expectate vini, Britannia standing right, holding standard in left hand and clasping the hand of the Emperor, who holds a sceptre, rsr in exergue, 4.35g (Shiel 30; RIC 554; Sear 13508; S 668). Part weak, otherwise obverse very fine, reverse fine, very rare £400-500
Richard III (1483-1485), Groat, London, type 2b, mm. boar’s head (no.2), nothing below bust, barred a in civitas, 3.07g/7h (Stewartby p.434, IIb; Winstanley 6; N 1679; S 2156). Good very fine, dark tone £1,500-£2,000
I: Briot, Warin and Rawlins, England, Charles I, Scottish Coronation, 1633, a struck silver medal by N. Briot, crowned bust left, carolvs d g scotiæ angliæ fr et hib rex, rev. hinc nostræ crevere rosæ, thistle plant, date below, signed b, 29mm, 6.17g (Platt I, pp.133-4, type C; Jones 156; MI I, 266/60; E 123). Very fine, toned £300-£400
Harthacnut (1035-1042), Penny, Arm and Sceptre type, in the name of Harthacnut, London, Eadric, edric on lvnde :, 1.12g/9h (FEJ 515, this coin; SCBI Copenhagen 670 and Stockholm 1659, same dies; Parsons 124; BEH 113; N 811; S 1168). Very fine and very rare £1,500-£2,000
Hammer Price: £2,000
Henry VIII (1509-1547), First coinage, Groat, Tournai, mm. crowned cursive T, reads aglie, civitas tornacen’, saltire after acen, 2.97g/10h (Hoc 215ff; Hewlett 2; Laker B; N –; S 2317). Some double-striking on obverse, otherwise about very fine, rare £1,000-£1,500
XI: Hammered Coins of Charles II, First issue, Shilling, mm. crown on obv. only, crowned bust left, no inner circles or mark of value, carolvs ii d g mag brit fr et hib rex, rev. christo avspice regno, shield, stop above, dies 3/3, 5.94g/91.9gr/10h (ESC 273 [1009]; N 2762; S 3308). Very fine, attractive olive-grey tone, rare £1,500-£1,800
Kings of East Anglia, Eadmund (855-69), Penny, Late Phase, Beornheah, eadmvnd rex around chevron-barred A, rev. beornhaeh around cross pattée with pellet in angles, 1.13g/6h (Naismith E63f, this coin [recté 1.13g]; Pagan, BNJ 1982, p.74, I, 1, this coin; BMC 51, MEC I, 1176 and Stewartby 113, same obv. die; N 456; S 954). Very fine, toned £800-1,000
Kings of Wessex, Æthelwulf, Penny, Saxoniorum Phase [I], Canterbury, Osmund, edelvvlf rex around cross pattée with wedges in angles, rev. osmvnd moneta around saxoniorvm in three lines, 1.32g/3h (Naismith C101l, this coin; BMC 29; N 596; S 1044). Very fine, light grey tone, rare £1,500-2,000
Kings of All England, Eadgar, Penny, Bust Crowned type, Bedford, Leofstan, eadgar rex around crowned bust right breaking inner circle, rev. liofstan moneta · be around small cross pattée, 1.22g/3h (CTCE 348; Bagshawe –; SCBI BM 1148, same dies [= BMC 3]; N 751; S 1139). Good fine, very rare £1,500-2,000
Philip and Mary (1554-1558), Shilling, 1554, full titles, mark of value, reads adivtorivm, 6.27g/8h (cf. Hulett V, 292, different dies; N 1970; S 2500). Detail of Philip’s hair weak (and corresponding on reverse), otherwise very fine and attractively toned £900-£1,200
Charles I (1625-1649), Inchiquin Money, First issue, Halfcrown, irregular flan stamped 9dwt: 16gr within double beaded border, 11.97g/6h (Bull 4a; S 6533; DF 276). Good fine, rare £1,500-£2,000
CORIELTAUVI, Volisios Dumnocoveros, base gold Stater, volisios between three lines in wreath, rev. horse left, dvmnoco[veros], 5.16g (BMC 3331; ABC 1980; S 416). Light spade mark on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine and well-struck £900-1,200
Hammer Price: £1,900
Charles I (1625-1649), Pontefract, Charles II, Shilling, 1648, type 1, large crown above c r, rev. carolvs secvndvs and date, castle gateway, obs to left, p c [Pontefract Castle] above, cannon protruding at right, octagonal flan, 4.28g/12h (Hird 279-81 and SCBI Brooker 1234, same dies; N 2648; S 3150). Obverse fine, reverse nearly so, rare £1,000-£1,500
XIV: Seals by Simon, Second Great Seal of the Commonwealth, 1651, a cast bronze uniface Counterseal (reverse), view of the House of Commons in session, in the third yeare of freedome by gods blessing restored 1651, 143mm, 238.17g (Nathanson p.21; Vertue pl. vii; Birch 599). Hollow reverse, cast from a wax original, about extremely fine, excellent detail £500-£700
XI: Hammered Coins of Charles II, First issue, Shilling, mm. crown on obv. only, crowned bust left, no inner circles or mark of value, carolvs ii d g mag brit fr et hib rex, rev. christo avspice regno, shield, stop above, dies 2/2, 6.04g/93.5gr/8h (ESC 273 [1009]; N 2762; S 3308). Some peripheral weakness and a trace of double striking on obverse, tiny mark in field before King’s face, otherwise very fine and the shield well-struck, rare £1,200-£1,500
Archbishops of Canterbury, Ceolnoth (833-70), Penny, Gp I, Canterbury, Wynhere, cialnod are around draped and tonsured facing bust breaking inner circle, rev. vvnere moneta around Dorobernia Civi monogram, 1.35g/12h (Naismith C105j and o, this coin; BMC 58; N 241; S 893). Obverse legend a trifle weak, otherwise very fine, rare £1,500-2,000
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