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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)
25 April 2018
Kings of Wessex, Æthelwulf (839-58), Penny, Early Phase [I], Rochester, Beagmund, edelvvlf rex around diademed bust right, rev. beagmvnd around cross pattée, 1.23g/2h (Naismith R19.1e, this coin; BMC 38 and SCBI Mack 705 [= Stewartby 131], same dies; N 592; S 1042). Trace of corrosion on reverse, otherwise very fine and toned, very rare £1,500-2,000
Hammer Price: £3,600
3 July 2019
Henry VI (First reign, 1422-1461), Annulet issue, Penny, York, mm. cross II on obv. only, lis by neck, 0.93g/1h (Lessen dies 1/2, and BNJ 1993, pl. 8, 19, this coin; Whitton 2; N 1433; S 1847). Very fine with a good portrait and some toning, extremely rare; only 3 specimens known to Lessen, one of which is in the British Museum £2,000-£2,600
21 January 2021
I: Briot, Warin and Rawlins, France, Louis XIII, Trial Piédfort Demi-Franc, 1618a, Paris, by N. Briot, in silver, laureate bust right, date below, lvdovicvs xiii d g fran et navaræ rex, rev. sit nomen domini benedictvm, L in centre of ornate cross fleury, edge + ivstissimi regis perennitati, 27.99g/432.4gr/12h (Ciani 1632; VG 35; KM. P25). Very fine and very rare £1,500-£2,000
VII: Restrikes of the Lord General Medal, Cromwell, Lord General, 1650, a round uniface gold restrike (c. 1738) of the oval medal by T. Simon, armoured bust three-quarters right, oli cromwell milit parl dvx gen, witness line on edge, 31mm, 27.34g (Lessen, BNJ 1979, p.92, Gp B and pl. xvi, 4, this piece; MI I, 388/7; E 180a). Traces of die flaw in legend partly tooled out, a few rust spots on the die, otherwise extremely fine, very rare £2,000-£3,000
Harthacnut (1035-1042), Penny, Jewel Cross type, in the name of Harthacnut, London, Godric, godr · ic on i lvnd :, bust left, short drapery, 1.15g/9h (Talvio L1, ‘National A’; SCBI –; Parsons –; BEH –; N 808; S 1166). Trifling surface marks on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine and fresh, very rare, especially of this moneyer £3,000-£4,000
Hammer Price: £3,400
XV: Dutch and French Medals, Subservience of France and Spain, after 1680 (?), a struck silver medal, unsigned, laureate bust of Cromwell left, olivar d g r p ang sco hiberniæ protector, rev. retire toy l’honnevr appartiet av roy mon maister, in exergue, lovis le grand, Britannia seated left, Cromwell kneeling with his head in her lap, presenting his buttocks to the French and Spanish ambassadors who wait to pay him homage, 46mm, 42.75g (Platt I, p.351; MI I, 420/60; v. Loon II, 395)....
Kings of Mercia, Coenwulf, Penny, Large Portrait Phase [Gp IVA], Canterbury, Deormod, coenvvlf rex m around draped and diademed bust right breaking inner circle, rev. diormod moneta around double pincer-shaped cross superimposed on cross pommée with wedges in angles, 1.41g/9h (Naismith C39.1e, this coin [recté 1.41g]; BLS 44g, this coin; BMA 61 and SCBI Hunterian 337, same obv. die; N 347; S 916). Very fine, rare £1,500-2,000
Henry VI (First reign, 1422-1461), Annulet issue, Halfgroat, York, mm. cross II on obv. only, lis by neck, 11 arcs to tressure, from the same dies as previous, 1.91g/3h (Lessen dies 1/1, and BNJ 1993, pl. 8, 13, this coin; DIG 1/1; Whitton 4; N 1430; S 1843). About very fine, extremely rare; only 8 specimens believed known, 3 of which are in institutions £1,500-£1,800
Richard III (1483-1485), Groat, York, type 3, mm. halved sun and rose (no.2) on obv. only, nothing below bust, 2.59g/5h (Stewartby p.434, IIIb; Winstanley 17; N 1681; S 2159). Surfaces slightly porous and with edge chip, otherwise very fine and very rare £2,400-£3,000
Henry VI (First reign, 1422-1461), Annulet issue, Farthing, York, mm. cross pommée on obv. only, lis by neck, 0.29g/6h (Cook, SNC December 1998, p.428, this coin; Lessen, BNJ 1993, –; Withers A.1, this coin illustrated; Whitton –; N –; S 1852A). Good very fine with an excellent portrait; of the highest rarity and believed the only known specimen £1,500-£2,000
Hammer Price: £3,200
29 January 2020
Charles I (1625-1649), Shrewsbury mint, Shilling, 1642, mm. book on obv. only, from a late Aberystwyth obv. die, rev. Declaration, three thin plumes above, reads exvrgat, 5.65g/3h (Morr. A-1, and BNJ 1915, pl. iv, 46, this coin; SCBI Brooker 827-8, same obv. die; N 2379; S 2935). Irregular flan and last figure of date flat, otherwise fine to very fine and toned, very rare £2,000-£3,000
Harold II (1066), Penny, PAX type, Lewes, Osweald, ozpold on lepeei, bust left with sceptre, reads halold, 1.30g/9h (Pagan, NM p.190, Gp B; HHK 278; MEC 8, 2340-1 [= SCBI Fitzwilliam 972-3], SCBI South Eastern 1694-5, FEJ 447 and Sussex Mints 166, same dies; BMC 46; N 836; S 1186). Very fine, toned £2,400-£3,000
Hammer Price: £3,000
Henry IV (1399-1413), Heavy coinage, Penny, London, bust with long neck, star on breast, additional pellet in two quarters on rev., 0.92g/12h (Potter 5, this coin; N 1348; S 1719). Very fine and toned, extremely rare £1,500-£2,000
V: Original Medals by Simon, Scottish Rebellion Extinguished, undated [1639], a struck silver medal by T. Simon, King on horseback left, trampling arms, no date, signed ts on cuirass, carolvs d g mag brit fran et hib rex, rev. qvos devs, hand issuing from clouds holding cord linking a rose and a thistle, no inner circle, 28mm, 3.17g (Platt I, pp.151-2, type E; MI I, 283/94; E 134). About extremely fine and toned, very rare £800-£1,000
Charles I (1625-1649), Newark, Halfcrown, 1646, ten pearls either side of orb on crown, reads newark, 11.36g/12h (Bull 687; Hird 246 and SCBI Brooker 1222, same dies; N 2638; S 3140A). Very fine and well-centred, toned £1,500-£2,000
Eadgar (959-975), Penny, Reform coinage, York, Asulfr, osolf m¯o eofor, 1.52g/7h (SCBI Mack 814, this coin; Jonsson p.49, coin a), this coin; N 752; S 1141). Good fine and toned, very rare, especially of this moneyer £1,000-£1,500
Henry I (1100-1135), Penny, Full Face/Cross Fleury type [BMC X], Pevensey, Alfred, alfred on peve :, 1.37g/6h (Allen, BNJ 2012, p.97, note 425, recté Alfred, presumably this coin; EMC 1200.0908, this coin; HHK –; Sussex Mints –; BMC –; N 866; S 1271). Officially incised in edge, very fine and on a full flan, excessively rare; perhaps only four coins known of the mint for the reign £1,500-£2,000
Charles II (1660-1685), Shilling, 1666, first bust variety, elephant below, no stop before dei, stop after hib, harp with 5 strings (ESC 507 var. [1026]; S 3373). Obverse very fine, reverse extremely fine with some mint bloom but with adjustment mark on French arms, very rare; among the finest available to commerce £4,000-£5,000
Northumbria (York), Cnut, Halfpenny, cnvt rex ·: around patriarchal cross, rev. cvn ·:· net ·:· ti :· around Karolus monogram, 0.55g/3h (Lyon/Stewart Gp IIf; SCBI Copenhagen 527 and Merseyside 354, same obv. die; N 520; S 995). Very fine and very rare £1,200-1,500
Henry, Earl of Lancaster (1347-1351), BERGERAC, Gros tournois au léopard au-dessus, crescent between annulets on castle, reads hen com l · anc and brageraci, 2.09g/3h (W & F 307b [1/a]; E 129f; S 8109). About very fine, dark patina, very rare £1,000-£1,500
Hammer Price: £2,800
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. from the same die as Lot 1190, dies 4/2, 5.93g/91.8gr/6h (ESC 273 [1009]; N 2762; S 3308). Good very fine and toned, rare £2,000-£2,600
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Shilling, 1658, laureate bust left, olivar d g r p ang sco hib &c pro, rev. pax qværitvr bello, crowned shield, edge grained, 5.99g/92.6gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, J28; ESC 254 [1005]; S 3228). About extremely fine, attractively toned £2,000-£2,600
Archbishops of Canterbury, Plegmund (890-914), Penny, Class II, Wilric, plegmvnd arehiep around small cross pattée, rev. vvilr · ic m¯on divided by three crosses pattée, trefoil of pellets above and below, 1.69g/2h (O’Donovan 22, this coin; CTCE P8 (c), this coin; N 256; S 900). Obverse legend partly weak, otherwise good very fine and attractively toned, rare £2,000-2,600
Kings of East Anglia, Æthelweard (c. 845-55), Penny, Æthelhelm, edelpard rex around cross pattée with crescent in each angle, rev. aedelhelm around cross pattée with wedges in angles, 1.29g/3h (Naismith E48.2g, this coin; Pagan, BNJ 1982, pp.67-8, this coin not listed; BMC 24; N 453; S 953). About very fine, very rare £1,500-2,000
Henry I (1100-1135), Penny, Full Face/Cross Fleury type [BMC X], Hastings, Wulnoth, pvlnod : on : has :, 1.36g/3h (Allen, BNJ 2012, p.90; HHK –; Sussex Mints –; BMC –; N 866; S 1271). Officially incised in edge, obverse slightly off-centre, otherwise very fine with a good portrait, very rare £800-£1,200
Kings of Wessex, Ecgberht (802-39), Penny, Dorob C Phase [III], Canterbury, Swefheard, ecgbevrht r around draped bust right breaking inner circle, rev. spefhevrd mo around Dorob C monogram, 1.34g/9h (Naismith C87a, this coin; SCBI Mack 798, this coin; cf. BMC 9; N 573; S 1035). Light surface crack from edge to centre, otherwise very fine and very rare £1,200-1,500
Kings of Wessex, Æthelberht (858-66), Penny, Inscribed Cross Phase, Canterbury, Hunræd, aedelbearht rex around draped bust right breaking inner circle, rev. hvnred moneta on and around limbs of beaded cross, 1.21g/6h (Naismith C192, this coin not listed, but same obv. die as Naismith C192f [= Lockett 477]; BMC 37-9; N 620; S 1053). Light trace of surface verdigris on reverse, otherwise very fine and toned, rare £1,400-1,800
Northumbria (York), Siefred, Penny, rex at ends of long Greek cross with arms terminating in serifs, rev. sief redvs around cross pattée with pellet in first and fourth quarters, 1.29g/6h (Lyon/Stewart Gp IIIc; Blackburn fig. 3, no. 1, same obv. die; SCBI Copenhagen 554 and Merseyside 361, same dies; BMC 1033, same obv. die; N 503; S 985). About extremely fine and toned, rare £1,500-2,000
Northumbria (York), Cnut/Siefred, Penny, cnvt r :· e :· x ·:· around patriarchal cross, rev. si ef red vs around cross pattée, pellet in first and fourth quarters, 1.33g/8h (Lyon/Stewart Gp IIId; SCBI 30, 266, this coin; SCBI Ashmolean 193, same obv. die; SCBI Merseyside 368, same rev. die; N 504; S 996). Extremely fine, light grey tone, rare [sold with NGC slab tag, AU 58] £1,500-2,000
Henry VIII (1509-1547), Third coinage, Testoon, Tower, mm. lis, portrait with prominent side locks of hair, reads henric viii di gra and adivtorevm, broken Lombardic es, v of mevm over uncertain letter, Roman ms, trefoil stops on rev., 7.71g/4h (Jacob Gp A, O4/R7; Whitton A (1) b (ii); N 1841; S 2364). Light ecclesiastical cross scratched to right of portrait, otherwise about very fine for issue, good silver and full weight, rare £2,000-£2,600
Henry IV or Henry V, Light coinage: Secondary series, Halfgroat, class A, mm. pierced cross with pellet centre on obv. only, ‘emaciated’ bust, annulet to left and pellet to right of crown, 1.91g/3h (Stewartby p.327 [Henry IV]; DIG 6, this coin, and 2/2, this coin illustrated; Harris, BNJ 1997, p.28, 60, this coin; Potter I-1; N 1389; S 1768). Very fine and toned, extremely rare; only 8 coins of this class listed by Greenhalgh, 3 of which are in institutions £2,000-£3,000
Æthelred II (978-1016), Penny, First Small Cross type, York, Thorsteinn, dorstan m¯o ef, unbacked bust left with three pellets in front, 1.26g/6h (SCBI Yorkshire 58, same rev. die [= FEJ 978 = Jonsson, p.61, coin b)]; N 764; S 1143). About very fine, very rare £1,500-£2,000
Hammer Price: £2,600
Charles I (1625-1649), Pontefract, Shilling, 1648, type 2, large crown above c r, rev. castle gateway, obs to left, p c [Pontefract Castle] dividing value at right, date below, lozenge-shaped flan, 6.50g/12h (Hird 276-8 and SCBI Brooker 1233, same dies; N 2647; S 3149). Fine, grey tone, rare £1,500-£2,000
IV: Coins of Oliver Cromwell, Shilling, 1658, from the same dies as previous, edge grained, 6.00g/92.9gr/6h (Lessen, BNJ 1996, J28; ESC 254 [1005]; S 3228). About extremely fine, toned £2,000-£2,600
Kings of East Anglia, Beonna (c. 758), Sceatta, Efe, beonna rex around pelleted annulet, rev. efe around cross with lozenge centre enclosing a cross pommée, 0.95g/3h (Archibald, BNJ 1985, C27, this coin [recté 0.95g]; Blackburn/Bonser, BNJ 1986, p.77, no.48, this coin; SCBI Hunterian 412, same obv. die; BMC 1; N 430; S 945). Good very fine, rare £2,000-3,000
Kings of Wessex, Alfred the Great, Penny, Phase II, Cross-and-Lozenge type, London style, Leofweald, elfred rex around diademed bust right, rev. liafvald mon in angles of beaded long cross with lozenge centre enclosing cross pattée, 1.28g/9h (Blackburn/Keynes 30, this coin; SCBI Mack 731, and p.xii, this coin; N 629, and pl. x, 19, this coin; S 1058). Broken and very skilfully repaired, otherwise very fine and full, very rare £3,000-4,000
Henry IV (1399-1413), Heavy coinage, Farthing, London, mm. cross pommée, 0.36g/9h (Withers 1; N 1354; S 1725). Minor deposit, otherwise very fine and full, extremely rare £1,500-£2,000
Southern Danelaw, Plegmund, Penny, Viking imitation, plegemvn doro retrograde around cross pattée, rev. bvrved mo divided by three single pellets, 1.38g/9h (BMC 76 obv.; N 253; S 974). Very fine and very rare £1,500-2,000
Henry IV or Henry V, Light coinage: Secondary series, Groat, class A, mm. cross pattée on obv., pierced cross with pellet centre on rev., ‘emaciated’ bust, large fleurs on all cusps, quatrefoil after posvi, 3.67g/3h (Stewartby p.323 [Henry IV]; Harris, BNJ 1997, p.26, 13; Potter I-2; N 1385; S 1759, the plate coin). A few minor marks, otherwise very fine and very rare £2,000-£3,000
Northumbria (York), Cnut/Siefred, Penny, ebr · ai · ce · c around patriarchal cross, rev. d · n s · ds · rex · around cross pattée, pellets in second and third quarters, 1.34g/4h (Lyon/Stewart Gp Vb; SCBI Merseyside 374, same dies; N 508; S 999). A little weak on reverse, otherwise good very fine, toned £800-1,000
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