NOONANS SELL THE LITTLEBROOK HOARD FOR HAMMER PRICE OF £61,735 – DOUBLE THE PRE-SALE ESTIMATE

It was 22 years ago when Peter Gray was called by the builders who were working on a new extension to his house, Littlebrook Farm in Belchalwell Street, near Blandford Forum in Dorset, to say that they had discovered a pottery vessel containing 213 coins! 200 of the coins, the majority dating from the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509) fetched a hammer price of £61,735 - double the pre-sale estimate - in an auction at Noonans Mayfair (16 Bolton Street) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.

Peter, who is now 79-years old, and a retired international bank inspector sold the coins because he and his wife Jackie are moving house. He was absolutely delighted after the sale.  

The highest price of the sale was paid for a Tentative issue Groat with an excellent portrait of Henry VII which fetched a hammer price of £2600 against an estimate of £400-500 [lot 237].

Bradley Hopper, Head of Coin department at Noonans said: "The prices of the top 3 lots reflected the strength of the world market as they bought by buyers in the USA, UK and Australia and all well exceeded our expectations. This was due to their quality, condition and how well they had been preserved."  

He continued: “The most exciting coin in the collection was Lot 237, which sold extremely well due to the strength of the portrait, as it is the first Naturalistic depiction on an English coin, and is a wonderful likeness of Henry VII.”