Spink recently announced a host of coin auctions this spring in London and New York.
There will be two auctions by Spink USA and two by Spink London, one of which is the fifth and much awaited portion of the Academic Collection of Lord Stewartby. It will focus on his assorted Tudor and Stuart coins, including “many superb and intriguing pieces bound to attract furious bidding,” according to auctioneers, who added the sale will take place March 28.
One of these choice pieces is Lot 1712, an Edward VI (1547-53) schilling from 1549 minted in Canterbury. It is from an “m.m. G” die, which were prepared for use at York under George Gale but not used. They were sometimes overmarked for use at other mints, in this case Canterbury under William Tyllsworth.
Auctioneers said for collectors with an interest in mint oddities, this will prove a “very popular item for its rarity and attractiveness.” It’s estimated at £200-£250 (about $326-$408 Cdn.).
Another item with an “interesting minting quirk” is Lot 1641, a Henry VIII (1509-47), third coinage, Groat, Tower mint, m.m. lis (over annulet on obverse), HENRIC 8 DI G AGL FRA Z HIB REX, broken saltire stops, crowned facing large bust 2, rev. POSVI DEV ADIVTORE MEV, trefoil stops, long cross over shield, pellet in annulet in forks and very rare with this initial mark. It also has a pre-sale estimate of £200-£250.
According to auctioneers, it’s “unclear whether the obverse mintmark is over a simple annulet, or a pellet in annulet. Although the latter is seen on Testoons, neither mark is known on the Groats of this period and so may be unintentional.”
Rounding out the highlights of the fifth part of the Academic Collection of Lord Stewartby is Lot 1800, a Charles I (1625-49) Crown, which was chosen to adorn the front of the auction catalogue.
“An exceptionally attractive coin sure to ignite bidding from the room, phones and internet,” according to auctioneers. It has a pre-sale estimate of £2,500-£3,000 ($4,080-$4,895 Cdn.).