Five special collections constituted the bulk of the catalog for Dix Noonan Webb’s last 2018 sale of British coins. Among these, one was pre-eminent – “The ‘Welsh Marches’ Collection.”
This consisted largely of English hammered silver from Aethelred II to Charles I with a few early milled silver pieces rounding out this section of the catalog.
Of particular note was a remarkable assemblage of silver coins of King Charles I, who ultimately was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell in 1649.
This included many scarcer and rarer types in highly desirable grades. Bidders clearly believed this to be the case and responded accordingly, with estimates eclipsed right, left, and center.
Extremely rare 1645 halfcrown of Charles I from the Ashby de la Zouch mint (small plume behind monarch, “A” below, S-3030). Graded VF, it sold over upper estimate for $21,385. (Images courtesy DNW)
Three extremely rare halfcrowns led the field. The first of 1645 was struck at the Ashby de la Zouch mint showing a plume mintmark behind the monarch and an “A” below. As is typical of Charles’ civil war silver from this period, the obverse shows him mounted with the reverse bearing his declaration abbreviated in two lines (S-3030). Extremely rare and graded VF, it raced away to take $21,385 [£16,800] on a £7,000-£9,000 estimate.
One of a possible five Salopia (Shrewsbury) mint halfcrowns available to collectors (S-3126). Graded gVF, it realized $13,748. (Images courtesy DNW)
The second was from Salopia (Shrewsbury) mint with a small lis mintmark on obverse and a garnished and crowned oval shield on the reverse (S-3126). No more than five specimens of this type are available to collectors. Graded gVF and toned, it made $13,748 [£10,800] on its £6,000-£8,000 estimate.
Typical Truro mint halfcrown of Charles struck on an uneven flan resulting in parts of the design appearing quite flat. More or less as struck, it took $12,221 in aEF. (Images courtesy DNW)
The third halfcrown was produced at Truro mint and showed the distinctive rose mintmark (S-3052). Like many Truro coins, it had been struck on an uneven flan so as to appear flat in places. It does, however, show an exceptional portrait rarely found on provincial coins. All in all, it came more or less as struck and graded aEF to sell for $12,221 [£9,600] on a £4,400-£5,000 estimate.
There was much more to the catalog than Charles I rarities. If nothing else, the sale demonstrated that the demand for historic British proof sets is yet to be sated. A superb 11-coin Victoria set of 1887 took $39,712 [£31,200], while a mint state George V set of 1911 realized $27,492 [£21,600.]
Full catalog details and prices realized can be sourced at www.dnw.co.uk.
The prices shown here have been converted at a rate of GBP1.00 = UDS1.27.
This article was originally printed in World Coin News. >> Subscribe today.
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