British Collection Realizes $5.8 Million

With a highly prized "Una and the Lion" leading the way, more than 400 rare coins from a phenomenal collection realized CHF 5.8 million (about US$5.8 million). Presented by Swiss auction house SINCONA, the sale included gold rarities spanning nearly 600 years of history. SINCONA Auction 75: SINCONA British Collection Part 2 was held May 16, 2022.

The top lot was a Great Britain 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62+ Cameo (lot 339), which realized CHF 480,000 (about US$478,000). The obverse of the coin shows the young Queen Victoria, while the reverse displays a figure representing her guiding a lion, a symbol of England. The scene is inspired by one involving Lady Una in Edmund Spenser's epic poem "The Faerie Queene."

Meanwhile, an England 1658 Gold Pattern Half Crown graded NGC PF 63 Cameo (lot 124) realized CHF 312,000 (about US$311,000). Only six examples are known of this off-metal strike, according to the auction house. The coin shows Oliver Cromwell, whose death in September 1658 was the beginning of the end of the Commonwealth of England, a period of just over a decade when the monarchy was abolished.

Another top offering in the sale was a Great Britain 1768 Gold Pattern 2 Guinea graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 243). From early in the reign of King George III, this coin was one of only a tiny number struck; these were never intended for wide usage because smaller gold denominations were desperately needed at the time. This coin realized CHF 264,000 (about US$263,000).