Extremely rare siege currency up for bid at Anderson & Garland Auctioneers
Newark and Northumberland coinage are among auction highlights.
Anderson & Garland Auctioneers is delighted to announce its upcoming “Stamps & Coins Auction,” which will take place on March 6th. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the auction will feature an exceptional selection of rare and historically significant coins and stamps.
Among the highlights is a Charles I Civil War siege piece of Newark Castle, a silver shilling dated 1645 below the inscription “Obs Newarke.” This remarkable coin is in about very fine condition with attractive toning on both sides. Estimated at £1,000 to £2,000, it offers a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment in English history. The coin was minted during the third and final siege of Newark-on-Trent in 1646, during the last year of the First English Civil War. Besieged Royalists, facing a dire shortage of currency, established a mint to produce lozenge-shaped coins made from silver flagons and drinking cups donated by loyal Royalist noblemen. The coins bore a Royal crown between the initials “C. R.” on the obverse, with the reverse featuring the inscription “OBS Newark” (“OBS” being an abbreviation of obsidium, Latin for siege) and the year of minting.
Apart from their obvious interest to numismatists and historians, images of the coins are used to decorate rubbish bins in Newark, and a few residents would like to introduce a Newark siege pound as a form of currency they believe would benefit the local economy.
Also featured in the auction is a George III “Northumberland” shilling from 1763 that remains in about extremely fine condition with light toning and only minor marks. Estimated at £700 to £1,000, this coin represents a fascinating chapter in British numismatic history. In 1763, the Royal Mint produced an issue of 100,000 shillings, £100 worth of which were distributed to the people of Dublin when Hugh, 2nd Earl of Northumberland, was installed as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. This act of generosity earned the coins the name “Northumberland Shilling.”
George III, grandson of George II, reigned during a transformative period in British history, witnessing the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British Empire. Despite being remembered for losing the American colonies and for his struggles with mental illness, his reign saw Great Britain emerge victorious from the Napoleonic Wars, securing naval supremacy, and paving the way for an era of prosperity.
Other noteworthy pieces include an Anne shilling from 1708 featuring the third bust design. This coin is beautifully toned and in about extremely fine condition, with an estimated value of £200 to £300. Also included is a William IV shilling from 1836, notable for a rare double-struck error on the obverse. This coin is in about extremely fine condition with dark toning and is estimated at £150 to £250.
Watch and bid live online at the website or in person at Anderson House, Newcastle, NE5 1BF. For more information, email joseph@andersonandgarland.com or call 07835982912.
View the entire catalogue here.
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