One of the Finest in the Past 20 Years

Great Britain, Stuart. Charles II AV 5 Guineas. London mint, 1670. CAROLVS • II • DEI • GRATIA, laureate head to right / MAG • BR • FRA • ET • HIB • REX • (date) •, crowned cruciform coats-of-arms around central design of four interlocked monograms; sceptres in angles. Edge inscription: DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI VICESIMO SECVNDO. SCBC 3328; KM 430.1; Friedberg 281.

PCGS graded cleaned UNC Details (#44032666). Very Rare; qualitatively one of the finest examples offered at auction in the past 2 decades, evidencing considerably less wear and far fewer circulation marks than most, with considerable mint lustre and red toning visible.

Acquired from Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio); Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection, sold with original collection ticket.

After Charles I was executed in 1649, his son Charles II was proclaimed King of Scotland until 1651, and then King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1660 until his death in 1685. He also had a claim to the crown of France and, although this was only nominal the four crowned cruciform shields on the reverse of this coin bear the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland and indeed France. The obverse and reverse of this coin were designed by John Roettier, a celebrated English engraver and medalist. In 1661 Charles II invited him and his brother to join the British Royal Mint and they very quickly became the mint’s chief engravers. The Roettier brothers produced a new Great Seal in 1666-1667 and later, the official coronation medals of King James II of England, King William III and Queen Mary II.

This coin is not only notable for having been designed by one of Britain’s most celebrated engravers, but also for the context in which it was produced, namely against the backdrop of new trade with Africa which had augmented the supply of gold at a time when it was incredibly limited in Britain. Many coins in the year leading up to 1670 had an elephant and castle beneath the head to indicate that the gold was bought as a result of the new trade charter with the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading with Africa. By 1668 there was enough of the metal imported to allow for expanded production of gold coins, many of which were much larger. The finest were the five guineas, first brought into production in 1668 only two years before this coin was produced, making it a fairly new denomination.

Most interesting is the manner in which this coin was produced. The five guinea was one of the first examples of the use of mill striking as a new way to produce coinage, departing from the traditional hammer-striking method which was rendered obsolete around this time by the new industrial method. Charles II established a permanent machine-made coinage by employing Peter Blondeau in 1662, who pioneered the process of stamping letters on coins. By placing lettering on the edges of the coin prior to striking it the practice of clipping was largely prevented. Milled coins were far superior to hammered coins; although manufactured by a screw press powered by horses which meant that production was somewhat slower, they were perfectly round making it obvious if clipping had occurred. The present coin is therefore emblematic of the introduction of the revolutionary milled method

A Crown Jewel for Even the Most Advanced Collections

Great Britain, Hanover. George IV AV Proof 5 Pounds. 1826. Willian Wyon and Jean Baptiste Merlen, engravers. GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA, bare head to left, date below / BRITANNIARUM REX FID: DEF:, shield of arms set upon crowned ornate mantle. Edge inscription: DECUS ET TUTAMEN ANNO REGNI SEPTIMO. KM 702; SCBC 3797; Friedberg 373; Numista 13191.

NGC graded PF 63 Ultra Cameo (#3589810-006). Very Rare; only 150 minted.

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, NYINC Signature Sale 3097, 10 January 2022, lot 30254.

This coin is an exceedingly beautiful specimen of this much sought after type. One of only 150 minted, this coin is in near top state of preservation with the superior “Ultra Cameo” designation. This coin was previously described at its last auction appearance as “undoubtedly a crown jewel for even the most advanced British coin cabinets”.

It compares very favourably against other recently auctioned examples:

Heritage 3089, lot 31215 (Jan 2021), PF64 Ultra Cameo: USD 190,000 / GBP 138,491

Heritage 3085, lot 30189 (Aug 2020), PF62: USD 165,000 / GBP 125,549

Heritage 3096, lot 30321 (Mar 2021), PF63 Ultra Cameo: USD 160,000 / GBP 116,608

Heritage 3105, lot 32219 (Jan 2023), PF63 Deep Cameo: USD 140,000 / GBP 114,814

George IV lived an excessive lifestyle from a young age, with extravagant spending that resulted in his accumulating large debts. These were later pardoned by Parliament on the condition that George marry his cousin, Caroline Brunswick in 1795, following his illegitimate and unpopular marriage to Maria Fitzherbert 10 years prior. In 1820, George ascended the throne when his father, King George III, died, having been de facto ruler as Prince Regent from 1811 when his father was declared mentally unstable.

He did not abandon his lavish lifestyle when he became monarch, indeed his later life continued to be characterised by vast banquets and profligate expenditure. He had expensive taste in all aspects of life, extending beyond food and fine wine, investing considerably in art and interior decoration much of which the Royal Collection now houses. This bust type of George IV graciously shows none of the effects of his lifestyle and presents him with a strong portrait, perhaps to emphasise his renowned style and intellect, rather than his proclivity for excess.

1095.

India, British Colonial. Victoria AV Mohur. East India Company issue. Calcutta mint, 1841. Dies by William Wyon. VICTORIA QUEEN, young head to left; small W. W. on neck, date below / EAST INDIA COMPANY, lion walking to left, palm tree in background; denomination in English and Arabic below. KM 462.1; S&W 3.7; Friedberg 1595a.

NGC Graded UNC Details: obv. rim filed, cleaned (#6672716-001).

Acquired from Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG.

2,700

Italian States, Sicilia (Sicily, Kingdom). Frederick I (later Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Constance as Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, AV Tari. Amalfi mint, November 1198. Outer circle Kufic legend: ‘struck in his reign in the year five hundred ninety-five’; inner circle Latin legend: ⧾ FRE REX SICILIE around palm tree in fruit in central circle / Outer rim Kufic legend: ‘struck in the year one-hundred one-thousand ninety and eight; inner rim Kufic legend: ‘Constance imperatrix of the Romans’, around Latin cross in central circle. L. Travaini, ‘Le monete Sveve con legend arabe nel Regno di Sicilia (1194-1220)’ in RIN 1986, p.136, 2; MIR 36; MEC 14, p.166 fig. 3b; CNI XVII, p.10, 1, pl. 1, 14; G. Sambon, Repertario generale, 1113; M. Guglielmi, La monetazione degli Svevi nell’Italia meritionale, Serravalle RSM, 2000, p.67, 1; D. Spinelli, Monete cufiche, Napoli 1844, pl. 20, 1; R. Levinson, The Early Dated Coins of Europe 1234-1500, Clifton 2007, p.258; Friedberg 51. 0.87g, 24mm.

Mint State; edge clipped. Of the greatest rarity and numismatic importance.

This remarkable scyphate-shaped tari bears two dates: Hegira 595 and Christian era 1198, the earliest Anno Domini date ever recorded on a coin, which according to Philip Grierson and L. Travaini commemorates the investiture formally granted to Frederick II and Constance by Pope Innocent III on 19 November of that year. In return the pope received an annual cens of 1,000 ‘schifati’, cf. MEC pp.165-6.

Amalfi was an independent republic from the 7th century that managed to extract itself from Byzantine vassalage in 839 and first elected an independent duke in 958. By 944 Amalfitan merchants were already present at Constantinople, trading with Egypt by the late 10th century and rivalling Pisa and Genova in its domestic prosperity and maritime trade with Asia before the rise of the Venice. In 1073 the republic fell to the Norman countship of Apulia and was granted many rights and attained great wealth. In about 1080, Amalfitans founded a hospice for pilgrims in Islamic occupied Jerusalem, from which the Order of the Hospital (St. John of Jerusalem) later developed. Under Roger II in 1131, Amalfi passed into the kingdom of Sicily and by 1220 the Empire of Frederick II. In matters of medieval culture, Amalfi was famous for its multiculturalism, flourishing schools of law and mathematics, maritime code and the reputed Amalfitan Flavio Gioia, who in about 1300 was considered first marine pilot to have introduced the sailor’s compass to Western navigation. The date on the Amalfi tari must be connected to the fact that Islamic coinage had been dated from the time of the 5th Caliph, ‘Abd al-Malik in the 77th year of the Hagira, the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib in AD 696/7. Amalfi had been within the Islamic monetary sphere strongly influenced by the Emirate of Sicily since the 10th century, in which the standard gold unit was the gold Tarì (meaning “fresh” or “newly minted money”), the Christian designation of Ruba’i or quarter Dinar with the ideal weight of 1.05g of gold.

Extremely Rare

1098.

Italy, Kingdom. Vittorio Emanuele II AR 5 Lire. Commemorating the Unification of Italy. Firenze (Florence) mint, 1861F. Dies by Luigi Gori. VITTORIO EMANUELE II• RE D’ITALIA, head to right, small hill and L. GORI F. below / • CINQUE LIRE ITALIANE •, crowned coat-of-arms within chain of the Order of the Santissima Annunziata, all within laurel wreath; FIRENZE and date below. Edge inscription: ❀ FERT ❀ ❀ FERT ❀ ❀ FERT ❀. MIR 1081a; Pagani 481; Gigante 31; KM 7; Davenport 139. 24.75g, 37mm, 6h

Very Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Vitangelo Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 8 October 2021, lot 1055.

1100 1099

Italy, Kingdom. Umberto I AR 50 Centesimi. Rome mint, 1889R. Engraved by Filippo Speranza. UMBERTO I RE D’ITALIA, head to right; date below / Crowned arms within chain of the Order of the Santissima Annunziata; denomination across fields, all within laurel and oak wreath; Star of Italy above, R (mintmark) below. MIR 1104a; Pagani 608; KM 26; Gigante 42. 2.48g. 18mm, 6h.

1,200

Mint State. Rare.

Ex Vitangelo Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 8 October 2021, lot 1057. 240

Italy, Kingdom. Umberto I AR 50 Centesimi. Rome mint, 1892R. Engraved by Filippo Speranza. UMBERTO I RE D’ITALIA, head to right; date below / Crowned arms within chain of the Order of the Santissima Annunziata; denomination across fields, all within laurel and oak wreath; Star of Italy above, R (mintmark) below. MIR 1104b; Pagani 609; KM 26; Gigante 43. 2.48g. 18mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

LOMBARD KINGDOM

1101.

Lombard

Kingdom, Beneventum. Gregory

Solidus. In the name of Justinian II. 732-739.

1102.

Extremely Fine; stunning iridescence.

Ex Numismatica Varesi, Auction 78, 30 September 2021, lot 5; Previously acquired from Massimo Rossi, Mantova SPL.

300

900

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Gregory AV Solidus. In the name of Justinian II. 732-739. D Λ LVNVƧ P P, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VIVITO AVGVƧ •, cross potent on globe set on four steps; G to left, CONOB in exergue. LCSI 27; MIR 154; MEC 1, 1089; CNI pp. 129-134, 1-44. 3.33g, 20mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Bolaffi Spa, Auction 34, 30 May 2019, lot 1028.

900

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Gregory AV Solidus. In the name of Justinian II. 732-739. D N ƧTtONЧS P P , crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VIVRO AVGVƧ •, cross potent on globe set on four steps; G to left, CONOB in exergue. LCSI 27; MIR 154; MEC 1, 1089; CNI pp. 129-134, 1-44. 3.96g, 20mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd., Auction 60, 27 September 2020, lot 638.

1106.

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Arichis II AV Solidus. 765-774. D NS VICTORIA, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICTIRA ❖ ASVSTV, cross potent on globe set on four steps between; A to left, C•ONO•B in exergue. LCSI 55; MIR 180; CNI pp. 151-2, 7-13. 3.85g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

1107.

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Arichis II AV Tremissis. 765-774. D NS VICTORIΛ , crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VITIRA ❖ AGVTV, cross potent on base; A to left, C•ONO•B in exergue. LCSI 56; MIR 181; MEC 1, 1094; CNI p. 152-3, 14-22. 1.21g, 16mm, 6h.

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Arichis II AV Tremissis. 765-774. D NS VICTORIΛ , crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VITIRA ❖ PRINPI, cross potent on base; A to left, C•ONO•B in exergue. LCSI 58; MIR 183; MEC 1, 1097; CNI pp. 153, 2-3. 1.22g, 16mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

From the inventory of a UK dealer. 1,200

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Grimoald III and Charlemagne AV Tremissis. 788-792. GRIMVALD, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / DOMS ❖ CAR • RX, cross potent set on base; pellets flanking base, G-R across fields, VICA in exergue. LBSI 63; MIR 187; MEC 1098; CNI p. 155, 8-9. 1.25g, 17mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

1,200

1108.

Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Grimoald III AV Solidus. 792-806. GRIMVALD, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICTORA ❖ PRINCIP, cross potent on globe set on three steps; two triangles flanking base; G-R across fields, C•ONO•B (retrograde) in exergue. LBSI 68; MIR 199; MEC 1101; CNI pp. 156-7, 22-8; Oddy 457 = BMC Vandals p. 172, 11, pl. 23, 8. 3.85g, 21mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

From the inventory of a UK dealer. 1,500

Lombard Kingdom, Salerno. Siconulf AR Denaro. 839-849. ⧾ PRINCЄ BЄNЄBЄNTI around SCONF monogram / Λ • RHΛNGЄLV MIHΛЄ •, cross potent set on three steps; wedge and pellet flanking. MEC I, 1121; BMC Vandals -; Sambon 497. 0.85g, 18mm, 12h.

Near Mint State; attractive deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 100, 12 June 2021, lot 413.

Low Countries

1110.

Low Countries, Vlaanderen (Flanders). Lodewijk II van Male AV Gehelmde Gouden Leeuw (lion d’or). Gand (Ghent) mint, 1346-1384. LVDOVICVS

⦂ DЄI ⦂ GRΛ ⦂ COᙏ’Z DꞂS ⦂ FLΛꞂDR IЄ, helmeted lion standing to left before spired Gothic throne; FLΛꞂDRЄS below / ✠ BЄИЄDICTVS ⁑ QVI ⁑ VЄИIT ⁑ IИ ⁑ ИOᙏIИЄ ⁑ DOᙏIИI, cross fleurée and feuillue, D’ in centre, F L Λ Ꞃ in quarters; all within tressure of 20 arches. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe C19; Vanhoudt G2604; Delmonte, Or 460; Friedberg 157; Numista 126585. 5.33g, 34mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. Rare.

Acquired from Morton & Eden Ltd.

Scotland

3,000

1111.

Scotland, Kingdom. James VI (James I of Great Britain) AV Unit. Edinburgh mint, 1609-1625. (thistle) IACOBVS • D • G

• MAG’ • BRIT’

• FRAN’ • & • HIB’ • REX ·, crowned bust to right, holding orb and sceptre / (thistle) FACIAM

• EOS

• IN

• GENTEM

• VNAM •, crowned coat of arms, Scottish arms in first and fourth quarters; I-R across fields. SCBC II 5464; KM 29; Friedberg 234 var. (arms of united kingdom rather than Scotland in first and fourth quarters); Numista 55277. 9.96g, 37mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine. Rare.

1,200