Ancient Gold Coins

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Scottish & English Hammered Gold Coins:

WAu-6782: Edward III Hammered Gold Half Noble. 4th coinage, 1351-61, Spink 1494. Series G, 1356-61, saltire stops, open E on the reverse. +EDWAR DEI G REX ANGL Z FRANC D. 3.81 grams, 58.8 grains. An outstanding grade coin from an old collection. (E) £2,750

Scottish Gold Milled Coins:

WAu-6691: 1701 William II of Scotland Milled Gold Half Pistole. A single year issue of this excessively rare Scottish gold coin which was current at £6 in Scotland. Spink 5677. Both the full and half pistole were struck from gold dust imported by the Darien Co. (The Scottish African Company) from the Central American colony of Darien. The company asked that its crest, a sun rising from the sea, should be placed on the coinage as an acknowledgement to themselves and to the “Rising Sun”, the ship which had carried the gold. That emblem is under William II’s bust. The half pistole is rarer than the full pistole in terms of availability although find either for sale and you’re doing better than nearly everyone else. (E) £2,950

English Gold Milled Coins:

Charles II

WAu-6624: 1678/7 Charles II Gold Half Guineas – a “Bender” Love Token. The famous children’s nursery rhyme goes: "There was a crooked man who had a crooked cat... who found a crooked sixpence..." The fad of the day was to bend a silver coin into this specific Z shape (you wouldn't think it but it's actually a mightily hard thing to do!) and present it to a potential partner in order, presumably, to impress them. Nowadays we’d just offer to buy them a drink!! In the above Nursery Rhyme, the old man found a crooked (ie Bender) sixpence. The suitor who bent this particular coin for his sweetheart must have been very rich to have used a half guinea as it is usually silver sixpences that we see. However, it looks like his wealth counted for nothing as a metal detectorist found this coin in a field, meaning the woman must have thrown it away in disgust all those years ago!! Hard to photograph so a compilation image here. £525 / £1,750 in Spink 2018. Any decent jeweller could have this straighten out if that's what you wanted to do. (E) £445

James II

WCA-6694: 1685-88 James II Stuart Gold Touchpiece – guaranteed to have been touched by the king. This was the official gold coin that the king (James II) personally gave to invited sufferers of Scrofula (TB) at special "Touching Ceremonies". These ceremonies were performed weekly throughout the year, except on hot days. The gold touch piece was designed by the famous John Roettier. This is the first example of a James II gold touchpiece that I have ever seen. This recent silver gilt on base metal touch piece caught my attention as it passed through a major auction house recently. It gives an indication of just how collectable these things are. Read THE SOVEREIGN REMEDY by Noel Woolf for further information. (E) £1,675

George III

WAu-5714: 1810 George III Gold Third Guinea. Second bust (short hair). No mount marks and EF grade. Spink price is £625 (2018). (E) £459

Queen Victoria

WAu-6006: 1875 Queen Victoria Australian (Melbourne) Gold Sovereign. Young head, very nice grade. (E) £375

WAu-6007: 1886 Queen Victoria Australian (Melbourne) Gold Sovereign. Young head, very nice grade. (E) £375

WAu-5928: 1891 Queen Victoria Australian (Melbourne) Gold Sovereign. Jubilee head, uncleaned. Getting really close to the scrap price!! (E) £295