March 2006 Coin Newsletter

With three auction catalogues printed we have a steady stream of people viewing coins here in the coin department, and with many other fairs and sales to attend, March is proving to be a very busy month. The volume of good quality coins coming in for sale over the counter has steadily increased this year as higher prices for collectors’ pieces, as well as the steady and strong price for bullion, encourage people to sell. The April Numismatic Circular, now at the printers, contains a wealth of high quality and fresh material.
One of the highlights of this month is certainly the sale of the LaRiviere collection of Scottish coins and medals. After the success of the LaRiviere collection of Irish coins and medals last month, which saw the gold Pistole of 1646 sell for a record price of £77,625 (for a list of prices realized at this sale click here),

there is even greater excitement over the Scottish. This is a broader and more mature market, and a sale of this quantity and quality has not been seen for a generation. There has always been strong interest in the Scottish series from collectors in the U.S.A., perhaps a reflection of the strong feelings many Americans with Scottish ancestry still have for the ‘old country’. Interest now is as high as it has ever been, and several telephones are already booked for the day of the auction. No doubt a significant number of these coins, which have already been in the U.S. for many years, will return there after the sale. To view the catalogue click here.

Auction action continues the day after the LaRiviere sale, when the Kenney collection and a general sale of world coins and medals are to be offered. To view the Kenney catalogue click here,

and for highlights click here. To view the general sale click here, and for highlights click here.

 

Also in the pipeline at the printers are the Orders, Decorations and Campaign Medals catalogue for 20 April, and the Banknotes catalogue for 27 April. Highlight of the Banknote auction is certainly the Bank of England note for £99.7/4d., made out to Mr. Thomas Shipman and dated 30 August 1705. One of the earliest Bank of England notes in private hands it is estimated at £25,000-35,000. For more information on this sale click here.

The preparation of the June auction catalogue is well under way and consignments for this sale can be accepted until the middle of April. The superb Double Leopard of Edward III has already been widely reported in the press, both in this country and in the U.S., and inevitably there is speculation over who the serious bidders might be. In this week’s Coin World, which gives the sale of the Double Florin top billing on its cover page, John Andrew correctly reminds us that as the only two other examples known are both already in the British Museum ‘it is unlikely that exporting it will be problematic’. This is of course extremely significant for potential buyers outside the U.K. and he goes on to speculate ‘Will this be the first English coin to sell for $1 million U.S.?’ For the keen numismatist who works in central London it would surely be worth taking half an hour off work on Thursday 29 June to come and witness the sale. For more information on this coin click here.

If you would like to consign coins to this important auction, where they will be in the best company imaginable, please contact Richard Bishop or Jeremy Cheek in the auction department, or any member of the coin department.