The second-highest-graded "Petition" Crown sold for a record $960,000 to lead Heritage’s January 8 NYINC Platinum Session World & Ancient Coins Signature® Auction to $12,154,981.
The result, coupled with the $3,829,532 NYINC World Coins Signature® Auction January 16-18, boosted the combined total of the events to $15,984,513.
"The results in this auction reinforce Heritage’s position as the world’s leading auctioneer of British coins," says Cris Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President of International Numismatics at Heritage Auctions, "consistently selling more British coins than even the major auction firms that are based in the United Kingdom, many of which have a history that is decades or even centuries longer than Heritage’s."
The result for the Charles II silver Pattern "Petition" Crown 1663 MS62 NGC smashed the previous world record for the coin, and was the most ever paid for any British silver coin. It was engraved by Thomas Simon, one of the most celebrated medalists and engravers of 17th-century England. This magnificent example is one of fewer than 20 known examples – seven of which are housed in public institutions and museums.
Another British treasure that thrived in the auction was a Henry III (1216-1272) gold Penny of 20 Pence ND (c. 1257) UNC Details (Bent) NGC that closed at $504,000. This beauty is one of just four examples in private hands, and only the second ever handled at Heritage Auctions. It was proposed by British numismatist Sir John Evans to be the "true" first portrait of an English king on the coinage prior to the Tudor issues inaugurated by Henry VII.
The auction’s top lot was not the lone record set in the event. An Anne gold 5 Guineas 1706 MS63 PCGS more than doubled its low pre-auction estimate when it brought in a winning – and record-setting – bid of $408,000. This coin is the sole finest pre-Union issue and one of only two Anne 5 Guineas across both grading services to receive a full Choice Mint State designation.
An eastern European prize that exceeded all expectations was a Carol I gold Proof Pattern 20 Lei 1868 PR62 Ultra Cameo NGC that nearly tripled its high pre-auction estimate when it sold for $336,000 – a result that established another world record. This magnificent coin is the only graded example in the NGC census of what is considered the key rarity to the Romanian series. It has been suggested that Carol deposited about 50 pieces at the foundation of the Peles Castle, and gave the rest to his Government minsters and his personal friends.
An exceptionally rare Nicholas II gold Specimen 1/2 Imperial of 5 Roubles 1895-AГ SP62 PCGS reached $264,000. From a reported mintage of just 36 pieces, it is a beautiful and historically significant Specimen one of the true rarities of the later Russian imperial series. This offering is tied with one other in the PCGS census as the sole graded Specimen examples, while NGC lists three MS and one MS Deep Prooflike in its graded population.
Reaching the same $264,000 was a gorgeous Victoria gold Proof Pattern Crown (5 Shillings) 1887 PR65+ Ultra Cameo NGC. It is among the most distinct series of British Patterns, distinguished by the unique three-quarters facing bust of a mature Victoria that make these instantly recognizable.
Other top lots in the Platinum Session included, but were not limited to:
- A Dutch Colony. Willem gold Specimen Gulden 1839 SP62 PCGS – one of two known off-metal N.E.I. gulden: $240,000
Dutch Colony. Willem gold Specimen Gulden 1839 SP62 PCGS - A George III silver Proof Pattern "Three Graces" Crown 1817 PR63 Cameo NGC: $210,000
George III silver Proof Pattern Three Graces Crown 1817 PR63 Cameo NGC - A Nicholas I gold Pattern 10 Roubles 1836-CПБ MS62 NGC: $204,000
Nicholas I gold Pattern 10 Roubles 1836-CПБ MS62 NGC
Another record was set when an exceedingly rare Alexander (AD 912-913). AV solidus (22mm, 4.42 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 – 3/5 more than tripled its high pre-auction estimate when it sold for $90,000.
Atop the Signature Session was a Franz Joseph I gold Proof "Lady in the Clouds" 100 Corona 1908 PR62 Cameo NGCthat drew a winning bid of $33,600.
A British George II gold Guinea 1745 AU58 NGC tripled its pre-auction estimate when it ended at $30,000, while a high-grade USA Administration 7-Piece Certified Proof Set 1905 PCGS – including a Peso PR66, KM168; a 50 Centavos PR67, KM167; a 20 Centavos PR66, KM166; a 10 Centavos PR67, KM165; a 5 Centavos PR66, KM164; a Centavo PR65 Brown, KM163 and a 1/2 Centavo PR66 Brown, KM162 – reached $26,400.
Ancient Coins
The ancient coins in the auction included the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum – a carefully curated trove of 74 coins, each embodying a unique blend of history and artistry. Leading the collection was a ZEUGITANA. Fine Style Carthage. Ca. 270-260 BC. AV trihemistater, a large gold piece from the Phoenician colony of Carthage, on the coast of North Africa, that sold for $60,000.
Other top ancient coins in the auction included, but were not limited to:
- A Claudius I (AD 41-54). AV aureus NGC XF 5/5 – 4/5, light marks: $55,200
- A MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Philip II (359-336 BC). AV stater NGC Choice MS 5/5 – 5/5, Fine Style: $49,200
- A PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (277-270/268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm NGC MS 5/5 – 4/5, brushed: $38,400
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (277-270_268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm - A Domitian, as Caesar (AD 81-96). AV aureus NGC Choice AU 5/5 – 4/5, Fine Style: $33,600
- A LYDIAN KINGDOM. Croesus (561-546 BC). AV stater NGC MS 5/5 – 3/5, light scuffs: $33,600
LYDIAN KINGDOM. Croesus (561-546 BC). AV stater
Complete results from the Platinum Session can be found at HA.com/3113. Results from the Signature Session can be found at HA.com/3114.
About Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam, Brussels and Hong Kong.
Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of more than 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.
