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Gold British Trade Dollar 1897 - NGC PF61
The highest grade example of this exceptional rare GOLD Trade Dollar in existence.
SOLD
One of less than 10 that are believed to exist.
Graded by NGC as PF61 - no other examples are graded higher.
This is only the second Gold Trade Dollar to come to the market in recent years. The last publicly traded piece was a 1902 example which made US $214,000 in 2014.
‘Trade Dollars’ were issued in silver from February 1895 as a way of standardising silver coinage in territories in the East.
The story of the ‘Trade Dollar’ can be traced back to the Chinese ‘Opium Wars’. Once China lost the war it was forced to concede various ports to Britain and other powers. Famously this included Hong Kong which remained a British colony until 1997.
Whilst Britain, and other European countries, had conducted a substantial amount of trade with China, their control of Hong Kong opened up a new period of flourishing international trade. Merchants and entrepreneurs flocked from around the world.
With money, and particularly large silver coins, flooding into Hong Kong this presented its own issues as there was no standardisation with these coins. A solution to this was issuing a silver coin specifically for trade in Hong Kong and wider China - the ‘Trade Dollar’ was born as a medium of exchange.
Silver Trade Dollars were issued from 1895 through to 1935 with Bombay, Calcutta and London mint marks (with London coins having no actual mint mark). On rare occasions gold versions were produced - this is one such example.
£140,000
Denomination/metal: Gold
Type: Gold
Condition: NGC PF61 (none graded higher)
Mint mark: Bombay
Obv. Britannia standing, ship sailing past to left, ‘ONE DOLLAR’. Mintmark is a small ‘B’ on the middle prong of the trident.
Rev. Chinese symbol for longevity as main design, with characters in Chinese and Jawi Malay denoting the denomination of this coin
39mm., 34.69gm.
Ref. Pr 2B; KM T5a
We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.
Charles I Briot 1st Issue 1631-2
A superb example of a Charles I milled coin.
Guide Price £42,250
From the first series of ‘milled coins’ from Great Britain. An excellent example of this important coin.
A very rare and attractive coin from the famous ‘Briot’ issue of 1631-2.
Nicholas Briot was a Frenchman who invented a new method for minting coins that improved uniformity and therefore removed the risk of ‘clipping’ (where the metal was removed from the coins making them worth less). By 1605/6 Briot was appointed the chief engraver at the Paris Mint where he produced coronation medals for the young Louis XIII and in 1615 he submitted his design of a screw press to the Paris Mint. Having received little enthusiasm from the Mint he fled to England in 1625 in disgust at his treatment (and to evade creditors,)
Charles I wished to improve the artistry and quality of his medals and coinage and at some point after 1628 Briot was employed by the Royal Mint to produce new higher quality coins. He became Chief Engraver in 1633.
In 1631 and 1638 Briot produced a small number of coins using his revolutionary screw press alongside the hammered coins still being produced.
Charles I was impressed with Briot and at the outbreak of the English Civil War he went with the King to York and Oxford to continue the production of coins. From 1641 Briot travelled back and forth to France where he died in 1646. To this day his medals and coins are considered “gems of medallic art”.
Charles I was famously executed for treason in 1649 making him one of the country’s most famous rulers. His coinage continues to be popular with an example of his hammered ‘Triple Unite’ coin recently selling for $300,000!
Guide Price £42,250
Country: England
Monarch: Charles I (1625-1649)
Denomination/metal: Gold Unite of 20 Shilling
Type: Gold
Condition: AEF, well struck
Mint mark: London, flower
Obv. Crowned bust left wearing lace collar, XX behind, CAROLVS DG MAGN BRITANN FRAN ET HIB REX
Rev. Crowned Royal Arms in Rococo garnishing dividing crowned ‘CR', FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA'.
Ref. N.2295; S.2719
We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.
Charles II 1660 Twenty Shilling/Unite
A superb coin from the last series of hammered coins produced in England.
Guide Price £39,250
Struck at the start of Charles II reign and the restoration of the Monarchy.
Very rare earlier type and doubly rare as so well struck. A superb piece. Significantly the last of the hammered coins of England.
Charles II was one of the most beloved British King and was known as the ‘Merry Monarch’ because of his hedonistic court.
In the 1640’s Charles I was in a bitter war with both parliament and the puritans in the first English Civil War. Charles I took his young son (also named) Charles to battle with him and in 1645, at only 14, the young prince was named commander of the English forces in the west country. The following year Charles I was losing the war and surrendered. His son escaped the country for his own safety and joined his mother (who was the sister of Louis XIII) in exile in France.
In 1648 the second English Civil War started and Charles (still only 18 years old) moved to The Hague in hope of raising an army through his his sister Mary who was married to William II Prince of Orange. Unfortunately Charles was too late to save his father and in 1649 he was was executed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell - England became a republic (or less generously a military state).
Charles tried on several occasions to raise an army to take back the throne but caused much friction throughout Europe and never succeeded in his task. Most of his attempts centred on Scottish support (the Scottish Parliament announced him King of Great Britain, France and Ireland in 1649 after his fathers death) and whilst he invaded England on several occasions but never made it very far. Most famously, in 1651, he evaded English capture for 6 weeks before landing in Normandy - there were many narrow escapes which Charles enjoyed regaling his court with.
In 1658 Oliver Cromwell died and passed his title to his son Richard - who was ill equipped to rule and resigned the following year. After civil and military unrest and a change of parliament Charles was invited back to restore the Monarchy. He landed back in England and arrived in London on his 30th Birthday, May 29th 1660 and was crowned Charles II.
It had already been agreed that all but a select few would be forgiven for their parts in the Civil War and no retribution would be sought. This did not extended to Oliver Cromwell though and his head was posthumously severed from his body.
The rest of Charles’ life was not a quiet one with a Plague in 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666. He also had many quarrels with parliament and dissolved it on several occasions. He never sired a heir (but had around 12 illegitimate children!).
Guide Price £39,250
Country: England
Monarch: Charles II (1660-1685)
Denomination/metal: Gold 20 Shilling / Broad
Type: Gold
Condition: AEF - Graded by NGS as AU55 but this seems harsh as despite the quality it is actually a hammered coin.
Mint mark: Crown
Obv. Laureate (no berries) draped bust left, CAROLVS II D.G. MAG. BRIT. FRAN. ET. HIB. REX'. (no mark of value behind bust)
Rev. Crowned Royal Arms dividing 'CR', 'FLORENT. CONCORDIA. REGNA'.
Ref. Schneider cl II 03/R4; Sch.371; N.2753; S.3301
We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.
William & Mary Guinea
A lovely coin from the last year of issue.
SOLD
Extremely Fine Guinea from the last year of Mary’s rule
Both William and Mary are a rarity in British rule as they reigned jointly as coregents. Amazingly both had claims to the British throne and, as cousins, their marriage was intended to heal the wounds of the Anglo Dutch war (though Mary was a somewhat reluctant bride).
This coin was struck in 1694 which was the year Mary died of Smallpox thus leaving William to rule on his own. William died in 1702 of pneumonia as a result of a fall from his horse - the horse is to have alleged to have stumbled on a mole hill leaving his Jacobite rivals to toast “the little gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat”
SOLD
Country: England
Monarch: William and Mary (1688 - 1694)
Denomination/metal: Gold Guinea 1694
Type: Gold
Condition: EF - A little soft of strike as usual, light raised die flaws on obverse, some light flecking on reverse, toned, and attractive.
Obv. 4 struck over 3, conjoined busts right.
Rev. Crowned quartered shield of arms, date either side of crown.
Ref. .Schneider 473; M.C.E. 159; S 3426
We use ‘Guide prices’ for all items but are on hand to negotiate between buyer and seller. If this item is of interest then please contact us to start a conversation. We work with complete discretion for our clients and therefore don’t ever publish realised prices.