Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

CAMBRIDGESHIRE/SUFFOLK, Newmarket, silver [c. 1805], unsigned, two racehorses passing winning post, hambletonian above, diamond below, rev. racehorse left, sancho above, 37mm, 17.21g (W 1620; D & W 313/53-4 obv.; cf. DNW 176,274). A pocket-piece struck on a large flan, about fine, very rare, especially on a flan of this size; pierced for suspension £300-£400

Provenance: W.J. Noble Collection, Part II, Noble Numismatics Pty Auction 61B (Melbourne), 3-4 August 1999, lot 1077 [from Baldwin 1993]; bt September 1999.

The obverse alludes to the well-known contest, staged on the Beacon course at Newmarket on Monday 25 March 1799, between Hambletonian and Diamond. Sancho (1801-9), a bay owned and bred by Col. Henry Mellish, had a conspicuous run of success in 1804-5 when ridden by Frank Buckle, including the 1804 St Leger at Doncaster. The horse was stabled at Newmarket for the 1805 season, in which victories included the 3,000 guineas at Lewes in August; ironically, at the same meeting the following year, when leading easily with 10 furlongs remaining, the horse broke down, signalling the end of a short career on the flat