PREVIEW: BRITISH COINS: 27 JUNE

Rare survivors and rare issues from the reigns of the Tudors and Stuarts form a series of stand-out lots in this sale, one dating back to Henry VII (1485-1509).

The coin in question is a groat, equivalent to fourpence, and with the realistic bust of the king in profile right – an innovation that led the way for similarly realistic portraits in later reigns.

 

The bust is surrounded by a tressure of arches and the legend henric v·i·i di gra rex agl z fr. The reverse displays the Royal coat of arms with Cross and the surrounding legend reads POSVI DEV'A DIVITO EMEV. It is nearly very fine, but the surfaces are a little rough and porous and the edge slightly ragged between 3 and 6 o’clock. Only four of these groats are known to be extant. The estimate is £4,000-6,000.

The lifelike nature of such portraits becomes evident in the Second Period Half-Sovereign to Henry's grandson, Edward VI (1547-1553). With uncrowned bust, right, to the obverse, it is scored on the shield to the reverse and a little creased, but otherwise very fine. As with the Henry VII groat, only four specimens are known, two in the British Museum, the third sold at Spink in 2001. It has a guide of £4,000-5,000.

A Charles II (1660-1685) two guineas, dating to 1664, is the first bust with elephant below, showing that it was issued by the Company of Royal Adventurers trading into Africa (later the Royal African Company) founded four years earlier by Prince Rupert with the City of London for developing trade along the West African coast. It particularly sought out gold along the Gambia river. In good very fine condition with peripheral traces of lustre, it is expected to fetch £5,000-6,000.

A two guineas, issued in 1687 by Charles’s younger brother James II (1685-1688) is in about very fine condition with reddish tone and carries hopes of £4,000-5,000.