Neil Paisley, Baldwin's Managing Director specialises in British hammered and milled coins. Over the years, catalogued and auctioned many important sales, including the Alderley Collection of Pennies, an auction that broke numerous records for copper and bronze coins sold at auction. The Coins team are renowned for the quality and variety of their Ancient, British and World Coin Auctions, Neil has shared some of his highlights.
What is the star of Auction 118?
We have a very strong World Coins section with highlights being the coins of Imperial Russia. These exceptional gold rarities have never been on the market before. Special highlight is the astonishingly rare Peter I the Great (1682 - 1725), gold Ducat (#502), dated 1716. This is a rare type boasting an Extremely Fine grade – one of the great rarities of Russian Imperial series. Stunningly rare and also deserving of a mention is the Ducat of Elizabeth Petrovna (#504) struck in 1751 (Eagle reverse), the only one known across NGC and PCGS censuses.
As a British Milled and Hammered specialist, which items are your personal highlights?
Two highlights of the hammered gold section are an exceptionally well struck half sovereign of Edward VI (#199) and the finest graded Charles I Oxford half unite – NGC AU58+ (#208). In the milled gold section, the highlight is an excessively rare George II proof guinea of 1727 (#274) – the finest know example graded NGS as PF65.
Silver is also well represented; in the milled section, there is a spectacular Briot Milled half crown of Charles I (#209), possibly the finest known and Ex Dr J. Terner. Another magnificent specimen is a milled 1651 shilling by Blondeau (#219).
Your Ancient Coin specialist, Dominic Chorney has thousands of years of coinage to choose from, can you pick a few special items?
The ancient coin section of our October 2024 sale begins with a wide range of coins from the Greek world, including many from Magna Graecia, notably two signed tetradrachms from Syracuse (#16 and 17). These are followed by numerous impressive pieces from Asia Minor; the bee tetradrachm from Ephesos (#42) and multiple, impressive forward-facing portraits from Halicarnassos (#48 and 49). The Roman coin selection offers the opportunity to acquire a gold aureus of Vitellius (#99) and other superb pieces of Roman gold, including two examples of Marcus Aurelius in superb condition (#114 and 115). We are also pleased to present a collection of Byzantine gold solidi.
The Ducats aren't the only highlights of the World Coin Section are they?
Certainly not, we are very proud to present the rarest set of Palestinian numismatics: Palestine, British Mandate, Currency Board Presentation Double Proof Set (fourteen pieces), 1927, struck at the London Mint. It is thought that out of 34 sets initially made, fewer than fifteen survive. This set is complete and, as such, an immense rarity.
World Highlights
British Highlights
For more information about the upcoming Ancient, British and World Coin Auction, visit www.SGBaldwins.com