Stanley Gibbons Baldwins Ancient, British & World Coins – Auction 120 saw some terrific realisations from 'The most important Ancient British coin' to a stunning NGC graded Zodiac' gold Mohur, and perhaps the surprise package being a Charles II Crown which eclipsed it's estimate.
Neil Paisley, Managing Director of Baldwin's noted that "the auction demonstrates the strength of the coin market, with record prices continuing to be made for rarities and top quality examples"
The sale begins with an outstanding array of Ancient Greek and Roman coinage, including a rare gold stater of Caratacus—the only known example of its kind and a remarkable testament to Britain’s resistance against Rome.
Over 2,000 years ago, as Rome invaded Britain, the rebel warlord Caratacus struck this unique gold stater—a bold declaration of defiance. On one side, an ear of grain alongside CV-NO honors his father, Cunobelinus. On the reverse, CAR-A-T appears beside a warrior on horseback, spear and shield in hand, a striking image of resistance.
Lost for centuries, this one-of-a-kind coin was unearthed by a metal detectorist in 2019, sparking excitement among numismatists. Experts hailed it as the first and only gold coin of Caratacus ever discovered. Despite coming back to market only a few years after the previous owner acquired the item, it achieved an astonishing £84,000 sale price including buyer's premium.
Struck in 1681, this Charles II Two Guinea coin is a masterpiece of early British gold coinage. Featuring the king’s second laureate head on the obverse and the iconic crowned cruciform shields with interlinked "Cs" on the reverse, it is a stunning example of 17th-century minting.
Graded MS63 by NGC, it holds the title of the finest known example of all Charles II second head two guineas—a distinction unmatched by any third-party grading service. With its sharp detail and rich golden lustre, this coin stands as a rare gem in numismatic history which explains the £42,000 Sale price including buyer's premiun
A gold Mohur from the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir, part of his famous Zodiac series, known for its artistic excellence. The obverse features the constellation of Taurus, with a zebu standing right and a radiate sun behind, marking the month of Ardibihisht. The reverse shows Jahangir's name, along with the mint and AH date, commemorating it as a gift from Jahangir Shah at Agra.
Belonging to Class A of the Zodiac series, this coin is an outstanding example, with high-quality calligraphy and fine relief. Only two examples are recorded in the NGC census, making it a rare and highly collectable piece. There was an enormous amount of interest in this iconic piece in the build-up to the event, finally achieving a sale price of £31,200 including buyer's premium.
[Link to Video]
Lot 195 was the surprise package of Auction 120, achieving a stunning sale value of £32,400 including buyer's premium. It is estimated only two or three exist in the open market and none have been seen for over 20 years, which perhaps explains the fierce bidding from a number of highly motivated collectors.
Our final highlight is a stunning Gold Dinar, bearing one of the rarest Umayyad dates - the year AH 107 (725 CE) and in extremely fine, almost uncirculated condition. Islamic coinage is a fascinating area of numismatics, for those new to the area our Expert Ema Sikic recently shared an introduction to the category, you can read that informative piece here.
To consign to Stanley Gibbons Baldwin's upcoming Coin auctions, visit sgbaldwins.com or contact the team at auctions@sgbaldwins.com.