COIN OF THE WEEK - 26/8/14
Aug 26 2014

A Gold 2-Mohur Coin of the East India Company, issued in the name of William IV The 2-Mohur gold coin was one of the first, and certainly the most magnificent, coin issued by the Calcutta mint to bear an effigy of the then British king. Weighing over 23g, and featuring an attractive design it soon became popular as a presentation piece.  So much so, that re-strikes were commissioned right up until 1970, and the original issues, such as this example, are exceedingly scarce.   Altho...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 23/7/14
Jul 23 2014

An extremely fine Solidus of Constantius II, the second son of Constantine the Great, showing a realistic and attractive portrait of the emperor, and on the reverse the seated figures of Rome and Constantinople. The coin was minted at Sirmium, Constantius' home town on the banks of the river Sava. One of the largest and most important cities of the Roman Empire, Sirmium was intended to be the new capital city of the whole Empire until Constantine changed his mind and built his new city of Con...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 16/7/14
Jul 16 2014

A very fine and rare gold Sovereign of Edward VI (1547-53). The young king is shown enthroned, holding sword and sceptre, his boyish features clearly recognisable. On the reverse the Royal Arms are supported by The Lion and The Dragon. The Red Dragon of Cadwaladr was the banner of Henry Tudor when he marched from Wales to defeat Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth.  Henry was not the first English monarch to adopt the Dragon as supporter, but as part of the Crown's persistent campaign...

Unique Insights Into 1930's Middle East Offered at Spink
Jul 11 2014

Amongst the remarkably rare items in Spink's 'Postal History, Autographs & Historical Documents', is an exceptional selection of unique and previously unseen lots from early 20th Century Egypt.  Offered is a rare and interesting letter between the Royal families of Iran and Egypt, Princess Fawzia, soon to be Queen of Iran, in correspondence with Queen Farida of Egypt, wife of King Farouk. The contents of the letter touch upon the "sad incident" that has passed between Iran and Egypt,...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 9/7/2014
Jul 09 2014

A very attractive gold 'Rider' of James III of Scotland (1460-88). This reign saw the introduction of several new denominations in Scotland, including the 'Rider' and the 'Unicorn'. The Rider was reminiscent of many European gold coinages with a depiction of the ruler, fully armed, galloping on horseback. Unfortunately James' nobles were not impressed, and after a prolonged rebellion they defeated him at the battle of Sauchieburn. The king had been given a magnificent great grey horse, the sw...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 2/7/14
Jul 02 2014

A Roman Aureus, struck in Lugdunum in 46-47 A.D. This scarce gold coin of Claudius celebrates his invasion and partial conquest of Britain. The triumphal arch in Rome, dedicated in 51 A.D.,  bore the inscription DE BRITANN and the Emperor himself was depicted on horseback between trophies of arms. The inscription on the arch stated  'He received the surrender of eleven kings of the Britons, defeated without any loss, and first brought barbarian peoples across the ocean into the dom...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 25/6/2014
Jun 25 2014

An extremely fine Sixpence of the young king Edward VI, the only son of Henry VIII. To his left is the Tudor rose and to the right the value is given in Roman numerals. The legend on the reverse, from Psalm 54, translates as 'I have made God my helper', an appropriate motto for a boy king ruling England during the most turbulent time of the English Reformation.  The coin will be offered at auction at Spink in London on 25 June. 

COIN OF THE WEEK - 19/6/14
Jun 19 2014

An attractive 5-Franchi from the small Italian Duchy of Lucca and Piombino, with a double portrait, this one showing Felice Pascuale Baciocchi Levoy and his wife Elisa, the younger sister of Napoleon, who, thanks to her older brother's largess, delighted in the grand title of Anna Maria Elisa Napoleon Baciocchi Levoy, Princesse Française, Princess of Lucca and Piombino, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and Countess of Compignano.   The coin will be offered at auction at Spink in London on 25 J...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 11/6/2014
Jun 11 2014

This superb detailed portrait of Alexander the Great is on a silver Tetradrachm from the mint of Kaunos in Turkey. The iconic head of Alexander, with god like features and wearing the lion's skin headdress, is forceful and arresting. If you want a portrait of the most famous ruler of the ancient world, this would be a very good choice.   The coin will be offered at auction at Spink in London on 25 June. It is currently available for viewing in our London showroom.   

D-Day 6th June 1944, The Animal Victoria Cross – THE DICKIN MEDAL
Jun 06 2014

THE ANIMAL VICTORIA CROSS - THE DICKIN MEDAL Awarded to 3 year old pigeon NURP.41.SBS.219 The Duke of Normandy, 21st Army Group, D-Day 6/6/44, AFS, No. 1086, DM No.45. The Dickin Medal is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, awarded for bravery by the PDSA. During World War II the British forces used some 250,000 homing pigeons in a variety of roles, but primarily for sending messages. During the events leading up to and during the D-Day landings pigeons brought back many messages f...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 4/6/2014
Jun 04 2014

A gold coin of the Gupta king Samudragupta depicting a  4th century horse sacrifice ceremony The early Hindu rulers of India respected the traditional ceremonies passed down to them orally by means of the vedas and the purānas. The Guptas were exemplars of these traditions and it is widely thought that Indian culture and art reached its apogee under their patronage. Attractive as it is, this coin can only be fully appreciated when the rationale behind its choice of subject is...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 28/5/2014
May 28 2014

  Silver Denarius issued by Sextus Pompey, the Commander of the Roman fleet in the Western Mediterranean in the First Century B.C.  After falling out with Octavian and Mark Antony he retreated to Sicily and turned to piracy. With a strong fleet, Pompey was for a time unstoppable, raiding and pillaging up and down the coast of Italy at will. Eventually he was defeated, and was executed on Mark Antony's orders in 35 B.C. The coin will be offered at auction by Spink in London on 26...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 21/5/2014
May 21 2014

  An extremely fine gold Ducat of 1741 from the Swiss city of Bern. The shield shows a bear, the symbol of the city. There is still a bear park in the centre of Bern, the setting for the Mary Plain children's books. The reverse shows the city's Latin motto, dating from the time of the great Religious Wars that followed the Reformation of the 16th century.   The coin will be offered at auction by Spink in London on 26 June 2014. It is currently available for viewing in our London...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 14/5/2014
May 14 2014

  Scotland, James VI, 1567-1625, fourth coinage, Thirty Shillings, 1585, half-length crowned and armoured bust of the young King, rev. Scottish arms crowned, good very fine/  very fine, an attractive portrait.   Son of Mary Queen of Scots, James VI succeeded to the Scottish throne aged 1 in 1567 at a time of political and religious discord.  The Protestant faction took charge of the young king and he was brought as a Protestant.  His rule brought a period of peace...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 7/5/2014
May 07 2014

    Eadred, king of England, 946-55, Penny, south eastern mint, by the moneyer  Burhelm, symmetrical floral device with berries, rev. two line inscription divided by a cross between two anchors, extremely fine,  unique and the first recorded of this type for Eadred, for auction, June 26th 2014.   Eadred, a grandson of Alfred the Great put an end to the Norse kingdom of York and completed the unification of England. The exceptional  ornate design is only recor...

COIN OF THE WEEK - 30/4/2014
Apr 30 2014

  Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, 1653-58, Gold Broad, 1656, laureate head right, rev. crowned arms of the Protectorate, extremely fine, for auction June 26th 2014, a warts and all portrait by Thomas Simon, the finest engraver of the time.   Oliver Cromwell, leader of the victorious Parliamentary armies in the English Civil War, signed the death warrant of Charles I in 1649 and became Lord Protector of England in 1653. Offered the crown in 1657 he turned it down and d...

Coins of the Ancient Silk Road Issued at Chach and Khwarezm (9)
Feb 04 2014

Written by Barbara Wears It is always exciting to see something new. For me, the biggest thrill of collecting is finding that mystery coin, puzzling over its attribution then finally placing it in its historical context. Following the success of the Rhodes Tibet auction, Spink Hong Kong  are offering another one-off collection of intriguing coins, this time from the pre-Islamic Silk Road states of Chach and Khwarezm (Choresm). Khwarezm, Bivarsar (c. late 3rd -4th century AD), Tetradrac...