The Most Expensive: British Coins
There are many rare and at the same time incredibly beautiful rarities and patterns among British coins that are always sold for high sums. Today we present the 10 British coins that realised the highest results. As always, only the most expensive specimen of every coin type is shown in the list to avoid repetitions.
01King George III. 5 Guineas 1773. Proof Pattern by John Tanner. NGC PR64 Cameo. From Heritage March Signature Sale (2021), lot 30319.
02King Charles II. Crown 1662. Proof Pattern by Jan Roettiers. NGC PR63 Cameo. From Heritage March Signature Sale (2021), lot 30294.
03King Edward III. Double leopard, also called double florin, 1344. Good very fine. “A magnificent coin of the very highest importance and excessively rare – one of only three known specimens, and the only one in private hands.” From Spink auction 6013 (2006), lot 301.
04_image01033King George III. Sovereign 1820, pattern. Proof. NGC PF 64 Ultra Cameo. From MDC auction 8 (2021), lot 1033.
05King George III. Crown 1817, pattern. Proof UNC (NGC PF62 Ultra Cameo), “probably unique”. From Nihon Coin auction 48 (2018), lot 420.
06Queen Anne. 5 guineas 1703. One of the famous VIGO specimens from looted Spanish gold. FDC. From Baldwins’s of St. James auction 27 (2019), lot 69.
07Australia. King George V. Sovereign 1920, Sydney mint. Uncirculated. “The 1920 S is the rarest date and mint combination in the gold Sovereign series of the British Empire.” From Baldwin’s auction 76 (2012), lot 736.
08King William IV. 5 sovereigns 1831. London. Gold pattern by William Wyon in Proof. NGC PR 66* Ultra Cameo. From MDC auction 6 (2020), lot 805.
09_image33227Queen Victoria. 5 pounds 1839, Una and the Lion. London. NGC PR 66 ★ Ultra Cameo. From Heritage ANA Signature Sale 3094 (2021), lot 33227.
10_image01050King Edward VIII. Sovereign, 1936 (1937 on the coin). Pattern that was never put into circulation. NGC PF67 Ultra Cameo. From MDC auction 8 (2021), lot 1050.
