Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3030 5-6 January 2014
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Great Britain
Edward VI (1547-53) gold Half Sovereign ND, S-2451, North-1928 (rare), Crowned half-length portrait holding sword and orb, 3rd Period of 1550-53, Tun mm (struck 1551-53), AU Details "Surface Hairlines" NGC, but this is a lustrous and very choice coin -- one of the finest this cataloguer has seen in more than 35 years -- in fact a joyful piece, boldly struck with surfaces that are far, far superior to most seen today. The coin is more than 460 years old. Tiny abrasions in the soft gold are to be expected. The flan is sound and broad, nearly perfect in shape. The waist-length royal portrait is mostly sharp, as is the lovely shield on reverse (coins such as those seen on plates in the Schneider reference simply do not show up on the market anymore). Also unusual here is the full legend on each side, the letters all being crisp in form, as is the Tun initial mark, and in particular the important "E R" outside the royal shield. Surfaces are important on all rare coins, and they are exceptional on this coin, but among collectors of hammered coins it is strike and fullness of detail that count most. This coin exhibits both qualities. We cannot locate any comparable piece for either this or the uncrowned half-sovereign, also from the same collection in this sale, in any recent auctions.
Estimate: 12500-17500 USD
Edward VI (1547-53) gold Half Sovereign ND, S-2451, North-1928 (rare), Crowned half-length portrait holding sword and orb, 3rd Period of 1550-53, Tun mm (struck 1551-53), AU Details "Surface Hairlines" NGC, but this is a lustrous and very choice coin -- one of the finest this cataloguer has seen in more than 35 years -- in fact a joyful piece, boldly struck with surfaces that are far, far superior to most seen today. The coin is more than 460 years old. Tiny abrasions in the soft gold are to be expected. The flan is sound and broad, nearly perfect in shape. The waist-length royal portrait is mostly sharp, as is the lovely shield on reverse (coins such as those seen on plates in the Schneider reference simply do not show up on the market anymore). Also unusual here is the full legend on each side, the letters all being crisp in form, as is the Tun initial mark, and in particular the important "E R" outside the royal shield. Surfaces are important on all rare coins, and they are exceptional on this coin, but among collectors of hammered coins it is strike and fullness of detail that count most. This coin exhibits both qualities. We cannot locate any comparable piece for either this or the uncrowned half-sovereign, also from the same collection in this sale, in any recent auctions.
Estimate: 12500-17500 USD