A more than usually photogenic Edward VI crown (1552) estimated at £500-600 made, as you could have guessed, £540. A rather less appealing example made £390. This is a lesson in the importance of condition.
Charles I is an ever popular subject. On a York shilling, the dies always seem to be rather more skilfully engraved, particularly so on this one, which despite being very slightly bent was estimated at £100-120. It realised a deserved £310.
A William and Mary 1692 five-guinea piece, which although only slightly worn and described as having bruises on the edge, but a fine image all the same, did not seem expensive at £1500 (estimate £800-900).
More rare than all the foregoing is the gold Mohur of the eccentric Mughal Emperor Jahangir (‘World-grabber’). Often drunk, and capricious with it, he tactlessly ordered himself to be portrayed actually cup in hand – something extremely offensive to his Muslim subjects. For all that this coin has an appeal outside coin collectors. The estimate was £1500-1800. It made a deserved £2500.
Whilst in the Islamic realm, a fine example of Islam’s tradition of calligraphy engendered by the banning of images in AH77 (697AD) was a 1909AD Hejaz gold multiple dinar (cf. Latin: Denarius). This was one of less than 100 issued. The cataloguer took a punt at the estimate (£6000-8000). He shot too high. If it sold, this is not clear from the result sheet issued... well at least the gavel fell at £4000.
New material? Please, sir, we want some Mohur…
UK: THE lack of new and interesting material reported elsewhere in the ‘Cumberland’ fair report was reflected in Glendining’s first sale of this year on February 1. There was nothing there which is not relatively easy to find. It is perhaps because of this that it is worth reporting on the latest auction prices of some of the more usual coins.
