Georgia on my mind at Baldwin’s

The medieval coins of the Black Sea region must be a rare enthusiasm. A very comprehensive collection of them (94 lots) kicked off this sale; perhaps it is the most comprehensive group ever to have been privately assembled. Rare though the passion may be, there was keen bidding. Some of the coins of Queen Tamara of Georgia (1184-1213), seem to have been made in a manner rare – unique even – in numismatics. It appears that the molten metal (bronze) was just thrown out of the cauldron onto the floor, making flans of random solidified shape. These droplets were then struck repeatedly with the die until the surface of both sides was covered in designs, in this case elegant calligraphy. There was a particularly shapeless example estimated at £140-180, which realised the top estimate.

In fact Baldwin’s are to be congratulated on getting most of the estimates in this group about right. How they did this beats me.

In the same section was the very rare silver dirham of David of Tifilis. It is much rarer than the catalogue implied, but is also interesting on two counts. First, it is a Christian coin (not Islamic), and also it is dated in the local era 467, which equates to AD1247, the year that the merciless mongols overran that city. The coin is also distinguished by having a Star of David above the riding king. Estimated at £200-250, it made £380.

Now for something with more general appeal. The large silver medal (1732) of George II flaunting his royal family is a masterpiece of English sculpture. Although it has turned up only a very few times over the last decades, could it really justify an estimate of £1800-2000? Yes, as it turned out; it made £6000. Oh! Lucky vendor. What this lot demonstrates is that medals which are truly sculptural are beginning to find a following which transcends mere coin collecting, and not a moment to soon.