10 cruzados piece or Portugués do ouro of Manuel, £16,000 at Noonans.
The motif of the cross with the slogan In hoc signo Vinces (By this sign, thou shalt conquer) became the rallying call for Portuguese territorial expansion.
This very well-preserved example with a test punch on the reverse was an unusual metal detecting find in Wiltshire, unearthed in 2022 in the small village of Etchilhampton. It was the first of this type ever discovered in Britain. When it was lost it would have had a value greater than two pounds.
It had an estimate of £20,000-30,000 at Noonans’ mixed owner sale of Coins & Historical Medals on September 28-29. A Japanese buyer bought it just below hopes at £16,000 (plus 24% buyer’s premium).
