COINS FROM THE FAR EAST HIGHLIGHT SALE OF BRITISH AND WORLD COINS, AND HISTORICAL MEDALS AT DIX NOONAN WEBB

Four World coins from China, Thailand and Korea, that were all once in the D.L.F. Sealy Collection were among the highlights of Mayfair-based Auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb’s auction of British and World Coins, and Historical Medals on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

The highest price for the coins from the Far East was for a rare and fragile 19th century Pattern 2 Baht from Thailand and the reign of Rama V (1868-1910). Struck in white metal, this extremely fine example sold for £15,000 against an estimate of £6,000-8,000. It was bought by an overseas collector with a commission bid, who bid against a telephone bidder [lot 693]. An extremely fine example of a Chinese Empire 10 cent coin dating from year 3 or 1911 also sold for £15,000. There was strong interest in this coin that had been expected to fetch £6,000-8,000 and was finally bought by an overseas collector [lot 579]. From Korea, a very rare 5 Chon, dating from yr 3 of the reign of Yung Hi (1909) was sold to an overseas collector on the internet for £8,000 [lot 644] and a dollar from the Chinese Empire sold for £6,500 against an estimate of £2,000-2,600. Also dating from year 3 or 1911, this very fine example was bought by an overseas collector on the internet against several other bidders [lot 577].

Over 100 lots from the Michael Gietzelt Collection of Coins, tokens and medals of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands fetched £34,100. A notable example was a very rare and very fine copper pattern penny from the Isle of Man, dating from 1723. This penny was originally in H.A. Parsons Collection which sold in 1954 and sold for £6,000. Bought by a collector on the internet, it was estimated at £4,000-5,000 [lot 290].

Among the British milled coins were two interesting coins from private collections. A Proof crown from the reign of George IV (1820-1830) that dates from 1826 sold for £18,000. The coin which was estimated at £10,000-12,000 attracted a lot of interest and was subsequently bought by an overseas collector [lot 212]. An extremely rare Proof Sovereign from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), dating from 1871 sold for £11,000 to a UK collector (est: £8,000-10,000) [lot 216].