REVIEW: WORLD COINS: 17 APRIL

Hungary made its mark with considerable force in this sale as a series of gold coins dating to the 14th and 15th centuries took multiple-estimate prices.

Foremost among them was and undated Goldgulden, probably dating to c.1443-4, for Ladislaus I Jagiello (1440-53) struck in Nagybanya, a town in Eastern Hungary. In very fine condition, it demolished a £400-600 estimate to sell for £4,800.

Another undated Goldgulden, this time for Ladislaus V (1453-8), and probably dating to around 1456, was in better than very fine condition and quadrupled its top estimate at £2,800.

An earlier coin, a c.1410 Goldgulden for Sigismund (1387-1437), in very fine condition, had been expected to fetch £500-£700 but went to £2,200, while another for Ladislas II Jagiello (1490-1516), dating to around 1500, in nearly very fine condition and rare, left a guide of £500-£600 behind to sell for £2,000.

A Ducat for Ferdinand I, of Hungary (1526-64), Holy Roman Emperor, had some damage but still went five times over its top estimate to make £2,000.

Jim Brown, Coin Specialist at Noonans, said: “The Hungarian gold market is very good at the moment, but the strength of the prices realised surprised even the cataloguer!”