Two NGC-certified English Gold Rarities Each Realize Over $250,000 in SINCONA Sale

Historic coins from King Charles I and Queen Victoria that are certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company™ (NGC®) each realized over $250,000 in a SINCONA auction held October 24, 2022. The sale included over 450 coins from an astoundingly comprehensive collection of English coins known as the SINCONA British Collection.

The top lot in the auction was a great rarity from King Charles I, who was desperately trying to hold onto power. Realizing CHF 312,000 (about $312,000) was an England 1643 Triple Unite graded NGC MS 63 (lot 1129). The coin was meant to convey the message that the king was a unifying force with the Protestant faith, the laws of England and the liberty of Parliament. Charles I later lost the war and was executed.

England 1643 Triple Unite graded NGC MS 63 and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection. Realized: CHF 312,000 (about $312,000) Click images to enlarge.

A far more successful monarch was Queen Victoria, who was honored with what is generally regarded as Great Britain's most beautiful coin: the 1839 "Una and the Lion" 5 Sovereign. An example graded NGC PF 62 Ultra Cameo (lot 1384) realized CHF 252,000 (about $252,000) in the sale. The coin is known as the Una and the Lion for the image on its reverse, which shows characters from Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene." The young queen Victoria is seen as the figure of Lady Una, guiding a lion that represents England.

Great Britain 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62 Ultra Cameo and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection. Realized: CHF 252,000 (about $252,000) Click images to enlarge.

Realizing CHF 192,000 (about $192,000) was a rare England 1678/7 Elephant and Castle 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 62 (lot 1161). From late in the reign of King Charles II, this example stands alone with the highest grade of four examples in the NGC Census.

England 1678/7 Elephant and Castle 5 Guinea graded NGC MS 62 and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection. Realized: CHF 192,000 (about $192,000) Click images to enlarge.

NGC has created an image gallery on its website to showcase high-resolution images of the more than 1,500 coins that have been offered from this unparalleled collection. This impressive window into the history of English coinage includes the offerings from the latest auction, as well as the ones from the Part 1 and 2 auctions held in November 2021 and May 2022. To explore the gallery, click here.

To enhance these stunning coins, NGC encapsulated them with a special label that combines the British flag and the Matterhorn, a Swiss mountain that represents the highest level of achievement. SINCONA is headquartered in Zurich.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the Part 3 auction included:

• a Great Britain 1790 Gold Pattern Half Penny graded NGC PF 61+ Cameo (lot 1319) that realized CHF 180,000 (about $180,000)
• a Great Britain 1773 Gold Pattern 2 Guineas graded NGC PF 63 (lot 1299) that realized CHF 168,000 (about $168,000)
• a 16-piece Great Britain 1853 Specimen Set graded NGC Proof Details to NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo (lot 1398) that realized CHF 162,000 (about $162,000)
• an 11-piece Great Britain 1826 Proof Set graded NGC PF 62 Cameo to NGC PF 65 BN (lot 1365) that realized CHF 132,000 (about $132,000)
• a Great Britain 1729 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 63+ (lot 1248) that realized CHF 102,000 (about $102,000)
• a Great Britain 1837 Gold Pattern Sovereign graded NGC PF 64 Ultra Cameo (lot 1383) that realized CHF 96,000 (about $96,000)
• an England (1551-53) Sovereign graded NGC AU 55★ (lot 1077) that realized CHF 96,000 (about $96,000)

Prices realized included buyer's premium. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.