A circa 1485-1509 Henry VII sovereign is the star of Spink's sale of Indian, Islamic, British and Anglo-Gallic coins and commemorative medals in London on September 24.
It comes to auction with a £25,000-35,000 ($39,926-55,896) estimate.
In the late 1400s the first gold sovereigns were minted on the orders of Henry VII. This was an attempt to create a new kind of coinage - larger and more valuable than any that had come before. The richly symbolic coins were minted to 23 carat gold and show the king in full regalia, while the reverse features the Tudor rose surrounding the royal coat of arms.
 The coin dates from 1485-1509 |
The coin is described by Spink as lightly crimped, but otherwise in good condition.
In August of this year an exceptional Henry VII sovereign, one of the earliest ever minted, sold for $499,375 at Stack's Bowers in New York against an estimate of $125,000-175,000. Three other sovereigns were offered and sold for between $49,938 and $223,250 each.
A second sovereign, this time from the era of Henry VIII, will also be available. It dates to circa 1526-1544 and features much of the same detail as the Henry VII coin.
A minor flan crack following the line of the sceptre is the only flaw. Otherwise the coin is described as being in very fine condition. It has been valued at £15,000-20,000 ($23,951-31,935).
Other highlights at the auction include an 1826 George IV proof five-pounds. The coin is almost as struck and features only light hairlines. It is expected to make £14,000-16,000 ($22,355-25,548).
We have a wide selection of rare coins available.
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