Coins and Medals make a Mint in Bumper Auction...
3rd June 2021
Lawrences Spring sale of Coins, Medals and Militaria was a very well-received event: over 1,000 lots were offered on a single day and many happy buyers found new items to add to their collections. The sellers (and the auctioneers) were delighted by the prices that were achieved in the current thriving market for these collectable and historic items.
Leading the militaria section were the uniforms and accoutrements of Bernard Fletcher of Dundas. Coming directly from the family, these lots were in wonderfully ‘untouched’ condition and showed all the history and development of the period from the Rifle Volunteers to the Highlanders. Sold in 24 lots ranging from his jackets to his original enameled water bottle, this was an eagerly-contested group of items - the selection totaling £5280 with the highest individual price being £750 for a shoulder plate. It was Fletcher’s dress pistol, a wonderful silver and steel example by Marshall of Edinburgh which led the guns section of the auction at £4750.
The coin section of the sale comprised some 450 lots, all except a small handful finding new homes. The coins were led by the Thomas Poole collection, a fine collection of English coins put together in the 1970’s and 80’s and many in very good condition with a nice ‘cabinet tone’ from their recent past. Leading the coins in this collection was an Elizabeth I halfcrown from 1601-2, mint mark 1, in lovey condition which realized £3250, the same figure being paid for an Oliver Cromwell halfcrown from 1658. The entire collection realised £35,600, demonstrating the strength of the market for good English milled coins in nice condition.
Amongst the ancient coins, the appeal of a ‘Hoard Coin’ clearly holds sway as the demand for the coins from Linchmere Hoard demonstrated. Being offered for sale by a direct descendant of one of the original finders of the hoard who donated them to the British Museum, where the majority remain, these coins were part of a selection presented by the museum to the finders. Amongst the coins, most keenly contested were a selection from the reign of the usurper Carausius, the collection totalling £3125 with hammer prices ranging from £30 - £240, showing that even for the most interesting coins the Roman coin market still offers excellent value for money.
