NGC-graded English Rarity Realizes $900,000 in Goldberg Auction

One of England's greatest numismatic rarities realized an impressive $900,000 in an extraordinary auction that included nine other vintage coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) that each realized six figures. The diverse group of coins from the Peh Family Collection was presented by Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles in an auction held January 30, 2024.

Realizing $900,000 was the auction's top lot: an England 1703 Vigo 5 Guineas also pedigreed to the Millennia Collection and graded NGC MS 61 PL (lot 1129). These 5 Guinea coins with the word VIGO are among the greatest rarities today in English numismatics; fewer than two dozen are known to exist. This NGC-certified example far exceeded its pre-auction estimate of at least $300,000.

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The coin bears the word VIGO under the bust of Queen Anne on the obverse, a reference to the Battle of Vigo Bay in October 1702. An English and Dutch fleet engaged a French and Spanish naval force after learning that ships bearing treasure from Spanish America were ‌in Vigo Bay in northwestern Spain. The English captured or destroyed all of the enemy ships and took home several thousand pounds of silver, along with a meager 7½ pounds of gold.

Other NGC-graded rarities pedigreed to the Peh Family Collection in the auction included:

• an England 1644 Triple Unite also pedigreed to the Millennia Collection and graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1123), which realized $336,000
• a China 1921 Gold Dollar graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1087), which realized $264,000
• a Great Britain 1714/1 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 62 PL and also pedigreed to the Millennia Collection (lot 1132), which realized $186,000
• an England 1693 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 62 (lot 1126), which realized $138,000
• a China 1923 Gold Dollar graded NGC UNC Details (lot 1088), which realized $138,000
• a Great Britain 1706 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1131), which realized $132,000
• a Mexico 1733MO MF 8 Reales - Small Crown graded NGC MS 65 and also pedigreed to the Millennia Collection (lot 1193), which realized $132,000
• a US 1796/5 Half Eagle graded NGC MS 62 (lot 1012), which realized $112,000
• a China 1914 Pattern Dollar graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1085), which realized $108,000
• a lot of four Burma (1852) coins: a Mu - No Dot graded NGC PF 65; a Mat - Date with Tail graded NGC PF 66; a 5 Mu graded NGC PF 64; and a Kyat - Lettering around Peacock graded NGC PF 65 (lot 1080), which realized $108,000

Prices realized include buyer's premium.