NGC-certified British Rarities Featured in London Auction

Almost 200 rarities from Great Britain and elsewhere that are certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation™ (NGC®) are being offered in a sale by London-based Sovereign Rarities, Ltd. Online bidding is already underway for Auction 4: Hammered, Milled and Modern British and World Coins being held September 21, 2021.

The impressive selection of rarities is led by a Great Britain 2020 2 Kilogram Gold Three Graces £2,000 graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo (lot 42). This coin remasters a design from one of Britain’s greatest engravers — William Wyon.

Great Britain 2020 “The Three Graces” £2,000 graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo with a First Day of Issue designation Click images to enlarge.

In 1817, when he was just 22 years old, Wyon crafted “The Three Graces” pattern to showcase his engraving talent for the Royal Mint. Based on Greek mythology, Wyon’s Three Graces represent England, Scotland and Ireland after unification. Although the design never went into production for circulation, Wyon later gained fame for other designs, most notably his stunning “Una and the Lion” and the classic “Young Head” portrait of Queen Victoria.

The modern-issue coin in this auction is part of a special collection issued by the Royal Mint beginning in 2019 to celebrate the work of the United Kingdom’s greatest numismatic engravers. Only eight of these coins, which weigh 2 kilograms each, were minted. It has an estimate of £150,000 (about $206,000 USD) and includes a designation of First Day of Issue on the NGC certification label.

Wyon also is responsible for the design of another star in the sale: an extremely rare Great Britain 1826 5 Sovereigns graded NGC PF 63 (lot 156). It has an estimate of £100,000 (about $137,700 USD).

Great Britain 1826 5 Sovereigns graded NGC PF 63 Click images to enlarge.

Its obverse features a bare-headed portrait of King George IV engraved by Wyon at the request of the King, who ordered a complete redesign of his coinage in 1823. The reverse features a crowned Shield of the Royal Arms designed by Jean Baptiste Merlen.

Other NGC-certified coins in the auction include:

• a Great Britain 1729 E.I.C. 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 63 (lot 145) with an estimate of £50,000 (about $69,000 USD)
• an England 1687 5 Guineas graded NGC MS60 (lot 142) with an estimate of £40,000 (about $55,000 USD)
• an England 1670 5 Guineas graded NGC AU 58 (lot 141) with an estimate of £30,000 (about $41,000 USD)
• a Great Britain 1834 Crown graded NGC PF 61 (lot 269) with an estimate of £30,000 (about $41,000 USD)
• a Great Britain 2020 5 Ounce Gold Three Graces £500 graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo with a First Day of Issue designation (lot 50) with an estimate of £28,000 (about $39,000 USD)
• a Great Britain 2020 Gold King George III £10 graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo with First Day of Issue designation (lot 49) with an estimate of £12,000 (about $16,500 USD)
• a Great Britain 2021 Gold The Queen’s Beasts Completer Coin £500 graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo with a First Releases designation (lot 52) with an estimate of £12,000 (about $16,500 USD)
• a Great Britain 1825 Sovereign - Bare Bust with Reeded Edge graded NGC PF 62 Cameo (lot 186) with an estimate of £12,000 (about $16,500 USD)
• a Great Britain 1826 Sovereign graded NGC PF 63 Cameo (lot 188) with an estimate of £9,000 (about $12,500 USD)
• a Great Britain 1813 Half Guinea graded NGC PF 64 (lot 155) with an estimate of £7,000 (about $9,600 USD)

All estimates are provided by the auction house.