The story of a British Rarity 
Tower mint, mm, rose (obv); rose over martlet (rev), 1550, TIMOR etc.
on rev. with greyhound Iindicitive current value of 2 3/4d until demonitization in 1561).
Ex Montagu, Murdoch, Carter and R.C.B colls.

  
James I (1603-25), pattern Farthing, 0.39g,
struck in silver, crowned ir dividing a rose and a thistle, 
flower below, rev. crowned portcullis (N.2142), toned, a most attractive example, 
extremely fine, very rare 
provenance 
R. Carlyon Britton, collections acquired by Seaby, 1959-60 
R.C. Lockett, Glendining, 11-17 October 1956, lot 2166 
Sir K. Vaughan Morgan, Sotheby, 17 June 1935, lot 210

 
Henry VIII, third coinage, Testoon, 7.67g.,
Tower, m.m. lis, group A, bust 1, crowned bearded bust of king facing,
with prominent sidelocks, wearing mantle with collar of fur, henric viii di gra agl fra z hib rex, rev., large crowned rose, crowned h r at sides, posvi devm adivtorivm mevm, lombardic lettering, Roman m, saltire/double saltire stops, two double saltires after mevm (Jacob O.1/R.1 ; N.1841; S.2364), a beautiful specimen, on an exceptionally full round flan, the detail fully clear and struck up, extremely fine, excessively rare in this condition 
provenance: S Tyssen, Sotheby, 12 April 1802, lot 1707 (2 in lot) Lieut. Col. W Durrant, Sotheby, 19 April 1847,lot 379 Rev. E J Shepherd, Sotheby, 22 July 1885, lot 218 £32-10-0 ('a remarkably fine specimen of this scarce piece') S Rostron, Sotheby, 16 May 1892, lot 119 £35-0-0 ('in matchless condition, and of great rarity in thisstate, said to be the finest known') J G Murdoch, Sotheby, 31 March 1903, lot 443 £40-10-0 Spink Numismatic 
Circular, July 1942, no.15406 £45-0-0 The first testoons of Henry VIII, the 9 oz fine issue reading henric VIII, are struck in finer metal but in lower relief than the subsequent issues. They are rare in absolute terms and extremely so in a high state of preservation. This example has long been regarded as unrivaled. It may be compared
 with the Shuttlewood example (Spink Auction 151, lot 155, from the same obverse die also from the Murdoch sale(lot 444 £12-0-0)), itself one of the finest known. In his annotated copy of the splendid 1892 Rostron catalogue J S Henderson notes against lots 119 & 120 (a base silver 'Holbein portrait' testoon which realised £11-0-0) '
These shillings are quite matchless as to condition in any collection; 119 was bought for Mr Murdoch; 120 for me; they are both now in my possession' J.S.H. Henderson bequeathed his collection to the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge in 1933 but while the acquisition catalogue lists Rostron lot 120 does not include Rostron lot 119. If Henderson purchased this coin at the Murdoch sale but subsequently parted with it, it would explain most of the long gap in the provenance between 1903 and the Spink Numismatic Circular listing in 1942. 

 
                    Edward III (1327-1377) Half-Groat Treaty period                   London, mm. cross potent, trefoil on breast, ref. reverse-barred ns,
   2.40g. S 1620. Carefully sruck on a full round flan, very rare in this condiion 
Provenance: Bt Baldwin September 1979.
This is one of the finest known medieval halfgroats and hence was 
chosen to illustrate the cover of his reference work The Galata Guide to Medieval Half Groats 

  
Charles I Briot’s First Milled issue, Sixpence,
signed b both sides and with flower on obv., reads britann, 
3.01g/3h (SCBI Brooker 719, same dies; N 2301; S 2855)

Eadgar (959-75), Halfpenny, 0.53g
circumscription cross type, southern group, Wilton, Boiga, small cross pattée within inner circle, eadgar rex anglo, rev. boiga moneta pil., small cross pattée within inner circle (cf. CTCE 20, 212; N.-; S.1140A), spectacular well struck, good extremely fine, extremely rare, the finest known example of an Eadgar Halfpenny. A coin captured as the day it was struck. 

   
SCOTLAND. Charles I. 1625-1649. A Twelve Shillings
(31mm, 5.84 g, 6h). Third (Briot’s) coinage. Edinburgh mint. Struck 1637-1642.
CAR • D : G • MAG • BRIT • FRAN • ET • HIB • REX •, crowned, 
draped, and mantled bust left; XII (denomination) to right, в to lower right / QVÆ • DEVS • CONIVNXIT • NEMO • SEPARET, crowned coat-of-arms; crowned C R across field; в to upper left. Burns fig. 1007; SCBI 35 (Ashmolean & Hunterian), 1430-2 (same dies); SCBC 5558. EF, toned, This issue by Briot arguably has the finest portrait of Charles I on a currency coin.
Ex Patrick Finn FPL 14 (1998), no. 426; Dundee Collection (Spink and Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, 19 February 1976), lot 301.

 

Groat, 1430-31 Calais

ex. Carlyon-Britton collection, sold by Sotheby in 1913, 1916 and 1921 

     
Charles I Shilling
Tower. mm Lis MAG BR FR ET HI
Group A , bust 2 with outer arch of crown jewelled only, mm lis,
Ex. Morrieson 1933, Allan 1908

 
Elizabeth I
Pattern Halfpenny, 1.55g, in silver, crowned monogram, rev. crowned
double rose BMC(Peck)2; N.2053, extremely fine, extremely rare
Nearly 300 years of pedigree from 1733  

Pembroke 127,Addison,Murchison 193.Addington,Montagu, Murdoch 669,
Watters 341, Clarke-Thornhill 455,Parsons 636

Charles I Oxford Unite 1644
Magnificent full weight, full unclipped edges Spink 2735.  Beauty is in the mind of the owner, value can never be an exact science - love does not have a value.  An interesting aquisition, the first coin purchased by Simon 15 May 2011 starting a second generation of collectors in the family

     
1812 Gold Half Guinea
YORKSHIRE, Sheffield, Younge Wilson & Younge, gold 10 shillings and sixpence
or half-a-guinea, 1812, by Halliday, phoenix/legend (D.37)
Great Britain. Yorkshire "phoenix" gold Token 10/6 (ten-shillings and sixpence, or Half Guinea), 1812. Issued by merchants Younge, Wilsons & Younge, of Sheffield. Listed on page 46 as #37 in Dalton's classic reference on the token coinage of 1811-1812, one of only a few such tokens known to exist in gold. The mythical bird is seen rising from the flames. This is a major gold-token rarity which fits well among the final series of half guineas, as it was made strictly for emergency use in a time of specie shortage, during the war against Napoleon. No 1812-dated regular issue half guinea was struck, possibly accounting for the sudden appearance of this intriguing piece. Extremely rare, just a handful known. Choice proof like qualities, and sharp details.
The above gold token interests us as we are from Yorkshire.
During the end of the18th and beginning of the 19 Century there was
a shortage of money and traders were permitted to mint their own money. 
At this time the mint produced many pieces for the traders as well as other private mints.
    
  
The Byzantine Empire Heraclius 610 – 641
Solidus circa 635-636, AV 4.45 g. Heraclius, in centre, Heraclius Constantine on r. and Heraclonas on l., standing facing, each wearing chlamys and globus cruciger. Rev. VICTORIA - AVGYI Cross potent on four steps; in l. field, monogram of Heraclius and in r. field, Θ. In exergue, CONOB+. DO 35b. MIB 41. Sear 760.
In exceptional state of preservation. Almost Fdc
    

  Philip & Mary 1554 Six Pence [6d]
     2.86g Date below in ex. below busts English titles only, rev. crowned garnished shield
  The finest known example of a very rare and sought after coin


  
James VI 1582 XX Scotland
The passion for portraits leaves no doubt why the eminent scholar
Cochran-Patrick acquired this piece in the late 1800's. No expence was spared by the
collector to obtain any desiderata. A superb piece art of the young King.

  
James I 1603 Coronation
29mm Silver 6.16g
IAC I BRIT CAE AVG HE CAESARVMCAE D D 
[James I, Caesar Augustus of Britain, Caesar the heir of the Caesars
presents this medal] A profile to the left laureat, with a beard, and narrow fall-band; bust armed marked with a rose.ECCE PHAOS POPVLIQ SALVS A lyon rampant, hold-ing a beacon on fire in his right paw, and a wheatsheaf in his left
A remarcable speciman

   
1726 George I [1717-27] Half-Crown
Extremely Rare & finest known speciman 
Laureate, draped bust right, georgivs.d.g.m.br.fr.et.hib.rex.f.d.,
toothed border both sides,
rev. inverted die axis, crowned cruciform shields, five hearts in Hanoverian
 arms, six strings to Irish harp, small roses and plumes in angles, Garter
star at centre, date at top, weak stops, .brvn et.l.dvx s.r.i.a th et.el., edge, upright, +decvs.et.tvtamen.anno+regni.decimo.tertio
 Ex. Morrieson 1933 Lot 808 , Bliss 1916 Lot 590

 
William I (1066-87) Penny, 
Penny, 1.31g, two stars type, London, Godwine,crowned facing bust,star to left and right, rev. +godpine on lvn,cross botonnée over quadrilateral with incurved sides, pellet in centre 
Cover coin 2011 Standard Cat.


  
Mary (1542-67 Mary Queen of Scots) 
Silver portrait Testoon, 6.10g, 1562 very rare date, outstanding portait piece
Third period (first widowhood, 1560-65),Provenance: R W Cochran-Patrick Sotherby 1936 Lot 256 16gbp purchased Baldwins, A very desirable piece and a much rarer date than '61, He was formerly an MP for North Ayershire 1880-85 and the collection was formed towards the end of the 19th century.
Bust left in French widow's cap, hair in queue behind, and high-necked dress, date on a label below, rev. crowned shield.The portrait of Mary, Queen of Scotland above is a “A Work of Art” in magnificent state of preservation. The Testoon in the hand has a “presence” that ties directly to 1562. This portrait could be from the National Portrait Gallery. This was not just a coin in a recent London sale but a part of British heritage.This is also a coin that has a “wow” factor, an “eye appeal” that is immediately arresting and almost breathtaking. This exceptional portrait coin reflecting a high  Renaissance influence is rare in any condition and exceptionally rare in such high relief 

   

MARY Testoon 1553
Before her marriage to Francis
Struck at Paris by the mill and screw process from dies made by John Acheson.
A condition and rarity being thefinest known copy
A . DEI. GRA . R . SCOTORVUM + .  DA . PACEM . DOMINE . 1553
This coin is the finest extant,  pre 1880's the coin sold for 61 gbp

            
SCOTLAND. Mary. 1542-1567 44 Shilling
AV Lion - 44 Shillings (28mm, 5.06 g, 11h). First period. Before marriage. Type IIa. Edinburgh mint. James, Earl of Arran, regent and Governor of Scotland. Dated 1553. + MARIA • DE[•]I • GRA • R • SCOTORVM, crowned royal coat-of-arms; I G across field / • DILIGITE • IVSTICIAM • 1553, crowned MARIA REGINA monogram; cinquefoils across field. Murray, 1553, dies IIF/6; Burns 5 (fig. 813); SCBI 35 (Ashmolean & Hunterian) 981 (same dies); SCBC 5394.
Choice EF, lustrous.
Ex Lucien LaRiviere Collection (Spink 179, 29 March 2006), lot 97; purchased from Baldwin, 18 March 1983; Virgil Brand Collection (Part 1, Sotheby’s 1 July 1982), lot 207; Bernard Roth Collection (Part II, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 14 October 1918), lot 364; Robert Carfrae Collection (8 July 1901), lot 406.

   
visit ROMAN BRASS press above coin
Sestertius 37-41, Æ  AGRIPPINA M F MAT C CAESARIS AVGVSTI 
Draped bust r., hair falling
This coin is the cover coin of the Female Caesars by Jacozi A coin of incredible detail & condition 
from the ring holding the reigns of the donkeys to a portrait that launched a "love" to aquire the 
coin. Very few coins of this period exist in such a natural condition. 
Ex.Moretti 

   
Charles II 1671 Crown
(1660-85), Crown, v. tertio, laureate, draped second bust right,
rev. four crowned shields cruciform, Cs in angles (ESC 42; S.3357)

 
Galba 68-69 Sesterce
A true classic head of Galba, powerful and Roman with all the Republican virtues
natural patina Purchased Leu 1980. Ex Sartige
Dr. Alan Walker Zurich awalker@nomosag.com

   
Edward IV (second reign 1471-83)
Angel, m.m. large annulet, St Michael spearing dragon, quatrefoil stops, rev. shield within ship, cross above dividing e and rose, reading crwse andredet, trefoil stops (Schneider 453-4; N.1626; S.2091), angel with exceptional high relief, first class provenances, a superb example,  
extremely fine. provenance 
R. Duncan Beresford-Jones, Spink auction 29, 2 June 1983, lot 15 
ex P Ziegler collection, bt. by Spink in two parts, 1947 and 1954 
B Roth, Sotheby, 7 September 1917, lot 218 
H. Montagu, Sotheby 5 November 1896, lot 594 W Brice 
             

   
Charles I Pattern Gold Briot Crown
Although we do not collect gold a few pieces in the collection brings a glitter :) 

               
Elizabeth I 6d 1568
Superb speciman. Silver
edit: Mark Rasmussen  mark.rasmussen@rascoins.com
  
   
1644 Charles I Oxford Silver Shilling
Pattern or Special Striking Struck at the height of the Civil War
Rawlins, with the 'R' on the shoulder
ex.Brooker
  
   

Nero 54-68 Sestercius
Adlocvtcoh
Ex Moretti
A coin in amaizing condition, for 6 years I could not accept it was genuine until ! there
is a story. It was a coin that came from the little box of Silvia Hurter at Leu Numismatics.
   
 
1646 XXX [half-crown] OBS NEWARK Charles I
I love coins with a story, this one had a long sleep at the bottom of Charles I wooden cabinet
"Newark was a vital nexus of Royalist control in the east Midlands, and, along with Oxford, represented dual salients into Parliamentarian-controlled territory in eastern England during the early phase of the Civil War, posing a threat to London. It was the target of sieges in 1642/3, 1643/4 and, finally, 1645/6, when the famous siege coinage was struck. Newark held out against the Parliamentarian armies until May 1646, when Charles surrendered himself at Southwell. "

  

Charles I OBS 1645 Carlise Shilling XII
A coin with a difference,under the orb on the obv. is the original
silver plate mark of 1638.
Philip Nelson's Obsidional Money of the Great Rebellion (1905, reprinted 1976) gives the following.
All available information is due to somebody called Tullie whose Narrative of the Siege of Carlisle still exists.
The quantity of plate obtained for coining amounted to 1162 oz. which at 5/- per oz. is equivalent to £280/11/10d 1-2d. 86 oz. were lost in refining the silver. The coins were struck at 6/- to the oz resulting in £323 worth of coins, the equivalent of 6460 shillings. Nelson suggests that this was probably divided into 1000 3/- pieces and 3460 1/-s. The coins were issued on 30/5/1645 and so circulated for about a month.
I can't think why coins should not be permitted with the hallmark showing as this would be counter intuitive. The presence of a hallmark from touched plate would lend credibility to the fineness of the silver, though by definition the number of pieces must be minimal when you consider the area of a hall mark in relation to the area of a coin and the original plate from whence the silver was pocurred.
Edit: Rob P

Justinien Ier (527-565) Follis
AE follis, an 15, 541-542, Nicomédie. Off. A. Droit : B. casqué et cuirassé de face, tenant 
un globe crucigère et un bouclier. A droite, une croix. Revers : Grand [..] entre A/N/N/O 
et X/[..], sous une croix. En dessous, A. A l'exergue, NIKO. Ref.: Sear, 201; R., 588; 
B.N. 19; D.O. 120a; M.I.B. 113a. 23,10g. Superb gree patina 

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