NGC-certified Una and the Lion Realizes Nearly $500,000

An Una and the Lion coin was one of 15 coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) to realize six figures each in a recent sale. The MDC Monaco auction of world and ancient coins was held on April 22, 2023.

The top coin in the auction was the Great Britain 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 64 (lot 1305), which realized €420,000 (about $463,000). Designed by William Wyon to celebrate the young Queen Victoria’s rule, this coin is generally regarded as the most beautiful in British numismatics. On the reverse, the queen is portrayed as Lady Una, a character from Edmund Spenser's epic poem, “The Faerie Queene,” walking alongside a lion that represents England.

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Also finishing near the top of the auction was an England 1656 Oliver Cromwell 50 Shillings graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1291) that realized €240,000 (about $265,000). After King Charles I's execution, Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. These coins attempted to depict Cromwell as a monarch despite his role as a protector.

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Other NGC-certified world and ancient coins sold in this auction included:

• an Italy 1878R 100 Lire graded NGC MS 66 (lot 1445) that realized €186,000 (about $205,000)
• an England 1642 Charles I Triple Unite graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1290) that realized €180,000 (about $199,000)
• a France 1644A Louis XIV 2 Louis d’Or Piedfort in the Weight of an 8 Louis d’Or graded NGC MS 60 (lot 694) that realized €180,000 (about $199,000)
• a China (1897) Chihli Silver Dollar graded NGC MS 63 (lot 556) that realized €168,000 (about $185,000)
• a France AN 12A Emperor Gold 20 Francs graded NGC SP 66★ (lot 933) that realized €168,000 (about $185,000)
• a Germany 1739 Bavaria 10 Ducat graded NGC AU 58 and pedigreed to the Paramount Collection (lot 462) that realized €144,000 (about $159,000)
• a China (1897) Chihli 50 Cents graded NGC MS 63 (lot 557) that realized €144,000 (about $159,000)
• a Greece 1869 Essai Gold 20 Drachmai graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 1333) that realized €120,000 (about $132,000)
• an Italy 1703 GTS Venice Alvise Mocenigo II 8 Zecchini graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1438) that realized €108,000 (about $119,000)
• a Great Britain 1959 Sovereign graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 1331) that realized €102,000 (about $113,000)
• a Sicily, Syracuse c. 405-395 B.C. Gold 100-Litrai graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 14) that realized €96,000 (about $106,000)
• a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy I 323-282 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients, Ch AU★, 4/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (lot 58) that realized €96,000 (about $106,000)
• an Italy 1937R XVI Prova Gold 100 Lire graded NGC MS 62 (lot 1462) that realized €96,000 (about $106,000)

Prices realized include a buyer’s premium. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.