NGC-certified British Gold Crown Sells for More than $550,000

One of the greatest rarities in British numismatics sold for over half a million dollars in a recent Spink auction. The Gold Crown was one of six coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) in the St. Helier Collection of English Gold Coins Part II sale on December 14, 2023.

As expected, the top lot was a Great Britain 1831 Gold Crown graded NGC PF 63+ Ultra Cameo (lot 2006) that realized £444,000 (about $566,000). Although no official 5 Sovereign coin from William IV's reign (1830-1837) is recognized, engraver William Wyon crafted a limited number matching their weight, employing Crown dies. Fewer than a dozen of these highly elusive coins are known to exist, with this one boasting the second-highest grade among the trio listed in the NGC Census.

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Spink presented Part I of the St. Helier Collection in a March 2023 auction. The dozen NGC-certified rarities in that sale were led by a Great Britain 1820 Gold Pattern 5 Sovereign that realized £235,000 (about $291,000).

Other NGC-certified St. Helier Collection coins sold in the Part II auction included:

• an England 1688 Elephant and Castle 5 Guineas graded NGC AU 58 (lot 2004) that realized £62,400 (about $79,000)
• an England 1673 5 Guineas graded NGC UNC Details (lot 2005) that realized £26,400 (about $34,000)
• an England 1701 5 Guineas - Ornamental Sceptres graded NGC AU Details (lot 2003) that realized £13,200 (about $17,000)
• a Great Britain 1902 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62 Matte (lot 2002) that realized £4,560 (about $5,800)
• a Great Britain 1911 2 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62 Cameo (lot 2001) that realized £2,520 (about $3,200)

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