NGC-certified British and Russian Rarities Featured in MDC Monaco Auction

Stunning rarities from Great Britain and Russia are among hundreds of vintage and ancient world coins graded by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) in an upcoming auction. Bidding is already underway for the highly anticipated MDC Monaco Auction 14 on May 3-5, 2024.

Featured in this auction is a Great Britain 1817 Gold Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo (lot 944) with a starting price of €350,000 (about $378,000). William Wyon became an engraver at the Royal Mint in 1816, as the English government was preparing an overhaul of its currency, including a new Silver Crown and a Gold Sovereign. Only seven of these Pattern Crowns were struck in gold and Wyon’s reverse design was considered for the new Sovereign, but it lost out to Benedetto Pistrucci's now iconic Saint George and the Dragon, which is still in use today.

Also in the spotlight is a Russia 1835 Imperial Family 1.5 Roubles graded NGC MS 63 and pedigreed to the Sigma Collection (lot 1363) with a starting price of €350,000 (about $378,000). Drawing inspiration from Germanic influences, particularly the historic thaler issued by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, engraver Paul Utkin crafted a prototype in 1835. This prototype featured a signature on both sides as well as a bust of Emperor Nicholas I on the obverse and portraits of his wife and children on the reverse. Most of the “Family Roubles” are dated 1836 and all are considered among the greatest rarities in Russian numismatics.

Other NGC-certified coins in this auction include:

• an England 1687 Elephant & Castle 5 Guinea graded NGC MS 63 and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection (lot 933) with a starting price of €200,000 (about $216,000)
• a Great Britain 1820 Gold Pattern 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 60 Cameo and pedigreed to the St. Helier Collection (lot 943) with a starting price of €200,000 (about $216,000)
• a French Colonies 1670A 15 Sols graded NGC XF 45 (lot 1435) with a starting price of €150,000 (about $162,000)
• a Great Britain 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 61 Ultra Cameo (lot 954) with a starting price of €150,000 (about $162,000)
• an England (1603-04) S-2608 James I 1SOV graded NGC MS 62 (lot 919) with a starting price of €120,000 (about $130,000)
• a Roman Empire, Constantine II AD 337-340 Gold Medallion graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (lot 132) with a starting price of €100,000 (about $108,000)
• a Great Britain 1831 Sovereign graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection (lot 952) with a starting price of €80,000 (about $86,000)
• a Mysia, Cyzicus c.450-350 BC Electrum Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 23) with a starting price of €70,000 (about $76,000)
• a Russia 1836 Imperial Family 1.5 Roubles graded NGC MS 60 (lot 1364) with a starting price of €70,000 (about $76,000)

Starting prices are established by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.