British and Italian Traveller Collection Coins Certified by NGC Soar in NAC Sales

More than two dozen NGC®-certified lots from the Traveller Collection realized prices of six figures apiece in a pair of recent Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC) auctions. Bidding for Auction 167 - The Traveller Collection III, Part 2 - British Coins and Auction 168 - The Traveller Collection IV, Part 1 - Italian Coins concluded on May 27, 2026.

Realizing 588,000 CHF (about $747,000), the top lot in the auction was a Great Britain 1826 Proof Set including a Five Sovereign graded NGC PF 66+ Ultra Cameo and 10 other coins graded NGC PF 64 BN to NGC PF 68+ Ultra Cameo (Auction 167, lot 1600). The NGC Census lists 38 examples of the Proof 5 Sovereign from this date, with this example being the sole-highest graded. The portrait of George IV was executed by William Wyon, whose skill on coins like this one contributed to his appointment as chief engraver of The Royal Mint in 1828.

Meanwhile, a Great Britain 1839 "Una and the Lion" Crown graded NGC PF 64 (Auction 167, lot 1610) realized 514,500 CHF (about $653,000). It combines Wyon's stunning reverse of the Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign, which is regarded by many as the most beautiful design in British numismatics, with the obverse from the Proof Crown of the same year. It is extremely rare for an example of this seldom-seen coin (or its sibling variety on a thinner flan) to be offered at auction.

The Traveller Collection was formed by a numismatic enthusiast who had acquired some of the greatest rarities in Europe and subsequently buried them in a field as his country fell under Nazi threat nearly a century ago. NGC has created a special label that recognizes rarities from this unparalleled collection as they are offered in a series of auctions. The collection's centerpiece, a Bohemia 1629 Prague 100 Ducats, realized almost $3 million in a November 2025 sale, one of the highest prices ever paid for any world coin.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the British-focused Auction 167 included:

• a Great Britain 1839 Proof Set, anchored by an Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62 Cameo alongside 14 other coins graded NGC Proof Details to NGC PF 65 BN (lot 1607), which realized 343,000 CHF (about $436,000)
• a Great Britain 1837(1893) Gold Pattern Crown graded NGC MS 66 (lot 1654), which realized 318,500 CHF (about $404,000)
• a Great Britain 1888 Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 1645), which realized 318,500 CHF (about $404,000)
• a Great Britain 1817 Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC MS 64+ (lot 1582), which realized 200,500 CHF (about $280,000)
• a Great Britain 1846 Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 63 Cameo (lot 1616), which realized 220,500 CHF (about $280,000)
• a Great Britain 1817 Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 66+ Cameo (lot 1581), which realized 208,250 CHF (about $264,000)
• an England 1663 Gold Off-Metal Strike Crown graded NGC PF 55 (lot 1510), which realized 159,250 CHF (about $202,000)
• a Bank of England 1812 Platinum 3 Shillings graded NGC PF 65+ (lot 1564), which realized 134,750 CHF (about $171,000)
• a Great Britain (1830-37) Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 64 (lot 1603), which realized 134,750 CHF (about $171,000)
• a Great Britain 1853 Crown - Plain Edge graded NGC PF 64 Cameo (lot 1620), which realized 134,750 CHF (about $171,000)
• a Great Britain 1847 Gothic Type - Pure Silver Crown graded NGC PF 66 Cameo (lot 1617), which realized 110.250 CHF (about $140,000)
• a Great Britain 1845 Crown - Wide Rim, Plain Edge graded NGC PF 65+ (lot 1614), which realized 104,125 CHF (about $132,000)
• a Great Britain 1834 Crown graded NGC PF 66 Ultra Cameo (lot 1606), which realized 91,875 CHF (about $117,000)
• a Great Britain 1831 Sterling Silver Crown graded NGC PF 66 (lot 1605), which realized 85,750 CHF (about $109,000)
• a Great Britain 1820 Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 63 (lot 1593), which realized 85,750 CHF (about $109,000)
• a Great Britain 1875 Silver Pattern Half Crown graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 1625), which realized 79,625 CHF (about $101,000)
• a Great Britain 1837(1893) Silver Pattern Crown graded NGC MS 66+ (lot 1655), which realized 79,625 CHF (about $101,000)

Meanwhile, the NGC-certified highlights from the Italy-focused Auction 168 included:

• an Italy 1927R 100 Lire graded NGC MS 66, 50 Lire graded NGC MS 65+, 20 Lire graded NGC MS 65 and 10 Lire graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1870), which realized 330,750 CHF (about $420,000)
• an Italy (1789-97) Venice 50 Zecchini graded NGC AU Details (lot 1925), which realized 232,750 CHF (about $296,000)
• an Italy (1779-89) Venice 26 Zecchini graded NGC MS 62+ (lot 1919), which realized 140,875 CHF (about $179,000)
• an Italy 1786 Sardinia 5 Doppie graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1848), which realized 134,750 CHF (about $171,000)
• an Italy 1807ML M Kingdom of Napoleon 40 Lire graded NGC AU Details (lot 1765), which realized 116,375 CHF (about $148,000)
• an Italy (1763-78) Venice 15 Zecchini graded NGC MS 61 (lot 1913), which realized 104,125 CHF (about $132,000)

Price realized include buyer's premium. The $ represents US Dollars.