Dazzling World Rarities Certified by NGC Offered in ANA Show Platinum Night Auction

The finest-graded examples of the Great Britain 1839 “Una and the Lion” 5 Sovereign and a Mexico "Royal" 8 Escudos variety are taking center stage in Heritage Auctions’ World’s Fair of Money Platinum Night Auction #3094. Online bidding has begun for these exceptional rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®), and will culminate in a live auction August 19, 2021.

Occupying the top spot in the auction is the incomparable “Una and the Lion” 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 66★ Ultra Cameo (lot 33227). The coin is inspired by Edmund Spenser’s 1590 poem “The Faerie Queene” and widely considered to be the most beautiful of British coins. This example is the finest graded and also holds the distinction of earning the NGC trademarked Star (★) Designation in recognition of its exquisite eye appeal.

Great Britain 1839 “Una and the Lion” 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 66★ Ultra Cameo Click images to enlarge.

Heritage Auctions estimates the coin at $600,000 to $800,000. To learn more about this “Una and the Lion” coin, click here.

Also generating excitement in the sale is an exceptional coin with a tragic history. This Mexico 1715MO J “Royal” 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 62 (lot 33259) is pedigreed to the famous 1715 Treasure Fleet, which was carrying vast amounts of gold and silver coins. Eleven of the 12 Spanish ships were lost in a hurricane off the coast of Florida. The finest of only three such coins known to have large rosettes in the reverse legend, the coin has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000.

Mexico 1715MO J “Royal” 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 62 with Large Rosettes on Reverse and pedigreed to the 1715 Fleet. Click images to enlarge.

In 1715, Mexico was a colony of the Spanish Empire. Its coins were typically irregularly shaped pieces of gold or silver known as “cobs.” They contained the correct weight and fineness, but little effort was made to keep their shape consistent. The Spanish Colonial mints also produced a small number of round, exactingly struck coins for presentation to royalty. These rare specimens are known as “Royals.”

Another coin with a connection to royalty was struck during the English Civil War by King Charles I, who was desperately trying to keep his hold on power. The Charles I Triple Unite, valued at about 60 Shillings or 3 Pounds at the time of minting, was the highest English denomination to be produced in the era of hammered coinage. Minted primarily to procure allegiance, most of these coins were melted down at the end of the war, which Charles lost. This 1643 England Triple Unite graded NGC MS 61 (lot 33192) has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000.

England 1643 Triple Unite graded NGC MS 61 Click images to enlarge.

The obverse of this Triple Unite features an armored bust of Charles I, with broadsword raised with one hand, and in visual dichotomy, an olive branch grasped by the other, signifying the King’s wish for peace rather than war.

Also being offered in the auction are a number of ancient coins, including two Brutus rarities with estimates of $400,000 to $500,000 and $150,000 to $200,000. To learn more, click here.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the auction include:

• a Great Britain 1839 “Una and the Lion” 5 Sovereign graded NGC Proof Details (lot 33228) with an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000
• an England 1642 Triple Unite graded NGC AU 53 (lot 33191) with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a Great Britain 1887 5 Pounds graded NGC PF 64 Cameo (33231) with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a Great Britain 1753 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 62 (lot 33213) with an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000
• a Great Britain 2017 Britannia 800 Pounds with a 30th Anniversary Privy graded NGC PF 70 Ultra Cameo (lot 33242) with an estimate of $50,000 to $60,000
• a Great Britain 1839 Plain Edge Sovereign graded NGC PF 66 Cameo (lot 33223) with an estimate of $50,000 to $60,000
• a Great Britain 2017 Britannia 800 Pounds with a 30th Anniversary Privy graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 33243) with an estimate of $50,000 to $60,000
• a Peru 1712L M 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 66 (lot 31053) with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• an England 1651 Silver Pattern Shilling graded NGC XF 45 (lot 33196) with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• a Brazil 1819(B) 4,000 Reis graded NGC MS 63 (lot 33144) with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000

All estimates are provided by the auction house in US dollars.