Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s Announces Royal Tributes and Civil War Treasures Headline Major Gold and British Coins Auction
Royal connections and Civil War history take center stage in Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s upcoming auction of elite British gold coinage.
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s has announced a magnificent selection of historic coinage for its upcoming Superb Collection of Gold & British Coins auction, taking place live from London and online on Friday, 29th May at 13:00 BST.
Headlining the sale are two extraordinary gold lots steeped in royal history, dramatic wartime stratagems, and incredible local provenance: an Edward III Gold Noble with a fascinating connection to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and a rare Charles I Civil War 'Declaration' Gold Half Unite.
The Jubilee Discovery: The Edward III Newcastle Gold Noble (Lot 3)
Crossing the block as Lot 3 is an incredibly preserved Edward III (1327‐1377) Gold Noble, struck in Calais during the historic Treaty Period (1361–1369). Graded PCGS MS63, this magnificent medieval coin was discovered in 1887 during engineering excavations to widen what is now the Eastern Coast Main Line Railway near Manors Station in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
By a remarkable twist of chronological coincidence, 1887 marked the 50th year on the throne for both the medieval King Edward III and the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. Recognizing the alignment of their Golden Jubilees, the railway site manager forwarded the newly unearthed coin to Queen Victoria as an apt jubilee gift. The coin was later returned and housed in an exquisite, specially commissioned, ornate gilded brass casket celebrating the 1887 Royal Jubilee.
Boasting an impeccable provenance chain linking medieval royalty, Victorian railway expansions, and a local merchant, this mint-condition coin is listed with an auction estimate of £15,000 to £20,000.
The Civil War Treasure: The 1643 Charles I Oxford Gold Half Unite (Lot 10)
Following the Royalist defeat at Edgehill in 1642, King Charles I retreated to the stronghold of Oxford, transforming Christ Church into his court and establishing a makeshift royalist seat of government. Having lost the Royal Mint in London to Parliament, the King urgently required coinage to pay his troops and secure their loyalty. A mint was established at New Inn Hall (now the site of St. Peter’s College), supplied by gold and silver "loans" melted down from the plate of twelve Oxford colleges.
While silver was issued in abundance, the donation of gold was exceedingly scarce, making gold issues from the Oxford mint incredibly rare.
Cataloged as Lot 10, this Charles I (1625-1649) Gold Half Unite (Ten Shillings) was struck at this transient wartime mint in 1643. The obverse depicts a beautiful, crowned Cavalier-style bust of Charles I with long flowing hair and a lace collar. The reverse displays the King's famous 1642 Wellington Declaration to uphold the Protestant religion, the laws of England, and the freedom of Parliament, surrounded by a Latin legend from Psalm 68: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered.”
Slabbed and graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as AU 58 (Almost Uncirculated), it stands as the second-highest graded example ever handled by the agency. Experts note that this specific piece is more strongly struck on a larger flan and possesses considerably higher eye appeal than the highest-rated example. It carries an auction estimate of £18,000 – £22,000.
Auction Information & Bidding
The Superb Collection of Gold & British Coins, featuring 21 elite lots spanning centuries of British numismatic history, will take place on Friday, 29th May at 13:00 BST. The sale will be broadcast live via the Streambid platform, allowing international buyers to participate live from London or bid securely online.
Interested parties, members of the press, and collectors looking for further information, full lot listings, or seeking to arrange an interview with Baldwin’s Numismatics expert Richard Gladdle, are encouraged to get in touch.
The complete digital auction catalog can be viewed here:
