The Henry I Penny is believed to date from the early 12th century
Medieval coin discovered in East Yorkshire by a metal detectorist(Image: Tennants Auctioneers)
A coin described as “extremely rare” that was discovered by a metal detectorist in East Yorkshire has sold at auction for £1,200. The Henry I Penny led the British hammered section of a coins and banknotes sale, held at Tennants Auctioneers, in North Yorkshire, last week.
A spokesperson for Tennants said: “This coin was discovered by a metal detectorist in East Yorkshire and is a PAXS type penny from the York Mint. It represents the first known coin of the York moneyer Edwine in this type and is believed to date from the early 12th century.”
The medieval coin had an estimate of £400 to £600 on it. The design showed a crowned bust of the monarch “with annulet on right shoulder and trefoil on left shoulder”.
The sale by Tennants featured an interesting variety of ancient coins, including specimens from Ancient Greece, Carthage, Judea, Celtic Britain and Rome. One of the highlights of the auction was a Gold Stater from Philip II of Macedon, dating back to the fourth century BC, which sold for £4,000.
In the milled section, a pair of Scottish pattern crowns stood out. Both were struck in 1828 by Matthew Young from dies originally prepared by Norbert Rottiers for use during the reigns of James VII (II of England) and the uncrowned James VIII, commonly known as the Old Pretender.
These coins are extremely rare, with only about 60 examples of each type believed to have been struck. The James VII (II of England) Pattern Sixty Shillings 1688 sold for £4,000, and the James VIII Pattern Crown 1716 sold for £2,800, both above estimate.
Hailing from the New World was a USA, Pennsylvania Threepence 1764, which sold for £950. Gold coins continue to set good prices and two fine examples in the sale were a George IV, Two Pounds 1823 that sold for £2,500, and a George VI, “Coronation” Partial Gold Proof Set 1937 that was one of only 5,001 struck and sold for £10,200.
The sale achieved a total hammer price of £178,275 for 376 lots. All figures quoted exclude buyer’s premium.
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