Moton & Eden held a coins, medals and banknotes sale on 20–21 November. One of the highlights was a gold unite dating from 1651, during the time of the Commonwealth (lot 157). With a value of 20 shillings, the coin’s obverse had a shield within a wreath bearing St George’s cross, representing England, with a sun mintmark at the top. The legend ‘THE·COMMONWEALTH·OF·ENGLAND’ was in English because Latin was thought to be royalist. The reverse had two shields, one bearing St George’s cross, the other bearing the Irish harp, with the denomination indicated as ‘XX’ for 20 shillings. The date of 1651 was at the top. From an estimate of £10,000–£15,000, the coin made £42,000.
SOLD FOR £42,000
Another highlight from the Morton & Eden auction on 20–21 November was a testoon from the reign of Mary, Queen of Scotland (lot 204). This 1561 coin was from the third period of her coinage and was issued during her first widowhood (1560–65). Mary became the queento Francis, the dauphin of France, who was 15. He became king of France in September 1559 but died in December 1560. Mary then returned to Scotland in August 1561. The obverse showed a bust of Mary, facing left, wearing a French bonnet and a high-necked dress. The date was below in a tablet. On the reverse, there was the crowned arms of France and Scotland, with four pellets on the fillet of the crown. The crowned ‘M’ at each side indicated that she was the queen of both Scotland and France. Described as one of the finest-known examples, it sold for £30,000.
