Detector find of medieval gold coin can be sold for 4 million crowns
Categories: Minting - Numismatics , Nálezy nejenom s detektorem ve Velké Británii a Irsku
The extremely rare coin, made of 23-carat gold, was discovered with the help of a metal detector in 2019. The coroner later declared it a treasure. Because museums have not shown interest in the coin, it may be sold privately - it will be auctioned by Dix Noonan Webb on March 8. It is expected to fetch around £140,000, or about 4 million crowns.
The Edward III coin represents the first English gold coinage since the Anglo-Saxon era. It depicts a leopard sitting erect with a banner; it was worth half a florin. According to consultant Nigel Mills of the artefacts and antiquities department at Dix Noonan Webb auction house, "the king wanted to facilitate trade with his European counterparts who had minted gold coins earlier.
This one was struck at the Tower of London in January 1344, but remained in circulation for only seven months before being withdrawn. Very few have therefore survived. Mr Mills explained that this was due to the advice of Florentine bankers who were dealing in foreign exchange at the time. They overvalued them in relation to silver because they were "the people who had lost most after the establishment of the successful English currency".
"In 1339, the financial situation appeared so serious that the magnates in Parliament expressed concern about whether the shortage of silver coinage would ultimately be able to completely paralyse internal trade," added historian specialising in economics Ms Mavis Mate
The coin shows almost no signs of wear. Experts describe the find as extremely rare and significant: "This coin is the best preserved of all known examples that have come to auction. Three were sold at auction before 1960, two are now in the British Museum and the third is in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford," explained Mr Milles. "We are delighted to be offering this important coin for sale. It is in very good condition. It even retains the original bright surface marks consistent with a field find," he added.
Roman Němec
Sources: edp24.co.uk, bbc.com
The article is included in categories:
