The discovery of rare gold coins dating back to 1328 and worth thousands of pounds has stunned an expert.
More than 50 gold and silver coins were taken along to a free valuation event at St Francis of Assisi Church Hall in Warwick Road, Kenilworth – and William Hayward, coin valuer for Hansons Auctioneers, couldn’t believe his eyes.
He said: “It was the sort of find I’d always dreamed about but never thought I’d see. I could hardly believe my eyes, such was the rarity and value of some of the coins which spanned seven centuries from 1328 to 1935. It really was a golden moment.”
The collection included an 1887 proof set of 11 gold and silver coins ranging in value from five pounds to threepence, plus 40 gold coins spanning 1328 to 1935. These included 20 English coins including a rare King William III and Queen Mary half guinea from 1693.
In addition, 40 foreign coins included examples Russian roubles from 1898, a half escudo from Spain dated 1744, a Hollandia Ducat from 1770 and an Edward III quarter noble from 1328.
“It’s just so rare to see a collection like this,” said Mr Hayward. “It was a once-in-a-blue moon moment. Not only that the coins were all in excellent condition.
“The client who bought them along had inherited them from a releative who was a lifelong collector and, although he knew they were gold, he didn’t realise just how special many of them were. Collectively, they could sell for around £15,000 at auction.”
The coins are set to go under the hammer on March 26 in Hansons’ Historica, Banknotes and Antiquities Auction.
Hansons holds monthly free valuation events at St Francis of Assisi Church Hall, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1HL, and will be back there on March 12, 10am-4pm. To find out more, email Carol Jones: [email protected].
