Pennies from Heaven

Tennants Auctioneers’ Coins, Tokens & Banknotes Sale on 17^th February achieved a strong 97% sold rate, with good prices seen across the board.

A highlight of the sale was The Brian Boyce Collection of Victorian Pennies. Put together over a period of 25 years, this collection was a near comprehensive representation of dates in the Victorian penny series. Notable results from the collection included an 1869 ‘Bun head’ type penny in near uncirculated condition that beat the top estimate to sell for £2,200 (plus buyer’s premium). A further good Victorian penny from the collection, this time from 1841 and in extremely fine condition, sold well at £400.

Amongst strong lots of hammered coins in the sale was a Celtic Britain Corieltauvi Gold Stater, in extremely fine condition, which sold for £1,400, well above the £600-800 estimate. Later milled English coins were led by an Elizabeth II 1980 Gold Proof 4-Coin Set in original Royal Mint presentation case with certificate of authenticity, which sold for £2,000, and a George III 1819 Crown, which sold for £500.

Banknotes sold well throughout the section, with highlights including a lot of three Jersey banknotes dating from the German Occupation of the Island from 1941-1942. Consisting of a two shillings note, a one shilling and a 6 pence note, the lot sold for £220. These notes were issued due to a shortage of coinage in Jersey, exacerbated by occupying German troops returning home with coins as souvenirs. New emergency notes were introduced by the States of Jersey, designed by Edmund Blampied. The 6 pence note was designed with an outsized ‘X’ in the word Six on the reverse of the note; when folded, the ‘X’ appeared as the resistance symbol ‘V’ for Victory.

Also of interest was a Scottish Clydesdale Bank One Pound Note from 1923; a very nice example of a quite scarce note, it sold for £250.

The sale resulted in a total hammer price of £86,400 for 317 lots, with a 97% sold rate.

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