London

A fortuitously timed trip from a large group of top US interior decorators boosted sales at Battersea’s winter Decorative Fair.

Spink’s April 13 banknotes sale included a near-complete run of Malaya & British Borneo Elizabeth II specimen notes issued in the coronation year on March 21, 1953.

A remarkable Canadian single-owner collection of coins of the East India Company was offered by Noonans on February 8-9, 2023.

One of the great masterpieces of ancient Greek numismatic art, this silver tetradrachm was struck in c.460BC in commemoration of the refounding of the city of Naxos. Its citizens had been exiled to Leontinoi by the tyrant Hieron of Syracuse.

The organiser of The London Antique Arms Fair had been searching for a new venue in which to hold the event throughout 2023.

Mithradates IV was ruler of the Hellenistic kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 169-150BC. He ushered in a period of relative friendship with the Roman republic that would continue until his grandson Mithradates VI (the Great) became its most formidable and determined opponent. Mithradates IV’s coinage draws attention to his Persian and Greek origins.

Prior to its unification, what is now Argentina was comprised of over a dozen autonomous and semi-autonomous regions.

The Distinguished Flying Cross group of five given to Flt Lt Edward ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, who flew during Operation Chastise – the Dambusters – was sold for £105,000 (plus 20% buyer’s premium) at Spink on November 29.

John Newton (1725-1807) is today perhaps best remembered as the writer of the hymn Amazing Grace. However, before his religious conversion he spent his early life as a slave trader.

Estimated at £14,000-18,000, this Pavillon d'Or issued by Edward, Prince of Aquitaine (1362-72), took £36,000 plus 18% buyer’s premium at Harmers on November 1.

Spink posted a house record for a classical coin when it sold this Julius Caesar and Octavian gold aureus on April 3 for £220,000 plus 20% buyer’s premium against an estimate of £60,000-100,000.

Total sales across London coin and medals auctions were £61.6m in 2023, just a fraction down on 2022’s record aggregate

Canny buyers who invested in works by female artists are now reaping the rewards in salerooms

Bear in mind 'Hugglets Bear Festival: The World of Teddy Bears' which runs on Sunday February 25 at Kensington Town Hall in London W8.

Among the vintage red-carpet moments at the recent Golden Globes film awards ceremony in Los Angeles, two actresses stood out. Elle Fanning wore a 1960s white silk gown by Pierre Balmain while Carey Mulligan looked to the archives for her exact replica vintage Schiaparelli dress from 1949.

The Durrington Collection of Glass, a select 60-lot auction which Bonhams (28/27/21/14.4% buyer’s premium) offered for sale last year, featured some of the best examples of 18th century British glassmaking across a number of collectable categories.

Our roundup of dealer news includes a new date a time announced for the 'Eye of the Collector' fair