Edward VIII halfcrown, estimate £150,000-200,000 at Noonans.
Edward VIII coin comes to auction
An Edward VIII halfcrown that was never issued and is the only one ever to be sold at auction will be offered at Noonans on September 19-20.
One of only six known to exist, it is being sold by a private collector and expected to fetch £150,000-200,000.
Tim Wilkes, head of the coin department at Noonans in Mayfair, said: “Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 before any coins in his name were released into circulation in Britain. Patterns of each denomination had been prepared (all dated 1937) but at the time of the abdication they had not yet received royal approval.
Edward VIII halfcrown, estimate £150,000-200,000 at Noonans.
“After the abdication the few coins which had been struck were locked away and work began on the coinage of the new king, George VI.
“It is not known how the coins in private hands came to be in the public domain.”
This particular example is one of only two that are believed to be in private hands – it was originally sold at auction in the US in 1978.
The others are in the Royal Collection and British Museum, with two in the Royal Mint Collection.
In January 2020 a 22ct Edward VIII 1937 sovereign coin sold for £1m, regaining its place as what is believed to be the most expensive British coin. The Royal Mint’s team of specialists negotiated a deal with the former owner of the coin in the US to sell it to a UK private collector.
Silverstone goes to iconic status
Silverstone Auctions has changed its name to Iconic Auctions.
Founded in 2011 by British racing driver and car dealer Nick Whale, the specialist auction house in Warwickshire focuses on classic, competition, modern and collectors’ cars, modern and historic motorcycles, as well as automobilia and collectables.
Elvis but not the blue suede shoes
Custom-made coat worn by Elvis Presley, £102,000 at Henry Aldridge & Son.
A custom-made coat worn by Elvis Presley took £102,000 against a £10,000-15,000 estimate at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.
The leather and mink fashion statement, worn by Presley during the last year of his life, had been given to Ginger Alden, Elvis’ fiancée at the time, for her brother Mike. It was later donated to charity.
The coat was accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Ginger and Mike’s sister Rosemary Alden Starkey. It had previously sold at Graceland Auctions in August 2015.
In Devizes on August 5 it sold to a US collector for £128,000 including buyer’s premium.
TV show ‘discovers a Constable work’
A new TV show may have unearthed a Constable painting in Scotland. Channel 4 launched Millionaire Hoarders last week.
The three-part series features experts including antiques dealers Ronnie Archer Morgan and Clive Downham, and Rachel Fox of pawnbroker Suttons & Robertsons. The specialists sift through homes to unearth items that could raise cash for their owners. In the first episode Simon Houison Craufurd and his wife, Adity, asked the team to look at art and objects at their home, Craufurdland Castle.
Among the discoveries was a painting believed to be by John Constable. The couple plan to sell it to raise money for maintenance costs for the castle.
Welcome lie down after one across
Maggs staff member Treacle attempts the ATG summer crossword.
Antiquarian book dealership Maggs decided to give one of its loyal staff a chance at completing the Antiques Trade Gazette Summer Giant Crossword this year.
Treacle the dog gave it a very good shot. However, we did not receive the completed puzzle, so sorry Treacle.
Maggs staff member Treacle took a well-earned rest after attempting the ATG summer crossword.
See the Crossword answers here.
Most read
The most clicked-on stories for week August 3-9 on antiquestradegazette.com
1 Personal collection of dealer and decorator Robert Kime comes to Dreweatts
2 Museum of life in East Germany comes to auction
3 Fairs boost security amid thefts alert
4 Auction record for Helen Allingham set in Malvern saleroom
5 Sower reaps benefit of a Millet likeness
In Numbers
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Years since the Volvo Estate, the trusty workhorse of antiques dealers, was launched. However, Volvo has announced it will no longer sell its estates or saloon cars in the UK, choosing to market only its SUVs. Read more about memories of Volvos here.
