News from Spink

A Superb Petition Crown to be Offered at Spink in September

One of the best of the few surviving examples of Thomas Simon’s famous Petition Crown of 1663 is to be offered in Spink’s sale during Coinex week.

The Crown is from the Glenister collection, a small collection of English coins formed in the 1940s.  It was purchased in December 1944 from B.A.Seaby, and so will be reappearing on the market for the first time in 60 years.  Its previous auction appearance was in the Brunning sale in 1908 where it was purchased by Spink for £155.  In the Brunning catalogue it was described as ‘of the highest rarity and interest and in extremely fine condition’  After 100 years the coin will once again be on the auction block, and it will no doubt be the highlight of this important sale.

The Glenister Petition Crown has a superb provenance stretching back to the mid 18th century.  It is first recorded in the collection of the renowned Dr. Richard Mead (1673-1754), President of the Royal College of Physicians and personal physician to George II.  From there the history is as follows:

Dr. Richard Meade, Langford, 11-19 February 1755, lot 38 (£12)

Edward Hodson, collection sold privately

Samuel Tysson, Leigh, April-May 1802, lot 3016 (£105)

Sir Mark Sykes, Sotheby, 8-12 March 1824, lot 367 (£210)

Daniel Jones-Long, Sotheby, 17-20 January 1842, lot 401 (£170)

James Baker, Sotheby, 1-2 June 1855, lot 53 (£154)

George Sparkes, sold privately

Edward Wigan, sold privately

Thomas Miller Whitehead, Sotheby, 5 May 1898, lot 23 (£168)

H.C. Brunning, Sotheby, 18 March 1908, lot 23 (£155)

B.A. Seaby, sold privately to Mr Glenister, 8 December 1944

As well as being one of the most famous of English coins for reasons of its great beauty and the fascinating story surrounding its production, the Petition Crown is also a great rarity.  Seventeen Petition Crowns are known.  Of these, fifteen are listed by J B Bergne in his article in the Numismatic Chronicle 1854 (vol.XVI), and seven are now in museum collections.  Less than half the remaining examples are extremely fine or better.

The Glenister Petition Crown will be offered in our coin sale on 27 September.

Estimate: £120,000-150,000

About Spink

Spink is the world’s leading auctioneer of coins, stamps, medals and banknotes.  Since its foundation in 1666, the Spink name has become synonymous with tradition, experience and integrity. Holders of three royal warrants and numerous records for prices achieved at auction, Spink offer an unparalleled range of services to collectors worldwide.  Spink is headquartered in London and hold over 35 auctions a year around the globe.  In June 2006 Spink shattered the world record for a British Coin sold at auction with the sale of the Double Leopard Gold Coin for a staggering £460,000.

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