By CoinWeek…
On May 20, 2025, the first auction of the Traveller Collection in Zürich saw an exceptionally rare “Una and the Lion” pattern coin from Queen Victoria’s reign fetch CHF 980,000 ($1,188,330), marking only the eighth time a British coin has sold for over $1 million.
The auction, featuring 220 British coins, sold for CHF 6,341,200 ($7,680,345), doubling its pre-sale estimate of CHF 2,989,700 ($3,618,786).
The Traveller Collection, valued at $100 million for insurance purposes, is one of the most expensive and diverse coin collections ever auctioned. It comprises over 15,000 coins from various countries, many in unparalleled condition and rarity. Some were buried in Europe for over 50 years to evade Nazi looting.
Held at the Hotel Bar Au Lac, significant for its historical connection to the anonymous collector known as the “Traveller,” the auction drew global bidders from Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia, including many first-time coin buyers.
The “Una and the Lion” coin, a rare 1839 prototype £5 designed by William Wyon, was bought by the Traveller for just £14 (about £800 today). It features a plain edge and is one of only a few known examples.
Other notable sales included a George III pattern crown (CHF 416,500, $505,130), a unique George V gold pattern crown (CHF 294,000, $356,562), and a rare 1702 Queen Anne medal (CHF 134,750, $163,424), tripling its estimate.
The auction, managed by Numismatica Ars Classica and David Guest Numismatics, launched a three-year series to present the Traveller Collection, with the next auction in November 2025 focusing on Central European coins. The collection’s exceptional scope includes rare coins and medals absent from museums, unseen gold designs, and rare patterns. Directors David Guest and Arturo Russo noted the sale’s success, driven by fierce competition and new collectors drawn to the collection’s rarity and historical significance.
