An example of the iconic 1839 Victoria gold “ Una and the Lion ” Five Pounds, certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®), is the star of Sovereign Rarities Auction 1 on September 25, 2018, in London.
The gold Una and the Lion proofs are widely considered to be the most beautiful British coins ever minted, and examples are highly sought by collectors. Only about 400 were struck.
Sovereign Rarities estimates the example in its auction, which is graded NGC PF 62 Cameo, will sell for £120,000 to £150,000 (about $159,000 to $199,000 USD).
The obverse of the 1839 “Una and the Lion” Five Pounds features a beautifully executed bust of the young Queen Victoria, whose 63-year reign had just begun in 1837. The legend VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D: surrounds the bust, Latin for “Victoria, by the grace of God, Queen of the Britons, Defender of the Faith.”
The coin’s more-famous reverse also features Queen Victoria, but as Lady Una, a character from Edmund Spenser’s 1590 poem The Faerie Queene. She is seen directing a striding lion with a scepter in her right hand and a globus cruciger (a cross-bearing orb) in her left. The Latin motto DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS, which translates to “May God direct my steps,” helps frame the iconic scene.
William Wyon, chief engraver of the Royal Mint, designed the coin; his name appears in the shaded region at the base of Victoria’s neck on the obverse.
Other NGC-certified highlights in Sovereign Rarities Auction 1 include:
- A Charles II, 1675 Elephant Five Guinea, graded NGC MS 62+, the finest graded. Estimate: £35,000 to £45,000
- A William III, 1699 Elephant & Castle Five Guinea, graded NGC MS 62, the finest graded. Estimate: £35,000 to £45,000
- A Charles II, 1677 Elephant & Castle Five Guinea, graded NGC MS 62+, the finest graded. Estimate: £25,000 – £35,000
- An Anne, 1711 Five Guinea, graded NGC MS 61. Estimate: £25,000 to £35,000
- A George V, 1927 Matte Proof Crown, graded NGC PF 66 Matte. Estimate: £28,000 to £32,000
For more information about Sovereign Rarities Ltd. and to bid, visit www.sovr.co.uk.
About Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®)
NGC is the world’s largest and most trusted third-party grading service for coins, tokens and medals. Founded in 1987, NGC provides accurate, consistent and impartial assessments of authenticity and grade. To ensure impartiality, NGC does not buy or sell coins. Its full-time graders are prohibited from buying and selling coins commercially, and strict procedures are in place to prevent consultants from influencing the grades assigned to their own submissions. Every coin that NGC certifies is backed by the comprehensive NGC Guarantee of authenticity and grade, which has added confidence and value for collectors and dealers around the world. Learn more at NGCcoin.com.
