Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III Arrhidaios (323-317 BC) AV Stater, mint of Kolophon, c. 322-319 BC, 8.58g. Laureate head of Apollo, with the facial features of Alexander the Great, facing right. Rev. ?I?I??OY, charioteer, holding reins and kentron, driving Biga right, tripod below horses. (Le Rider, pl. 90, 16; Thompson 12; Jameson 798). Good Extremely fine. Lustrous. A superb piece of fine style, and a marvel of Hellenistic die engraving. Ex. Spink, original ticket included. Gold staters of this type were originally struck during the reign of Philip II of Macedon (359-336 BC). Featuring a portrait of Apollo on the obverse and a biga of horses on the reverse, they were a symbol of the king’s power and success. The trusted type continued to be struck during the reign of Alexander the Great, in the name of his deceased father, and many more were issued into Philip III’s reign. This coin, however, stands out from the rest. The dies used to strike this particular gold stater have been engraved with exceptional skill, resulting in a familiar-looking portrait. Why was so much effort put in to producing this short-lived issue, and why does the portrait of Apollo look so different? The portrait of Apollo we see here has, remarkably, been modelled on Alexander the Great’s. His eyes, wide open, reflect what we see on contemporary Hellenistic portraiture, as well as later coins struck during the reign of Lysimachus in Thrace. Alexander may have been portrayed using a similar method on silver tetradrachms struck in his name, but none are as convincing or lifelike as this portrait. But why was Alexander’s face placed on this issue of coins? The answer is fine of legitimacy and unity. Alexander had died in 323 BC – the year before this enigmatic coin was struck. He had supposedly nominated his cavalry commander, Perdiccas, as his successor on his deathbed. Perdiccas did not seize power, instead opting to find out the gender of Alexander’s yet-unborn child. If male, the baby could have been a legitimate successor to his father. The army, however, supported Alexander’s brother, Philip, as ruler. The result was a ‘joint’ rule of Philip III and Alexander’s newly born son, Alexander IV. These gold staters, likely minted in Kolophon, have been interpreted as a way of shoring up the somewhat shaky regime which emerged after Alexander’s death. generals were wanting to carve up the Macedonian king’s vast empire, and this gold coin, which would have likely been seen by the key political figures of this time, may have been intended to remind them of the unity which Alexander brought. It was a statement, that Alexander’s great empire should remain whole, ruled by his ‘rightful’ successors – who were of course, pawns, of the powerful Macedonian generals.

China, Hupeh, silver 10 Cents, 1895, Ben Shen variety – ‘This Province’ on obverse, 2.65g (Kann 37; LM 179). In NGC holder graded MS 65 – top of the population in NGC, only one finer in PCGS. Extremely rare. An MS 62 example sold by Baldwin’s in 2008 achieved in excess of £17,000. Only eight other known in NGC and PCGS populations combined.

1896 Provisional surcharge £100 on £5 green, Fresh and fine MINT, extremely rare thus, mounted once (albeit with rather large hinge remainder) though still a major rarity, this the first unused example we have seen or heard of. Superb. Ex Robert A Mason

1938 100r. purple and blue, 'REVENUE/REVENUE' keyplate, perf 14, large part o.g. A rarity in mint condition, and highly desirable in this lovely fresh quality.

Kuwait, Abdullah Al‑Salim Al‑Sabah (1959‑1965), gold Pattern 3 Dinars (also called a Sovereign), London mint, AH 1379 / 1960 AD, legend translation: ‘His highness, the exalted Sheikh 'Abdallah al‑Salim al‑Sabah, ruler of the State of Kuwait’, bust of Abdullah Al‑Salim Al‑Sabah, wearing bisht and gotra, with agal facing slightly left. Rev. Dhow under sail right; below: 1960 – 1379 in Eastern Arabic numerals, 8.01g (KM unlisted; Fr. unlisted). About Uncirculated, with slight marks, fantastic condition. Only a handful of these patterns are known to exist. Only one other known to have come to the market in the last 10 years, the other one being in lesser condition, sold in CNG, Triton XIX, lot 2544 (January 2016) for $17,000. � � Ex. Private collection, in the family for over 40 years.

Lancaster, Daniel Eccleston (retired West Indian and American merchant) pattern bronzed Halfpenny 1794, bust left of Eccleston, rev. ship, plough and shuttle, edge diagonally milled, 30.5mm/12.93gm. (DH 56), dies harshly scoured which shows on coin as upstanding, beginnings of die breaks, otherwise good Extremely Fine with bronzed patination. Unique, D&H plate coin. Eccleston, a retired well‑to‑do merchant in Queen Street Lancaster, had his own token made and this piece is the unfinished pattern – the dies had not been finally polished and thus the scouring in the fields show in the striking. Even at this preliminary strike the die started to break and the issue never happened. This is the D&H specimen and would appear to be unique. He then had another attempt at having his own token made and the following is the result Ex. Mark Rasmussen 2009. Eccleston, a retired well‑to‑do merchant in Queen Street Lancaster, had his own token made and this piece is the unfinished pattern – the dies had not been finally polished and thus the scouring in the fields show in the striking. Even at this preliminary strike the die started to break and the issue never happened. This is the D&H specimen and would appear to be unique. He then had another attempt at having his own token made and the following is the result.

Leeds, Samuel Birchall Halfpenny 1795, Another struck from the same dies but with the American edge UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .x., 31mm/10.72gm. (DH 28 bis), on a large flan, as struck with almost full original mint lustre, superb and only known from this specimen – Unique. Ex. Spink Auction 192, 24 Jan 2008, lot 205. As in this auction very likely ex F S Cokayne. This edge was made for the ‘Washington President’ One Cent patterns of 1791 (DH Middx. 1049/1050).