On November 19, Sovereign Rarities will hold two sales, Auctions XV & XVI. Auction XV is a short sale of some of the highest quality historical medals to have been offered for some time, The Highcliff Collection, and many of the medals also boast significant provenances like Bute, O'Byrne, or are even Eimer plate medals.

Medals have an advantage over coins in that their size, and the more powerful presses used to strike them, mean engravers could more easily display work of great detail in high relief. For this reason they are often far more accomplished than coins. Portraits and condition were the inspiration for the collection and just some of the highlights include:

Capture of Morro Castle, Havana 1763 silver medal by D. T. F. Prieto, published by the Spanish Academy of Arts, conjoined busts of Ludovico de Velasco and Vincentio Gonzalez right, rev. view of the assault on Morro Castle, its magazine exploding, frigates in the water around, longboats rescuing drowning men, IN MORRO. VIT. GLOR. FVNCT, in exergue, ARTIVM ACADEMIA CAROLO REGE CATHOL ANNVENTE CONS. A. MDCCLXIII, 48mm, 56.40g (Betts 443; Eimer 704; MH 1921). As struck and beautifully toned, a truly exceptional example of this rare medal.

Native American Peace Medal, 1814, specimen bronze medal by Thomas Wyon Junior, laureate and draped bust of George III right, wearing the collar of the Great George, GEORGIVS III DEI GRATIA BRITANNIARVM REX. F: D:, rev. royal arms, crest, supporters and motto, 1814 below, 75mm, 183.34g (BHM 844; Eimer 1061; Jamieson fig. 24). Choice extremely fine, rare.

Hudson's Bay Company Native American Peace Medal, restrike bronze medal struck c.1830, obverse by Conrad Heinrich Küchler, bust of George III left, GEORGIUS III. D: G. BRITANNIARUM REX. FID. DEF. &c, rev. arms of the Hudson Bay Company, 48mm, 56.43g (BHM 1062; Eimer 1120; Jamieson p.26 fig. 20). As struck, and with subtle gold and sapphire iridescence, rare.

British Empire Medal, South Africa War, 1901, large silver medal by Frank Bowcher, published by Messrs Spink & Son Ltd., bust of Edward VII left, EDWARD VII. D G REX. ET. I. all within wreath at the centre, around which are Justice, Peace and Industry within the urban landscapes of Britain and South Africa, rev. equestrian figure of Lord Roberts crowned by Fame and Victory, with armies behind, SOVTH AFRICA, VIRTVTE ET DVCTV, PAX QVAERITVR BELLO 1901, edge stamped SILVER, 103mm, 499g, in original case (BHM 3735; Eimer 1859). Choice good extremely fine, spectacular, and very rare.

Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, Honourable Company of Master Mariners 1935, silver medal by Thomas Humphrey Paget, head left, H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. MASTER. rev. arms with supporters, crest and motto, HONOURABLE COMPANY OF MASTER MARINERS, 50mm, 71.89g, with blue leather case of issue (Eimer 2033). Practically as struck, very rare.

The Opening of the Suez Canal, 1869, large silver medal of the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Maritime de Suez, by Louis-Oscar Roty, draped figures of Labour, named, bearing a savings jar, and Peace, seated, identified by her attributes the torch, cornucopia and olive branch, aerial view of the canal and perhaps Mount Sinai beyond, L'EPARGNE FRANÇAISE PREPARE LA PAIX DU MONDE [French savings prepare world peace], rev. COMPAGNIE UNIVERSELLE DU CANAL MARITIME DE SUEZ, LE 17 NOVEMBRE 1869 LE CANAL MARITIME A ETE OUVERT A LA GRANDE NAVIGATION, named cartouche on oak spray: THOMAS SUTHERLAND MP ADMINISTRATEUR, Sphinx and pyramid below, 60mm, 94.72g. Extremely fine with cabinet tone, of the highest historical significance

At their second sale of the day Sovereign will offer The Bernard Workman Collection of Pennies, with some astonishing rarities including the Unique 1954 Penny. It's not just pennies though. The wide-ranging auction also showcases world coins and high-quality modern British including:

Elizabeth II (1952-2022), gold proof Five Hundred Pounds, 2019, Una and the Lion, 5 Ounces of 999.9 fine gold, from the Great Engravers series, commemorating the Una and the Lion design by William Wyon, crowned head right, JC initials below for designer Jody Clark, Latin legend surrounding, ELIZABETH II. D. G. REG. F. D. 500 POUNDS., rev. Queen Victoria as Una leading the British lion left, holding orb and sceptre, thick plain ground line, date in Roman numerals below, MMXIX, W. WYON R.A. below, legend around upper half, DIRIGE DEUS GRESSUS MEOS., milled edge, 156.3g (S.GE4). Lustrous proof state, Graded by NGC as PF70 Ultra Cameo, accompanied by original Royal Mint box and Certificate of Authenticity. First issue from the Royal Mint Great Engravers Series. Issued at a very low mintage hence becoming rare on the market.

For more information, or to bid, see:
http://preview.coinbooks.org/www.sovr.co.uk

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SOVEREIGN RARITIES WORKMAN COLLECTION(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n42a21.html)
SOVEREIGN RARITIES WORKMAN COLLECTION, PART 2(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n43a29.html)
SOVEREIGN RARITIES WORKMAN COLLECTION, PART 3(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n44a24.html)
SOVEREIGN RARITIES WORKMAN COLLECTION, PART 4(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n45a20.html)