Una Eclipse
On April 9th at our Chester saleroom the ‘Most beautiful British coin’ discovered in Gwynedd house rocketed to £110,000 from a launch pad of £40,000. The price eclipses our record auction price for an item consigned to our bi-monthly Jewellery, Coins & Watches auction.
The Una and the Lion coin is widely considered the most beautiful British coin ever minted and one of the most valuable in the world due to its extreme rarity, unprecedented artistry, and deep cultural significance.
“With fewer than 300 believed to have been produced, these coins rarely come to auction, as reflected in the worldwide interest it has received today. Finding it in a house clearance among a huge consignment of coins felt like discovering a diamond in hiding; it truly is a work of art in its own right”, said Charles Hampshire, Auctioneer, Valuer and Partner at Rogers Jones, who auctioned the coin on 9th April.
Originally issued in 1839 to commemorate the start of Queen Victoria’s reign, only about 300 to 500 examples of the gold five-pound piece were ever produced. Because these were struck as "proof" coins for high-end collector sets rather than for general circulation, they have remained incredibly scarce for nearly two centuries.
The coin’s value is also driven by its status as a historical and artistic breakthrough. It was designed by William Wyon, the Royal Mint’s Chief Engraver, and is regarded as his crowning achievement. In a bold departure from tradition, it was the first time a British monarch was depicted as a fictional character on a coin.
Wyon portrayed a young Queen Victoria as Lady Una from Edmund Spenser’s 1590 poem The Faerie Queene, representing truth and purity. The design shows her gracefully guiding a lion, symbolizing her poise and the strength of the British nation under her leadership. This unique blend of literature, art, and royal history has made it a "holy grail" for numismatists.
The bidding took place at our Chester saleroom and was a three way battle between a collector in France bidding online on Rogers Jones & Co Live Platform and two collectors in the UK on the phone. Video of the action to follow!
Lot 10: Jewellery, Very Fine Coins & Watches
EXCEPTIONALLY SCARCE & IMPORTANT VICTORIA (1837-1901) 'UNA AND THE LION' FIVE POUNDS, 1839 proof by William Wyon, bust left with hair fillets (nine leaves), 'Dirige', legend, lettered edge. (S.3851), 39.71g
£110,000
The next auction of Jewellery, Coins & Watches is on June 25th and entries are invited up until June 3rd
