Sunday, July 5, 2015

Hodgson Collection offered in Spink Auction

On 15th July 2015, Spink will be offering the Hodgson Collection in the summer sale of Ancient, British & Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals. The sale contains an incredible collection of Polish coins, a fantastic Russian medal commemorating the accession of Catherine II, and a fine selection of coins of ancient Cyprus and Roman coins from the Great Chesterton Hoard.

Alfred the Great

One of the coin hightlight is lot 324, an Alfred the Great (871-899), Penny from Wessex. Londonia monogram type, c.880- 83, a most presentable piece, bearing the portrait of one of the most iconic images of Alfred.

Wessex Penny
Lot: 324 Wessex, Alfred the Great (871-899), Penny, 1.54g, Londonia monogram type, c.880-83, London, Tilewine, diademed and draped bust right dividing legend, aelfr / ed rex, rev. londonia monogram flanked by a cross pattée either side, tilevine above and moneta below (SCBI 20 Mack, No 737 - same dies; N.646; S.1062), weakness to centres and slightly off-struck on obverse, mostly sharp and full, lustre to reverse, a most presentable piece, good very fine, the Londonia portrait pieces of Alfred one of the most iconic in the Saxon series. Estimated: £5,000-7,000.

The Hodgson collection comprises of 40 pieces all put together during the mid-1970s. A young Patrick Finn was instrumental in the forming of the collection while operating from Spink's St James' offices. Formed around the Kings of Wessex and all England, an attempt was made to represent each ruler and, in the late Anglo-Saxon coinage, each type. Though the majority of the collection was sourced from Spink a proportion came from Seaby's London offices. In addition, a select group were purchased at part II of the R P Mack sale in 1977. This is the first time these pieces have been offered for sale since passing through the rooms of Glendining some 38 years ago. The cataloguer wished to be vigilant in noting provenances and it has since been possible to reunite several of these with the coins in question. The resulting provenance list includes names such as Duke of Argyll, Elmore Jones, Lockett, Mossop, and O'Hagan. Having recently been 'rediscovered' at the back of a safe the group are now offered to the wider numismatic market in this sale.

Summer sale of Ancient, British & Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals catalogues can be accessed through the Spink website www.spink.com.