Who would have thought a pocket-sized piece of history could spark a bidding war that travels from London to Japan — and finishes with a Swiss collector shelling out a whopping £80,000? Yet that’s exactly what happened at Noonans Mayfair on September 9, 2025, when a rare Queen Anne Five Guinea coin shattered expectations and sent ripples of excitement across the numismatic world.
The Forgotten Jewel: Queen Anne’s Five Guinea Coin Takes Center Stage
The spotlight was well and truly on lot 1199: a Five Guinea coin from 1711, minted during the reign of Queen Anne. With an estimate set between £50,000 and £60,000, the coin’s pedigree and historical gravitas prompted collectors to sit up and take notice. But few anticipated just how fierce the competition would become.
- Featured on the front of the auction catalogue (and with good reason!), the coin didn’t stay forgotten for long.
- Bid interest was far-reaching, with two determined phone bidders battling it out alongside eager participants from Japan, across Europe, and the UK.
- In a final dramatic flourish, the hammer fell at an eye-popping £80,000 — its new home: the collection of a dedicated Swiss numismatist.
And if you thought that was the peak of the excitement, think again: this headline-grabbing sale was only one glittering highlight in a blockbuster event that showcased some of the rarest and most fascinating coins in British and world history.
Hammering Home Success: The Broader Sale Surpasses Expectations
Noonans Mayfair’s September sale was a feast for enthusiasts and investors alike, with 450 lots amassing a total hammer price of £814,175. The level of interest and the sums realized proved that passion for numismatics is alive and thriving. Among the highlights were coins that smashed past estimates and rewrote the script on collector appetite.
- The Queen Anne Five Guinea wasn’t alone in exceeding predictions. Elsewhere, a Half-unite dating from the tumultuous reign of Charles I (1625–1649) — specifically minted at the Oxford mint — also commanded attention. Carrying an estimate of £7,000–9,000, this remarkable gold coin reached a hammer price of £17,000, more than doubling its lower estimate.
- Striking for more reasons than one, the Half-unite bore a distinguished portrait of King Charles I himself, draped and crowned. Its provenance added to its desirability: it resided in the respected H. Selig collection until 1989, before entering another private collection for 35 years. The eventual buyer was a UK-based dealer, securing an object of supreme historic and artistic value (lot 1174).
Smaller Coins, Supersized Surprises
Not all treasures come in the form of heavy gold pieces. Sometimes, a small silver penny can make a bigger splash than anyone anticipated. Take, for example, a penny issued during the reign of King John (1199–1216), minted in the city of Lincoln. This tiny artifact was given a modest pre-sale top estimate of just £150. The result? After a bout of unexpected interest, it soared to a hammer price of £1,800 — a cool twelve times its highest estimate (lot 1142). Talk about an underdog story.
The Allure of Provenance, Pedigree, and the Academic Touch
What’s the secret ingredient behind these astonishing results? According to Bradley Hopper, Head of Coins at Noonans, there’s more to it than just glitter and gold. Discussing the Queen Anne Five Guinea, Hopper said, “This very rare coin had good pedigree and was published in several important books. The price reflects the growing demand for coins of strong academic interest.”
It appears provenance and scholarly recognition are driving factors: collectors and investors aren’t just looking for something shiny, but for coins with stories, credentials, and a place in historic tomes. Whether it’s the regal elegance of a Charles I gold coin or the humble endurance of a Lincoln-minted penny from King John’s era, pedigree pays — in spades.
So, whether you’re a seasoned collector, a history buff, or someone hunting for hidden treasures in your change jar (you never know, right?), the message is clear: the coin world is alive, electric, and ready to surprise even the most experienced experts. Next time you come across a forgotten antique, remember — you might just be holding the next big sensation.
Based in New York, Josh is the creative mind behind Lanco Handmade Furniture.
Passionate about timeless design and fine craftsmanship, he transforms high-quality materials into pieces that are both functional and artful.
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