Pedigree Collections

The interest in a coin is greatly enhanced if it is known to have resided in a numismatically famous cabinet. Such collections usually have been sold through a major auction house or leading, national dealer and in the years ahead they invariably have better re-sale value than a similar coin with an unknown history. These pages abound with rare "pedigree" pieces.

Addington. Samuel Addington. Collection bought en bloc by Montagu 1883, remnants to auction 1885.

Aitken. Dr Terry Aitken, Canada. Extensive copper and bronze. Sold by us as List 28 (£1.50). Many rarities.

Allerton. Colin D. Allerton, North Carolina. Largest collection of currency farthings sold in the last ten years. Sold by us as List 20 (£2.00). Very comprehensive, many unrecorded pieces.

Bateman. Peter Bateman, high quality and high rarity ¼ds. Bonhams auction, 4.6.1998.

Beeton. Alan Beeton (1919 -1974). Dix, Noonan, Webb auction, 25th June 2003. Collection formed 1930 - 1950.

Bliss. T. Bliss. Collection sold Sotheby in May 1916.

Brand. Virgil Brand. Gargantuan collection, sold over many decades from 1926 to 1987.

Clarke-Thornhill. Large Collection, the copper sold at Glendinnings in May 1937.

Cooke. Colin D. Cooke Founder of Colin Cooke Coins. The largest and most comprehensive Farthing collection ever assembled. Each aspect of the Farthing series was completely covered. Many unique and finest known examples. His collection was unsurpassed. Colin was recognised as the foremost Farthing expert.

Debens. John Debens, North Midlands. Spink coin auction 67, 1988. Outstanding Farthings.

Drabble. G. C. Drabble. Glendining 13th December 1943. Extensive, choice collection.

Entwisle. Graham Entwisle, Bolton. Outstanding collection of James 1st and Charles 1st Farthings.

Everson. Tim Everson, Surrey, The largest and finest collection of Cut and Hammered Silver Farthings to have come on the market for as long as we can remember. The collection was purchased en bloc by this writer in 2004 but not marketed until 2005.

Foster. Major A. W. Foster. Glendining 19th October 1953. Outstanding, choice copper coins.

Freeman. Michael Freeman. Author of standard reference on Victorian Bronze Coins. Collection sold at Christie's 1984.

Hopetown House. Extensive sales in London. Spink auction 68, 22.3.1989

Johnstone. Dr E. A. Johnstone (died 1972), superb copper collection, second only to Peck. Collection sold privately to Baldwin, who re-sold most of the ¼ds to this writer.

Jones. Dr A. V. Jones, Farthing Collection. Spink Auction 154, July 2001.

Judson. Edward Lee Judson, (died 1976) Dix, Noonan, Webb Auction 13.3.2002. Choice copper.

Kay. Geoffrey Kay. Choice currency and pattern ¼ds. Spink auction, March 1988.

Lawrence. Peter W. Lawrence, Cambridge, extensive collection of early Farthings and Halfpennies, including a multitude of rare varieties, many yet to be published. The collection was purchased en bloc by this writer in 1996 but not marketed until 2004 and 2005.

Magnay. David Magnay. Fractions, models, miniatures specialist. Fractions sold at DNW in 2000.

Manville. H. E. Manville (U.S.A.). Spink Auction 140, 1999. A few super quality, rare farthings.

Marshall. Lt. W. S. Marshall (died early 1946) Glendinings 29.4.1946, residue retained and sold by grandson at Spink Coin Auction 167, 31.3.2004.  A very small number of ¼ds included.

Montagu. Sotheby 1897. Very extensive sale of currency, proofs and patterns.

Noble. W. James Noble. Glendining 1973. Choice early currency ¼ds.

Norweb. E. M. H. Norweb. Extensive series of sales 1985-7. The "Queen" of copper.

Norwich. A pseudonym for an old collection with a little good copper. Auction DNW 7th Oct 2004.

Nutbourne. E. R. Nutbourne, Spink Auction 140, 1999. Some really choice and rare farthings.

Oxford. The Oxford Collection of Farthings is one of the finest collections of its type ever assembled, having been amassed by an avid private collector over the past 25 years. It concentrates primarily on currency issues with most dates featuring including all the well known varieties. Proofs and patterns complete date runs where currency issues are unavailable. The collection covers the entire milled period from Cromwell to the present date, many with significant pedigree.

Peck. C. W. Peck, student, researcher, pioneer and author. The master and doyen for all lovers of copper coins. 600-page standard reference work. Collection dispersed through Spink 1964-8.

Rogers. Very Reverend Edgar Rogers. Copper collection purchased by Baldwin in 1950. A copper collecting buddy of Peck. Peck refers to him as the "Dean".

Selig. Herman Selig. George III collection. Spink auction No 131, 2.3.1999

Shuttlewood. Roger Shuttlewood. Tudor specialist but also had extensive collections of copper and bronze, mostly sold through Spink Numismatic Circular over several issues in 2001.

Slaney. Spink Coin Auction no. 163, 15th May 2003. Outstanding quality and rarity, this auction created many new record prices and set new landmarks on many prices. Only a few Farthings but particularly choice.

Westbrook. P. H. Westbrook. Spink Coin Auction no. 27, 1983. Outstanding Farthings, particularly Queen Anne where he had no less than 27 different specimens, the largest offering we can recall.

Whitely. Herbert Whitely. Glendining 11th April 1956.

Whittle. H. P. "Ford" Whittle. Collection formed from 1940s to 1960s period. Dispersed through Noble Auctions, Sydney, Australia, in November 2000.

References: "BMC" reference numbers throughout these pages refer to C. W. Peck's monumental work entitled "English Copper, Tin and Bronze Coins in the British Museum 1558-1958". This is the standard reference work and the letters "BMC" = British Museum Catalogue.

Bramah's 1929 book - jolly useful small hardback book - is more difficult to locate. Copies turn up occasionally, between £30 and £50.

Batty's Copper Coinage (circa 1887) lists about 8000 varieties, including die flaws! Read with caution. Copies of the book are extremely rare, upwards of £200.

Montagu's book was issued in the late 1890s. Of only limited use nowadays but his listings for the patterns or medallets of William and Mary are still widely used. Second-hand copies £50 to £80.

Freeman "F" numbers refer to Michael Freeman's "Bronze Coinage of Great Britain" covering all post-1860 issues. Second hand copies are usually about £20 - 30.

Peck's book is also only available second-hand. Copies usually run at anything between £90 and £120, depending on condition, annotations, signatories and good luck. The 2nd edition is slightly preferable to the 1st edition. Local libraries can usually produce/obtain copies for you, though many libraries only keep it within their reference section, i.e. you can't take it home! We can sometimes supply copies of Peck at around £90, depending on the above factors (one copy of 1st edition in stock as this is being written, price £70, UK postage £7, overseas postage horrendous !).