Included amongst these great coins is The Pikes Peak Collection, an outstanding collection of fascinating gold issues from around the world.
The consignor of The Pikes Peak Collection has long had a love for coins, starting a small collection as a child. About 15 years ago, he decided to collect world gold coins, challenging himself to collect an appealing example from as many different countries as he could.
The April 2005 offering of Louis Eliasberg's world gold coins was pivotal for the consignor; the record-setting auction made him realize how rare elite world gold coinage could be.
Current leader amongst the rare coins on offer is a British coin: a Victoria Proof £5 1839 piece, which can be known as 'Una and the Lion'.
The PR63 Ultra Cameo, as rated by the NGC, shows the portrait and lion motif in stark relief against deeply mirrored fields with orange-peel texture. The proof impression is really excellent, with relatively few abrasions or hairlines appear. It is clearly a choice specimen.
 A Queen and her lap cat: The Victoria gold proof coin |
The variety has delicately raised decorations on the fillets in the queen's hairdo, and on the reverse the legend "DIRIGE", the legend translating to English as "May God Direct My Steps" (Psalm 118:133).
A classic of the Victorian Age in both style and sentiment, this is one of master engraver William Wyon's masterpieces, with a modest mintage in the hundreds.
The exact number struck is unknown because this coin was minted on demand from the time it first appeared in the Coronation sets until the style was replaced in the Jubilee year.
Always popular but seldom available in this excellent state of preservation, this is a truly majestic coin, and remarkably fine for its rarity. It has already surpassed its $37,500 - $45,000 listing, currently sitting at $47,500 in the Californian auction.
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