Rare Double Eagle coins which outlived their WWII owners could make $130,250

Martin Sulzbacher was a German-Jewish refugee who escaped Nazi Germany for England ahead of WWII. Sadly, he had not successfully escaped the Nazi threat, and he and his immediate family were killed in a bombing raid.

Whilst his house was no doubt cleared, one valuable possession was missed: a set of gold coins which were buried in the garden for safekeeping. Not German coins, or British ones, but American Double Eagles.

They were rediscovered a few years ago by current owner Terence Castle, who was digging a frog pond. Efforts were made to discover to whom the coins originally belonged, and Sulzbacher's descendent Max Sulzbacher has now been confirmed as the beneficiary.

The 80 coins, minted between 1854 and 1913, are on display at the British museum until the end of next week. They are then to be sold by Spink. The younger Sulzbacher intends to provide a small reward to the Castle family for their honesty from the proceeds of the sale, which are expected to range up to £80,000 (130,250).

The coins will make excellent investments especially given their unique provenance. Naturally we will list the details of the auction catalogue when it becomes available.