Following on swiftly from their immensely successful sale of Russian coins including the Tsarina collection, Bonhams is offering another sale which should appeal to numismatists. The Coins, Medals and Banknotes sale takes place tomorrow (December 15).
The 500 lot auction includes a modern coin which is worth considering. That is a sheet of 20 uncut Elizabeth II gold sovereigns with the Queen facing right on the obverse and a crowned shield within a wreath on the reverse. The uncirculated set is £3,000-5,000 ($7,900).
The medal lots are probably more covetable however, with two pieces marking one of Britain's greatest military victories and one of its saddest battles.
Firstly there is the Crimea Medal awarded to George Flowers of the 17th Lancers, who was killed in the Charge of the Light Brigade.
 Waterloo medal |
George Flowers was born at Beccles in Suffolk. He was killed in the charge on the 25th October 1854, at which time he was married to Elizabeth Flowers who was recorded as with the Regiment, and left behind a son also known as George Flowers, born on May 26, 1854.
The lot is a Crimea 1854-56 medal with two bars for Alma and Balaklava, officially impressed (Geo. Flowers. 17th Lancers.).
Sold with copy medal rolls confirming him being killed on 25th October 1854, it confirms award of the Sebastopol clasp as well, also included with the lot are entries on Muster rolls from Nov 1837 until his death in October 1854. In very fine condition, it is estimated at £8,000-10,000.
From a more triumphant battle is a Waterloo 1815 medal awarded to Captain Edwin Sandys, 12th Reg. Light Dragoons. This bears some light contact marks but is otherwise in good very fine condition.
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