Rare Gold 'Una and the Lion' Coin from 1839 Sells for £110,000 at Auction

A gold coin featuring the design 'Una and the Lion' sold for £110,000 at a recent auction. The coin, minted in 1839 during the reign of Queen Victoria, was part of a limited production run of fewer than 300 examples. This particular coin was discovered in an estate in Bangor, Wales.

The 'Una and the Lion' pattern coin was created by engraver William Wyon, the chief engraver at the Royal Mint. It draws inspiration from the character Una in Edmund Spenser's 16th-century epic poem 'The Faerie Queene,' where Una symbolizes truth and leads a lion representing England. The obverse side shows a young Queen Victoria, while the reverse depicts the allegorical scene.

These coins were produced as pattern pieces, intended to showcase potential designs for currency but never entered full circulation. Their scarcity contributes to their value among collectors. The Bangor estate find highlights how such rare items can emerge from private collections or inheritances.

The coin's design reflects Victorian-era interests in literature and symbolism.

Produced in the early years of Victoria's reign, it was one of several pattern coins experimented with by the Royal Mint. Fewer than 300 were struck, making surviving examples highly sought after in numismatic markets. The auction took place through a specialist firm dealing in coins and medals.

Bidding reached £110,000, reflecting the coin's condition and rarity. The buyer was not identified in reports.

value these coins for their artistic and historical significance.

The sale underscores ongoing interest in British pattern coins from the 19th century. Future discoveries from estates could bring similar items to market, potentially affecting prices in the sector. The Bangor estate's role in the discovery adds to the story of how rare artifacts surface.

Estates in the UK often yield unexpected historical finds during clearances or valuations. This event provides context on the circulation of numismatic treasures.