Baldwin's Auction 64-65 Baldwin's hosts a two-day auction including lots from The Michael Hall Collection, The Strickland Neville Rolfe Collection and The Bishop’s Wood Hoard of Roman Coins.
The Trinity or Moritz-pfennig, Silver Medal 1544, on an ornate throne decorated with floral design, God the Father, seated facing, holding orb and sceptre, wearing an imperial crown and jewelled cope, before him Christ on the crucifix, surmounted by a Dove representing the Holy Spirit, angels attend in prayer on clouds either side of the throne, above them the heads of cherubim ascending to the heavens, PROPTER SCELVS MEI PERCVSSI EVM ESAIAE LIII [I have smitten him for my people’s transgression, Isaiah 53], rev two angels standing on a cloud support a tablet inscribed with an excerpt from the Athanasian Creed and a prayer to the Trinity, around REGNANTE MAVRITIO D G DVCE SAXONIAE ZC GROSSVM HVNC LIPSIAE H R CVDEBAT ANO MDXLIIII MENSE IANV [in the reign of Maurice, by the grace of God, Duke of Saxony etc. Hans Reinhart cast this medal in Leipzig in the month of January 1544], 100mm (Habich 1962, pl.207, 1 and pl.209, 1; Scher 127). Beautifully cast and finely chased, iridescently toned, the lightest wear to some high points and without damage, a medal of the finest quality. This medal is without question a masterpiece of Northern European Renaissance art. In work produced for Maurice’s cousin, Johann Friedrich, Reinhart had incorporated symbols and references sympathising with the Lutheran movement, clearly stating the Elector’s religious affiliation. In this piece, through the incorporation of the Athanasian Creed with its theological relevance to both Protestants and Catholics alike at this juncture, Maurice attempts, through art, a reconciliation between the two churches. Highly prized then as now, copies of the medal were cast in 1556, 1561, 1569 and 1574, the last three in the name of Elector August, Maurice’s successor.
Estimate: £60,000-80,000
1022 Commemorative Medals. British Historical Medals. George II, The Royal Family 1732, Large Silver Medal, by John Croker, busts of George II and Queen Caroline facing each other, date in exergue, rev portraits of the King’s seven children with Frederick Prince of Wales in the centre, children’s names in exergue, 70mm (MI ii 500/47; Woolf 44:1). Very fine or better, a few minor surface marks, rare. This medal was in the personal gift of the King for foreign princes and dignitaries. Noel Woolf suggests it is a rejoinder to the medal issued by James (III) Stuart depicting his two sons.
Estimate: £1500-1800
1133 Ancient Greek. Sicily, Syracuse, Hiketas (287-278 BC), Gold Dekadrachm, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, head of Persephone left, wreathed with corn, torch behind, rev EΠI IKETA, biga of horses galloping right, driven by Nike, crescent above, dot within circle below, 4.25g (T V Buttrey, NC 1973, 28, 3-G; SNG ANS 776 (obverse die) and 777 (revserse die)). Traces of double-striking on the reverse, a few light marks on the edge and toning on the obverse, good very fine.
Estimate: £1800-2200
1171 Ancient Roman. Mint of Rome unless otherwise stated. Nero (AD 54-68), Gold Aureus, AD 64-65, NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right, rev IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter enthroned left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, 7.40g (RIC 52; BMC
