Henry III Gold Penny

A rare Henry III Gold Penny (circa 1257) sold for a record-breaking £648,000 ($873,073) at a Spink & Sons auction in January 2022. Discovered by a metal detectorist in Devon, England, this 800-year-old coin is one of only eight known surviving examples and is considered one of the most significant finds in English numismatic history.

• Sold Price: £648,000 (including buyer’s premium, with a hammer price of £540,000).
• Significance: It is deemed the most valuable single Medieval English coin ever sold at auction.
• Background: Minted in 1257 to establish gold coinage, most were melted down, making them exceptionally rare.
• Appearance: The obverse shows the King enthroned, holding a scepter and orb, while the reverse features a long voided cross with pellets and five-petal rosettes.
• Other Sales: In 2021, another example sold at a Heritage Auctions in Dallas for approximately £526,000 ($720,000).