An incredible piece of numismatic history could soon be yours.
The Crown Coin: Her Masterpiece, widely considered to be one of the world’s most valuable coins, will be auctioned off at Stanley Gibbons Baldwin in the U.K. later this month. The rarity was last independently valued at £16 million (approximately $21.8 million at the current exchange rate) in 2022, but has been given a rather conservative pre-sale estimate of £2 million to £3 million ($2.7 million to $4 million). Experts expect it could achieve far more, though.
Minted by the East India Company to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the commemorative coin showcases some 3.61 kilograms (nearly eight pounds) of pure 24-karat gold and an extraordinary 6,426 diamonds totaling almost 484 carats.
The back of the coin features a diamond Union Jack.
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin
On the front side, a two-pound gold coin worth £10,000 is surrounded by 10 one-ounce coins bearing the official portraits of the late queen and designs representing her six virtues (Truth, Justice, Charity, Courage, Victory, and Constancy). Diamonds have been expertly set into the gold, creating a dazzling backdrop with intricate motifs that represent three of Her Majesty’s most treasured tiaras. The reverse side sees the Union Jack rendered in yet more dazzling diamonds.
A two-pound gold coin lies at the center.
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin
The coin took more than 2,800 hours to come to fruition, with over 80 artisans and master jewelers from eight countries working on different elements. The design was conceived in Britain, then further refined in Sri Lanka. The coins were minted in Germany and the Netherlands, engraved in Singapore, and finally assembled in India. The diamonds were cut and polished in Australia, South Africa, and Canada, then certified in the U.S. by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The international nature of the collaboration underscores the global reach of the late monarch and the unifying effect she had on the world.
Some 6,426 diamonds are set into the 24-karat gold.
Stanley Gibbons Baldwin
“The Crown Coin: Her Masterpiece stands alongside the most celebrated creations in numismatic history, from the legendary 1,000 Tola Gold Mohur of Mughal Emperor Jahangir to the great commemorative works of European royalty,” said a spokesperson from Stanley Gibbons Baldwin. “It is a once-in-history tribute to a sovereign whose reign will never be equalled,” they added.
The auction will take place live at Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s flagship in London and online on September 25. Should the Crown Coin hammer down for anywhere close to $21 million, it will set a new world record. The 1933 Double Eagle currently holds the title of the most expensive coin in the world, after selling for an astonishing $18.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 2021.
