Rare Edward VIII coin sells for record £1m
UK buyer snaps up sovereign that was never released to public because of king's abdication
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A rare coin featuring the Queen's uncle before he abdicated has been sold for £1m, setting a new record for the sale of a British coin.
The Edward VIII sovereign was bought by a private buyer in the UK from a collector in the US, having been located by the Royal Mint.
The 22-carat gold coin was one of a small collection of trial sets that were created when Edward ascended the throne, but they were never released to the public because of his abdication in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
The coin is also unique in that the king broke with the tradition of successive monarchs' heads facing in opposite directions, because he preferred his left profile, the Royal Mint said.
Rebecca Morgan, head of collector services, said: “The Edward VIII sovereign is one of the rarest and most collectable coins in the world, so it's no surprise that it has set a new record for British coinage.
“We were delighted to be able to locate such a special coin for our customer, and bring it back to the UK to make history once more.”
Matt Curtis, also from the Royal Mint, said: “The Edward VIII sovereign is part of numismatic legend – belonging to a series of coins that were never meant to exist, and were hidden from the public for decades.
“This sovereign is significant not only because of its rarity, but because it sits at the heart of an international story and has been treasured by collectors in both the UK and US.”
The Edward VIII sovereign is one of just two examples thought to exist in private ownership, according to the Royal Mint.
The remaining four examples are in museums and institutions, including the Royal Mint Experience, where it is on permanent display to the public.
Press Association
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments