LONDON.- A staggering collection of almost 650 coins, tokens, historical medals and paper money of Wiltshire is among the sale of Wiltshire Coins & Paranumismatica, British Tokens, Tickets & Passes on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at international coins, medals, banknotes and jewellery specialists Dix Noonan Webb.

Formed by the late David Ward (1943-2021), who lived in Bulford (on Salisbury Plain), the collection will be sold in 136 lots. Mr Ward, an accountant by profession, started collecting the numismatica of his home county in 1968 and proceeded, over the ensuing 52 years, to amass an important group.



The collection covers towns and cities in Wiltshire such as Salisbury, Wilton, Bradford-upon-Avon; Chippenham; Devizes; Calne; Highworth; Amesbury; Trowbridge; Malmesbury; Marlborough and Swindon but also iconic landmarks. A very rare medal dating from 1796 showing Stonehenge and the ancient druids is estimated at £500-700, while a penny from the reign of William I that was minted in Salisbury carries a similar estimate.

Peter Preston-Morley, Head of Coin Department at Dix Noonan Webb, explains: “As most unusually, the Ward collection of Wiltshire 17th century tokens, numbering 246 different varieties and 33 duplicates, is the second significant group of the county to be sold in these rooms in 2021. It includes many pieces absent from the late Robert Thompson’s collection, and is to be commended to those seeking to fill gaps in the county series.”

From the Collection of the 19th Century Tokens formed by John Akins (Part II) comprises 107 lots including an extremely rare halfcrown for the Douglas Bank Co, Isle of Man, dating from 1811, which is expected to fetch £2,400-£3,000, while from West Sussex a very rare Five Shilling coin from Chichester, dating from 1811 is estimated at £2,000-2,600.

95 lots from the Collection of Seattle-born and bred, Bill McKivor, who was a very well-known figure in the world of tokens on both sides of the Atlantic, will include an exceptionally rare trial copper halfpenny from Coalbrook Dale, Shropshire, dating from 1792 with a view of the Iron Bridge, which is estimated at £1,000-1,500, while a stunning proof halfpenny depicting Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, and dating from 1797, is estimated at £600-800 and from Devon, a very rare twopence from 1801 shows a view of Eddystone lighthouse, on one side and Spurn Point lighthouse, the other (est: £500-700).

The third and final part of the Robert Thompson Collection of 17th century tokens, comprises 117 lots, which mainly focus on London and include a rare octagonal Halfpenny St George’s Church in Southwark (London) which is estimated at £300-400, while a halfpenny for Paddington - the only issue known for the locality is expected to fetch £150-200.

The sale also includes Irish tokens from the Collection of Barry Woodside, as well as a group of passes – many for London theatres.