2017-01-25 Wed

A gold medal, issued by Spink in 1966 to observe the 900th anniversary of the historically significant and path-breaking Battle of Hastings will be offered at the Davissons Ltd. auction on 22nd February with an estimated value of $2,000. The Battle of Hastings was won by the Normans who were led by William, the Duke of Normandy on 14th October 1066 against England’s last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson. Norman’s conquest of England began after the battle which was resisted by many protestors but the battle ended with William’s victory over England. The Saxon aristocracy was replaced with a French-speaking ruling class and a common law by the Duke of Normandy.

The obverse of the .9167 fine gold 47.77 grams medal features the king seated on a throne under an arch, with rim legends WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 900TH ANNIVERSARY. The reverse features a map of the English Channel with the inscriptions HASTINGS, PEVENSEY, NORMANDY, BAYEUX, ROUEN, four sailing galleys; rim inscriptions THE LAST INVASION OF BRITAIN, THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS and the date 1066. Silver and gold medals were issued in two sizes. The mintage limit of the gold coins was 300.

The Proof medal is covered in leather covered, silk-lined box with Spink logo and a description of the medal hand-signed by D. Liddell for Spink & Son.