Latest news with #SpinkAndSon
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
‘Most gallant' WWII officer's Victoria Cross to be put up for auction
The family of a disabled World War Two officer who single-handedly turned 'the tide of a battle' are offering his Victoria Cross for sale at auction for the first time. Lieutenant Willward Alexander Sandys-Clarke, whose family called him Peter, in April 1943 cleared three German machine-gun posts and an anti-tank pit, capturing numerous prisoners in the process. All the while, his wife heavily pregnant with their first child. When his platoon came under fire from two enemy snipers, Lt Clarke advanced towards them alone only to be shot and killed. Robin, Sandys-Clarke's son, was born back in England just over a week later. Two days after Robin's birth Irene Deakin, his widow, received the telegraph telling her he had died. Mrs Deakin, who was known as Renee, went to Buckingham Palace to meet King George VI to collect the posthumous Victoria Cross (VC) – Britain's highest award for gallantry – in his honour. Eight decades on, his medals and other prized mementos are estimated to sell for £300,000 to £500,000 at London-based auctioneers Spink & Son. Alongside the VC is an emotive letter penned by Lieutenant Edward Deakin, his brother-in-law, to his sister telling her that Sandys-Clarke had died on the battlefield. Lt Deakin, who served alongside Lt Clarke in the 1st Battalion, The Loyals, during the North African campaign, wrote: 'Peter was killed in action at about noon yesterday, Friday, April 23, towards the end of one of the most gallant and courageous actions, led by himself, which I am ever likely to see.' He added: 'All I know is that I, and we all, have lost one of the finest and bravest of us all, and that he died as he always lived, in the highest interpretation of courage and honour.' The auctioneers said the family had decided now is the right time to part with Sandys-Clarke's belongings as they want to bring his story to a wider audience. A fierce counter-attack Lt Clarke was born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1919. He was almost killed in a motorcycle accident in September 1940, leaving him nearly blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. But he refused an honourable discharge and against the surgeon's advice landed with the 1st Battalion in North Africa. The Loyals were tasked to take Gueriat-el-Atach in Tunisia, one of the strongest points in the line of German defences on the route to Tunis and a key proponent of Operation Vulcan. The Loyals launched a 2am offensive, only to be met with a fierce German counter-attack which left Sandys-Clarke as the only officer standing in 'B' Company. He was wounded in the neck and head by shell splinters but immediately returned to the battlefield when he was bandaged up could form a composite platoon to recapture the ridge that controlled the line of advance. His VC citation states: 'Without hesitating, Lieutenant Clarke advanced single-handed to clear the opposition, but was killed outright within a few feet of the enemy. 'This officer's quick grasp of the situation and his brilliant leadership undoubtedly restored the situation, whilst his outstanding personal bravery and tenacious devotion to duty were an inspiration to his company and were beyond praise.' Sandys-Clarke, who was the fifth member of the Clarke family to receive the VC, was laid to rest in Massicault War Cemetery, near Tunis. Marcus Budgen, head of the medals department at Spink & Son, said: 'This is without a doubt one of the most important Victoria Crosses to come to market for the past decade, it is certainly the most poignant story I have ever told in my career.' He added: 'It is a simply breathtaking and tear-jerking story that should inspire us all.' The sale takes place on July 24.
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Top nine rarest and most valuable foreign coins you might find on your summer holiday worth up to £275k
YOU could end up back home with more than a tan after your summer holiday this year. Find a rare foreign coin in your spare change and you might fetch thousands or potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds for it. 10 But don't know what you're looking for? Gregory Edmund, senior coin specialist at auction house Spink and Son, has revealed the top nine you need to look out for, and how much they're worth. He told The Sun: "Whilst coin use is rapidly in decline around the world, the age-old pastime of checking your change is as exciting as it has ever been. "With some of the world's most celebrated coin rarities resulting from unexpected discoveries in people's pockets from America to Italy and the Isle of Man to Australia, you may well just find something that will cover your getaway and then some." Of course, you're never guaranteed to be quids in - but it's still worth keeping an eye on your holiday change. Just remember any coin is only worth how much someone else is willing to pay for it. US and Canadian coins West Point Quarter - £14.75 Over 20million West Point quarters ($0.25) were struck and put into general circulation by the Federal Mint in 2019 and 2020. The Federal Mint is the body that makes coins in the US, like the Royal Mint in the UK. But those that come with a "W" mint mark behind George Washington 's head on the obverse side of the coin can be worth up to $20 (£14.75). Meanwhile, sets of 10 of these coins can sell for as much as $250 (£184.45). 1955 Cent - Doubled Die Obverse - £17,712 The 1955 Cent Doubled Die Obverse coin was first struck in 1955. But an error in the manufacturing process led to some of the one cents showing a doubling of the date and wording on the head's side. The error is known in collector circles as a "doubled die". Despite the coin's face value only being one cent, it has been known to sell for up to $24,000 (£17,712) in auctions previously. US 'Cheerios' 2000 Sacagawea Dollar - £22,070 10 In 2000, "Sacagawea" dollar coins were struck and put into circulation as part of a marketing promotion with cereal company General Mills. The pieces were added to boxes of Cheerios cereal. However, in 2005 it was discovered that around 5,500 of the coins were early strikes with "experimental" tail feathers on one side, different to those ultimately issued for general circulation. One of the coins has been known to sell for $30,000 (£22,175) previously. 1943 Copper Cent - £275,182 Branded the "Holy Grail" of rare circulated coins, the 1943 "Wheat Cent" is worth a small fortune. The coin was originally designed to be made out of steel, but around 40 were struck on copper blanks for the Federal Mints in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver. Since their release, some have turned up in cafeterias and bubblegum machines. One of the coins was previously priced at $500 (£369.86) but the record sale for one of these pieces is a staggering $372,000 (£275,182). 2000 P25 Cents - £18,500 The 2000 Canadian nickel-plated "P" Caribou coin has been known to sell for as much as $25,000 (£18,500). Only around three to five of these coins were put into circulation due to their unique P lettering underneath Queen Elizabeth's head. This is instead of the standard mint mark applied to the vast majority of these coins. Europe Italy, One Cent / Two Cent, 2002 'Mole Antonelliana' Error – £1,278 - £1,705 A rare Euro coin might crop up in your spare change on holiday to Italy this summer. As the Euro coin first came into production in 2002, a small number of two cent pieces were struck with a one cent head's side. Only around 7,000 of these were struck before the mistake was spotted. Some of these coins have sold for up to €2,000 (£1,705) previously. Monaco, 2007 'Grace Kelly' 2 Euros – £1,279 Monaco released around 20,000 special two euro coins to commemorate Princess Grace Kelly's death in 2007. But because so few of them were entered into general circulation, they have been known to sell for big sums. One previously sold for as much as €2,000 (£1,706). Isle of Man Tosha Cat £2 - £200 Take a trip to the Isle of Man and you might stumble across this rare £2 piece. The Tosha Cat coin was struck in 2011 to mark the Commonwealth Youth Games being held on the island for the first time. It has been known to sell for upwards of £200 on eBay before so is well worth looking out for in your spare change. It may even turn up in your spare change in the UK too, because the Isle of Man £2 coin is the same size and specifications as mainland British currency. Australia "Mob of Roos" Dollar Coin - £4,819 In 1992, the Australian government reported striking 8,000 Dollar coins featuring five kangaroos on the tails side. However, these pieces never actually surfaced with mintage records believed to be wrong. It is thought only one of this type of coin has ever surfaced making it worth a hefty amount. The last time this unique coin sold was for more than AU$10,000 (£4,819). How to sell a rare coin You've got three main options: in auction, on eBay or on Facebook Marketplace. The safest way to sell a rare coin is more than likely at auction. If you are selling on eBay, make sure you list the coin's price accurately. You can do this by checking how much other sellers have sold the same piece for. Finally, you can sell on Facebook Marketplace, but be wary of scammers trying to get you to transfer money to dodgy accounts. It can be easier to meet buyers in person and get cash for your coin, but only in daylight and in a public place. In any case, if you're selling on eBay or Facebook, decent pictures will help the coin sell for the best price.
