Featuring a range of one-of-a-kind pieces complete with hallmarking by the London Assay Office, our next trial pieces auction will take place between Friday, 10 January and Sunday, 2 February 2025.
The catalogue features several gold, silver and base metal pieces struck to either Proof, Brilliant Uncirculated or Bullion standard that cover a variety of themes.
This is our fifth trial pieces auction and the catalogue of trial pieces for this particular auction will be available to view from Friday, 10 January 2025. On Sunday, 2 February 2025, any bids that have already been placed will be counted against those made at the live auction.
We explore some of the highlights of our auction in more detail below.
What is a Trial Piece?
Trial pieces are created during the coin-production process to test the viability of a product or production method. Typically, we produce around 30 trial pieces throughout this process, depending on the complexity of a product, with most of them destroyed afterwards.
Die trial pieces are extremely rare, with only a small amount usually kept for reference purposes. This trial pieces auction gives collectors the chance to add some of these rare, one-of-a-kind pieces to their collections.
Two National Icons
The highlight of the gold trial pieces available at our upcoming auction is a piece featuring a design that celebrates the unique relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. Designed by John M. Mercanti, one of the most prolific coin designers in the history of the United States Mint, The Lion and The Eagle reverse design brings together two national icons steeped in centuries of history.
Appearing on the Coats of Arms of many powerful families across Europe, the lion has long been used in heraldry to represent strength, courage and nobility. Representing independence, determination and a strong will to survive, the bald eagle has been used as a symbol of the United States since 1782, and it has since appeared on official documents, currency, flags and much more.
A Classic Design
A highlight of the silver trial pieces available includes the St George and the Dragon 2024 UK 2oz Silver Proof Trial Piece. St George and the dragon are a duo that has appeared on coins for centuries, perhaps most famously in the reverse design created by Benedetto Pistrucci for The Sovereign in the early nineteenth century.
The saint has been reimagined several times since on The Sovereign, including interpretations by Paul Day and Timothy Noad. This latest iteration of St George and the dragon by Jody Clark first featured on a series of bullion coins by The Royal Mint.
The Rarest 50p in Circulation
For the last 15 years, the 2009 Kew Gardens UK 50p coin was the rarest of the denomination to be found in circulation. However, the new definitive UK 50p coin of His Majesty King Charles III’s reign features the Atlantic salmon on the reverse and it became the rarest 50p in circulation, with just 200,000 coins produced in 2023.
The highlight of the base metal trial pieces available at our latest auction is the King Charles III Definitives 2023 UK 50p Base Proof Trial Piece. This trial piece has been struck to Proof standard, which means it has been struck more than once, resulting in a more defined design.
There are also several other definitive designs available at our upcoming trial pieces auction, featuring flora and fauna from across the United Kingdom. Each animal that features in this suite of designs represents a conservation success or cause for concern.
The 2025 Trial Pieces Auction
Our next trial pieces auction features a wide variety of trial pieces for collectors to choose from, ensuring you can find something rare and unique to add to your collection. View the catalogue from Friday, 10 January 2025 to find your next rare piece and place your bids before or during the live auction on Sunday, 2 February 2025.
