Tickets and Checks from the Collection of Bob Lyall

Bob Lyall
Bob Lyall has been a cornerstone with respect to research on the West Indies cut and countermarked series for many years. A major achievement was the publication of a very important booklet, West Indian Coinage – Some New Discoveries, by Spink in 1998. This work brought to light a significant amount of contemporary documentation not previously published in the numismatic domain. Additionally, his work covers much more as evidenced by his book on West Indies tokens, and publications on Gibraltar, identifying this colony as the original location for the series of heart-shaped piercings (the earliest examples of mutilated coinage for British colonial use) in 2008, his book on the tokens of Malta, along with a number of articles published in Spink’s Numismatic Circular over the years.
Bob developed a collecting interest at quite an early age, starting off with artefacts and objects of interest given to him by family members. By the age of twelve his interest focused primarily on numismatics. He was already on his way to forming a significant collection of the coinage of Charles I (sold in these rooms in 2015 and 2016) when he had his first exposure to the West Indies (including Bermuda, Bahamas and British Honduras) in 1958, performing his National Service with the Royal Navy.
I was introduced to Bob via correspondence in 1975. We immediately recognised that we had a strong mutual interest in the cut and countermarked coins of the West Indies and began to exchange thoughts and ideas. We met in person when I visited the UK in 1977 and one of the highlights of this visit was a weekend spent with Fred Pridmore in Taunton. Both Bob and I began our interest in the West Indies cut and countermarked series in 1969-70, so our weekend with Fred was truly valuable as we already had a degree of understanding and background in the series. As such, we were able to understand the detailed points that Fred discussed with us. Over the next few years there were a number of visits; I stayed with Bob when I came to the UK and he came to Puerto Rico and stayed with me. These meetings provided an ideal opportunity to discuss and share ideas on the series. Areas where our views differed were few and far between.
While some issues are common (common being a relative term in this series), many are great rarities. Accordingly, the collecting fraternity has been small in number, due not only to the lack of material but also to the limited understanding of the social and economic conditions that brought about the existence of these coins. It is gratifying to see that in the past 8-10 years there has been a marked increase in interest by collectors and students, and a genuine recognition of the rarity of the coins in general. It is not the easiest series to understand, complicated as it is by ‘unofficial’ specimens, ‘contemporary counterfeits’ and, sadly, ‘modern fakes’. With study the first two categories add significant interest to the series and indeed these coins formed an integral part of the day-to-day marketplace transactions for which the various island assemblies took steps to enact this exceptional local coinage. With very few exceptions, study and close examination can usually detect and identify the third category.
Bob, being a faithful student of the series, focused on study and research, writing literally hundreds of letters to museums, historical societies and individuals who might have useful information, and visiting various libraries and museums in the UK and the West Indies.
In order to truly understand these highly interesting coins they must be physically handled. Therefore, it is without hesitation or regret that both Bob and I speak out strongly against the modern practice of ‘slabbing’ cut and countermarked coins. Sadly, we have seen too many modern fakes and concoctions finding their way into slabs and this does not assist the collector, or the reputation of the companies providing this service. This is a specialised series and without appropriate study and knowledge even an experienced numismatist can easily put a modern fake into a slab. Furthermore, it is noted that the authenticating and grading services make no differentiation between official, unofficial and contemporary counterfeits. Again, not surprising in that unless there is a good understanding of the series, these differentiations are likely to be overlooked or ignored. Indeed, until recently, cut and countermarked coins have been slabbed without any indication of the weight (an aspect with a certain degree of value in respect to silver segments, but absolutely crucial with respect to the clipped, plugged and countermarked gold coins). We would encourage students of the series to embrace their collections in the raw form, so as to fully maximise their understanding, knowledge and enjoyment.
The coins now offered in this catalogue represent a dedicated and focused effort over many years. As such, the size and scope of this collection affords bidders a great opportunity to make significant additions to their own collections. Not to be overlooked are a number of very unusual specimens often missing even from major collections. Ken Eckardt
Cataloguer’s note: Throughout the catalogue there are numerous notes and comments. In many instances these are the studied opinion of the cataloguer. As such, any criticism for errors, omissions or incorrect assumptions should be directed to me. I would welcome any comments or an in-depth discussion on any of the points raised, or on any specific coins listed herein. K.V.E.
Collection Information
This collection was sold on 3 October 2019.
Other Collections Sold in 2019
- Tokens from the Late David Griffiths Collection
- London 17th Century Tokens from the Collection of Quentin Archer
- English Coins from the Collection of the late Dr John Hulett
- Coins of France from the Collection of the late Tony Merson
- The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins
- English Coins from the Collection of the late John Atkinson
- British Copper and Bronze Coins from the Collection formed by the late Hiram Brown
- The Collection of British Coins Formed by the Late Ray Inder
- The Paul Shimmin Collection of Isle of Man Banknotes
- 19th Century Tokens from the Collection of the Late Francis Cokayne
- A Collection of Tokens, the Property of a Gentleman
- A Collection of Medals Relating to Aviation, the Property of a Gentleman
- Scottish Educational Award Medals from the Collection formed by the late T.H. Watts
- A Collection of Medals for the Russian Intervention 1918-20
- A Collection of Medals to Casualties from the Battle of Imjin River, 22-25 April 1951
- Medals from the Collection of Peter Duckers
- A Collection of Medals to the 23rd Foot Royal Welsh Fusiliers
- A Collection of Medals to the South Wales Borderers
- A Collection of Medals to the 21st (Yeoman Rifles) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps
- A Collection of Fire Brigade Medals
- The Collection of Halfcrowns formed by Brian Dawson
- A Collection of Watches and Rings by the Award Winning French Designer Jean Muller
- Louis Osman Interest
- A Collection of Memorabilia relating to family of Thomas Percy, Bishop of Dromore, and Edward Whalley
- A Private Collection of Jewels by de Grisogono
- The David Kirch Collection of Jersey Paper Money
- Banknotes from the Brian Dawson Collection
- A Collection of Maundy Sets
- A Collection of Jetons, the Property of a Gentleman
- The ‘Merchant of the Islands’ Collection of Admiral Vernon Medals
- Swedish Medals from the Collection formed by the late Sven Gahlin
- A Small Collection of Ancient Coins, the Property of a Gentleman
- A Collection of Medals for the Second Afghan War 1878-80
- A Collection of Queen’s South Africa Medals to Town Guard Units
- A Collection of Egypt and Sudan Medals for the Nile Campaign 1884-85
- The Collection of Medals to Yeomen of the Guard formed by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Denny
- A Small Collection of Great War Medals to the Royal Sussex Regiment
- A Collection of Medals for the Russian Intervention 1918-20
- A Collection of German Militaria
- The Colonel Farnes Collection
- Books from the Library of Peter Duckers
- The Terence Maudlin Collection of English Hammered Pennies
- Coins and Medals by David Ramage, from the Collection of the late Robert Thompson
- A Collection of Shillings, the Property of a Gentleman
- A Collection of Maundy Sets
- Tickets and Passes of London from the David Young Collection
- A Collection of Bois Durci Medals
- Roman Coins from the Collection of Keith Cullum
- British Coins from the Collection formed by J.D.D. Brown
- The Private Collection of a Gentleman
- The David Livingstone Collection
- A private collection of Regimental and Royal Memorabilia relating to Corporal Ernest G Moffatt
- A Collection of Gallantry Awards to the Lincolnshire Regiment
- The Robin Scott-Smith Collection of Medals to Casualties
- A Collection of Medals to Second World War Royal Air Force Casualties
- A Collection of Medals for the Boxer Rebellion 1900
- A Collection of Russian Historical Medals, the Property of a Gentleman
- British Coins from the Collection of Dr John Tooze
- Gold Coins of Elizabeth I from the Collection formed by Walter Wilkinson
- A Collection of Elizabeth II Coins and Proof Sets in precious metals
- A Small Collection of European Thalers and their Fractions
- A Collection of Great War Military Medals to the Lincolnshire Regiment
- The John Nicholson Collection of medals to men who fought in the Kaffir Wars of 1834-53
- A Collection of General Service Medals for Northern Ireland
- World Tokens, the Property of a North Country Collector
- The Collection of London 17th Century Tokens Formed by the Late Cole Danehower
- The Collection of Worcestershire Tokens Formed by the Late Michael Paterson
- 18th Century Tokens from the Collection of the Late David McDonald
- The Collection of Scottish Tokens Formed by the Late Michael Paterson
- Tickets and Checks from the Collection of Bob Lyall
- English Coins from the Collection of the late Keith Cullum
- Coins of the Carlisle Mint from the John Mattinson Collection
- A Collection of Edward IV Groats
- Coin Weights from two Private Collections
- A Collection of Coins of the Indian Sultanates
- A Collection of Historical Medals, the Property of a Gentleman
- The ‘Millennium’ Hoard of Æthelred II Pennies and cut Halfpence from Suffolk
- The Gordon Freestone Collection of 20th Century British Coins
- An Important Group of Ephemera relating to Thomas Graham, Master of the Mint
- A Private Collection of Sovereign Cases
- A Collection of Medals Relating to the 1st Anglo-Boer War 1880-81
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