Gold coins found in pillowcases and sock raise £118k at auction

Hundreds of coins that were discovered in pillowcases and a sock during a routine house clearance have sold for more than £100,000.

Hansons Auctioneers were carrying out the clearance at a house in Leicestershire when they found 331 gold coins while searching a linen chest.

The coins ranged from the 1800s to the 21st century, featuring monarchs such as Queen Victoria, King George V and Queen Elizabeth II.

The coins were valued at between £300 to £500 each (Hanson Ross)

The collection went under the hammer at Hertfordshire auction house Hanson Ross on January 17, with each coin valued between £300 and £500.

Every single coin was sold for a combined £90,768, with a buyer’s premium taking the total to £118,000.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: “It was an amazing find, made after a client instructed us to clear a house.

“Our team are renowned for being thorough. They check over every inch of a house. It’s not just about fine or fragile objects on display, it’s the hidden items that are often the most valuable.

“These are found in drawers, wardrobes, cupboards, bags and, in this case, even an old sock. People have a multitude of hiding places. Sometimes it’s a case of hide and seek. In this case, workers were checking through the attic and linen in a bedroom chest when the coins were discovered.

“You can imagine their amazement. First, they saw the golden glint of one gold coin, then handfuls emerged. Some were hidden in a pillowcase and many others were tucked away in a sock. Our client was flabbergasted and delighted in equal measure. They had no idea the house contained a treasure trove of gold.”

Charles Hanson with some of the gold coins found in a linen box (Nathan Fitzsimmons Hansons)

Mr Hanson said that the coins were “in hot demand” sparking a “white glove sale” where every single lot sells.

He added: “It was like a walk through 300 years of history. The collection captured the passage of time due to different monarchs represented on the sovereigns.

“They also reminded us of the length of their reigns. Due to long periods on the throne, Victoria and Elizabeth’s coin profiles alter through the decades.”