According to auctioneers, a rare early Victorian coin that was less than a millimeter thick brought a "phenomenal" £1,600 at auction.
The 19.3mm-diameter gold half sovereign from 1838 was given to Richard Winterton's The Auction Café in Lichfield for sale, and it was later auctioned at The Lichfield Auction Centre in April.
The coin is an illustration of the first half sovereigns that were produced under Queen Victoria's rule.
The coin features the smallest and earliest portrait of the young queen on the front, while the reverse side is adorned with a shield, according to Richard Winterton Auctioneers.
According to expert Phil Bridge, "this 1838 coin was the first half sovereign minted for Victoria, depicting the young queen."
When gold prices began to rise in 2011, a significant number of coins were lost because they were scrapped for bullion.
We anticipated that this sample would do well at auction, but because of its rarity and excellent condition, it garnered a lot of interest and brought approximately £1,600. A half-sovereign coin for an incredible sum of money.
A UK 1980 gold proof four coin set with a Royal Mint authenticity certificate was also recently valued at The Auction Café.
In the same sale at the auction house off Wood End Lane in Fradley Park, the set brought £4,000.