“ una and the Lion”：您是否拥有世界上“最美丽”的硬币之一，拿到了204,000英镑？

黄金五磅的硬币于1839年被铸造出来，庆祝维多利亚女王统治的成立仅两年后

A little-known British coin could be worth a small fortune if you happen to have one tucked away in your loft.

如果您碰巧将一个人藏在阁楼中，那么鲜为人知的英国硬币可能值得一提。

The gold five-pound coin was minted in 1839, celebrating the inception of Queen Victoria's rule just two years after it began.

五磅重的硬币在1839年被铸造出来，庆祝维多利亚女王统治的诞生仅两年后。

While the Royal Mint says it's not the rarest in the world, it's often regarded as one of the 'most beautiful' due to its unique and intricate design.

虽然皇家造币厂说这不是世界上最稀有的，但由于其独特而错综复杂的设计，它通常被视为“最美丽的”之一。

One side of the coin features a young head portrait of Queen Victoria, who was just 18 years old when she became a monarch.

硬币的一侧是维多利亚女王的年轻头部肖像，她成为君主时才18岁。

But most remarkably, the reverse shows Her Majesty depicting the character of 'Princess Una' guiding a maned lion.

但最值得注意的是，反面显示了女王je下，描绘了“乌纳公主”的性格，指导着曼语的狮子。

Such an unusual image is actually rooted in a 1590 poem called 'The Faerie Queen', with the lion thought to be a symbol for something far bigger.

这种不寻常的形象实际上植根于1590首诗《仙女女王》，狮子被认为是更大的东西的象征。

The London Mint Office explains: "The story can be found in Edmund Spenser’s epic and multi-layered poem 'The Faerie Queene' first published in 1590.

伦敦薄荷办公室解释说：“这个故事可以在埃德蒙·斯宾塞（Edmund Spenser）的史诗般的多层诗《仙灵皇后》（The Faerie Queene）中找到，该诗于1590年首次出版。

"Una, the personification of truth and virtue is protected from danger by a fearsome Lion who is captivated by her beautiful face.

“ una，真理和美德的拟人化受到了可怕的狮子的危险，她被她美丽的脸庞迷住了。

"Widely considered one of the most beautiful British coins ever issued, the Chief Engraver took the bold step of depicting Queen Victoria as the innocent Una guiding the great lion, which represents England."

“被普遍认为是有史以来最美丽的英国硬币之一，首席雕刻师采取了大胆的一步，将维多利亚女王描绘为代表英格兰的无辜的乌玛（Una）指导大狮子。”

Despite its allure, it's believed that no more than a few hundred 'Una and the Lion' coins were minted at the time.

尽管有吸引力，但人们认为，当时铸造了几百个“ una and the Lion”硬币。

This is partly why they are so valuable, with one reportedly fetching £204,000 at a 2017 auction, according to Noonans Mayfair.

据Noonans Mayfair称，这就是为什么它们如此有价值的原因，据报道，他们在2017年拍卖会上拿了204,000英镑。

Fast forward to 2023, and another of these rare coins appeared on the block with an opening bid of £400,000, detailed by the Coin Cabinet, although it didn't sell.

快进到2023年，其中另一枚稀有硬币以40万英镑的开场价出现在街区上，尽管硬币橱柜没有出售，但它详细介绍了。

"The most famed of British coins in impeccable condition," its description read at the time.

当时的描述说：“在无可挑剔的情况下，英国最著名的硬币是无可挑剔的。”

"To hold the coin close is to see yourself staring back. No wear and light handling marks as indicated by grade.

“要保持硬币的关闭是要看到自己回头。没有磨损和轻巧的处理标记，如坡度所示。

"Extremely rare and exceedingly sought after - 11 to 20 examples known."

“极为罕见，受到极大追捧-11至20个示例已知。”

However, it's important to remember that a coin's worth is heavily influenced by its condition.

但是，重要的是要记住，硬币的价值在很大程度上受其状况的影响。

Chris Yang, Co-founder of Coins Value, previously told the Daily Star: "Coins in perfect 'mint' condition are worth far more than their well-worn, damaged, and poor-condition counterparts.

硬币价值的联合创始人克里斯·杨（Chris Yang）此前曾告诉《每日星报》（Daily Star）：“处于完美的'薄荷'条件下的硬币的价值远远超过了他们破旧，损坏且条件较差的同行。

"Sometimes a minor difference in grade translates to hundreds, maybe thousands in value."

“有时在等级上的差异很小，可能是数百，也许是数千个价值。”

Beyond this, he also added: "If the coin you own is highly important, the best practice is to hold on to it unless the need to raise money is urgent.

除此之外，他还补充说：“如果您拥有的硬币非常重要，那么最好的做法是坚持下去，除非需要筹集资金是紧迫的。

"The better issues of these important coins gain in value over time. The prices of these scarce coins are subject to some uncertainty based on alterations in the overall market and economy.

“随着时间的推移，这些重要硬币的价值增长的更好问题。这些稀缺的硬币的价格基于整体市场和经济的变化遭受一些不确定性。

"When selling, shop around various dealers and obtain the best price. An auction house is considered to achieve the maximum value for really spectacular pieces. Be prepared to pay a 10-20% commission on the selling price.

“出售时，请在各种经销商周围购物并获得最优惠的价格。拍卖行被认为是为了实现真正壮观的物品的最大价值。准备以售价为10-20％的佣金。

"In sum, scrutinise your coins, have them identified and graded professionally, and work with experienced numismatists to determine the real value of your coins so that you can sell them for the best price.

“总而言之，请仔细检查您的硬币，对其进行专业识别和分级，并与经验丰富的钱币主义者合作，以确定硬币的实际价值，以便您可以以最优惠的价格出售它们。

"Remember, the thrill of coin collecting isn't always about striking gold; it's about connecting with history and uncovering hidden treasures. Your old coin jar might hold more than just spare change – it could be a portal to a fascinating past."

“请记住，收集硬币的刺激并不总是关于击打黄金；这是关于与历史建立联系并揭开隐藏的宝藏。您的旧硬币罐不仅可以容纳备用零钱，而且可能是一个令人着迷的过去的门户。”