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The Army's First Victoria Cross
 | We are proud to offer the very first Victoria Cross awarded to a British soldier. Glasgow-born Major John Simpson Knox won the medal for acts of heroism he performed during the Crimean War. The medal is sold with a Russian cannonball that blew Major Knox's arm off in battle along with three other medals he earned for bravery. |
Featured Coins, Banknotes, Military Medals & Commemorative Medals
England - 1662 AD Commemorative Medal - (GVF) Struck, Silver-gilt
Country / Category: England
Occasion: Charles II and Catherine of Braganza, Marriage of
Condition: (GVF) - Good Very Fine to Extremely Fine with contemporary matt gilding
Metal: Silver-gilt
Type: Struck
Minted From: 1662 AD
Obverse Description: Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of Charles right
Reverse Description: Draped bust of Catherine of Braganza
Description: Marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza medal by J. Roettier, known as the 'Golden Medal' commemorated by the poet Waller. RARE, PLUS UNUSUAL TO FIND GILDING INTACT AND NOT WORN OFF ON HIGH SURFACES
Stock code:
CM000022 |
SG number:
1662
Occasion: Charles II and Catherine of Braganza, Marriage of
Condition: (GVF) - Good Very Fine to Extremely Fine with contemporary matt gilding
Metal: Silver-gilt
Type: Struck
Minted From: 1662 AD
Obverse Description: Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of Charles right
Reverse Description: Draped bust of Catherine of Braganza
Description: Marriage of Charles II to Catherine of Braganza medal by J. Roettier, known as the 'Golden Medal' commemorated by the poet Waller. RARE, PLUS UNUSUAL TO FIND GILDING INTACT AND NOT WORN OFF ON HIGH SURFACES
£575
Great Britain - 1948 AD Pounds, One Million - (VF) , Banknote
Country / Category: Great Britain
Reign: George VI - (1936 - 1952)
Denomination: Pounds, One Million
Condition: (VF) - Small hole cancellation through signature. Light creases and some handling otherwise good very fine to about extremely fine and extremely rare.
Metal: Banknote
Mint Mark: Bank of England
Minted From: 1948 AD
Minted Until: 1948 AD
Description: One Million Pounds, 30 August 1948, D 000007, on Bank of England watermarked paper, PAYABLE ON DEMAND, signature of E.E. Bridges, Secretary to the Treasury, bottom right, stamped ‘CANCELLED, 6 OCT. 1948, BANK OF ENGLAND’. Monies received through the Marshall Aid plan after World War II, were subject to strict accountability. The Treasury had to borrow from the Bank of England on a short term basis and to help with the book keeping requested the printing of high value notes. The total order sent to The Bank of England printing works was for Three Hundred Million Pounds in varying denominations, starting from Twenty Five Thousand Pounds. It is believed that the entire issue was subsequently destroyed with the exception of numbers Seven and Eight for One Million Pounds which were presented to the British and American Treasury Secretaries respectively.
Stock code:
B000001 |
SG number:
1948
Reign: George VI - (1936 - 1952)
Denomination: Pounds, One Million
Condition: (VF) - Small hole cancellation through signature. Light creases and some handling otherwise good very fine to about extremely fine and extremely rare.
Metal: Banknote
Mint Mark: Bank of England
Minted From: 1948 AD
Minted Until: 1948 AD
Description: One Million Pounds, 30 August 1948, D 000007, on Bank of England watermarked paper, PAYABLE ON DEMAND, signature of E.E. Bridges, Secretary to the Treasury, bottom right, stamped ‘CANCELLED, 6 OCT. 1948, BANK OF ENGLAND’. Monies received through the Marshall Aid plan after World War II, were subject to strict accountability. The Treasury had to borrow from the Bank of England on a short term basis and to help with the book keeping requested the printing of high value notes. The total order sent to The Bank of England printing works was for Three Hundred Million Pounds in varying denominations, starting from Twenty Five Thousand Pounds. It is believed that the entire issue was subsequently destroyed with the exception of numbers Seven and Eight for One Million Pounds which were presented to the British and American Treasury Secretaries respectively.
£125,000
1854-56 Crimean "Victoria Cross" Medal Group
The scarce and most interesting Crimean War 'Double Action' Victoria Cross group of four awarded to Major J.S. Knox.
Major Knox was recommended for the V.C. firstly for gallantry as a Sergeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards at the Battle of the Alma, 20 September 1854 - the army's first V.C. Action - rewarded with a commission for his conduct at the Battle of Inkermann, 5 November 1854, where he took part in the storming and capture of the Sandbag Battery, and single-handedly faced a party of enemy skirmishers.
He was recommended again for his bravery when, as a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered as part of the ladder-party for the first assault on the heavily defended Grand Redan, 18 June 1855, where his left arm was blown away by cannon fire.
Medal 1
Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar engraved 'Lieutenant. John. Knox. 2nd. Bat, Rifle Brigade', reverse of Cross engraved '20 Sept 1854 18 June 1855', with contemporary bronze top riband suspension buckle
Medal 2
Crimea 1854-56, four clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Colr. Sert. John S. Knox. Scots Fusr. Gds.), contemporarily engraved in large serif capitals
Medal 3
France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Chevalier's breast Badge, 63mm including crown suspension x 40mm, silver, gold, and enamel, some significant enamel damage, with contemporary gilt top riband suspension buckle
Medal 4
Turkish Crimea, British die, with contemporary silver loop and ring suspension, unnamed as issued, with original narrow riband and contemporary silver top riband suspension buckle, minor contact marks, generally nearly very fine or better, the V.C. good very fine, together with the following related items:
- A Russian Cannon-Ball, reputedly the one that smashed the recipient's left arm at the assault on the Redan, 53mm in diameter, mounted on a marble plinth, the plinth engraved 'Crimea, Sebastopol, Redan, June 18 1855'
- Two glazed and framed photograph portraits, one of the recipient in uniform, wearing his miniature medals, and one of the recipient's wife
- The recipient's Rifle Brigade cap badge
- The recipient's Rifle Brigade Officer's large cross belt plate with Battle Honours up to Waterloo, together with the whistle holder and chain, silver (Hallmarks for London 1855)
- The recipient's father's silver-topped cane, the top engraved 'John Knox. Born 17th. Nov: 1772. Died 8th. Feb: 1842. Glasgow.'
From V.C. London Gazette 24 February 1857:
Lieutenant John Knox, 2nd Bat. Rifle Brigade
'When serving as a Serjeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards, Lieutenant Knox was conspicuous for his exertions in reforming the ranks of the Guards at the Battle of the Alma.
Subsequently, when in the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered for the ladder-party in the attack on the Redan, on the 18th of June, and (in the words of Captain Blackett, under whose command he was) behaved admirably, remaining on the field until twice wounded.'
This is one of the first Victoria Crosses awarded to a British soldier and this trophy asset can be yours
Stock code:
MD112253275 |
SG number:
1854
Major Knox was recommended for the V.C. firstly for gallantry as a Sergeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards at the Battle of the Alma, 20 September 1854 - the army's first V.C. Action - rewarded with a commission for his conduct at the Battle of Inkermann, 5 November 1854, where he took part in the storming and capture of the Sandbag Battery, and single-handedly faced a party of enemy skirmishers.
He was recommended again for his bravery when, as a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered as part of the ladder-party for the first assault on the heavily defended Grand Redan, 18 June 1855, where his left arm was blown away by cannon fire.
Medal 1
Victoria Cross, reverse of suspension bar engraved 'Lieutenant. John. Knox. 2nd. Bat, Rifle Brigade', reverse of Cross engraved '20 Sept 1854 18 June 1855', with contemporary bronze top riband suspension buckle
Medal 2
Crimea 1854-56, four clasps, Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol (Colr. Sert. John S. Knox. Scots Fusr. Gds.), contemporarily engraved in large serif capitals
Medal 3
France, Second Empire, Legion of Honour, Chevalier's breast Badge, 63mm including crown suspension x 40mm, silver, gold, and enamel, some significant enamel damage, with contemporary gilt top riband suspension buckle
Medal 4
Turkish Crimea, British die, with contemporary silver loop and ring suspension, unnamed as issued, with original narrow riband and contemporary silver top riband suspension buckle, minor contact marks, generally nearly very fine or better, the V.C. good very fine, together with the following related items:
- A Russian Cannon-Ball, reputedly the one that smashed the recipient's left arm at the assault on the Redan, 53mm in diameter, mounted on a marble plinth, the plinth engraved 'Crimea, Sebastopol, Redan, June 18 1855'
- Two glazed and framed photograph portraits, one of the recipient in uniform, wearing his miniature medals, and one of the recipient's wife
- The recipient's Rifle Brigade cap badge
- The recipient's Rifle Brigade Officer's large cross belt plate with Battle Honours up to Waterloo, together with the whistle holder and chain, silver (Hallmarks for London 1855)
- The recipient's father's silver-topped cane, the top engraved 'John Knox. Born 17th. Nov: 1772. Died 8th. Feb: 1842. Glasgow.'
From V.C. London Gazette 24 February 1857:
Lieutenant John Knox, 2nd Bat. Rifle Brigade
'When serving as a Serjeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards, Lieutenant Knox was conspicuous for his exertions in reforming the ranks of the Guards at the Battle of the Alma.
Subsequently, when in the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered for the ladder-party in the attack on the Redan, on the 18th of June, and (in the words of Captain Blackett, under whose command he was) behaved admirably, remaining on the field until twice wounded.'
This is one of the first Victoria Crosses awarded to a British soldier and this trophy asset can be yours
£495,000
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