An extremely rare coin has sold beyond expectations at a British auction.

The extremely fine Congressional Gold Medal, presented to Lieutenant Robert Henley, as instructed by the President of the United States, James Madison, following the Battle of Lake Champlain sold for a hammer price of £180,000 at auction.

This was against an estimate of £40,000-50,000 at Noonans Mayfair on Thursday, September 19, in a sale of British, World Coins and Historical Medals.

Nimrod Dix, Deputy Chairman of Noonans, said: “This medal is a unique and splendid testament to one of the defining moments in Anglo-American history.

"There are very few Congressional gold and silver naval medals known to exist – possibly only four of each.”

A silver example from the same collection was also in the sale, which had been awarded to Captain Isaac Hull while in the Naval Engagement of U.S.S. Constitution and H.M.S. Guerriere on 19 August 1812.

"Estimated at £12,000-15,000, it fetched a hammer price of £46,000.

Recommended reading:

Walkers warned as deadliest creatures in the UK revealed

DWP order man who cares for disabled wife to pay £9000 back

14 Wetherspoons pubs that could close in just months

Elsewhere in the sale, one of the earliest coins, an oak tree shilling, from Boston Massachusetts, dating from 1652 – the year that round coinage was implemented - fetched a hammer price of £44,000 and was bought by a private collector. 

It had been in the possession of the same British family for the last 300 years.

Not bad, eh? Always worth a little root around your grandparents' attic, just in case.