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A Ferdinand III (1608-57) 100-ducat gold piece briefly became the most expensive ‘modern era’ European gold coin ever sold at auction when it hammered for SFr1.95m (£1.83m) in Geneva.

Established in 1687 by James II (also James VII of Scotland), membership of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is in the personal gift of the sovereign, just as it is with the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit.

Two lots of antique English silver trounced their estimates on the same day at New York state auction houses located less than 30 miles apart.

Forget the biblical rain for a while, keep indoors and look forward to these books to bury your head in – with more to follow soon

This 1642 silver medal by the German medallist Sebastian Dadler (1586-1657) celebrates the arrival in the Netherlands of Princess Mary (1631-60), eldest daughter of Charles I and sister of the future Charles II.

Our regular listing of UK and Irish books and works on paper sales

Along with August, January is traditionally the quietest month in terms of regional auctions.

Group lot shows how a shared interest in communication linked Louis Mountbatten and a telegraphist

A round-up of art and antiques news from the previous seven days, including former Trinity House Paintings director Steven Beale charged with theft and fraud

‘Coal’ is a dirty word in today’s world of increasingly clean energy but in terms of a model offered at auction it can still generate a strong price.

Few photographers were as explicit about the purpose of their work as Gordon Parks (1912-2006), who in 1967 described the camera as his “choice of weapon” against racism, discrimination and poverty.

The citation for a Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to Act F/Sgt BG Tucker RAF stated he had “completed many outstanding sorties against such heavily defended localities as Berlin, Essen and Hanover.