Sale 113 Realises $3.8 Million

Sunday, 11 December 2016

This was a successful sale that ended the year as a near record for the company, with three sales listed in seven catalogues totalling $14 million. The total for the auction was established with a clearance of 82% of all lots, which sold at 102% of estimate overall with the twentieth session bringing 152% of estimate (British and Asian coins).

The Les Carlisle Collection of Historical Medals was strongly supported by collectors with 86% of lots being sold at 120% of estimate. The Antique Arms and Vintage Watches from the Ian Cummins Collection realised 96% of estimate for lots sold. The highlight and highest price in the auction went to the Lloyds Patriotic Fund Sword and other items awarded to Sir Maurice Charles O’Connell, Lieutenant Governor of NSW 1810–1814 and Commander of NSW Forces 1838–1847 (Lot 3969) at $160,000 (or $190,800 with buyer’s premium plus GST). This magnificent lot has been acquired for display in the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney.

In the first session the uniface pattern silver dollar 1966 (lot 122; est $18,000) sold for $18,484. The best of the six pattern swan dollars 1967 (lot 124; est $1,250) realised $1,908. A lot of decimal proof commemoratives that included the Crux Southern Sky 2012 (lot 237; est $820) sold for $2,385 after strong bidding. A highlight in the fourth session was a convict love token engraved on a 1797 penny for John Woodcock Oct 26 1816 (lot 897; est $7,000) that realised $10,733.

In the fifth or first night session the highlight was the NSW holey dollar that realised $131,175 (lot 1154; est $160,000). The Adelaide pound (lot 1160; est $40,000) was first sold in Sale 2 and again in Sale 4 in 1980 realised $35,775. An 1855 Sydney Mint sovereign (lot 1162; est $11,000) realised $10,733 and the 1860 (lot 1166; est $15,000) realised $14,310. An 1855 half sovereign in nearly fine condition (lot 1179; est $25,000) realised $22,658. A highlight in the gold section was the specimen proof 1926 Sydney sovereign (lot 1244; est $50,000) that realised $58,433.

The Bertram Mackennal King George V obverse patterns (lot 1248; est $40,000) realised $41,738, going to a British Commonwealth collector. A proof 1938 crown (lot 1252; est $20,000) realised $29,813. In the Commonwealth coins a 1919M florin (lot 1301; est $3,500) ex John Wilson Collection realised $6,559. A 1924 shilling (lot 1347; est $3,000) realised $5,486 and a 1933 shilling (lot 1351; est $7,000) realised $7,632. A 1930 penny (lot 1419; est $22,000) realised $22,658, another (lot 1422; est $10,000) went well over estimate, realizing $16,695. A 1946 penny in choice uncirculated condition (lot 1426; est $4,000) realised $4,055. The finest of the 1923 halfpennies (lot 1444; est $7,000) realised $8,348.

In the World Coins session on Wednesday morning a China, Birds over Junk dollar (lot 1538; est $500) ex Terry Naughton Collection did best, realizing $2,385. In the gold a China, four coin proof set (1979) (lot 1939; est $2,500) realised $5,247. A Lithuania gold half ducat, 1665 ex Ray Kaleda Collection (lot 1974; est $9,000) realised $7,155 and a Yugoslavia four ducats, 1931 (lot 2021; est $1,000) realised $1,729.

In the afternoon and evening on Wednesday there were three sessions of banknotes, commencing with New Zealand issues. A Bank of New Zealand one pound, 1929 (lot 2098; est $2,500) realised $3,578. A Reserve Bank Lefeaux ten shillings, 1934 (lot 2103; est $1,250) realised $2,981, while the Lefeaux fifty pounds (lot 2120; est $17,500) brought the top price in world notes, realizing $28,620. A British North Borneo ten dollars, 1st July 1940 (lot 2201; est $250) realised more than ten times estimate at $3,578. A China, Kwangtung dollar coin note (lot 2231; est $300) realised $1,550, a Republic one yuan (1914) with postcard (lot 2232; est $100) realised $1,312. The National Bank of China, Canton ten dollars, 1921 (lot 2235; est $3,000) realised $3,578 and the next four realised $3,101 each. A Fiji WWII emergency one pound overprint (lot 2282; est $1,000) realised $3,816 and a five shillings, 1957, serial number 1 (lot 2284; est $500) realised $2,087. A ten dollar Z replacement note (lot 2300; est $400) realised $1,908.

The million serial number five dollars from an original bundle of one thousand notes (lot 2308; est $1,600) realised $2,027. A Gibraltar specimen five pounds, 1965 (lot 2351; est $300) realised $1,312, as did a Guernsey WWII two shillings and sixpence, 1943 (lot 2374; est $150).

The prize note in the Indian section was the fifty rupees (1930) (lot 2400; est $5,000) that realised $9,779. Lithuania, six trials and proofs (lot 2434; est $300) realised $2,147. A Singapore specimen set (1967) (lot 2525; est $800) realised $5,247. A USA National Currency, Philadelphia one and two dollars, 1914 (lot 2611; est $150) realised $1,193.

In Australian Private Bank issues a National Bank specimen fifty pounds, Melbourne 1881 (lot 2662; est $3,000) realised a relatively strong price of $9,063. In the Commonwealth series top price went to the 1913 presentation pair of ten shillings (lot 2667; est $120,000) at $107,325, followed by the fifty pounds, 1918 (lot 2770; est $35,000) at $38,160 and ex Nicholson and Wilson Collections. A crisp 1928 ten shillings (lot 2673; est $750) took off to eventually realise $5,247. An uncirculated ten pounds, 1934 (lot 2749; est $4,500) realised $7,394. A Collection of decimal notes (lot 2797; est $3,000) realised $5,724.

The third day witnessed the sale of the Leslie J. Carlisle Collection in four sessions, followed by Antique Arms and Vintage Watches from the Ian T. Cummins Collection. The highlight of the Carlisle Collection was the Sydney Grammar School hand engraved silver medal by Samuel Clayton in 1824 (lot 3599; est $30,000) that realised $35,775, being purchased by a national museum. A Cessation of Transportation medal in bronze, 1853 (lot 2944; est $1,500) realised $3,578, a 1929 Centenary of Western Australia medal in silver (51mm) (lot 3018; est $200) brought a record $2,862 and a Sydney Harbour Bridge Opened 1932 (lot 3200; est $150) realised ten times estimate at $1,789. Agricultural medals proved popular, the Horticultural Society medal in bronze, 1868 by Thornthwaite for the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit (lot 3340; est $1,500) realised $3,578. Sporting medals attracted wide attention with a collector securing the Harold Horder Rugby League lot (lot 3661; est $200) at ten times, or $2,385.

In New Zealand medals a damaged Teutenberg Mahurangi Agricultural Society medal in silver went very strongly after a bidding duel in the room (lot 3708; est $250) at $2,385. Two Free Waterman badges did well against estimate (both were ex W.J.Noble Collection in Sale 61) (lots 3729, 3730; ests $400 and $350) realizing $1,550 and $1,073 respectively.

During the evening session in the Cummins Collection a Sydney Rifle Club medal in silver, 1847 (lot 4084; est $7,000) realised $7,155. An unfired cased pair of 1830 flintlock travelling pistols (lot 3993; est $25,000) realised $23,850. A rare four barrelled dual action flintlock pistol (lot 3989; est $3,500) realised $5,963. A very rare George IV pair cased pocket watch made for the Ottoman market c1820 (lot 4117; est $2,000) sold for $3,816 and a Jaeger–LeCoultre stainless steel pilot’s watch (RAAF) c1950 (lot 4155; est $2,500) realised $10,733. A Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT master wristwatch c1970 (lot 4165; est $3,000) realised $13,118. Top price in watches went to the RAAF issue military wristwatch c1980 (lot 4174; est $2,500) at $14,906.

The fourth day saw the first three sessions devoted to ancient coins, commencing with the Terry Naughton Collection. The Augustus aureus (lot 4232; est $6,000) realised $8,944, the Antoninius   Pius aureus (lot 4234; est $7,000) realised $9,779, and the Faustina Junior aureus (lot 4237; est $9,000) realised $9,540. In Greek silver, a Syracuse twelve litrai (lot 4281; est $1,200) realised $3,458 after strong bidding. A Julius Caesar elephant denarius (lot 4501; est $1,000) realised $1,908 while a portrait issue (lot 4507; est $5,000) realised $5,009. A Republic denarius from the Dr Adrian Carr Collection (M.Junius Brutus) (lot 4754; est $1,500) realised $2,087, while a Mark Antony and Octavian denarius from the same Collection (lot 4775; est $1,500) topped estimate realizing $2,743. An Augustus denarius (lot 4793; est $2,000) realised $2,862. The cover coin, the Caracalla aureus (lot 4806; est $12,000) realised $13,118. A choice Athens tetradrachm (lot 4851; est $2,400) realised $3,339.

Orders, Decorations and Medals started the second last session at 4:30pm. The highlight was the Polar Medal to the photographer Frank Hurley (lot 5164; est $10,000) that finally realised $26,235 after a bidding duel between a phone bidder and an online bidder. Next highest price went to a China War trio (lot 5168; est $7,000) at $9,540. The Australian Test Cricket Wicket Keeper group of five (lot 5180; est $5,000) went for $7,751. In Militaria, a Boer War and WWI fob group belonging to a Gallipoli hero (lot 5230; est $4,500) went for $8,944 after a bidding duel between the room and a live online bidder.

The important Bill Jurksaitis Collection of British Commonwealth stamps followed with virtually all lots sold. The album of Australia (lot 5286; est $10,000) realised $14,310, a lot of Great Britain Machin definitives (lot 5352; est $600) realised $1,729. In other properties, the China album (lot 5441; est $5,000) did best, realising $14,906.

In the final session in the British gold, a four coin set dated 1937 (lot 5494; est $7,000) surprised the room, finally realizing $31,005 to a floor bidder. In silver, a very rare Scottish merchant countermark (lot 5615; est $800) realised $4,770. In the Patrick J. O’Rourke Collection that followed, a China Money God charm (lot 5714; est $450) realised $4,532 after a two horse race.

On behalf of the company and our dedicated team I would like to thank all of you who participated in making this sale a success. Our next sale takes place Tuesday to Friday 28th–31st March 2017 in the Gallery Room of the State Library of New South Wales and includes the Edward Lewis Montgomery Cummings Collection in a separate catalogue.

May I extend the compliments of the season to you all and we look forward to serving you next year.

Jim Noble 

December 2016

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