Sale 114 Realises $3.3 Million

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

This was a well attended sale with a clearance of eighty five percent of lots at one hundred and eight percent of the pre-sale estimates. Floor bidders purchased a quarter of the lots sold with the rest going to over five hundred absentee bidders, mostly online.

A highlight of the sale was the collection of error or miss-struck coins formed by a North Queensland collector offered in the first session. A 1972 twenty cents struck on a ten cents blank (lot 86; est. $1,500) realised $2,981 ($2,500 plus buyer’s premium with GST). A unique proof fifty cents 1975 struck from two obverse dies (lot 93; est. $4,000) realised $7,155. A 1988 fifty cents struck on a ten cent blank (lot 105; est. $1,200) realised $2,624 and a nearly uncirculated one dollar 2000 mule with ten cents obverse (lot 113; est. $1,000) realised $1,670. A ‘mob of roos’ 2005 ‘roo’ dollar in a 2006 proof set (lot 122; est. $2,000) realised $5,366.

A highlight in the decimal proofs went to a Perth Mint proof one kilo kangaroo nugget coin, 1991 (lot 274; est. $50,000) that realised $58,433 which was the highest priced lot in the auction.

The German New Guinea issues were popular, the five mark 1894 (lot 552; est. $2,000) realised $3,458 while the two mark 1894 (lot 553; est. $750) realised $1,193. The New Zealand Waitangi proof set, 1935 (lot 574; est. $10,000) realised $10,733. The choice uncirculated 1935 threepence (lot 594; est. $2,200) realised $2,624. The Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon VIP proof set 1967 (lot 670; est. $2,500) realised $2,862. The Brian Bolton Collection of New Zealand tradesmen’s tokens were greatly appreciated. The red and brown uncirculated Alliance Tea Company penny (lot 696; est. $3,000) realised $3,935.

An H.J. Hall ‘plain letters’ penny (lot 757; est. $1200) realised $2,981. The highlight was the Milner and Thompson small size penny illustrated on the front cover (lot 781; est. $20,000) which realised $22,658.

A choice Morrin penny (lot 784; est. $2,500) realised $4,770. The New Zealand pattern penny by Joseph Moore (lot 786; est. $6,000) realised $7,155. The small letters Reece halfpenny (lot 798; est. $1,000) realised $3,220. A mint red Edward Waters penny (lot 814; est. $2000) realised $3,816.

The Bolton Collection of checks, discount and special purpose tokens was the finest yet sold and was comprehensively illustrated. Most lots realised near the estimate, the best two went to a J.E. Hood lucky pocket piece (lot 841; est. $300) at $501 and S. Young’s tram token (lot 898; est. $250) at $835. In the Australian tokens a nearly uncirculated Hogarth, Erichsen & Co silver threepence, 1858 (lot 997; est. $1,000) realised $1,550. A collection of bread and other tokens (335 pieces in the lot) (lot 1012; est. $2,200) realised $4,055.

The first night session saw a New South Wales dump, 1813 (lot 1039; est. $35,000) realise $42,930, a cracked die Adelaide pound (lot 1043; est. $40,000) realised $44,719 and a second type Adelaide pound (lot 1044; est. $28,000) realised $32,794. An 1881 Melbourne shield reverse sovereign, choice uncirculated (lot 1069; est. $1,500) realised a new record price of $5,009. In Australian Commonwealth, a 1914H florin (lot 1221; est. $6,000) realised $8,348, a 1915 florin (lot 1222; est. $6,500) realised $10,136, a 1932 florin (lot 1248; est. $5,000) realised $5,366 and a 1933 florin (lot 1251; est. $4,000) realised $9,302. A 1924 shilling (lot 1283; est. $3,000) realised $3,697. The third 1930 penny (lot 1355; est. $17,500) realised $19,080 while a part mint red 1923 halfpenny (lot 1368; est. $6,000) realised $10,136.

In British gold at 11:30 am on the second day, an Edward III gold noble (lot 1712; est. $2,800) realised $4,770. An Aethelred II silver penny (lot 1742; est. $500) realised $871 and a Commonwealth crown, 1652 (lot 1764; est. $2,500) realised $2,981. In the Wal Shannon Collection of Captain Cook Medals, a gold and silver medal pair, 1979 (lot 1930; est. $1,900) realised $3,220 after a bidding duel between a collector in the room and an online bidder.

The Orders, Decorations and Medals were particularly strong. An Officer of the Order of Australia (lot 2029; est. $2,750) realised $4,770; the Ghuznee Medal, 1839, awarded to a 1793 Sydney born recipient (lot 2031; est. $7,500) realised $7,751 and a QSA to a Tasmanian born nurse (lot 2032; est. $6,000) realised $7,155. An MC and Bar group to Capt. W.R Harburn (lot 2062; est. $7,000) realised $21,465 after spirited bidding.  Top price went to the George Cross, DSC group of seven (lot 2072; est. $30,000) which realised $40,545. A DSO group of five (lot 2073; est. $7,500) realised $10,136, and a WWII and Korea group of eight (lot 2091; est. $1,600) realised $3,220. Immediately following this section, the Edward Cummings Collection was sold in two and a bit sessions for the rest of day two. The separate catalogue commenced with natural gold nuggets, the largest (51.6g) (lot 2189; est. $1,550) realised $2,981. In the Morgan dollars, an 1889CC (lot 2239; est. $600) realised $906 while a 1921 Peace dollar (lot 2257; est. $420) realised $596. In British coins, a Gothic crown (lot 2287; est. $1,800) realised $2,862, and highest price went to the 1934 wreath crown (illustrated on the front cover) (lot 2306; est. $5,000) that realised $8,348. A William III halfcrown, 1700 (lot 2318; est. $1,500) realised $2,862, and a choice Gothic florin, 1852 (lot 2351; est. $750) realised $2,385. The collection of farthings (84 pieces) (lot 2440; est. $1,250) realised $2,624.

The first of the Sydney Mint sovereigns, 1855 and 1856 (lots 2458, 2459; each est. $7,000) realised $8,586 each. The 1886 Melbourne shield reverse (lot 2508; est. $10,000) realised $11,329 while the 1887 Melbourne shield sovereign (lot 2510; est. $6,000) realised $8,348. An Indian die 1922 penny realised a strong price of $1,789 (lot 2756; est. $500). The highlight of the collection came after the end of the session with the unofficial pattern swan dollar 1967 in gold illustrated on the back cover (lot 2811; est. $20,000) realising $29,216.

The third day commenced with Australian Historical Medals. The Resolution and Adventure medal 1772 in platina (or brass) (lot 2816; est. $4,000) realised $7,155, and a choice example in silver (lot 2817; est. $9,000) realised $10,494, both belonging to the Wal Shannon Collection. The choice Cook Royal Society medal, 1784 (lot 2818; est. $3,000) realised $5,486, the two examples from Wal Shannon’s Collection realised slightly over estimate at $1,670 and $1,431 respectively (lots 2820,2821). The hand engraved halfpenny relating to Captain William Bligh’s second breadfruit voyage from Tahiti in 1793 (lot 2823; est. $1,000) realised $3,578. A rowing medal of the GPS schools surprised by realising well over estimate at $1,312 (lot 2864; est. $100) after a long bidding war. A Western Australia Sydney Emden medal, 1914 (lot 2885; est. $1,500) realised $3,101.

In the stamp section of the twelfth session, the Chinese lots did best with lots 3101 to 3106 realising well above estimate. Lot 3102 (est. $7,500) realised $9,063; lot 3104 (est. $250) realised $2,027 and lot 3106 (est. $1,000) realised $5,009. The six lots went to three different buyers.

Highlights of the New Zealand banknotes that followed were a Bank of Australasia ten shillings, 1921 (lot 3183; est. $3,000) at $4,770, and a Bank of New Zealand one pound 1900 (lot 3194; est. $5,000) at $5,247. World notes A-C finished the session with British Honduras issues being the highlight with a phone bidder competing with live online bidders while those in the room watched as lot 3307; est. $350 realised $1,312 and lot 3310; est. $750 realised $3,637.

The Ray Kaleda Collection of Lithuania banknotes attracted the attention of overseas bidders live online and on the floor. Lot 3398; est. $200 realised $2,385 as did lot 3400 (est. $300). Highest price went to lot 3489 (est. $4,000) at $10,733.

The Australian Banknotes in the fifteenth session on day three saw some strong bidding. The Bank of NSW share certificate, 1818 (lot 3859; est. $5,000) realised $7,155. A Bank of Australia printing plate, ex John Houstone Collection (lot 3864; est. $250) realised $2,027.

An issued Sydney Deposit Bank ten pounds, 1892 (lot 3886; est. $3,000) realised $4,770. A run of ten consecutive ten pounds 1943 (lot 4000; est. $9,000) realised $9,540. A run of twenty ten pounds 1954 (lot 4011; est. $6,000) realised $6,917. An error one hundred dollars, 1984 (lot 4059; est. $500) realised $1,789.

The final morning commenced with ancient gold coins. A Sicily, Syracuse gold drachm 275 BC (lot 4072; est. $7,000) realised $8,348, followed by a Lysimachos gold stater 281 BC (lot 4073; est. $4,000) which realised $4,532. An Athens tetradrachm 430 BC (lot 4121; est. $1,250) realised $1,431.

In world coins there was strong bidding for a selection of the Chinese coins. A Qing Dynasty one thousand cash (lot 4478; est. $400), ex Patrick O’Rourke Collection, realised $3,101. Another similar lot (lot 4481; est. $400) realised $2,862. A set of three values in lot 4484, est. $400 realised $7,155. A silver tenth dollar of Chingkiang, 1910 (lot 4519; est. $5,000) realised $8,348. A general issue silver dollar, 1912 (lot 4530; est. $2,500) realised $14,310, a Pu Yi Wedding dollar (lot 4541; est. $8,000) realised $19,080 and a 1924 pattern dollar (lot 4551; est. $9,000) realised $11,567.

In the Japanese coins, a phone bidder in Tokyo prevailed to win a bidding war for a gem uncirculated silver yen, 1870 (lot 4677; est. $3,500) that realised a new record price of $8,944. A Sarawak quarter cent, 1863 (lot 4757; est. $300) realised $894 and a proof one cent, 1863 (lot 4759; est. $1,000) realised $1,670. A Straits Settlement five cents, 1873 (lot 4802; est. $200) realised $1,133. A Tibet quarter rupee, 1905-12 (lot 4860; est. $400) realised $1,002.

The USA Hawaii silver dollar, 1883 in gem uncirculated condition, ex Brian Bolton Collection (lot 4909; est. $6,000) realised $11,210. The sale concluded with world gold coins of which the Russian three roubles realised most over estimate (lot 5087; est. $3,500) at $7,751. Highest price went to China fantasy issues, lots 5052 and 5054 each realising $10,733 on $10,000 estimates.

The next sale takes place on the 25th- 28th of July and already includes a comprehensive collection of ancient British Celtic coins mostly in gold, an extremely fine Elizabeth I fine sovereign  (1584-6) and a USA Gold Eagle, 1795. Consignments close 26th of May.

 

 

Jim Noble

 

April 2017

 

 

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