Sale 118 Realises $5.1 Million

Sale 118 Realises $5.1 Million

This was an outstanding auction in several categories, and was deservedly well-supported by a wide range of floor, online, and absentee bidders.  The total clearance was 83 percent at 116 percent of lots sold by value. The single highest price went to the New South Wales holey dollar, 1813 (lot 1013; estimated at $300,000) that was bid to $350,000 in the room. The highest price for a banknote went to the serial number one Rainbow pound from the Caldwell Collection (lot 4300; estimated at $50,000), which hammered down finally after a long bidding duel between two phone bidders at $102,000 - $121,635 with buyer’s premium – a new world record for the type.

The sale got off to a good start with some of the mis-strikes bringing strong prices, for example, the reverse brockage florin, 1947 (lot 87; estimated at $1,500) realised $3,578, a sixty percent off centre George VI shilling, 1946 (lot 94; estimated at $1,000) realised $1,550, a twenty cents, 2016, struck on a triangular blank (lot 121; estimated at $3,500) realised $5,843, a double struck fifty cents, 2015 (lot 122; estimated at $1,500) realised $4,293, and a fifty cents, 2016, struck on a ten cents blank (lot 123; estimated at $3,000) realised $4,055.

Some of the sovereigns in the Nigel Staughton Collection at the commencement of session three broke new ground: a 1902 and 1903 Sydney pair (lot 489; estimated at $1,000) realised $2,027, a 1920 Melbourne in MS64 (lot 506; estimated at $10,000) realised $11,329, as did a 1929 Melbourne (lot 512; estimated at $10,000), and a duplicate 1931 Melbourne (lot 543; estimated at $1,200) realised $1,312.

In tokens in the fourth session, top price of $2,624 went to the Hosie surcharge (lot 797; estimated at $2,000), and the Love & Roberts Wagga Wagga penny, 1865 (lot 802; estimated at $2,500). The Ferry tokens collection, from the Alexander Collection (lot 830, estimated at $2,200) realised $4,055, and the bread token collection from the same collection (lot 835; estimated at $4,000) realised $5,963. The Aboriginal breast plates saw spirited bidding. Lots 845-7, estimated at $2,500, $1,500, and $1,000 realised $6,917, $8,586, and $4,293 respectively. A school prize medal awarded in 1856 to a New South Wales judge (lot 848; estimated at $200) realised $1,193.

The fifth or evening session saw three holey dollars (lots 1014-6, estimated at $50,000, $12,000, and $10,000) realise $69,165, $34,583, and $10,136, respectively, with the last being a contemporary forgery. The electrotyped Adelaide ingot (lot 1028; estimated at $1,500), realised $3,101, while of the Adelaide pounds, the lower grade sold well (lot 1030; estimated at $5,000), ex J.L. Miller Collection, realised $9,540, and (lot 1031; estimated at $2,000) realised $5,366. The Port Phillip gold quarter ounce, 1853 (lot 1032; estimated at $10,000) realised $10,733. The first Sydney Mint sovereign, 1855 (lot 1034; estimated at $4,000), ex J.L. Miller Collection, realised $5,843. A Sydney Mint sovereign, 1859 (lot 1038; estimated at $6,000) realised $9,063, as did the 1860 (lot 1039; estimated at $7,500). The evenly but well worn 1855 half sovereign (lot 1046; estimated at $10,000) was keenly bid for, eventually realising $21,465. A 1900 Perth Mint half sovereign (lot 1082; estimated at $5,000) realised $5,963, and a 1918 issue (lot 1088; estimated at $4,000), realised $5,366.

A fine/very fine square penny, 1921 (lot 1089; estimated at $9,000) realised $14,310, and a proof 1924 shilling, ex Heathcote Collection (lot 1091; estimated at $5,000) realised $9,063. The Heathcote Collection followed at prices that were generally in line with estimations. Top prices were, for florins: 1914H (lot 1121; estimated at $17,500) at $25,639, 1921 (lot 1128; estimated at $4,500) at $10,136, 1924 (lot 1131; estimated at $4,000) at $5,963, and 1933 (lot 1138; estimated at $9,000) at $10,136. For shillings the top prices were: 1912 (lot 1145; estimated at $3,000) at $4,770, 1913 (lot 1146; estimated at $4,000) at $5,724, 1924 (lot 1156; estimated at $4,000) at $6,917, 1928 (lot 1160; estimated at $3,500) at $5,963, 1933 (lot 1162; estimated at $9,000) at $10,136; for sixpences, 1914 (lot 1171; estimated at $2,500) at $4,055, 1918M (lot 1174; estimated at $12,500) at $19,080 (a record), 1920M (lot 1176; estimated at $2,000) at $8,586, and 1923 (lot 1179; estimated at $2,500) at $5,486; for threepences, 1912 (lot 1194; estimated at $1,500) at $3,101, and 1923 (lot 1206; estimated at $2,000) at $6,440.

 In other properties, a Melbourne Centenary florin, ex J.P. Melick Collection (lot 1230; estimated at $750) realised $3,578 after a bidding duel. The 1930 pennies (lots 1282-4; estimated at $20,000, $20,000, and $16,000) realised $22,061, $19,676, and $17,888.

The next morning saw the sale of British and ancient coins. Highest price went to the 1911 proof set, ex Nesbitt Collection (lot 1319; estimated at $15,000), at $32,198 to a determined bidder in the room. The mint state Cromwell halfcrown, ex J.P. Melick Collection (lot 1353; estimated at $6,000) realised a world record $20,869, while the Cromwell crown from the same collection (lot 1352; estimated at $10,000) realised $10,256, and a Charles II first hammered issue shilling (lot 1357; estimated at $3,000) realised $4,770. The Gothic crown, ex J.L. Miller Collection (lot 1409; estimated at $3,000) realised $5,247. The Royal Society Queen’s Medal, 1838, in gold (lot 1499, estimated at $15,000) sold for a record $40,545 after a bidding duel between two live online bidders. In the ancients, a Lydia electrum trite (lot 1546; estimated at $2,000) realised $3,578, a Persian gold daric (lot 1554; estimated at $1,500) realised $3,339, a Carthage gold stater (lot 1555; estimated at $3,000) realised $4,174, and a Sicily, Agathokles tetradrachm (lot 1589; estimated at $2,000) realised $3,578. A Siculo-Punic tetradrachm (lot 1594; estimated at $4,500) realised $5,366, and the next lot (estimated at $2,000) realised $3,578. A Julius Caesar portrait denarius (lot 1702; estimated at $5,000) realised $7,155 to top the Roman list.

In world coins in the afternoon sessions, a Comoros silver five francs (lot 2035; estimated at $3,000) realised $4,174, a type set of Egypt, Faud I silver coins (5) (lot 2071; estimated at $900) realised $2,743, and a proof Ethiopia silver birr, 1899 (lot 2092; estimated at $2,000) realised $4,412. An Iraq group of coins, 1931-55 (28) (lot 2234; estimated at $900) realised $10,733, and a Saudi Arabia group of 11 coins (lot 2362; estimated at $1,000) realised $17,888. In South Africa ZAR coins from the J.L. Miller Collection, (lot 2384; estimated at $400) realised $4,293, (lot 2388; estimated at $350) realised $2,504, and (lot 2392; estimated at $200) realised $2,504.

In world gold coins, an Austria 100 corona, 1908 (lot 2628; estimated at $1,800) realised $3,697, a Saudi Arabia four pounds (lot 2691; estimated at $1,500) realised $3,578, a single shaft 1892 pond of South Africa ZAR, ex J.L. Miller Collection (lot 2707; estimated at $1,500), realised $3,816, and an uncirculated 1900 pond (lot 2719; estimated at $900) realised $1,968.

The next morning the natural gold nuggets sold well, with (lot 2901; estimated at $4,800) realising the most over estimate, at $8,586. The stamps were sold later in the morning: highest over estimate went to the China collection (lot 3206; estimated at $400), at $5,366. The New Zealand banknotes sold well, with (lot 3318; estimated at $3,500) realising the highest price at $5,247.

In the fourteenth session, at 4.30pm, the Bank of New South Wales share certificate, ex J.P. Melick Collection (lot 3644; estimated at $10,000), realised $16,695. The ten pounds, 1913, ex John Rice Collection (lot 3807; estimated at $4,000), realised $8,944, the twenty pounds, 1918 (lot 3837; estimated at $17,500) realised $25,043, the fifty pounds, 1918 (lot 3838; estimated at $12,500) realised $19,080, and the one hundred pounds, 1924 (lot 3839; estimated at $25,000) realised $31,005. In error notes, a two dollars intaglio only (lot 3901; estimated at $1,500) realised $4,293, and the five dollars lot of four (lot 3909, estimated at $4,000) realised $4,770.

The fifteenth session, at 7.30pm, was devoted to Catalogue 118B, the highly important Caldwell Collection of Australian banknotes. Highlights included a superscribed one pound, Australian Bank of Commerce (lot 4249; estimated at $25,000) at $31,005, Bank of Adelaide one pound superscribes (lots 4250-1; estimated at $20,000 each) realising $32,198 and $28,620 respectively – or $60,818 for the pair – the Bank of Victoria superscribed serial number 9 (lot 4257; estimated at $35,000) at $52,470, the National Bank of Australasia one pound superscribes (lots 4262-3; estimated at $17,500 each) realising $16,695 each, or $33,390 for the pair. The presentation ten shillings number 6 (lot 4270; estimated at $45,000) realised $50,085. The World War I emergency one pound (lot 4299; estimated at $25,000) realised $32,198, and the serial number one Rainbow pound (lot 4300; estimated at $50,000) realised $121,635, a new world record. The rarest gold period one pound (R.22b) (lot 4304; estimated at $17,500) realised $29,813. The rare ten pounds, 1913 (lot 4343; estimated at $30,000) realised $40,545. The Collins/Allens twenty pounds (lot 4357; estimated at $50,000) realised $50,085. The fifty pounds, 1920, first issue (R.67a) (lot 4360; estimated at $30,000) realised a record $57,240, and the 1924 one hundred pounds (lot 4364; estimated at $50,000) realised $59,625.

The War Related Issues were well-supported, with the Rabaul Treasury note for five marks, 1914 (lot 4365, estimated at $20,000) realising $29,813. An Epstein/Stahl Hay Internment Camp one shilling note (lot 4372; estimated at $6,000) realised $10,733. The choice specimen one and two shillings (lots 4378-9; estimated at $7,000 each) realised $11,925 each. In specimen notes, the five shillings, 1920 (lot 4394; estimated at $50,000) realised $63,203 – it was not quite as good as the example in a previous sale. The 1953-4 specimen set, presented to H.C. ‘Nugget’ Coombs (lot 4399; estimated at $65,000) realised $62,010. In world notes, the East Africa 10,000 shillings specimen (lot 4465; estimated at $10,000) realised $25,043. On the night, 226 notes sold for $1,754,943, with 44 lots unsold and valued at $612,230.

The final day saw the sale, in two sessions, of military orders, decorations, and medals. Highlights were a China Medal to the Protector (lot 4541; estimated at $2,000), which realised $7,155, an MC and Bar (lot 4545; estimated at $1,500), realising 3,578, a New South Wales Ambulance Corps Sudan pair (lot 4572; estimated at $3,000), realising $7,632, a Boer War pair to a nurse (lot 4577; estimated at $4,000), realising $8,348, and a Western Front MC group (lot 4583; estimated at $3,500), which realised $8,944. An AFC group to a pilot, author, and journalist (lot 4585; estimated at $3,000) realised $6,201.

In the final session, the IRAR Alpha Company Flag (lot 4686; estimated at $5,000) realised $6,559. A card with eighteen Colonial buttons obviously had some rarely seen examples (lot 4851; estimated at $250), as it realised $5,009 after a strong bidding duel.

Consignments for Sale 119, November 20^th – 23^rd 2018, are required by September 24^th. Already included are ancient and Indian coins from the Flynn Estate, British coins from the Matthew Rich Collection, European coins from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, a collection of sovereigns, and the Collection of Edward VIII coins and medals formed by the late Ian McCutcheon.