Sale 135 Preface
Tuesday, 05 March 2024
This sale offers a wide range of material with 4534 lots over five days. There are the usual sections expected in our sales, this time we have included a lot of decimal coins in the e-sale on the first day, as well as an important collection of Russian (USSR) orders, decorations and medals. The decimal gold and Perth Mint issues are in the early sessions of the first day of the live in-room auction Tuesday 9th April. A vast quantity of coins are from the late John Veltmeyer’s Collection. Another source of decimal coins and banknotes is from the Max Good Collection.
Highlights of the sale are Australian Commonwealth patterns and proof coins and currency issues in high grade in the fifth session at 4:30 pm on the Tuesday. Featured are a pattern square penny 1921 (lot 1595), two proof Canberra florins (lot 1598, 9), proof pennies and halfpennies 1942, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1953 and 1954 (lots 1605-1611). Two choice uncirculated florins 1933 (lots 1662, 3) are amongst the finest seen. For the first time in many years there is a range of 1930 pennies (lots 1726-31), six in total between fine and very fine condition.
The evening session at 7:30 pm offers a good range of Proclamation coins followed by two New South Wales five shillings or holey dollars, 1813, and three New South Wales fifteen pence `dumps’ 1813 (lots 1791-5). Some outstanding Australian gold coins from 1852 through highest grade Sydney Mint issues follow.
The 7:30 pm 11th session on the Wednesday offers British coins in gold, silver and bronze, including a further selection from the S.J. Green Collection (early to later hammered silver) and album lots of tokens and checks from the Malcom C. Johnson Collection. World gold, silver and bronze follow from 9:30 am on Thursday 11th April, with many interesting lots from China and Vietnam from the Ken O’Brien Collection.
Then at 4:30 pm the Australian Banknotes commence with decimal issues and a complete series of star replacement notes, including pre-decimal (lots 3365-3422). The 7:30 pm Thursday evening session sees the Private Bank issues followed by a comprehensive series of pre-decimal largely made up from two important private collections. Highlight here is the first issue ten shillings (1913), red serials consecutive pair (lot 3454, est $100,000) from the Patrick White family. Other highlights are the twenty, fifty and one hundred pounds notes (lots 3677, 8, 9).
The 9:30 am Friday 12th 17th session is devoted to world banknotes including, Russian albums from the Veltmeyer Collection and an old Russian collection followed by war related notes, vouchers or chits from the Malcom C. Johnson Collection.
The 11:30 am session is devoted to Orders, Decorations and medals. Highlights are a selection of Queen’s South Africa Medals to Australians (lots 3911-29) and a good selection of Volunteer Force and Colonial Auxiliary Force medals (lots 3948-64). In the groups is a Distinguished Service Order, MID (2) group of five (lot 3974), a Distinguished Conduct Medal trio to twice wounded NCO (lot 3983), a Military Medal trio to a soldier killed in action (lot 3984) and a Distinguished Flying Cross group of seven to a pilot who was killed in a test flight post war (lot 3988). As well as various medals to killed in action or wounded in action, an interesting group of four was awarded to a prewar entertainer who was captured and continued to perform with the A.I.F. Concert Party at Changi P.O.W. Camp (lot 4002).
The final two sessions at 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm are taken up with ancient Greek and Roman coins in gold, silver and bronze. Highlights are an electrum gold stater of Mysia, Cyzicus (lot 4040), Italy, silver stater of Alexander the Molosian, Macedon, Chalkidian League silver tetradrachm (lot 4094), a left facing Philip II silver tetradrachm (lot 4096), and an Antigonos Doson silver tetradrachm (lot 4101). The second part of the Dr. Hugh Preston Collection of Roman (Antoninus Pius to Honorius) concludes the auction.
On behalf of the company I wish to thank all the consignors for their support in making this a memorable sale and wishing you every success with your bidding.