Sale 135 Realises Over $4.5 Million

Our first major public auction for 2024 was well supported and successful for sellers and buyers with many record prices being achieved. For all lots sold the result was 125 percent of estimate with a clearance of 88 percent of lots. Some sessions were almost a complete sell out. Highest price realised went to a nearly very fine New South Wales five shillings or holey dollar 1813 (lot 1791; est. $120,000) at $109,000 plus buyer’s premium with GST making a total of $132,980.

The first session was an eSale of 1116 lots online Monday 8th April. It commenced with foreign orders, decorations, and medals with the Russian USSR issues the stand out, a Hero of the Soviet Union Gold Star Medal (lot 13, est. $1,750) realised $7,320 and an Order of Lenin (lot 15, est. $2,500), realised $5,856. A collection of Australian Commonwealth stamps 1913-1965 (lot 1046, est. $750) realised $3,660.

The second session commenced at 9:30am on Tuesday 9th April with a series of mis-strikes with a mis-struck fifty cents bringing strong results, an off centre strike 1972 found in circulation (lot 1180; est. $200) realised $1,952, as did a 95 percent off centre strike (lot 1183; est. $500), while a 1978 issue struck on a twenty cents blank (lot 1184; est. $1,500) realised $2,440. Top price went to a 1984 dollar struck on a ten cent blank (lot 1186; est. $750) at $3,416. In decimal proofs the Royal Ladies sets, 1992, in gold realised $11,224 each (lots 1237-40; est. $7,500). The eight coin fine gold proof set 2006 (lot 1260; est. $10,000) realised top price at $15,128. In the third session top price in Australian and New Zealand tokens went to the pattern New Zealand penny 1879 (lot 1377; est. $3,500) at $6,710. A collection of transport tokens in an album from the Malcolm C. Johnson Collection (lot 1404; est. $1,000) realised $2,928 after spirited bidding. In the fourth session top price went to the gold Wimmera District Pastoral and Agricultural Society medal (lot 1424; est. $3,000) at $6,100. A series of eight hours committee badges and medals (lot 1527; est. $900) from the Ken O’Brien Collection realised $3,416, while the Union badges lot of 27 (lot 1531; est. $900) also from the Ken O’Brien Collection realised $2,318.

The fifth session at 4:30pm offered the best of the Australian Commonwealth pre decimal coins; a proof or specimen shilling 1921 star (lot 1597; est. $35,000) realised a record price at $48,800, a proof Canberra florin (PR67) (lot 1598; est. $15,000) realised $18,300. Restrike penny and halfpenny proofs 1942I (lots 1605; est. $4,000, 1606; est. $5,000) realised $10,980 and $8,540, $19,520 for the pair. A 1922 shilling (lot 1678; est. $2,500) realised $4,758 after strong bidding and a 1912 sixpence (lot 1689; est. $2,000) realised $4,392. The 1922/1 overdate threepence (lot 1710; est. $6,000) realised $10,370 and a 1925 penny (lot 1722; est. $5,000) realised $8,540. The best of the 1930 pennies (lot 1726; est. $25,000) was bid up to $23,000 just short of its reserve; the other five all sold well, lots 1727, 1728 bringing over estimate at $21,350 each.

The sixth session at 7:30pm started with Proclamation coins, top price going to the Brazil Johanna 1729M (lot 1753; est. $6,000) at $7,930. Holey dollars and dumps followed with the second holey dollar, counterstamped T. KNIGHT (lot 1792; est. $30,000) realising $45,140. The second dump (lot 1794; est. $16,000) realised $17,690 and the third (lot 1795; est. $1,500) realised $4,636. An Adelaide pound 1852 (lot 1797; est. $12,000) realised $15,860 despite a light X scratched on the reverse. Some Sydney mint sovereigns failed to reach their high estimates and remain available, though a first type 1856 (lot 1803; est. $5,000) realised $5,612. An uncirculated 1864 (lot 1814; est. $3,500) soared past estimate to realise $9,150 to a room bidder. A first type half sovereign 1856 (lot 1829; est. $3,800) realised $5,856. A second type 1860, 6 over 5 (lot 1836; est. $7,000) realised $7,320.

The eleventh session started at 7:30pm on the Wednesday with British gold coins. A Henry VII angel (lot 2415; est. $4,500) realised a surprising $12,200 after a bidding duel online. A milled shilling of Elizabeth I (lot 2517; est. $1,600) easily exceeded estimate, realising $4,392. The world gold coins were offered in the twelfth session at 9:30am on Thursday 11th April. The Austria four ducats 1811A (lot 2647; est. $2,500) soared past estimate finally realising $9,760. The German East Africa fifteen rupien 1916T (lot 2697; est. $4,000) realised $8,540. A thousand forint of Hungary 1967 (lot 2711; est. $6,000) realised $12,810.

The thirteenth session started with world silver and bronze coins, a Bolivia eight reales 1652 (lot 2853; est. $800) realised $3,660. Then soon after came the Chinese charm coins from the Ken O’Brien Collection (lot 2874; est. $200) realised $9,150 for six coins; the next an eleven coin lot (lot 2875; est. $250) realised $28,060; third highest went to a lot of sixteen coins (lot 2879; est. $300) at $12,810. The second highest went to (lot 2882; est. $200) at $15,860 for four coins. The 21 lots from Ken O’Brien’s Collection realised over $117,000 against estimate of $4,500. Commemorative silver dollars also exceeded estimate, e.g. (lot 2937; est. $3,500) realised $23,180 and the Pavilion issue (lot 2939; est. $7,500) raced away to finally realise $63,440. A mint state year 8 (1919) Yuan Shi Kai dollar (lot 2938; est. $1,000) realised $5,368. The British India coins in the fourteenth session at 2:30pm sold particularly well over estimate, most were large lots from the Stephen Turner Collection, a lot of 369 half rupees to twelfth annas (lot 3030; est. $1,750) realised $10,370, a lot of 72 silver rupees 1874-1901 (lot 3033; est. $1,250) realised $5,368, while the very scarce 1897C rupee (lot 3034; est. $1,000) realised $2,928. Fifteen quarter rupees (lot 3031; est. $60) realised $915 and twenty four half rupees (lot 3032; est. $200) realised $1,830. A lot of 52 rupees 1902-1947, ex Stephen Turner Collection, (lot 3035; est. $500) realised $4,392.

Soon after came the series of coins from Vietnam (Annam) from the Ken O’Brien Collection. A lot of four of Thieu Tri, silver two (3) and three tien (lot 3150; est. $500) realised $7,320. The five tien (lot 3151; est. $1,000) realised $19,520. Another different type five tien (lot 3153; est. $1,000) realised $20,130 while the third type (lot 3154; est. $1,200) realised $8,540. A Tu Duc silver tien series of six coins (lot 3157; est. $1,000) realised $23,790. A silver seven tien (tribute for France) (lot 3159, est. $600) also realised $23,790. In world coin bulk lots, a lot of ninety three British Commonwealth coins and tokens including Penang tin issues, ex Malcolm C. Johnson Collection, (lot 3198; est. $350) realised $3,172.

Australian banknotes were offered in two sessions on Thursday 11th of April at 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Highlights were a presentation ten shillings 1913 (lot 3453; est. $10,000) at $14,640; a choice red serials ten shillings 1913 (lot 3455; est. $30,000) at $30,500, a ‘Rainbow’ pound (1914) (lot 3522; est. $5,000) at $9,150, a no mosaics five pounds (1913) (lot 3592; est. $13,000) at $26,840, a twenty pounds (1918) (lot 3677; est. $50,000) at $54,900, and a one hundred pounds (1924) (lot 3679; est. $35,000) also for $54,900.

World banknotes were offered in the 9:30am session on Friday 12th April. A British Guiana one dollar 1st October 1938 (lot 3690; est. $1,200) realised $3,904; a British North Borneo ten dollars 1st January 1927 (lot 3692; est. $2,000) realised $4,880, a collection of two hundred and fifty one notes of Burma from the Neil Ryan Collection (lot 3699; est. $500) realised $4,636, a collection of one hundred and thirty one military and war related notes and paper tokens of Great Britain from the Malcolm C. Johnson Collection (lot 3735; est. $2,500) realised $6,100, a Hong Kong five dollars 1st October 1927 (lot 3739; est. $300) realised $5,368. A collection of Russian notes and vouchers including Harbin from the John J. Veltmeyer Collection (lot 3775; est. $1,000) realised $10,370 and a USSR series from an old collection (lot 3777; est. $800) realised $9,760, a collection of approximately three hundred military and war related banknotes from the Malcolm C. Johnson Collection (lot 3823; est. $2,600) realised $12,810 and the following lot (lot 3824; estimate $2,000) realised $17,080.

The eighteenth session featured Orders, Decorations & Medals commencing with British Singles. A Military General Service Medal 1793-1814 with six clasps to a Lieutenant in the 74th Foot (lot 3841; est. $2,500) realised $4,636. A scarce 48th Regiment of Foot Northamptonshire Medal 1814 (lot 3843; est. $3,000) realised $7,320 and a Second China War Medal 1857-60 with three clasps (lot 3860; est. $1,000) realised $3,660. In the Australian Singles a Military Cross (GRI) (lot 3930; est. $1,000) realised $2,318 and a scarce Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal 1897 in bronze to the NSW Lancers (lot 3946; est. $800) realised $1,464. In the Australian Groups a group of seven that included a Coronation Medal (EIIR) to a female officer (lot 3992; est. $1,200) realised $2,684 and a Distinguished Flying Cross group of six (lot 4004; est. $6,000) realised $8,540. The next items were Police Medals and badges which exceeded expectations (lots 4022-4034; total est. $2,690) realised $7,210.

The final two sessions of the auction on the Friday afternoon were devoted to ancient coins. The gold coins generally sold at estimate or more. An Alexander the Great stater (lot 4041, est. $3,000) realised $5,612. A Philip III stater (lot 4044; est. $4,000) realised $7,320. A Lysimachos stater (lot 4046; est. $3,000) realised $4,636. A Zeugitana electrum stater (lot 4048; est. $2,500) doubled estimate at $6,100. An Antoninus Pius aureus ex Dr. Hugh Preston Collection (lot 4049; est. $6,000) realised $7,320, while a silver stater of Alexander the Molossian pedigreed back to a Sotheby auction in 1900 (lot 4074; est. $7,500) realised $7,320 as well, as did the left facing Philip II tetradrachm (lot 4096, est. $4,000). Top price went to the Antigonos Doson tetradrachm (lot 4101; est. $4,000) at $10,370. A nearly extremely fine Corinth stater (lot 4129; est. $800) was keenly bid up to realise $2,318.

This auction will be remembered as the most voluminous ever conducted by the Company and our sincere thanks to our dedicated team for handling such a logistically challenging sale so efficiently and professionally. Our next general auction, Sale 136 which will be held from 29th July – 2nd August, will offer several enticing collections. Consignments for this sale are being accepted until the end of May. 

Jim Noble

April 2024.

All other unsold lots are available to purchase at 70 percent or more of the estimate.