Sale 139 Realises Nearly AU $10 Million

This auction was our highest ever in dollar value, realising a grand total of $9.8 million with a clearance of over 90 percent by lot and 120 percent by value of lots sold. Commencing with stamps in session one several ex Peter Olorenshaw New Zealand lots sold well above estimate, e.g. (lot 663; estimated for $500) realised $3,904, (lot 665; estimate $1000) realised $4,148. In session three a gold proof set 2001, (lot 1027; estimate $8000) realised $19,520. In session four a Perth Mint Specimen one ounce gold kangaroo 2012 (lot 1204; estimate $4,500) realised $7,320. In tokens a very rare Jamberoo William Allen penny, 1855 (lot 1286; estimate $5000) realised $10,980. In the fifth session an attractive Waitangi proof set (lot 1364, estimate $8,500) realised $14,030. In British historical medals, Queen Victoria’s visit to the city of London, 1837 in silver (lot 1480, estimate $500) surprised by fetching twelve times estimate or $6,100. A Canada Treaty Three, 1873 medal in silver ex John J. Ford Collection (lot 1510; estimate $8000) realised a record $61,000 while the African Corps gift for Valour Medal 1919 (lot 1511; estimate $15,000) realised $24,400.

In the sixth session top price went to the NSW holey dollar (lot 1597; estimate $150,000) at $195,200. The choicest Adelaide pound (lot 1601; estimate $35,000) realised $48,800. Top price in Australian gold went to the Sydney Mint half sovereign 1855 (lot 1645; estimate $100,000) that realised $97,600. Both the 1922 and 1926 Sydney sovereigns (lots 1735 and 1739; estimates $35,000 each) realised $36,600 each. The 1889 Melbourne Mint proof half sovereign (lot 1798; estimate $75,000) realised $63,440. Top price in the sovereign rolls of 50 coins (lot 2044; estimate $50,000) was $73,200 to a room bidder. In the ninth session a 1922/1 threepence (lot 2393; estimate $1000) realised $4,148, while the best of the 1930 pennies (lot 2429; estimate $25,000) realised $31,720. In the tenth session a Gothic crown, 1847 (lot 2561; estimate $5,000) realised double estimate reaching $12,810. In British gold a Queen Anne guinea, 1713 (lot 2627; estimate $3,500) did best against estimate reaching $11,590. Top price went to the four coin set 1937 (lot 2692; estimate $20,000) that realised $26,840, a set that was acquired by Prime Minister Billy McMahon's uncle.

In the world gold coins (the eleventh session) a Bohemian gold ducat 1595 (lot 2728; estimate $5,000) realised $15,250 (ex Pekarek Collection) while a Nuremberg ten ducats 1641 (lot 2778; estimate $8,000), also ex Pekarek, realised $12,810. In Russian coins a Nicholas II five roubles 1909 (MS66) (lot 2910; estimate $1,200) realised $4,880, while a ten roubles 1910 (MS64) (lot 2919; estimate $2,500) realised an outstanding $16,470. A USA Charlotte Mint five dollars 1847C (lot 2990; estimate $2000) from the J. Nesbitt Collection realised $12,200.

In the twelfth and thirteenth sessions were the world silver and bronze. A Bohemian silver piedfort Prague groschen (lot 3065; estimate $10,000) realised $36,600 followed by a thaler 1627 (lot 3067; estimate $10,000) for $30,500 and a thaler 1632 (lot 3068; estimate $15,000) at $50,020 all from the Pekarek Collection. In Chinese dragon dollars, two from Kirin province (lots 3120, 3121; estimate $2,000 and $1,500) realised $23,180 each. An uncirculated Yunnan silver dollar (1920-2)(lot 3138; estimate $300) multiplied its estimate more than 20 times, realising $7,930. There were some high results on British India silver from 1862-1901, e.g. (lot 3234; estimate $500 for 46 silver two annas) realised $4,392, (lot 3236; estimate $500 for 45 quarter rupees) realised $9,150; (lot 3237; estimate $300 for 4 half rupees) realised $3,172; (lot 3238; estimate $600 for 9 half rupees) realised $11,590; (lot 3239; estimate $600 for 9 half rupees) realised $5,124. Four 1911 rupees (lot 3262; estimate $800) realised $3,416, while an off centre two annas and a brockage rupee (lot 3270; estimate $200) sold strongly for $2,196. The highest prices went to two Rosa Americanas from the John J. Ford Collection (lot 3364; estimate $16,000) for $22,570 and (lot 3365; estimate $25,000) at $29,280.

In world banknotes three outstanding results were for a Canada, Imperial Bank specimen fifty dollars (lot 3455, estimate $2,500) realised $21,960, a Malaysia and British Borneo one hundred dollars 1953 (lot 3531, estimate $5,000) realised $19,520 and a specimen note selection of 31 (lot 3643; estimate $15,000) realised $46,360. Australian banknotes in the next two sessions struggled to reach estimate generally.

The final day commenced with ancient coins in the 17th and 18th sessions. In ancient gold there was very strong bidding. An Alexander the Great stater (lot 4042; estimate $3,500) realised $10,370. A Mysia, Kyzikos stater (lot 4043; $5,000) realised $12,200. In Roman the two aureii of Caesar (lot 4049, 4050; estimate $6,000 each) realised $36,600 and $35,380 respectively. A Vespasian aureus triumphal quadriga reverse (lot 4053; estimate $5,000) realised $18,300. A Marcus Aurelius aureus (lot 4061; estimate $6,000) realised $21,960. A Lucius Verus aureus (lot 4062; estimate $8,000)realised $17,690 and a Diocletian aureus (lot 4063; estimate $10,000) realised $21,350. An amazing result was for a Gratian solidus (lot 4068; estimate $1,200) which realised more than 10 times its estimate at $14,640. These Roman gold all came from the Pekarek Collection.

In Greek silver a Macedonian Roman Protectorate tetradrachm (lot 4151; estimate $1,000) realised $3,660 and an Athenian tetradrachm (lot 4169; estimate $1,500) realised $4,636. Top priced Roman bronze went to the Cladius sestertius (lot 4284; estimate $6,000) at $8,540. It was soon beaten by a Medal of Commodus (lot 4330; estimate $10,000) at $10,370 going to a bidder in the room on behalf of a University Collection.

Session 18 also featured Orders, Decorations and Medals. Several lots were unsold, mainly other countries' medals. The stand out lot was the Victoria Cross to Private Robert Beatham, AIF, posthumously awarded for the World War I Battle of Amiens in France (lot 4414; estimate $500,000) that realised $603,900. Other highlights included the rare S.S Titanic rescue operational medal awarded to officers and crew of the rescue ship, R.M.S Carpathia (lot 4404; estimate $12,000) that realised $13,420 and a Military Cross with Bar, unnamed but attributed with documentation to Temp./Captain S.J.M Hole of the Royal Fusiliers for actions in World War I (lot 4407; estimate $2,500) that realised $5,368. Other results included a Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps to a Private in the NSW Mounted Rifles (lot 4413; estimate $800) that realised $1,830, a World War II group of five to a RAAF Flight Sergeant killed when his aircraft crashed after a bombing raid (lot 4424; estimate $1,500) realised $2,196 and a World War II group of four to an Australian nurse (lot 4439; estimate $300) that realised $915.

Session 19 and 20 were entirely devoted to part 4 of the Mark E. Freehill Collection of world banknotes. Some sensational results against estimate were recorded. Portugal (94 notes in lot 4487; estimate $1,000) realised $15,860. Isle of Man (39 Elizabeth II notes lot 4503, estimate $2000) realised $9,150. Jersey (104 Elizabeth II notes lot 4519; estimate $750). realised $5,612. Gibraltar, 1914 two shillings (lot 4521, estimate $1,500) realised $10,370, two five and fifty pounds notes 1914 (lot 4526; estimate $3,000) realised $32,940, a spectacular result for two unissued notes forms and 15 Elizabeth II notes (lot 4535; estimate $1,500) realised $7,930. Malta, 16 George VI notes (lot 4539; estimate $1,250) realised $11,590. Cyprus, proof two shillings 1919 (lot 4549; estimate $1,000) realised $17,690, a specimen George V five pounds 1926 (lot 4552; estimate $1,500) realised $20,130, a 1934 ten shillings (lot 4553; estimate $200) realised $5,612, 6 Elizabeth II notes (lot 4561; estimate $800) realised $13,420 and 13 1955 issues (lot 4562, estimate $2,000) realised $23,180. Jordan, 4 notes first and second issue (lot 4568; estimate $7,500) realised $14,640. Syria, 18 notes (lot 4571; estimate $2000) realised $17,080. Two lots of Lebanon went to the same buyer (a total of 18 notes, lot 4573 and 4574; estimate $750 each). realised $14,030 and $20,130 respectively. Two lots of Iraq total of 32 notes (lots 4579, 4580; estimate $600 each) realised $4636 and $7,930 respectively. Afghanistan, 9 notes 1939 issue (lot 4608; estimate $2,000) realised $10,980. Pakistan (lot 4613; estimate $2,000) realised $18,300; (lot 4614; estimate $1,200) realised $17,080 and (lot 4615; estimate $300) Haj Pilgrim issues (4) realised $11,590. Portuguese India (lot 4634; estimate $1,000) realised $17,690 and (lot 4635; estimate $600) realised $19,520. Maldives (lot 4636; estimate $1000) realised $17,690. Netherlands Indies, two lots of 32 and 23 notes (lot 4669, 4670; estimate $300, $150) realised $6,710 and $5,368 respectively. Jamaica (lot 4695; estimate $2,000) realised $19,520. Trinidad and Tobago 1905 two dollars (lot 4711; estimate $500) realised $10,980 and two ten dollars 1942 (lot 4718; estimate $1000) realised $9,150. East Africa, two five rupees 1916, 1918 (lot 4742; estimate $900) realised $7,930 and ten rupees 1916 (lot 4743; estimate $1,000) realised $7,320 and ten George VI issues (lot 4750; estimate $1,200) realised $9,150 while three canteen coupons (lot 4762; estimate $150) realised $3,416. This part of the collection totalled nearly $900,000. The fifth and final part will be in our next sale, Sale 140, 24-28th November 2025.

On behalf of the company I would like to thank all those who participated in this our most successful sale to date. 

Jim Noble, August 2025