Sale 98 realises almost $4 million

Sale 98 Realises almost $4 million

This four day auction sale achieved a more than satisfactory result after a record number of over 600 bidders participated. 

 The David Allen Collection of Australian Agricultural Medals in the seventh session was virtually sold out with one prominent institution being the principal buyer thus ensuring the preservation of these medals for all who are interested to see them in the future. 

The Indian paper money collection was sold out with strong internet bidding plus buyers in the room including a professional numismatist from India visiting Australia for the very first time. The collection was offered in session 13 in 87 lots estimated at a total of $200,000 and realised $305,000 including buyer’s premium and GST (16.5%). 

In Australian coin & banknotes, highlights were the Collins/Allen twenty pounds (lot 4772; est $150,000) which realised $139,500, the highest price realised in the auction and the Cerutty/Collins fifty pounds (lot 4773; est $120,000) which realised $110,675.  Both notes were purchased at our March 1991 sale for $14,500 and $15,000 respectively. Top priced coin went to the gold Adelaide pound 1852 (lot 1318; est $35,000) which realised $43,105. An 1855 Sydney mint sovereign exceeded it’s estimate of $6,000 (lot 1320) realising $7,573. An 1872 over 1 overdate shield sovereign (lot 1349; est $3,000) realised more than double estimate bringing $7,223. The inverted A for V varieties sold strongly (lots 1355, 1356; est $6,000 and $1,500) realising $8,155 and $4,660 respectively.

In Australian Commonwealth, the 1930 pennies all sold close to estimate but the last doubled estimate (lot 1630; est $13,500) realising $31,455. In the silver a 1922/1 threepence realised the top price (lot 1591; est $15,000) of $18,058. In the proofs a 1939 kangaroo halfpenny, choice except for a carbon spot realised $20,970 (lot 1443; est $22,500).

In the David Allen Collection the first medal offered (they were listed alphabetically) was the Albury Industrial Exhibition 1879 in silver awarded to the resident GP, Arthur Andrews, the renowned numismatic author. It was purchased by a local collector with a personal interest in Andrews. The earliest medal known for South Australia (lot 1966; est $5,000) went to a museum realising $9,320, the highest price in the collection. The cover medal which was in plated 22 carat gold (lot 2117; est $4,000) realised $5,126.

In world coins a Chinese Kiangsi rebel coinage copper ten cash 1911 with another normal issue (lot 2398; est $250) realised $3,262 and a Cyprus bronze piastre 1908 (lot 2418; est $300) ex Frank McCarthy Collection realised $1,923. Top price went to the Russian Family rouble (lot 2545; est $80,000) that realised $75,725.

In world gold the China gold ten dollars 1916 (lot 2970; est $12,000) realised $20,970. The Germany, Augsburg twenty ducats (lot 2990; est $12,500) realised $16,310. In the British coins a profile left William the Conqueror penny, ex Vincent Read and Frank McCarthy collections (lot 3107; est $1,000) realised $2,796. The Anglesey Pary’s Mine Co penny 1788 (lot 3341; est $1,500) realised $3,379, it previously realised $1,550 in sale 58B.

In the military medal section the Irish Assistant Police Commissioner’s group of nine (lot 3631; est $4,500) realised $9,320 .

Top price in the Indian banknotes went to the one thousand rupees of George V (lot 4004; est $16,000) which realised $23,300 to a local collector on the phone against the dealer from India in the room and after several email bids had been exhausted.   

On the final day the ancient gold coins commenced the sixteenth session and the Roman gold did well. The best results were a Claudius aureus (lot 4991; est $22,000) which realised $31,455 and was topped by the Caracalla aureus (lot 4995; est $23,000) which realised $40,775 and finally the Galerius Maximian aureus (lot 4999; est $14,000) which realised $23,300 to a buyer on the phone from the UK.  Other competing bidders were a European bidder on the phone who was successful on three occasions, a bidder from Russia in the room who bought three lots and two collectors from Sydney in the room who were unsuccessful. In the silver a tetradrachm of Athens (lot 5081; est $2,500) went to a local collector for $3,845 and a Roman Republic denarius of L. Plautius Plancus (lot 5259; est $1,600) realised $3,029, the best of five examples on offer.

Our next sale takes place in Sydney on 17-19 April 2012. Already included is the collection of the late Tom May which is strong in Greek, Roman and British coins and medals as well as the important Alexander Collection of Australian and New Zealand tokens. 

The year 2012 is a milestone year for our firm with our hundredth sale to be held in July.  Our first sale was held in Sydney in 1977 and to commemorate this special occasion sale 100 will also be held in Sydney.

Jim Noble 

December 2011