Sale 101 realises $3.3 million
This sale was well attended with buyers coming from around the world, including visitors from the UK, Singapore, Russia and New Zealand. Highlight of the sale was the pattern 1855 half sovereign that realised $133,975 to a private collector.
This sale was well attended with buyers coming from around the world, including visitors from the UK, Singapore, Russia and New Zealand.
Highlight of the sale was the pattern 1855 half sovereign illustrated on the front cover (lot 1477; est $120,000) that realised $133,975 to a private collector.
The first two sessions covering Australian miscellaneous coins and decimal issues were virtually all sold out. In the mis-strikes a twenty cents on a ten cents blank (lot 102; est$1,000) realised $1,748.
In historical medals an early shooting medal went to a South Coast buyer against a shooting medal collector, after a bidding duel, finally realising $2,796 (lot 681; est $750). Highest price was for the gold cup won by Master Koran at Broken Hill in 1911 (lot 712; est $20,000) at $25,630. A museum was the successfull bidder for the Vince Kelly Sydney Harbour Bridge worker's awards (lot 771; est $9,000) paying $12,815. Twelve enamelled badges, also from the Carl Veen Collection (lot 774; est $2,000) realised $3,728 to a Sydney collector.
A choice Love and Roberts Wagga Wagga penny token (lot 836; $1,800) realised $2,330 while the highest priced token went to the W.J. Taylor United States mule halfpenny (lot 862; est $4,500) at $4,660. A set of plastic Keeling Cocos tokens dated 1968 (lot 877; est $1,500) realised $2,563.
The fifth session at 7.30 pm was well attended and prices held firm. The NSW Dump (lot 1345; est $15,000) realised $16,310 to a collector who also bought an Adelaide pound (lot 1350; est $12,500) at $19,805. A variety shield sovereign, with an inverted A for V, bought originally as a normal issue (lot 1391; est $2000) brought $4,666 to the lucky owner. An 1886 Melbourne half sovereign with original mint bloom (lot 1453 est $3,000) realised $6,757. The pattern Sydney Mint two pounds (lot 1478; est $65,000) realised $81,550. The early Perth Mint proof bronze of George VI (lots 1479, 1480 and 1481 total estimates $50,000) went to the same buyer for $61,745 after strong bidding from a low start. The 1953 Elizabeth II penny (lot 1482; est $20,000) sold right on estimate at $23,300.
Several choice Autralian florins sold to one keen collector, the 1911 (lot 1533; est $8,500) at $8,155, the 1912 (lot 1534; est $6,000) at $7,456, the 1915 (lot 1538; est $3,500) at $5,592 and the 1932 (lot 1557; est $18,000) at $19,223. The Fred Dobbin 1921 specimen (lot 1544; est $7,500) sold to another bidder against our keen collector at $14,563. Fred Dobbin's 1924 shilling (lot 1585; est $4,000) went to another buyer for $8,388. The outstanding 1915 threepence (lot 1629; est $6,500) went to another buyer at $10,019. The best 1930 penny (lot 1702; est $15,000) went to another buyer, outbidding our keen collector on the phone, at $24,465. The best 1923 halfpenny, went to our keen collector on the phone (lot 1723; est $4,000) at $6,990.
The next day an English gold noble of Edward III (lot 1868; est $5000) went to a collector at $6,291, while a pattern broad of Charles II (lot 1871; est $5,000) went to another collector in the room at $6,058. A choice 1773 guinea (lot 1873; est $4,500) realised $5,825 to a Sydney collector.
The Fred Dobbin British shillings saw some good results, the Henry VIII testoon (lot 2030; est $1,500) realised $2,769, the Charles I York Mint issue (lot 2056; est $750) doubled estimate realising $1,748 and the Pontefract siege issue (lot 2059; est $3,500) realised the highest price of $4,544. The highest price of all British coins went to the Guernsey crown (lot 2204; est $35,000) at $34,950.
In New Zealand banknotes a fresh example of a Bank of Australasia five pounds (lot 2435; est $4,000) realised $7,573. A Bank of NSW ten pounds (lot 2440; est $15,000) realised $13,980 and the highest price went to the National Bank one pound Dunedin 1874 (lot 2467; est $15,000) at $15,728 to a room buyer. The Lefeaux one pound serial number one (lot 2481.; est $7,000) eventually sold to a collector for $6,990. A specimen set of nine Indonesian notes (lot 2636; est $8,000) sold to a room bidder at $8,388. In Australian decimal notes a full sheet of 1997 paper one hundred dollars (lot 2950; est $4,000) sold for $9,320. In private issues a specimen ten pounds of the CBA with Chinese print (lot 2988; est $20,000) sold for $21,844. National Bank Sydney colour trials (2) ex B.W. Mills Collection (lot 3001; est $2,500) realised $6,757, while a Melbourne specimen one pound (lot 3003; est $12,000) realised $12,815. A consecutive pair of Riddle/Heathershaw one pounds (lot 3115; est $3,000) realised $6,524 to a room bidder. Three consecutive Coombs/Randall one dollar star notes, all fresh to the market (lot 3285; est$12,000) realised $16,776 to a collector in the room.
The next morning saw a strong result in ancient gold when a collector won the Alexander distater (lot 3320; est $15,000) at $20,970. A Diocletian aureus went to a collector in the room (lot 3338; est $9,000) at $12,815. A Cleopatra and Mark Antony denarius (lot 3503; est $5,000) was fought over by a number of bidders and sold for $6,175.
In world gold an extremely fine South African 1892 double shaft pond went for $3,553 (lot 3770; est $2,500). In world silver a sensation was created when there was a bidding war on a Chinese silver fifty cents (lot 3886; est $300) which finally was knocked at $17,475 against a bidder on the phone. Many lower bids had been recieved by the auction house by email. Later on, George V South Africa silver stunned onlookers when many lots went for multiples of estimate, the best being the 1930 shilling (lot 4019; est $200) at $5,243 and the 1936 halfcrown (lot 4029; est $400) at $3,146 to an email bidder against a room bidder. A collection of Tibet (lot 4056; est $400) went to an Asian bidder in the room at $2,563.
The final session was devoted to orders, decorations and medals, with a very strong attendance in the room. Bidding was constant and strong with most lots selling over estimate. The Order of the Companions of Honour (lot 4315; est $3,000) realised $4,951; an NGS bar Trafalgar (lot 4334; est $8,000) realised $8,738; an Army of India bar Maheidpoor (lot 4340; est $2,500) realised $4,194, as did a Waterloo Medal (lot 4338; est $2,000). A Waterloo New Zealand family group (lot 4460; est $5,000) realised $9,553 while an Arctic pair (lot 4462; est $700) realised $5,825.
The 'Jimmy Governor' ISM (lot 4520; est $2,000) realised $3,495 to a Sydney collector. Finally the USA Medal of Honor (lot 4601; est$10,000) realised estimate at $11,650, the only example we have handled.
Jim Noble November 2012.
Our next sale takes place in April 2013 and lots should be consigned by the end of February 2013.