Sale 109 Realises $4.4 Million

Our largest ever three day auction sale with 5,151 lots was a success with 85% of lots sold at 111% of estimate. The most successful session was the last, comprising British military medals, with nearly all lots sold at 162% of estimate. The last three auctions have realised $13 million over a nine month period. The live internet bidding increased participation and success with new bidders joining.

The outstanding highlight of the auction was the Governor Macquarie presentation holey dollar (lot 1382; estimate $350,000) which realised an auction record of $477,000 ($400,000 hammer price plus the 19.25% premium including GST on the premium). This coin was bought by a Sydney man for his personal superannuation fund demonstrating confidence in the long term significance and value of the coin in Australian numismatic and historical circles.

In the first morning session an error twenty cents struck with two obverse dies dated 1998 (lot 86; estimate $2,000) realised $5,963, a five cents, 1983 struck on a one cent planchet (lot 84; estimate $1,250) realised $2,087, and a two cents, 1988 struck on a one cent planchet (lot 85; estimate $400) realised $1,550. An error proof set, 2006, with a 2005 mob of kangaroos one dollar (lot 97; estimate $5,000) realised $7,632.

In Decimal Proofs a Perth Mint proof gold two ounce kangaroo nugget coin, 1996 (lot 281; estimate $3,000) realised $4,889.

In Australian Historical Medals a convict love token engraved on a cartwheel penny (lot 910; estimate $150) realised $1,908, and a gold air race cup (lot 970; estimate $1,800) realised $5,605.

Highest price in New Zealand coins went to a proof Waitangi crown, 1935 (lot 1047; estimate $6,500) at $7,871. A World War II locally made Internment Camp, Featherston, uniface steel token for 2/- (lot 1134; estimate $250) realised $716.

The Australian and New Zealand tokens included many of the great rarities and high condition pieces, the highest price went to the excessively rare Raglan pattern penny (lot 1166; estimate $35,000) at $46,508. Next came the Mason and Culley penny (lot 1223; estimate $20,000) at $31,005 followed by the Thornthwaite threepence (lot 1289; estimate $12,500) at $20,273. Other high prices were recorded for the ASNCo. penny (lot 1150; estimate $15,000) at $14,310, the Dixon penny (lot 1168; estimate $12,000) at $13,118, the Hedberg pattern pennies, (lot 1186; estimate $4,500) and (lot 1188; estimate $8,500) at $5,366 and $9,540 respectively. Other realisations included the New Zealand pattern penny, 1879 (lot 1235; estimate $3,500) at $5,009, the A.Nicholas Liverpool Arms penny (lot 1236; estimate $15,000) at $14,906, the Petty mule penny, 1860 (lot 1244; estimate $6,000) at $7,155, the W.J.Taylor Canada mule penny (lot 1266; estimate $4,000) at $7,155 and the Macintosh and Degraves Tasmania shilling, 1823 (lot 1288; estimate $20,000) at $19,080.

During the fifth evening session Proclamation coins mostly exceeded estimate, the Dutch silver rider (lot 1376; estimate $500) more than doubled its estimate on account of its sheer beauty at $1,479. The bidding for the Macquarie presentation holey dollar was solid and definite with the final floor bids being raised by $10,000 increments with the winning bid recorded at $400,000. The third holey dollar found a new owner at $59,625 (lot 1384; estimate $60,000). The extremely fine NSW dump (lot 1385; estimate $50,000) realised $51,278. Top price in the Sydney Mint sovereigns went to the 1861/0 overdate (lot 1403; estimate $15,000) at $14,906. The very rare die variety of 1856 (lot 1411; estimate $12,500) realised $11, 329. In the Imperial gold an uncirculated half sovereign, 1900 Perth (lot 1492; estimate $8,000) realised the top price at $10,733. In the proofs and patterns a proof sovereign 1900M (lot 1503; estimate $50,000) improved on its price of fifteen months earlier to realise $62,606. The pattern florin and shilling, 1937 (lot 1505; estimate $100,000 and lot 1506; estimate $65,000) realised $95,400 and $65,588 respectively. The best result in the early proofs against estimate went to the proof 1934 shilling (lot 1513; estimate $7,500) at $14,310. The top price in florins went to the 1915 (lot 1572; estimate $9,000) at $11,925. A gem 1918M florin, ex J.Cox Collection (lot 1577; estimate $3,000) realised $5,366, and a gem 1926 (lot 1583; estimate $4,000) realised $5,128. The top priced threepences from the J.Cox Collection included the 1922/1 overdate in bent but very fine condition (lot 1652; estimate $16,000) at $11,925 and the gem 1923 (lot 1654; estimate $4,500) at $4,651. The top priced 1925 penny (lot 1679; estimate $12,500) realised $11,925 while the next best example (lot 1680; estimate $5,000) realised $4,651. The best result on a 1930 penny went to lot 1688 (estimate $18,000) at $19,676.

The next morning saw the offering of British gold and silver coins. In the hammered gold from the C.S.Shute Collection the Edward III half noble (lot 1800; estimate $2,000) was bought by a local collector on the floor for $4,591; the noble of Henry VI (lot 1801; estimate $4,000) realised $7,871; the angel of Henry VIII (lot 1802; estimate $2,000) realised $4,293 and the Charles I Tower mint unite (lot 1803; estimate $3,000) realised $4,770. In milled gold, top price went to a Queen Anne two guineas, 1709 (lot 1804; estimate $4,500) at $5,963. Top price in the hammered silver went to the Harold II penny (lot 1841; estimate $4,000) at $5,545, next was the Alfred the Great penny (lot 1832; estimate $3,000) at $3,935, then the Richard III groat (lot 1880; estimate $1,500) at $3,876 to another local collector in the room, and the William II penny (lot 1844; estimate $2,000) at $3,816. Top price in the milled went to the 1934 wreath crown (lot 1974; estimate $5,000) at $6,559, followed by the 1751 crown (lot 1921; estimate $5,000) at $5,605, then the Cromwell halfcrown, 1658, ex C.S.Shute Collection (lot 1907; estimate $4,000) at $5,009 and the Gothic crown, 1847 (lot 1948; estimate $3,000) at $4,651.

In the World gold top price went to the Czechoslovakia two ducaty, 1938 (lot 2082; estimate $40,000) at $35,775. Next was a British India proof five rupees, 1879B restrike (lot 2108; estimate $10,000) at $10,017 and a Russia five roubles, 1767 (lot 2121; estimate $8,000) to another collector in the room at $8,944.

In World silver and bronze section, a copper pattern five francs, 1887, of the Belgian Congo (lot 2198; estimate $2,000) ex. M.M.Andrews Collection realised $3,697. For the Canada fifty cents, 1890H (lot 2226; estimate $500) a protracted bidding duel ensued in $50 rises, the coin finally being knocked down to a collector in the room at $5,963 against a live internet bidder. 

The group or album lots from the M.M.Andrews Collection were anticipated to do well, though the Egypt lot (311 pieces, lot 2303; estimate $1,000) at $5,724 was a good example of doing better than expected. The German Africa lots (2315; estimate $800 and 2316; estimate $600) sold for multiples realising $2,862 each. A Russia, Nicholas 1 commemorative rouble,  1834 (lot 2444; estimate $4,000) realised $5,486. A Sierra Leone gilt proof token (lot 2456; estimate $500) realised $2,743. The South Africa patterns mostly realised one and a half times estimate or more, top price went to the Griqua Town farthing (lot 2458; estimate $1,500) at $2,922. Four bulk lots from the M.M.Andrews Collection (lots 2533, 4, 55, 78) estimates totalling $4,750 realised a total of $17,291 all to the same bidder. Another world coin lot, ex M.M.Andrews (lot 2596; estimate $1,000) realised $5,963 to the same bidder as before.

In the late afternoon the top price for New Zealand banknotes went to the specimen Lefeaux fifty pounds, 1934 (lot 2700; estimate $10,000) at $13,356. A one million number one hundred dollar note (lot 2765; estimate $2,500) realised $3,339.

In world banknotes a Burma ten rupees, Rangoon 1907 (lot 2802; estimate $1,200) realised $8,348, a Ceylon POW (Boer War) note (lot 2819; estimate $350) realised $1,491. Two Indian notes stood out, a fifty rupees (1930) (lot 2901; estimate $1,500) realised $9,540 and a one thousand rupees (1931) (lot 2902; estimate $17,500) realised the highest price of all the notes at $25,043. A South Africa ‘Good For’ voucher from the Orange Free State (1871) (lot 2981; estimate $80) realised more than ten times estimate at $1,216.

In Australian Private Bank note issues there was a healthy rate of sale with the highest price going to the City of Melbourne Bank issued pound overprinted 19th June 1893 (lot 3099; estimate $8,000) at $8,586, followed by a similar issued note from the London Bank (lot 3118; estimate $7,000) at $7,632.

In Commonwealth pre-decimal issues, a Collins/Allen (1915) ten shillings (lot 3137; estimate $3,500) realised $5,486. Top price went to a very rare Miller/Collins (1923) one pound (lot 3185; estimate $15,000) at $20,869. A trio of Sheehan/McFarlane (1939) five pounds (lot 3212; estimate $2,100) sold for three times estimate, realising $6,797. A Kell/Collins (1925) ten pounds (lot 3229; estimate $17,500) realised $16,695 while a Riddle/Sheehan (1934) consecutive pair of ten pounds (lot 3233; estimate $20,000) realised $19,080. In war related issues a World War II Loveday Camp one shilling (lot 3256; estimate $1,000) realised a new record price of $4,055. Highest price of all Australian notes went to the possibly unique one million serial number five dollars of Coombs/Randall (1967) (lot 3284; estimate $25,000) at $23,254. A collection of polymer notes, five dollars to one hundred dollars, including first and last prefixes in an album (lot 3405; estimate $4,500) realised $9,540.

In the morning session of the third day the ancient gold coins were well supported. Top price went to the Licinius I aureus (lot 3515; estimate $16,000) at $17,291, followed by the Nero aureus (lot 3510; estimate $10,000) at $11,567, and Marcus Aurelius aureus (lot 3513; estimate $5,000) ex D.J.Foster Collection at $7,274. In Greek silver, a Lysimachos tetradrachm (lot 3586; estimate $2,500) ex C.S.Shute Collection realised $3,101, and a Phoenicia, Tyre, shekel or tetradrachm of good style and metal (lot 3661; estimate $1,000) realised $1,729. In Roman silver, a portrait Caesar denarius (lot 3749, estimate $3,000) realised $4,651, a Caligula with Augustus reverse (lot 3769; estimate $1,200) ex D.J.Foster Collection realised $2,206 and a Claudius with Nero reverse (lot 3773; estimate $2,000) also ex D.J.Foster Collection realised $3,339. In the 11:30 session a Gordian II denarius (lot 3863; estimate $4,000) was well bought at $4,055 as was a Nigrinian antoninianus (lot 3906; estimate $3,000) at $4,651 to a collector in the room. Both were from D.J.Foster’s Collection.

The part B Catalogue, devoted to stamps and orders, decorations and medals commenced with the thirteenth session at 2:30 pm on the third day. An early group of 23 Great Britain stamps 1840-41 (lot 4219; estimate $250) was keenly contested to $1,371. A mint unhinged New Guinea five pounds (lot 4243; estimate $400) realised $859. Militaria followed the stamps. A Gallipoli bugle and diary to Australian Pte J. Darby, 19 Bn (lot 4289; estimate $10,000) sold for $8,944. A South Africa Boer War 9 carat gold return fob was keenly contested to $1,908 (lot 4407; estimate $500). In other countries awards a Star of Ethiopia, 2nd class (lot 4492; estimate $300) realised $1,431. A four clasp QSA to a Queenslander and ex Trevor Bushell Taylor Collection (lot 4581; estimate $750) realised $2,862. A 1914-15 Star for KIA on the Nek (lot 4604; estimate $200) realised $1,789, and a World War I pair for attack on Peronne in 1918 (lot 4730; estimate $150) realised $2,087.

In British singles a two clasp India General Service Medal 1854-95 (lot 4822; estimate $500) realised $2,635, while the highest price went to the Zulu War Medal 1879 clasp for a KIA at Isandhlwana (lot 4852; estimate $8,000) at $15,741. An eight clasp QSA (lot 4902; estimate $600) and ex Taylor Collection realised about ten times estimate at $6,201. A George V type one MM to the Tank Corps (lot 5014; estimate $400), one of over one hundred MM’s in Taylor’s Collection, realised $2,624. In British groups a Queen’s Sudan Medal 1896-97 and Khedive's Sudan Medal, clasp Khartoum to the 21st Lancers (lot 5104; estimate $350) went to a collector in the room at $4,412, and a QSA, KSA pair to the BSA police with Defence of Mafeking clasp (lot 5113; estimate $180) and like the previous, ex Taylor Collection, realised $3,101.

The next auction takes place in Sydney at the State Library of NSW on 17-19th November 2015. Already included are the NSW Holey Dollar 1813 ex Tom Hanley Collection (Mira-Noble 1797/2), uniface pattern florin and shilling by Sir Bertram Mackennal in 1926 (ex the sculptor via Colin Mackennal Kraay) and AHF Baldwin Collection (Spink Sale 24), a proof-like Adelaide pound, 1852 (ex Spink Australia Sale 23, lot 1289); Great Britain fine sovereigns of Queen Mary, 1553, and Elizabeth I, proof sovereign and half sovereigns, 1826, 1831, 1839, 1881,1893, 1911, 1937, a Harold II penny; pattern shilling in gold, ex J.G.Murdoch Collection in 1903, Septimius Severus aureus, Matidia aureus and Galba aureus. A DSM group for HMAS Sydney Bartolemeo Colleoni action, 1941, a group of ten to Rear Admiral Robinson, and at least twenty more interesting groups.