Sale 110 Realises over 2.5 Million

Sunday, 06 December 2015

This sale, held over three days in fifteen sessions on 17th, 18th and 19th November, was successful with 85 percent of lots sold at 120 percent of estimate. All quoted prices are the hammer price plus buyer’s premium with GST. The highest price realised went to the unofficial pattern swan dollar, 1967, set of four including gold issue (lot 1263; est $10,000) at $38,160, a new record price for this popular pattern.

The sale commenced with Miscellaneous Australian Coins, which mostly exceeded estimate, an exceptional result went to lot 46; est $300, which consisted of 179 pennies and 81 halfpennies, that realised $1,431. In decimal proofs, top price went to a Perth Mint proof gold two ounce kangaroo coin, 1992 (lot 179; est $3,000) at $4,293. In mis-strikes and varieties, an obverse brockage five cents, 1980 (lot 285; est $1,200) realised $2,385.

Top price in the Papua New Guinea series went to the extremely rare pattern penny, 1929, in bronze with milled edge, ex B.J.Hibbard Collection (lot 557; est $2,000) at $4,770. The New Zealand Waitangi Crown, 1935 (lot 565; est $5,000) realised $6,559 and a gold medal for the 1906-7 Christchurch Exhibition in gold (lot 592; est $1,000) realised a record price of $4,412 after strong bidding from two bidders.

Highlight of the Australian and New Zealand Tokens went to the William Allen Jamberoo penny, 1855 (lot 598; est $8,000) which realised a spectacular $26,235 after three collectors fought it out in the bidding. An ASNCO penny (lot 609; est $10,500) realised $12,521. The majority of the tokens, being the balance of an important collection, saw only sparse results, owing to the higher than expected estimates. In miscellaneous tokens, a World War I internment camp threepence in aluminium (lot 774; est $1,250) realised $1,848 and a World War II five shillings in bronze, unholed in error (lot 777; est $4,000) realised $5,247.

In Australian Historical Medals a highlight was the Acclimatisation Society silver and French gold pair for salmon in Tasmania in 1869 (lot 826; est $4,000) which realised $5,963 to a Tasmanian collector in the room. Another highlight was the Australian Federal Exhibition 1902-3 in gold (lot 853; est $3,500) which realised $6,559. A pair of Royal Shipwreck Relief & Humane Society of NSW medals in bronze for 1935 and 1944 to Hugh Blair (lot 885; est $1,500) realised $5,009.

In the fourth session the third 1930 penny (lot 1024; est $15,000) realised $17,888 and the marked XXXX halfpenny, 1923 (lot 1038; est $5,000) sold for $4,770.

The start of the first night session saw Proclamation Coins selling well, a Brazil half Johanna, 1789 (lot 1049; est $1,250) realised $2,385 and a proof-like India Bengal EIC mohur (lot 1063; est $1,000) realised a record $2,862. The T.Knight countermarked holey dollar, 1813 (lot 1078; est $25,000) realised $34,583 and the finest NSW dump, 1813 (lot 1080; est $7,500) realised a strong result at $19, 080. Of the Sydney Mint sovereigns, the 1859 (lot 1097; est $1,250) did best, realising $3,816. In Imperial half sovereigns, the choice 1873 Melbourne issue (lot 1172; est $3,000) realised a record $7,990, and a choice 1918 Perth issue more than doubled estimate (lot 1193; est $3,000) at $8,109. The pattern or trial shilling (lot 119; est $750) realised strongly over estimate at $4,293. In Commonwealth Silver, a 1920M sixpence (lot 1345; est $750) did best against estimate, realising $2,624.

The morning of the second day saw some strong results in English gold coins, an angel of Henry VII (lot 1533; est $1,500) realised $3,220, a proof George IV sovereign, 1826 (lot 1552; est $6,000) realised $13,118, a proof William IV half sovereign, 1831 (lot 1554; est $4,500) realised $10,494 and a proof Queen Victoria half sovereign, 1839 (lot 1558; est $3,000) realised $8,825. A Queen Victoria Jubilee head proof sovereign, and a half sovereign, 1887 (lots 1563, 1565; ests $2,000, $1,300) each realised well over estimate at $5,963 and $4,532 respectively, as did the proof old head sovereign and half sovereign, 1893 (lots 1567, 1569; ests $2,500, $1,500) at $6,201 and $3,816 respectively. A George VI proof four coin gold set, 1937 (lot 1580; est $4,000) realised nearly four times estimate at $14,906.

Highlights in the British silver were a Charles I, Briot shilling (lot 1624; est $600) that realised $1,908, a Cromwell shilling, 1658 (lot 1629; est $3,500) that realised $7,751, seven William III maundies (lot 1665; est $150) that realised $1,014; six Anne shillings, all but one 1707-8 E (lot 1671; est $500) that realised $2,147; eleven George I maundies (lot 1680; est $200) that realised $1,371 and a proof William IV halfcrown, 1831 (lot 1721; est $2,000) that realised $4,412. An Edward VII halfcrown, 1903 (lot 1783; est $1,500) realised $2,981 and a VIP frosted proof crown 1937 (lot 1804; est $500) realised $1,073. A choice patinated Scottish merchant countermarked dollar (lot 1813; est $2,000) saw strong online bidding, finally realising $9,540.

The second afternoon and evening sessions witnessed the selling of World and Australian paper money. Highlights were a 1901 Calcutta ten rupees (lot 2001; est $800) at $2,504, and a Cawnpore one hundred rupees, 1919 (lot 2003; est $700) at $3,935. The most exciting section was when a collector in the room and two overseas online bidders clashed for the Tongan banknotes (lots 2110 to 2155). Highest prices went to a 1939 ten shillings (lot 2126; est $300) at $3,816, a 1940 ten shillings (lot 2134; est $200) at $2,862 and a 1955 five pounds (lot 2151; est $1,000) at $5,247.

In Australian decimal notes, a pack of one hundred one dollar test notes (1976) (lot 2223; est $6,000) realised $9,540. In Collector folders and uncuts, a production sheet of 32 fifty dollar notes, Fraser/Evans (1996) (lot 2343; est $2,200) realised $4,174. In Pre-Federation notes a Bank of South Australia one pound 1877 (lot 2374; est $6,000) realised $6,559, and a London Chartered Bank one pound 1879 (lot 2392; est $6,500) realised $7,155. In Commonwealth issues a choice ten shillings, Kell/Collins (1926)(lot 2407; est $9,000) realised $9,540 and a consecutive pair of ten pounds, Coombs/Wilson (1952) (lot 2353; est $20,000) realised $22,658. Top price went to the Hay Internment Camp artwork group (lot 2563; est $28,000) at $28,620. In specimen and special number notes section, the consecutive pair of one dollar, including one million number, Coombs/Wilson (1966) (lot2601; est $8,000) realised $11,925. Top priced star note went to the five dollars, Phillips/Randall (1969) (lot 2618; est $9,000) at $7,751.

The morning of the third day commenced with ancient gold coins and here a high price was achieved for an attractive Persian gold daric (lot 2634; est $3,000) at $7,155 followed soon after by a Galba aureus (lot 2637; est $6,000) at $8,825. In Greek silver the Sicily tetradrachm, ex R.C.Lockett Collection (lot 2661; est $3,000) realised $5,486. To end the session, a group lot of 18 coins including a Umayyad dirhem, AH 128, al Bab Mint (lot 2892; est $150) realised $1,193.

The World silver and bronze sold well, and in the case of the Chinese issues sometimes amazingly. The British Trade dollars (lot 2902 to 2912) all ex J.F.Brown Collection, all sold to one absentee bidder acting on the phone, generally at double estimate. A Fengtien Province dollar (1898) (lot2939; est $500) realised $3,816, a Kirin Province dollar (1899) (lot 2949; est $2,000) realised $4,055, a very fine Kweichow Province ‘automobile dollar’ (1928) (lot 1960; est $750) realised $7,155, and a Republic Yuan Shih-kai facing head in plumed cap dollar (1916) (lot 2967; est $750) realised $8,944. A Hong Kong five cents, 1941KN (lot 3045; est $1,200) realised $1,789. 

In World gold coins, a Colombia, Ferdinand VI eight escudos 1758 (lot 3293; est $2,500) realised $3,399 and a German East Africa fifteen rupien, 1916T (lot 3305; est $1,500) realised $2,981. An India EIC mohur, 1841 (lot 3323; est $3,000) realised $5,724 and a proof restrike fifteen rupees, 1918 (lot 3325; est $5,000) realised $5,843. A Russia, Nicholas I, five roubles, 1826 (lot 3350; est $700) realised $1,729, an Alexander II five roubles, 1855 (lot 3352; est $600) realised $1,789 and the three issues of Alexander III, 1886, 1888 and 1890 (lots 3354-6; est $600 each) realised $1,193 each to the same buyer in the room. A Tibet proof five sho (1947) struck in gold in 1980 (lot 3372; est $400) brought a surprising $1,670.

The late afternoon session saw a large selection of stamps sold mostly over estimate. Highlights were Western Australia, three imperforated lithographs (lot 441; est $250) at $1,431, a stock book with a China collection (lot 3519; est $200) realised $954 and a 1980 year of the monkey issue (lot 3520; est $400) realised $1,574. A collection of early Japanese miniature sheets (lot 3566; est $600) realised $1,371 and a Rhodesia lot of 60 (lot 3597; est $150) sold for $894.

In militaria, the Tatura Internment Camp trench art and correspondence, 1935-1947 (lot 3655; est $500) sold to the earlier internment camp buyer at $1,670.

A highlight in British singles was the Star of India (lot 3731; est $6,000) that realised $9,540. Another highlight was the Crimea Medal, 1854-6, four clasps to a recipient in the famous charge of the Light Brigade (lot 3756; est $9,000) at $10,136. The top price went to the Eureka Stockade soldier New Zealand War Medal (1863-6) ex Chris Thomas Collection (lot 3763; est $12,000) at $18,842. A QSA bar Relief of Mafeking, ex Trevor Bushell Taylor Collection (lot 3791; est $300) realised $2,981. In British groups, a group of seven to a Rear Admiral (lot 3840; est $10,000) realised $12,521. 

In Australian singles a China War Medal, 1900 to HMS Protector, ex Chris Thomas Collection (lot 3873; est $4,500) realised a strong $8,348. A Bartolomeo Colleoni medal, 1940 to a recipient who went down with the HMAS Sydney (lot 3886; est $1,500) realised $2,743. In groups, a group of five for the Soudan and Boer Wars, ex Chris Thomas Collection (lot 3892; est $10,000) realised $ 16,695. A pair to the CO of NSW Naval Contingent, ex Chris Thomas Collection (lot 3900; est $12,000) went to a family member at $17,888. Finally, a World War II KIA Halifax pilot family group (lot 3924; est $2,500) realised $3,578.

Our next sale is scheduled for four days, 5th - 8th April 2016 and already includes four significant collections to help us celebrate our forty years in business. Consignments can be received until the end of January, 2016.

 

W.J.Noble

December 2015

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