Sale 111 Realises over $5.5 million

Thursday, 12 May 2016

The fortieth anniversary auction sale conducted by Noble Numismatics realised almost $5.6 million, with a clearance of 90 percent and 110 percent of estimate for lots sold.

The highest price was for the Victoria Cross (lot 4972; est. $500,000) realising a record $596,250 for a single Victoria Cross sold at auction. Next highest honour went to the New South Wales five shillings or holey dollar, 1813 (lot 1089; est. $200,000) which realised $232,538, followed by the cover note on catalogue 111B, the Turkey 50,000 livres (lot 3736; est. $100,000) at $107,325 to a buyer in the room. Two buyers in the room accounted for 105 of the 145 lots from the Ottoman State Specimen Notes of the Turkish Ministry of Finance which, in the end, were all sold for a total of $748,427.

The sale began with Miscellaneous Australian coins, including mis-strikes and varieties, a full obverse brockage of a George VI threepence (1949-52) (lot 85; est. $500) realised $1,550, and the ever popular one dollar ten cents mule, 2000 (lot 90; est. $400) realised $2,743 after spirited bidding, as did a large lot of 116 mint sets (lot 110; est. $800). Three baby proof sets and two baby mint sets from the Robert Colson Collection (lot 214; est. $70) realised $1,133. A fine gold proof set of six coins, dated 2010 (lot 288; est. $6,000) realised $7,155.

A highlight of the New Zealand series went to the 1934 proof set, ex S.N.Agnew Collection (lot 420; est. $20,000) which realised a new record of $28,620. The Waitangi crown that followed (lot 421; est. $5,000) realised $7,751. Top price in the tokens went to the Hogarth, Erichsen & Co., silver threepence, 1858 (lot 593; est. $3,000) at $5,486. In Australian Historical Medals an engraved convict token (lot 647; est. $150) realised $2,266, and a scrimshaw bullock horn of 1832 (lot 655; est. $3,500) realised $4,770.

The night session commenced with Proclamation coins which sold well, with the 1729M Johanna doing best (lot 1031; est. $7,000) at $9,540, and a Colombia eight escudos, 1788SF (lot 1040; est. $1,500) realised $2,981, as did a 1776 two escudos (or half peca) of Portugal (lot 1085, est. $1,500). Of the New South Wales fifteen pences or dumps from Dr. Bill Mira’s Collection, the D/2 struck in copper (lot 1097; est. $1,000) and the E/3 (lot 1099; est. $8,000) did best, realising $2,624 and $9,779 respectively.

Next came the Ray Kaleda Collection of Australian gold coins. The Adelaide pound (lot 1102; est. $15,000) realised $21,465 and the highest priced Sydney Mint sovereign of 1860 (lot 1108; est. $10,000) went to $11,329. The 1855 half sovereign realised top price for the Collection (lot 1118; est. $35,000) at $35,775 and the best of the second type half sovereigns went to the 1859 (lot 1122; est. $12,500) at $13,714, the 1860 (lot 1123; est. $15,000) at $14,310 and the 1864 Roman I (lot 1127; est. $15,000) at $23,850. Of the shield reverse sovereigns, the 1884 Melbourne sold best over estimate (lot 1148; est. $1,300) realising $2,266 and of the St. George reverse, the 1879 Sydney (lot 1170; est. $2,000) realised $5,009. A gem 1892 Melbourne Jubilee head sovereign (lot 1197; est. $600) realised a strong, perhaps record price of $2,147. In the Imperial young head half sovereigns, the 1881 Sydney (lot 1225; est. $8,000) realised $9,540 and the 1885 Melbourne in gem mint state (lot 1230; est. $12,000) realised the highest price at $16,695. An Edward VII, 1909 Perth and a George V, 1918 Perth each realised $4,770.

The George V sovereigns of a Canberra-Yass area Collector realised strong prices with bids in the room, online and on the phone. The phone bidder prevailed, except for the 1926 Sydney, which went to the floor at $50,085 (lot 1310; est. $40,000). The next best was the 1921 Melbourne (lot 1276; est. $25,000) at $44,123, the 1922 Sydney (lot 1307; est. $30,000) at $39,353; followed by the next lot, the 1923 Sydney (lot 1308; est. $20,000) at $27,428.

The three Sydney Mint half sovereigns bought from the company forty years ago for a total of $2,550 realised $13,118, $9,540 and $5,963, or a total of $28,620 for the 1856, 1857 and 1858 (lots 1320, 1322, 1323).

The second day commenced with British silver and bronze coins, the Alfred the Great penny (lot 1376; est. $2,500) did well in spite of being cracked and chipped, realising $4,293, while the Harthacnut penny (lot 1387; est. $2,000) realised $3,339. Top price went to the very rare, if not unique, Dover Mint Harold II penny, without sceptre and PAX in retrograde, ex Montagu Collection (lot 1389; est. $5,000) at $10,733 to a local collector against competition from London dealers and collectors. The William II Thetford Mint penny, ex Shillington Hoard (lot 1392; est. $4000) realised $7,394 to another local collector. The Richard III groat (lot 1429; est. $3,000) realised $5,247 to a live online bidder. Silver crowns from the Decades Collection fared well, the 1551 Edward VI (lot 1458; est. $3,500) realised $4,532 and the 1601 Elizabeth I (lot 1475; est. $4,000) realised $5,366. A live online bidder prevailed in winning the 1653 Commonwealth crown, also ex Decades Collection (lot 1506; est. $5,000) by paying $9,898. The George III oval countermarked pillar dollar, also ex Decades Collection (lot 1588; est. $4,000) realised $5,247 to a live online bidder. An attractive Gothic crown, 1847 (lot 1629; est. $3,000) realised $6,201 to a Japanese buyer.

In British Historical Medals, a Rugby School Queen’s prize, 1847 in gold (lot 1754; est. $2,000) realised $4,770, while a Royal Geographic Society Patron’s medal (1910) in gold (lot 1794; est. $6,000) sold for $7,394.

Of the British hammered gold, a pound of Elizabeth I (lot 1808; est. $9,000) did best at $13,118. The two gold tokens went to the same local buyer at $16,695 and $7,155 estimated at $15,000 and $6,000 respectively (lots 1824, 1825). The Chinese gold ten dollars (1916) (lot 1910; est. $15,000) and ex Larry Adams Collection realised $19,080. A USA three dollars, 1874 (lot 2005; est. $650) realised $1,789.

In world silver and bronze a China, gold inlayed key money of value 5,000 (lot 2111; est. $3,000) realised $7,751 to a live online bidder, a China Republic Li Yuan-hung silver dollar (lot 2143; est. $200) realised $2,027, and a pavilion dollar (lot 2144; est. $2,000) realised $3,816 to the same live online bidder. The German multiple thalers all sold well, the three thaler, 1648 (lot 2201; est. $2,000) realised $3,935, the one and a half thaler of 1664 (lot 2202; est. $750) realised $2,027, a two thaler, 1618 (lot 2204, est. $1,000) realised $3,220, while those of 1655 and 1686 (lots 2205; est. $1,250; 2206; est. $1,000) each realised $2,862, all were from the Decades Collection.

The second night session was devoted entirely to Australian Commonwealth coins, commencing with the David Fryer Collection. Highlights in the florins were the 1913 (lot 2506; est. $7,500) at $10,494, the 1921 (lot 2515; est. $7,500) at $8,348, the 1924 (lot 2518; est. $4,000) at $5,963, the 1932 (lot 2524; est. $12,500) at $11,925 and the 1933 (lot 2525; est. $10,000) at $10,733. For the shillings, the highlights were the 1915 (lot 2539; est. $3,500) at $6,201, the 1924 (lot 2547; est. $6,000) at $5,963 and for the sixpences, the 1917M (lot 2564; est. $2,750) at $2,981 and the 1918M (lot 2565; est. $5,000) at $5,366 and the complete date set, 1938-1963 in a Supreme album (lot 2579; est. $5,000) at $4,770. In pennies the 1926 (lot 2622; est. $2,000) realised $3,101, while the 1930 saw a ‘two horse’ bidding war from $13,500 to finally rise to $30,000, to realise $35,775 (lot 2626; est. $22,500).

In pre-decimal proofs, a 1955 Perth Mint halfpenny (lot 2689; est. $3,000) realised $5,009, as did a 1956 Perth Mint penny (lot 2690; est. $4,000). A toned, mint state 1910 florin (lot 2710; est. $2,000) realised $4,532 after spirited bidding. A ‘nipple variety’ Melbourne Centenary florin, 1934-35 (lot 2725; est. $750) realised $2,624. Two 1930 pennies (lots 2802, 2803; est. $17,000 and $15,000) realised $20,273 each, while a rim damaged example (lot 2804; est. $10,000) realised $13,714. A 1923 halfpenny (lot 2817; est. $4,000) realised $7,394.

The third day commenced with a full session devoted to stamps in catalogue 111B. A collection of Australian pre-decimal in two stock books and ex Robert Colson Collection (lot 2857; est. $1,000) did best against estimate, realising $3,816.

In world banknotes, which commenced at 11:30am, a specimen British Honduras one dollar (1894) (lot 3133; est. $2,500) realised $3,578, a British North Borneo Company twenty five cents, 1921 (lot 3136; est. $50) realised $405, while a fifty cents, 1921 (lot 3137; est. $200) realised $549 to the same live online bidder. A China, Ch’ing Dynasty three taels (1855) (lot 3171; est. $2,500) realised $3,220. Hong Kong Chartered Bank issues generally sold around estimate, the consecutive pair of 1941 five dollars (lot 3247; est. $1,500) realised $1,908. A Rhodesia and Nyasaland five pounds, 1961 (lot 3372; est. $1,000) realised $1,789. The Tongan notes generally sold over estimate and found several different buyers. Queen Salote III issues fared well, with a five pa’anga, 1974 (lot 3564; est. $200) realising $954, and a ten pa’anga, 1967 (lot 3567; est. $350) realising $1,670. A Thomas De La Rue specimen album did best in the world issues (lot 3614; est. $3,000) realising $8,944.

The fourteenth session beginning at 4:30pm saw the offer of 145 lots of the specimen note collection of the Turkish Ottoman Ministry of State Finance banknotes of 1916-1918. This unique collection sold at more than estimate overall, to several buyers. The main buyers were an Australian dealer and collector. Apart from the 50,000 livre notes, the next best results went to a 1,000 livres of 1917 (lot 3759; est. $15,000) at $25,043 and a five hundred livres, 1918 (lot 3768; est. $12,500) at $20,273. The New Zealand notes followed to conclude the session, and attracted keen bidding. A Bank of New South Wales one pound, 1914, ex S.N.Agnew Collection (lot 3806; est. $1,200) realised $3,101 and a Union Bank fifty pounds colour trial, 1905 (lot 3822; est. $1,750) realised $3,458. A Reserve Bank, Wilks one dollar star replacement note (lot 3884; est. $4,000) realised $4,770.

The fifteenth session commencing at 7:30pm was the final night session and offered Australian banknotes in all phases in a marathon 3 hour session. A Lempriere and Co. Hobart Town four Spanish dollars, 1823 (lot 3912; est. $1,200) realised $4,770. A highlight was the historic receipt for shares in the Bank of New South Wales 1st April 1817 (lot 3921; est. $12,000) that realised a record $23,850 for the earliest known piece of scrip for Australia. The Australian Joint Stock Bank five pounds, 1881 ex New England Hoard (lot 3918; est. $9,000) realised $14,310. The pre-gold rush Union Bank one pound for Geelong, 1845, ex Nicholson and Agnew Collections (lot 3947; est. $9,000) realised $10,136. The specimen fifty pounds sterling of 1905 (lot 3962; est. $3,750) sold for $7,155. In Commonwealth issues an outstanding result went to the original bundle of 100 consecutive Coombs/Watt (1949) one pounds (lot 4046; est. $20,000) at $31,005. A Hay Internment Camp sixpence, 1941 (lot 4146; est. $3,500) realised $4,412. The one million serial one pound (1961) (lot 4185; est. $12,000) realised $11,925 and the one and two dollar million serial pairs (lots 4186, 4187; est. $8,000 each) realised $9,063 and $9,540 respectively. A Coombs/Randall pair of one dollar star notes (lot 4255; est. $4,000) realised $5,247. The Coombs/Randall (1967) five dollar ZNC star note (lot 4278; est. $5,000) realised $14,906. A pack of one hundred Phillips/Randall (1969) five dollars (lot 4320; est. $2,000) realised $4,770 and an uncirculated Coombs/Randall (1967) twenty dollars (lot 4349; est. $4,500) realised $4,532.

The fourth day commenced with ancient gold coins. A Macedon, Philip II stater (lot 4409; est. $4,000) sold for $5,247, while the choice sixty asses of Rome (lot 4412; est. $7,500) realised $9,594. A Roman gold aureus of Faustina senior (lot 4415; est. $7,500) sold for $10,494, and one for Lucius Verus (lot 4418; est. $7,500) realised $10,733. A  Gela tetradrachm (lot 4461; est. $1,800) realised $3,339. A large bronze of Syracuse issued by Hieron II (lot 4473; est. $2,000) and ex Tom Virzi and Decades Collections realised $2,862. A Lysimachos tetradrachm of Pella Mint (lot 4484; est. $1,800) realised $3,399 after a ‘two horse’ bidding war. The top priced silver coin went to the choice Eumenes I tetradrachm (lot 4527; est. $2,000) at $4,293.

In numismatic literature a signed copy of Spalding’s World of the Holey Dollar (lot 4849; est. $500) realised a new record $2,087.

In the orders, decorations and medals section the highlight was the Victoria Cross mentioned earlier, followed by the Australian air ace with the RFC group (lot 4995; est $30,000) at $31,005, and the DSO, MC group of nine (lot 4994; est. $20,000) at $25,043; the DSM for Sydney/Bartolomeo Colleoni action (lot 5007; est. $15,000) at $13,714 and the DFC group to Hugh Birch (lot 5005; est $5,500) at $9,540.

The sale finished with a session of miscellaneous items, including jewellery. The top price went to a natural gold nugget found at Hill End in 2012 (lot 5,241; est. $7,200) at $8,825. Thanks to all who participated in making this a near record breaking sale for our 40th anniversary.

The next sale takes place in Sydney, at the Dixson Room in the State Library on 26th – 28th July, and already includes the George Fenton Collection of Australian Commonwealth coins in a separate catalogue. The general catalogue will include an important collection of ancient Carthaginian coins.

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