Sale 115 Preview

Sale 115 Preview

This auction of 5,138 lots valued at over $4 million will be held over four days from Tuesday 25^th July to Friday 28^th July. A wide range of material will be covered in nineteen sessions, including ancient coins, world coins and banknotes, decorations and campaign medals, commemorative medals, stamps, and tokens. Among the highlights are a highly important collection of British Celtic coins formed by a Queensland collector over the last 25 years, and four good collections of Australian gold coins spanning 1855-1931.

In Australian coins, the highlights include a 1911 milled edge pattern proof threepence (est. $50,000), a fine NSW five shillings 1813 ‘Holey Dollar’ (est. $45,000), a very fine and attractively toned fifteen pence dump, 1813 (est. $25,000), a nearly uncirculated Adelaide pound (est. $25,000), a gem 1896 Melbourne proof half sovereign (est. $25,000), a choice 1921 uncirculated pattern square penny (est. $20,000), an attractively toned 1927 proof Canberra florin (est. $10,000), a choice uncirculated 1915 florin (est $7,500), a choice uncirculated 1932 florin (est $12,000), a gem 1933 shilling (est $7,500), one of finest known 1912 sixpences (est. $6,000) and very fine 1930 pennies (est. $20,000-$25,000 each). There is also an extensive collection of New Zealand tokens.

A large range of World coins are once again up for sale. One particularly noteworthy lot is a first issue 1795 USA gold eagle. As part of an estate lot, this is a previously unseen example conservatively estimated at $1,500. Also included in this section are many Chinese early multiple cash issues and later milled silver dollars, as well as the second part of a 19^th and 20^th century collection, this time featuring Thailand, Philippines, India and Ceylon. The highlights of the British coins are an Elizabeth I fine sovereign (est. $40,000) and a Commonwealth Gold Unite 1653 (est. $4,500). This session also includes the final section of the Alexander Collection of British tokens.

 An interesting collection of British India and British Commonwealth coins and banknotes is also featured with a fine and rare Two Rupees Eight Annas note estimated at $2,500. Australian banknotes include specimen notes, a million number note, error notes, star notes, and decimal notes, and a comprehensive collection of polymer $5 notes (est. $18,000).

Ancient British Celtic coins are also on display in this sale with a comprehensive collection of early gold, silver and bronze rarely seen in a single offering. With over 110 lots, the collection ranges from the earliest types of Gallo-Belgic gold staters imported into Britain, through to the later Celtisised pieces issued under the 1st century kings. The collector has focused on rarity and quality and many pieces are among the finest known examples inside and outside museum collections. Among the highlights are an excessively rare Ambiani Gallo-Belgic Aa1 swirling hair and bird type gold stater (est. $6,000), an extremely fine and rare Catti Tree type Dobunni gold stater (est. $5,000), a Warrior VER type Tasciovanos gold stater which is one of only 9 known (est. $5,000), and a Tasci Ricon cavalryman type Tasciovanos gold stater which is one of only two (est. $5,000).

As usual, a large selection of Greek and Roman coins are also on offer. Greek gold is highlighted by the distater of Alexander the Great estimated at $20,000. Other fine examples include the gold saters of Phillip II (est. $7,000) and Alexander III (est. $7,000). Roman gold features several extremely fine aureii belonging to Vespasian (est. $6,000), Trajan (est. $7,000) and Faustina Senior (est. $6,000).

This sale also features an extensive assortment of medals and militaria, including the late Christopher Stoyles Collection of campaign medals from the Battle of the Nile to Vietnam. In addition to single medals, there are several outstanding groups from other vendors; one of which is a WWII Korea group to Captain Reg Saunders, the first Aboriginal Australian Army officer who was with 3RAR at the historic Battle of Kapyong in Korea (est. $5,000). Another is the OBE, MC, MID group of nine to Captain (later Colonel) F.U.J. Tinkler, who post war was prominent in the RSL movement and was at one time a custodian of the Cenotaph in Martin Place, Sydney (est.$20,000). Included with this group is a collection of hundreds of war-time and later military related photos all identified by Tinkler.

An interesting group is the trio (est. $10,000) that includes a China War Medal 1900 to Lieutenant Staunton William Spain of the NSW Naval Contingent and a member of a prominent Sydney family. Another highlight is an MC, DCM, MID group of five (est. $30,000) to Lieutenant ‘Woodie’ Sutherland, for his outstanding and brave service with 1 Signal Troop A&NZ Mounted Division and then the Australian Flying Corps. Also of great interest should be the group of five (est. $1,500) that includes a Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service  awarded to Victorian Homicide Squad senior detective Harry Morrison, one of the officers who escorted from Sydney to Melbourne the Pentridge Gaol escapee and murderer, Ronald Ryan, the last prisoner in Australia to be hanged.  

These lots and more are being offered by Noble Numismatics Sale 115 in the State Library of NSW from the 25^th-28^th July 2017. Viewing will commence from the 19^th July to the 21^st July with the 24^th July reserved for regional, interstate and overseas visitors. The entire sale can be viewed online from early July.

For any enquiries regarding this sale, please contact the Sydney office on (02) 9223 4578 or via email at info@noble.com.au.