Sale 130 Realises over $7.25 Million

Sale 130 Realises over $7.25 Million

This 5,500 lot sale was one of our largest ever and realised the most of any of our auctions since 1977. The Verene Collection of British proofs 1826-1970 realised just over $3 million (catalogue 130B), while the general sale totalled $4.2 million which included the Hunter Collection at $470 thousand. The clearance of numismatic material was close to ninety percent at 120 percent of estimate for lots sold. A record number of bidders participated with over one thousand being purchasers.

The sale commenced with miscellaneous Australian coins and here one highlight was the album containing the balance of the Lieut. Cmdr. Maurice G. Rose Collection (lot 49; est. $2,000), that doubled estimate realising $4,880 (including buyers premium of twenty percent plus GST, as do all the following quoted realisations). The outstanding highlight of the morning session was the German New Guinea twenty mark 1895A (lot 184; est. $50,000), that finally realised $100,040 to an online bidder. In Australian Historical Medals a Captain Cook distributed Resolution and Adventure medal, 1772 (lot 289; est. $5,000) realised $9,760. A Sydney International Exhibition medal 1879 awarded to G. D. Guthrie Bendigo Pottery (lot 327; est. $300) realised a record $5,124 due to its historical association value and further on a Bendigo Victorian Golden Jubilee Exhibition medal in gold and enamel to G. D. Guthrie & Co. (lot 425; est. $750) went after a long bidding war for a sensational $16,470. A Western Australia Coastal Eight Hours Celebration silver and enamel badge (lot 458; est. $400), brought a record $3,416.

In the afternoon session world gold coins saw some strong results, e.g. German East Africa fifteen rupien 1916T (lot 662; est. $4,000) at $8,540; a Hungary Coronation Anniversary one hundred korona 1907KB (lot 672; est. 3,000) at $6,100; a Gupta (India) gold stater (lot 677; est. $800) at $3,416; a Poland Danzig, ducat 1612 (lot 714; est. $2,500) at $12,200 or nearly five times estimate; a Poland ducat 1831 (lot 716; est. $1,000) at $4,880.

In the late afternoon a proof 1937 crown (lot 795, est. $15,000) from the Whetmore/Jewel collections realised $18,910. Of the currency florins the 1914H took top billing at $12,200 (lot 847; est. $4,000). The 1922/1 overdate threepence ex Lieut. Cmdr. Maurice G. Rose Collection (lot 957; est. $2,000) realised $5,124.

In the night session the NSW Holey Dollar, 1813 (lot 1075; est. $70,000) realised $90,280 with at least two bidders chasing it. Top priced sovereign went to the 1923 Sydney (lot 1255; est. $15,000) at $20,740.

The next morning saw the offering of the Hunter Collection (lot 1357 to 1874, plus 14 other lots mixed in the ancients Session 17) that sold well realising nearly $470,000. Highlights were a Portugal ‘half Johanna’ 1789 (lot 1414; est. $1,600) at $3,416, the Adelaide pound, 1852 (lot 1421; est. $12,500) at $16,470 , the 1922/1 overdate threepence (lot 1634; est. $2,500) at $4,148, the 1930 penny (lot 1673; est. $15,000) at $17,690, the twenty cents 1981 struck on a Hong Kong two dollars blank (lot 1713; est. $3,500) at $10,370, the ‘Rainbow’ pound (lot 1767; est. $6,000) at $9,150.

In the late afternoon session 9, the British gold sold well with a proof 1826 sovereign (lot 2075; est. $20,000) realising $26,840 and a choice two pounds 1823 (lot 2068; est. $5,000) realising $10,370 and later a 1911 proof set (lot 2121; est. $25,000) realising $34,160.

The Verene Collection realised a total of over three million dollars on Wednesday evening, 27^th July. Top prices went to the Queen Victoria Una and the Lion five pounds, 1839 (lot 2563; est. $650,000) at $951,600 (or nearly one million dollars), the highest price to date for a coin at public auction in Australia. Next highest price went to the George IV proof five pounds 1826 (lot 2505; est. $60,000) at $195,200. A proof pattern crown of William IV by W. Wyon (lot 2538, est. $80,000) realised $154,940 a new record price for a William IV silver crown. A lettered early Queen Victoria Gothic proof crown, 1847 (lot 2589; est. $30,000) realised $61,000, while a plain edge proof (lot 2590; est. $35,000) realised $80,520. A Queen Victoria pattern ‘Godless’ florin, 1848 (lot 2592; est. $7,500) in gem proof condition soared away to finally bring a new world record $52,460. A Queen Victoria Jubilee head proof five pounds, 1887 (lot 2621; est. $30,000), realised $79,300, and an old head proof five pounds, 1893 (lot 2671; est. $45,000), realised a record $ 115,900. Possibly the finest known Queen Victoria proof plain edge silver crown, 1839 (lot 2566; est. $60,000) realised a record $103,700.

Attendance at the sale was limited to twenty or so serious bidders including three from the USA. There was a phone bidder from Europe and live online bidders from Great Britain, Europe, Japan, and China. The enthusiasm for this collection is explained in that it was certainly unique in Australia but also for the world as it offered non third party graded coins.

The third day commenced with world silver and bronze coins. An Afghanistan pattern ex Freehill Collection (lot 2811; est. $200) soared away to realise $5,124 after a two-horse bidding war. A British Trade dollar, 1929/1 B overdate (lot 2864; est. $150) realised $2,318. A China drum shaped sycee realised ten times estimate at $7,320 (lot 2888; est. $600). Chinese silver dollars again realised strong prices over estimate, a Feng Tien Province issue (of 1899) (lot 2903; est. $500) realised $7,930, the best of the Kwang Tung dollars (lot 2916; est. $500), realised $6,710 while a Republic dollar of President Tuan Chi-jui (1924) (lot 2938; est. $2,000) realised $12,810. The Jahangir zodiacal rupee (lot 3021; est. $6,000) realised $8,540. A Tibet Theocracy silver one srang (1919) (lot 3269; est. $2,000) ex Freehill Collection realised $14,030.

The afternoon and evening sessions were devoted to paper currency. A sensational result was achieved for the India five rupees, 1872 domiciled for Lahore (unpublished) (lot 3512; est. $350) coming from a deceased estate of a man who worked in the Bank in Shimla it realised $23,180 or 66 times estimate! A New Zealand, Bank of NSW ten pounds, 1930 (lot 3595; est. $3,000) realised $9,150. The Russian notes sold mostly around estimate, the largest offering we have ever had. The second highest price went to the Western Samoa five pounds 1948 (lot 3778; est. $500) at $11,590 after a bidding war. The Australian notes sold generally around estimate including the bulk lots. The three Internment Camp Hay notes (lots 3939-41) realised $16,348 against a total of $10,000.

The fourth day opened with ancient gold coins. A Mysia, Lampsakos electrum stater (lot 4105; est. $6,400) realised $9,516 followed by a Kingdom of Syria, Antiochus II gold stater (lot 4106; est. $16,000) realised $29,280. Four gold aureii sold at around estimate with the Diocletian (lot 4114; est. $12,000) bringing top price at $14,030. In the Greek silver a Bruttium, Medma silver stater (lot 4136; est. $2,500) realised $6,710. In the Roman a Caesar denarius (ex Hunter Collection) (lot 4418; est. $1,000) realised three times estimate or $3,660 and a Hadrian bronze sestertius doubled estimate at $2,928 (lot 4471; est. $1,200).

On Friday 29 July the eighteenth and nineteenth sessions were held featuring Orders, Decorations and Medals starting at 2.30pm in session 18 with more lots from the Warwick G. Cary Collection. Overall almost all lots sold and many exceeded estimates with some far exceeding expectations.

Some highlight lots in the Cary Collection included a DCM group to a POW escapee who was later killed in action serving with M Special Unit in New Guinea (lot 4700; est. $10,000) realised $18,910; a group of five to an officer killed in action at El Alamein and later awarded a MC (this not included) (lot 4702; est. $500) realised a staggering $7,320; a trio to an Australian pilot killed in combat with a German bomber also awarded a DFC (this not included) (lot 4707; est. $100) also realised a staggering $5,368; a collection of helmet plates and collar badges for NSW Military Forces 1881-1901 (lot 4718; est. $1,200) realised $4,880; a WWI Australian IEF Light Horse unofficial metal title badge (lot 4733; est. $100) realised $854; and two souvenir items from the Japanese midget submarine sunk in Sydney Harbour (lots 4743 and 4744; est. $250 and $150) realised $1,464 and $1,220.

Some of the other properties on offer included the top priced lot being a WWI family group to a decorated senior commanding officer and his brother who was killed in action at Gallipoli (lot 4831; est. $50,000) realised $54,900; in the other items which achieved exceptional prices was a WWII group of four to a POW who died in custody (lot 4881; est. $400) realised $1,342; an AIF For Service enamel and gilt badge (lot 4944; est. $50) realised $732; a 2nd Port Curtis Infantry 1900-12 set of metal shoulder titles (lot 4961; est. $200) realised $2,196; a RAN Transport Wireless Operator badge (lot 4976; est. $300) realised an amazing $3,904; a Volunteer Air Observers Corps Commandant badge (lot 4988; est. $800) realised $2,928; and finally a Tasmanian South Africa R.S.A. badge (lot 5096; est. $150) realised $1,342.  

The next sale will be held on the 22^nd-25^th of November, consignments close Friday 16^th September.