Sale 101 preface
This is our one hundred and first major numismatic auction and the final sale for 2012.
Welcome to Sale 101 being held in Sydney during November 2012. As usual, our sale features a wide range of material to meet the interests of most collectors. There are several named collections such as those of deceased collectors F.S. (Fred) Dobbin, R.N. (Ray) Fry, W.E. (Bill) Purnell, John Downey and B.W. Mills whose collection has been consigned under the instructions of the NSW Trustee & Guardian. The sale also includes many other interesting items from collectors who prefer to remain anonymous, including a very large collection of orders, decorations and medals formed by a Sydney businessman now retired and living in Queensland.
The sale features many highlights. One is the Broken Hill Gold Cup won by “Master Koran” in 1911. This was the first year the cup was awarded in gold so it is really an historic piece of horseracing memorabilia. Unquestionably, the highlight of unique and fascinating awards and medals is the section of the sale devoted to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Collection of Carl Veen. Included is a gold medal awarded to Vince Kelly who fell 182 feet from the bridge into the water and by some miracle survived. The Kelly family photo album is also on offer as well as a variety of other ‘Bridge’ items. Carl’s collection of check pieces, some of which are rarely seen, is also a feature of the sale.
A small and seemingly insignificant piece of trivia is a lucky charm in gold which is associated with ‘Thistle’. The charm is dated 1907 and this is the same year that The Thistle won the Rudder Cup, Australia’s first ocean going yacht race, preceding the Sydney to Hobart annual race by many years. Another historic piece of Australian history is reflected in the Imperial Service Medal awarded to John Saunders who was the Sub Inspector of New South Wales Police involved with the Jimmie Governor murder case and trial. This case was the background for the 1970s novel “The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith” and subsequently the film of the same name.
Some other important offerings include a holey dollar, originally in Dr George H. Abbott’s collection and three dumps as well as the popularly collected 1930 pennies and 1923 halfpennies. Australian gold coins are well represented in the sale, including the nearly complete collection formed by W.E. Purnell, the outstanding rarity being the pattern half sovereign of 1855, acquired by E.R. Purnell in the 1940s. Notable are three Adelaide pounds, all second type. One of these is from R.R.Dangar, the owner of the famous racehorse, “Peter Pan”, the dual Melbourne Cup winner.
Ancient coins include a Macedon gold distater of Alexander III, an Egypt gold octadrachm of Ptolemy VI-VIII, a Zeugitana gold trihemistater of Carthage and a Roman gold aureus of Pertinax amongst other choice aureii, followed by a range of silver and bronze issues.
There is a large offering of banknotes, with Australian private bank issues, pre federation rarities and Commonwealth and decimal issues, including star notes and several scarce specimen banknotes. World notes are also well catered for as usual. One interesting banknote is a Reserve Bank of New Zealand Lefeaux pound dated 1st August 1934 with the number 1A 000001. This was the first prefix number of this issue available for the public and was used to pay for a hotel room in 1935 after which it was acquired as a souvenir and has been in a frame ever since.
Orders, decorations and medals occupy a whole session and include many very interesting single pieces and groups as well as some interesting militaria with a large collection of sweetheart badges. The orders include both British and French, mainly colonial issues. Notable are gallantry groups, a “Battle of Trafalgar” Naval General Service Medal and Gallipoli related medals, some to casualties.
The items mentioned above are just a small representation of the more than 4,700 lots on offer. We invite those of you who are able to attend to come to our Sydney office for the pre sale viewing where our staff will be waiting to help you.
We are looking forward to another successful sale and wish you good luck with your bidding.
Jim Noble