Sale 142 Realises $2.4 Million
Sale 142 was well supported, with 300 successful bidders and 90 percent of Lots sold.
Sale 142 was successful and well supported, with 300 bidders making purchases. By the conclusion of the Sale, 90 percent of Lots had sold, with some sessions almost a complete sell-out.
Several records were established. The front-cover medal, the largest gold medal struck for an exhibition (lot 429; est. $60,000), realised a hammer price of $80,000. With buyer’s premium and GST, the price paid was $97,600—nearly 33 percent above its gold value. Unless otherwise stated, the prices below include buyer’s premium and GST.
The two Waitangi crowns (lots 198 and 199; est. $5,000 each) went to the same buyer for $18,300 and $14,640 respectively. A steel token die from Allen McRae’s Collection (lot 223; est. $100) realised 28 times its estimate at $2,928. The 1930 pennies (lot 374; est. $17,500 and lot 375; est. $15,000) realised $20,130 and $17,080 respectively. Two Aboriginal breastplates or gorgets (lots 418 and 419) realised $13,420 and $14,640 respectively. The Wreck of the Steamship Admella medal (lot 426; est. $8,000) realised $12,810.
In Proclamation coins, a Brazil gold Johanna 1730M (lot 610; est. $5,000) realised $9,760, while a Netherlands gold ducat 1796 (lot 642; est. $1,200) realised $8,540 after a protracted online bidding duel.
In British coins, a Henry VIII crown of the double rose (lot 822; est. $4,000) realised $11,590 to a serious collector. The Harold II York Mint penny (lot 883; est. $4,000), originally purchased from L.B. Nugent, surprised at $21,960 after an online bidding duel. A Queen Anne silver medal (lot 990; est. $300) realised $4,880, or more than 15 times its estimate. Two Gothic crowns of 1847 (lot 948; est. $7,500 and lot 949; est. $6,000) easily beat their estimates, realising $17,080 and $10,980 respectively.
In world gold, a Russian Nicholas I platinum three roubles of 1829 (lot 1203; est. $2,500) realised $9,150 after strong bidding. In world silver and bronze, early multiple cash coins from the Philip Benjamin Collection were very strong: lot 1263 (est. $200) realised $5,856 and lot 1265 (est. $300) realised $5,612. The German four thaler (lot 1298; est. $6,000) realised $8,540. Two West Indies “holey dollars” also performed well: the British Guiana issue (lot 1241; est. $20,000) realised $20,740, and the St Vincent issue (lot 1382; est. $15,000) realised $23,180. Of the Objects de Vertu, the Column of Marcus Aurelius (lot 1648; est. $100) did best, realising $3,660 after a bidding war.
In ancient coins, an Attica, Aegina stater (lot 1702; est. $1,000) realised $4,880, and a Caesar denarius (lot 1719; est. $1,500) realised $4,636.
In world banknotes, the outstanding result was for three Chinese notes accompanied by a letter from the Allen McRae Collection (lot 1879; est. $1,000), which realised $31,720 after an online bidding war. Next best was the Rhodesia ten shillings of 1901 (lot 1999; est. $1,500), realising $11,590. Another strong result was the Fiji one pound of 1917 (lot 1890; est. $2,500), which realised $7,930.
In Australian notes, a CBC banknote forgery (lot 2045; est. $150) realised $1,952. A Collins/Allen one pound of 1913 (lot 2075; est. $200) realised $2,440, and a rainbow pound brought the top price (lot 2076; est. $8,000) at $9,760.
Our next Sale is scheduled for 23–28 November 2026. Consignments are being accepted until 12 September 2026.