Sale 142 Realises $2.4 Million
Sale 142 was well supported, with 300 successful bidders and 90 percent of lots sold.
This was a successful and well-supported sale, with 300 bidders making purchases. Several records were established. For example, the front-cover medal (lot 429; est. $60,000) realised a hammer price of $80,000, plus buyer’s premium and GST, bringing the price paid to $97,600 for the largest gold medal struck for an exhibition. It worked out at nearly 33 percent over its gold value.
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 (lot 223; est. $100) from Alan McRae’s Collection realised 28 times its estimate, realising $2,928. The 1930 pennies (lot 374; est. $17,500 and lot 1735; est. $15,000) realised $20,130 and $17,080 respectively. Two Aboriginal breastplates or gorgets, lots 418 (est. $8,000) and 419 (est. $4,000), realised $13,420 and $14,640 respectively. The Coppin’s Balloon medal (lot 425; est. $500) realised $4,138. The 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, and 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 by bringing $21,960 after an online bidding duel. 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. A Queen Anne silver medal (lot 990; est. $300) also surprised, realising $4,880, or fifteen times its estimate.
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 Chinese 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. Of the two West Indies “holey dollars”, 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) performed best, realising $3,660 after a bidding war.
In ancients, an Attica, Aegina stater (lot 1702; est. $1,000) realised $4,880, and a Julius Caesar denarius (lot 1719; est. $1,500) realised $4,636.
In military medals, a Nepal medal (lot 1734; est. $1,500) realised $4,636; a family Star of India group (lot 1745; est. $12,500) realised $10,370; a family group with Shanghai Jubilee Medal (lot 1746; est. $4,000) realised $7,340; and a British New Guinea Good Conduct Medal of 1896 (lot 1762; est. $10,000) realised $14,600.
In world banknotes, the outstanding result was for lot 1879 (est. $1,000): three Chinese notes with a letter from the Alan McRae Collection, realising $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), realising $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 (lot 2076; est. $8,000) brought the top price of $9,760. By the conclusion of this sale, 90 percent of the lots had sold, with some sessions almost a complete sell-out.
Our next sale is scheduled for the last week in November. Consignments are being accepted until 21 September.