13-09-2017 – 14-09-2017
Auction 29
Chinese section thrills at Stephen Album Rare Coins Auction 29
Stephen Album Rare Coins held its Auction 29 on September 14-15, 2017 at its offices in Santa Rosa, California. The total price realized was $1.20 million (including buyer’s fees) on a pre-sale estimate of $800,000 to $1 million. The sell through rate was at 85.2%. The Indian section was especially strong with a sell through rate of 91.9%, with many of the prices far exceeding the estimates. There was a moment of excitement in the Chinese section as the Xian Feng 500 cash coin tree, presumed to be unique, sold for $105,750 including buyer’s fees. Rounding out the auction was a strong World Coins section. The firm’s Director of World Coins, Paul Montz, noted that Europe and Asia performed particularly well.
Lot 532: Qing. Xian Feng, 1851-1861. AE 500 cash coin tree. Board of Revenue mint, Peking. EF. Realized: 90,000 USD.
Lot 532: China: Qing Dynasty: Xian Feng, 1851-1861, AE 500 cash coin tree, Board of Revenue mint, Peking, H-22.720 for type, Prince Qing Hui mint, ‘sun & moon’ above, cast May-August 1854, brass (huáng tóng) color, cast tree of 14 coins. All coins are obverse up except one example which is inverted on the tree. It is much more highly detailed in the casting than other specimens. The inverted example is also one millimeter larger than the other examples and connected to the tree by a larger spur. This one example on the tree is likely a yang qian (sample coin). This tree is of the utmost rarity and likely unique. We know of no other specimens in existence in private or museum collections, Choice EF. Hammered for $90,000 on an estimate of $55,000 to 75,000
Lot 703: Straits Settlements. Victoria, 1837-1901. Silver 20 cents, 1873. NGC MS64. Realized: 10,000 USD.
Lot 703: Straits Settlements: Victoria, 1837-1901, silver 20 cents, 1873, KM-12, An unheard of mint state example of this very rare date, NGC graded MS64. The only example in mint state graded at NGC as of July 2017. The next highest graded example is AU58. Hammered for $10,000 on an estimate of $1,200 to $1,500
Lot 1200: United States: 1797 medal (66.65g), Baker-70C, 54mm bronze medal for George Washington’s Retirement from his Commission and the Presidency by Thomas Halliday. Realized: 3,250 USD.
Lot 1200: United States: 1797 medal (66.65g), Baker-70C, 54mm bronze medal for George Washington’s Retirement from his Commission and the Presidency by Thomas Halliday, uniformed bust of Washington right with GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES around // fasces and sword in scabbard on draped pedestal with US shield and COMMISSION RESIGNED: PRESIDENCY RELINQUISHED around and “1797” in exergue, probably produced about 1800, plain edge, About UNC, R-7 (Baker). Hammered for $3,250 on an estimate of $1,000 to $1,200
Lot 1268: India. Kushan. Huvishka, ca. 155-187, gold dinar. Attractive VF. Realized: 55,000 USD.
Lot 1268: India: Kushan: Huvishka, ca. 155-187, gold dinar (7.91g), G-359 (same dies), Half-length profile bust of king left, above the clouds, holding mace & spear, wearing leather helmet & bejeweled tunic // Nana seated on lion (with left forepaw raised), nimbate, tiny crescent above, holding staff tipped with protome of a horse, attractive VF, ex Skanda Collection, Lot 4. Hammered for $55,000 on an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000
Lot 1350: India. Gupta. Skandagupta, ca. 449-467. Gold dinar. VF. Realized: 30,000 USD.
Lot 1350: India: Gupta: Skandagupta, ca. 449-467, gold dinar (8.40g). Mitch-4866, Altekar: plate XIV:12/13, Kumar: p.351, King & Lakshmi standing, with the Garuda standard between // Lakshmi seated cross-legged on lotus, holding a pasa in her rignt hand, legend sri skandagupta, neatly struck, choice VF, ex Skanda Collection, Lot 147. Hammered for $30,000 on an estimate of $6,000 to $7,000
The firm is now inviting consignments through November 3 for its Auction 30 on January 18-20, 2018.
Please visit the company’s website for more details.