Vintage Chinese section highlights Stephen Album’s Auction 34

Stephen Album Rare Coins held its Auction 34 on May 23-26, 2019 at its offices in Santa Rosa, California. The auction results exceeded expectations with total prices realized of $1.40 million (including buyer’s fees) and with 87.6% of the lots selling. As was expected prior to the sale, the vintage Chinese section sold particularly well, with 98% of those lots selling. The coin featured on the cover of the catalog, a large nazarana gold mohur, sold for $71,400 (including the 19% buyer’s premium). The firm’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Barry noted that “all six sessions of the auction seemed to perform well. We were happy with the results across all categories.”

Following are a few of the highlights:

• Lot 13. Lydia: Time of Kroisos, 561-546 BC or later, AV stater (10.72g), Sardes mint, S-3411, Boston MFA-2068; Carradice, pl. X, 2; Dewing-2426, heavy series, confronted foreparts of lion facing right and bull facing left, both with straight legs // two square incuse punches of different sizes, VF, RR. Estimated at $5,000 – 7,000. Realized $10,710 (figures include buyer’s fees).

• Lot 288. Umayyad: Ibrahim, 744, AV dinar (4.14g), NM (Dimashq), AH127, A-T140, bold strike, minor adjustment on the edge, EF-AU, RRR. Estimated at $12,000 – 15,000. Realized $15,470.

• Lot 1108. Iraq: Faisal II, as King, 1953-1958, 7-coin proof set, 1953/AH1372, KM-PS-1, all graded in PCGS holders: 100 fils PF-65 cameo, 50 fils PF-65, 20 fils PF-65 cameo, 10 fils PF-64, 4 fils PF-64, 2 fils PF-64 RB, and 1 fils PF-64 RB, only 200 sets struck, R. Estimated at $3,000 – 3,500. Realized $13,090.

• Lot 1469. Great Britain: Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, 1653-1658, AR crown, 1658/7, KM-D207, S-3226, dies by Thomas Simon, struck at the Frenchman Pierre Blondeaus’ mint at Drury House, London; OLIVAR D G R P ANG SCO HIB & PRO (Oliver, by the Grace of God, Protector of the Republic of England, Scotland and Ireland), laureate and draped bust of Cromwell left // PAX QVAERITVR BELLO (The peace is acquired through war), crowned garnished coat-of-arms, HAS NISI PERITVRVS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO (let no-one remove these letters from me, under penalty of death) on edge in relief, a lovely example of this popular type! PCGS graded MS63, R. Estimated Value: $8,000 to $10,000. Realized $13,090.

• Lot 2110. China: Republic, AR dollar, ND (1924), Kann-683, L&M-865, Tuan Chi Jui type commemorating the “Peaceful Unification” of China during the Warlord Era, PCGS graded MS62. Estimated at $5,000 – 7,000. Realized $16,660.

• Lot 2524. Mughal Empire: Shah Alam II, 1759-1806, AV nazarana mohur, Shahjahanabad, 34mm, (10.69g), AH1218 year 46, KM-721, S&W- 8.2, with mint epithet Dar al-Khilafat, struck in gold, NGC graded MS63+, RRR. Estimated Value: $60,000 to $80,000. Realized $71,400.
• Lot 2722. British India: George VI, 1937-1947, nickel rupee, 1945(b), KM-557var, S&W-9.30var, off-metal strike, normal “5” in the date, unrecorded in nickel by KM, Pridmore, and Stevens & Weir; there is no record of any nickel off-metal strike of any date 1945 or earlier on CoinArchives, NGC graded Proof 62, RRRR. Estimated at $7,500 – 8,500. Realized $11,900.

On the firm’s website a complete list of the prices realized is available.

The firm is currently accepting consignments until July 5 for its Auction 35, which will be held September 12-13, 2019.

For further information visit the Stephen Album Rare Coins website.