17-09-2014 – 19-09-2014
Auction 20
Strong prices at Stephen Album Rare Coins’ Auction 20
Strong prices were seen at Stephen Album Rare Coins’ Auction 20, which took place September 18-20 in Santa Rosa, CA, USA. The auction realized $1,369,943 on a pre-sale estimate of $949,000. Especially strong was the Dr. John Lund collection of Norwegian coins, where nearly all lots sold and generally for well above estimate. The Nicholas Rhodes collections of Chinese cash and Islamic saw frenzied bidding on many lots with floor bidders coming from as far away as the People’s Republic of China to attend the live sale. The final sell-through rate for the auction was 80%. Some highlights include:
- LOT 1: CENTRAL EUROPEAN CELTS: The Boii, mid-late 1st Century BC, AR hexadrachm (17.31g), Bohemia Region, Biatec, Dembski 598; Paulsen 732ff, jugate male heads right, the left wearing laurel wreath, the right helmeted, ivy leaf to right, scalloped border / BIATEC, rider on galloping hippogriff right, holding branch in right hand, scalloped border, Fine, RR, ex purchase from Auktionshaus H.D. Rauch July 9, 1970. Realized $4,200 on an estimate of $800-1,000.
- LOT 604: GREAT MONGOLS: Chingiz Khan, 1206-1227, AE broad dirham (3.07g), Samarqand, AH622, A-1968F, Dav-, tamgha of Chingiz Khan and double-knot in reverse center, the double-knot (instead of the mint name Samarqand) repeated in obverse center, the first reported specimen of this variety, and possibly unique, Fine, RRRR. Realized $28,000 on an estimate of $650-750.
- LOT 915: CH’ING: Xian Feng, 1851-1861, AE 20 cash (31.92g), Fuzhou mint, Fujian Province, H-22.786, 48mm, with ji zhong yi liang (calculated weight one ounce) in reverse field, cast 1853-55, EF, RRRR, ex Nicholas Rhodes Collection. Realized $41,000 on an estimate of $550-650.
- LOT 1250: MUGHAL: Jahangir, 1605-1628, AV zodiac mohur, Agra, AH1032 year 18, KM-180.13, Libra (scales), NGC graded EF45, RRR. Realized $63,000 on an estimate of $35,000-45,000.
- LOT 1538: SIKH EMPIRE: AV mohur, Amritsar, VS1863, KM-25.3, NGC graded EF45. Realized $22,000 on an estimate of $6,000-7,000.
- LOT 1831: TRANQUEBAR: Frederik V, 1746-1766, AV 2 royaliner trial strike, [Copenhagen], 1756, KM-TS14, Gray-, Jensen-249, crowned F5 monogram, capital letters / arms, date & denomination, fully lustrous, magnificent strike, NGC graded MS66*, RRRR, ex Dr. John Lund Collection, ex Brian Hannon. Realized $16,000 on an estimate of $9,000-10,000.
- LOT 2530: NORWAY: Christian V, 1670-1699, AR 4 mark (krone), 1686, KM-157, Dav-3665, one-year type, lovely strong strike, NGC graded VF30, ex Dr. John Lund Collection. Realized $4,600 on an estimate of $1,200-1,400.
The firm’s Director of World Coins, Paul Montz, said “This has been our most successful auction to date. Rare material in particular did especially well. The Chinese and Norwegian sections did well throughout, as you might expect.” The firms CEO, Joseph Lang, said “Many record prices were set in the Islamic, Indian, Oriental, and in the general World Coin sections.”
For more information, see the firm’s website.