16-05-2018 – 18-05-2018
Auction 31
Stephen Album Rare Coins’ Auction 31
Strong bidding was seen at Stephen Album Rare Coins’ Auction 31, which was held May 17-19, 2018 at their offices in Santa Rosa, California. The total price realized was $1.20 million (including buyer’s fees) on a pre-sale estimate of $1.04 million. The sell-through rate was 86.0%.
CFO Paul Montz was pleased with the results. “We didn’t have any big ticket items in this auction, but a lot of nice collector coins, and they did well across the board.”
A few highlights from the auction follow (prices before buyer’s fees):
Lot 4.
- Lot 4. Attica: Anonymous, 449-413 BC, silver drachm (4.29g), Athens, cf. Svoronos-33, head of Athena right, wearing earring on crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl // AQE right of owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig behind; all in an incuse square, EF. Realized $4,250 on an estimate of $800 to $1,000.
Lot 1076.
- Lot 1076. Czechoslovakia: gold medallic ducat, 1973, Medallic issue struck at the Stuttgart State Mint for the Millenium of the Prague Bishopric, struck to the same standard Czech ducat fineness and weight, mintage of only 100 pieces, NGC graded MS67, RR. Realized $8,000 on an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000.
- Lot 1860. Canada: Victoria, 1837-1901, silver 10 cents, 1889, KM-3, key date and rare in any grade, one of the most difficult dates to acquire for this series; a lovely coin with traces of original luster, PCGS graded AU53, ex Don Erickson Collection. Realized $3,250 on an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000.
- Lot 2711. British India: Victoria, Empress, 1876-1901, silver ½ rupee, 1879-C, KM-491, type A/I, NGC graded MS63. Realized $9,500 on an estimate of $1,300 to $1,500.
Lot 2898.
- Lot 2898. Kweichow: Republic, silver dollar, ND (1928), Y-428, L&M-609, “auto dollar” type, two blades of grass variety, PCGS graded VF20. Realized $7,000 on an estimate of $5,000 to $5,500.
- Lot 2916. Manchuko: Japanese Occupation, 1932-1945, gold tael (1932), L&M-1068, Kann-1595var, Chinese fun (“blessing”) on obverse, 1000 above and 24 K below on reverse (to indicate fineness), NGC graded MS60, RR. Realized $9,000 on an estimate of $3,000 to $4,000.
Lot 2926.
- Lot 2926. Tibet: gold 20 srang, Gser Khang mint, BE15-52, Y-22, Autonomous Tibetan issue, snow lion facing left, the words rab byung 15 (“cycle 15”) above and lo 52 (“year 52”) below, this surrounded by a circle around which the eight Buddhist auspicious emblems are arranged in the following order: parasol, pair of golden fishes, treasure vase, lotus flower, conch, endless knot, banner of victory, wheel of dharma // without dot at center of central circle, stylised wheel with eight spokes at center, surrounded by circle, outer circle contains the following legend: dga’ ldan pho brang phyo(gs) las rnam rgyal tam srang 20 (“the Ganden palace, victorious in all directions, 20 tam srang”), PCGS graded MS63+. Realized $6,500 on an estimate of $4,000 to $5,000.
The firm is now taking consignments through July 6 for its Auction 32 on September 13-15.
For more information please visit the firm’s website.
Online available is also a list of all prizes realized in Auction 31.