Important Indian, Persian, and Chinese Rarities at Stephen Album
Stephen Album Rare coins will hold its Auction 38 on September 24-27, 2020 at its offices in Santa Rosa, California. The auction is made up of an even 4,000 lots of Ancient, Islamic, Chinese, General World, and Indian Coins.
Featured in this sale are two Chihli Specimen Dollars from the Peiyang Mint from the Richard Bagge Collection. The two Chihli dollars are the first of the year 29 Peiyang dollars graded by the major grading companies as specimens. The Peiyang mint had just been rebuilt in 1902, necessitated by its destruction during the Boxer Rebellion. These dollars were likely gifts to Richard Bagge, a Swedish diplomat based in Shanghai, upon the reopening of the mint. These coins are of the utmost rarity. They are sure to be a major highlight.
Another sure highlight will be the Dabestani Collection of Persian Coins, which includes many rare gold and silver coins that were unpublished when they were acquired. One particularly stunning example from the collection is Lot 659, a gold presentation toman issue of Fath ‘Ali Shah. It features a portrait of the king seated on a throne and is one of the rare earlier issues struck to the sahebqirani standard. A superb example, it is graded MS62 by PCGS.
Some highlights from the sale follow:
- Lot 65: Ancients. Sasanian Kingdom. Shahpur I, 241-272, gold dinar (7.35g), G-21, diademed bust of Shapur right, wearing mural crown with korymbos // fire altar flanked by two attendants, holding long spears, each looking away from the fire and wearing mural crowns, some scratches on the obverse, mostly across the korymbos, otherwise very attractive, EF, R. Estimated at $3,000 – 3,250
- Lot 659: Islamic. Qajar. Fath ‘Ali Shah, 1797-1834, gold presentation toman (4.59g), Isfahan, AH1245, A-2871, KM-763, portrays the king seated on throne, with medallion bearing the ruler’s name to the left // mint & date in fancy border, a superb quality example! PCGS graded MS62 (Gold Shield NFC Secure Holder), RRR, ex Dabestani Collection. Estimated at $3,000 – 4,000
- Lot 1169: China. Chihli. Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, silver dollar, Peiyang Arsenal mint, year 29 (1903), Y-73, L&M-462, with deep original color and iridescent rainbow toning on obverse, NGC graded Specimen 65, RRR, ex Richard Bagge Collection. Estimated at $60,000 – 80,000. Opening Bid: $35,000
- Lot 1170: China. Chihli. Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, silver dollar, Peiyang Arsenal mint, year 29 (1903), Y-73, L&M-462, with deep original color and iridescent rainbow toning on reverse, NGC graded Specimen 64+, RRR, ex Richard Bagge Collection. Estimated at $50,000 – 70,000. Opening Bid: $30,000
- Lot 1499: World. Singapore, Republic, gold 12 ounce medal, 1987, KM-X32, 70mm, Chinese Lunar Series – Year of the Rabbit with four Chinese characters “amiable countenance”, medallic issue containing 12 ounces of 999.9 pure gold and a mintage of only 250 coins struck at the Singapore Mint, NGC graded Proof 69 UC, R. Estimated at $22,000 – 24,000
- Lot 1885: World. Chile. Fernando VI, 1746-1759, gold 8 escudos, 1751-So, KM-3, Fr-3, assayer J, although not indicated on holder, clearly from Nuestra Señora de la Luz wreck, PCGS graded MS61. Estimated at $3,000 – 4,000
Here you can browse through the online catalog.
The firm is now taking consignments for its Auction 39, which will be held January 21-23, 2021.
More information can be found on their website.
