Three Collections in the Focus of Steve Album Auction 35

Stephen Album Rare Coins held its Auction 35 on September 12-14, 2019 at its offices in Santa Rosa, California. The auction greatly exceeded expectations, with a total realized price of $1.66 million (including buyer’s fees) and a sell-through rate of 92.6%. The firm’s COO Mike Barry remarked: “We were anticipating a strong sale, but we were happy to see strong bidding across the entire auction. We were both surprised and pleased with the prices and the excitement that bidders were showing for these lots”.

Three interesting collections helped to attract bidders to the sale. One major highlight from the collection of Dr. Axel Wahlstedt (chairman of the Swedish Numismatic Society from 1916-1934) was a zodiac ½ rupee, the first of its kind offered at public auction. It realized a price of $41,650. The Jerry D. Williams Collection of Elephant Coins was also a highlight, and part II will be offered in the firm’s January 2020 auction. The first of three parts of The Christian Rasmussen Collection of Ilkhan coins also achieved very strong prices. Part II of that collection will be offered in the firm’s January 2020 auction as well.

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Many items went for multiples of their estimates, including the following (prices include buyer’s fees):

• Lot 175: Mughal: Jahangir, 1605-1628, silver ½ rupee, Ahmadabad, AH1027 year 13, KM-138.2, zodiac type, Leo (lion left), with the sun rising behind, attractive original tone, PCGS graded EF40, ex Dr. Axel Wahlstedt Collection. Estimated Value: $10,000 to $15,000. Sold for $41,650.
• Lot 1367: Ilkhan: Ahmad Tekudar, 1282-1284, gold dinar (4.09g), Tabriz, DM, A-2138, standard design and calligraphy, as the previous Tabriz dinars of Abaqa and the later Tabriz dinars of Arghun, Gaykhatu, and Baydu; with the king’s name only in Uighur, VF, RRRR, ex Christian Rasmussen Collection. Estimated Value: $9,000 – 11,000. Sold for $26,180.
• Lot 1749: Kirin: Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, silver dollar, ND (1898), Y-183, L&M-516, small scales on dragon variety, a choice example with superb luster, PCGS graded MS62. Estimated Value: $8,000 – 10,000. Sold for $22,610.
• Lot 1707: China: Hung Hsien, 1915-1916, silver dollar, ND [1916], Y-332, L&M-942, Kann-663, struck for the intended inauguration of Yüan Shih-kai as Emperor Hung Hsien, facing bust of Yûan Shih-kai in military attire and tall, plumed hat // dragon flying left, lovely old toning, PCGS graded AU58. Estimated Value: $5,000 – 6,000. Sold for $23,800.
• Lot 409: India: Republic, 8-coin proof set, 1967(b), RB-14, official set includes 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50 paise and 1 rupee; the rupee is dated 1962 and all others dated 1967, set in original package of issue and of the utmost rariety for a modern Indian set, Proof, set of 8 coins. Estimated Value: $2,000 – 3,000. Sold for $7,735.
• Lot 1926: Ceylon: George III, 1796-1820, silver rixdollar, 1815, KM-Pn7, Pridmore-81, pattern, Elephant within wreath, PCGS graded Proof 63, RR, ex Jerry D. Williams Collection. Estimated Value: $2,500 – 3,000. Sold for $7,735.
• Lot 449: Seleukid Kingdom: Seleukos I Nikator, 312-281 BC, silver tetradrachm (17.20g), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, SC-130 variety, head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath // Athena, brandishing spear in right hand, monogram below, shield on left arm, in quadriga of elephants right; anchor and D above, strike 5/5, surface 5/5, NGC graded Choice EF star , ex Jerry D. Williams Collection, ex Jonathan K. Kern. Estimated Value: $900 – 1,100. Sold for $3,094.
• Lot 2195: Syria: Arab Republic, gold lira, 1971/AH1391, KM-98, Hawk of Quraish, trial strike in gold, PCGS graded Specimen 67, RRRR, ex Sherritt Mint Archives. Estimated Value: $1,000 – 1,500. Sold for $11,305.

Company founder Stephen Album commented “All sessions of the auction were consistently strong, even the Numismatic Literature. We are happy with the results.”

The firm is currently taking consignments until November 1 for its Auction 36, which will be held January 23-25, 2020.

In this PDF you can find all prices realized in auction 35.

For further information please visit the Steve Album Rare Coins website.