The New York Sale XXIII – XXIV
Held in conjunction with the New York International Convention, the 23rd and 24th New York Sales’ will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on January 6 – 7th, 2010 at 7.00pm local time. A joint auction venture conducted by the English auction house Baldwin’s and the American coin and medal dealers Dmitry Markov and M&M Numismatics. Around 750 lots will be offered for sale on the first day, comprising Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins, Islamic and Indian coinage as well as large section of World Coins including some very fine pieces from Portugal and an important group of Medieval coins. The second day of the sale focuses solely on items from Russia with around 750 lots of Russian coins and Historical Medals and Russian Orders and Badges being offered.
The sale starts with approximately 50 lots of ancient Greek coins. One highlight is lot 31 (pictured above), an extremely fine stater from Cyzicus with its rare reverse showing a lion standing on a tuna fish (estimate: US$ 12.500). Provincial Roman and Celtic coins follow. Amongst these some very rare and interesting pieces from Trier and the Rhineland can be found as well as a series of Celtic imitations of Macedonian and Thasian pieces.
Lot 115, A denarius of Labienus from 40 B. C. (estimate: US$ 30.000), is the gem of the Roman Republican coins. Labienus was sent to the Parthian Empire by Caesar’s assassins to gain support for their plans against Mark Anthony; after taking the title of Imperator he struck coins in his own name, probably to pay his army. A number of aurei of the finest grade and bronzes with magnificent patina are included in the Roman section containing roughly 150 lots. The enthusiast will recognize an extremely fine bimetallic medallion of Nero from A. D. 64 (estimate: US$ 8.000) and the almost extremely fine sestertius of Aquilia Severa with its fine dark-green patina (estimate: US$ 11.500). For the collector interested in Roman coins that were struck in Germany The New York Sale has a magnificent offering. A small collection of pieces from Cologne, Mainz and Trier will be put to auction, with items for all budgets including pieces depicting rare Late Roman emperors such as Magnus Maximus, Flavius Victor, Eugenius and Valentinianus III are present with their Trierian pieces.
Beginning at lot 289 the Indian and Islamic section starts with coins from the Migration Period. Some extremely seldom rarities are included amongst the coins from Kushan, like the earliest depiction of Buddha on a coin; an extremely fine gold quarter stater of Kanishka I (c. 130-158) estimated at US$ 70.000. As in previous years he Gupta Kingdom is well represented including some unusual examples, such as a lot 304, a denarius of Samudragupta (c. 335-380) of the “tiger-slayer” type depicting the king killing a tiger using bow and arrow (estimate: US$ 14.000). The Indian section of the sale is rounded off by a selection of around 100 coins of the Sultanates, the Moguls and the Independent States. Two of the highlights of the 73 Islamic lots on offer are an extremely rare and almost extremely fine half denarius (lot 388) from the Spanish Al-Andalus which was struck under the Umayyads, in the reign of Yazid II (101-105 AH); and lot 424, an extremely rare denarius of the Mirdasids struck under Shibl al-dawla Nasr I ben Salih (420-429 AH). Both coins are estimated at US$ 25.000.
Europe takes centre stage in the second half of the sale with a collection of 75 medieval coins ranging from the Merovingians to the High Middle ages. The coins of the Carolingian period contain many exceptional pieces including lot 475, a denarius of Louis the German from Mainz (estimate: US$ 8.250) and lot 469, a denarius of Louis the Pious from Dorestad (estimate: US$ 9.000), for example. Lot 489, a Frederick I Barbarossa Bracteate from Frankfurt, is the stand out piece from the remainder of the Medieval section (estimate: US$ 3.000).
The World Coins and Medals segment of the auction includes a delectable number of rarities waiting to be discovered. A French 5 franc piece (lot 545) from 1889 struck on the occasion of the World’s Fair in Paris of which only 100 specimens were struck and only the 20 that were included in the mint set and sold during the opening days of the Expo remain in existence. (estimate: US$ 48.000). Some particularly interesting coins are included in the selection of Holy Roman Empire , highlights being, lot 567, an extremely rare Kingdom of Bohemia, Charles IV chaise d’or, struck in Antwerp in 1355/6, (estimate: US$ 18.000) and an attractive and almost extremely fine Maximilian I Ducat (lot 574) struck in Hall in 1511 (estimate: US$ 20.000). The coins of the free imperial cities are included here as well with lot 595, a very rare and extremely fine double taler from the city of Nuremberg, being the highlight. The coin was struck without a date but with the title of Leopold I 1657-1705; (estimate: US$ 18.000).
The days proceedings conclude with a comprehensive collection of 116 Portuguese coins ranging from the 12th to the end of the 19th century and an additional 12 lots of Brazilian coins struck under Portuguese dominion. The first lot of the section, lot 628, an undated morabitino of Sancho I (1185-1211), is a pleasing and extremely fine example, estimated at US$ 15.000.
The second day of the sale kicks off with a fine selection of around 450 Russian Coins and Historical Medals. Highlights include lot 1027, an extraordinarily rare 1707 Shestak (Half Tymf) (Estimate: US$50.000). Part of a specialized Collection of Russian Tympf Coinage commissioned by Peter the Great this coin became the plate coin in all standard references of Russian coinage. Research has found no other specimen of its kind being offered for public auction, so this is a remarkable opportunity to purchase a piece of Russian numismatic history. Lot 1072, a superbly preserved1762 Gold 10 Roubles (Estimate: US$25.000) would be another delightful addition to any Numismatic collection. Russian Medals, Orders and Decorations are also well represented by lot 1123, a 1770 Catherine II silver Award Medal of the Admiralty Collegium (Estimate: US$10.000) and lot 2002, a complete set of Imperial Russian Orders of St.Alexander Nevsky (Estimate US$75.000), accompanied by a letter written by his Highness, the Duke Elimar of Oldenburg.
The catalogue of the New York Sale can be ordered from any of the auction partners (whose details appear below), and will be available from the beginning of December. In addition the illustrated catalogue will be available to view online at www.sixbid.com or bid live online through www.the-saleroom.com/baldwins.
For more information about the New York sale please contact Seth Freeman of Baldwin’s at seth@baldwin.co.uk or on +44(0)207 930808
HIGHLIGHTED LOTS
31 CYZICUS. Stater, electrum, ca 450-430 BC. Von Fritze, Kyzikos 7, 83. Very rare variety. Extremely fine.
Estimate: US$12.500
67 CELTIC COINS – SOUTHERN GERMANY. Regenbogenschüsselchen. Stater, gold, 1st cent. BC. SLM 110, 1097. Rare. Extremely fine. From sale Peus Nachf. 291 (1977), 87.
Estimate: US$4.500
115 ROMAN REPUBLIC. Q. Labienus, + 39 BC . Denarius, mint moving with Labienus in Asia Minor, 40 BC. Cr. 524/2. Syd. 1357. Extremely rare. Good very fine.
Estimate: US$30.000
137 NERO, 54-68. Bi-metallic medallion. Rv. Roma seated l. on cuirass, holding parazonium and Victory. Unpublished(?) Nice brown patina. Extremely fine.
Estimate: US$8.000
296 INDIA / KUSHAN. Kanishka I, ca. 130-158 AD. 1/4 Dinar. AV. Rev. ?????; Buddha standing facing. Göbl 73. The earliest numismatic depiction of Buddha, one of only three gold coins with the Buddha reverse known to Göbl. Extremely rare. Good extremely fine. From Skanda Coll., sale Spink-Taisei 9 (1991), 18.
Estimate: US$70.000
388 ISLAMIC / UMAYYAD. Temp. Yazids II, 101-105 AH. 1/2 Dinar od Nisf. Al-Andalus, 102 AH. Walker p. 101. Extremely rare. Nearly extremely fine.
Estimate: US$25.000
475 CAROLINGIANS. Louis the German, 840-876. Denarius, Mainz. MG 594. Very fine.
Estimate: US$8.250
545 FRANCE. 5 Francs, 1889 A, Paris, struck on the occasion of the World Expo in Paris. Gadoury 745a. Of the highest rarity, only 100 specimens struck! Nearly uncirculated.
Estimate: US$48.000
567 CHARLES IV, 1346-1378. Chaise d’or, Antwerpen, n. d. (1355/6). Weiller 1. Of the highest rarity. Nearly extremely fine.
Estimate: US$18.000
628 PORTUGAL. Sancho I, 1185-1211. AV-Morabitino, n. d. Gomes 05.03. Rare. Extremely fine.
Estimate: US$15.000
744 BRAZIL (under Portugal). Obsidional coinage of Pernambuco, occupied by the Dutch and besieged by the Portuguese, 1645-1646. 6 Guilders, struck at Recife, 1646. Russo 634. Very rare. Nearly extremely fine.
Estimate: US$8.000
1027 Russian Coins and Historical Medals. A specialized Collection of Russian Tympf Coinage Distinct issues commissioned by Peter the Great to subsidize his Polish and Saxon allies in the war against Sweden. Denominated in the local currency of Poland/Saxony, this coinage was distributed to Russian troops stationed outside their borders in Poland, Lithuania, Pomerania and Prussia. Shestak (Half Tymf) 1707. 3.00 gm. Bit 3855 (R3) – this coin, Diakov 3 – this coin, Petrov (50 Rubl.), GM (Rare) – this coin, Ryabsevich Pl 15. 12 – this coin, Sev 199 (RR), Uzd 4856 (RRR). This specimen was published for the first time in 1897 in ?.?. ??????. «?????i??? ?? ??????? ???????????». It was the only available image of this tremendously rare coin and it became the plate coin in all standard references of Russian coinage. Listed also in Grand Duke George Mikhailovich’s «??????? ?????? ???????????? ? ????? ??????i?». Our research found no other specimen of any Peter I Shestak of any variety ever offered at public auction. Toned over some light laminations. Of the Greatest Rarity and Historical Importance. Here is a once in a life-time opportunity for the fortunate collector. About extremely fine to extremely fine
Bitkin – plate coin
Diakov – plate coin
Grand Duke – plate coin
Ryabsevich – plate coin
Zubov – plate coin
Estimate: US$50.000
1072 Russian Coins and Historical Medals. Catherine II, 1762-1796. Ex Sotheby’s, ‘Extremely Important Russian Collection’. October 1-8, 1969, London. Lot # 280.10 Roubles 1762. GOLD. 16.53 gm. Fr 129, Bit 4 (R1), Sev 253 (R). Uzd 0100 (R). Full mint lustre. Rare and superbly preserved Gem uncirculated
Estimate: US$25.000
1123 Russian Coins and Historical Medals. MEDALS OF CATHERINE II. Medal. Silver. 91.5 mm.333.5 gm. By P. Utkin after J.B. Gass. Count Alexey Grigorievich Orlov. Award Medal of the Admiralty Collegium. 1770. Sm 264, Diakov 153.2. Uniformed half-length bust of the Count r., head facing, wearing the plumed helmet of the Cavalry Guard helmet, and holding a staff. Rev. Detailed map of Chesmé Bay showing the Russian and Turkish fleets arrayed in their battle positions, small cherub head below blowing the wind right. Very rare. Ones cleaned. Few marks. Mint lustre Extremely fine
Ex Sotheby & Co, London, 3-4 October, 1991, lot # 794.
Estimate: US$10.000
2002 IMPERIAL RUSSIA. ORDERS. ORDER OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY. Complete Set. Cross. 56 mm. Gold. Hallmarked 56 on the loop. Imperial eagle on top and ‘??’ mark on reverse lower arm. Star. Silver. 88 mm. Imperial eagle and maker’s mark ‘AK’. Hallmarked 84, ‘Keibel’ and Imperial eagle on base. 84, ‘Keibel’ and eagle on pin. Fully gilded. Comes with a full length sash and case of issue. Awarded to His Highness Duke Elimar of Oldenburg (January 23, 1844 – October 17, 1895).
Condition: The Star has a minor enamel chip. Otherwise superb(Anton Gunther Friedrich Elimar, prince of Oldenburg, was the only surviving son of August, Grandduke of Oldenburg and his wife, Princess Cecilia, daughter of Swedish King Gustav IV Adolf. His elder stepsister was Amalia of Oldenburg, Queen Consort of Greece. The prince married Baroness Natalie (1854-1937) on April 23, 1868 and they had two children: Countess Alexandrine Gustava Friederike von Welsburg b.1877 who died unmarried, and Count Gustav Gregor Alexander von Welsburg b.1878. Accompanied by a personal letter of praise and affection signed by Alexander II: My Sir, my cousin, I desire to send to Your Highness a token of my sentiments in your regard by nominating you a Knight of my Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky. I pray you will accept it and wear it as a souvenir of your stay with me; that it may convey a reminder of the affection with which you are held – I repeat my sincere assurance. Alexander II, Tsar of the Russians St. Petersburg, January 20, 1868 to: His Highness, the Duke Elimar of Oldenburg
Estimate: US$75000
AUCTION PARTNERS:
Seth Freeman
A.H. Baldwin& Sons Ltd
11 Adelphi Terrace
London
WC2N 6BJ
Tel: (++44) 20 7930 9808
Email: auctions@baldwin.co.uk
Dmitry Markov
Dmitry Markov Coins & Medals
PO Box 950
New York
NY 10272
USA
Tel: (++1) 908 470 2828
Email: markov@banet.net
Lucien Birkler
M&M Numismatics Ltd.
PO Box 65908
Washington, D.C. 20035
USA
Tel: (++1) 202 833 3770
Notes to the Editor:
• The group was formed in 1998 the New York Sale partnership comprises three of the most prestigious numismatic auction houses in the world, who together form a powerful international force in the numismatic industry. They have expanded to hold two multi-million dollar sales per year, specializing in Ancient and World coins and Russian Coins and Medals.
• The sale is held each year in conjunction with the largest and most important annual numismatic event (The New York International Convention) the group holds two auctions on Wednesday and Thursday of the week long conference in January and has held over 22 auctions since its conception.
• In 2004 the sale of an 1825 Russian silver Rouble for US$603,750 broke the world record price achieved for any non-US coin sold by public auction and since then lots have regularly attained prices well above estimate. In 2008 results from the Italian section of the sale went through the roof making a staggering US$1,118,400, four times the pre-sale estimate. Even in the current economic climate the results from the 2009 auction spoke volumes about the ability of the group to attract discerning buyers for good quality lots with lots selling up to 30 times their estimate.
• To date the group has sold over US$25 million hammer and in excess of 11,000 lots.
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