The New York Sale 23-24
THE NEW YORK SALE XXIII – XXIV 6TH-7TH JANUARY 2010
Held as part of the 38th annual New York International Numismatic Convention, The New York Sale proved to be a welcome move away from the subdued bidding of 2009. The majority of the interesting lots offered during the course of the week were from the Baldwin’s/Dmitry Markov/M&M auction and the high prices achieved reflected the recent trend for buyers paying well above estimate for quality and rarity. In marked contrast to last year’s event the bidders appeared to be out in force. Seth Freeman of Baldwin’s commented that there was a real buzz around this years event, both the convention and the auction and buyers ‘seemed to be focused on one thing, spending money to secure key items’. The results from the sale this year reflected the more optimistic view of the financial markets for 2010. Across the board bidders seemed less cautious than last year and prices realised on particular items were substantially higher.
Highlights from the first day of the sale included the catalogue cover piece (pictured above), lot 128, a Roman Empire Drusus Sestertius which sold for US$17,250 against a pre-sale estimate of US$8,500; and lot 251, a Constantinus II Solidus, Treveri, which achieved US$34,500. As ever the Indian section was strong and attracted a lot of attention, the most interesting lot being 304, a very rare Gupta Dinar, Tiger-slayer type depicting the goddess Ganga standing on an elephant-headed fish, sold for US$21,850.
Bidding interest and excitement centered on the Medieval, Portuguese and Russian sections and this is demonstrated by the incredibly strong prices achieved. Highlights of the section incorporate lots 470 and 628, a Carolingian Denarius of Toulouse, and a Portuguese Sancho I Morabitino which sold for US$13,800 and US$25,000 respectively. Lot 1027, a 1707 Shestak Half Tymf, was one of the most unique and interesting pieces in the sale. This coin was first recorded in 1897 in ‘?????i??? ?? ??????? ???????????’ where it was the only image available of this very rare coin and soon became the plate coin in all standard references. The groups research produced no other specimen of this particular coin offered at public auction and this was reflected in the realised price of US$97,500. Lot 2002, a complete set of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky also attracted a great deal of interest and more than doubled its estimate by achieving US$184,000 and becoming the highest priced lot of the auction.
Held in the Norse Suite of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, the auction spanned two evenings and the room was packed for both events. Many individuals were bidding on the phone and 91 people registered to bid online over the course of the two days, proving that you no longer have to attend an auction to participate in it. 77% of the 1402 lots offered were sold and a total hammer price of US$ 4,815,136 (including premium) achieved. Lots sold online to bidders globally totaled 8.57% of the successful bidders buying 90 lots between them.
Full sale results can be found online at www.baldwin.co.uk or at www.sixbid.com
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 9309808
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
Highlighted Lots
(inclusive of Buyers Premium at 15%)
128 ROMAN COINS Mint Rome, if not otherwise mentioned. ROMAN EMPIRE DRUSUS the Younger, son of Tiberius, †22 Sestertius under Tiberius, 22-23. AE 28.32 g. Winged caduceus between two cornuacopiae in saltire, surmounted by the draped, bareheaded busts of the twins Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus. Rev. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II / SC. BN II, 47, 72. RIC 97, 42. C. 1. Rare. Excellent style and beautiful olive patina. Extremely fine
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Zurich sale 4 (1991), 312. Estimate: US$8500
SOLD FOR: US$17,250
251 ROMAN COINS Mint Rome, if not otherwise mentioned. ROMAN EMPIRE CONSTANTINUS II Caesar, 317-337
Solidus, Treveri, about 328-329. AV 4.50 g. FL CL CONSTANT-TINVS IVN N C Laureate head r. Rev. GAVDIVM RO-MANORVM / ALAMANNIA Alamannia seated l., wearing barbarian dress and Phrygian cap, propping her head on her r. hand and touching bow and shield with her extended l. hand; behind, trophy. RIC VII, 213, 516. Depeyrot I, 62, 35/1. Bastien, Donativa 80, d/4. Very rare. Large flan and well centered. Extremely fine
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Zurich sale 2 (1990), 842. Estimate: US$14000
SOLD FOR: US$34,500
304 INDIAN COINS GUPTA COINAGE Samudragupta, c. 335-380 Dinar. AV 7.63 g. Tiger-slayer type. King standing l., wearing ceremonial turban and dhoti, drawing his bow and aiming at an open mouthed tiger which rears up in front of him as he tramples on it, legend Vyaghraparakramah at r.,crescent above lion’s head. Rev. Raja Samudraguptah, in field r., the goddess Ganga standing l., on an elephant-headed fish (makara), she holds a long-stemmed lotus in left hand, her empty right hand is outstretched and a crescent topped standard decked with ribbons is in field l. BMC pl.II, 14. Bayana Hoard pl.VI, 9. Rare. Broad flan, well centred and well struck, fine style. Extremely fine
Ex Baldwin’s Auction 45, 3 May 2006, lot 1208 Estimate: US$14000
SOLD FOR: US$21,850
470 COINS OF THE CAROLINGIAN PERIOD Denarius, Toulouse. AR 1.57 g. HLVDOVVICVS IMP AVG Draped bust r. Rev. TOLVSA City gate. Prou 803. MG 417 (this specimen). Very fine. Ex H. Meyer and J. W. Garrett Collections; ex The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; ex Rollin & Feuardent , Paris, May 16, 1902, 173; J. Schulman, Amsterdam April 12, 1922; Bank Leu AG, Zurich – Numismatic Fine Arts, Inc., Beverly Hills / The Garrett Collection II, Zurich Oct. 16-18, 1984, 690.
Estimate US$4200
SOLD FOR: US$13,800
628 WORLD COINS PORTUGAL
Sancho I, 1185-1211. Morabitino, n.d. AV 3.84 g. Gomes 05.03. Fr. 1. Rare. Some toning in parts. Attractive extremely fine
Estimate: US$15000
SOLD FOR: US$25,300
1027 Part I. 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$50000
SOLD FOR: US$97,750
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
SOLD FOR: US$184,000
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.
• Online bidding is facilitated by www.the-saleroom.com , sister company of The Antiques Trade Gazette.
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