Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL AUCTIONS TO OFFER THE ALLEN BERK COLLECTION OF RARE CHINESE AND ASIAN BANKNOTES, SATURDAY, JANUARY 26th, 2013 IN HONG KONG

Archives International Auctions will conduct their inaugural Hong Kong auction in association with Dynasty Auctions Company, Ltd.

(HONG KONG, China) – Archives International Auctions, in association with Dynasty Auctions Company, Ltd., will offer the Allen Berk single-owner lifetime collection of rare Chinese and Asian banknotes on Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Harbor Plaza North Point Hotel in Hong Kong. The Berk collection will signal the opening day of a spectacular three-day numismatic and philatelic event.


Charterted Bank of India, Australia & China $100 banknote, 1955 (lot #248).

Included in the Archives International Auctions portion of the auction, taking place on Jan. 26, will be over 1,000 lots of rare, exciting and highly collectible Chinese, Asian and worldwide banknotes, coins and scripophily (stock and bond certificates). The Jan. 27–28 sales, conducted by Dynasty Auctions Company, Ltd., will feature Chinese stamps and postal history.

The undisputed headliner of the Banknote session held by Archives International Auctions, will be the Allen Berk collection, which includes a spectacular example of a 1904 Hupeh Government Cash Bank, high-grade rarity. “Additionally, there are over 800 lots of Chinese and Hong Kong banknotes, coins and scripophily, with many rarities and discovery notes offered for the first time. We are also offering a small portion of ‘The Hamtramck Collection,’ a fresh worldwide collection, untouched for over 40 years, with hundreds of rare notes and coins that will be offered in this and many subsequent auctions,” said Dr. Robert Schwartz of Archives International Auctions.

All of the auction lots will be available for viewing at the New York International Numismatic Convention, between January 10 to 13, 2013 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Viewing hours are Thursday, Jan. 10, from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 11, from 10-6; Saturday, Jan. 12, from 10-5; and Sunday, Jan. 13, from 11-2.
There will also be viewing at Dynasty Auctions Company, Ltd., Hong Kong offices located in the Stanhope House, from Jan. 23rd to 25th.

Some additional highlights of the Jan. 26th auction include a large group of rare specimen banknotes from American Bank Note Co.; over 35 lots from the People’s Republic of China (with many graded examples); over 50 lots of rare Hong Kong banknotes, including Mercantile Bank of India, 1936-1941 issues, from $5 to $100.

There are also over 100 worldwide and Asian banknotes from Macau, Japan, Laos, Indonesia, Mali, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, South America, Mali and numerous other countries. Countless individual lots will be certain to attract considerable bidder attention, including one of the highlight Hong Kong banknotes, the 1955, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, $100 banknote (lot #248).

One of the many banknote highlights that seldom appear at auction will be a 1666 Swedish banknote rarity – a Stockholms Banco, Daler Sylvermynt issue banknote. This note represents one of the first paper money issues in the western world. A lesser condition example sold earlier this year in Europe for over $30,000 U.S.. Rare coins will feature a 1912 Japanese 1-Yen coin, graded MS 66 Gem (lot #930), and a 1934 Chinese $1 L&M-110, Y345 high-grade and toned junk dollar (lot #910).

The Harbour Plaza North Point Hotel is located at 665 King’s Road, Northpoint, in Hong Kong. The Jan. 26, 2013 auction will have a start time of 9:30 a.m. Collectors unable to attend in person may participate live and online, through the Archives International Auctions website, at www.archivesinternational.com . The website also provides a link to a virtual catalog of all the lots as well as information on absentee bidding.

Archives International Auctions will also be accepting consignments for its March auction of U.S. and worldwide banknotes, scripophily and rare coins, to be held at the firm’s Fort Lee, N.J., facility, at 1580 Lemoine Avenue (Suite 7). To consign one item or an entire collection, they can be reached at (201) 944-4800 or you can e-mail them at [email protected].

For more information about Archives International Auctions and the firm’s January 26 Hong Kong sale or future auctions, please visit their website at www.ArchivesInternational.com.