IRVINE, Calif. (July 2013) — Stack’s Bowers Ponterio has once again been entrusted with hosting the most significant world coin event of the year: the Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money. This nine-day auction event offers catalogs spotlighting a multitude of collections and highlights, including The Thos. H. Law Collection — a pictorial history of English gold coinage by monarchs, series and denomination. Included are many great rarities from the series with 459 lots catalogued for the sale. The Law Collection Session E is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, at 6 p.m. CT. All lots are currently available for bidding at stacksbowers.com. Bidders may also attend the sale in person or place bids via telephone (through special arrangement), online or by mail.
The Law Collection encompasses an incredibly diverse variety of coin types, from hammered pieces emitted by Plantagenet King Edward III (1327–1377), to modern-day proof coins of House of Windsor Queen Elizabeth II (1952–present). This will be an extraordinary collector-oriented sale featuring Mr. Law’s acquisitions of over four decades, used to form his groundbreaking and award-wining ANA convention exhibits; five of them winning the coveted Howland Wood Best in Show honor. Mr. Law’s studious acumen is apparent with many intriguing varieties, present along with choice quality type coins from all reigns and series, from hammered coinage through milled series, to present-made machine coins. Because of this diversity and significance, Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio has created a special 146-page, full-color catalog that not only exemplifies the dignity and importance of this exceptional cabinet, but also includes special historical features such as monarch biographies, portraits and historical coinage notes.
Although gold coins were minted from ancient times, the first unified English coins were not produced until 1344, during the reign of Edward III. The Thos. H. Law Collection possesses an exceptional variety from that Plantagenet hammered Noble genre until the 1660s, when milled coinage had completely taken hold. Numerous great rarities from several monarchs during this span make this collection one of the finest ever sold. The fascinating history of Lancastrians and Yorkists, exemplified in Shakespeare’s historical plays, is mirrored through several elite specimens. Over one century of Tudor gold coinage is the strongest segment of the collection. Broad large Fine Sovereigns from Henry VII, including the first Sovereign issue in 1489, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I are especially noteworthy. The Law family’s great interest in Shakespeare is illustrated by an exceptional selection of Elizabethan gold coinage that represents all styles with superb portraits seen on many. The Scottish Stuart succession from the Tudor Dynasty contains coins from James I and Charles I, including two Triple Unite pieces.
The short-lived Commonwealth of self-made “King” Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell has choice hammered coins and a two superb milled 1656 Gold Broads; one an exceptional NGC Proof-63 Cameo example.
The final crossover hammered to milled coinage took place during the reign of Charles II, the Stuart Restored King. Milled examples from this collection also rank among the finest sold in the United States. There are an amazing 18 Five Guineas denomination coins within the collection, many in choice condition.
A great diversity of Guineas and its fractional portions is featured from Charles II until late in George III’s reign; many are among the finest we have catalogued. Important crown-size Five Pound coins in the collection are another superb highlight. An exceedingly rare 1831 William IV Crown in Gold stands out as one of the absolute stars of the collection and appears on the front cover of the catalog. Two choice and iconic 1839 “Una and Lion” Five Pound pieces from Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI are not only represented, but at times with choice duplicates that were used in award-winning ANA convention exhibits. Intermingled within select rarities are many affordable type coins from all monarchs to illustrate the diversity of English gold coinage.
The Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio team has written and produced a specialized catalog for this unparalleled collection that includes lot illustrations, historical information and enlightening reference data on this outstanding collection of English gold coins. The catalog is sure to be a reference for all world coin collectors for years to come.
The coins themselves are timeless artifacts from this period of English history that embodies nearly 700 years of British tradition. The illustrious battles, famous and infamous monarchs such as Richard III, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, the aura of Shakespeare and his plays, American Revolutionary era coins of George III, and coins issued through World War I and World War II are all interwoven together to create a rich narrative created by Mr. Law and shared with many others at numerous coin convention exhibits.
All lot descriptions and images for the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money can be viewed online on our website stacksbowers.com. Printed catalogs are available upon request by calling 800.458.4646. Online bidding and pre-auction bids will be accepted online at stacksbowers.com; by email at auction@stacksbowers.com; by phone at 800.458.4646; by fax at 949.253.4091; and by mail addressed to Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money, 1063 McGaw, Irvine, CA 92614. Interested bidders are also encouraged to view lots onsite in Chicago in August and bid in-person at the live auction, or online via stacksbowers.com. A complete auction and lot-viewing schedule is also available online or by calling 800.458.4646.
About Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio
Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is the world and ancients auction division of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. It was founded in 1982 as Ponterio & Associates by Richard Ponterio, renowned specialist in world and ancient numismatics, who is now executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. Past auctions have included such notable coin collections as the Wa She Wong Collection, the John S. Davenport Collection, the Witte Museum Collection, the Amat Collection, the Joe Lasser Collection, and the James Hunnicut Collection. Distinguished paper money collections include the East Bay Collection of International Bank Notes, and the Eduard Kann Chinese Bank Note Collection, along with treasure collections from the shipwrecks “Nicobar,” “Rooswijk,” and “Capitana.” of Money and the ANA/PNG Pre-Show, the 2013 ANA National Money Show, and the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo, three times yearly.
