IRVINE, Calif. (June 30, 2014) — Stack’s Bowers Galleries is proud to announce the sale of The George Gund III Collection of World Coins as part of its official American Numismatic Association’s (ANA) World’s Fair of Money. The firm had the pleasure of selling a portion of Mr. Gund’s collection in January 2007, which was very well received. After Mr. Gund’s passing last year, the remaining coins were entrusted to Stack’s Bowers Galleries and are being offered in the 2014 ANA sale. Highlights are numerous and include many important rarities, presenting a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire an exceedingly rare set of Russian patterns, among other rare issues.
Among the highlights is a three-piece set of Russian “Russ” Pattern gold coins of 1895. With a mintage of only five sets, this represents an important step in the monetary history of the Russian Empire — a financial and monetary reform proposed by Finance Minister Sergei White. Of the five sets minted, two are permanently impounded in important museum collections and a third has been dismantled.
1) Smithsonian Institute Washington D.C.
2) State Hermitage Museum Saint Petersburg.
3) Ex: Swiss Bank Corporation sale 17, 1/1987, lots 1728, 1729 & 1731; Ex: Renaissance Auctions 8/2000, lots 896-898, now in private collection.
4) The George Gund III Collection (this set).
5) The fifth set is reported to have been disassembled and sold individually.
“With the world coin market much more advanced, particularly coins from Russia, we would not be surprised if these coins realize world records when they cross the auction block this August,” said Richard Ponterio, executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “These highly important coins are the only examples graded by either NGC or PCGS. NGC has certified the 5 Russ as Proof-65; the 10 Russ as Proof-65 Cameo; and the 15 Russ as Proof-63.”
Aside from the Russian pattern issues, an extensive selection of Czechoslovakian gold coins, including some of the finest-graded examples, will be featured. “The selection of nearly three-dozen Czechoslovakian gold coins is quite impressive, and is the most extensive we have had the pleasure of handling,” said Ponterio. “Not only are some of the coins very rare, but the quality is uniformly superlative. With very limited mintages and attractive designs, these coins have become very popular among collectors of world coins.”
Rounding out the offering is a Choice Mint Sate Bavarian Five Ducat of 1640, a type set of Proof minors of Finland, and a type set of German New Guinea copper and silver coins. “Rarely are coins of this quality offered at auction,” said Brian Kendrella, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “We are very pleased to have been chosen to sell this important collection; this choice reflects our firm’s unique ability to reach the most advanced numismatist enthusiasts, those who appreciate the history and rarity. Our expert staff is currently preparing the catalog, which will present this and many other important world and ancient coins to their finest advantage.”
The sale will also feature selections from The Demarete Collection, The Ervin F. Bickley Collection of Swiss Coins, The Joseph Vas Collections, and others.
“This sale will feature one of our most diverse offerings of world and ancient coins, and The George Gund III Collection will certainly be a historic presentation,” said Kent Ponterio, senior numismatist at Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “This and the other named collections and important rarities will certainly attract much spirited bidding competition when they cross the auction block.”
Catalogs for the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the ANA World’s Fair of Money will be mailed in early July. For more information, please contact Stack’s Bowers Galleries at 800.458.4646 (West Coast), 800.566.2580 (East Coast), or visit StacksBowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Professional Numismatists Guild New York Invitational, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
