As an official auctioneer of the New York International Numismatic Convention, Stack’s Bowers Galleries presented one of the year’s most exciting auction events, with $12,933,114 realized across the categories of ancient coins, world coins, and world currency. (All prices include the buyer’s fee.)
This impressive result was engendered by the many captivating and rare numismatic jewels that were featured in this year’s catalog. The breathtaking Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection brought numerous Russian treasures to the auction block, including an incredibly rare Gold Imperial Pattern from Nicholas II that realized $360,000 and a stunning 10 Rubles of Peter III that sold for $168,000. Among the collection’s many other stars were an astonishing 25 Rubles of Alexander II (from a mintage of just 100) that surpassed its $150,000 high estimate to realize $240,000 and an important Catherine I 2 Rubles that achieved $156,000.
The honor of the top-selling lot went to the unique gold 7-kilogram commemorative from Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee that brought $660,000. A perennial favorite among Britain’s rarities, the “Una and the Lion” 5 Pounds Pattern in PCGS PROOF-63 once again proved its immense popularity selling for $336,000.
The market for Latin American coinage continued its upward trajectory as an exquisite Central American Republic 8 Escudos from Costa Rica in NGC MS-62 realized $52,800 and a Mexican 4 Escudos (with a rare over-assayer) far exceeded its estimate selling for $33,600 after fierce bidding. Specialists within the Latin American collecting community paid special attention to the Emilio M. Ortiz Collection of Spanish Colonial Cuartillos which included issues that had not been offered in many years. Highlights included a unique overstruck copper piece of Santo Domingo in NGC AU-55 that far exceeded its $5,000 high estimate at $15,600 and an extremely elusive 1822 ¼ Real of Guatemala which soared past its $2,000 high estimate to land at $7,800.
A special countermarks session was led by an incredible British octagonal countermark over a 1798 United States Draped Bust Dollar in PCGS EF-40 that sold for $120,000. The same countermark found on a Spanish 8 Reales from 1803 in NGC MS-62 reached $57,600 as a result of its exceptional eye appeal. An intriguing Philippines Isabel II countermark applied over a perforated Bolivian 8 Reales caught collectors’ attention and realized $38,400.
Enthusiastic bidding in the Ancient coins session resulted in an exceedingly lovely Kaulonian Stater graded NGC AU★ selling for $36,000. Roman coins also saw significant prices with a stunning Aureus of Julius Caesar in NGC Ch AU reaching $31,200 and a rare and immensely popular “Judea Capta” Aureus of Vespasian in NGC VF achieving $26,400.
The world banknote session was held on January 13 and focused primarily on North and South American material, along with some incredible highlights from other global areas. Notable among these were two Russo-Asiatic Bank notes from the John E. Sandrock Collection: Lot 60434 brought $48,000 and Lot 60435 brought $50,400 making it the most expensive note of the session. The sole finest graded 1935 English Text $1,000 note from the Bank of Canada was offered as part of a robust Canadian section, and realized $40,800. The highly anticipated Costa Rican offering was highlighted by an 1885 25 Pesos in lot 60170 that brought $48,000 and an iconic 1918 100 Colones that realized $42,000. Other world highlights included pieces from Australia, Belgian Congo, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, and Zanzibar to name just a few.
When asked his thoughts on the sale, Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ World Banknote Director Aris Maragoudakis noted, “The NYINC venue continues to be a premier launchpad for Latin American numismatics rivaling our other continental American venue, the August sale where we are an official auctioneer partner of the ANA. We’ve had incredible cabinets featuring Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Venezuela at this venue and we imagine that trend will continue for years to come. The competition for rare and iconic banknotes on the auction stage has not lessened, and our industry-leading website and mobile applications have enabled bidding from the most remote areas, contributing to the battles in the auction room.”
These results reaffirm Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ position as a leader in collector-focused numismatics along with the continued health and vitality of the broader marketplace. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is looking ahead to its busy calendar of upcoming auctions, beginning with the February Collectors Choice Online Auction, followed by the April 2024 Hong Kong Auction, the firm’s premier venue for high-end Asian numismatics. To consign your ancient coins, world coins, and world paper money to an upcoming Stack’s Bowers Galleries event, visit StacksBowers.com, call 800-458-4646, or email Consign@StacksBowers.com.
Other Notable lots from the Stack’s Bowers Galleries New York International Numismatic Convention Auction:
GERMAN NEW GUINEA. 20 Mark, 1895-A. Berlin Mint. Wilhelm II. PCGS PROOF-66 Deep Cameo. – $168,000.
FRANCE. 100 Francs, 1889-A. Paris Mint. PCGS PROOF-63. – $90,000.
CEYLON. Silver 2 Rixdollars Pattern, 1812. London Mint. George III. NGC PROOF-66. – $66,000.
PERU. Cob 8 Escudos, 1711-L M. Lima Mint. Philip V. NGC MS-64. – $32,000.
PHILIPPINES. Philippines – Mexico. 8 Reales, 1828. Manila Mint. Ferdinand VII. NGC EF-40. – $37,200.
CHINA. Dollar, ND (1912). Nanking Mint. PCGS MS-65+. – $40,800.
MEXICO. 8 Escudos, 1761-Mo MM. Mexico City Mint. Charles III. NGC AU-55. – $24,000.
CANADA. Newfoundland. 2 Dollars, 1865. London Mint. Victoria. PCGS SPECIMEN-64+. – $57,600.
JAPAN. Yen, Year 7 (1874). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS SPECIMEN-63. – $63,000.
RUSSIA. 5 Rubles, 1798-CM OU. Uncertain Mint in St. Petersburg. Paul I. NGC MS-62. – $75,000.
INDIA. Mughal Empire. Heavy Mohur, AH 1018 Year 5 (1609). Agra Mint. Jahangir. PCGS MS-63. – $46,800.
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 nearly 90-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 D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with galleries in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Hong Kong, Paris and Vancouver. Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, Ancient coins and World coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money Shows.
