Costa Mesa, CA (December 16, 2021) – As the world shifts to a more digitized environment, numismatic items that had previously been reserved for live sales at major auctions are crossing the block at internet exclusive events. The Stack’s Bowers Galleries December 2021 Hong Kong sale set the record for the largest online-exclusive numismatic auction, realizing more than $10 million in total sales. (All prices include the buyer’s fee.)
Leading the way was a Chinese Silver Tael Pattern Restrike graded Specimen-65 by PCGS that was bid to $1,350,000, nearly ten times the firm’s previous online price record for a world coin. In total, nine items in the December Hong Kong auction surpassed the previous record holder, proving that online only venues can compete with traditional live auctions. A pair of specimen Empire Dollars from 1906 were both pedigreed to a Lester Merkin sale. One was graded MS-64+ and sold for $1,260,000 while the other, graded MS-64 reached $960,000. A rare Big Beard Commemorative silver pattern from the Suchow Mint sold for $780,000, far beyond its estimate of $75,000-$125,000. This figure stands as the highest price ever recorded for an individual Chinese coin in a NGC holder.
Other areas of Asian numismatics saw strong prices continue. A Tibetan Srang from CD 1 (1909), the finest example graded by PCGS, realized $44,400. An 1863 2 Baht from Thailand exceeded its estimate bringing $2,400, a price unimaginable for a circulated example even 18 months ago. Similar trends continued with French Indo-China, as a near-Gem 1922-H Piastre garnered $2,400. An 1842 First Opium War medal trial strike in bronze was bid to $19,200, far beyond the $3,000-$5,000 estimate. After years of stagnation, the December 2021 Hong Kong auction confirmed that the upward movement in the Japanese market seen in 2021 was more than a single sale phenomenon as an Ultra-Gem Year 45 Yen sold for $5,760, nearly double the high estimate of $3,000.
Among world paper money, the highlight of the sale was lot 50250, a China Empire P-Unlisted 2 Kuan note from the Yuan Dynasty (1264-1341) in a PMG Fine 12 Net Restoration grade, which realized $60,000. Other highlights include a China Empire P-A7b 50,000 Cash from the Ch’ing Dynasty in a PMG Extremely Fine 40 grade that brought $19,200, and a Malaya and British Borneo P-2a, 1953 5 Dollars in a PMG Very Fine 20 EPQ grade that sold for $6,600. An uncut pair of commemorative People’s Bank of China 100 Yuan notes (P-902a) in a PMG Superb Gem Uncirculated 69 EPQ grade was bid to $5,760. An elusive Mongolia Commercial & Industrial Bank 100 Tugrik 1925 P-13 in a PMG Very Fine 25 grade realized $5,520. A 1914 P-35s 10 Yuan Republic of China Specimen in a PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ grade reached $12,000. Also notable was the price of $21,600 for lot 50118, an ascending ladder serial number set of (5) Macau P-80a to 84a 2005 (ND 2006) notes, with grades ranging from Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ to Superb Gem Unc 68 EPQ. A China People’s Republic P-815b 10 Yuan in a PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ grade realized $5,280, and a China Hupeh Provincial Bank P-S2090 1 Yuan in a PCGS Banknote Very Fine 30 grade sold for $8,400.
Prices for the December Hong Kong Collectors Choice Auction totaled more than $10,000,000 between coins and paper money, well over twice the high estimate for all lots of $4,380,225. The world coins had a sell through rate of 97.9% for the more than 1,500 lots offered. This sale capped a banner year for the world and ancient coin department at Stack’s Bowers Galleries, pushing final sales figures over the $100 million mark for 2021.
The firm now shifts its attention to 2022, anticipating a strong performance at the official NYINC auction where many rarities will be offered. Consignments are currently being accepted for the April 2022 Hong Kong Auction as well as for Collectors Choice Online Auctions, the next of which is scheduled for February 2022. Anyone interested in consigning world coins and paper money to Stack’s Bowers Galleries is encouraged to call 800-458-4646, email consign@stacksbowers.com, 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 85-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 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 Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, 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 Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
