Welcome to E-Auction 49

E-Auction 49 opens with gold coins—some where the values are numismatically based and a larger group whose numismatic cost premium has been practically eclipsed by the recent jumps in the value of gold. 

The best numismatic piece in this sale is a choice “sword and scepter” Scottish piece of James VI (Lot 7 from the Leland Scott collection), a particularly choice example of an issue that often shows up with problems. This example is well struck, well centered on a lustrous flan free of clips, blunders, bends or any of the problems that frequently appear on this issue. 

An historic medieval French Royal d’or at an affordable price, an attractive half-guinea of George III that would look better out of the slab, and some attractive US gold type coins (including an attractive $3 gold piece) all merit much more than just the bullion value. 

The other gold coins—currency issues of the late 19th and early 20th centuries merit a premium as well. The opening prices for these pieces are a few points above melt at the time the catalog was assembled. Gold went over $2400 an ounce for the first time in its history and it got there in a hurry. As I write this, it has settled back to $2380/Toz. I used $2350 for establishing an opening for the coins in this group and kept the premium small. The AGW (actual gold weight) has already been established by the governments that issued the piece in the first place so selling will not require assay costs.

Ancient coins that are appealing but in lesser grades and values fill much of the ancient coin section of the sale. Historic significance, important design elements, geographic importance—all these are present. Most serious collections include material like this, but headline and featured cover coins are where the prices are highest. This auction provides opportunity—it takes surprisingly little to buy fascinating pieces of ancient history.

Much the same can be said for the later coins in the sale. There is a small consignment of coins with dates issued before 1500. That is a rare enough category that a single reference book, Robert Levinson’s 2007 publication, The Early Dated Coins of Europe 1234-1500, is a single volume that covers the series well. Most of the coins are rare but this is an affordable group of good material.

The British section is relatively brief with the English coins from Leland Scott and a substantial number of lots of Scottish coins filling the section. His Scottish and Tudor era interests led him to acquire several pieces from the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I (VI).

The British trade token section is “different” this time. There are some serious and desirable rarities here but many of the tokens are “lightly used.” There has been such an emphasis on high condition tokens that pleasing and attractive pieces with wear are not often offered. The prices are accordingly low. The large lots each include at least one one scarcer or rarer piece in the groups offering eight pieces at a low unit cost. 

The world coin section is brief but does include a mix of world issues that range from China to Latin America to Europe.

We finish the sale with some interesting United States material. The section opens with some attractive type coins including an appealing three-legged buffalo and two beautiful Standing Liberty quarters. The silver dollar section is a representation of United States silver dollars beginning with a visually appealing 1799 dollar and then examples of each of the main issues (the trade dollar has a chop-mark which gives it a double meaning) down to the Peace dollar in the 20th century and a group of modern Presidential medals in MS69 and MS70 holders. Commemorative half dollars and Civil War storecards finish the section.

The sale ends with books from two collections. The Leland Scott volumes include a green cloth set of Burns, the essential 19th century work on the series. The section continues with antiquarian books on Scottish coins, including a dramatic and rare volume, seldom offered—the massive Anderson volume, Diplomata et Numismata Scotiæ, published in 1738 and featuring multiple pages of charters and documents, many as large fold-out sheets. Concluding the section are a few books on tokens, including one of the cloth-bound examples of D&H we issued.

 

As usual, it has been an adventure to put together an auction. We hope you enjoy this offering and find some things to add to your collection.

Thank you for your interest. 

 

Allan Davisson

Friday, May 24, 2024

 

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