| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 43029 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: BURMA. 2 Mu 1 Pe (1/4 Mohur), CS 1228 (1866). Mandalay Mint. Mindon. NGC AU Details--Damaged. Fr-4; KM-20. On of the single RAREST Burmese issues, this most unusual denomination appears to have been produced with dies made in Calcutta and is somewhat of an enigma. Only a small number were produced, almost all of which show usage in jewelry inclusive of this piece with the noted damage. This piece is yet well detailed, with commendable and nearly unhandled details, with much presentability and charm throughout. Ex: Than Htun Collection. Estimate: $6000 - $9000 |  |
Match 1:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 43249 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: INDIA. Radhanpur. Nazarana Gold Kori, AH 1333 (1915). Muhammad Jalaluddin Khan (Under George V as Emperor). NGC MS-64. Fr-1366A (Very Rare). Weight: 4.39 gms. One of the single RAREST Princely States issues we have ever offered, this Nazarana gold Kori offers the chance to acquire a numismatic treasure from an issuer that is most elusive. It is unclear the nature and origin of this piece, with some speculation that it was produced as a wedding commemorative for the marriage of Muhammad Jalaluddin. Whatever the reason, this piece is clearly amongst the most desirable of all Indian issues, and we are thrilled to be able to offer such a historic offering. Almost all known coinage from Radhanpur are copper Paisa from the 19th Century. Given this piece's unusual composition in gold, along with late production time, it is most certainly a special Nazarana issue, produced in extremely limited quantities. This lot therefore offers the dual chance at a 20th Century and Gold issue from Radhanpur, a chance that is unlikely to be repeated. Estimate: $10000 - $15000 |  |
Match 2:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 43466 Price realized: 44,000 USD (Approx. 41,404 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: THAILAND. Gold Fuang, ND (ca. 1856). Bangkok Mint. Rama IV. PCGS AU-55. Fr-24; KM-C-175. Weight: 1.88 gms. An EXTREMELY RARE gold hand-struck transitional issue, referred to as "Krung Thep ["Bangkok"] Gold", issued prior to the presence of modern minting machinery from England in response to a shortage of bullet money in circulation. The preservation is superb, with reddish patination accentuating golden surfaces that shimmer with soft luster. In the eyes of the cataloguer, there would appear to be little to no true wear on this piece, with only a weak strike present over the royal crown; in terms of technical quality, this would thus seem to be finer than the other example certified by PCGS in this grade. Aside from that piece, we are able to trace two other examples, both plated in Siamese Coins: From Funan to the Fifth Reign, by Ronachai Krisadaolarn (in which it is noted that 3-6 pieces are known). In conjunction with the type's evident rarity, all four examples were struck from the same pair of dies, suggesting that only one pair was used, and thus that a limited number of pieces were struck. Estimate: $20000 - $25000 |  |
Match 3:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > April 2024 Hong Kong Auction | Auction date: 15 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 42211 Price realized: 44,000 USD (Approx. 41,404 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern Mint Sport or Unofficial Restrike, Year 3 (1914). Tientsin Mint Dies. UNCIRCULATED Details. Cleaned. L&M-72; K-643; KM-Pn32; WS-0166; Wenchao-pg. 534#858 (rarity: ★★★); Mr. Shi Jiagan's collection-pg. 137#633; Sun-III-2-15. Weight: 24.83 gms. One of the most enigmatic issues of this Pattern we have every offered, with this piece likely representing a later made mint sport or unofficial striking of the three-quarters facing bust Pattern (L&M-72), made with official dies. Interestingly, this coin is not alone in this class of striking, and after study of other examples, this piece can be definitively linked to other certified examples of L&M-72 as well as the L. Giorgi signed patterns (L&M-73). Common characteristics include double striking, which is particularly bold on this example, and surfaces that display an as-made micro pockmarked texture. Most definitively, items in this class (both L&M-72 and L&M-73) were struck with the same reverse dies, each showing matching instances of die rust, which is heaviest near the top left tip of the 'yi' character. While it's almost certainly not a complete census, other examples in this class include lot 30193 in Heritage's December 2020 auction (L&M-72 - NGC MS-63), lot #51170 in our October 2022 Hong Kong sale (L&M-73 - NGC PR-61), and lot #51145 from our May 2022 auction (L&M-73 - NGC MS-61), which was once part of the collection of Richard Wright who authored The Modern Coinage of China, 1866-1949. Characteristics explored, it seems certain their manufacture from rusted dies ensures they were originals from the mint, however the quality of production suggests an unofficial or unsponsored piece. In fact, weighing this example yields a disparity of nearly 2 grams lighter than official issues (24.83 gms versus a standard of nearly 27 gms), which further supports the hypothesis of an unofficial strike or mint sport. Kann relays that mint sports were often the product of government minting facilities using official dies such as the present example. Because mint sport items were often a muling of different types, they are easy to distinguish, however examples are known to be struck over earlier dollars or display similar pockmarking of the surfaces, which helps draw a parallel between this piece and those classically identified as mint sport. Given these considerations, it is a fair summation to view this piece as a quasi-legitimate Pattern, produced with old original dies, on incorrect silver planchet stock. As far as the technical preservation of the piece, it remains nice, without wear but displays moderate handling in the form of hairlines. The surfaces give a soft glittering glow and a few instances of light tone. While it isn't a great surprise considering the enigmatic nature of this piece, we note that both PCGS and NGC have declined to encapsulate it, PCGS for "Authenticity Unverifiable" and NGC for "No Decision". As such, this issue must be treated as a SOLD AS IS/NO RETURNS lot. Despite the grading company decisions, we do believe that this example represents an intriguing and interesting Chinese numismatic item that raises questions of "when" and "why", but of which there is little dispute concerning the legitiamacy of the dies from which it was made. To view all items from the Nine Dragons Collection, click here. From the Nine Dragons Collection. Estimate: $5000 - $10000 |  |
Match 4:
| Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > January 2024 NYINC Auction | Auction date: 12 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 53261 Price realized: 13,000 USD (Approx. 11,855 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: GREAT BRITAIN. Great Britain - France. Dollar (4 Shillings 9 Pence), ND (1797-99). George III. NGC VG Details--Scratches. S-3765B; KM-628; cf. Bull-1863; Manville-117 (this piece cited). Authorized 9 March 1797. Countermark: Bank of England Type I, Bust of George III within oval indent. Applied to the obverse of a 1786-B (Toulouse Mint) France Ecu of Louis XVI (KM-564.10). With an additional "5/" countermark of an unknown issuer, presumably applied in Scotland during the early years of the Industrial Revolution to indicate 5 shillings. This charming well worn survivor exhibits even wear with much of the host design bold and clear. The surfaces display a pleasing light gray tone with richer slate patina amongst the devices and crevasses adding a bit of contrast. Close inspection reveals two thin scratches on the bust that appear to have been present before the application of either countermark. This is evidenced by the fact that the one at the base of the oval countermark extends over the edge, but does not continue. Despite the details designation a presentable example of this EXTREMELY RARE host type with few known examples today. It is important to point out that coins with multiple countermarks from different locations are in most cases extremely rare and highly unusual. Typically, the Bank of England issues appear with only a single countermark, either the oval (1797-99) such as the present piece or the Octagonal (1804). Few examples are known that carry more than one and should be considered highly desirable. Ex: A-Tokyo Collection. Ex: Joseph Lepczyk Auction # 43 (11/1981) Lot # 1314. Estimate: $1500 - $2500 |  |
Match 5:
| Nomos AG > Auction 31 | Auction date: 23 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 240 Price realized: 24,000 CHF (Approx. 26,687 USD / 24,571 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: IONIAN ISLANDS, Septinsular Republic. Under Russian-Ottoman supremacy. 1800-1807. 1 Gazzetta 1801 (Copper, 25 mm, 6.46 g, 12 h), Corfu, denomination in Greek, edged with a chain-pattern. ΕΠΤΑΝΗΣΟΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑ✱ The winged lion of Saint Mark holding Book of Gospels surmounted by 7 arrows representing the 7 Ionian islands. Rev. 1/ ΓΑZFΤΑ / 1801 in three lines; the whole within circular chain border. Karamitsos I.3a (same dies). Lambros 8 var. (same obverse die, but different controls on the reverse), KM 1. Graded by NGC "AU 55 BN". Cert number: 2909008-003. From the El-Greco Collection of Modern Greek Rarities. The mint of the Septinsular Republic was officially created on 5 September 1801, following the billingual decree issued by the president of the Senate of the Ionian Republic, Count Spyridon Georgios Theotokis. That decree announced the coins' denominations and the iconography, as well as the measures taken to assure the new currency's acceptance. However, the decree didn't specify the exact exchange rate of the Gazetta to the foreign silver and gold coins, which circulated in the region. The mint was located in Garitsa, a southern suburb of Corfu, very close to the future Mon Repos. Due to the extreme rarity of these coins, it has been suggested that they never circulated, and all the surviving examples are in fact patterns. Count Markos Theotokis, in his study published in 1884, maintained that the decree to release the coins into circulation was never actually published, and, in fact, even doubted the 1801 decree's authenticity. In any case, the way the coins were minted is certainly related to Russian mint practices, especially given the presence of the anti-forgery incuse edge pattern that all these coins have (and has never been mentioned in the past). This is very unusual in modern Greek coins, with the only parallel being the edge decoration of the 20 Lepta of 1831, issued by the Governor Iohannes Kapodistrias, (once minister of foreign affairs of the Russian empire). Starting price: 10000 CHF |  |
