Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio — the foreign and ancients division of leading numismatic auction house Stack’s Bowers Galleries — conducted its Official Auction of the Whitman Coins & Collectibles Baltimore Expo November 7–8, 2013. The sale featured a choice assortment of ancient coins, world coins, and world currency. Bidding was intense throughout, with action at the show itself, plus thousands who participated online.
“This was a collector’s auction,” said Rick Ponterio, executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “The selection was varied across the spectrum from top dollar rarities to the more affordable. So it was good to see so many people, both in the auction room and online bidding from around the world, to be able to participate and add some high quality world and ancient coins and paper money to their collections.”
Highlights were widely distributed, showing especially good prices for many issues from the 18th through the 20th centuries. A scarce 1875-S Australian half sovereign in MS-62 (PCGS) fetched $5,875. Among Canadian coins, an 1898 10-cent piece, MS-65 (PCGS) realized multiples of pre-sale expectations with a bid of $3,349, while a Gem MS-65 (PCGS) 1914-C Canadian sovereign brought $4,817 against a pre-sale estimate of $1,500.
An 1845-MV Ecuadoran 8 escudos of the Quito Mint in AU-50 (NGC) realized a stratospheric $35,250. French issues were highlighted by an 1852-A 5 francs in MS-65 (PCGS) that commanded $3,525, exceeding pre-sale high estimate of $2,500. A Gem MS-65 (PCGS) 1882-A 100 francs sold for $5,287, eclipsing pre-sale estimates by more than 40 percent. A British 1707 Queen Anne crown in AU-55 (PCGS) brought a strong $3,055 exceeding the high-end estimate. A Venetian 1748-V 5 lire in MS-65+ (PCGS) climbed to $3,672, multiples of the pre-sale estimate. A Martinique 22 Livres (ca. 1805) in AU-53 (PCGS) realized more than twice the pre-sale estimate at $4,994.
Other highlights of the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo include:
Lot 20127. AUSTRALIA. 1/2 Sovereign, 1875-S. PCGS MS-62 Secure Holder. Realized $5,875.
Lot 20231. CANADA. 10 Cents, 1898. PCGS MS-65. Realized $3,349.
Lot 20315. CANADA. Sovereign, 1914. PCGS MS-65 Secure Holder. Realized $4,817.
Lot 20432. ECUADOR. 8 Escudos, 1845-MV, Quito Mint. NGC AU-50. Realized $35,250.
Lot 20477. FRANCE. 5 Francs, 1852-A. PCGS MS-65 Secure Holder. Realized $3,525.
Lot 20485. FRANCE. 100 Francs, 1882-A. PCGS MS-65. Realized $5,287.
Lot 20626. GREAT BRITAIN. Crown, 1707. PCGS AU-55 Secure Holder. Realized $3,055
Lot 20799. ITALY. Venice. 5 Lire, 1848-V. PCGS MS-65+ Secure Holder. Realized $3,672.
Lot 20811. MARTINIQUE. 22 Livres, ND (ca. 1805). PCGS AU-53 Secure Holder. Realized $4,994.
Lot 21039. MEXICO. 8 Reales, 1804 MoTH. NGC MS-64. Realized $4,700.
Lot 21111. MEXICO. 8 Escudos, 1870-GoFR. NGC MS-63 PL. Realized $7,637
Lot 21137. MEXICO. Guanajuato. 1/4 Real Pattern, 1828. KM-Pn17. NGC MS-63 BN. Realized $7,050.
Lot 21144. MEXICO. Empire of Maximilian. 50 Centavos, 1866-Mo. NGC MS-64. Realized $4,406
Lot 21146. MEXICO. Empire of Maximilian. Peso, 1966-Mo. NGC MS-64. Realized $8,812.
Lot 21157. MEXICO. 20 Pesos, 1878-CnG. NGC AU-55. Realized $7,344.
Lot 21202. MEXICO. Revolution. Durango. Cuencame. Peso, 1914. NGC MS-65. Realized $2,585.
Lot 21222. NETHERLANDS. S’Heerenberg. Goudgulden, ND (1627-31). PCGS Genuine — Damage, EF Details Secure Holder. Realized $8,812.
Lot 21245. PERU. 8 Escudos, 1757-LJM. PCGS AU-53 Secure Holder. Realized $4,112.
Lot 21317. PHILIPPINES. 2 Pesos, 1861. NGC MS-62. Realized $3,760.
Lot 21366. RUSSIA. 5 Ruble, 1892-AT. PCGS MS-62 Secure Holder. Realized $3,819.
Lot 21370. RUSSIA. 50 Kopek, 1900. PCGS MS-62 Secure Holder. Realized $3,172.
Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is currently accepting consignments for the April 2014 Hong Kong Auction and August 2014 Chicago Showcase Auction. For a complete auction and lot-viewing schedule, please visit StacksBowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio
Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio is the world and ancients auction division of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a division of Fortune 500 Company Spectrum Group International. It was founded in 1982 as Ponterio & Associates by Richard Ponterio, renowned specialist in world and ancient numismatics, who is now executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
Past auctions have included such notable coin collections as The Wa She Wong Collection, The John S. Davenport Collection, The Witte Museum Collection,The Amat Collection, The Joe Lasser Collection, The James Hunnicut Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
Distinguished paper money collections include the East Bay Collection of International Bank Notes, and the Eduard Kann Chinese Bank Note Collection, along with treasure collections from the shipwrecks “Nicobar,” “Rooswijk,” and “Capitana.”