Australia, Canada top Long Beach sale
Heritage Auctions’ Long Beach World Currency Signature sale on Sep. 6-10 was a $2 million event. When the dust settled at sale’s end, Australian notes not only occupied the top four spots but accounted for 14 out of the 22 notes that had taken in excess of $10,000. Three others in this group came from Canada. All those top Aussie notes were from the collection of Drs. Joanne & Ed Dauer.
Face of the top-selling item from Heritage Auctions’ Long Beach world currency sale, ex-Dauer Collection: Australian 100 with Z serial suffix (P-9b, R-69a). In PMG Very Fine 30, it realized US$43,200. (Images courtesy www.ha.com)
The star of the show was an Australian Cerutty-Collins £100 with Z serial suffix (P-9b, R-69a). Only nine examples are known extant, and in PMG Very Fine 30, it realized US$43,200.
An example of the second type Cerutty-Collins £100 with a Z serial prefix (P-9c, R-69b) that had once been part of the Amon Carter Collection managed $38,400 in PMG Very Fine 30.
Between those two prices lay a scarce Australian £20 with a small font serial and prefix X (P-7b, R-65a). No more than 15 are believed extant, and this example came in an exceptional PMG Extremely Fine 40 EPQ, helping to explain why the price was $42,000.
A second Aussie issue King George V £10, c. 1925 (P-18b, R-55), went to the block with the delightful serial U/3 300001. In a most desirable PMG Choice Uncirculated 64, it had no trouble collecting $33,600.
Other top Australian notes included:
• £1, P-11a, R-22bL (no imprint), PMG Very Fine 30, pinholes: $21,000;
• £50, P-8d, R-67c, PMG Very Fine 30: $19,200;
• £20 ND P-7c, R65b, PMG Very Fine 25: $18,000;
• £1, (Rainbow Blocks C) P-2a, R-20a, PMG Very Fine 25: $15,600;
• £50, P-8c, R67b, PMG Very Fine 25: $15,600;
• £1 (Rainbow Blocks F), P-2b, R-20b, PMG Very Fine 30: $15,000.
WWI German New Guinea 5 marks (P-1a) that sold for $21,600 graded PMG Very Fine 20 Net with restoration and minor splits. (Image courtesy www.ha.com)
Also among the Dauer rarities was an uncancelled WWI German New Guinea 5 marks (P-1a). It graded PMG Very Fine 20 Net with restoration and minor splits. It sold for $21,600.
Best of Canada: English $1,000 of 1935, BC-19, which fetched $19,200 in PMG Gem Uncirculated 65. (Image courtesy www.ha.com)
Leading the Canadian results was a gorgeous English $1,000 of 1935, BC-19. In PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ, it surprisingly made just $19,200. A previous example was sold by Heritage in April 2014 for $25,850.
A little distance back came a Canadian 1935 Silver Jubilee $25, BC-11. This is the one with the dual portraits of King George V and Queen Mary. It fetched $15,600 in PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ.
And a superb $1,000 Devil’s Face specimen of 1954, BC-36S, one of just seven in the Bank of Canada sale in 1999, took $15,000 in PMG Choice Uncirculated 64.
Rare choice PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPO* Black Star Serbian 50 dinara (srebru) of 1 August 1914, P-13, that found a new home for $14,400. (Image courtesy www.ha.com)
Among other high rollers, a superb PMG About Uncirculated 55 EPQ* Black Star Serbian 50 dinara (srebru) dated 1 August1914, P-13, realized $14,400. Just one other example of this note has been sold in recent years, and that was in 2017.
An elusive Grecian 500 drachmai dated 8 January 1923 remainder (P-77) came graded PMG Extremely Fine 40 despite having pieces missing, being trimmed, and with minor discoloration. It still went for a comfortable $11,400.
Leading light from India was a 20 rupees drawn on Bombay and dated 16.1.1906, P-A12c). This is a rare early date for a scarce denomination. It was decorated with light pencil annotations, had a portion of a stamp affixed to the central crease, and bore a few spots. It still managed a PMG Choice Fine 15 grade and a price of $10,200.
The sale total was $2,059,325. Full details of lots sold and prices realized are available online at www.ha.com.
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