Auction Success Seen Across the World
Stephen Album Rare Coins held its Auction 42 on Jan. 20-23, 2022, at its offices in Santa Rosa, Calif. The prices realized were yet another new record for the company coming in at $2.63 million (including buyer’s fees) with a sell-through rate of 97.4 percent. Some sections such as the Chinese coins achieved a nearly 100 percent sell-through rate.
Many items went for multiples of their estimates, including some world record results. Several collections helped achieve those totals, namely the Joe Sedillot Collection of World Coins, Part I, and the Charles Opitz Collection of Ethnographic Money, Part III.
A selection of highlights follows (prices include buyer’s fees):
KWEICHOW: Republic, AR dollar, year 17 (1928), Y-428, L& M-610, "auto dollar" type, variety with three grass blades, a bold lustrous strike! NGC graded AU53. Estimated at $30,000-$40,000. Realized $192,000.
KWANGTUNG: Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, AR 50 cents, ND (1890-1905), Y-202, L&M-134, a lovely lustrous mint state quality example! PCGS graded MS63, ex Joe Sedillot Collection. Estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Realized $31,200.
![PHILIPPINES: Fernando VII, 1808-1833, AR 8 reales, ND [1832-34], KM-A74, assayer JM, countermarked crowned F.7o on Mexico 1824-Mo mint "Águila de perfil" or "Hookneck" type 8 reales, PCGS graded EF40. Estimated at $400-$600. Realized $24,000.](https://www.numismaticnews.net/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MTg3NDM2ODA4MTU2NDg5NDg3/1070.jpg)
PHILIPPINES: Fernando VII, 1808-1833, AR 8 reales, ND [1832-34], KM-A74, assayer JM, countermarked crowned F.7o on Mexico 1824-Mo mint "Águila de perfil" or "Hookneck" type 8 reales, PCGS graded EF40. Estimated at $400-$600. Realized $24,000.
KOREA: Kwang Mu, 1897-1907, AR yang, year 2 (1898), KM-1120, interesting obverse die crack, a wonderful lustrous example! PCGS graded MS64, ex Joe Sedillot Collection. Estimated at $200-$300. Realized $18,000.
BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Queen, 1837-1876, AV mohur, 1841(b&c), KM-462.2, S&W-2.1, Prid-18, East India Company issue, continuous legend, no initial on truncation, large date with crosslet 4, a very attractive mint state example, PCGS graded MS61. Estimated at $4,000-$5,000. Realized $13,200.
SICULO-PUNIC: AR tetradrachm (16.95g), "People of the camp" mint, circa 320-300 BC, SNG Fitzwilliam-1488 (same obverse die), Jenkins-161 (O49/R145), head of Arethusa/Tanit left, wearing barley wreath and earring, four dolphins around, small shell below chin // head of horse left, palm tree with dates behind, Phoenician `MMHNT (mintname) below truncation, light hairlines, some edge marks, bold VF.
SELJUQ OF RUM: Kayqubad I, 1219-1236, AV dinar (4.44g), NM, AH624, A-A1211.1, Izmirlier-197 (same reverse die), central double circle on both sides, royal legend fills both the center and margin of the obverse; the Abbasid caliph al-Mustansir cited in the margin and the date in words in the center on the reverse, minor waviness on the surfaces, fully legible legends on both sides, of the highest rarity, VF, RRRR. Estimated at $1,800-$2,400. Realized $10,200.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Santa Cruz Islands, feather coil money (3519g), 19th to early 20th century, Opitz p.142-43, Knox p.50, ca. 8.17m (26'-9½") long and 5cm wide (2"), rolled into a 5-layered double-row coil ca. 35cm in diameter (14"), fully intact and covered in scarlet feathers, decorated with strings of coix seed money and shells, a first-grade example (#1) in the traditional 10-tiered system and a superb specimen, Unc, RRR, ex Charles Opitz Collection. Estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Realized $18,000.
The firm is soon publishing an internet auction on March 7-8, which will feature 2,000 lots of a wide variety of all categories. They are also seeking consignments for their premier sale Auction 43, which will be held May 12-15, 2022. Please visit www.stevealbum.com for more information.
