Heritage lines up rarities for ANA

Heritage Auction’s biggest world coin sale of the year takes place at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money, Aug. 1-5. On Platinum Night, 400-500 top-tier world and ancient coins will be offered. Among them are some notable British pieces.

For collectors who delight in top-quality British proof gold there is superb George IV £5 of 1826 (KM-702, S-3797). This is a spectacular coin and comes graded Proof-64 Ultra Cameo Numismatic Guaranty Corporation. It carries an estimate of $60,000-$80,000. That may well prove conservative. A similar coin was sold by Heritage in 2015 for $75,000.

Those into Victoriana may wish to consider a splendid 1839 proof crown (KM-741, S-3882) struck for the Queen Victoria’s coronation. Graded Proof-63 Cameo Professional Coin Grading Service the estimate is $20,000-$30,000.

Victoria is also represented by a delightfully toned 1885 proof florin (KM-746.4, S-3900). It has seen the cataloger wax poetic: “The obverse depicts the Queen awash in amber iridescence, surrounded by hues of royal blue and celadon that halo the outer register.” The coin is ex-Exeter College Collection and in Proof-67 PCGS carries an estimate of $8,000-12,000.

George VI comes to the party with a six-piece Canadian 1947 specimen set. This is the rarest Canadian set of this monarch. With the coins grading SP64 to SP65 PCGS the estimate is a not unreasonable $10,000-15,000.

Also from Canada for collectors with a gap to fill there is a George V 1921 five cents (KM-22a) in a better-than-average VF-35 PCGS. The estimate will be in the region of $4,000-$5,000.

Among offerings from outside the sphere of British influence is a rare Venezuela silver proof essai 20 centavos of 1874 (KM-E14). This is similar to the circulating Bolivar design, KM-14, but lacks the “A” mintmark of the Paris Mint and has the words ESSAI & BARRE along the obverse border. With a grade of Proof-62 NGC, prospective bidders will need to consider a price in the region of $20,000-$30,000.

And collectors of patterns are likely to be intrigued by a Polish Republic platinum 5 złotych struck at Munich in 1928 (KM-Pn317). The reverse shows Our Lady of Czestochowa (The Black Madonna). Estimate is around $6,000-$9,000.

Ancient aficionados are well catered for. How about a silver Syracuse decadrachm from the time of Dionysius? It is unsigned but in the style of Euainetos and comes with a choice NGC AU 5/5 – 4/5 grading. It carries an estimate of $30,000-$40,000.

Or perhaps a Ptolemaic gold tetradrachm of Ptolemy II graded Ch AU 5/5-5/5. Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II feature on the obverse and Ptolemy I & Berenice I on the reverse.

But there’s more, much, much more! Full lot details including estimates will be posted online at www.ha.com.

Prospective bidders should be aware that most world coin searches on Heritage Auctions now show comparable results from past auctions and third-party grading service population data. This is a world first.

This article was originally printed in World Coin News. >> Subscribe today.

More Collecting Resources

• The 1800s were a time of change for many, including in coin production. See how coin designs grew during the time period in the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900 .

• With nearly 24,000 listings and over 14,000 illustrations, the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues is your go-to guide for modern bank notes.