Sale 27
Lot 1793
MEXICO: Augustin I Iturbide, 1822-1823, AV 8 scudos proclamation (35.34g), 1823. Grove-11. 39mm AV proclamation medal for the Feast of the Proclamation on January 24, 1823 by J. Guerrero, uniformed bust right with "J. Guerrero f" below in italic script and AGUSTIN PRIMERO.EMPERADOR POR LA DIVINA PROVIDENCIA. around // crowned eagle on a cactus with head to right and laurel and palm wreath around with EN SU SOLEMNE PROCLAMACION LA CIUDAD D MEXICO around all and A 24 DE ENERO / DE 1823 in exergue, edge grains worn, lightly polished, numerous small pecks, perhaps used as a pendant, beautiful strike, exceedingly rare, EF, RRR. Estimated Value$12,000 - 18,000.
The only other specimen that we could locate was in the Numismatica Genevensis SA auction of December 2008, where the piece in approximately AU condition brought about $14,940. An extremely rare and desirable item.
Agustin de Iturbide began his career as an officer in the Spanish army. As a general, he was charged with negotiating with the Mexican Insurgents. Won to the independence cause, he turned against Spain and was proclaimed emperor of Mexico on July 21, 1822. He organized immense festivities that began January 24, 1823. His initial popularity did not prevent him from being ousted the following March 19th. Exiled to Italy and then to London, he tried to return to Mexico in 1824. Immediately arrested, he was shot by the local authorities. His body was finally buried in 1838 in the cathedral of Mexico City with the title of "Liberator National."
This piece is featured on the cover of this auction catalog.
Estimate $12,000-18,000
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Lot 1996
DELHI: Sikandar Shah, 1488-1517, AV tanka (11.29g), AH919. G-D700. Without mint name (as always), lustrous mint state example of a very rare type! Unc, RRR. Estimated Value$20,000 - 25,000.
A much inferior specimen, without full date, sold in September 2007 at Baldwin's Auction 53, Lot 1614, for £7100 (then about $14,350), the only example recorded on CoinArchives. This piece is infinitely superior!
Estimate $20,000-25,000
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Lot 1017
IRAN: Ahmad Shah, 1909-1925, AV 5 toman (14.31g), AH1334. KM-1038. Rabino-83. Iranian lion & sun in wreath // name & titles of the Shah within wreath, some weakness in center (as on the gold specimen illustrated by Rabino), surface hairlines, 1 small scratch at top of reverse, About Unc, RRRR. Estimated Value$12,000 - 14,000.
CoinArchives records no example in gold, and just one silver trial strike that sold at Sincona Auction 33, Lot 2810 (October 2016) for $4430. According to KM, the "4" in the date was recut over "2" over "1".
Estimate $12,000-14,000
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Lot 830
WESTERN LIAO: Xu Xing, 1151-1164, AE cash (4.08g). H-—. Zeno-105364. VF, RRR. Estimated Value$7,000 - 9,000.
Possibly cast in Balasagun, which was an ancient Soghdian city in modern-day Kyrgyzstan, located in the Chuy Valley between Bishkek and Issyk-Kul Lake. Balasagun was the capital of the Qara Khitay state in 12th-13th Centuries. This coin was unearthed at the Krasnaya Rechka site (Navekat), Kyrgyzstan. The Western Liao (1124-1218) dynasty, also known as Qara Khitay state, was founded by Yelü Dashi, a member of the Liao royal family, who led the remnants of the Liao Dynasty to Central Asia after fleeing from the Jurchen conquest of their homeland in the North and Northeast of modern day China. The empire was usurped by the Naimans under Küchlük in 1211. The empire was finally destroyed by the Mongol Empire in 1218.
Estimate $7,000-9,000
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Lot 1770
MEXICO: Carlos III, 1759-1788, AV 8 escudos, 1768/7-Mo. KM-155. Fr-29. Calicó-83 var, Cal. Onza-754 var. Assayer MF, so-called "rat face" variety with dot after date, well struck, exceedingly rare, NGC graded EF45, RRR. Estimated Value$6,500 - 8,500.
This overdate does not appear to be published. A look at the major search engines shows no sales recorded. The NGC census shows only two pieces certified, both EF-45, making this tied for the finest certified at NGC. There are no examples certified by PCGS.
Estimate $6,500-8,500
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Lot 246
ABBASID REVOLUTION: Anonymous, 744-751, AR dirham (2.62g), Mahayy, AH128. A-206.1. Klat-—, struck by partisans of 'Abd Allah b. Mu'awiya, some minor adhesions, predominantly on the reverse, VF, RRRR. Estimated Value$6,000 - 7,000.
Unpublished and presumed unique. Klat listed only the year AH129 for the revolution issues of Mahayy, but did list for Mah also dated 128 (Klat-566), but not for Mahayy.
Estimate $6,000-7,000
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Lot 1166
BIAFRA: AR crown, 1969. KM-5. 38mm, bust of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, chief of staff during Biafra's brief independence 1967-1970 / coconut palm tree, NGC graded AU58, RRR. Estimated Value$5,000 - 7,000.
Little is known about this seldom encountered commemorative, probably intended for two years of independence, and inscribed "independence and liberty". No specimen has appeared at auction or for sale in recent years, to the best of our recollection. It is listed as "rare" by Krause, valued €1000 by Schon (Welt Münzkatalog, 20. Jahrhundert, 2008 edition). It has been suggested that it was produced by an Italian operation known as Istituto Numismatico Europeo, but there is no evidence to confirm this assumption. Uncertain letters, perhaps N.C.R., beneath the trunk of the palm tree and letter C at base of palm may reflect mint and designers initials. In any case, the style & arrangement are totally different from any of the other issues struck for Biafra during its ephemeral existence. A similar coin sold in Stephen Album Rare Coins Auction 18, Lot 2185 for $13,000. One the rarest of modern crown coins.
Estimate $5,000-7,000
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Lot 1175
EGYPT: Hussein Kamil, 1914-1917, AR 10 qirsh, 1917/AH1335. KM-319. With designer's initials HR on the knot of the obverse bow, struck at the British Royal Mint, London, very rare original proof striking, NGC graded Proof 63, RRR. Estimated Value$5,000 - 7,000.
This is the only London mint proof Occupation 10 qirsh (piastres) seen in any grade by PCGS and NGC, is almost certainly a Royal Mint Proof of Record. No other examples whatsoever have appeared in searchable commercial channels in recent times, and thus it is at least extremely rare, possibly unique, and this may be the only chance to purchase such a coin for a long time. It is far rarer than the 1937 Farouk silver proof issues, and remains considerably scarcer the the rare 1923 and very rare 1933 Fuad London proofs, which, though they do turn up from time to time, nonetheless currently command very strong prices.
Estimate $5,000-7,000
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Lot 162
UMAYYAD: al-Walid I, 705-715, AR dirham (2.82g), Astân, AH89. A-128. Klat-65 (different dies), only three specimens were known to Klat, and the mint was unknown to Walker, VF, RRR. Estimated Value$4,000 - 6,000.
The location of Astân remaining uncertain. Since all Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan region mints were closed after AH84, and none reopened until AH90, I would suggest a mint somewhere in the Caucasian area, where several mints briefly operated for very short periods between 85 and 89, such as Dabil (in Armenia) and Arran (now in Azerbaijan).
Estimate $4,000-6,000
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Lot 1581
SPAIN: Felipe V, 1700-1746, AV 8 escudos, 1729-S. KM-346.2. Fr-233. Calicó-195, Cal. Onza-527, Cayon-10010 (incorrectly noted as Cayon-10009 on holder). No assayer's initials, Sevilla Mint, coin has a good appearance despite the details grade, virtually no trace of mounting, possibly unique, NGC graded VF details, removed from jewelry, RRR. Estimated Value$4,000 - 5,000.
This 8 Escudos piece, struck in 1729, was the first year issue of the new series bearing the bust of the king, Philip V. In this year, the legend bore the King's name spelled as PHILP, then, later that same year, it was changed to PHILIP, with very few specimens struck in 1729 with the new legend. No other examples were found in our research searches. No other specimens have been certified by NGC or PCGS. Calicó values this piece at €20,000!
Estimate $4,000-5,000
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Lot 218
UMAYYAD: Hisham, 724-743, AR dirham (2.35g), al-Andalus, AH123. A-137. Klat-—, clipped down to lighter standard, lovely strike, VF, RRRR. Estimated Value$4,000 - 5,000.
This is the second known specimen of the mint/date combination, which appears in Horizon Auction 1, Lot 284, which is of very similar style, though of different dies. Later date, and some earlier date, Umayyad dirhams of al-Andalus are frequent clipped down, presumably to match later standards of the Umayyads of Spain so that they would remain in circulation.
Estimate $4,000-5,000
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Lot 146
UMAYYAD: 'Abd al-Malik, 685-705, AR dirham (2.66g), Balkh, AH82. A-126. Klat-—, second known specimen, same obverse die as Horizon Auction 1, Lot 254, but different reverse die, light porosity on both sides, VF, RRRR. Estimated Value$4,000 - 5,000
Estimate $4,000-5,000
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Lot 1013
IRAN: Nasir al-Din Shah, 1848-1896, AV 10 toman, Tehran, AH1297. KM-945. Fr-59, facing portrait of the Shah // royal text, which translates to "the esteemed sultan and supreme khaqan Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar", with denomination dah toman below, surface hairlines (actually very few), NGC graded About Unc details. Estimated Value$5,000 - 6,000
Estimate $5,000-6,000
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