Sale 35
Lot 1096
TURKEY: Abdul Mejid, 1839-1861, AV medal (90.92g), Kostantiniye, AH1255 year 5, cf. Pere 1087, cf. Sultan 3237, cf. Eldem pg. 154, 50mm, Commemorating the Establishment of the New Imperial Mint at Constantinople; tughra of Abdul Mejid at center; rose branch to right; all within grain-ear wreath with crossed quivers at base // iste tashihi ayar sikkaye sarfi himmet kildi hani 'abd al-majid ("the amendment of setting coin to strike it the khan, Abdul Mejid") in Ottoman Turkish, all within floral wreath; above, regnal year on ornate tablet flanked by branches; below, Hejri date on ornate tablet flanked by branches, medal alignment, a few small reverse digs, very bold strike, plain edge, mount very expertly removed, EF, RRR.
The example here corresponds to the equivalent of 1,250 piastres in gold. This 90g size medal is not published; only the 60g version appears to be published, but this medal is known in a variety of weights. A 60g example was sold in the Dr. Lawrence A. Adams Collection for $13,000 in Triton XIX, Lot 2797. Another example weighing about 84g was sold in Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung Auction 188, Lot 5778 for €16,000. This is the heaviest specimen known to us.
This medal was struck with the new forty horsepower steam coining machinery which was brought to Turkey from England under the superintendence of William Joseph Taylor for the striking of new coin types based on the Monetary Reform of 1844. The Monetary Reform introduced the gold lira which was valued at 100 qirsh. From 1844 to 1881 the lira was based on two systems: it was worth 6.61519 grams of pure gold or 99.8292 grams of pure silver.
Estimate $14,000-16,000
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Lot 1725
CHIHLI: Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, AR dollar, Peiyang Arsenal mint, Tientsin, year 24 (1898), Y-65.2, L&M-449, dragon eyes in relief, a superb quality example with bright white original mint luster, PCGS graded MS63.
Estimate $14,000-16,000
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Lot 460
SELEUKID KINGDOM: Demetrius I & Laodice IV, 162-150 BC, AR tetradrachm (16.24g), Seleukeia on the Tigris mint, SC-1686, struck circa 161-150 BC, jugate heads right of Demetrios, wearing diadem, and Laodice, wearing stephanos, within fillet border // Tyche, fully clothed, holding scepter in extended left hand and cradling cornucopia in right arm, seated left on throne supported by tritoness right; monogram and palm frond to outer left, lovely quality for type! NGC graded choice EF, strike 5/5, surface 3/5, RRR.
Prior to becoming a Seleucid king, Demetrius I was held hostage in Rome in keeping with the terms of the Treaty of Apamaea of 188 B.C. During his detention a succession of kings ruled the Seleucid world, including Demetrius' father Seleucus IV, his uncle Antiochus IV and his young cousin Antiochus V. At a time when the Romans were punishing Antiochus V for treaty violations, Demetrius escaped captivity, raised an army and landed in Syria in the fall of 162 B.C. He found quick support, and his rival Antiochus V was soon executed, leaving Demetrius the new Seleucid king.
Estimate $10,000-15,000
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Lot 1669
QING: Tong Zhi, 1862-1874, AE cash coin tree, Board of Revenue mint, Peking, H-22.1125, East branch mint, intact cash coin tree (qianshu) of 38 coins, a lovely example! VF to EF, ex Master Sergeant L.B. Whittier.
The term "coin tree" is usually associated with the traditional method of casting Chinese coins. By the time of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD), the coins were being made in sand molds. Each mold would have a number of coin impressions so that many coins could be produced at a time. These coin impressions were connected by channels so that the molten bronze could be poured into the mold at one opening and then flow to all parts of the mold. Once the bronze had cooled and hardened, the two halves of the mold were separated and the coins removed. However, since all the coins were connected by the channels through which the bronze had flowed, the bronze in the channels had hardened as well resulting in all the coins being connected together. The metal object that came out of the mold actually looked like a small "tree." The main channel through which the bronze had flowed resembled the "trunk" of a tree. The smaller channels which ran from the main channel to each individual coin looked like "branches." The coins were the "leaves." The coins were then broken off of the "branches." This left a small metal stub, called a "sprue", on the edge of each coin where it had been attached to the "branch. The molding process would also leave a little excess metal on the edge of the coins. The sprues and excess metal needed to be filed off to improve the appearance of the coins. The coins, which all had square holes in the center, were then stacked onto a square metal rod. The combination of a square rod threaded through the coins' square holes locked the coins from rotating on the rod and thereby made it easier for the worker to file off the sprue and excess metal on the edges of the coins.
Master Sergeant L.B. Whittier bought this coin tree while in Japan during the American Occupation. He was stationed with the U.S. Fifth Air Force at the Nagoya Air Base.
Estimate $10,000-15,000
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Lot 175
MUGHAL: Jahangir, 1605-1628, AR ½ rupee, Ahmadabad, AH1027 year 13, KM-138.2, zodiac type, Leo (lion left), with the sun rising behind, attractive original tone, PCGS graded EF40, RRRR, Dr. Axel Wahlstedt Collection.
This is the first example of a zodiac half rupee offered for public sale in our knowledge in at least 20 years. It is of the utmost rarity and a lovely quality example of the type as well.
Estimate $10,000-15,000
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Lot 1726
CHIHLI: Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, AR dollar, Peiyang Arsenal mint, Tientsin, year 24 (1898), Y-65.2, L&M-449, dragon eyes in relief, a lovely quality example with bright white original mint luster, PCGS graded MS62.
Estimate $10,000-12,000
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Lot 335
BRITISH INDIA: William IV, 1830-1837, AV mohur, 1835(c), KM-451.1, S&W-1.15a, dot after date (for Calcutta), without initials on king's truncation, About Unc.
From as early as 1806 the East India Company had hoped to achieve a single currency for all of its Indian Presidencies. This was achieved in 1833 when the rupees of Bengal moved into line with those of Madras and Bombay. After some experimentation in 1834 by Act XVII of 17 August 1835 the Company moved forward towards a uniform coinage, not only of weight standard but also of design. Under the new system the silver rupee was legal tender. The gold double mohur and mohur coins, although initially passing at 30 and 15 rupees, were to float in terms of the rupee according to the metal market. The gold coins were not legal tender. Production at Calcutta began in 1835 and continued into 1836 (with the date frozen). However the relative value of gold and silver at that time meant the the mint suffered a loss on gold coin production, thus the low mintage.
Estimate $11,000-12,000
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Lot 1367
ILKHAN: Ahmad Tekudar, 1282-1284, AV dinar (4.09g), Tabriz, DM, A-2138, standard design and calligraphy, as the previous Tabriz dinars of Abaqa and the later Tabriz dinars of Arghun, Gaykhatu, and Baydu; with the king's name only in Uighur, VF, RRRR, ex Christian Rasmussen Collection.
A very few specimens, perhaps 3 or 4 total, were found in the large Ilkhan gold hoard terminating with Baydu and a few pre-reform dinars of his successor Ghazan Mahmud that reached the market about 1994. None is recorded on Zeno or CoinArchives. This type was unknown to Diler, although he did list a unique Tabriz dinar with the name Ahmad in both Uighur and Arabic, dated 68x, that appeared in Spink Auction 31, Lot 310 in 1989, where it was correctly described as the first known gold coin of the Ilkhan Ahmad. No additional specimens are believed to have been found since the 1994 hoard.
Estimate $9,000-11,000
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Lot 185
MUGHAL: Aurangzeb, 1658-1707, AV ¼ mohur nisar (2.73g), Bijapur, year 50, KM-309, with the mint epithet dar al-zafar, PCGS graded MS62, RRRR.
Gold nisar largesse coins of Aurangzeb are exceedingly rare. Only a half mohur of Shahjahanabad is listed in the Standard Catalog of World Coins (KM-A307.1), and none are recorded on CoinArchives (there is just one gold nisar on CoinArchives, but of Shah Jahan I). The obverse legend, although partly off flan, is the standard nisar legend of Aurangzeb: "'alamgir padshah ghazi", without his royal title "aurangzeb", with regnal year and mint name on the reverse, and with mint epithet on this piece. The Standard Catalog of World Coins lists a quarter mohur, only for the mint of Bijapur (KM-309.1), but listed as a standard mohur type, not as a nisar, thus presumably with the standard full royal legend on the obverse. The only quarter mohur recorded on CoinArchives also bears the traditional full royal obverse legend, thus not a nisar piece (Burhanpur mint, AH1090 year 23). It seems that this piece is unique. This is surely an opportunity to acquire one of the greatest rarities of the reign of Aurangzeb, a fighting chance that may not again be available for many decades! The mint is incorrectly cited on the slab as Akbarabad, and without the term "nisar."
Estimate $8,500-9,500
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Lot 1749
KIRIN: Kuang Hsu, 1875-1908, AR dollar, ND (1898), Y-183, L&M-516, small scales on dragon variety, a choice example with superb luster, PCGS graded MS62.
This is one of only two examples of the small scales variety graded Mint State at PCGS.
Estimate $8,000-10,000
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Lot 273
SIKH EMPIRE: AR ½ rupee, Amritsar, VS1901, KM-19, Herrli--, with the frozen year VS1885 on the reverse, peacock below the actual date on the obverse, a lovely example of this rare type! PCGS graded AU50, RR.
This type was published for the first time in the ONS Journal No. 219 (Spring 2014), along with a similar piece dated VS1902, both unique and previously unpublished, in a fascinating article by G.S. Gujral about the Morashahi rupees of VS1861-1863 and the appearance of the peacock.
Estimate $6,000-7,000
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Lot 2438
RUSSIAN EMPIRE: Nicholas I, 1825-1855, AR rouble (20.62g), 1841, Dav-288A, Bitkin-898, silver "Marriage Rouble" by H. Gube, variety with reeded edge, struck to commemorate the wedding of Grand Duke Alexander and Princess Maria of Hesse-Darmstadt, Conjoined busts of Grand Duke Alexander and Maria, left // crowned monograms between standing Cupid and Psycho, with date below, Proof, RRR.
Heinrich Ignaz Gube was born in Breslau, Germany in 1805. He first worked in Berlin for the private firm of Loos. In 1830 he was invited to the Russian service by Earl Kankrimym, then the minister of finance, to the service to Russia "to improve the medallion art" and was appointed as the main medallion engraver of the St. Petersburg mint. He also taught in the medallion class of the mining and technical school at the technological institute for several years. He was known as Andrey Ignat'yevich Gube in Russian. Gube died in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1848. Although this medal bears the denominational name rouble below the bust, it has been considered a medal by Russian numismatists.
Estimate $3,000-5,000
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Lot 2630
COSTA RICA: Republic, 1 centavo, 1892, KM-Pn6, pattern in aluminum, light hairlines, EF to About Unc.
Estimate $200-300
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Lot 2671
UNITED STATES: AR 20 cent, 1875, KM-109, VF to EF, Seated Liberty type, scarce Philadelphia Mint issue, lightly toned, S.
Estimate $300-400
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Lot 2676
UNITED STATES: AR 50 cents, 1807, KM-35, O-106, VF, Draped Bust type, obverse cleaned at one time, but starting to retone.
Estimate $300-400
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Lot 2677
UNITED STATES: AR dollar, 1842, KM-71, About Unc, Seated Liberty type, pleasing tone.
Estimate $290-350
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Lot 2678
UNITED STATES: AR dollar, 1843, KM-71, EF, Seated Liberty type, gunmetal toning.
Estimate $340-420
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Lot 2679
UNITED STATES: AR dollar, 1847, KM-71, VF, Seated Liberty type, some toning, more on the reverse.
Estimate $300-400
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Lot 2680
UNITED STATES: AR dollar, 1859-O, KM-71, EF, Seated Liberty type, a few minor scratches in the reverse field, pleasing tone.
Estimate $400-550
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Lot 2681
UNITED STATES: AR dollar, 1870, KM-71, EF, Seated Liberty, light old cleaning, retoning nicely.
Estimate $320-400
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Lot 2683
UNITED STATES: AR dollar, 1885-CC, KM-110, VAM-3, Choice Unc, Morgan type, variety with CC tilted left, nearly gem quality.
Estimate $575-675
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Lot 2629
COSTA RICA: Republic, AR 2 reales, ND [1845], KM-43var, Type III countermark on 1810AI Madrid 4 reales (KM-540.1) with additional Cuban lattice countermark, Very Good to Fine on Good-VG host (Cuban countermark VF).
Estimate $350-450
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Lot 373
BRITISH INDIA: AR medal (25.46g), 1758 [1757], Pud-757.1, Eimer 655, Pingo 30, 40mm silver medal for the Victory of Lord Clive at Plassy by John Pingo, Victory with trophy and palm branch seated on elephant left with VICTORY.AT.PLASSY - CLIVE.COMMANDER around and MDCCLVIII / SOC.P.A.C in exergue // Clive, dressed as Roman general, holds staff surmounted by lion as he gives another staff to Meer Jaafar at left with cornucopia, globe, and rudder between them with INIVRIES.ATTONED. PRIVELEGE.AVGMENTED. TERRITORY.ACQVIRED around with A.SOUBAH.GIVEN.TO.BENGAL / MDCCLVIII in exergue, light old cleaning but has retoned in lovely rainbow colors, plain edge, About Unc, S, ex Jerry D. Williams Collection.
This medal was among the first medals issued by the Society Promoting Arts and Commerce commemorating historical events. The Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-daula, had gone into camp at Plassey anticipating the arrival of the English army. By the end of the confrontation Siraj-ud-daula had been captured. His body was divided into pieces and paraded through the city of Murshidabad on an elephant. One of the former Nawab's commanders, Meer Jaffar, was then placed on the throne.
The die cracks through the obverse exergue are usual.
This lovely medal is featured on the cover of the printed catalog for this auction.
Estimate $1,800-2,400
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Lot 2412
NORWAY: Chrisrtian V, 1670-1699, AR speciedaler, 1695, KM-194.7, Dav-3661, NM 175F, Hede 39G, initials HCM, very bold strike, bust left with Order of the Elephant showing below with CHRISTIAN.V.D.G. - REX.DAN.NOR.V.G. around // complex crowned arms with PIETATE.ET. - IUSTITIA around, SAADAM NORDENS SKAT GUD GIEMTE TIL KONG CHRISTIAN DEMD FEMTE on edge, attractive toning, EF, ex Jerry D. Williams Collection.
Estimate $3,500-4,500
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Lot 722
SASANIAN KINGDOM: Khusro II, 591-628, AV dinar (4.59g), NM, year 21, G-217 (same dies), Gyselen 95 (same dies), king's bust right, bearded, with elaborate crown and fillets at shoulders, crescents and stars in field, royal text to right, with additional phrases mulkan mulka, "king of kings" // draped, filleted, and jeweled bust of Anahita facing, wearing tiara with nimbus of flames, date to left in words, right legend "(Khusro) well-omened, has increased Iran", superb strike, choice EF, RR.
Estimate $6,000-7,000
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Lot 711
SASANIAN KINGDOM: Shapur II, 309-379, AV dinar (7.14g), G-102var, cf. SNS-282 (and the silver equivalents SNS-283/84), king's bust right, wearing crown with tiara & korymbos, horizontal ribbon from the left edge of the crown, blundered legend, as is very common on silver & gold coins of Shapur II, especially those assigned to eastern mints // fire altar, royal head within the flames, single ribbons behinds each of the 2 attendants, minimal legends, choice EF, RRR.
Estimate $2,400-3,000
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Lot 269
SIKH EMPIRE: AV mohur, Amritsar, VS1843 year GN31x, group of 8 specimens of this extremely rare mohur of the Misl period, struck in the Bhangi Misl, centered at Amritsar, then under the rule of Ghulab Singh Bhangi; the earliest known Sikh Empire coin struck in gold, attached to a necklace (the necklace itself is almost certainly not original), all in EF condition, lot of 8 coins attached to a necklace, RRR.
The VS1843 mohur was not struck for circulation, but was almost certainly a very special piece ordered by Ghulab Singh Bhangi, the seventh chief of Bhangi Misl, for presentation to a chief official or to a member of his own family; perhaps for his wife, Mai Sukhan. It was produced from the same dies used for the silver rupee, and the actual production was limited to a very small group, probably just the nine examples attached to this necklace (the ninth piece was removed earlier and was sold in our Auction 30, Lot 2547. Unlisted by both Herrli and Gurprit Singh, it is of the same type as the silver rupees of type Singh-01.05 and 01.09, respectively. The mounting proves that these mohurs were made to be worn, in this case attached to a neckless worn by the receiver. Thus they served the same function as a nazarana mohur. Additional closeup images are available online.
Estimate $14,000-16,000
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Lot 2147
PHILIPPINES: Isabel II, 1833-1868, AR 8 reales, ND [1834-37], KM-129, crowned Y.II countermark on Mexico, 8 reales, 1829-GoMJ, VF.
Estimate $200-300
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