December 2005 Coin Newsletter

The Ivan Buck collection was, as anticipated, a great success (see November newsletter) with everything sold and some very strong prices. The rarities all went over the estimate. As expected there was strong competition for the two Edward I Groats, lots 41 and 42, the first, the variety with re-cut crown, selling for £1,900, and the second, the nicer looking of the two, reaching £2,800. Both coins were reported to be metal detector finds. The run of six Richard III Groats also sold very well, the first, in the name of Edward, being the most expensive at £2,800, and all but one selling for over the high estimate. There were one or two surprises. Of the four Henry IV light coinage Groats, the first, in the style if Richard II, lot 92, was expected to fetch over £2,000, but the hammer finally fell at £4,900 amid murmurs of appreciation in the room.

The afternoon session saw various properties dispersed, and the highlight here was without doubt the magnificent Oxford Triple Unite, lot 472. With a finely detailed portrait in high relief, this rare coin rocketed past its high estimate of £20,000, to finish at a remarkable £56,000.

The Colin Adams collection of Halfcrowns, well publicized and discussed at length before the sale (see October newsletter), started where the Buck sale left off, with the hammered coins selling at a terrific pace. By lunchtime 100% of the coins had sold at well over the estimate. Though some of the later coins failed to sell in the afternoon session, notably some expensive proofs and patterns, the overall result was very good and the owner, who was in the room, went home content.  

Results of the two coin auctions are available here.

Read the post-auction press releases here: Colin Adams | Ivan Buck Collection

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No sooner has the auction activity subsided than the last Numismatic Circular of the year has hit the doorsteps, and six of us were kept busy for the entire first day taking orders. Once again hammered coins are in demand and clearly the recent auctions have done nothing to satisfy this. English coins and commemorative medals in general have sold very well. The large German medals, which look superb in the illustrations, have also proved extremely popular.  The first Circular of 2006 will include a collection of Scottish coins as well as a small collection of interesting engraved ‘Love Tokens’, including some ‘Convict Tokens’ . 

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From January 12th to January 15th, Spink will be exhibiting at the New York Coin Convention (in the Waldorf-Astoria). Massimiliano Tursi, Hadrien Rambach and Emily Johnston will be displaying a superb selection of coins for sale, including many Ancient coin masterpieces, along with a few select items of English, Foreign and Islamic coinage. We look forward seeing you there!