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Cartagena 2021 Conference Report

13 Dec

Our company attended the Third International Convention of Historians and Numismatists on December 1st to the 5th in Cartagena, Colombia. This must-attend event for Latin American numismatists brought together many experts and dealers for several days of presentations, exhibits, and discussion as well as sightseeing and excellent Colombian cuisine and drinks. Our own Agustín García-Barneche served as the convention’s Vice President of International Relations for the Northern Hemisphere.

Background on Cartagena & its numismatic history

Cartagena, also known as Cartagena de Indias, is an important Colombian port city founded by Spanish explorers on June 1, 1533. It rapidly grew in prominence due to the flow of gold and silver from the New World into the Spanish fleet ships that would haul the treasure back to Spain. In 1574, King Philip II declared Cartagena to be a city; the following year, he added the title of “the most noble and loyal” to the city.

Numismatically, it bears several important distinctions: as a Spanish colonial mint that operated from 1621 to 1635 then again in 1655; the second to last port of call for the Atocha and Santa Margarita in 1622 during the ill-fated Tierra Firme Fleet; the site of the the Battle of Cartagena de Indias in 1741 erroneously commemorated by the English Admiral Vernon medals; and the location of several bancos and the state treasury that issued paper money in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

We attended a naval ceremony to Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario (1834-1879); a life size bronze statue to Colombia’s Admiral José Padilla (1778-1828) stands prominently in the courtyard of naval heroes.
The Museo Naval del Caribe (Naval Museum) featured numerous exhibits to Cartagena’s naval history including this one on the San José shipwreck
The Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas cuts an imposing figure in the middle of the bustling city
Construction of the castle began in 1536 to protect the city both by land and by sea; its importance led to much more construction over time
Numerous original cannons can still be found on the ramparts of the Castillo as well as the walled fortifications around Cartagena
General Don Blas de Lezo (1689-1741) led a successful defense of the Castillo de San Felipe despite being outnumbered nearly 10 to 1 versus Admiral Edward Vernon’s force

After visiting the Castillo de San Felipe, we took a tour of Cartagena’s old city. Given the city’s nearly 500 years of history, some buildings are designed in the colonial style while others were of a more modern republic style construct.

The Convento de Santo Domingo was founded by Dominican friars and went through many periods of disuse and reconstruction.
The narrow streets of the Old City are often flanked by street vendors.
Colombia is the top producer of emeralds, accounting for some 70 to 90 percent of the world’s trade.
The Old City becomes quite vibrant at night.
Dancers in traditional Colombian dress at the Plaza de Santo Domingo.

After a busy day of travelling and sightseeing, the conference began on Thursday. Numerous presentations were given on a wide range of numismatic topics, many related to Cartagena and Colombia history.

We were honored to have Dr. R. Duncan Matthewson III, the chief archaeologist for the Atocha salvage work, share our table and sign copies of his famous work The Treasure of the Atocha translated in Spanish
Our friend Jorge Proctor conducted his presentation on Alonso Turrillo de Yebra while dressed in Spanish colonial garb.
Daniel Frank Sedwick’s presentation on Colombian gold cobs delved into the many design and assayer changes seen on gold cobs from the Bogota and Cartagena mints
The importance of the Cartagena Mint is still seen today with the naming of the street where it is located.
The courtyard of the Casa de Moneda in Cartagena, where cob coinage was struck from 1621 to 1635 and again in 1655.
In conjunction with the conference, the Colombian government issued postal stamps commemorating Colombia’s numismatic history.
The official medal for the Cartagena 2021 convention, slabbed by PCGS.

We were all very honored to attend the convention and see many of our friends in this business, many of which we haven’t seen in person over the past two years. The chance to explore Cartagena and see the places that made numismatic history made this a memorable event for all. Our thanks goes out to all those who coordinated the event, especially to the convention’s organizer, Andrés Felipe Cortázar.

We now look forward to the fourth convention that will be held in 2023 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic!

Sedwick Treasure Auction hits $4.20 million

10 Dec

Prices realized for numismatic rarities in Sedwick’s Nov. 4-5 Treasure Auction 30 surpassed $4.20 million, the third consecutive record-breaking auction for the company. The sale was held both online and in-person in Winter Park, Fla.

Lot 1276 – Segovia, Spain, gold 4 excelentes, Ferdinand-Isabel, mintmark at top, denomination o-iiii at bottom between busts, Gothic A behind Queen, earliest type with all Gothic legends, rare, NGC AU 50, ex-Huntington.

The top lot in the sale was a very rare gold 4 excelentes struck in Segovia, Spain during the reign of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella graded NGC AU 50 that realized $78,000 during the second day of the sale. The pre-sale estimate was $30,000 and up. Beyond its numismatic rarity, the well-struck design features the busts of the famous king and queen who were notable for funding Columbus’ expedition to the New World. The coin also boasts a pedigree to the Archer M. Huntington Collection of Coins from the Hispanic World where it was part of a denomination set of rare Spanish coins.

Lot 1315 – Segovia, Spain, 50 reales (cincuentin), Philip III, 1620, assayer cross-topped A (Esteban de Pedrera), struck for the Count of Chinchon (later Viceroy of Peru), NGC XF 40, finest and only example in the NGC census.

Another rarity from Segovia, the elusive 50 reales (also called a cincuentin) dated 1620, was also offered in the auction and sold for $36,000 on a similar $30,000 and up estimate. The coin is one of fourteen known on the market and the only example graded by NGC, having received a grade of XF 40. This massive coin weighs over 170 grams and was struck using roller dies at the mint using the most advanced minting technology available at the time. Thus, the design is more well struck and detailed than any other normal Spanish circulation coinage for its time. It was made in very limited numbers by nobility as a display of wealth and prestige rather than any actual use in commerce.

Lot 1173 – Japan (Osaka mint), proof 20 sen, Emperor Mutsuhito, Meiji year 13 (1880), extremely rare, NGC PF 62.

The second top selling lot in the sale was a Japanese proof 20 sen struck at the Osaka Mint in 1880 (Meiji year 13) and graded NGC Proof 62. Spirited bidding pushed the lot to realize $75,000 on an estimate of $35,000 and up. Only 96 pieces were struck for use in diplomatic presentation sets with very few known on the market today.

“This is ultimately a testament both to our consignors who entrust us to catalog and sell their rarities for top value as well as our bidders who are seeking to build their collections,” said Daniel Frank Sedwick, owner and president of the auction firm.

One of several collections in the sale was the J.O.B. Collection of Spanish Gold 8 Escudos which brought the finest Seville, Spain, gold cob 8 escudos dated 1644 R and graded NGC MS 63 to market. It sold for $72,000 on an estimate of $25,000 and up. The coin was notable for being the plate coin for its type in La Onza (2004) and Numismatica Espanola (2008), both by Calico, as well as Tauler’s Oro Macuquino (2011).

Other top lots sold include:

  • Lot 16, Mexico City, Mexico, gold cob 8 escudos Royal (galano), 1711 J, graded NGC UNC details / damaged, ex-Rudman sold for $66,000.
  • Lot 18, Mexico City, Mexico, gold cob 8 escudos, 1714 J, Royal-die obverse, graded NGC MS 62 sold for $46,500.
  • Lot 430, Mexico City, Mexico, silver cob 8 reales Royal (galano), 1706 J, graded NGC XF details / holed, ex-Rudman sold for $39,000.
  • Lot 741, Potosi, Bolivia, silver cob 8 reales Heart, 1696 VR, graded NGC VF 35 sold for $36,000.
  • Lot 23, Cuzco, Peru, gold cob 2 escudos, 1698 M, error-variety with RX in legend, graded NGC MS 64 from the 1715 Fleet Tricentennial Find sold for $31,200.
  • Lot 1015, Egypt (Ottoman Empire), gold 500 qirsh, Abdul Aziz, AH1277//11 (1870-71), Cairo mint (Misr), graded NGC MS 63 sold for $31,200.
  • Lot 883, China (Nanjing mint), “Memento” silver dollar, (1912), Sun Yat-sen, lower five-pointed stars, graded PCGS MS62 sold for $26,400.

All prices from the auction firm include a 20% buyer’s premium. Full auction results can be viewed on the auction website here.

Consignments are now being accepted through February of 2022 for Sedwick’s next Treasure Auction to be held in May of that year. Interested consignors should contact the firm by email at office@sedwickcoins.com or by phone at (407)-975-3325.

A Sneak Peek at Sedwick’s May 7-8 Treasure Auction 29

19 Feb

We’ve received a lot of interest in our upcoming May 7-8 Treasure Auction 29 – and rightfully so. The numismatic market is still very hot and this has inspired several top Latin American collections to come to the auction block. So, we’re offering here a sneak peek of what’s coming up in our next sale!

Is there still time to consign? Yes, we’re still accepting consignments of select items – shipwreck gold coins, shipwreck gold and silver ingots, rare world gold and silver coins, better Latin American paper money, and US paper money (chiefly colonial and Continental Currency). But contact us soon as our consignment period closes Feb. 28!

The Esmeralda Collection features some of the finest examples of coinage, both gold and silver, to be struck by Gran Colombia from 1819 to 1830. In this period, wholly original and uniquely Latin American escudos and reales designs were created as the region left its Spanish colonial coinage behind.

There is no greater example of this liberation in coinage design than the “Libertad Americana” design, of which the collection features the finest known Bogota 1819JF silver 8 reales example. In fact, we like this coin design so much that the bust will feature prominently on a special holder label made by us and NGC specifically for the Esmeralda Collection.

Other key coins in the collection include a Bogota 1826JF gold 4 escudos graded NGC MS 64 pedigreed to the Louis Eliasberg and Richard Lissner Collections as well as a Bogota 1819JF silver 2 reales struck over a Cartagena imitation cob plated in Emilio Restrepo’s Coins of Colombia (2012). Indeed, many of the coins in this collection hold pedigrees to prestigious coin collections. 

In our second offering of coins from the Nueva Granada Collection, bidders will find examples of rare Spanish colonial Colombian minors and proclamation medals as well as later date patterns and trial strikes. Both the quality and rarity of coins in this selection are sure to excite collectors as they did during the first part of this extensive Colombian collection. 

This nearly complete collection will be one of the largest groups of Guatemalan cobs to hit the market in recent time. This first part will feature Guatemalan 8 and 4 reales, including rarities like an unholed 1733J 8 reales (only about 4-5 examples are known on the market).

Arturo Rosenheim was a collector of Spanish colonial cob coinage and a good client of ours. He attempted the difficult task of assembling all the possible dates of Lima 8 reales cobs and put together an impressive run. 


Other collections to watch for in the sale include:
– Selections from the John Adams Collection of Admiral Vernon Medals
– Mexican Silver Cobs from the Isaac Rudman Numismatic Cabinet
– A Fine Collection of Latin American Crown Coinage


The auction catalog will be available online around the first week of April with printed catalogs available for order shortly thereafter. For more details, please visit our website at sedwickcoins.com.

Spanish colonial, Colombian coins star in Sedwick’s May 27-29 Treasure Auction

18 May

A wealth of shipwreck gold and silver treasure plus a selection of Colombian numismatic rarities will star on May 27-29 in Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC’s online Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction 27.

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Lot 10 – Lima, Peru, gold cob 8 escudos, 1703H, NGC MS 62, ex-1715 Fleet.

As usual for this top auctioneer of Spanish colonial material, Sedwick’s sale features many coins from famous shipwrecks, like the Spanish Plate Fleet of 1715, eleven ships that went down on July 31, 1715 off the east coast of Florida carrying gold and silver coins bound for Spain. Featured from the 1715 Fleet this time is a Lima, Peru, gold cob 8 escudos dated 1703 (lot 10), graded NGC MS 62 and estimated at $20,000 and up. It previously sold as ungraded in the 2003 Tampa sale of seized shipwreck treasure. This coin is so rare that even the State of Florida’s own collection of 1715 Fleet coins is lacking an example.

Attracting further interest is a pair of Seville, Spain, gold cob 2 escudos, one each from the famous wrecks of the Atocha and Santa Margarita, sunk during the same storm in 1622 (lots 45 and 46). The Atocha 2 escudos is dated 1615 with a clear assayer’s initial D and is graded PCGS AU50 while also accompanied by its original Mel Fisher certificate. Its estimate is $10,000 and up. The Santa Margarita 2 escudos is undated but also has the same assayer D and is graded PCGS MS61 with its Mel Fisher’s Treasures, LLC certificate included. Its estimate is $6,000 to $9,000.

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Lot 45 – Seville, Spain, cob 2 escudos, 1615D, PCGS AU50, ex-Atocha (1622)

Although not a coin, a Colombian gold “finger” bar salvaged from the Atocha is a highlight, too. In a way, it acted as a form of money in its time by allowing a large sum of value to be transported from New World gold mines to the Spanish treasury. The long bar in this auction weighs 669 grams and has a marked fineness of 20.75 karats along with ten partial tax stamps of King Philip III. The bar was previously sold as lot 95 during the Christie’s Atocha and Santa Margarita sale of June 1988. Its estimate in the Sedwick auction is $35,000 and up.

One of the finest Colombian coin collections assembled, the Nueva Granada Collection, representing Colombian rarities from the Spanish colonial era through the Republic period will appear in the sale’s World Coins section. A key rarity is the Bogotá, Colombia, pillar 8 reales dated 1770VJ graded PCGS MS65. This coin is the single finest graded in the PCGS census and is finer than any others graded by NGC. Its estimate is $35,000 and up.

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Lot 821 – Bogota, Colombia, pillar 8 reales, Charles III, 1770VJ, very rare, PCGS MS65, finest graded in both censuses, Restrepo Plate Coin (stated on label).

Colombian collectors will also want to watch for the auction’s selection of Colombian bank notes. Most notably, the 1883-issued 10 pesos from the Estado Soberano de Bolívar bank in Cartagena will appear as lot 1341. The note is graded PMG XF 40 and is one of just two examples known today. The estimate is $7,000 and up.

Other highlights in the auction include:

  • Lot 1291, a Mexico gold Cross of Tepeaca – Second Class military decoration from 1821, pedigreed to the J. Coolidge Hills coHills collection and the American Numismatic Society archives. Estimate: $25,000 to $37,500.
  • Lot 60, a large silver ingot from Oruro, Bolivia, 82 pounds 9.92 ounces troy, Class Factor 0.8, from the Atocha (1622) and pedigreed to the Caesar’s Palace Auction of 1987. Estimate: $20,000 to $30,000.
  • Lot 4, a Mexico City, Mexico, gold cob 8 escudos, 1714J, NGC MS 64, from the 1715 Fleet, finest known in the NGC census. Estimate: $15,000 and up.
  • Lot 23, a Lima, Peru, gold cob 8 escudos, 1697/6H, NGC MS 64, from the 1715 Fleet. Estimate: $15,000 and up.
  • Lot 478, a Mexico City, Mexico, silver cob 8 reales Royal, 1727D, NGC VF details / plugged. Estimate: $15,000 and up.
  • Lot 854, a Medellín, Colombia, half peso, 1868, PCGS MS62, finest known in the PCGS census (and unlisted in the NGC census), pedigreed to the Nueva Granada collection and plated in Jorge Emilio Restrepo’s Coins of Colombia (2012). Estimate: $15,000 and up.
  • Lot 790, a Popayán, Colombia, gold bust 8 escudos, Charles III (bust of Ferdinand VI), 1761/0J, NGC MS 62, finest and only example in the NGC census. Estimate: $10,000 and up.

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Lot 1341 – Cartagena, Colombia, Estado Soberano de Bolivar, 10 pesos, 15-4-1883, serial 583, PMG XF 40, finest and only example in the PMG census, very rare.

  • Lot 963, a Quito, Ecuador, gold 4 escudos, 1836FP, NGC MS 61. Estimate: $7,000 to $10,000.
  • Lot 1232, a Seville, Spain, gold double excelente, Ferdinand-Isabel, NGC MS 64. Estimate: $7,000 to $10,000.
  • Lot 1154, a Lahore, British India, nickel original proof rupee, George VI, 1947, PCGS PR63, finest and only example in the PCGS census. Estimate: $3,500 and up.
  • Lot 1048, a Great Britain proof halfcrown, 1746, George II, VICESIMO on edge, PCGS PR63. Estimate: $4,000 to $6,000.
  • Lot 439, a Mexico City, Mexico, silver cob 3 reales, Charles-Joanna, “Early Series,” assayer gothic R, NGC VF details / saltwater damage, from the 1554 Fleet, pedigreed to the Potomac collection. Estimate: $3,500 to $5,000.
  • Lot 793, a Bogota, Colombia, gold bust 8 escudos, Charles III, 1776JJ, PCGS MS64, finest known in both the PCGS and NGC censuses. Estimate: $3,500 to $5,000.
  • Lot 1311, a Continental Currency $2, May 10, 1775, PMG Choice AU 58 EPQ Star, finest known in the PMG census. Estimate: $800 to $1,200.
  • Lot 1355, a Guatemala, Banco Colombiano, 20 pesos, 1901, PMG Fine 12, finest and only example in the PMG census. Estimate: $2,500 to $3,750.

The four sessions will be held May 27-28 live online at auction.sedwickcoins.com. A fifth express session will follow on May 29. Bidders are encouraged to register in advance.

Top treasures to watch for in our May 27-29 auction

28 Apr

We are all leading different lives from those we had just two months ago. In some ways, things have changed greatly for the time being; but in other ways, they’ve stayed the same. One thing that hasn’t changed is our passion for numismatics, and if you’re reading this, no doubt the same applies to you. Our service and integrity also have not changed, nor has our ability to bring you the best selection and variety around, including the following highlights in this sale:

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Lot 10 – Lima, Peru, cob 8 escudos, 1703H, HISPAN variety, rare, NGC MS 62, ex-1715 Fleet (designated on special label), ex-Tampa Sale.

Gold Cobs features a variety of choice Mint State coins from the 1715 Fleet including the very scarce Lima, Peru, 1703H 8 escudos graded NGC MS 62, a date that is missing in the State of Florida collection. We also have an unprecedented pair of Seville, Spain, cob 2 escudos from the Atocha and Santa Margarita shipwrecks graded PCGS AU50 and MS61 respectively.

Shipwreck Ingots boasts yet more treasure from the Atocha in the form of two long gold “finger” bars and three large silver ingots. Our usual wide selection of Shipwreck Coins features many dated silver cobs from the Concepción (lots 169-208) and Capitana (lots 209-243) as well as an assortment of choice pieces from the ever-popular Atocha (lots 77-158) and 1715 Fleet (lots 291-342).

Be sure to check out the Potomac Collection in Mexican Silver Cobs, which contains some key “Early Series” Charles-Joanna assayer-Rincón rarities like an ever-popular 3 reales (lot 439), a 2 reales plated in both Guttag’s and Nesmith’s works (lot 440), and a very choice ½ real (lot 443). A 2 maravedís from this collection (lot 460) is the first of its kind we have offered. Also don’t miss the very rare Royals (galanos): 8 reales 1727D (lot 478) and 2 reales 1715J (lot 491).

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Lot 478 – Mexico City, Mexico, cob 8 reales Royal (galano), 1727D, very rare, NGC VF details / plugged.

The Lima and Potosí Silver Cobs sections are packed with many 8 reales from a fresh collection, including several nice Potosí Royals (galanos), like a 1654E 8 reales discovery piece struck with previously unknown dies (lot 578).

In Other Silver Cobs we feature one of the largest selections of Colombian cobs we have ever had, a key being a very rare billon cob ¼ real of 1622 (lot 662), the first one we have offered. Here you will also find the first coins of the Nueva Granada Collection, an expertly crafted assemblage of the very best Colombian coinage from the Spanish colonial era into the Republic period. This collection continues into the World Coins section where we have such rarities as: the finest known Bogotá 1770VJ pillar 8 reales graded PCGS MS65 (lot 821); a Popayán 1814/3JF bust 8 reales of Ferdinand VII graded PCGS XF40 (lot 823); and the highly sought and finest known Medellín 1868 medio peso graded PCGS MS62 (lot 854); all of which are plated in Jorge Emilio Restrepo’s Coins of Colombia (2012). Also note the 1888 “Cocobola” 50 centavos (lot 874) and several other choice and rare Colombian “half dollars.”

We’re also pleased to offer the second part of the Whittier Collection of Bolivian monetary medals, with proclamation medals from the early Republic through the Melgarejo period. An 1840 medallic gold 1 scudo Velasco issue (lot 736) is of particular importance in the collection.

Our Costa Rica and Guatemala offerings (including Central American Republic) are quite strong with several gold coins and rare silver coins, including countermarked pieces, chiefly the Costa Rica Type I 8 reales circular hole-punch and Carrillo star-marked Potosí, Bolivia, 1831JL 8 soles graded NGC VG 8, c/s VF standard (lot 890). The advanced countermark collector will also want to stick around for a variety of Guatemala Type II and III countermarked 8 reales (lots 1085-1102).

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Lot 821 – Bogota, Colombia, pillar 8 reales, Charles III, 1770VJ, very rare, PCGS MS65, finest graded in both censuses, Restrepo Plate Coin (stated on label).

Other countries of note in World Coins include: Cuba, which features a 1916 gold proof 1 peso graded NGC PF 66 Ultra Cameo (lot 924) plus many gold and silver piefort strikes (some near-unique) graded by NGC and pedigreed to the Isaac Rudman numismatic cabinet; Ecuador, with the Quito-minted 1841MV gold 8 escudos graded NGC XF 45 made popular in part by a vivid description of the coin in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick (lot 961) alongside several high-grade escudos like the 1836FP Quito gold 4 escudos graded NGC MS 61 (lot 963), in addition to a strong run of silver; German States, featuring a collection formed in the 1950s and 1960s with such highlights as an 1801 Brunswick-Lüneburg-Calenburg-Hannover taler of George III, who was also the king of Great Britain (lot 1016); and Honduras, with a large assortment of provisional coinage followed by rare Republic proof pattern coins, like a denomination set of 1862 bronze patterns in Mint State graded by NGC (lot 1139).

Indian coin experts will not want to miss the opportunity to acquire some original 1947 British India proofs (lots 1154-1158), notably including a Lahore-mint rupee graded PCGS PR63, one of just two known of an issue that was actually unknown until 2013.

Within Medals and Decorations we offer some important pieces like the Ecuador Battle of Pichincha silver military decoration from 1822 pedigreed to the J. Sanford Saltus collection and the American Numismatic Society archives (lot 1274), a large variety of British Admiral Vernon medals pedigreed to the John Adams collection (lots 1277-1289) including two rare silver Porto Bello examples, and the impressive Mexican gold Cross of Tepeaca from 1821 with original suspension and ribbon pedigreed to the J. Coolidge Hills collection (lot 1291).

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Lot 1311 – United Colonies, Continental Congress, $2, May 10, 1775, serial 45296, PMG Choice AU 58 EPQ Star, finest known in PMG census.

The colonial United States collector should note our U.S. Paper Money section, where we have several high-grade notes like the finest known Continental $2 from May 10, 1775 (CC-2) graded PMG Choice AU 58 EPQ Star (lot 1311). World Paper Money holds many Colombian bank note rarities like the 1819 50 centavos / 4 reales remainder printed during Bolívar’s liberation campaign (lot 1321) as well as the Cartagena Estado Soberano de Bolívar 10 pesos and 1 peso graded PMG XF 40 and AU 53 respectively (lots 1341 and 1342). A significant denomination run of 20, 10, and 5 pesos from Guatemala’s Banco Colombiano in 1901 appear as lots 1355-1357.

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Please visit our site here to order a printed catalog or view a digital version.

Our Coin Jewelry offerings continue with plenty of ready-to-wear shipwreck and non-wreck coins in mountings. Following that, the Artifacts sections contain lovely items recovered from wrecks like the Atocha and 1715 Fleet (don’t miss lot 1426 for a heavily pedigreed breech block from the Fleet) plus non-wreck objects like militaria, firearms, and fossils.

We wish all of our bidders good luck and good health, and we appreciate your constant support and passion for collecting. Enjoy!

Please visit auction.sedwickcoins.com to get registered, view lots, and place bids.

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