SEDWICKCOINS BLOG

Treasure, World, U.S. Coin and Paper Money Auction 29 Live on the Internet, Friday-Saturday, May 7-8 and Monday, May 10

After several months of working with consignors to bring you the best fresh material at realistic levels, we are proud and privileged to present to you our 29th auction. Some would say it is our best ever! Here are some highlights to watch for:

In Gold Cobs, dominated by 1715-Fleet gems as always, we offer a choice (MS 63) Cuzco 2 escudos (lot 36) as well as a very rarely seen Cuzco 1 escudo (lot 37), both dated 1698 for the one year they were made.

In Shipwreck Ingots you will find THREE gold bars from the Atocha (lots 51-53), in addition to silver ingots from the “Tumbaga wreck” (ca. 1528), Atocha (1622) and Maravillas (1656), plus a very rare large ingot (lot 61) from the Santa Margarita (1622) found in 1980. Also be sure to check out the large natural gold specimens dubbed “Golden Coral” (lot 55) and “Golden Fist” (lot 56), from Alaska and California respectively.

In Shipwreck Coins be sure to watch for a PCGS-certified gold 2 escudos (lot 68) from the Atocha, as well as strong selections of choice Concepción (1641), Capitana (1654), 1715 Fleet and Rooswijk (1739) coins. Three $20 “double eagles” from the “Fort Capron Treasure,” S.S. Central America (1857) and S.S. Brother Jonathan (1865), lots 249-251, are worth noting as well.

In Mexico Silver Cobs we feature several Royals (galanos) from the Isaac Rudman Numismatic Cabinet, most notably a 1607 8 reales (lot 279), a unique and choice (unholed AU 58) 1730/28/5 8 reales (lot 287). Shipwreck enthusiasts will be keen to watch lot 285 (dated 1714), the only NGC-certified 8 reales Royal from the 1715 Fleet.
In Lima Silver Cobs and Potosí Silver Cobs we proudly present the Arturo Rosenheim Collection and several great 8 reales Royals, including: Lima 1689 (lot 341) and 1695 (lot 348); Potosí 1630 (lot 423) and 1652 Type V Transitional (lot 449), plus a non-holed, NGC-certified AU 53 1742 (lot 539). We finish Potosí with a unique 2 reales Heart of 1733 assayer E (lot 623).

All other cobs (Colombia, Guatemala, Panama and Spain) are now in the  World Coins section to accommodate several more important collections, namely the Esmeralda Collection of Gran ColombiaCoinage (1819-1830); Part II of theNueva Granada Collection of Colombian Rarities; and Part I of the Antiqua Collection of Guatemalan Cobs. In Colombia we feature several “finest knowns,” including: 4 escudos 1826 (lot 805); “Libertad Americana” 8 reales 1819 (lot 832); and República de Colombia / Nueva Granada mule 8 reales 1820 (lot 834); in addition to many important patterns and other rarities. Also look for trophies in Cuba (lot 937, an MS 70 piefort 100 pesos 1990), Ecuador (lot 956, an NGC MS 65 4 reales of 1844), Guatemala (lot 1037, a gold proof 10 pesos essai of 1894) and Mexico (lot 1042, an NGC-finest 8 escudos of 1750, and lot 1073, an NGC-finest Durango “hookneck” 8 reales of 1824). Finally be sure to witness our largest-to-date selection of Spanish gold coins, featuring this auction’s “Best in Show” Segovia milled 8 escudos 1721/19 (lot 1150).

In Medals and Decorations we feature the latest installment in Selections from the John Adams Collection of Admiral Vernon Medals. Next, in U.S. Coins and Paper Money you will find an NGC VF 30 Draped Bust dollar 1796 (lot 1263). World Paper Money features the first-known República de Costa Rica 100 and 50 colones remainders from the 1917 issuance (lots 1303 and 1304), plus the popular Banco Internacional “La Mandolina” 50 colones of 1916 (lot 1302), as well as a major Guatemalan rarity: the PMG-finest 1934-dated 10 quetzales from the General Orellana series in Choice UNC 63 (lot 1314).

We round out the auction with Ancient Coins and Coin Jewelry, followed by the usual great selection of artifacts. Shipwreck Artifacts features long gold chains from the Atocha (lot 1378) and 1715 Fleet (lot 1394), and in Non-Wreck Artifacts we present all kinds of fossils and firearms. The coveted “final lot” position in the Documents section (lot 1443) goes to an original 1912 newspaper covering the Titanic disaster just five days after the sinking.

After a Sunday to regroup, we finish the auction with a video-off Express session on Monday for all your lower-priced needs from every section. Enjoy!

Here’s wishing everyone good health and happy bidding, and to all our consignors we say many thanks!

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC / Licensed Florida Auctioneer #AU3635, AB2592 (since 2007)
P.O. BOX 1964 | Winter Park, Florida 32790 | Phone: 407.975.3325 | Fax: 407.975.3327

Special article contributed by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation

Six NGC-certified gold Cuban coins struck in Philadelphia, including two that realized six figures, were among the highlights of an auction held Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. All far exceeded their pre-auction estimates at the sale by Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC.

Cuba 1915 Specimen 20 Pesos, graded NGC SP 63. Realized: $130,900.

The two top lots in the entire auction were a 1915 Cuba Specimen 20 Pesos, graded NGC SP 63, and a 1915 Cuba Specimen 10 Pesos, graded NGC SP 64. Realizing $130,900 and $107,100, respectively, the coins represent an interesting time in Cuban history.

After a brief time as a US protectorate, Cuba became independent in 1902. Still, the US maintained considerable influence in the island republic for decades, as evidenced by the designer and mint of these gold coins, the first issued by Cuba.

Struck at the Philadelphia Mint, they were designed by US Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber (famous for the US Barber Dime, Quarter and Half Dollar). The Cuban coins were issued in denominations of 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 and 20 Pesos, and a small number of Proofs were made. It is believed some 24 to 36 of the 10 and 20 Peso issues were struck in Proof, along with 100 each of the 2, 4, and 5 Peso coins. The most common is the 1 Peso issue, with some 140 Proof coins struck.

The 1, 2, 4, 10, and 20 peso coins from this set were clearly something different. They were not exactly Proofs, but also clearly not Mint State coins. It is apparent that these coins were struck with extra pressure in order to bring up the rims, and it is likely that the planchets were also specially prepared. This gave the coin a semi-matte appearance, in comparison to the mirrored fields of the Proof issues.

The top lot in the auction was the Cuba 1915 Specimen 20 Pesos, from this special, unique striking. This coin was from a set of six coins, which included five Specimens and one exceptionally nice Mint State example. While the 20 Pesos was only estimated at $20,000 to $40,000, it sold for an astounding $130,900.

Cuba 1915 Specimen 10 Pesos, graded NGC SP 64. Realized: $107,100.

Also breaking the six-figure mark was the 10 Peso issue. It is also believed to be unique, and brought $107,100, far higher than its $10,000 to $20,000 estimate. The same collector who purchased the 20 Peso coin bought this one, as well as the other four coins in the set.

In all, the six coins realized $473,025, more than four times their cumulative estimates. Compare this amount with the result of a similarly graded 1915 gold Cuban Proof set (as opposed to specimens) that was sold as a single lot in January 2018 by Heritage Auctions for $180,000, and you can see that the set in the Sedwick sale is in a league of its own.

The remaining four Cuban coins were among the other NGC-graded highlights from the sale:

• A Cuba 1915 5 Pesos, graded NGC MS 66+, realized $77,350;
• A Cuba 1915 Specimen 4 Pesos, graded NGC SP 64, realized $53,550;
• A Cuba 1915 Specimen 2 Pesos, graded NGC SP 66, realized $65,450;
• A Cuba 1915 Specimen 1 Peso, graded NGC SP 66, realized $38,675;
• A Mexico 1536R 3 Reales, 3 Dots, with Waterline Below, graded NGC VF 30, realized $83,300;
• A South Peru – Republic 1837Cuzco 8 Escudos, graded NGC MS 64+ PL, realized $53,550;
• A Mexico 1715MO 8 Escudos, pedigreed to the 1715 Fleet, graded NGC MS 64, realized $50,575.

“We were very pleased with the results on NGC-certified coins, which are becoming a bigger part of our offerings with every auction,” said Daniel Sedwick, president and founder of Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC.