Unique treasures in Sedwick’s May 3 & 4 auction

12 Apr

This is truly an amazing auction to behold as we host many rare pieces seeing their first—and possibly only—time on the market.

Lot 27 – the gold experimental 4 escudos dated 1591


We’ll begin Gold Cobs in Session I with a substantial selection of high-grade Spain escudos. A particular highlight, in its own category, is the gold experimental 4 escudos dated 1591 with assayer initial C struck in Madrid by Miguel de la Cerda (lot 27). This incredible rarity, graded by NGC as Mint State 64, is the finest example among three known survivors. This coin represents the first official coinage made in Madrid, created using a new minting technique called “Ingenio de la Tijera” before the official royal mint was even established.


Immediately following, we have the finest known Mexico City, Mexico 1715 J gold cob 8 escudos from the 1715 Fleet graded NGC MS 65 (lot 28). This coin was originally sold by Frank Sedwick in 1988 and is now coming back to us 35 years later to offer to the next collector. Other Fleet opportunities in this sale include a “top pop” Cuzco, Peru 1698 M gold cob 2 escudos graded NGC MS 64 (lot 33) as well as a Lima, Peru 1712 M gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 62 from the famous 2015 “Tricentennial Treasure” found off Douglass Beach (lot 35).

Lot 60 – the Colombian gold bar from the Maravillas


Our Shipwreck Ingots section hosts a fantastic find: a complete Colombian gold bar from the wreck of the Maravillas, sunk in 1656 off Grand Bahama Island (lot 60)—the only gold bar we have offered from this wreck. In a first for us, NGC, and the treasure market, we will be selling this bar encapsulated and authenticated in an NGC mega holder with Maravillas slab label designation. Other treasures include a gold “tejo” ingot from the Luz wreck (lot 61) and a Chinese gold “sycee” ingot from the “Nanking Cargo” wreck (lot 62).


Shipwreck Coins contains a bountiful selection of salvaged rarities including one of the finest collections of high grade and dated Atocha cobs (lots 71-198) we have ever seen (dubbed the RWB Reference Collection, here published for the first time). There are many choice pieces from our popular shipwrecks like the Capitana, the 1715 Fleet, and the Vliegenthart as well as the rare shipwrecks like the Vergulde Draeck, the “Jupiter Wreck,” and the Fame. Watch for our first time offering of a coin from the SB Pulaski shipwreck, a Zacatecas, Mexico 1835 OM cap-and-rays 8 reales (lot 361). Other US shipwreck rarities up for bidding include a denomination set of US gold and silver coins from the SS Central America (lots 364-376) plus a sizable date run of SS Republic half dollars (lots 381-395).


Session II starts with selections from the Clyde Hubbard Collection of Mexican coinage, a 250+ lot offering of rarities such as a Mint State Charles-Joanna 4 reales assayer G graded NGC MS 61 (lot 404), a Philip II cob 8 reales assayer O graded NGC XF 45 (the first circulating 8 reales of Mexico) (lot 450), and the unique cob 1 real Royal of Philip III assayer F graded NGC XF 45 (lot 560). Mexico Silver Cobs features the finest known Philip II cob 8 reales assayer F graded NGC MS 62 (lot 660). The finest and only graded Lima, Peru “Star of Lima” type cob 4 reales dated 1660 V, graded by NGC as XF 45, stands out in Lima Silver Cobs. The Potosí Silver Cobs section is particularly attractive as we host several key rarities: the only graded 1700 F cob 8 reales Royal (lot 736), the 1726 Y cob 8 reales Royal of Louis I (lot 743), and the unique 1701 Y cob 4 reales Heart graded NGC VF 30 (lot 752).


The following day, we’ll start Session III, World Coins, with a variety of key Latin American rarities. The Bogotá, Colombia 1888 “Cocobola” bust 50 centavos graded MS 61 and pedigreed to the Pat Johnson collection (lot 874) is sure to attract attention. The advanced Costa Rican collector will want to watch for the very rare 1917 GCR 50 céntimos without the 1923 counterstamp (one of just 10 recorded in 1917) graded NGC MS 63 (lot 896). Two finest known Guatemalan coins stand out—the extremely rare 1778 P gold 1 escudo graded NGC XF 40 (lot 947) and the finest known 1801/797 M gold 1 escudo graded NGC MS 62 (lot 948). We’re pleased to offer an absolutely gorgeous Mexico City, Mexico gold bust 8 escudos dated 1743 MF graded NGC MS 62 with prooflike luster (lot 980). A star in the session is the impressive Cuzco, Peru 1837 BA gold 8 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (lot 1025) with a design once called “the most beautiful gold coin of the Americas.” We close out the session with a key modern Venezuela rarity, the 1975 gold 500 bolívares graded NGC MS 69 (lot 1091).

Lot 1261 – the finest bronze Washingon / Declaration of Independence medal


Session IV begins with Medals and Decorations where we’ll host the fourth assembly of high grade and rare Admiral Vernon medals from the John Adams Collection (lots 1104-1178). The section also plays host to such desirable pieces like the Gran Cruz knight’s badge for the Spanish Order of Charles III awarded to Captain General José de la Gándara y Navarro for command during the War of Restoration in Santo Domingo (1863-65) (lot 1100). An artistic medal commemorating the 1624 Dutch navy victories pedigreed to the José Toribio Medina collection (lot 1201) is sure to attract international bidding attention. California gold features prominently in US Coins and Medals as we offer a San Francisco Assay Office 1852 gold $10 coin graded NGC AU 58 (lot 1249) plus three San Francisco-minted gold pieces from the Saddle Ridge Hoard (lots 1213-1215). Following up on our previous auction’s record-breaking sale, we offer the finest extant bronze George Washington and the Declaration of Independence medal made by Charles Cushing Wright graded PCGS SP65 (lot 1261).


A pair of Georgia proof bank note rarities (lots 1275-1276) stand out in US Paper Money along with a unique Bingham Canyon & Camp Floyd Rail Road $10 note (lot 1280). World Paper Money hosts several key notes including the finest known Guatemala Banco Comercial 1 peso of 1892 graded WBG AU 58 TOP (lot 1309), a serial number 1 Banco de Guatemala 1 peso of 1896 graded PMG VF 35 EPQ (lot 1311), and the colorful Panama “Arias” 5 balboas specimen note of 1941 graded PMG UNC 60 (lot 1328).

Lot 1309 – a gorgeous Guatemala Banco Comercial 1 peso note from 1892


Following our Coin Jewelry section of numismatic wearables, the Shipwreck Artifacts section has an intact silver wine goblet from the Atocha (lot 1379)—ready for the winning bidder to take a swig from. Non-Wreck Artifacts features a Wild West era Colt 1851 Navy revolver (lot 1406). We’ll finish this amazing auction with our Express session of affordable collector’s pieces. To all: thank you and good luck!

View the entire online catalog, get registered, and place bids on our auction website here >> https://auction.sedwickcoins.com/auctionlist.aspx

Sedwick’s Treasure Auction 33 – Consign by Feb. 10th

30 Jan

The continued strength of the numismatic market makes one thing clear: numismatic rarities and top collections belong in a Sedwick Treasure Auction. In 2022, our two Treasure Auctions plus our first exclusive paper money auction realized over $8.4 million – well above presale estimate totals – and we want you to be a part of our next sale!

For our upcoming Treasure Auction 33, we are seeking consignments of:

  • Shipwreck Gold and Silver Coins and Ingots (Atocha, 1715 Fleet, etc.)
  • Rare Latin American and World Gold and Silver Coins
  • US Coins and Bank Notes
  • World Bank Notes
  • Certified Shipwreck Artifacts

Perhaps you haven’t added to your collection in some time and are looking for the right way to bring it to market. Or you’re adjusting your collecting goals and want to sell coins in order to buy different assets.

That’s where we come in.

We offer decades of numismatic experience, personalized service, printed auction catalogs, and top bidders through our convenient bidding platform. For significant collections, we will travel to you. We are also attending the Long Beach Coin Expo held on February 2-4 and will accept consignments there (contact us to set up an appointment).

The consignment deadline for our next auction is February 10th. Contact us today by emailing us at office@sedwickcoins.com or giving us a call at (407)-975-3325.

2022 at Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC – and what’s next in 2023

31 Dec

A look back on 2022


2022 proved to be an exciting year for numismatics as travel re-opened and coin shows came back. Fresh, quality material came from many consignors into our May and November Treasure Auctions 31 and 32 plus our first ever exclusive Paper Money Auction held in July. And collectors paid attention to this influx of rarities with intense bidding action.


Between our two Treasure Auctions, we realized over $8.29 million. With the addition of our first paper money sale, total auction sales in 2022 reached over $8.4 million – a record year for us!


Our top selling auction item over this past year was a unique piece of American history: the only Declaration of Independence medal struck in silver by Charles Cushing Wright which sold for $168,000 in our November auction.


This special medal, produced in the 1850s, depicts the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress on one side while the other side lists important American historical events leading up to 1776. It was graded by NGC as MS 62; the label also notes its pedigree to the famous Bushnell, Garrett, and Adams collections. Thus, a new pedigree is added to the medal through our auction – as part of the Resolute Americana Collection.

Our top selling lot in 2022 was this unique silver Declaration of Independence medal.


Our May Treasure Auction saw the sale of a large gold “tumbaga” bar recovered from an early Spanish colonial shipwreck sunk around 1528 off the Bahamas. This crude yet historically important gold bar weighed 1,222 grams of around 10-13 karat gold and bears the tax stamps of Emperor Charles V. Strong bidding drove the price up to its final selling point – $78,000.


Our first US and World Paper Money Auction saw the sale of an incredibly rare Banco de Panama 50 pesos note of 1869. With only 500 notes printed and very few surviving, aggressive bidding led the note to sell for $10,200 on a pre-sale estimate of $4,000 and up.


Several major collections to cross the auction block in our sales this year include two offerings of the John Adams Collection of Admiral Vernon Medals, two sections of the Clyde Hubbard Collection of Mexican Charles-Joanna Coinage, and the Gansu Collection of Chinese Panda Coinage.


A look towards 2023


We have two major sales scheduled in 2023 – Treasure Auction 33 on May 3-4 and Treasure Auction 34 on Nov. 2-3.


With motivated bidders watching our auctions for quality coin rarities, this is the perfect opportunity to consign – whether it’s a full collection or a few choice coins. There are several shows coming up that will make consigning easy for you.

We’ll be at the FUN coin show on Jan. 4-5 here in Orlando, Florida at booths 443 and 445. There, we’ll accept consignments including artifacts or heavy ingots. Our full store inventory will be on display and up for sale as well.


The following week, we will attend the New York International Numismatic Convention on Jan. 11-15 in New York City. Our booth number there is 610. If you’re attending, stop by and see us.


Augi García-Barneche will be walking the Long Beach Expo on Feb. 2-4; this will be the last show before our Treasure Auction 33 consignment deadline in late February. If you’re unable to attend any of these shows, please give us a call or email us to start the consignment process.


We are looking forward to attending the 4th Convención Internacional de Historiadores y Numismáticos (International Convention of Historians and Numismatists) to be held in Santo Domingo from June 28 th to July 2 nd . This academic event brings professional collectors and researchers together for discussions and presentations on Spanish colonial and Dominican numismatic topics. Plus, we’ll tour parts of historical Santo Domingo – the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the Americas.


Two major auctions, plenty of busy coin shows, a major academic event – it’s easy to see why we’re excited for 2023!

Unique Declaration of Independence medal leads record $4.27 million Sedwick auction

11 Nov

A unique American silver medal depicting the presentation of the Declaration of Independence set a new record during Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC’s Nov. 3 & 4 Treasure Auction 32.

The live online and floor auction was itself a record sale for the firm with over $4.27 million sold across 1,622 lots.

The large proof silver medal was created in 1851 by artist Charles Cushing Wright. It was the only example he struck in silver and has been called Wright’s masterpiece.

On one side, the medal depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress on June 28th, 1776. Founding Fathers John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin along with Richard Sherman and Robert R. Livingston on the drafting committee are shown presenting the draft Declaration to the president of Congress, John Hancock. Of the 47 men present in the entire scene set at Independence Hall, 42 of them were signers of the Declaration of Independence. The design is based heavily upon the famous 1818 painting by John Trumbull that currently hangs in the US Capitol rotunda.

The other side of the medal presents a highlight of formative American historical events from the “DISCOVERY OF NORTH AMERICA BY THE ENGLISH.JLY.3.1497” to “ASSAULT ON QUEBEC BY AMERICANS.DEC.31.1775.” A vignette of Europeans landing on America’s shores as a Native American awaits graces the top of the reverse design. The bottom scene depicts a developed, busy American harbor.

The entire ownership pedigree for this unique medal can be traced dating back to Charles Ira Bushnell (Chapman auction of June 1882, lot 1274), the Garrett Estate (Bowers & Ruddy auction of April 1981, lot 1910), Julian Leidman (Bowers & Merena auction of April 1986, lot 4126), and Charles A. Warton (Stack’s Bowers auction of March 2014, lot 2077), subsequently purchased by numismatist John Adams in the Stack’s Bowers auction of August 2018 (lot 46).

NGC graded the medal as MS 62 though a specimen designation is more appropriate to describe this unique piece.

The pre-sale estimate for the lot was $25,000 and up. After spirited bidding, both online and via phone, the medal sold for $168,000. Thus, another pedigree for this unique medal has been added – as part of the Resolute Americana Collection.

“We were honored to offer this uniquely American medal at auction and see it sell so well,” said Daniel Frank Sedwick, president and founder of Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC. “It’s really fitting that the prior owner, John Adams, is himself related to Founding Father John Adams depicted on this medal.”

Shipwreck treasure also saw considerable interest during the auction with many lots surpassing their high estimates.

A unique gold bar recovered from the “Corrigan’s” wreck site of a 1715 Fleet treasure ship at Vero Beach, Florida attracted heavy bidding.

The gold ingot, weighing 915 grams and marked with a fineness of 22k, was made in Colombia before being shipped to Spain in the ill-fated fleet. It bears the royal tax stamp as well as a decorated assayer/foundry stamp (B)ARBACO(A)S indicating its origin from the important Colombian gold mining town, Barbacoas. Salvors recovered the bar in 1983 and, soon after, it went into the collection of 1715 Fleet investor Don Anderson.

With an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000, considerable bidding led to a final sale price of $132,000 for the 1715 Fleet gold bar.

The highest selling coin lot in the auction was an extremely rare gold Venezuela essai 5 venezolanos dated 1875-A in its first auction appearance ever.

The coin, graded by NGC as Proof 62 Cameo, is one of ten struck by the by the Paris Mint for the nation of Venezuela. Only five examples, including this piece, are in private hands. Another four are in museums like the Banco Central in Caracas, Venezuela. The tenth example is buried in the cornerstone of the Simon Bolivar statue by Adamo Tadolini in Plaza Bolivar also in Caracas.

The rarity and importance of this coin in Latin American numismatics sparked a bidding war. The coin ultimately sold for $78,000 on a pre-sale estimate of $30,000 to $45,000.

Other top lots in the sale include:

  • Lima, Peru (State of North Peru), gold 4 escudos, 1838 M, extremely rare, graded NGC AU 53, finest known in NGC census, ex-Hammel, ex-Goodman (lot 1040) sold for $66,000.
  • Philippines (under Spain), silver 8 reales, crowned Isabel II “Y.II” countermark (Type VI, 1834-37) on an Argentina (River Plate Provinces), 8 soles, 1815 FL, Potosi mint, graded NGC AU 53, c/s AU standard (lot 1048) sold for $45,000.
  • Venezuela (struck at the Paris Mint by Barre), silver essai 1/2 real, 1863 E, graded NGC SP 61 (lot 1114) sold for $45,000.
  • Lima, Peru, gold bust 8 escudos, Ferdinand VI, 1758 JP, graded NGC MS 63, ex-Karon, ex-Segarra (lot 1020) sold for $33,600.
  • Guanajuato, Mexico, gold 20 pesos, 1872 S, NGC MS 66, finest known in NGC census (lot 1008) sold for $31,200.
  • Segovia, Spain, gold 4 excelentes, Ferdinand-Isabel, mintmark at top, denomination Arabic 4 above K at bottom between busts, rare, NGC AU 53 (lot 1065) sold for $26,400.
  • Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales Royal (galano), Louis I, 1727 Y, very rare, graded NGC AU details / holed (lot 485) sold for $24,000.
  • Seville, Spain, gold milled 8 escudos, Philip V, 1701 M, florets flanking fleece, 8-S-8-M in tressure-dimples, graded NGC MS 65, finest known in NGC census (lot 1080) sold for $22,800.
  • Panama, proof silver 25 centimos, 1904, very rare, graded NGC PF 64 (lot 1015) sold for $21,000.
  • To see these and other highlights sold at auction click here

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC’s next Treasure Auction will be held in May 3-4, 2023. Interested consignors should contact the company by email at office@sedwickcoins.com or phone +407.975.3325 (deadline February 10, 2023). Full auction results are available at auction.sedwickcoins.com.

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Shipwreck treasure, world rarities abound in Sedwick’s Treasure Auction 32

7 Oct

This catalog for our Treasure Auction 32 to be held live online and in-person on November 3rd & 4th contains some great worldwide numismatic rarities – a perfect appeal to this robust and enthusiastic market.

Lot 44 – Lima, Peru, gold cob 8 escudos, 1708 H, NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Label), ex-Pullin.

With Session I, we have a variety of Gold Cobs – both from Spain as well as the New World. Spain sees the finest and only graded 1690 (M) Seville-minted gold cob 8 escudos in NGC MS 64 (lot 22). The New World selection holds some high grade and rarer 1715 Fleet gold including a discovery piece Bogotá 1712/1 gold cob 2 escudos graded NGC MS 66 (lot 60), a Mexico City gold cob 8 escudos 1713 J graded NGC MS 64 (lot 26), a Lima gold cob 8 escudos 1708 H graded NGC MS 63 pedigreed to the John Pullin Collection (lot 44) and two different varieties of Cuzco gold cob 2 escudos 1698 M both in NGC MS 63 holders (lots 41 and 42). Among non-shipwreck gold cobs, there is the “top pop” Lima gold cob 8 escudos 1729 N graded NGC MS 62 (lot 47) plus the substantially difficult Lima gold cob 8 escudos 1748 R graded by NGC as MS 63.

A wide variety of Shipwreck Ingots includes two hefty gold “finger” bars from the Atocha (1622) from the J.P. Silberman Estate (lots 71 and 72), a fascinating 28.75 kilogram silver ingot from the Maravillas (1656) with original uncleaned coral encrustation (lot 79), and a rectangular gold bar weighing 915 grams from the Corrigan’s wreck site of the 1715 Fleet with ties to Florida salvage history (lot 73). In addition, we have three lustrous gold disk ingots recovered from the Luz (1752) (lots 74-76) whose origins are analyzed by Daniel Frank Sedwick in this catalog’s feature article.

Lot 75 – Gold oval ingot, 1126.09 grams, tested at 0.909 fine gold (21.816K), marked with V-over-upside-down-V monogram and XXXXVI, ex-Luz (1752), ex-Sotheby’s.

Our popular Shipwreck Coins section features an assortment of high grade Atocha coins (lots 94-183) – this year marks the 400th anniversary of its sinking off the Key West. Many of these also come with vintage Mel Fisher certificates of interest to the salvage history collector. Notable coins include a very rare French gold louis d’or 1723-Z from the Chameau (1725) (lot 279), a Santiago gold bust 8 escudos 1751 J from the Luz (1752) graded NGC MS 62 (lot 298), and a clump of seven US Seated Liberty silver half dollars from the SS Republic (1865) – the first time we have offered a clump from this wreck (lot 316).

We’ll begin Session II with our second offering of selections from the Clyde Hubbard Collection of Charles-Joanna Coinage (lots 323-393) in Mexico Silver Cobs with notable rarities like the “Early Series” 4 reales with assayer P to right (lot 323) and the very difficult “Late Series” 4 reales of assayer S unlisted in Nesmith (lot 332). The finest known NGC-graded Lima 8 reales 1684 V in an NGC AU 53 holder (lot 422) stands out in our Lima Silver Cobs section. Watch for some well-struck Royals in Potosí Silver Cobs like the very rare Louis I 8 reales Royal of 1727 Y (lot 485) or the impressively defined 8 reales Royal of 1680 V with pomegranate above the pillars (lot 465).

We’re pleased to host the Gansu Collection of Chinese Panda Coinage in Session III representing 250 lots of very high grade and rare examples from 1982 to 2005 of the iconic Chinese flagship coin series. Some of the series’ greatest rarities make appearances – the 1995 large and small date gold 50 yuans graded NGC MS 69 (lot 646 and 641), the “top pop” 1998 large date 50 yuan graded MS 69 (lot 693), and a gorgeous denomination set of the 1992-P proof gold Pandas (lot 603).

Lot 1115 – Venezuela (struck at the Paris Mint by Barre), gold essai (5 venezolanos), 1875 A, reeded edge, extremely rare, NGC PF 62 Cameo.

The second day of our auction begins with World Coins in Session IV. Desirable coins from across the globe will be sold – from the finest NGC-graded Seville, Spain, gold 8 escudos 1701 M graded NGC MS 65 (lot 1080) to the extremely rare and finest Lima, Peru, gold 4 escudos 1838 M graded NGC AU 53 and pedigreed to the Hammel and Goodman Collections (lot 1040). A pair of key Venezuelan rarities are being offered for the first time publicly in this sale: a gold essai 5 venezolanos 1875-A graded NGC PF 62 Cameo (lot 1115) and a silver essai 1/2 real 1863 E graded NGC SP 61 (lot 1114).

In Session V’s Medals and Decorations, we’ll host our third offering of Admiral Vernon medals from the John Adams Collection (lots 1127-1201). Several very rare silver Bolívar medals are also available such as the Colombia 1828-dated “Bolívar saved from assassination” medal graded NGC AU 58 (lot 1120) and the Bolivia 1825 “Potosí Gratitude to Bolívar” medal (lot 1118). One of the top lots in the entire auction resides in US Coins and Medals: the unique proof silver Declaration of Independence medal crafted by Charles Cushing Wright in the 1850s and based on John Trumbull’s famous 1818 painting (lot 1238). This special medal bears a pedigree chain going back to the original owner, Charles Ira Bushnell, and continuing on to notable collectors such as John Work Garrett and the aforementioned John Adams.

US Paper Money holds the tough South Carolina 7 shillings 6 pence note of 1778 (lot 1241) along with Continental Congress half dollar note of 1776 designed by Benjamin Franklin (lot 1242). In World Paper Money, rare Cuban revolutionary notes like the Junta Central Republicana 10 pesos of 1869 graded PMG VF 25 (lot 1269) and the high-denomination República de Cuba 1000 pesos note of 1869 signed by Carlos Manuel de Céspedes graded PMG XF 40 (lot 1268) are on display.

Lot 1238 – USA, proof silver medal, Declaration of Independence (struck in the 1850s), by Charles Cushing Wright, unique in silver, NGC MS 62 [sic], ex-Bushnell, ex-Garrett, ex-Adams.

The Coin Jewelry selection in Session VI hosts some beautiful Spanish colonial coins in jewelry mounts ready for wearing like a Lima gold cob 8 escudos of Philip V in an 18-karat pendant setting (lot 1292) as well as a Bogotá gold cob 2 escudos from the 1715 Fleet in a 14-karat gold anchor pendant (lot 1293). For the ultimate 1715 Fleet collector, we have an impressive conserved iron signal cannon from the Fleet, still possessing much original detail like the full yoke and lifting handle “dolphins” (lot 1340) in Shipwreck Artifacts. Within Non-Wreck Artifacts, there is a “duel-ready” pair of European flintlock pistols from the 1700s (lot 1344).

Our Express session features some 400 lots of more cost-efficient coins, paper money, and artifacts. We aptly end this auction on lot 1622, the year of the Atocha and Santa Margarita’s sinking.

We wish you the best of luck in this auction!

View the entire online catalog, get registered, and place bids on our auction website here >> https://auction.sedwickcoins.com/auctionlist.aspx

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