Tag Archives: ponte

Now Online! Treasure, World, U.S. Coin and Paper Money Auction 38

13 Oct

This auction brings together one of the most complete and exciting selections we have ever offered, combining important named collections with individual rarities from all across the world of numismatics. The result is a sale that captures the full story of coinage in the Americas and beyond. As usual, it is consignors and bidders who make this possible, so we thank you all!

Our business was built on cobs and shipwreck treasure, for which we remain the world’s foremost experts, so it is no surprise that this auction is loaded with shipwreck ingots, coins, and artifacts. We run a very clean operation—everything is checked carefully for proper provenance and certification, and in most cases the material we offer comes straight from the source. In fact, our auctions are better than buying from the source directly, as everything we sell is guaranteed and certifiable at any time. In today’s fly-by-night world, this is a critical difference.

First, it is our privilege to presen the Sedwick-Downing Collection of Charles-Joanna Coinage of Mexico City, the result of more than a decade of study and collecting. What began as curiosity grew into a deep passion for the beauty, history, and meaning behind the first coins of the New World. This catalog marks an important milestone in that journey, with the full publication of Cori’s research to follow soon.

For this auction, we hit the ground running with the McGregor Collection of Gold Cobs from the 1715 Fleet, a vivid reminder of the beauty and adventure tied to Spanish colonial treasure. While this collection showcases a full range of denominations of gold cobs from Mexico City (including a fabulous Royal-dies 1714 8 escudos) and Lima, it also contributes to significant offerings from Cuzco and Cartagena, the latter including a coin that will be featured in Daniel Sedwick’s upcoming book, Arce’s Doubloons. Of course, our treasure coverage is certainly not limited to Spanish colonial cobs. In fact, in this sale we feature all of the famous United States shipwrecks, namely S.B. Pulaski (1838), S.S. New York (1846), S.S. Central America (1857), S.S. Brother Jonathan (1865), and S.S. Republic(1865).

Highlighting our usual silver-cob offerings are several key collections, in addition to the aforementioned Sedwick–Downing Collection. In Lima cobs you will find the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Cob 2 Reales, and in Guatemala cobs is the Darby Collection of Guatemala Cobs, both the result of decades of study and selectivity by devoted specialists. As always, “Royals” (galanos) steal the attention in all three cob sections (Mexico, Lima, Potosí), including a unique Mexican 4 reales Royal dated 1612/1, expanding the cob market into a rarified level of special pieces for truly dedicated collectors.

Outside of cobs, this auction presents an enviable selection of Latin American trophy coins, including two concentrated collections in Chile (the Val y Mexía Collection of Chilean Bust 4 Reales) and Peru (the Almenara Collection of Peruvian Republic Gold Coins), plus key rarities in Spanish colonial pillar dollars (Mexico 1732 and Nuevo Reino 1759), Cuba (unique Guanabacoa medal dated 1747 plus many rare or unique modern proofs), Dominican Republic (10 reales silver pattern 1855), and Panama (1904 proof set), and a veritable panoply of types from around the world, not just the Americas (including some key U.S. coins) but also Europe, Asia, and even Africa. The mix extends from ancients and early hammered types to classic milled crowns and gold issues, all the way to modern proofs, and every section offers key pieces selected for rarity and quality in a range that rarely appears at auction.

           

The other side of numismatics is paper money, and in Latin America we continue a strong auction presence, here with a selection of incredibly rare and high-grade Dominican Republic notes issued between 1857 and 1865, all new to the market.

Finally, our auctions are unique for offering treasures in coin jewelry and shipwreck artifacts in a wide range of time periods (over two centuries), particularly from the Atocha (1622), Concepción (1641), Bannister’s pirate ship Golden Fleece (1686), 1715 Fleet, and S.S. Central America(1857).

As yet another exciting auction from the Sedwick company, this one is sure to get everyone’s collecting juices flowing, demonstrating that numismatics and treasure transform history and artistry into excitement and positive human collaboration, something our world can surely use more of today.

 

The Sedwick & Associates, LLC team:

Daniel Sedwick, Augi García-Barneche, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk,

Michelle Heidt, and Sarah Sproles

Live on the Internet, Thursday-Saturday, November 13, 14, & 15, 2025

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

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The Great Cob Collector: Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó

13 Oct

We are honored to present the second part of the remarkable collection of Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó, focusing on rare 4 reales and 8 reales cobs from Lima and Potosí. Luis Roberto’s passion for South American cobs was unmatched, and his collection reflects years of dedication to acquiring some of the finest and rarest examples. It’s a privilege for us to now offer these exceptional pieces to collectors around the world.

In this publication, we also share a tribute from his brother, Alejandro, which beautifully captures Luis Roberto’s love for numismatics and the legacy he leaves behind.

Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó

Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó
17/04/1962 – 14/03/2023

“Born in Caracas, Venezuela, descended from an ancient lineage linked to the culture, history, and science of his country, he was a passionate numismatist and historian, a respected lawyer, graduating with Honors from the prestigious Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in 1986. He pursued his profession successfully and brilliantly, being one of the best lawyers in Venezuela, legally representing major companies of the country, demonstrating his dedication and commitment to excellence. His legal background, combined with his passion for history, provided him with a unique and valuable perspective that he applied both in his professional life and in his personal interests.
“Numismatics fascinated him so much that he became an eminent researcher and one of the most outstanding collectors in the world, with vast knowledge of macuquinas (cobs), Hispano-American mints such as Lima, Potosí, and expertise in Venezuelan coins. He presented countless conferences, publications in national and international forums, contributing significant discoveries to this world. He served as Secretary and Legal Advisor of the Venezuelan Numismatic Society. He was a Corresponding Member, Secretary, and Legal Advisor of the Venezuelan Numismatic Society (Sonuve); Lifetime Member of the American Numismatic Society (ANS); Corresponding Member and District Representative for Venezuela of the American Numismatic Association (ANA); Member of the Spanish Numismatic Association (ANE); Member of the Numismatic Association of Chile (ANUCH), Member of Colombian Numismatists (Numiscol); Member of the Philatelic and Numismatic Circle of Barcelona (CNFB); Corresponding Member of the Federal Institute of Numismatic Researchers of the Argentine Republic (IFINRA); Number Member of the Dominican Numismatic Society (SND); among others.
“Luis Roberto dedicated the last years of his life to meticulous research in the historical archives of the Indies in Seville, Spain, leaving several of his findings in progress, which will be published in the near future. He was not just a coin collector; he was an investigator and explorer of the past. Each coin in his collection told a story, which was a small piece of the puzzle of our civilization. As a historian, his insatiable curiosity and meticulous attention to detail allowed him to delve into the mysteries of the past in a way that few could. Luis was always an exemplary, virtuous, cultured, brilliant, dedicated, and enthusiastic human being, whose generosity, simplicity, and humility transcended in all those who had the opportunity to know him. Despite the sadness we feel, he will be remembered for his love of life, his dedication, and passion for history and numismatics. His loss is irreparable, but his legacy will endure for decades in his research, his coins, and in our memories.”

ALEJANDRO LUIS PONTE PUIGBÓ

Link to his collection

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Unprecedented Offering of Spanish Colonial 8 Reales Cobs in Sedwick’s Auction 35

29 Apr

The Luis R. Ponte Collection, a featured collection in Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC’s Treasure, World, U.S. Coin and Paper Money Auction 35, features a vast array of 1500s-1600s Spanish colonial cob 8 reales.

“We hope this unique offering of exquisite and well-studied material from one of the greatest cob collectors of all time will inspire other great collectors for the next few decades and more.” says company Founder and President Daniel Sedwick, a longtime expert in cobs.

The collection consists of silver cobs from the two most prolific Spanish colonial mints in South America to produce silver cobs, Lima and Potosí. Only a small percentage of the coins were made well and stayed in undamaged condition through the centuries. This collection of top examples could only be assembled by a knowledgeable collector with an eye for rarities and access to special offerings and auctions around the world.

“It is a pleasure to work with such a well-curated collection,” Sedwick continues. “Coins like these are assembled only through decades of attentive acquisition with judicious upgrading and augmentation as opportunities arise.”

Some particular highlights from the Lima mint include a very rare assayer Rincón 8 reales of 1568, a selection of assayer Diego de la Torre pieces from 1577-88, a choice run of rare “Star of Lima” varieties from 1659-60, and a massive round 1686 R “Royal” (galano) 8 reales. The Potosí offerings include a long run of shield-types from 1574-1652 including a Rincón 8 reales and several fully dated pieces plus a vast collection of Potosí countermarked coins from the Great Transition of 1649-52. This last group comprises the choicest and most advanced assemblage of rare countermarks we have ever offered, including quite a few extremely rare multiple-countermarked pieces, mostly from the Capitana (1654) and Maravillas (1656) shipwrecks. Many of the coins feature old and extensive collector pedigree histories and some are trophies never to be seen on the market again. For this important occasion, Daniel Frank Sedwick has added two special articles: one a variety list of “Star of Lima” coinage and the other a practical summary of exhaustive data on the Potosí 1649-52 countermarks presented in multiple volumes by expert Robert Mastalir.

Here is a selection of choice pieces from the Luis R. Ponte Collection:

The three-day auction will be held live online at auction.sedwickcoins.com.

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  



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