Sedwick Auctions is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of Treasure Auction 38, held November 13–15 at our new headquarters, with total results hitting $5 million.
Bidding shattered previous records across every major category: shipwreck coins and artifacts, gold and silver cobs, colonial coins, world coins, and rare Latin American issues.
Now we invite collectors and consignors to join our next flagship event. Consignments will be open from the beginning of December 2025 through the first week of March 2026. Mark your calendars: Our next live floor auction will take place May 6–9, 2026 at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Winter Park, Florida.
Check our travel scheduleto consign in person or contact us to arrange a private visit at your location. We look forward to showcasing your collection in our next auction!
Lot 13 – MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos “quasi-Royal,” 1714 J, “GRAT” variety with date on reverse, very rare, NGC MS 61, ex-McGregor, Flemming Plate. $ 51,000*
Lot 16 – MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos, 1714 J, struck with Royal dies, very rare, NGC MS 63, finest in NGC census, ex-McGregor, Flemming Plate. $ 96,000*Lot 38 – PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1712 M, flipover double-strike, NGC MS 64 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), ex-McGregor.$ 39,000*
Lot 44 – PERU, Lima, gold cob 4 escudos, 1712 M, rare, NGC MS 63 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), “top pop,” ex-McGregor. $ 42,000*
Lot 79 – Atocha large silver ingot 296 from Potosí, Class Factor 1.0, 86 lb 5.44 oz troy, marked with mint/date Po1621, (1622). $ 90,000*
Lot 319 – Ex-Whydah Wreck – Mexico City, cob 4 reales, Philip V, (J), style of 1712-14, very rare provenance.$ 27,600*
Lot 518 – MEXICO, Mexico City, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, “Early Series,” assayer Latin R over Gothic R (Rincón), NGC AU 50, ex-Sedwick-Downing $ 45,000*
Lot 932 – COLOMBIA, Bogotá, pillar 8 reales, Ferdinand VI, 1759 JV, very rare, NGC AU 53, ex-Patterson (cover). $ 42,000*Lot 954 – CUBA, struck at the Gorham Mint, proof 1 peso, 1898, NGC PF 63, “top pop.”$ 36,000*
Lot 966 – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, pattern 10 reales in solid silver, 1855, extremely rare, NGC MS 62, ex-Whittier (cover), ex-Byrne, KM Plate. $ 78,000*
Lot 1125 – MEXICO, Mexico City, pillar 8 reales, Philip V, 1732 F, three mouldings atop right pillar, very rare, NGC AU 58, ex-Ortiz $ 156,000*
Lot 1161 – PANAMA, cob ½ real, Philip II, assayer P-M,, extremely rare, NGC mint error AU 50 / flipover double struck. $ 31,200*
Lot 1166 – PANAMA, struck at the Philadelphia mint, proof 50 centésimos, 1904, very rare, NGC PF 63. $ 96,000*
Lot 1167 – PANAMA, copper-nickel 2½ centésimos, 1918, very rare, NGC MS 63 ex-Stuart, finest known.$ 36,000*
Lot 1516 – Gold and red-coral rosary, ex-1715 Fleet. $ 60,000*
Sedwick Auction 37 delivered exceptional results, marked by record-breaking prices for standout rarities and a stellar performance by the Almenara Collection of gold coins from Potosí and Lima. With finest known examples, multiple provenances, and strong historical significance, these colonial treasures drew intense bidding, reaffirming the market’s focus on rarity, condition, and pedigree.
The results confirmed a trend we’ve observed across recent sales: this is a market driven by knowledgeable and discerning collectors—those who seek out the most important pieces and are willing to compete for them. From rare milled coinage to hand-struck cobs, buyers responded strongly to top-tier material. Shipwreck coins continued their momentum, with rising prices across the board and sustained interest from collectors who value both history and preservation.
At the same time, Auction 37 offered meaningful opportunities for new and mid-level collectors. Strong bidding across a range of price points demonstrated that there is still room for growth and participation at all levels, making this auction a success not only for established specialists but also for newcomers with a passion for numismatics.
This auction also marked a special milestone—it was the first time we hosted a live sale in our new offices. The in-house event brought together collectors, consignors, and guests for an exclusive and memorable experience.
Over the course of six sessions held from May 7 to 9 at our offices in Maitland, Florida, the following highlights unfolded:
Lot 92 Large silver ingot 728 from Potosí, Class Factor 1.0, 76 lb oz troy, marked with dated 1621 – $66,000*
Lot 46 PERU, Lima, gold cob 2 escudos, 1748 R, very rare, NGC MS 65, finest and only example in NGC census – $39,000*
Lot 495 MEXICO, Mexico City, 3 reales, Charles-Joanna, “Early Series,” assayer Rincón – $48,000*
Lot 1037 SANTO DOMINGO, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, “Early Series,” assayer F to left – $75,000*
Lot 1026 COSTA RICA, San José, gold 20 pesos, 1873 GW, very rare, NGC UNC details – $54,000*
Lot 848 BOLIVIA, Potosí, gold bust 2 escudos, Charles IV (bust of Charles III) 1789 PR AU 58, finest – $48,000*
Lot 1216 PERU, Lima, gold bust 4 escudos, Charles III, 1765 JM, second bust (“rat nose”), very rare – $42,000*
Lot 1399 PHILIPPINES, GUAM, and the MARIANA ISLANDS (Spanish East Indies), cast 2 Reales-sized Proclamation – $45,000*
Lot 1665 Gold pendant with diamonds and emeralds, ex-Tolosa (1724), Borrell Plate, Smithsonian Plate – $42,000*
Given the exclusive nature of our auctions, now is the perfect time to start thinking about consigning your collection or select coins for future sales. We thank our consignors and bidders for continuing to choose Sedwick Auctions. More great things are coming soon!
This auction is one of our biggest to date, with many important rarities in coins, currency, and artifacts! In our Gold Cobs section you will find such trophies as a Seville, Spain, 1681/0/79 S gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 61 (Lot 23) and the finest known Seville, Spain, 1659 (R) gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Lot 17). Also note a lovely Lima, Peru, 1748 R gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Lot 37). Shipwreck Ingots hosts one of the finest selections of shipwreck gold bars that we’ve had so far, with several unique gold ingots from the “Golden Fleece” wreck, the Atocha, the 1715 Fleet, the Luz, and the “Nanking Cargo” (Lots 73-77). Four large silver bars from the Atocha in this sale make a veritable grade set with Class Factors 0.7 up to the perfect 1.0 available for bidding (Lots 82-85). A new feature in Shipwreck Coins is that gold cobs are now included with their respective wrecks. The Silver Banks Collection hosts over 60 silver cobs recovered from the Concepción by Captain Tracy Bowden (Lots 132-195). There’s an incredible selection of Capitana and Maravillas cobs from the Luis R. Ponte Collection including numerous countermarked pre-1652 shield-type 8 reales along with transitional and post-transitional types. The popular 1715 Fleet features a strong assortment of high-grade gold cobs including a fantastic Mexico City, Mexico, 1715 J cob 8 escudos graded NGC AU 58 (Lot 296) and the spectacularly rare Cuzco, Peru, 1698 M cob 1 escudo graded NGC AU 58 (Lot 311). A selection of U.S. shipwreck coins from the S.S. New York, S.S. Central America, and the S.S. Republic are up for sale including a rare San Francisco Assay Office gold $10 graded PCGS XF45 recovered from the S.S. Central America (Lot 424). Mexico Silver Cobs has a small but nice group of rare “Early” and “Late” Series Charles-Joanna reales (Lots 448-451). Within Lima Silver Cobs, there are several Philip II rarities including a 4 reales of Assayer Rincón plated in Grunthal-Sellschopp’s The Coinage of Peru (Lot 457) along with many more choice pieces pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection. Our robust Potosí Silver Cobs section features more key coins from the Luis R. Ponte Collection including a Philip II cob 8 reales of assayer L (1st period) with denomination o-VIII over P-M to right, a rarity also plated in Grunthal-Sellschopp (Lot 518). A number of very rare Royals from the Potosí Mint are being offered: Watch for the finest known 1704/3 Y cob 8 reales Royal graded NGC AU 55 (Lot 654) and the extremely rare 1709 Y cob 8 reales Heart ex-von Schuckmann (Lot 655) in this section. Several very important collections are featured in World Coins including the Jorge Becerra Collection of Colombian Colonial Coins, the JEAS Collection of Gold Coins of Independent Colombia, Part I of the Emilio M. Ortiz Collection of Gold Coins, and Part I of the John M. O’Brien Reference Collection of Peruvian Coins. Collectors of classic Chinese coin rarities should watch for Lots 870 through 911 for numerous vintage Chinese coins from the imperial and republican eras with particular highlights being the eye-appealing Tsao-Kun military attire silver dollar of 1923 graded PCGS MS 64 (Lot 906) and the ever-popular Kweichow Year 17 (1928) “Auto” dollar graded PCGS VF 30 (Lot 909). A key coin in this session is the rare Jamaica GR countermarked of 1758 on a Lima, Peru, gold bust 8 escudos of 1751 J graded NGC c/s AU strong pedigreed to the Farouk and Rudman collections (Lot 1282). Spanish gold milled 8 escudos are well represented with several finest known and “top pop” pieces up for bidding including the gorgeous and finest known Seville, Spain, 1714 M gold 8 escudos graded NGC MS 65 (Lot 1429). Chile is another very strong area in this sale with many Spanish colonial and Republic gold and silver types available for the expert collector including the very rare Coquimbo 1828 TH “volcano” peso graded NGC AU 50 (Lot 830). The curated Medals and Decorations section hosts several tough Bolivian medals and orders including a gold Ingaví millitary decoration of 1841 (Lot 1458). We also present another selection of Admiral Vernon medals from the prestigious John Adams Collection (Lots 1465-1486). Within U.S. Coins, Medals, and Tokens there are several important early American rarities, notably an amazing 1787 Fugio cent graded NGC MS 66 Brown—a lofty “top pop” grade for this historical type (Lot 1500). Other highlights include a 1883-S gold $20 double eagle graded PCGS AU53 from the Saddle Ridge Hoard (Lot 1490) as well as an 1894 gold proof $2½ quarter eagle graded NGC PF 58 (Lot 1491). The U.S. Paper Money section has several tough Obsoletes including two Civil War-era State of Florida notes (Lots 1506 and 1507). World Paper Money hosts many beautiful, high-grade, Latin American specimens and proofs including the finest known Costa Rica Banco Mercantil specimen 20 colones graded PMG Superb Gem UNC 67 EPQ (Lot 1523) and a very rare PMG-graded set of five Dominican Republic progressive proofs from 1978-1982 (Lot 1536). The fifth session of our sale starts with Ancient and Medieval coins with many popular Ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine designs, including a beautifully toned Imperial Roman silver “elephant” denarius of Julius Caesar (Lot 1561) and a lustrous NGC-graded Mint State Byzantine Empire gold solidus of Justinian II (Lot 1565). Following that, the popular Coin Jewelry section hosts many gold and silver shipwreck, Spanish colonial, and ancient coins mounted into settings and ready for wearing. This auction has a very strong Shipwreck Artifacts section featuring many pieces from the Concepción salvage work done by Captain Tracy Bowden as well as pieces he recovered from Bannister’s pirate ship Golden Fleece sunk off the Dominican Republic in 1686—an historic first offering of a new pirate shipwreck!—in addition to items from the Guadalupe and Tolosa of 1724. The Non-Wreck Artifacts section holds an array of fossils (Lots 1640-1650) as well as historical items like a sword presented in 1856 to Heinrich Halfeld for engineering work in Minas Gerais, Brazil (Lot 1654). We close out the sale with the online-only Express session featuring over 400 lots from all categories. We wish you all good luck and hope you find the next great treasures for your collection in this sale!
For more details about the auction email us or call us.
Event Summary Start Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 (Lot viewing and educations talks)
Educational Talks: 2:00 – 2:45 PM: Jorge Becerra Leon (Bogotá,) – “Colonial Colombian Coins” 3:00 – 3:45 PM: Jorge Ugaz (Lima,) – “The Cob Coinage of El Peru” (Spanish) 4:00 – 4:45 PM: Ignacio Gutierrez (Madrid) – “Los Doblones de a Ocho” 5:00 – 5:45 PM: Emilio M. Ortiz (Puerto Rico,) – “Gold Coinage of The Caribbean” 6:00 – 6:20 PM: Charlie Winn – (Representing The 1715 Fleet Society) 6:45 – 8:00 PM: Invitation-only cocktail reception at SpringHill Suites.
Thursday, November 7, 2024 9:00 AM: Floor auction with live internet bidding begins Gold Cobs | Shipwreck Ingots | Shipwreck Coins | Silver Cobs by mint
Friday, November 8, 2024 9:00 AM: Floor auction with live internet bidding continues: World Coins (by country) | Medals and Decorations | U.S. Coins | Paper Money Ancient Coins | Coin Jewelry | Artifacts
9:00 PM: Express Session (selected items from all categories)
Saturday, November 9, 2024 9:00 – 11:30 AM: Lot pick-up
Sedwick’s Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction 35 Live Online Auction May 7, 8, & 9, 2024
The variety of rare, historical, and even unique coins, currency, and artifacts within this auction offer a great opportunity to add valuable pieces to your collection!
Gold Cobs: Includes a number of 1715 Fleet shipwreck coins such as a Mexico City, Mexico, (1714) J gold cob 8 escudos struck with Royal dies graded NGC MS 64, pedigreed to Kip Wagner’s 1965 National Geographic article “Drowned Galleons Yield Spanish Gold” (Lot 40), as well as two beautiful Mint State Mexico gold cob 8 escudos dated 1715 J (Lots 43 and 44). Peru gold from the 1715 Fleet is also notable with the finest known Lima, Peru, 1705 H gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 64 (Lot 57) and the unique Lima, Peru, 1709 M 2 escudos struck with the pillars-side die meant for a Royal 2 reales graded NGC MS 65 (Lot 72).
Shipwreck Ingots: Features an impressive, uncut gold ingot weighing 2,274 grams recovered from the famous Atocha shipwreck (Lot 96) and a rare silver piña ingot, one of just three known from the wreck (Lot 107). Shipwreck Coins: Packed with over 600 lots including treasures such as two Seville, Spain, gold cob 2 escudos from the Santa Margarita shipwreck (Lots 278 and 279), a “top pop” Bogota, Colombia, gold cob 2 escudos graded NGC MS 65 from the Maravillas shipwreck (Lot 425), and an NGC-slabbed set of Spanish colonial 1/2, 1, 2, and 8 reales from the “Coconut Wreck,” AKA “Blue Abyss Shipwreck” (Lot 695). Notable collections include the Bill Barman Collection of Atocha Research Coins (Lots 136 to 155) and selections from the Silver Banks Treasures Collection of silver cobs recovered from the Concepcion shipwreck (Lots 315 to 373). Ever-popular shipwreck coin clumps from wrecks such as the Concepcion, the 1733 Fleet, and the Hollandia (just to name a few) should not be missed. Silver Cobs of Mexico: Includes many high-grade Charles-Joanna and Philip II pieces such as the extremely rare Charles-Joanna “Late Series” assayer S 4 reales (Lot 732) and a high-grade 1733 MF klippe 8 reales (Lot 766). Silver Cobs of Lima: Hosts a key rarity, the Lima, Peru, assayer R (Rincon) cob 8 reales of Philip II the first “dollar” coin struck in South America (Lot 768).This piece is one of just sixteen known and represents a crowning achievement in the Luis R. Ponte Collection being offered in this sale. A knowledgeable numismatist and longtime friend, Luis built his collection with an eye for rarity and quality in Spanish colonial coinage, which readily shows in this catalog, from a stunning group of “Star of Lima” coinage (Lots 801 to 814) to an exceptional and extremely rare Lima, Peru, 1686 R cob 8 reales Royal (galano) graded NGC XF 40 (Lot 817).
Silver Cobs of Potosi: Features more rarities from the Luis R. Ponte Collection, including the finest-ever assemblage of countermarked shield type cob 8 reales (Lots 934 to 1033) and a very rare first-issue Potosi, Bolivia, assayer R (Rincon) cob 8 reales of Philip II (Lot 825), as well as the only known Potosi, Bolivia, 1732 M cob 8 reales Royal (Lot 1067).
World Coins: A beautiful selection of high-grade Vintage Chinese Coin Rarities such as the Hupeh Year 30 (1904) tael graded PCGS MS 62 (Lot 1190) and the gorgeously designed Hsu Shih-chang Year 10 (1921) Pavilion dollar graded PCGS SP 61 (Lot 1198). Also featured is a choice selection of Colombian Republic silver minors from Gregorio Toulemonde Collection Be sure to look for the rare one-year type La Rioja, Argentina, 1842 R Rosas gold 2 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Lot 1095), the lustrous “top pop” Santiago, Chile, 1820 FD gold 8 escudos graded NGC MS 62 (Lot 1162), and the wonderfully toned Santiago, Chile, 1817 FJ “Volcano” peso graded NGC MS 61 from the Val y Mexia Collection (Lot 1157)—just to name a few of the many choice rarities to be found.
U.S. Coins, Medals, and Tokens: hosts a selection of gold and silver coins recovered from the Marblehead Hoard buried in Massachusetts in the early 1800s (Lots 1482 to 1488) plus a handsome example of the 1795 Draped Bust silver dollar (Lot 1475). Be sure to check out the gold lifesaving medal awarded by President McKinley in 1900 (Lot 1480).
U.S. Paper Money: Features a colorful Rainbow $2 series of 1869 Legal Tender note graded PMG VF 35 (Lot 1497) and colonial and continental currency marked by two Fugio notes of 1776 (Lots 1493 and 1494).
World Paper Money: Includes two great sets of banknote rarities: the finest known PMG-graded San Juan, Argentina, Banco de Cuyo pesos fuertes specimen set (Lot 1499) and an original Thomas de la Rue & Co. Ltd. specimen banknote album (Lot 1510). Also watch for the 1811-dated Venezuela 2- and 1-peso notes that represent Venezuela’s first paper money (Lots 1508 and 1509).
Ancient Coins and Coin Jewelry: Features several nice Ancient Gaul and Greek silver coins and several eye-catching gold cob 8 escudos mounted in gold bezels (Lots 1527 to 1529).
Shipwreck Artifacts: Stands out for two shipwreck-pedigreed gold chains, one from the 1715 Fleet and the other from the Leocadia (Lots 1562 and 1565), as well as a hefty bronze cannon breech block salvaged from the 1733 Fleet (Lot 1564). The Non-Shipwreck Artifacts section holds various historical artifacts like flintlock pistols and signal cannons.
Express Session: The third day of the auction hosts the Express session, where a variety of numismatic rarities is sure to attract many different bidders.
Today we want to make you aware of some very important silver coins you can bid on in our upcoming Sedwick Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction #20. When you see descriptions containing words or phrases like “unique,” “very rare,” “finest known,” and “unlimited value,” you can be sure these items will bring top dollar…and be worth every penny. It bears repeating that we often say you should buy the “best” coins you can afford, whether that means coins in the best condition or of the highest rarity. The good things in life don’t come cheaply but you’ll rarely regret your decision to buy them and enjoy them for years. Good luck in our auction!
Lot 561, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a Mexico City, Mexico, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, “Early Series,” coin and those who collect them know that varieties with the assayer mark (P) to the left and mintmark (M) to the right are generally much rarer than others. Also, this is an early variety in Assayer P’s tenure with the use of HISPANIE instead of the later use of HISPANIARVM in the legend on the pillars side.
Lot 664, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is an extremely rare Mexico City, Mexico, cob 1 real Royal, 1643/2P. It is probably unique, but certainly unique in quality and of almost unlimited in value to the specialist collector.
Lot 777, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a rare Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1634T and the first coin collected by Emilio Paoletti, (and ex-Burzio, ex-Martini, ex-Janson) with copy #1 of Paoletti’s book 8 Reales Cobs of Potosi (3rd ed., 2016) and signed by him on the first page where the number 001 appears. What a remarkable pedigree!
Lot 857, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a rare Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1652E transitional Type III from the Capitana (1654). What is interesting about this die variety is that the O-E above 52 to right of shield is punched over N-8.
Lot 961, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a rare Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales Royal, 1714Y with an interesting four-digit date below cross (the standard for 1712-15).
Lot 967, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a very rare Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales Royal, 1725Y, Louis I, ordinal PRIMERO. Royals of Louis I are among the most desirable and difficult to obtain, particularly since the general coins of this period are so crude. The present example is very bold, with full inner details and nearly full legends, including full LVIS PRIMERO (not just PR) and POTOSI (the pillars side slightly off-center).
Lot 1027, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is an extremely rare and currently unique Potosi, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, 1732YA. This is a very important 4R, as it is the ONLY date and assayer (not counting overdates) that we have NEVER seen in our 25-year study of Potosi pillars-and-waves cobs.
Lot 1079, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is an extremely rare Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real Heart, 1718Y. It’s an attractive example of the classic Heart shape and like most Heart minors, this specimen is probably unique.
Lot 1086, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a Bogota, Colombia, cob 8 reales, 1670, assayer PoRS. It’s the finest and only known specimen in NGC census (NGC certification #4348135001) and is certainly among the choicest Bogota pillars-and-waves cobs in existence, in fact the highest of all Bogota cob 8R at NGC by two grades.
Lot 1338, Sedwick Treasure Auction #20
The above is a very rare Nicaragua (Leon), provisional “imitation cob” 2 reales, 1823 P.M.P.Y. It is probably the finest known of this Leon type with “pine tree” tops of pillars, a type rarely seen without a hole or significant damage. See Carlos Jara’s book Central American Provisional and Provincial Mints (2007) for more information about the attribution of this type to Leon.
We hope you find exactly what you’re looking for in our upcoming auction and please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have. You can see coin lots in person this weekend (and see Dan, Augi, and Connor) at the Whitman Expo at the Baltimore Convention Center November 3-6.
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