World Coin of the Week: A Tour of the World Awaits You in the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio November Baltimore Auction

By Greg Cohen, Numismatist and Consignment Director, U.S. and World Coins.

We are very proud to offer a very diverse auction of coins and paper money of the ancient and modern world, featuring coins from the Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Collection, the Demarete Collection, the Cardinal Collection, the Robert Lyle Collection, the Huntington Collection, the Katherine Gordon Krone Collection of Revolutionary Coins and Currency, and the Estate of Michael K. Ringo. There are also extensive offerings of “odd and curious” primitive money and Mexican coins from colonial times through to the modern era.

The schedule is as follows: Session A begins on Thursday, November 15 at 9am with crowns and minors of the world, as well as world medals and a special section on Odd and Curious Money; Session B, on Friday November 16 at 9am begins with a wide range of Mexican coins, followed by a large selection of coins of the ancient world; and Session C on Friday, November 16 at 6pm features world gold coins and world banknotes. Two online only sessions close at 3pm (PST) on Tuesday, November 20.

We are pleased to offer selections from the Demarete Collection, Part V, which as before offers a diverse selection of world type coins, from ancient to modern times, in gold, silver and copper. As before, the quality of the coins in the Demarete Collection is generally very high, and the coins will entice strong bidder participation from all corners of the globe. Of particular interest is the extensive offering of Greek silver coins, which is the anchor to our 400 lot Ancient section.

Continuing with the great success of the United States portion of the Geraldine Rockefeller Dodge Collection in our June Baltimore auction, we are pleased to offer the World portion of the collection in this sale. Always historic, interesting, and collectible, world medals are a great area to explore and the medals in this collection offer a broad range of subjects, highlighted by a gold 1897 Victoria Diamond Jubilee medal.

One of the great aspects of numismatics is that it is entirely personal. There is no right or wrong way to collect; there is always something that tickles each collector’s fancy. The historic coins and bank notes associated with revolts and revolutions throughout history is represented by the Katherine Gordon Krone Collection. Assembled roughly from the late 1960s through the 1970s, this very interesting thematic collection is highlighted by a 1934 Chinese-Soviet dollar and a 1577 Taler of Danzig.

While the Cardinal Educational Foundation Collection is widely known for its spectacular United States rarities (most of which will be offered in our New York January Americana sale), the collection also includes some interesting English proof half pennies and pennies in gilt copper, as well as other proof coins of the Soho mint.

We are pleased to present Portuguese and Brazilian coins from the famed Archer Huntington Collection that had been on loan from the Hispanic Society at the ANS for decades, until being sold earlier this year. Though few in number, these historic pieces will be well received by the collecting public when they cross the block.

The Ronald Lyle Collection, which has been written about in previous blogs, is a wonderful holding of hammered English gold. These coins have been held by the collector since the 1960s and are making their first appearance to the current generation of collectors. Highlighted by the Commonwealth Unite of 1653 in PCGS EF-45, these gold coins are sure to cause excitement when they cross the block.

Also offered is a major collection of odd and curious money, anchored by several Yap Stones, beetle leg money, brass rings from West Africa, and other forms of primitive money, which rarely comes to the auction market. These “coins” will be long talked about by their new owners.

Mexican coins, long a specialty for the Ponterio family, are represented by 460 plus lots, running the gamut from colonial times to the modern era, with extensive offerings of War of Independence and Revolutionary issues, as well as very rare dates and condition rarities. We are proud to offer the finest certified 1901-ZsAZ Peso (NGC AU-58) as well as an extremely rare Suriana 2 Pesos, 1915 in AU-58 (NGC). Many other key date and interesting varieties are available for Mexican specialists. Another offering like this may be years away.

Nearly 300 lots of world banknotes, with a strong mix of countries and issues, is also being offered. Lately, this specialty has been gaining popularity, and there is something for everyone in this sale. If paper money is your interest, you should take a good look.

The catalog is currently in the mail to those on our mailing list. If you are not currently on our list, please contact one of our auction services representatives to receive one. The listings are also available online, where you can place bids prior to the sale. We will begin lot viewing in our Irvine office October 22 until the 30 by appointment only; followed by viewing November 6-10 in our New York office before going to Baltimore, where viewing will begin on November 12. From all of us here at Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio, we wish you good luck in bidding.