Crossing the Block: The Law Sale Achieves Awesome Results

By Bruce Roland Hagen, Senior Numismatist and Consignment Director, Currency

The ANA World's Fair of Money has commenced and auction sessions are now in full swing. Lot viewing and the hallways have been populated with English accents for the past few days as the sale Thos. H. Law Collection of English Gold Coins has finally commenced, with live bidding in the auction room as well as attention across the globe via the Internet. The anticipated British invasion of leading collectors and dealers has electrified the auction room with frenetic bidding on the first 189 lots, all English hammered gold coins from Edward III to the Commonwealth of Oliver Cromwell.

The first 100 lots of the sale broke the $1 million aggregate total handily and the total prices realized, including the buyer's premium broke the $5 million mark for the 459 lots in the sale.

Early action was superb as many hammered gold coins eclipsed their low estimates by factors of two, three and sometimes five times. There were many highlights in the first half of the session, too many to mention in their entirety. Look for a full Law Collection report in next week’s newsletter. The Edward V Angel, lot 20044, realized $28,200. The pair of Richard III Angels fetched $28,200 (lot 20045) and 17,625 (lot 20046) in extremely heavy bidding.

The Tudor hammered issues were expected to star in this sale and they did not disappoint. Greatly anticipated was the quartet of Henry VII Tudor Fine Sovereigns and the hushed room saw fireworks erupt during bidding. When the final bid was called for lot 20047 (the Type I style), the new owner paid $499,375 for this illustrious example bought by Mr. Law in 1983. Edward VI coins were very strong and his Fine Sovereign, lot 20080, broke the 300,000 mark realizing a full $329,000. Elizabeth and Stuart coins also displayed great popularity for all types and sizes. The Elizabeth I Fine Gold Ryal, lot 20106, brought $105,750. A diminutive jewel-like Elizabeth Milled Half Crown, lot 20123, weighing in at only 21.7 grains, reached $41,125, over five times the high estimate. 

Complete results can be found at www.stacksbowers.com and as a reminder, Internet only sale lots close for bids on Tuesday, August 20, 2013. Consignments are now being taken for our world, U.S. coin and paper money auctions for the rest of the year and future sales in Baltimore, New York and Hong Kong. Call us today at 1-800-458-4646 or email us at info@stacksbowers.com.