$100,000,000 Sold! – Another Monumental Milestone in a Record-Setting Year for the Stack’s Bowers Galleries World and Ancient Coin Department
The Stack’s Bowers Galleries World and Ancient Coins department is delighted to announce that their sales for 2021 have exceeded $100,000,000, far surpassing the total for any previous year.
Costa Mesa, CA – The Stack’s Bowers Galleries World and Ancient Coins department is delighted to announce that their sales for 2021 have exceeded $100,000,000, far surpassing the total for any previous year. This milestone signals an uptick in market growth and demonstrates the universal trust that both sellers and buyers place in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries name. In addition, many industry-wide records were set. In the April 2021 Hong Kong Auction, an 1825 pattern Russian Ruble established the record for the most expensive non-U.S. coin sold by an American auction house at $2,640,000. A countermarked 8 Escudos from the Philippines reached $180,000, the most expensive coin ever sold from the Philippines. An Oban from the Tensho Era became the most valuable Japanese coin ever sold at auction when it crossed the block for $1,920,000 and the same Pinnacle Collection sale contained an 1870 Japanese pattern set that reached $1,560,000. The strength of the Asian market was confirmed by strong demand for Chinese coins as four individual items crossed the million-dollar threshold. The crowning item of these standouts was a Year 17 Pattern Dollar that sold for $2,280,000, a record for a Chinese coin at the time. Other areas of growth included Tibetan issues, with a Year 61 Sho selling for $55,200, eleven times the low estimate. Demand for Iraqi and Egyptian issues soared, with proof examples commanding hitherto unimaginable prices. An AH 1352 20 Piastres from Egypt sold for $12,000, double the low estimate. 2021 proved a rallying year for previously depressed markets and allowed for rapid growth in numismatic markets that had not been reached, with very few types of coinage unaffected by the upward trajectory.
Ancient coins appreciated tremendously in the past calendar year, with Roman Aurei in particular experiencing an escalation in collector demand. A Macrinus Aureus of fine style graded Choice MS★ 5/5 strike and surfaces was bid to $312,000, a department record for an ancient coin. Examples of Aurei from Otho and Vitellius reached $204,000 and $120,000 respectively. Sicilian issues continued to grow in popularity with a Double Dekadrachm from the reign of Dionysios I reaching $55,200, far beyond the high estimate of $20,000.
The world paper money department also had a very successful year with total sales exceeding $6,000,000, a new record. In the December Hong Kong Auction, a banknote from the Yuan Dynasty fetched $60,000, well beyond its high estimate. A Reserve Bank of India Haj Pilgrim note reached $55,000 at the August ANA sale, becoming the most valuable Indian banknote ever sold at public auction.
The monumental 2021 sales total of $100 million was achieved through growth in the firm’s showcase and online events. The April 2021 Hong Kong Auction set a record for the largest numismatic auction held outside of the United States, with sales in excess of $34,000,000. The September Hong Kong Auction trailed only slightly with a final total of over $31 million. The December Hong Kong Collectors Choice Auction set the record for the largest online-only numismatic auction with sales exceeding $10 million. The flagship August ANA auction topped $13 million, and the January NYINC auction yielded $7.7 million, with the remaining internet auctions pushing the final tally over the $100 million mark.
With this exceptionally successful year nearly closed, Stack's Bowers Galleries turns its attention to its annual official auction of the New York International Numismatic Convention, which will take place January 14-20, 2022. The firm is now accepting consignments for their April 2022 Hong Kong Auction as well as their Collectors Choice Online Auctions. Anyone interested in consigning world coins and paper money to Stack's Bowers Galleries is encouraged to call 800-458-4646, email consign@stacksbowers.com, or visit https://www.stacksbowers.com/Pages/Home.aspx .
Additional Important Prices Realized in 2021:
World Coins:
CHINA. Silver Tael Pattern Restrike, CD (1906). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-65. Realized $1,350,000
CHINA. 7 Mace 2 Candereens (Dollar), ND (1908). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64+. Realized: $1,260,000
(t) CHINA. Silver Long-Whisker Dragon Dollar Pattern, Year 3 (1911). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64 Gold Shield. Realized: $1,020,000
CHINA. Chihli (Pei Yang). 7 Mace 2 Candereens (Dollar), Year 34 (1908). Tientsin (Central) Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Realized: $960,000
(t) CHINA. Silver Tael Pattern, Year 29 (1903). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-55 Gold Shield. Realized: $840,000
CHINA. "Big Beard" Commemorative Silver Dollar Pattern, ND (1912). Suchow Mint. NGC AU-55. Realized: $780,000
(t) CHINA. Gold Presentation Dollar, Year 10 (1921). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Realized: $720,000
CHINA. Kweichow. "Bamboo" Dollar, Year 38 (1949). PCGS EF-45. Realized: $660,000
JAPAN. Gold 10 Yen Pattern, Year 3 (1870). Osaka Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). PCGS SPECIMEN-61 Gold Shield. Realized: $660,000
(t) CHINA. Gold Presentation Dollar, Year 10 (1921). Tientsin Mint. PCGS SPECIMEN-64. Realized: $600,000
(t) CHINA. Silver Dollar Pattern, ND (1916). PCGS SPECIMEN-65+ Gold Shield. Realized: $552,000
RUSSIA. 37-1/2 Rubles (100 Francs), 1902. St. Petersburg Mint; mm: star on edge. Nicholas II. NGC AU-58. Realized: $138,000
GREAT BRITAIN. 5 Guineas, 1701 Year DECIMO TERTIO. London Mint. William III. PCGS MS-61 Gold Shield. Realized: $120,000
SPANISH COLONIAL. Gold Oblong Bar Recovered from the Nuestra Senora de la Luz (sank July 2, 1752). Realized: $90,000
Ancient Coins:
ITALY. Calabria. Tarentum. AV Stater (8.55 gms), ca. 334-332 B.C. NGC Ch VF, Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5. Fine Style. Realized: $84,000
JULIUS CAESAR. AV Aureus (8.07 gms), Rome Mint; A. Hirtius, praetor, 46 B.C. NGC Ch AU, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5. Realized: $39,600
LYDIA. Kroisos, ca. 564/53-550/39 B.C. AV Stater (8.03 gms), Sardes Mint. NGC AU, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5. Realized: $30,000
World Paper Money:
PANAMA. Republica de Panama. 10 Balboas, 1941. P-24a. PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ. Realized: $48,000
PHILIPPINES. Banco Espanol Filipino. 5 Pesos, 1904. P-A31. PMG Very Fine 25. Realized: $40,800
CANADA. Royal Canadian Bank. 2 Dollars, 1865. CH #635-10-04-06. PMG Very Fine 25. Realized: $30,000
CANADA. Bank of Canada. 50 Dollars, 1954. BC-34b. Solid Serial Number. PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 EPQ. Realized :$28,800
About Stack's Bowers Galleries
Stack's Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company's 85-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack's Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
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Source: Stacks Bowers Galleries
Stack's Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company's 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack's Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
