Record sales at coin and stamp auctions

Mowbray’s stamp, coin and medal auction held in Wellington this week has broken all records. The auction with $560,000 of sales took coin auction results for the 2024 year to a record.

Managing director of Mowbrays, David Galt, said, “These excellent results show both the strength of the market and are a credit to our whole team. This shows interest remains high for quality stamps and coins.”

Highlights included an ancient Egyptian gold coin that is over 2200 years old issued by Pharoah Ptolemy II of Egypt which sold for $21,500 and a gold coin of his wife Arsinoe II which sold for $20,300.

A New Zealand 1935 proof set of six coins, including the Waitangi Crown showing William Hobson and Chief Tamati Waka Nene shaking hands at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, reached $19,800.

One of the first 50-pound notes of 1934 issued by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand brought $17,300.

A New Zealand 1935 proof set of six coins including the Waitangi Crown showing William Hobson and Chief Tamati Waka Nene shaking hands at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi reached $19,800.

Mowbray’s stamp sale with lots estimated at over $1.2 million went under the hammer on Wednesday, March 20 in Wellington and reached $1.1m in sales across the two days.

“The best stamp sale was a Penny Claret stamp from the Christchurch Exhibition at $30,750. Most of these were never issued and this example was in top condition.

Other stamp lots that sold well included those for the 1890’s Pigeon Post service set up between Great Barrier Island and Auckland in the late 1890’s after the wreck of the ship

“SS Wairarapa”. News of the tragedy was not known for two days after the wreck and pigeon post provided for better communcations. These items sold at up to $7500 each.

“The most important sale for our region was the City Bank of Sydney 1864 Pound note held by members of the Nathan family, Lot 445, which sold at $10,200. The family started New Zealand’s first milk powder operation in Bunnythorpe and were highly important to the Horowhenua and Manawatu¯ regions.”