Heritage Auctions’ World Coin Sale Success

Heritage Auctions’ World and Ancient coin sale at the Central States May 5-7 auction included 18 lots that sold for more than $100,000 and 37 that reached at least $50,000. It featured selections from the Regent Collection, a trove that is among the finest assemblages of Australian rarities to reach the market in years, if not ever. The Regent Collection enjoyed enormous success, claiming the top two results in the sale and four of the top five. Among the highlights:

The finest of just six known examples of the George V gold Sovereign 1920-S MS64+ NGC, which is widely acknowledged as the “King” of the Australian Sovereign series and led the event at $552,000. This magnificent specimen is from an issue that initially was underappreciated as a rarity, due to its mintage of 360,180 – all from 1920-dated dies and struck between January and June 1920. It was suggested that the small handful of surviving examples was commissioned by prominent Sydney citizen Jacob Garrard from the Mint for distribution to his seven children to celebrate his Golden Wedding Anniversary, but contemporary documentation records no formal order from Garrard, meaning he likely obtained them from the Commonwealth Bank to which the Sydney Mint delivered newly struck Sovereigns during the 1920s. Therefore, the 1920-S represents what is perhaps the paramount rarity of the regular circulation Sovereign series, rather than a private order. This particular representative was held by Garrard’s descendants for the last 100-plus years and represents a fresh addition to the known census not previously available for public auction. Also from the Regent Collection was a Victoria gold Proof Pattern Sovereign 1853-SYDNEY PR63 Ultra Cameo NGC, which reached $384,000. The famed “Sydney Mint” Pattern Sovereign of 1853 was the first Sovereign for the colony, and one of only four originally produced. This example is believed to be unique in private hands, with all other specimens permanently impounded in museum collections – one in the British Museum and the other two in the Royal Mint Museum of Wales.

Other top lots from the Regent Collection included a Victoria gold Proof Pattern Sovereign 1855-SYDNEY PR65 Ultra Cameo NGC, which soared past pre-auction estimates on its way to $240,000, and a Victoria gold Proof Pattern Sovereign 1856-SYDNEY PR65 Ultra Cameo NGC, the finest of only two examples in private hands, which brought $234,000.

Complete results from the World & Ancient Coins auction can be found at HA.com/3099.