Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Sale 25 (Sovereigns)
Auctioneer: St. James’s Auctions Ltd (Knightsbridge Coins) Location: Cavendish Hotel, 81 Jermyn Street, St James’s, London SW1
Contact: Tel: 020 7930 7597
Date: 5th March 2014 Time: 10:30AM
Details: Viewing:
Monday 3rd March 10.30am to 4.30pm
Tuesday 4th March 10.30am to 4.30pm
At other times by appointment
Page: 1   2   3  
Auction Lots - Page 1

The George Collection

1
G  George V, sovereign, 1912S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.4003; McD.240), mint state £200-250
2
G  George V, sovereign, 1915P, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4001; McD.251), mint state £200-250
3
G  George V, sovereign, 1918P, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4001; McD.260), mint state £200-250
4
G  George V, sovereign, 1919P, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4001; McD.263), mint state £200-250

A 1920 Sydney Mint Sovereign

5
G  George V, sovereign, 1920S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S raised on ground-line above date, horse with long tail (S.4003; McD.264; KM.29; Fr.38; Marsh 280), some light surface marks, virtually as struck, mint mark bold, with famous die combination featuring a pickled or rusted reverse die £375,000-400,000
*ex Jacob Garrard, April 1920. Thence by descent to daughter / granddaughter
  ex Noble Numismatics Sydney, Australia, Sale 50, 20-22 March 1996, lot 1470
  Private treaty into 'George' collection by Monetarium Australia Pty Ltd.
This is a legendary offering which includes recently discovered information that may help to solve the 'enigma' partially explained in the Bentley sale catalogue's description of that collection's 1920 Sydney sovereign. In that sale, the coin was called the rarest of all issues of the sovereign series, rarer even than the famed 1819 sovereign struck at London, of which some 10-12 examples exist compared to perhaps 4-5 (one impounded in the Royal Australian Mint Collection) of the 1920 Sydney issue. Of the 4 pieces for which sales have been traced, apparently the finest known, called a Specimen in the Quartermaster Collection sale of 2009, seems to have been struck at a later date (1926) from a reverse die that was cleared of the residue which protected it during the long sea voyage from England to Australia. This residue accounts for the 'pickled' or slightly rough appearance of the reverse, a characteristic of all other known examples. The normal satiny gold texture exists on the obverse of all. The Bentley sale cataloguer concluded by suggesting that this coin's great rarity did not arise from any melting of the reported mintage at Sydney for the year (which he believed represented coins dated 1919 but struck in January and June 1920 at Sydney) but instead that no pieces were struck during 1920 bearing the date and S mint mark except because of some 'special event' in the year which was unknown at the time of the Bentley sale.
The provenance of the presently offered coin dates precisely to April 1920 and may well explain that 'special event' and the coin's great rarity. Researcher Barrie Winsor of Australia has identified the family who placed a special order for sovereigns dated 1920 at the Sydney Mint in 1920. A prominent New South Wales politician and trade unionist. Mr Jacob Garrard (Note 1) ordered and purchased the sovereigns from the Mint in order to present them to his children when he and his wife, Rebecca, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on 15 April 1920. Barrie Winsor has interviewed some of the Garrard descendants to confirm the facts and has also seen photographs of the family taken during the anniversary meetings (see below). Five sons and two daughters were the subjects of the gifts; the exact number of sovereigns minted for the Garrards remains unknown, nor is it known if each of the sons and daughters received a coin (both daughters but only two sons survived Jacob Garrard when he passed away on 5 November 1931). The mintage presumably could not have been more than 7 sovereigns, or 9 if one each was retained by the parents.
Aside from the wretched condition of the reverse dies received after the long sea voyage, which apparently caused Mint officials to decide against their use, why were fresh dies not ordered? Why is the coin so rare? The answer appears to be that the post-WWI metals market fluctuations rendered coinage of gold impractical. The report of the Royal Mint issued on 31 December 1920 notes that the quoted value of gold per troy ounce as of 5 February 1920 was 127s 4d per ounce (Note 2). This meant that the cost of minting a single gold sovereign with a face value of 20 shillings was over 30 shillings. The Royal Mint suspended minting sovereigns in 1917 until 1925 and the Canadian Mint ceased production of sovereigns in 1919.
Clearly the Sydney Mint decided to postpone gold coinage. In 1920, transmission of any such decision was incomplete when Jacob Garrard placed his special order, thereby unknowingly creating the greatest gold rarity of the British Empire.
There are only 3 other known examples of the 1920S sovereign sold on the open market:
The first, sold by Spink and Son (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2 November 1978, lot 631, nearly extremely fine, ex A H F Baldwin collection, realised AU$3,600 hammer price
then sold by Spink and Son, London, 15 March 1992, lot 438, good extremely fine, realised £104,000 hammer price
The second, a specimen or proof striking sold in the Quartermaster collection, Monetarium (Australia) Pty Ltd, 4 June 2009, lot 196, FDC, realised AU$800,000 hammer price. This coin has been struck from a good reverse die as opposed to the other four which all appear to be from a rusty reverse die.
The third, ex Jaggards, Sydney Australia, retail list, February 1979
then sold by Kurt Jaggard Monetary Auctions, Australia, 11 April 2006, lot 404, realised AU$582,500, purchased by Winsor and Sons, Jamberoo, NSW Australia
then sold in the Bentley Collection, Baldwins, 27 September 2012, lot 736, practically as struck, realised £650,000 hammer price. 
Note 1
See biography - Jacob Garrard (1846-1931) - Australian Dictionary of Biography. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/garrard-jacob-3595.
Note 2
See Royal Mint Report 31 Dec 1920. Appendix No IX. - A. Messrs. Mocatta and Goldsmid's Circular on the movement of Gold and Silver during 1920. page 72.
6
G  George V, sovereign, 1920M, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3999; McD.265), about uncirculated £4000-5000
7
G  George V, sovereign, 1921S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.4003; McD.267), tiny edge nick at 7 o'clock, otherwise practically mint state £1250-1750
8
G  George V, sovereign, 1921M, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3999; McD.268), a couple of scratches on head, otherwise extremely fine £10,000-12,500
9
G  George V, sovereign, 1922S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.4003; McD.270), practically mint state £12,500-15,000
10
G  George V, sovereign, 1922M, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3999; McD.271), practically mint state £8500-9500
11
G  George V, sovereign, 1923S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.4003; McD.273), extremely fine £7500-9000
12
G  George V, sovereign, 1924S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.4003; McD.276), small edge knock at 7 o'clock, lightly cleaned, otherwise about extremely fine £1000-1200
13
G  George V, sovereign, 1926S, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.4003; McD.282), practically mint state £15,000-17,500
14
G  George V, sovereign, 1926P, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4001; McD.284), about mint state £1000-1500
15
G  George V, sovereign, 1927P, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4001; McD.286), mint state £300-350
16
G  George V, sovereign, 1928M, bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3999; McD.287), about mint state £2000-2500
17
G  George V, sovereign, 1929M, small bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.4000; McD.289), practically uncirculated £1750-2250
18
G  George V, sovereign, 1929P, small bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4002; McD.290), mint state £200-250
19
G  George V, sovereign, 1930P, small bare head l., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.4002; McD.292), mint state £200-250
20
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1902S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.210), about mint state £200-250
21
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1902P, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.3972; McD.212), practically uncirculated £200-250
22
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1903S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.213), practically uncirculated £200-250
23
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1903M, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3971; McD.214), about uncirculated £200-250
24
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1904S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.216), about uncirculated £200-250
25
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1904M, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3971; McD.217), mint state £200-250
26
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1906S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.222), about uncirculated £200-250
27
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1906P, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.3972; McD.224), practically mint state £200-250
28
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1907S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.225), about mint state £200-250
29
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1908S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.228), about mint state £200-250
30
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1908M, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3971; McD.229), about uncirculated £200-250
31
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1909S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.231), practically mint state £200-250
32
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1909M, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, M above date (S.3971; McD.232), about uncirculated £200-250
33
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1910S, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, S above date (S.3973; McD.234), practically uncirculated £200-250
34
G  Edward VII, sovereign, 1910P, bare head r., rev. St. George and the dragon, P above date (S.3972; McD.236), about uncirculated £200-250

An Important Type One Adelaide Gold Pound

35
G  Australia, Victoria, Adelaide, pound, type one, fine edge milling, crowned date within beaded circle, dentillated pattern within the beading, legend surrounds the design declaring the issuer as the GOVERNMENT ASSAY OFFICE with a floral stop on each side of ADELAIDE at centre bottom, rev. VALUE ONE POUND within a surrounding pattern similar to that of the obverse, weight and purity declaration occupying the surrounding legend space, die cracked at top of legend (KM.1; Fr.1; McD. Type I), extremely fine for this issue, with frosty lustre £75,000-80,000
The first gold rush in Australia took place near the town of Adelaide, with the usual effects of a discovery of great mineral wealth: at first the town was nearly abandoned by the rush to the gold fields, followed by an influx of unrefined ore which could not be easily exchanged for either official money or goods. Coinage bearing the monarch's effigy and authority could not be quickly implemented, nor would royal sanction be a certainty, so the local authorities — the banking manager and the colonial treasurer — had little choice but to authorize a substitute money, technically a token struck in gold. If pure and good, it would be widely accepted alongside British coinage circulating in Australia. An act of coinage passed by the South Australian Legislative Council caused the creation of a Government Assay Office almost immediately upon passage of the Bullion Act, but its gold ingots were not practical nor assured of exact value. Towards the end of the year 1852, in November, the first 'pounds' were struck from fresh dies. Unfortunately, the reverse die failed almost immediately, cracking finely at the top of the legend from the inner beading to the rim to left of DWT. A new die of slight variation was quickly prepared and was used to strike almost all Adelaide gold pounds known today. By February of 1853, a scant four months after the experiment of minting at Adelaide had begun, the last of the Adelaide pounds had been struck — some 25,000 in all, almost the entire mintage being of the second dies combination. Most have perished, as is true of almost all kinds of 'territorial' gold coinages: first subjected to the abuses of ordinary commerce, damaged or fashioned into jewellery, and finally turned in for their gold content (for they were in fact finer than the standard sovereign) to be made into new coins. These first, tentative attempts at desperately needed money in Southern Australia have become much coveted by collectors worldwide. The Type One issue, of which it is believed that no more than 50 were minted, is both a great rarity and the very first gold coin struck in Australia. The appearance at auction of any specimen is a landmark event, but here we see one of the finest known examples of this great Australian rarity.
36
G  Australia, Victoria, Adelaide pound, type two, 1852, date below crown within border, rev. value within dentillated border (KM.2; Fr.3; McD. Type II), small light scratch in centre of reverse below value, otherwise practically mint state £25,000-30,000

An Extraordinary Sovereign Rarity

37
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1855, Sydney mint, laur. head l., with fillet in hair, date below, rev. AUSTRALIA crowned within wreath, mint name above and value below (KM.2; Fr.9; McD.102), in plastic holder, graded by PCGS as Mint State 64, choice frosty uncirculated £75,000-85,000
*ex Sharps Pixley collection, Noble Auction, Sydney, 16 November 1989, lot 1251
A fabulous sovereign which was put away the day it was struck and showing just a few tiny contact marks made during the minting process. The next finest certified piece is graded by PCGS as AU58 - this was the first date of this type ever struck for commence.
38
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1856, Sydney mint, young head l., with fillet in hair, rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.2; Fr.9; McD.103), brushed on obverse, otherwise extremely fine £3750-4250
39
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1857, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.104), about extremely fine £3500-4000
40
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1858, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.105), extremely fine £3000-3500
41
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1859, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.106), a couple of tiny edge nicks, a few light bag marks, otherwise practically as
struck £6000-7000
*ex Quartermaster collection, no 31
42
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1860, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.107), practically mint state £15,000-20,000
*ex Quartermaster collection, no. 32
43
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1861, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.108), practically uncirculated £2000-2500
44
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1862, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.109), good very fine £450-550
45
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1863, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.110), brushed, otherwise extremely fine £800-1000
46
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1864, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.111), practically uncirculated £1250-1500
47
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1865, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.112), about uncirculated £2750-3250
48
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1866, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.113), uncirculated £1500-2000
49
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1867, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.114), about uncirculated £1500-2000
50
G  Australia, Victoria, sovereign, 1868, Sydney mint, laur. head l., rev. AUSTRALIA within wreath, crown above (KM.4; Fr.10; McD.115), weakly struck, uncirculated £1750-2250
Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Sale 25 (Sovereigns)
Auctioneer: St. James’s Auctions Ltd (Knightsbridge Coins) Location: Cavendish Hotel, 81 Jermyn Street, St James’s, London SW1
Contact: Tel: 020 7930 7597
Date: 5th March 2014 Time: 10:30AM
Details: Viewing:
Monday 3rd March 10.30am to 4.30pm
Tuesday 4th March 10.30am to 4.30pm
At other times by appointment
Page: 1   2   3