Here's a selection of interesting or unusual items I came across in the marketplace this week. Tell us what you think of some of these.
-Editor
Sicilian Gold Coin
A Fantastic Sicilian Gold Issue with a Mid-18th Century Pedigree
In addition to an exemplary live session of ancient coins, our upcoming Official Auction of the ANA World's Fair of Money will feature the magnificent "Collection of a Gentleman," an advanced cabinet of Greco-Roman denominational rarities. Assembled over the course of five decades, this astounding array features various denominations that are not often seen, with a handful offering some rather incredible pedigrees. One such rarity emanates from the Sicilian city of Gela and displays a man-headed bull on the obverse and a nymph on the reverse. G. Kenneth Jenkins, in his die study for the coinage of the city, lists only a small handful of the type known to him, with the offered piece being one of those cited.
This important citation leads to a further history of the piece, as it was once part of the famous collection assembled by Sir Hermann Weber (1823-1918)—a German-born medical doctor who eventually spent much of his career in London, pioneering the open-air treatment of tuberculosis. Prior to being a part of Weber's collection, however, the specimen played a role in an ever more fabled holding of numismatic treasures. Weber obtained this fractional gold piece from a Christie's auction in 1884, when the remaining portion of the vast collection of Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753) was finally offered. Fountaine, a prominent nobleman in early-mid 18th century England, was an enthusiastic coin collector among his other historical pursuits. Part of his collection was sold in order to raise funds for his country estate, Narford, while the balance stayed with the family until being sold in the aforementioned Christie's sale. As such, the terminus ante quem for our delightful Sicilian gold issue is obviously Fountaine's death in 1753, meaning that it entered his collection before that date and establishes a provenance back some 268 years at the very least! Rather accordingly, this specimen perfectly blends the art and history of the ancient Mediterranean with the noble pursuit of numismatics throughout Stuart-Hanoverian England.
In a blog article this week, Stack's Bowers Senior Numismatist and Cataloger
Jeremy Bostwick highlights a fabulous pedigreed Sicilian gold coin in the firm's upcoming sale.
-Editor
To read the complete article, see:
A Fantastic Sicilian Gold Issue with a Mid-18th Century Pedigree
(https://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=sicilian-gold-august-ana-auction-stacks-bowers-galleries)
Gold-plated Bronze 1896 Olympic Medal
Athens 1896 Olympic Games bronze gold plated 50mm 58.6g original box FDC
Sold today by Münzenonline Live Auctions in Switzerland.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
WEEKLY OLYMPIA MEDALS - detail
(https://www.muenzenonline-auktion.ch/catalogDetail/detail/weekly-olympia-medaillen--1625143203/Athen-1896-264439)
1916 German East Africa 15 Rupien Gold
15 Rupien 1916, T, Tabora. Geprägt mit Gold aus der Sekenke-Goldmine in Ostafrika.
From the Künker eLive Auction 67 om July 19-21. Nice piece. Gotta like the elephant.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
15 Rupien 1916 T, Tabora. J. 728b.
(https://www.kuenker.de/en/elive-auction/stueck/298563)
1934 Paris Mint Lafayette Medal
Produced in bronze at the Paris mint on the 100th anniversary of Lafayette's death. Obverse has Lafayette in profile with 1757-1834 and reverse has"America ET Gallia Memores MCMXXXIV" The artist is E. Gatteaux
Very plain reverse, but a nice obverse portrait.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
LAFAYETTE REMEMBERED MEDAL - 1934
(https://bid.alexcooper.com/lots/view/1-4TDJS1/lafayette-remembered-medal-1934)
Japanese Currency and Invasion Money
During WWII, Japan printed paper currency to be used in each of the countries that it invaded. Here we have six pieces of "invasion money" printed in pesos and centavos for the Philippines, dollars for Malaysia, and rupees for Burma. The lot also includes old Japanese currency bearing the image of Confucius (12 pieces) and Itagaki Taisuke (3 pieces), a Japanese soldier and politician around the turn of the 20th century.
Nice group lot in next month's Holabird Americana sale.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Japanese Currency and Invasion Money [136108]
(https://www.icollector.com/Japanese-Currency-and-Invasion-Money-136108_i42191995)
Wayne Homren, Editor
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