Allan Davisson wrote this overview of his firm's upcoming Cupboard Sale 3, which is their "No Estimate Over $100" selection and closes on February 25. Select items are discussed afterwards.
-Garrett
Cupboard Sale 3 is online now, a test drive for our new auction platform. Our "No Estimate Over $100" selection features interesting, collectible, desirable coins, tokens, and medals that fill in important parts of any numismatic collection that seeks to be comprehensive. It also enables us to publish an auction with less time, energy, and capital investment than our E-Auctions or our major sale. There are many high quality lots in this sale, some estimated below our cost, alongside some unplanned-for bargains, particularly in terms of silver. Silver was near $80 per ounce at Christmas but opened January 26 at over $116 per ounce. (We changed no opening bid numbers.)
In this sale: A run in interesting ancient Greek and Roman coins, and British hammered and milled pieces including some high grade 20th century pieces (British history offers a couple millennia of numismatic interest, the 20th century is often ignored by collectors because it seems so "new"). Also take note of interesting medals in choice condition, and a good run of high quality 18th century provincial tokens ("Conders" as many Americans call them). Look carefully at some of these and their $80 opening, then look at what is being offered elsewhere in a fixed-price format, and expect to spot some bargains.
We usually begin a calendar year with our most significant auction of the year—a sale featuring some of the most important consignments and material we have gathered over several months. But this year technological change has caught up with us. While our auction platform has served us well (it was developed in house), some of the underlying software is no longer being supported. So, this sale is a test of a new auction platform as well as a way to begin 2026. Then, coming in later February, Auction 45, planned to close on March 25th. It is a strong and diverse sale, with exceptional consignments of English, Scottish, Danish, and ancient Greek and Roman. The Greek section will continue the Peter Bartlett Collection, featuring seldom seen rarities such as the electrum 1/3 trite of Phanes of Ephesos; the earliest coin issue to include a legend. The extensive o?ering of 18th century trade tokens ("Conders") introduces the substantial collection formed by Harold Welch, the researcher who has published a definitive bibliography of literature related to the British token series including an exhaustive survey of the current location of the rarer and more significant volumes from this series. And much more.
Warm Regards,
Allan, Marnie, & Lief Davisson
.33 gm. 10 mm. Contemporary barbarous imitation. Diademed head of Arethusa right / Wheel of four spokes. Cf. Boehringer B25ff. Cf. HGC 2, 1371. Cf. SNG ANS 116. Near Extremely Fine; rich old pewter-colored tone with iridescent highlights; perfectly centered and struck on broad full round flan. Fascinating and rare.
To read the complete item description, see:
SICILY. Syracuse. Hieron I. 478-466 B.C.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/sicily.-syracuse.-hieron-i.-478-466-b.c.-f17ca)
2.25 gm. 15 mm. Reduced standard. Ainetor, magistrate. Head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud to right, butterfly to left, "P-O" below. HGC 6, 1453. Ashton 282. HN Online 863. SNG Keckman 586. Good Very Fine; lovely style and toning; flan chip at 3' exposing crystallized metal on edge.
To read the complete item description, see:
ISLANDS OFF CARIA. Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 205-190 B.C.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/islands-off-caria.-rhodos.-rhodes.-circa-205-190-b.c.-458bf)
9.14 gm. 21 mm. Female head (Arethusa?) facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace / Bearded male head (Ares?) right, wearing crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves on visor. Casabonne series 3. SNG France 248. Fine; slightly iridescent tone on porous surfaces; good style portraits, struck well centered on a broad flan.
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CILICIA. Tarsos. Pharnabazos. Persian military commander, 380-...
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/cilicia.-tarsos.-pharnabazos.-persian-military-commander-380-3743-b.c.-3fafe)
6.16 gm. 20 mm. Po. Ailios Dionysios Sabinianos, magistrate. Draped bust of youthful Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath; ???????O? / Mask of Silenos atop cista mystica with serpent; ??? ????VC??C. RPC IV.2 Online 2114. BMC 96. SNG Copenhagen 532. Extremely Fine; fine style, lovely portraits; attractive glossy black-green patina; light cleaning marks. Choice example of this fascinating type. Sharp, attractive in hand, but hard to photograph.
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PHRYGIA. Laodicea ad Lycum. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Temp. Ant...
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/phrygia.-laodicea-ad-lycum.-pseudo-autonomous-issue.-temp.-antoninus-pius-a.d.-138-161.-1df95)
13.2 gm. 27 mm. Aurelius Gallus, consular legate. Struck A.D. 203. His laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; AY MAP AYPH ANTONIN[OC] / Dionysos standing left, holding long filleted thyrsos and pouring wine from kantharos; Y AY GA??O? MAP-K-IANO?????O. H&J 6.18.8.1. Cf. Varbanov 916. Good Very Fine; smooth dark glossy green patina; striking split at 3'. Crisp, with a fine style young boy's portrait and impressive reverse. Ex Vineyard Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 122 (10-13 March 2003) lot 1660.
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MOESIA INFERIOR. Marcianopolis. Caracalla. A.D. 198-217.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/moesia-inferior.-marcianopolis.-caracalla.-a.d.-198-217.-b552b)
2.81 gm. 18 mm. Rome mint. Struck A.D. 221. His laureate head right; IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG / Victory flying left, holding diadem, a small shield at feet to either side; star to left; P M TR P IIII COS III P P. RIC IV.2 45. RSC 195a. Extremely Fine; beautiful iridescent tone; bold handsome portrait, touch of verdigris at eye; reverse lightly granular. Exceptional fine style portrait.
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Elagabalus. A.D. 218-222.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/elagabalus.-a.d.-218-222.-2f5e7)
2.94 gm. 19 mm. Rome mint. Struck late A.D. 236-237. His laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM / Fides standing left, holding signum in each hand; FIDES MILITVM. RIC IV.2 18A. RSC 9. Good Extremely Fine; struck on a broad flan; beautiful lustrous tone; small old scratch on neck, otherwise choice. Superb portrait.
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Maximinus I. A.D. 235-238.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/maximinus-i.-a.d.-235-238.-1f716)
4.89 gm. 27 mm. His bust right, sixth bust with long and curly hair / Flat-topped shield. S. 2668. N. 2124. Fine+; evenly clipped; nicely toned.
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James I. 1603-1625.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/james-i.-1603-1625.-3fd20)
.45 gm. 13.5 mm. Undated. English shield with laurel and palm branches / English and Irish shield, •1• at top. S. 3222. N. 2729. ESC 228 (2263). Near Very Fine; well centered and struck; toned; bend.
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Commonwealth. 1649-1660.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/commonwealth.-1649-1660.-747b7)
11.28 gm. 31 mm. (1883) mdccclxxxiii. Her crowned bust left / Cruciform crowned arms; roses, a thistle, and a shamrock in angles. S. 3900. ESC 2905 (859). Near Extremely Fine; luster in legends and reverse.
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Victoria. 1837-1901.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/victoria.-1837-1901.-b9649)
14.18 gm. 31 mm. Old Head. 1899. Her bust, Jubilee style, left / Crowned shield. S. 3938. ESC 733. Extremely Fine; luster, light toning, minor marks, scratches on obverse.
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Victoria. 1837-1901.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/victoria.-1837-1901.-0ac93)
8.43 gm. 29 mm. 1797. A mail coach pulled by four galloping horses; MAIL COACH HALFPENNY PAYABLE IN LONDON around; TO TRADE EXPEDITION & TO PROPERTY PROTECTION below / TO J. PALMER . ESQ THIS IS INSCRIBED AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE FOR BENEFITS RECED FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MAIL COACHES. Uncirculated; lightly toned over original surfaces.
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Middlesex 363. Mail Coach.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/middlesex-363.-mail-coach.-a0f28)
10.96 gm. 30 mm. 1794. Front facing bust of Elizabeth I; QUEEN ELIZABETH / Chichester Cross; CHICHESTER HALFPENNY 1794. Edge: PAYABLE AT DALLYS CHICHESTER. Good Extremely Fine; even dark tone.
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Sussex 15. Chichester.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/sussex-15.-chichester.-08470)
13.83 gm. 34 mm. 1765 E. Armored draped bust right; CAROLVS D G BR ET LVN around / Leaping horse left; NVNQUAM RETROSVM 1765 around above. KM 973.1. Evenly toned Very Fine with slight rainbow overtones; mount removed.
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GERMANY. Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel. Charles I. 1735-1780.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/germany.-brunswick-wolfenbuttel.-charles-i.-1735-1780.-89add)
14.1 gm. 35 mm. 1700 KB. His bust right; LEOPOLD D G R I S A GER HV BO REX around / Crowned arms ARCHID AV DVX BV MAR MOR CO TYR 1700 around. KM 251. Very Fine; old toning; good metal.
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HUNGARY. Leopold I. 1657-1705.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/hungary.-leopold-i.-1657-1705.-87ed1)
24.85 gm. 37 mm. .7234 ASW. 1880 B F. Arms with a radiant wreath above, B (no dot) underneath; REPUBLICA PERUANA LIMA 9 DECIMOS FINO B F around; CINCO PESATAS below / Woman's head with headdress left; PROSPERIDAD Y PODER POR LA JUSTICIA around. KM 201.1. Near Extremely Fine; even gray toning; aesthetic dies; attractive.
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PERU. Republic. Peseta Coinage.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/peru.-republic.-peseta-coinage.-5d9bd)
38.27 gm. 48 mm. E. Thomasan. 1820. Royal coat of arms; THE ELGIN MEDALS DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO HIS MAJESTY GEORGE IV / A fragment from the frieze of the Marbles showing surviving parts of horses and riders. BHM 1061. Good Extremely Fine; some light marks, toned designs, and mirror luster in fields.
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GREAT BRITAIN. CELEBRATING THE ELGIN MARBLES. George IV. 1820-...
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/great-britain.-celebrating-the-elgin-marbles.-george-iv.-1820-1830.-ad6b2)
18.07 gm. 39 mm. By J. HInks, Birmingham. 1858. Conjoined busts of Prince Frederick William, bareheaded, and Princess Victoria, wearing a chaplet of roses, left; THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA & THE PRINCESS OF ROYAL OF ENGLAND around / Conjoined shields of England and Prussia; MARRIED JANY. 25, 1858 below. BHM 2622 WM, (Rare). Near Extremely Fine; obverse lightly toned, lightly marked and with a stain at 1 and raised edge scrape at 2; the reverse is fresh uncirculated.
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GREAT BRITAIN. Marriage of the Princess Royal and Prince Frede...
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/great-britain.-marriage-of-the-princess-royal-and-prince-frederic-of-prussia.-victoria.-1837-1901.-44ea8)
14.35 gm. 35 mm. 1897. A small photograph of the Queen in an oval bezel attached to a brass medal in the form of a cross with triangular arms; 1837 — 1897 on the horizontal cross bar / Legend in 8 lines: TO COMMEMORATE THE 60TH YEAR OF HER REIGN HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA 1897. Near Extremely Fine.
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GREAT BRITAIN. Victoria. 60th Year of Reign.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/great-britain.-victoria.-60th-year-of-reign.-c8579)
15.56 gm. 30 mm. Struck at the Ottawa Mint to commemorate the visit of the King and Queen to Canada. 1939. Their crowned and jugate busts left / A finely detailed map of Canada showing their travel route; the Canadian Arms above, 19 — 39 beside; REGEM * ET * REGINAM * CANADA * around. WE (Whittlestone & Ewing) 7826. Toned Uncirculated, substantial luster.
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CANADA / GREAT BRITAIN. George VI. 1936-1952.
(https://auctions.davcoin.com/auction/cupboard-sale-3-1000/canada-great-britain.-george-vi.-1936-1952.-b34e5)
Wayne Homren, Editor
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