An extremely rare Empire Gold Pattern Kuping Tael from 1906 sold for $114,562 in Heritage Auctions' $10.6+ million World and Ancient Coins Signature® Auction Sept. 25-Oct. 1 in Long Beach, California. The rare pattern type featuring a facing dragon on the obverse and Chinese characters on the reverse including Ta Ching Gold Coin in the central circle. The coin Graded Specimen 62 PCGS, Tientsin Mint, boldly struck details on both sides with full mint luster, just a faint scattering of tiny contact marks.
A large, 1812 Joao VI Prince Regent gold ingot of Sabara retaining its original issue certificate leading the auction with $199,750 realized price. The ingot appeared as Part II of the RLM Collection of Brazilian Gold, which offered a collector's choice of important ingots and Portuguese colonial era Brazilian coinage. The total number of authentic ingots today is 219 pieces from 9 foundries (Numismatist Claudio Schroeder of Porto Alegre contributed).
"Heritage's growth in the World and Ancient Coin market has a bright future," said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President of International Numismatics. "Long Beach Expo has always been a highlight of our hobby, but this year's results far surpassed our expectations. We remain grateful to our consigners and buyers and look forward to offering many special collections in the next year."
The $10.6+ million total, when combined with the more than $17.5 million realized in Heritage's U.S. Coins Signature Auction and the $7.6+ million realized in its U.S. Currency Signature Auction, both also held as part of the Long Beach Expo, adds up to a $36+ million dollar week for the company. That total represents the highest auction realization that the combined Long Beach events have ever realized.
Another top performing lots was a South Africa Republic gold Burgers Pond 1874, surpassed its estimate to realize $152,750. From a mintage of just 142, the coin is considered one of the finest examples known to exist.
A Danzig ducat from 1547, one of a small handful of examples to be offered at public auction in decades, sold for $135,125 against a $40,000 estimate. The coin show * SIGIS · I · REX · POLO · DO · PRVSS · 1547, crowned and armored bust of Sigismund right / * MONE · NO · AVR · CIVI · GEDANEN, two lions supporting the arms of the city. This example was issued in the golden age of Danzig's power and influence, nearly a century after being granted autonomy by Casimir IV Jagiellon and 30 years prior to repulsing the armies of Stephan Bathory.
Source: Heritage Auction.
