Shipwreck coins stole the spotlight

By Mario Cywinski

The Royal Canadian Numismatic Association's (RCNA) convention done for another year, and for The Canadian Numismatic Company (TCNC), the time to send out and invoice collectors has come.

As the official auctioneer for the RCNA, TCNC had over 2,700 lots available in its three session auction.

The third session, seemed to have the most fierce bidding.

Of the total lots available, 822 were from the Auguste shipwreck. These coins were highly sought after, and 100 per cent of the shipwreck coins were sold.

"The interest in the Shipwreck coins was absolutely stunning, hundreds of mail and fax bids were received beforehand from all over Canada, U.S. and a large portion from Europe," said Eric Paquet of TCNC. "The sale itself was a complete success as all 822 coins sold to the public. The gold coins were of particular interest with all coins selling well into the high estimates. The silver pillar dollars and cobs brought action from EBay registrants and strong mail bids with a good portion selling to the floor bidders."

Some shipwreck coins that sold for above estimate were: lot 2275, an England guinea from 1756, certified as EF-45, had a pre-sale estimate of between $2,000 and $3,000, it sold for $5,000. Another piece that did well was lot 2277, a 1726A France Louis D'or, certified as EF-40, sold for $2,700 on a pre-sale estimate of only $500 to $750.

Another France Louis D'or, lot 2294, a 1747A EF-40 sold for $2,200 after having a pre-sale estimate of $650 to $975. Lot 2301, a 1747BB 2 Louis D'or piece certified as VF-20, sold for $2,000, over $1,000 higher than its estimate.

Coins from Mexico, Peru, and Spanish cobs, also sold well at the auction.

Artifacts recovered from the Auguste wreck, were also all sold at the end of the auction, even though many did not have any pre-sale estimates. One item which garnered a lot of attention was lot 2691.

This lot featured silver spoons, one of which bears the coat of arms of the De la Corne family, while the other has an insignia that is not readable. This lot sold for $1,000.

As we move backward through the auction, we get to session two, which featured error coins, specimen sets, gold coins, maritime coinage, bulk lots, and Canadian decimal coinage.

Some highlights from this session included lot 1041, a 1916c Sovereign coin, graded MS-62PQ, rare, as many are thought to have been melted.

It sold for $40,825, on a pre-sale estimate of $38,500 to $43,500. Lot 1216, an 1895 1-cent piece graded MS-66 PQ+ in full red, it is said by the auctioneer to be one of the finest known. It sold for $15,500 on an estimate of $19,500 to $22,000.

Moving along, there is lot 2105, which sold for $14,662.50, just above its estimate of $10,000 to $12,500. The lot was a 1938 $1 coin, graded MS-65, with George VI on the obverse.

Also, in session two is lot 2265. The 1975 Calgary Commemorative Canada $1 silver coin with 'upset dies,' graded as SP-66, and is thought to be the only one known. It sold for $11,500 on a pre-sale estimate of $15,000 to $17,500.

Finally, session one included medals, world coins, literature, American coinage and banknotes, products from the Royal Canadian Mint, tokens, chartered banknotes, Newfoundland notes, Province of Canada notes, Dominion of Canada notes and Bank of Canada notes.

Among the charter banknotes, a number of lots exceeded the pre-sale estimate. Lot 321, an 1872 $6 note from The Exchange Bank of Canada, #4507 CH-245-10-06 Fine-15, sold within its estimate at $28,175 (estimate was $25,000 to $30,000).

Another chartered banknote which garnered a lot of attention was lot 395A, a 1910 The Bank of Vancouver $5 note, CH-775-10-02 'uncancelled,' serial number 002861, graded VG-8, sold for $28,750 on a pre-sale estimate of over $22,500.

In the Dominion of Canada section lot 422 is found. This lot sold for much over its estimate of $22,500 to $27,500, at $34,500. The 1887 DC-11i $2 note with letter 'A,' serial number 075237 Courtney, graded EF-AU. Minor fold are present, but looks Uncirculated according to the auction catalogue.

In all $2 million worth of lots were sold at the RCNA sale conducted by TCNC, and a total number of 548 people put in bids.

For more information on this and other TCNC sales, be sure to visit their website at http://www.cpnum.qc.ca.

September 2 to September 15, 2008 issue of Canadian Coin News