STACK'S BOWERS: THE STANLEY ABERDEEN COLLECTION

One of the most extensive collections of Swedish Plate Money ever offered at public auction will highlight the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the New York International Numismatic Convention, January 9-10, 2015, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

This collection of nearly 90 pieces was carefully assembled by a very discriminating numismatist and features an incredible sample of large and impressive copper “coins,” ranging from 1/2 Daler to 4 Daler sizes. The plate money was issued as a replacement for silver and gold coinage, as specie in these metals were scarce, but copper was readily available in massive quantities. These large “coins” were issued from 1644-1776 in denominations from 1/3 Daler to 8 Daler. The copper came not just from mines but also from cannon barrels that were repurposed and used to produce these coins (similar to Irish “Gun Money” of 1689-1690). Many known examples of Swedish Plate Money came from the wreck of the Nicobar, and that find provided a good cross section of this interesting area of numismatics. The analysis of the varieties and types recovered from this wreck has offered a wealth of information about this specialty.

Stanley Aberdeen began collecting these pieces when Ponterio & Associates sold the plates recovered from the wreck of the Nicobar. As his interest in the series grew, Mr. Aberdeen’s search widened to include Europe, and he worked with several agents as certain rarities appeared at auction. With such great sources of material, he was able to acquire better quality examples than usually seen. As a result of his keen eye and good sense of historical context, Mr. Aberdeen’s assemblage contains not only “regular issues” but also a number of very rare siege pieces.

Highlights abound and include:

2 Daler Plate Money, 1716. Stockholm Mint. Very Fine. Struck from metal recovered from recycled cannons. Extremely rare, only 19 examples known. Very Fine.

2 Daler Plate Money, 1674. Type with a star between two lilies, denoting copper source as Garpenberg. Extremely rare, only 6 known examples. Very Fine. Ex: Cavalli Homberg Sale 103 (1913) lot 11.

4 Daler Plate Money, 1718. Rare, 30 examples known (including 7 that were on the Nicobar). Extremely Fine. Reportedly found in a well, ca. 1834.

3 Daler Plate Money, 1718. Extremely Rare, only 13 examples known. Revalued to 3 Dalers on a 2 Dalar, 1711 of Avestra. Very Fine.

Wismar. 8 Schilling Plate Money, 1715. Extremely Rare necessity coinage made from repurposed guns at the siege of Wismar during the Great Northern War. Extremely Fine. Ex: Gustaf Cavali; General Konsul Axison Johnson; Avestra Mynt Museum; Jim Karlson; Upssala Collections.

“A collection of such wide range will not likely be offered in the near term, so we suggest that interested numismatists review the descriptions of these wonderful items, and contemplate their place in the annals of numismatic history,” said Richard Ponterio, executive vice president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

Aside from The Stanley Aberdeen Collection, the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Official Auction of the NYINC includes many other important collections, including The Ray Czahor Collection of Philippine Countermarked Coinage, The Rockaway Collection of German Crowns and Talers, The John Adams Collection of Spanish Colonial Proclamation Medals, The Ancient Coins From The Richard Aghababian Collection, and further selections from The Demarete Collection. Other important properties include a fine selection of Spanish and American Administration Philippines coins, gold coins of Brazil, a wide range of coins from Russia, and a specialized collection of Judean coins.

For more information on this sale, or to request a catalog, contact a Stack’s Bowers Galleries associate at 800.458.4646 (West Coast), 800.566.2580 (East Coast), or email info@stacksbowers.com.

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