BALDWIN'S 2013 NEW YORK SALE

2013 will see The New York Sale group celebrate fifteen years of auctions at The New York Coin Convention and these, their 30th and 31st auctions at the event, promise not to disappoint. In keeping with tradition the first day of the two-day event will contain an exciting array of ancient and world coins, including a number of spectacular collections of ancient Greek coins and a fantastic group of over fifty Islamic rarities. Day-two will, as usual, include a plethora of fascinating Russian coins, orders and medals to excite and entice both dealers and collectors alike.

In amongst the numerous gems from the ancient section are some truly stellar pieces, including a beautiful Syracuse, Dionysios I (c. 405-367 B.C.), Silver Tetradrachm from Sicily. This stunning work of art by the master artist Kimon depicts the facing head of Arethusa. She is seen to have an ampyx in her hair upon which is the signature K[IMΩ]N (partially visible.) The signature can also be seen on the exergual line of the reverse of the coin. The head of Arethusa, brought here to the obverse of the coin and set in stunning facing majesty, is both arresting and at the same time serene. Her eyes stare longingly out from the composition, providing the viewer with a genuine sense of the divine and other-worldly. Then, outside of this peaceful gaze, the viewer is overwhelmed by a surprising amount of activity. Her hair flows wildly out behind her and down towards her shoulders and, from this busy arrangement, we can see dolphins emerging into view. These creatures seem almost to be playfully moving to and fro between the locks of her hair.

The reverse of the coin is full of animation and energy, with a quadriga viewed in three-quarter perspective. The horses are rearing and tossing their heads in the heat of the moment as they speed towards their point of victory. This issue is without doubt one of Kimon’s greatest achievements and the most important of the late fifth century B.C. In addition to this many works of the famous die engravers prevalent in Sicily during the late 5th century B.C. are represented in this collection. All of the coins have prior provenance to Swiss or London auctions and trade. The lot is estimated to sell for US$100,000.

Also included in the ancient section of the sale are two exceptional electrum staters, one of which is believed to be unpublished. The first, a stater from an uncertain Mint in North West Asia Minor (c. 600-560 B.C). The coin is of the greatest rarity, apparently only one of two known examples, the other residing in the British Museum and this being the better preserved of the two. The coin handsomely depicts the mythical beast chimaera, a fire-breathing monstrous creature with the combined parts of a lion, a goat and a serpent. Although the precise location of the mintage of this fascinating coin is uncertain, it seems that it almost certainly originates from North West Asia Minor. It has been struck on the Phokaian standard, which was prevalent in that region in the early sixth century, encompassing the districts of Teos, Sardes and Kyzikos. Due to the appearance of the chimaera on the obverse, early suggestions were made by scholars that it might have originated from Corinth or Sikyon. However, this is extremely unlikely since the style, fabric, and reverse all point to an Asia Minor attribution. The coin carries an estimate of US$100,000.

The second of the two staters an Electrum Stater from the Thraco-Macedonian Region, possibly the Orreskioi, appears to be lacking a direct comparison in the published numismatic literature. The closest parallel is an electrum stater in the British Museum collection, of a similar type, but of a wholly different style and execution. The above coin has been compared with that stater, identified as Orreskioi (?). The obverse of the British Museum’s coin is inferior in terms of both style and execution, displaying a distinct lack of detail when compared with the above coin. The fabric and production of the Museum’s example is also very different, suggesting it is somewhat earlier; the reverse of the above coin displays a much shallower incuse square, which has been neatly divided into four parts corresponding to other Thraco-Macedonian issues of the early fifth century B.C. This excessively rare coin is estimated at US$180,000.

The world coin section, to be held on the first day of the auction, holds yet more excitement with a large offering of Islamic coins. Of the fifty five lots being sold there are two coins that stand out above all others. The first, an al-Walid I, Silver Dirham, al-Daybul 95h (713AD) is an excessively rare piece and is the earliest Islamic coin from the Punjab and the eastern most Umayyad mint. It is estimated to sell for US$15,000. The second is a very fine and extremely rare Silver Dirham, Sijistan 132h (749AD.) The coin is an exceptional item and is an unpublished type, not recorded in any of the standard reference works. The coin is estimated at US$25,000 but it is anticipated that it will achieve more.

A fantastic 1673 Amsterdam quadruple Taler Klippe (pictured here) is one of the other most notable coins to be included in the world coin section. In early 1672, King Louis XIV of France declared war on the United Provinces, a conflict which lasted for seven years. Arms and ammunition had to be purchased, so the estates of Holland appealed to the rich citizens to hand in their silver so that it could be minted into coins. As there was great urgency, a mint was opened in a disused tower in Amsterdam. 25 workers were hired and the mintmaster from Enkhuysen was asked to supervise the minting. According to Brause-Mansfield, the whole operation was so well organised that within ten months, five million speciethalers were minted. They are considered emergency coins as they were minted from silver supplied by the population.

The Klippe Thalers, of which this unique specimen is the heaviest known, were part of the coin issue of 1673 and were probably presentation pieces. The spectacular example is about uncirculated, unpublished and unique and therefore carries an estimate of US$70,000. Day two will see the usual annual offering of important Russian coins, historical and award medals. There will be around 800 lots in total including a collection of Imperial Russian Orders and Medals and Russian Civil War and Émigré items as well as a major collection of early Soviet Republican Orders, other important USSR Orders and Badges. More details of the items will be available closer to the auction and all the items from the Russian part of the auction will be available that items to view at Baldwin's London office during and after Russian Art week in, November 26 - December 16, 2012.

The catalogues for both auctions will be available from the Baldwin’s website at www.baldwin.co.uk from the first weekend in December.

Wayne Homren, Editor

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