Strong Prices for Specimens from the Lückger Collection

The spring auction of Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. was once again to the great satisfaction of the consignors, but certainly also of all customers. The demand for ancient coins continues unabated.

Ancient Coins

In the case of Greek coins, some results of the gold coins were particularly surprising this time (Nos. 41, 122, 209), while having become accustomed to coins with provenances before the Second World War achieving prices that are decoupled from the rarity of the objects. Ultimately, however, it is quality that reliably ensures strong price development. For example, a magnificent stater from Side (no. 181) was able to develop from an estimate of €1,500 to €5,500 (hammer price in 2020 still €3,200). Denarii from the Roman Republic saw the strongest increases. An anonymous, early example with a rare inscription increased its estimate tenfold despite an incomplete reverse (no. 243). A charming denarius of L. Rustius rose from € 250 to € 1,900 (no. 271). In the 2002 fall auction it had cost a whole €340. Top rarities such as a Pompeian denarius from Africa (no. 299) rose from € 500 to € 4,800; the denarius of C. Antonius (no. 300) fetched € 38,000 at an estimate of € 5,000 thanks to its quality, rarity and outstanding provenance. Among the coins of the Roman Empire, a denarius with a portrait of Agrippina (no. 331) impressed with a jump from €2,000 to €8,500. An antoninianius of Carausius rose from €250 to €1,400 (no. 508) and the late Roman gold also shone with proverbially solid results.

• 41: Agathokles. EL 25 Litrai. Estimate €1,500, hammer price €3,200
• 64: Maroneia. AR Tetrobol 398/386 BC. Estimate €750, hammer price €2,000
• 122: Philipp III. AV-Stater, Abydos mint. Estimate €3,000, hammer price €5,000
• 181: Side. AR-Stater 445/425 BC. Estimate €1,500, hammer price €5,500
• 209: Diodotos II. AV-Stater 256/230, mint B. Estimate €1,500, hammer price €4,000
• 243: Roman Republic. Anonymous. AR denarius 205 BC, Rome mint. Estimate €150, hammer price €1,500
• 271: L. Rustius. AR denarius 76 BC, Rome mint. Estimate €250, hammer price €1,900
• 299: Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and P. Licinius Crassus Iunianus. AR denarius 47/46 BC, moving military mint in Africa. Estimate €500, hammer price €5,000

• 331: Caligula and Agrippina I. AR denarius AD 41, Rome mint. Estimate €2,000, hammer price €8,500
• 508: Carausius in Britain. AR Antoninianus AD 291/292, Londinium (London) mint. Estimate €250, hammer price €1,400

• 583: Valentinianus III. Solidus AD 425/429, Constantinopolis mint. Estimate €1,750, hammer price €3,400

Lückger Collection – Part 2

On the second day of the auction, the coins of the Lückger Collection, Part 2 – Rhineland, Westphalia and selected individual pieces followed in the morning. The interest was enormous. The collectors and interested dealers had recognized the value and the rarities in this outstanding collection and were immediately prepared to bid at the tempting starting prices. This led to a fierce battle for almost every lot. The unsold lots could be counted on one hand. Only a few results can be mentioned here. A silver medal from 1634 on the transfer of the Swedish King Gustav II Adolph achieved a record-breaking €22,000. A Gelnhausen bracteate fetched an impressive €7,500 and a Saxon silver medal from 1683 commemorating the liberation of Vienna €8,500. But it was not only the high-priced coins and medals that surprised with top prices. Even the pennies from the core collection, which at first glance appear inconspicuous, doubled, tripled or multiplied their estimates. The interest was so great that the tight schedule of the morning could not be adhered to. The auction of the numerous, well-organized combined lots of the Lückger collection lasted long into the afternoon. Overall, the hammer price of the collection was double the estimate.

• 1076: Sweden. Gustav II. Adolph. Silver medal 1634, by Dadler, on the transfer of his body to Stockholm. Estimate €3,000, hammer price €22,000
• 1107: Augsburg city. Thaler 1740. Estimate €2,500, Hammer price €7,500
• 1139: Gelnhausen city. Friedrich I. Barbarossa, 1152-1190. Bracteate. Estimate €3,000, hammer price €7,500
• 1207: Saxony. Silver medal 1683, by Höhn, on the liberation of Vienna. Estimate €2,000, hammer price €8,500

Modern Coins

On the same day, 700 non-German, Habsburgian and feudal German coins and medals from various consignments followed. All areas and price categories were equally well received by the hall, the Internet and, in some cases, the telephone. A rouble from 1887, not at all rare in itself, fetched a hammer price of €7,500 in outstanding condition, while a rather common  Austrian thaler 1695 from the Hall mint in Tyrol achieved a surprise price of 700 euros. The top piece of the auction was a thick double thaler 1567 from the county of Moers (lot 1882). With an estimate of €35,000, this resulted in a hammer price of €65,000. Altogether, there were pieces for every budget. The consignors could be satisfied.

• 1474: Russia. Rouble 1887, St. Petersburg mint. Estimate € 1,000, hammer price €7,500
• 1794: Cologne city. Thaler 1717, on the homage to Emperor Charles VI. Estimate €2,000, hammer price €6,500
• 1877: Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Gold medal 1857, by Wilck, on the new palace in Schwerin. Estimate €10,000, hammer price €15,000

• 1882: Moers. Count Hermann von Neuenahr, 1553-1578. Double thaler 1567. Estimate € 35,000, hammer price €65,000

German Coins after 1871

The third day of the auction was devoted to German coins after 1871, with several similar collections making up a rarely given broad offering. Here, too, there were only very few returns thanks to the dealers and numerous collectors present. While the auction of the single coins proceeded quite quickly, there were again long bidding battles in the afternoon at the auction of the traditionally concluding combined lots. At this year’s spring auction, interested parties had to view over 300 of them in advance (in addition to the 126 ones in the Lückger collection). They did this with admirable diligence and thoroughness, so that the hammer price was 87 % higher than the estimate. Overall, the hammer price of auction 443 exceeded the total estimate by 74 %.

This proves it: Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. continues to find the highest bidder on behalf of its consignors, both nationally and internationally.

Unsold items from this auction can still be purchased up to 5 weeks after the auction at 20 % below the estimated price under the usual auction conditions.