Numismatic Rarities: Highlights in the SINCONA Spring Auctions

SINCONA invites all friends of world numismatics to this year’s spring auctions from 13 to 15 May 2024. Join them for three exciting numismatic days in Zurich! 3006 lots with an estimate of almost 6.6 million Swiss Francs are sure to ignite interesting and exciting bidding battles.

Customers are presented with four catalogues, three of which are dedicated to special topics: First is Auction 88 with the Kian Collection Part II, followed by the Garrulus Collection presented in catalogue 89. Auction 90, the “general catalogue”, deals with many fields of medieval and modern numismatics, including the traditional bullion auction as well as about 300 coins and medals from Switzerland. The sale is rounded off by a last special catalogue featuring the first part of the Konrad Bürki Collection with coins from Switzerland up to the year 1848.

Auction 88 – The Kian Collection Part 2

In October 2023, the successful sale of part 1 of the Kian Collection featuring machine-struck coins and medals of the Persian dynasty took place. Now the second part will come under the hammer. It deals with hammered coins that impressively demonstrate the art of calligraphy in Persian numismatics. The 215 lots correspond to an estimate of CHF 425,000, and more than 2/3 of the pieces were graded. Here are some of the outstanding rarities on offer.

• Lot 8: Suleiman I, 1079-1105 AH (1668-1694). 20 Shahi 1099 AH (1688), Isfahan Mint. Very rare. From the Bakhtiar Collection, Spink & Son, London 1996. Extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 4,000.
• Lot 108: Karim Khan, 1166-1193 AH (1753-1779). Mohur Ashrafi 1171 AH (1758), Kashan Mint. Extremely rare. NGC UNC Details. Estimate: CHF 4,000.

• Lot 159: Fath-´Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 5 Toman 1226 AH (1811), Tabriz Mint. Extremely rare denomination. NGC MS62. Estimate: CHF 40,000.
• Lot 163: Fath-´Ali Shah, 1212-1250 AH (1797-1834). 4 Riyal 1227 AH (1812), Tabriz Mint. Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen, unpublished. NGC AU55. Estimate: CHF 35,000.

• Lot 189: Muhammad Shah, 1250-1264 AH (1834-1848). 5 Toman 1251 AH (1835), Isfahan Mint. Commemorating his second coronation in 1251 AH. The only known specimen. Unpublished. NGC XF Details. Estimate: CHF 35,000.

Auction 89 – Garrulus Collection

Following the magnificent specimens from the Persia, SINCONA presents a collection that showcases fantastic coin art from various eras – starting with ancient pieces, moving on to a particularly rich selection from the early modern period, up to the time when the first large silver coins were produced. This outstanding collection with numismatic master pieces of exquisite condition comprises 274 lots with an estimate of 425,000 Swiss Francs. The portraits and depictions on the coins are sure to amaze many a collector.

This selection from the Garrulus Collection will certainly whet your appetite:

• Lot 502: Lucania / Poseidonia. Nomos around 400-385 BC. Poseidon striding to the right. POM retrograd. Incuse reverse. Extremely fine with old collection patina. Estimate: CHF 15,000.
• Lot 504: Bruttium / Kroton. Stater around 380 BC. Eagle to the left, looking back, standing on a deer’s head. Reverse with tripod, to the left an ivy leaf. Very rare and of magnificent condition. Extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 6,500.

• Lot 507: Bruttium / Panormos. Tetradrachm ca. 340 BC. Quadriga to the left. Nike crowning the handlebars. Reverse: head of Kore-Persephone to the left. Very rare. Mint state. Estimate: CHF 30,000.
• Lot 518: Belgium. Joanna and Wenceslaus, 1355-1383. Double Mouton d’or n.d. (1357), Vilvorde Mint. Rare. NGC UNC Details. Estimate: CHF 1,500.
• Lot 553: Germany. Bavaria, Duchy. Maximilian I, 1598-1651. Kipper-120 Kreuzer (double Gulden) 1622, Munich Mint. Rare, especially in this magnificent condition. Splendid patina. Attractive extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 2,000.

Lot 562.

• Lot 562: Germany. Bavaria, Duchy. Maximilian I, 1598-1651. 5 Ducats 1640, Munich Mint. Commemorating the refortification of the city of Munich. Rare. NGC MS64. Estimate: CHF 25,000.
• Lot 609: France. Philippe VI de Valois, 1328-1350. Ange d’or n.d. (3rd issue, 25 June 1342). Very rare in this condition. Extremely fine. Estimate CHF: 10,000.
• Lot 649: Italy. Bergamo. Grosso da 6 denari n.d. Church building on pillars between PGA – MVM. Reverse with portrait of Frederick II to the right. Very rare in this condition. Extremely fine. Estimate CHF: 2,000.
• Lot 690: Holy Roman Empire / Austria. Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol, 1477-1496. Guldiner 1486, Hall Mint. The oldest taler issue. Rare. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 7,500.

Lot 708.

• Lot 708: Spain, Kingdom. Pedro I King of Castile and León, 1350-1369. Dobla de 35 Maravedis n.d. (1350-1366), Sevilla Mint. Very rare in this condition. NGC MS67. Estimate: CHF 10,000.

Auction 90 – World Coins and Medals and Swiss Coins and Medals

SINCONA’s auction catalogue 90 comprises almost 1800 lots with an estimate of more than 4.4 million Swiss Francs. The three main parts include 1360 lots with issues from all countries, from Afghanistan to Vietnam; 100 lots are dedicated to the bullion auction; and 308 lots present coins and medals of Switzerland. Here is the schedule:

• 13 May: 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm: World Coins and Medals – Lots 775-1169
• 14 May: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm: World Coins and Medals – Lots 1170-2134 / Bullion Auction – Lots 2201-2310
• 15 May: 9:30 am – 12 pm: Swiss Coins and Medals – Lots 2501-2808

Particularly noteworthy are the chapters on China (138 lots), Germany (119 lots), Great Britain and Italy (74 lots each), India and Afghanistan, the Holy Roman Empire / Austria with a series of coins by the Austrian princes (291 lots) and Czechia / Czechoslovakia (117 lots) as well as Swiss issues. The auction house has selected a few outstanding pieces for you here.

• Lot 777: Afghanistan, Durrani dynasty. Mahmud Shah, 1216-1218 AH (1801-1803). 2 Mohurs 1217 AH / Year 1 (1801), Bahawalpur Mint. Very rare. Cabinet piece. NGC MS66. Estimate: CHF 10,000.

• Lot 1020: Germany. Esslingen, city. 5 Ducats, 1717, Augsburg Mint. Commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the Reformation. Of the highest rarity, only 3 specimens known. NGC MS63. Estimate: CHF 30,000.

SINCONA also likes to draw attention to two important rarities from the field of British numismatics – patterns that often do not come onto the market for decades.

• Lot 1261: Great Britain. George III, 1760-1820. Pattern 2 Guineas 1768, London Mint. Dies by John Tanner. Plain edge. Very rare. NGC PF64 ULTRA CAMEO. Estimate CHF: 150,000.

• Lot 1267: Great Britain. George III, 1760-1820. Pattern Crown in Gold 1817, London Mint. Dies by W. Wyon. Of the highest rarity. Only 7 known specimens known. NGC PF63+ ULTRA CAMEO. Estimate: CHF 300,000.

• Lot 1561: Holy Roman Empire / Austria. Ferdinand I, 1521-1564. Representative coin of 15 gold Gulden 1537, Mint of Joachimsthal. Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of his reign as Hungarian King. Of the highest rarity. The only known specimen. NGC AU Details. Estimate CHF: 150,000.
• Lot 1721: Holy Roman Empire / Austria. Duchy of Eggenberg. Johann Ulrich von Krumnau, 1623-1634. Taler 1629, St. Veit Mint. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 5,000.
• Lot 1813: Holy Roman Empire / Austria. County of Schlick. Henry IV, 1612-1650. Taler 1647, Plan Mint. With the title of Ferdinand III. Yield of the Joachimsthal mines. Rare in this condition. Beautiful patina. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate CHF: 2,000.
• Lot 1943: Czechia. Bohemia. Louis II Jagiello, 1516-1526. Ducat n.d., Prague Mint. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 10,000.

• Lot 1980: Czechoslovakia. Republic, 1918-1939, 1945-1960. 5 Sokol 1920, Kremnica Mint. Silver pattern. Dies by O. Spaniel. Extremely rare. NGC MS62. Estimate: CHF 25,000.

This spring’s Bullion Auction contains 110 lots. As is well known, bullion gold is auctioned off at special conditions to private individuals and professional dealers; however, bids are made as a percentage of the precious metal price, not based on the currency. Moreover, buyers do not pay a premium added to the hammer price regardless of whether they participate as room bidders, submit their bids via writing or online. This special auction form is increasingly popular, as is evidenced by the number of participants that take part in this special sale.

SINCONA dedicates Wednesday, 15 May entirely to Swiss numismatics. First is the chapter on Switzerland of catalogue 90 with about 300 lots and an estimate of more than 750,000 Swiss Francs. After a large section with coins from the cantons, collectors can look forward to various rarities of coins and medals of the Confederation, patterns, error coins as well as 87 lots dealing with shooting talers, shooting medals and shooting watches.

• Lot 2599: Switzerland. St. Gallen. Double Ducat 1621, St. Gallen Mint. Very rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 15,000.
• Lot 2651: Switzerland. Confederation. 1 Rappen 1853 B, Bern Mint. Narrow cross. Very rare, especially in this condition. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: CHF 3,000.

Lot 2662.

• Lot 2662: Switzerland. Confederation. 5 Francs 1896 B, Bern Mint. Extremely rare, only 10-20 specimens known. NGC SP63. Estimate CHF 80,000.
• Lot 2692: Switzerland. Confederation. 5 Francs 1922 B, Bern Mint. Matte pattern. Extremely rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: CHF 5,000.
• Lot 2713: Switzerland. Medals. Medal of merit 1792 (1817). Copper trial piece. “TREUE UND EHRE” (“LOYALTY AND HONOUR”). Only 3 specimens known. Extremely fine to about FDC. Estimate: CHF 400.
• Lot 2728: Switzerland. Shooting Medals. Basel. Silver medal 1879. Tir fédéral. Of the highest rarity. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate CHF: 2,000.

Auction 91 – Konrad Bürki Collection Part 1

With Auction 91, SINCONA offers the first part of the important Konrad Bürki Collection – a total of 738 lots with an estimate of 1.27 million Swiss Francs. Konrad Bürki has been one of the most loyal collectors of Swiss coinage for many years. He regularly participated in all major coin shows and numismatic sales. Now he decided to offer his coins for sale. The ensemble is so large that its next parts will be presented in a number of upcoming auction sales. Both collectors and dealers can look forward to these exciting pieces!

At this point, the preview can only present a tiny selection of the many rarities in the collection, but rest assured that they will make any numismatist’s mouth water!

• Lot 3039: Switzerland. Basel. Emperor Frederick III, 1452-1493. Gold Gulden 1492, imperial mint. Of the highest rarity. Very fine. Estimate: CHF 10,000.

Bern is one of Konrad Bürki favorite minting authorities; accordingly, the collection contains a significant amount of important pieces from the beginnings of Bern’s minting activity up to the end of cantonal issues. The auction presents one rare coin after the other!

• Lot 3104: Switzerland. Bern. Dicken n.d. (1482), Bern Mint. After the model of Milan testoni by Galeazzo Maria Sforza. It is the very first Dicken in Switzerland as a whole. Extremely rare, the only specimen in private possession. From the Kunzmann Coll. About very fine. Estimate: CHF 4,500.

• Lot 3151: Switzerland. Bern. 10 Ducats n.d. (ca. 1772), Bern Mint. Dies by Mörikofer. Of the highest rarity and splendid condition. About FDC. Estimate: CHF 90,000.

Geneva is also among the topics that are particularly close to Konrad Bürki’s heart. Therefore, his collection contains numerous rarities from this region.

• Lot 3236: Switzerland. Geneva. Half Dicken (Demi Teston) 1562, Geneva Mint. Of high rarity and with excellent provenance. Very fine. Estimate: CHF 6,000.

• Lot 3279: Switzerland. Geneva. Taler (Ecu) 1721, Geneva Mint. Of the highest rarity; only 394 specimens minted. Very fine. Estimate: CHF 10,000.

• Lot 3349: Switzerland. Lucerne. Ducat 1715, Lucerne Mint. Dies by J. C. Hedlinger. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: CHF 8,000.

A few years ago, Konrad Bürki was able to acquire coins of the canton of Neuenburg/Neuchâtel. Of course, this ensemble contained pieces that are never or barely ever seen on the market.

• Lot 3369: Switzerland. Neuchâtel. Henri II d’Orléans Longueville, 1595-1663. Double Pistole 1603, Neuchâtel Mint. Of the highest rarity, only 2 pieces known. This specimen is depicted in the Divo-Tobler and HMZ Catalogue. Attractive very fine. Estimate: CHF 75,000.
• Lot 3381: Switzerland. Neuchâtel. Frederick William I of Prussia, 1713-1740. Taler 1714, Berlin Mint as the screw press in Neuchâtel was out of order. Very rare. Very fine. Estimate CHF: 12,000.
• Lot 3412: Switzerland. Schaffhausen. Half Taler 1550, Schaffhausen Mint. Variety with diameter of ca. 33mm. Very rare. Attractive very fine. Estimate: CHF 2,500.

• Lot 3438: Switzerland. Schwyz. Scudo d’oro n.d., Bellinzona Mint. Of great rarity. Extremely fine to about FDC. Estimate: CHF 30,000.
• Lot 3468: Switzerland. Solothurn. Taler 1561, Solothurn Mint. Of the highest rarity, especially in this condition. About FDC. Estimate: CHF 15,000.
• Lot 3583: Switzerland. Zug. Half Taler 1692, Zug Mint. Very rare. Attractive very fine. Estimate: CHF 5,000.
• Lot 3652: Switzerland. Zurich. Double Ducat 1708, Zurich Mint. Rare, especially in this condition. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: CHF 5,000.

• Lot 3726: Switzerland. Helvetic Republic. 20 Batzen 1798, unidentified mint. Only 32 specimens minted. Beautiful patina. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: CHF 5,000.

In the autumn of 2024, the second part of the Bürki Collection will be auctioned off. And SINCONA promises that it will features just as many special and extremely rare numismatic issues.