Something For Everyone at Emporium Hamburg’s Auctions 107 & 108

Emporium Hamburg presents their Auction 107 “Coins & Medals” and Auction 108 “Banknotes & Emergency Money”. Auction 107 will take place from December 9 to 12, 2024, followed by Auction 108 on December 13, 2024. Both auctions will be streamed live online via Auctionmobility. Items can be previewed at the Störtebeker House by appointment.

Auction 107 “Coins & Medals” once again offers enthusiasts and collectors of historical coins a diverse selection of 3,352 lots in total, including numerous pieces of high rarity and historical appeal. The auction features ancient coins, world coins, medals, and numerous German mintages spanning various epochs, including the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the German Colonies. Beginners will find affordable lots with low starting prices, providing an excellent opportunity to start or expand collections. Meanwhile, seasoned numismatists will discover top-tier highlights.

The first third of the catalog is dedicated to ancient coins. A notable highlight is a rare tetradrachm of Demetrios Poliorketes, minted in Amphipolis around 294/293 BC (Lot 66, estimate €8,800.00). This silver coin portrays the “City Besieger” in a characteristic depiction. Another remarkable piece is a well-preserved solidus of Constantius II, son of Constantine the Great (Lot 970, estimate €12,500.00), featuring the goddess Victoria on the reverse, standing before a kneeling captive.

• Lot 66: Macedonia, Demetrios Poliorketes. Tetradrachm (294-293 BC), Amphipolis. Attractive piece, rare in this condition, beautiful patina, near extremely fine. Estimate: €8,800.00
• Lot 970: Roman Empire, Constantius II. Solidus (AD 346), SMKB = Cyzicus. Rare, minor scratches, extremely fine. Estimate: €12,500.00
• Lot 351: Roman Empire, Augustus. Denarius (18 BC), Colonia Patricia. Extremely fine. Estimate: €5,000.00
• Lot 1015: Roman Empire, Severus III. Solidus (AD 461-465), M-D/COMOB = Mediolanum. Extremely fine. Estimate: €16,400.00

The “World Coins” section spans coins and medals from 69 countries, offering a veritable numismatic world tour. From Afghanistan to Eritrea, Singapore, and Yemen, the variety of motifs and denominations is extensive. Highlights include an Afghan gold coin, 10,000 Afghanis 1978, featuring the Marco Polo sheep (Lot 1050, estimate €2,000.00). An attractive speciedaler under Frederik V of Denmark, boasting stunning patina, is listed as Lot 1174 (estimate €2,000.00). A rare coin from George IV, 2 Pounds 1826 graded NGC PF 63+ Ultra Cameo (Lot 1335), showcases the artistry of Britain’s famous engraver William Wyon and comes with an estimate of €32,000.00. The title piece of the catalog is also from Great Britain: a 5 Guinea coin of James II, minted in 1688, his final year of reign (Lot 1321, estimate €10,000.00).

• Lot 1050: Afghanistan. 10,000 Afghanis 1978. Marco Polo sheep. Rare, uncirculated. Estimate: €2,000.00.
• Lot 1147: China. Dollar Year 8 = 1919, Yuan Shih-Kai series. Attractive piece, beautiful toning, extremely fine/uncirculated. Estimate: €1,000.00
• Lot 1174: Denmark. Speciedaler 1764 HSK, Copenhagen. Attractive piece, stunning patina, near uncirculated. Estimate: €2,000.00
• Lot 1321: Great Britain, James II. 5 Guinea 1688. Very fine. Estimate: €10,000.00
• Lot 1335: Great Britain, George IV. 2 Pounds 1826. From the Erwin Warth Collection. NGC PF63+ Ultra Cameo. Estimate: €32,000.00
• Lot 1556: Philippines, U.S. Administration. Peso 1912 S, San Francisco. Attractive piece, beautiful toning, near uncirculated. Estimate: €4,000.00

The medals section presents a wide range of historical themes, including works by medalist Karl Goetz. These pieces provide collectors the opportunity to incorporate significant historical events and figures into their collections, an area of growing numismatic interest in recent years.

• Lot 1581: Poland. Silver medal (1660) by J. Höhn on the Peace of Oliva. Beautiful patina, very fine+. Estimate: €1,550.00
• Lot 1602: Russia. Bronze medal 1828 on the death of Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I. Extremely fine to uncirculated. Estimate: €300.00
• Lot 1874: Gold klippe (undated) on the Bordeaux Letter. 2 Pence Mauritius. Near uncirculated. Estimate: €640.00

• Lot 3349: FRG. Gold medal 1970 on the German Dialogue in Kassel. Minimally rubbed, proof. Estimate: €4,000.00

The German States section is led by Habsburg issues, often found in grades ranging from extremely fine to uncirculated, encompassing mintages from kreuzers to multiple ducats. Among the old German States, a remarkable piece from Brandenburg-Prussia in 1638 deserves special attention (Lot 2121, estimate €20,000.00). This coin depicts Elector George William in electoral regalia and serves as a numismatic witness to the Thirty Years’ War.

• Lot 2121: Brandenburg-Prussia, George William. Reichstaler 1638 LM, Cologne. Mint-fresh attractive piece with fine toning. Estimate: €20,000.00
• Lot 2340: Nuremberg, City. Double thaler (post-1683) with Leopold I’s title. Beautiful patina, very fine. Estimate: €5,000.00
• Lot 2436: Stolberg, Ludwig II, Heinrich XXI, Albrecht Georg, Christoph I, and Wolf Ernst. Thaler 1573. Rare, beautiful patina, extremely fine. Estimate: €1,200.00
• Lot 2532: Friedberg, Johann Maria Rudolf Waldbott von Bassenheim. Convention thaler 1804. Near uncirculated. Estimate: €1,600.00

Coins from the German Empire comprise nearly 350 gold and silver pieces. The auction concludes with coins from the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and German Colonies, including intriguing Reichsmark issues and special colonial coins, such as the 15 Rupien 1916, offered in both short and long arabesque variants (Lots 3334 and 3335).

• Lot 3222: Free City of Danzig. 25 Gulden 1923. Uncirculated. Estimate: €13,500.00
• Lot 3335: German East Africa. 15 Rupien 1916 T, long arabesque. Near uncirculated. Estimate: €6,100.00

Auction 108 “Banknotes & Emergency Money” will take place on December 13, 2024, featuring 324 lots across world banknotes, Old Germany, and German Empire notes, with a special focus on emergency money. Larger and smaller lots provide an exciting opportunity to examine collections in detail at the Störtebeker House.

• Lot 3494: German Foreign Banks, Tientsin. 10 Dollars 01.03.1907. Perforated DRUCKPROBE. Very rare, restored. Estimate: €2,000.00
• Lot 3497: German Foreign Banks, Peking. 25 Dollars 01.03.1907. Perforated DRUCKPROBE. Very rare, restored. Estimate: €2,000.00