Stack's Bowers auction house is known for its remarkable sales of rare coins, paper money and unique currencies, and from 10 to 12 January at the Grand Hyatt in New York, their upcoming auction (divided into three sessions) will feature over 1,200 rare coins, paper money specimens, and more. For avid numismatics collectors, this sale is not to be missed, which offers currency spanning centuries and countries, from Peru and Mexico to France and Greece. In addition to the live auctions, there will be online sales with thousands of additional lots.
Here are the top highlights from Stack’s Bowers upcoming live auctions.
This extremely rare 6th-century BC coin is the most highly anticipated lot of the sale and originated in the Kingdom of Lydia (now modern day Turkey) during the rule of King Croesus from 560-546 BC. It is considered the world's first major gold coinage, which was standardised and developed by Croesus, renowned for his significant wealth. The coin face depicts a lion and a bull in battle.
Another important piece is this 20 ducat from Lucerne, Switzerland. The intricate piece was likely created for a significant dignitary and is the only one of its kind. It shows wild men holding cantonal arms under the Latin script, which translates to ‘God is my light’. The back shows a detailed rendering of Lucerne city below a Madonna and child.
Sourced from Sicily, this tetradrachm is an ancient silver coin from Himera, an important Greek city in Sicily. The front of the coin portrays the Nymph of Himera driving a quadriga with four horses as Nike, the goddess of victory, flies above, and the back shows the Nymph of Himera standing over an altar.
A highlight from Mexico is this Mexico City hookneck 8 reales. These were made from 1823-25, as identified by the profile eagle and the the coil in the snake near the eagle's beak.
A very rare paper banknote is this Canadian $1 from 1898. It is still in excellent condition and shows two lumberjacks in the center, with the profiles of the Countess of Aberdeen on the left and the Earl of Aberdeen on the right.
Search all numismatics available from Stack’s Bowers on Barnebys
