By Jesse Robitaille
Nearly 1,300 lots are set to cross the block across two sessions later this week as Colonial Acres offers its next Premier Auction.
Typically hosted in conjunction with the National Postage Stamp & Coin Show, the Premier Auction starts on Sept. 11, a day before the show – since cancelled due to COVID-19 – would have opened its doors in Mississauga.
“As we head into our second Premier Auction during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are still very optimistic running with the online-only auction as the National Postage Stamp & Coin Show had to be cancelled,” said auctioneer Kirk Parsons, co-owner of the Kitchener, Ont.-based auction house.
“Results from our previous Premier Auction this past spring were very strong, and our monthly auctions since then have been performing extremely well. As with many dealers, we are all feeling the pressure of the absence of coin shows and limited business due to restrictions of public access over the past year. Acquiring choice material for the Premier Auction was a challenge; however, with almost 30 years in business, we were able to reach out to our contacts and succeeded in putting together almost 1,300 lots that will be split into two sessions.”
Session one, featuring Lots 1-674, will be held on Sept. 11 while session two, offering Lots 675-1295, will take place on Sept. 12. To view the full catalogue, click here.
Among several noteworthy paper money highlights is a 1937 Series $1,000 note (BC-28) with a low serial number of “0000042.” Offered as Lot 1094, it features the Osborne-Towers signature combination and is certified as Choice Uncirculated-64 EPQ (exceptional paper quality) by Paper Money Guaranty (PMG).
“This one’s a bright, vibrant note with exceptional eye-appeal, and it’ll be worth a premium bid,” said Parsons, who added the lot is estimated at $25,000.
A $1,000 note from the Bank of Canada’s inaugural issue, the 1935 Series, is expected to bring $24,750 as Lot 1066.
Another early Bank of Canada note (BC-19), this a $1,000 bill from the central bank’s inaugural 1935 Series, will cross the block as Lot 1066. Again featuring the Osborne-Towers signature combination plus a serial number reading “A14944-B,” this note is also certified as Choice Uncirculated-64 EPQ (exceptional paper quality) by PMG.
“This is a premium note, and it’s seldom offered for sale in this grade point,” said Parsons, who added the lot offers “a great investment opportunity to own a choice-quality rare note.”
“This is also worthy of a premium bid.”
It’s expected to bring $24,750.
A 1935 Series $50 French-language note carries an estimate of $7,700 as Lot 1062.
Still in the 1935 Series, a $50 French note (BC-14) will be offered as Lot 1062. Featuring the Osborne-Towers signature combination and a serial number of “04156/F,” this note is certified as Very Fine-20 by PMG. It’s estimated at $7,700.
Rounding out the paper money highlights is a 1902 Dominion of Canada $4 note (DC-17a) featuring the “4 at top” variety. Offered as Lot 1017, this note features the Various-Courtney signature combination and a serial number reading “066715-A.” It’s certified by as Fine-15 by Legacy Currency Grading.
“A very attractive note for the grade point and with no distracting flaw or tones,” it’s estimated at $5,500, Parsons said.
A 1912 $10 gold coin, one of the first gold coins issued by Canada, will cross the block as Lot 64 with an estimate of $2,000.
COINAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Moving on to coinage in the sale’s first session, a hand-selected 1912 $10 gold coin – among the first gold coins issued by Canada – will cross the block as Lot 64.
Held in a presentation box, the scarce coin was struck in March 1912 and is “Canadian in every aspect, from raw material to reverse image design,” according to the Royal Canadian Mint. It’s one of fewer than 19,000 examples offered by the Mint in 2013 after being “hand-selected by Mint staff for a high-quality appearance with minimal evidence of wear caused by handling, storage or environmental condition.”
It’s expected to bring $2,000.
A trio of high-grade colonial tokens will also be offered in the first session:
- an 1861 Nova Scotia half-penny, certified as Mint State-65 Red by International Coin Certification Service (ICCS), will cross the block as Lot 142 with an estimate of $4,000;
- an 1862 New Brunswick 20-cent coin in ICCS Mint State-60 will be offered as Lot 155 with an estimate of $2,000; and
- a 1941-C Newfoundland cent in ICCS Mint State-65 Red is expected to bring $2,500 as Lot 167.
A 1904 10-cent coin certified as Mint State-66 is expected to bring $11,000 as Lot 484.
Canadian coinage is also represented with some sought-after lots, including a 1904 10-cent coin in ICCS Mint State-66 crossing the block as Lot 484. Described by Parsons as a “nice, high-grade example,” it’s expected to bring $11,000.
In the second session, which begins with half-dollars, an 1890-H 50-cent “Obverse 4” variety will be offered as Lot 683. Certified as Very Fine-30 by ICCS, it’s estimated at $7,750.
Silver dollars – to be offered from Lots 741-865 – are also worth mentioning, Parsons said. Among the highlights is a 1945 silver dollar featuring “a soft satin finish with subtle hints of golden toning.” Offered as Lot 765, it’s certified as Specimen-64 by ICCS and carries a pre-sale estimate of $3,750.
A pair of consecutive Johnson Matthew one-ounce Fine silver ‘Sooter’ bars is expected to bring $80 as Lot 106.
GOLD & SILVER
Scarce gold and silver coins and bars, including vintage bars produced by Johnson Matthey – a gold assayer that rose to prominence in mid-19th-century England – will also be offered from Lots 84–140.
Percival Norton Johnson established a business as a gold assayer in London, England, in 1817; however, George Matthey joined the business in 1851 and the company’s name was changed to Johnson Matthey. A year later, the firm was appointed as the official assayer and refiner for the Bank of England.
Lot 106 offers a pair of consecutive Johnson Matthew one-ounce “Sooter” bar of Fine silver. The serial numbers are “S25650” and “S25651,” and both bars are sealed in their original packaging. They’re estimated at $80 altogether.
ERRORS & VARIETIES
A 1936 25-cent ‘Doubled 1936’ variety carries an estimate of $1,000 as Lot 958.
A selection of errors and varieties – on both coins and paper money – will also be offered in session two from Lots 952–970G.
A 1936 25-cent “Doubled 1936” variety will cross the block as Lot 958. Described by Parsons as a “rare error,” it’s certified by ICCS as About Uncirculated-50. It’s estimated at $1,000.
Rounding out the highlights is a 1973 $1 error note (BC-46A) from the Bank of Canada’s Scenes of Canada series. Featuring a folding and cutting error (E24-iii), the note is certified by PMG as Choice Uncirculated-65 EPQ.
“The top note contains approximately one third of the lower note in the original uncut sheet,” said Parsons, who added it’s a “spectacular error that was found in an original bundle.”
With serial numbers reading “GT1018999” and “1019999,” the note features the Lawson-Bouey signature combination. It’s expected to bring $1,800 as Lot 970C.
A pair of 1973 $1 error notes featuring a folding and cutting error will cross the block as Lot 970C with an estimate of $1,800.
LOT VIEWING
Lot viewing and bidding both began on Aug. 21.
Viewing is available through Sept. 10 from Monday and Friday at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Colonial Acres’ store on 991 Victoria St. N. in Kitchener.
Bids can be submitted by mail, email, telephone, fax or in store before 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 11 for the first session and Sept. 12 for the second session.
On Sept. 11-12, bids can also be placed online through iCollector.
Both sessions on Sept. 11-12 will begin at 5:30 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit colonialacres.com or call 1-888-255-4565 (extension 212).