By Bret Evans
Realized prices do not include taxes or buyer’s fees.
Desirable items were met with strong bidding and realizations at Jeffrey Hoare Auctions’ Numismatic and Military Sale No. 122 on Jan. 29.
“There was strong bidding from both the floor and over the telephone,” Wendy Hoare told CCN. “Overall I am very pleased with the sale.”
All of the tokens from the collection of collector and dealer Jack. C. Lavis sold.
Among the highlights were Lots 95 and 96, a pair of desirable blacksmith tokens. Considered contemporary counterfeits, blacksmith tokens are known for small flans and poorly struck images, often in mirror form of the original token.
Lot 95, a Warehouse/JB in script (BL-31), About Fine, sold for $1,200, the full pre-sale estimate; while Lot 96, a bust left and Britannia facing right (BL-38A2), VG with a tiny clip and some verdigris, sold for $2,600, compared to an estimate of $2,000.
Lot 81 was a Thomas and William Molson token on a thin flan with a reeded edge (Br-562), VG, which sold for $800, compared to an estimate of $1,000.
The sale also included selections from the R. D. W. Brand collection, focused on Indian Chief medals and early Canadiana.
Lot 223 was a pair of Canadian Egypt Boatman medals, shedding light on a little-known part of Canadian military history.
During the Egyptian campaign of 1882-89, the British military enlisted the aid of Canadian voyageurs to operate transports on the Nile River and its tributaries.
These medals were an Egypt Medal, 1882-89 engraved 18 Boatn J. Tuo-ra-ka-ron, Caughnawaga Det., and a Khedive’s Star, 1882-91 unnamed but dated 1884-6.
The pair were estimated at $4,800 but sold for $5,000.
One surprise item was Lot 387, a Quebec Militia officer’s large flat gilt button from 1775. The button is scarce and had the shank removed and replaced with a brooch pin. Estimated at $220, this lot sold for $820, more than three times the original estimate.
“That was in the militaria section but it is a crossover piece,” Hoare said.
“During coin shortages they were often made into coins, and that may have caught the eye of a coin collector. It would be an interesting exhibit piece.”
The auction also includes selections from the collection of Warren Carroll.
Carroll, who died in 2015, was a long-time collector of all types of Air Force material. He not only collected but also researched extensively. He was used as a historical accuracy consultant by movies and was often consulted by museums to identify insignia and equipment.
Lot 423 is a bronze Aeronautical Society of Great Britain medal presented to W. R. Turnbull.
Turnbull who studied in Canada, Germany and the U.S. before working for Edison Lamp Works, went on to become an aviation pioneer in Canada.
Not only did he build the first wind tunnel in Canada in 1902, but he designed an operational variable pitch propeller, which was first tested in 1927.
The variable pitch propeller allowed the angle of the blades to be adjusted for more power during take-offs and landings, an innovation still used to this day on some propeller-driven aircraft.
Turnbull was awarded the medal in 1908. In 1976, 22 years after his death, he was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.
The medal sold for $1,000, double the pre-sale estimate of $500.
An 1899-1902 South Africa Medal with three clasps, issued to Pte. F. G. W. Floyd of the Royal Canadian Regiment, who was killed in action on May 10, 1900, was accompanied by Floyd’s handwritten diary. The lot sold for $2,100, more than double the pre-sale estimate of $1,000.
First World War medals included Lot 259, a 1914-15 War and Victory Medal impressed Spr. T. Pow; a 1914-15 star impressed Spr. J. Pow; and a memorial plaque embossed John Pow.
Brothers Thomas and John Pow were born in Scotland and later moved to Canada. Both were killed in action. Thomas died on Apr. 28, 1917, and John died on Aug. 3, 1916. The lot of four pieces sold for $500, slightly above the estimate of $400.
Lot 357 was an officers gilt and silver cap badge from the South Alberta Regiment, with a Scully Ltd. maker’s mark on the back. Estimated at $140, it sold for $440.
A highlight for cloth badge collectors is Lot 367, a triangular badge with curved top in green with red letters 1st Bn. Dufferin & Haldimand Rifles Canada. A seldom-seen piece, it sold for the full estimate of $380.
The sale was held in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Numismatic Dealers (CAND) annual show in Hamilton.
For more information, visit jeffreyhoare.on.ca.