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GOLD COINS FETCH A PRETTY PENNY AT DOYLE NEW YORK'S AUCTION
OF THE JOHN R. BOKER, JR. COLLECTION ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004
Bidders from Asia, Europe and North America Push Total
to $826,850 Against a Pre-Sale Estimate of $368,000-482,100
The
Boker Collection Featured Modern Gold Coins from Around the World, Including
Over Sixty Lots from the People's Republic of China
Attracting
a global audience of bidders representing various nations in Asia, Europe
and North America, Doyle New York's September 14, 2004 auction
of the John R. Boker, Jr. Collection of Modern Gold Coins fetched an exceptionally
strong $826,850 with 100% of the lots sold. The Collection had been expected
to total $368,000-482,100. The Boker Collection comprised 140 lots of
gold coins minted between 1968 and 1998, and featured examples representing
nations on five continents with a particular focus on the People's
Republic of China and France. The international marketing campaign designed
and implemented by Doyle drew collectors and dealers from around the world
who competed live in the salesroom and via the telephones and the Internet.
The coins
in the Boker Collection were issued by governments around the world with
the goal of attracting coin collectors and investors alike. These gold
coins were typically produced to commemorate an event such as the New
Year, or topics such as national independence, the discoveries of Columbus,
endangered wildlife, sports, or religious events. The Collection also
offered examples of bullion type coins, such as the Australian Kangaroos,
South African Krugerands, Chinese Pandas, and Angels from the Isle of
Man.
THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA
The Boker Collection was particularly rich in gold coins minted by the
People's Republic of China (PRC). The sixty lots of Chinese coins
included numerous Panda coins and various rare commemoratives in denominations
from 5 yuan, weighing 5 troy ounces of .999 pure gold, to 2,000 yuan,
weighing 1 kilo or 32.15 troy ounces of .999 pure gold.
CHINESE LUNAR
NEW YEAR SERIES
Highlighting the Collection were very rare examples from the remarkable
Chinese Lunar New Year Series. Produced each year by the PRC in very limited
quantities, usually only 15 to 20 coins annually, each coin celebrated
the beginning of the lunar new year in a very grand scale. Measuring approximately
6 inches in diameter, these 2000 yuan coins were minted from 1 kilo of
.999 pure gold. On the face of each coin was a delightful design marking
the lunar new year, and each was inscribed with the name and seal of the
artist.
The top lot
of the Boker Collection was a 1992 coin celebrating the 12th anniversary
of the Chinese Lunar Series that sold for $43,020. Other highlights included
coins marking the Year of the Tiger (1998) that sold for $39,435; the
Year of the Pig (1995) that sold for $34,655; and the Year of the Rat
(1996) that also sold for $24,655.
OTHER CHINESE
COINS
Among the other Chinese coins in the Collection were two examples marking
important anniversaries. The first was a 1989 coin commemorating the 40th
anniversary of the People's Republic of China. This 1,500 yuan coin was
minted from 20 ounces of .999 pure gold and sold for $26,290. Also featured
was a 1995 gold coin commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Taiwan's
liberation from the Japanese occupation of World War II. Interestingly,
the inscription read "The Fiftieth Anniversary of Taiwan's Return
to China, October 25, 1945". The "Return to China" reflects
the Chinese government's view of Taiwan as a province of China, not a
separate entity. On the reverse of the coin was a view of the Great Wall
of China. This 2,000 yuan coin was minted from 1 kilo of .999 pure gold
and sold for $25,095.
In addition
to the commemorative coins, the Collection offered numerous Chinese Panda
coins. Minted in large quantities with a different design each year, these
gold bullion coins are popular with investors and collectors worldwide,
and are recognizable by their charming depictions of the Chinese panda.
POLAND
Two gold coins from Poland attracted unusually strong interest from bidders
at the auction. They were both 12 ounce commemoratives depicting Pope
John Paul II, the popular native son of Poland. Dating to 1988 and 1989,
each of the two coins sold for $15,535.
FRANCE
The Boker Collection also offered 27 lots of gold coins from the French
Monnaie de Paris group, including examples minted for the Bicentennial
of the Louvre, the Centennial of the Cinema, and the Museum Treasure Series.
Among those in the Louvre series were coins bearing images of the Nike
of Samothrace and the Coronation of Napoleon, each of which sold for $3,585.
The Cinema series featured examples celebrating such screen legends as
Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Yves Montand and Greta Garbo. Highlighting
this series was a coin that depicted actress Audrey Hepburn and sold for
$3,585. Michelangelo's sculpture of David and artist Vincent Van
Gogh are among the subjects of the Museum treasure series, all of which
sold for between $2,688 and $2,987. The coins from the three series were
all minted from 5 troy ounces of .999 gold, and came in their original
presentation boxes.
WORLD COINS
Within the selection of gold coins from other nations were examples from
the Bahamas, Benin, Bhutan, Columbia, Gibraltar, Haiti, Isle of Man, Mongolia,
Nepal and Singapore. Among these were coins commemorating Bahamian independence,
the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana, and endangered wildlife in Bhutan.
AUCTION
Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 10am
(To be offered as a special section in the Important Estate Jewelry auction)
INFORMATION
Norman Scrivener, Sale Specialist, 212-427-4141, ext. 616 or
Client Services Department, 212-427-4141, ext. 207, client.services@DoyleNewYork.com
CATALOGUE
Subscriptions Department, 212-427-4141, ext. 257, subscriptions@DoyleNewYork.com
View
the catalogue online
MEDIA
CONTACT
Louis LeB. Webre, Vice President, Marketing and Media, 212-427-4141, ext
232, louis@DoyleNewYork.com
Images and interviews are available upon request.
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