Sedwick Auction #7 Realizes $1+ Million, 94%+ Lots Sold

1

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC's Treasure Auction #7Winter Park, Florida. — Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC announced this week that their seventh Treasure Auction on April 7-9 realized $1.37 million (including buyer’s fees, same for all prices quoted here) and over 94% of the 2160 lots sold, well exceeding the pre-auction estimate.

 

"Our latest auction proves that world coins and treasure items are still strong," said Daniel Sedwick, company principal and founder, "and that we achieve consistent results.

This is our second auction in a row that reached over $1 million with a 94% sell-through rate, which is remarkable and a testament to the hard work we put in, both to get great consignments and to do what it takes to sell them all." 

 

Sedwick also pointed out that many sections like shipwreck coins were complete sell outs and brought record prices, particularly the Karl Goodpaster estate of 1715 Fleet silver coins.

Gold cobs, as always, fetched strong prices, with the two featured Peruvian specimens from the Frank Sedwick estate realizing $19,550 (8 escudos 1712) and $18,400 (4 escudos 1711, finest known).

Perhaps the most interesting coin in the sale was a Mexican cob 1 escudo from the 1715 Fleet that was flown to the moon aboard Apollo 14, and that coin brought $8,625. Most of the money, however, was in gold and silver ingots, including the highest priced lot in the whole auction, a naturally coral-encrusted "clump" of two complete gold bars from a mid-1500s Spanish wreck that brought $112,125. Many museum-quality artifacts sold for up to 5 times the high estimates. 
 

Sedwick’s assistant Augi Garcia pointed to several unique factors for the success of their auction, including video lot viewing and illustration of all lots, but particularly the concept of live bidding via the Internet:

 

"People love bidding online, at their computer, in the comfort of their own home or office, even from their iPhone. At times we had more people actively bidding online than you see on the floor of a typical world-coins auction at a major coin show." 

 

A very strong online thrust via the Sedwick website as well as the bidding platform iCollector attracted over 25% new bidders from around the world. Also of benefit was lot viewing at the Baltimore show in March.

Consignments pledged or already received for Sedwick’s Treasure Auction #8 in October (consignment deadline July 31) indicate that it will be another big event, with still more improvements and innovations in store.

 

"Our goal is constant improvement through technological innovation, while retaining good old-fashioned personal service," says Sedwick, "and that formula is hard to beat."

 

Highlights from Treasure Auction #7 include (in order of price realized):

Lot#

0142

World’s only gold-bar clump,  2400 grams in two complete, long ingots, from the "Golden Fleece wreck" (ca. 1550).

$   112,125

Lot#

0143

Complete gold "finger" bar #39 from the "Golden Fleece wreck" (ca. 1550), 1108 grams, 17K.

$    36,800

Lot#

1864

Bronze astrolabe in exceptional condition, dated 1656, maker Agostinho de Goes Raposo.

$    32,200

Lot#

0153

Gold "finger" bar #10 from the Atocha (1622), 687 grams, 23.5K.

$    31,625

Lot#

1962

Ornate French gold boîte-en-baignoire (oblong snuff box) from the "Coconut Wreck" (ca. 1810).

$    28,750

Lot#

0161

Large silver bar #604 from the Atocha (1622), 87 lb 2.3 oz troy, 2380/2400 fine, Class Factor 0.8.

$    20,700

Lot#

0010

Lima, Peru, cob 8 escudos, 1712M, choice specimen from the 1715 Fleet, ex-Frank Sedwick collection.

$    19,550

Lot#

0015

Lima, Peru, cob 4 escudos, 1711M, choice specimen from the 1715 Fleet, ex-Frank Sedwick collection, finest known.

$    18,400

Lot#

0019

Cuzco, Peru, cob 2 escudos, 1698M, from the 1715 Fleet, choice, Plate Coin in Diving to a Flash of Gold by Meylach.

$    14,375

Lot#

0009

Lima, Peru, cob 8 escudos, 1710H, 2 dates, from the 1715 Fleet, choice.

$    12,650

Lot#

1159

Panama, cob 1 real, Philip II, no assayer, unusually fine style, unique.

$    11,500

Lot#

0164

Small silver bar #820 from the Atocha (1622), 39 lb 10.08 oz troy, 2360/2400 fine, Class Factor 0.9.

$    10,350

Lot#

0008

Lima, Peru, cob 8 escudos, 1708H, from the 1715 Fleet.

$    10,063

Lot#

1979

Dutch bronze swivel cannon with "sea lion" handles and original yoke, ca. 1700.

$    10,063

Lot#

0168

Neatly formed silver ingot from the Slot ter Hooge (1724), 1950 grams, w/stamps of the Zeeland chamber of the VOC.

$      9,258

Lot#

0001

Mexico City, Mexico, cob 8 escudos, (171)0J, silver-cob shape, very rare, Plate Coin in the Pradeau reference.

$      8,625

Lot#

0007

Mexico City, Mexico, cob 1 escudo, (1711-13), oXMJ, from the 1715 Fleet, flown to the moon aboard Apollo 14.

$      8,625

Lot#

1859

Large and intact silver candlestick holder and heavy, round base from the Atocha (1622), marked w/crown stamp.

$      8,625

Lot#

0002

Mexico City, Mexico, cob 8 escudos, oM-dot-J (1716-23), from the 1733 Fleet, rare.

$      6,900

Lot#

1977

English brass-barreled flintlock blunderbuss rail gun with brass yoke and furniture.

$      6,900

Lot#

958

Lima, Peru, cob 2 reales, "Star of Lima" type, 165(9)V, rare, non-salvage.

$      6,325

Lot#

1151

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, copper 2 maravedis, Philip II, assayer X, unique.

$      6,038

Lot#

0014

Lima, Peru, cob 8 escudos, 1750R, from the Luz (1752).

$      5,750

Lot#

1852

Large, natural, dark-green emerald from the Atocha (1622), 10.52 carats.

$      4,888

Lot#

2004

Art McKee’s personal brass dive knife, signed and dated 1937 and with a cob soldered on the handle.

$      4,715

Lot#

0493

Mexico City, Mexico, cob 8 reales, 1715J, full date, from the 1715 Fleet.

$      4,715

Lot#

0158

Large "tumbaga" silver disc #M-96 from the "Tumbaga wreck" (ca. 1528), 18.03 lb.

$      4,715

 

Prices realized for all lots sold in Treasure Auction #7 are available online at http://www.sedwickcoins.com/treasureauction7/pricest7.pdf.

# # #

About Daniel Frank Sedwick

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC is the world’s premier specialist in the colonial coinage of Spanish America, shipwreck coins and artifacts of all nations. In addition to an Online Store, Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC sell coins and artifacts at various numismatic shows around the nation.

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC also has the honor of being the only auction company in the world specializing in Authentic Treasure. Auction catalogs are accessible on the web and printed in a high-quality format with full-color illustrations for all lots.

In addition to publishing several catalogs per year, Daniel Frank Sedwick is a regular vendor at major international coin shows, including FUN, CICF, and ANA. Until early 1996, Mr. Sedwick worked in partnership with the late Dr. Frank Sedwick, who began the business in 1981 and became known as a pioneer in the field of Spanish colonial numismatics with his book, The Practical Book of Cobs.

The fourth (2007) and third (1995) editions of this well-known book were authored and co-authored by Daniel Sedwick, who is also a contributing editor to The Numismatist.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
John Peters

Inherited brass sheath steel blade ebony handle diving knife used with the old diving suits.

How can I found out how much it is worth? Am looking to sell.

Thank you for any assistance you may offer.

Sincerely,
John Peters