One of the finest collections of high-end Sovereigns to come to market in the last decade will shimmer in the spotlight when the collection of Ayden Ezen is sold in Heritage’s CSNS World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction May 8-10.
What began as a hobby with the purchase of an 1836 Sovereign some four decades ago grew into an elite collection that would provide 250 lots for the auction’s single-owner stand-alone session.
"Once started, his collection grew – in quantity and in quality," says Cris Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President of International Numismatics at Heritage Auctions. "He began to go after all of the Sovereigns he could, starting with the first Sovereign, an 1817 George III. After that, it became about upgrading to higher-graded examples, until it evolved into what it is now: an extraordinary assemblage with numerous coins that will be welcome additions to their new collections."
Ezen said that the most exciting purchase for his collection was a Victoria gold ‘827/#22’ Sovereign 1863 XF40 PCGS for which he paid £150.
"This coin must have passed through hundreds of hands since its inception without its rarity being realized by its countless handlers and users, also having passed unnoticed through several auctions," Ezen says. "I can’t describe how excited I was when I discovered this very elusive, rare coin!"
Another top attraction from the Ezen collection is a stunning Victoria gold "Shield" Sovereign 1838 MS64+ PCGS that once was part of The Bentley Collection. The intricacy and overall eye appeal help make this an exemplary grade for this early issue.
An Edward VII gold Matte Proof 5 Pounds 1902 PR63 PCGS is a Choice specimen of the only 5 Pound type issued during Edward VII’s reign. This gorgeous example is free of marks, which only adds to the beauty of the Matte finish on this coin, which is the last well-populated grade in the PCGS census.
Other top lots in the Ezen collection include, but are not limited to:
A George VI gold Proof 5 Pounds 1937 PR64+ PCGS, KM861, S-4074 from a Proof-only issue
A Charles II gold "Elephant" 2 Guineas 1664 AU53 NGC
Ancient Coins
One of the unquestioned highlights in the auction is an Octavian, as Consul (ca. 43 BC), with Julius Caesar, as Dictator Perpetuo and Pontifex Maximus. AV aureus (18mm, 8.16 gm, 5h). NGC Choice XF 3/5 – 4/5, which features one of the very few near-contemporary portraits of Julius Caesar in gold. Many collectors of the Roman series strive to obtain a portrait set of the first 12 Caesars in gold aurei – an effort sometimes impeded by the difficulty of obtaining the first portrait. Portraits in silver and bronze can be found, but actual portraits of Caesar in gold are exceedingly rare, with likely fewer than 50 of all known types extant. The example offered in this auction is the type struck closest to Caesar’s lifetime, and was issued by his grand-nephew and adoptive heir Octavian; it likely was struck at a military mint in southern Gaul upon his assumption of the Consulship in July 43 BC.
A SICILY. Syracuse. Dionysius I (405-370 BC). AR decadrachm (33mm, 43.40 gm, 11h). NGC AU★ 5/5 – 5/5, Fine Style captures the serenity of Arethusa, wreathed with barley and wearing a triple pendant earring and beaded necklace on the obverse, as well as the action on the reverse of a charioteer driving quadriga galloping left, in flowing chiton, the reins in his left hand, kentron in right, and Nike flying right in field above to crown him.
An exceptional CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS. Panticapaeum. Ca. 340-320 BC. AV stater (22mm, 9.10 gm, 10h). NGC MS 4/5 – 3/5, Fine Style, brushed, die shift, edge marks features the head of bearded Satyr (or Pan) facing to the left on the obverse, with a griffin standing on grain and holding a spear in its mouth, right forepaw raised on the reverse.
While categorized as a mythological creature today, the griffin depicted on the reverse was very real to the Greeks of the Thracian hinterland, where it was thought to live. Griffins were said to be highly covetous of gold, a trait carried over into medieval conceptions of the dragon.
World Coins
One of the most eagerly pursued world coins will be available when a rare Victoria gold Proof "Una and the Lion" 5 Pounds 1839 PR62 Ultra Cameo NGC crosses the auction block. Struck just two years into Queen Victoria’s reign by renowned 19th-century Royal Mint Chief Engraver William Wyon, it is elusive but enormously popular in the collecting community.
The Una and the Lion 5 Pounds is one of 14 lots in the auction from the Faerie Queen Collection, a trove that also includes:
A Victoria Proof 1/2 Crown 1839 PR66★ NGC
A Victoria Proof Crown 1839 PR63 NGC
Another British treasure is the Victoria gold Proof 5 Pounds 1887 PR65+ Deep Cameo PCGS, KM769, S-3864, W&R-285. This stunning coin is in remarkable shape, with Victoria’s Jubilee features appearing nearly as they must have when it was struck more than 130 years ago. The demand for this exceptional coin is a result of its elite certification and the increasing popularity of high-quality examples of the British Proof 5 Pounds.
From the KJR Collection comes an impressive Choice Proof Cameo NGC 100 Francs, a gorgeous striking of one of the most collectible series in French numismatics and one that retains continued demand when witnessed in comparable advanced states of preservation. This beauty, featuring the immediately identifiable obverse "winged genius," survives from a minuscule mintage of just 100 pieces.
The KJR Collection also produced a Republic gold 100 Francs 1894-A MS64 Prooflike NGC that is included in the auction.
The obverse of a Riga – Swedish Occupation. Charles XI gold 2 Ducat 1667-IM MS62 NGC, KM-63 bears the initials "I" and "M" for Joachim Meinecke, mint master in Riga from 1661-97. Charles XI ascended to the Swedish throne in February 1660 at the age of 4 after his father’s death, and therefore is pictured on the obverse of this coin as a child just entering his teens. The example offered in this auction is the finest certified at NGC.
A Mint State Charles II gold 8 Escudos 1687/3-BR MS64 NGC is an absolute rarity of the Segovian series, represented in this auction by this, the "Top Pop" specimen in a population of just 10 certified by the major grading companies.
During the 16th century, the Segovia mint modernized its traditional hammer-struck method of coining, importing minting technology, including rolling machines, from Austria. The result was a marked improvement in the quality of Segovian issues, measured in part by improved roundness and uniformity of strike.
Cryptocurrency
The auction includes eight lots of cryptocurrency, including:
A Casascius silver Proof Loaded (Unredeemed) 1 Bitcoin (BTC) 2013 PR69 Deep Cameo PCGS
A Casascius brass Loaded (Unredeemed) 1 Bitcoin (BTC) 2011 MS67 PCGS
A Casascius brass Loaded (Unredeemed) 1 Bitcoin (BTC) 2011 MS66 PCGS
Images and information about all lots in the auction can be found at HA.com/3115.
About Heritage Auctions
Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam, Brussels and Hong Kong.
Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of more than 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.
Rick said previous thread: “Funny thing is though, the boxes were designed only for the 2007 coins that came in a smaller capsule. In 2008 and beyond they changed things up, now those coins come in a larger capsule and don’t fit in the 4-coin boxes.” That is good to know about the capsule size changing. At some point I’ll check my Jefferson against the others. Don’t hear people mention, however it wouldn’t be a bad idea IMO, to wear a simple mask while removing any proof coin from its capsule, in case a cough or sneeze appears out of… Read more »
Sound advice, and Fauci approved!
On that note..It’s interesting to me that the TPG’s do not use this precaution?
Even more interesting, the Graders do not wear gloves, nope. Not even rubber/surgical gloves? Correct me if I’m wrong…
A precaution to not drop apparently–Tactile handling on the rims only. Correct E1?..I’m going off of memory?–Read it at the NGC site not long ago…
“Even more interesting, the Graders do not wear gloves, nope.”
Have coins ever come back with fingerprints and sneeze spots? I’ve never had anything graded and this piece of information doesn’t make me want to start. Does the person submitting the coin have to sign a waiver? Can a grade be appealed? Is there liability if the grader degrades your coin?
Rick, Yes, they do it bare handed. There was an online video somewheres made by NGC or PCGS showing the grading process in the grading room. My only concern is that they didn’t wear face masks to act as a spittle guard to protect the coins from spittle. A saliva drop will turn completely and deeply black on a silver coin in a couple of years. This is where black carbon spots come from. The grading process is actually very quick. Nothing fancy. However, with the NGC cameos and ultra cameos, I suspect some kind of instrumentation is being used… Read more »
I can understand wanting to use gloves and masks to protect the coins, but then I look at the top-tier sovereigns in the article and know that they were all handled and likely spittled on many times before being slabbed (and who knows, maybe even one more time accidentally by the slabber). Perhaps it all added to the toning and character? I must confess that when I got my first proof set, I opened it up and blew on a few coins to remove the threads that were left on it and the lens. Yes, I know now, a really… Read more »
Major D, great to hear about you receiving your coins and stamp of approval! Yeah, I hadn’t thought about $5.00 covering shipping for multiple sets! Bonus! Just a couple more sets and you’d have basically had a tube of 1oz reverse proof coins! LOL Again, I’m glad you and DaveSWFL were able to capitalize, while they were at that low, low price, before they raised the price by $35, to $204.95. That works out to $34.99/coin(Incl shipping). I like the price of your deal best. $28.74/1oz coin, is tough to beat right now! $29.16 wasn’t bad though.
CaliSkier, that was a really good find! I’d say still a really good deal even at $34.99/coin. Aside from the silver, I like the designs, the quality, the low mintages and the packaging. And they’re reverse proofs! Where else can you get three 1-oz reverse proofs in capsules with case and numbered coa (x out of 5,500) from a world-class mint for $102.48?
REB,
Yes, the Graders have you sign off/waive responsibility for damage to your coin while in their hands. It is what it is. I’m sure that if a fingerprint happens, they have methods to mitigate. Same with droplets, but to a point I’d think..Maybe post Covid there has been a few procedural changes?
Wait until AI assists with Grading E1–It’s coming, many are open to the idea, I am. Subjectivity, love it or hate it–It’s here to stay…
Rick,
I know it would be very easy to implement pattern recognition software and optical systems to automate the grading process. Most of that is commercial off the shelf equipment these days. That is what I did with micro, nano and pico form factor sized mechanical parts in the semi-conductor and disc drive industries. Also, there is probably a lot of Cleanroom Technology that could be implemented into the grading room and slabbing room environments.
Cheers
E1,
I know you are ‘done’ with the corporate/b-s work environment these days? And there’s no turning back. But you could be a consultant down the way in Newport Beach, No?.. You and my Father(passed) could have a conversation or two…He was an engineer at Motorola from 1960-90ish in Phoenix. I’ll dig out an artifact he left me–A microchip timeline.. ’60’s the size of a Morgan, ’70’s a Dime, ’80’s a Pencil eraser–You get the idea. I look at my Android and see a part of him! Think back to Nasa back then–Huge Computer Rooms…
CaliSkier, Darek, REB, A visual on the early Spouse capsules compared to the current Spouse capsules. I removed the ’08 Jackson from it’s capsule on the left and placed it in the smaller capsule(center), then into the box’s depression..I dug out my 2012 Cleveland type 2 for a visual as well.. The Jackson Gold looks smaller than the Cleveland–But it is not(disclaimer–Jackson is deeper & further), but still.. Be careful and follow E1 and your own advice with these. It’s easier than one thinks, but it can go downhill real fast with PF’s. Don’t ignore the ‘pancake’ method I mentioned(no-coin… Read more »
The new weekly sales report is out, and I must say I was wrong about the Alabama AI$ bags and rolls seemingly selling out – really the fastest I’ve seen for the series. The D-Bag is now unavailable, joining the P-Bag and both rolls. Here are the sales numbers ending 4-14:
24GBB AL P-Bag: 3,144 (Prod Limit 3,150)
24GBF AL D-Bag: 2,846 (Prod Limit 2,950)
24GRB AL P-Roll: 7,969 (Prod Limit 8,400)
24GRF AL D-Roll: 7,303 (Prod Limit 7,350)
The 2024 Proof set had weekly sales of minus 9,881, which follows a minus 820 from the week before. I wonder if there will be any regrets if the mintage comes in under that of 2023’s.
Major D,
Sadly, and it’s just my opinion, is that the regrets(of purchasing the ’24 set) will be from innocent, everyday collectors getting seconds..Those thousands of returns are the big sellers cherry-picking for the high grade coins, having them graded to sell for a profit, and returning the sour cherries.. I don’t know this as a matter of fact, just deductive reasoning. Purchasing coins/sets weeks & months after release is a crapshoot on getting something nice, or not. Ask me how I know…
Rick, it seems to me you stand a shot at getting a possible error soon after release? Or are you better off waiting until the end because I heard that it is actually the last coins made that go out first and that the whole “early release” thing is a joke? IDK, from what I’ve been reading from everyone here it also seems like a crapshoot to not have a problem with a PF70 slabbed coin not having any spots or other visible issues down the road. I’m just going off values of the PF65’s or better in OGP. It… Read more »
From my experience in the past it is not necessarily Proof/Unc sets, but a commemorative Gold/Silver/Clad coin. When I had purchased weeks/months after release, more often than not I received a returned coin due to imperfections & production issues, fingerprints, dust, and an overall disheveled replacement of the coin, COA, etc. Currently, if I want something for myself or for speculation/resale, I just buy it within a week of release(not that it is perfect either),it gives me better odds I think..The order of placement on the Mint shelves vs Minting/strike freshness is debatable. At any time during production, a worn/dull… Read more »
Thanks -appreciate your take on it!
The 2023 Clad Proof Set number was unchanged with the April 14, 2024 sales report. It ranks number one in lowest mintage since 1954. Incidentally, the highest mintage proof set is 1976 (mintage 4,149,730). Top 10 Lowest Clad Proof Set Mintages since 1954 (mintage 233,300) 1) 2023: 369,222 2) 1955: 378,200 3) 2022: 400,016 4) 2020: 464,658 5) 2021: 512,848 6) 2018: 517,081 7) 2017: 568,678 8) 2016: 595,184 9) 2019: 601,364 10) 2015: 662,854 Top 10 Highest Priced (APMEX) Clad Proof Sets after 1954’s. 1) 1955: $189.99 2) 2020: $129.99 3) 2012: $119.99 (Mintage 794,002) 4) 1956: $89.99 (Mintage 669,384) 5) 2016: $89.99 6) 2019: $79.99 7) 2018: $74.99 8) 2022: $74.99 (before becoming unavailable) 9) 2017:… Read more »