After the historical success of the El-Greco collection of modern Greek rarities, offered in our auction 31, Nomos, in association with A. Karamitsos are proud to present our second numismatic auction which focuses primarily on the coins and medals of modern Greece, as well as european coins and medals.
The Greek part of the auction (lot 1001-1137) is mainly accumulated from three major collections. Initially, we offer a small but important group of El-Greco coins which were not available in the first auction. Without doubt, the exceedingly rare 100 Drachmai pattern of 1875 (lot 1039, est. 250,000 CHF) stands out from all others in this small group. Comparable in rarity is certainly the 100 Drachmai 1876 (lot 1045, est. 100,000 CHF), which has been graded MS 62, which is basically the best known example of this elusive and highly desirable type. Following, is the Ioannis Vasilakis collection of Georgios I circulation coins, which is simply one of the best groups of this period ever to appear in an auction. It consists of circulation coins in grades that are practically almost impossible to find in the market. The collector meticulously collected coins on the highest grade possible. Notable examples are the amazing “inverted anchor” 5 drachmai 1875 (lot 1037, estimate 18,750 CHF) which has been graded as MS 62, an exceedingly rare 10 Lepta 1879 in MS 64+ (lot 1037, estimate 18,750 CHF) as well as a proof drachmi of 1873 (lot 1029, est. 12,500 CHF). The plethora of coins which have been offered the highest known grade in this collection (top-pop) is impressive. The third collection, is the Septinsular Collection of supreme quality Ionian Islands coins, which offers an almost complete set of the Ionian island coins in supreme grades. The stars of this collection are undoubtedly the 1 Gazzetta of 1801 (lot 1091, est. 32,500 CHF), struck when the Ionian islands were under Russian-Ottoman supremacy, which is practically the best example of this type known, and the 25 para countermarked coin from the period that the Ionian Islands were under partial British occupation (lot 1095, est. 12,500 CHF), which comes from the famous P. Lambros collection, with a pedigree to 1884! The quality of the circulation coins of the Ionian State, as a British protectorate is also extraordinary with a few exceedingly rare proofs and patterns, rarely offered in such high grades. Extra mention should be offered to the unique complete presentation set of Paul I (lot 1076, est. 25,000) with the unpublished official set of the aluminium coins from the mint of Bern, as well as the extremely rare complete set of Constantine I in Gold, (lot 1080, est. 35,000).
The second part of the auction consist of a an interesting group of Swiss coins (lots 1138-1132) from an old Swiss collection formed prior to 1960s, with a few coins bought in the 1920s-1930s. Among the rarities that appear in this group, we offer a very rare 16 Franken 1813 coin from Graubünden (lot 1159, est. 10,000 CHF), as well as the rare pattern of the 20 Francs of 1871 (lot 1181, est. 10,000).
The last part of the collection (lots 1183-1231) is a beautiful group of European medals from the collection of a Bon-Vivant, which have been presented not according to the place they were created, but according to their creation date, offering the reader a complete aspect on evolution of the medallic art between the 15th and 18th century. Notable examples is the spectacular medal of Alessandro Farnese, by Giuliano Giannini (lot 1210, est. 7,500 CHF), which happens to be one of the beloved medals of the Bon-Vivant, and of course the extremely rare medal of Paolo Giordano II Orsini, by Giulio di Grazia (lot 1214, est. 10,000 CHF).
Nomos AG
Dimitrios Gerothanasis MA Dr. Alan S.Walker Johannes Stelzhammer MA
