IAG Benchmark Collection to be sold

oh my florin · November 21, 2014, 07:37:31 PM

Hey everyone

Just browsing a number of the auction house regulars and found that IAG is to auction the Benchmark collection on the 19th January next year. For those who haven't heard of the Benchmark collection on this forum it is a complete set of quality pre-decimal coins graded by NGC with many varieties acknowledged including the English obverse 1930 Penny in XF45 and a 1916 Penny Mule in aUNC-Details. The auction also highlights the finest known 1921/2 overdate threepence, a 1923 halfpenny in MS and a 1934-5 Centenary Florin in MS65 with a complete strike just to name a few.

The coins are absolutely beautiful and with the provenance of the Benchmark collection should sell exceptionally strongly.

So what do you all think about the sale, individual lots etc? I am interested to hear everyone's thoughts on it.

echidna · November 21, 2014, 08:36:58 PM

The 23 halfpenny is a shocker.
The 1919 double penny dot is not a double dot.

Overall its a fabulous collection.
My guess it that prices will be very strong.
Most will be sent to PCGS I think.

Comments are very interesting.
Such as the K.G pennies struck in Melbourne.
Lack of research has always been an issue in Aussie Numimatics.
Everyone just believes what the catalogues and big dealers say.

kchan1111 · November 21, 2014, 08:54:09 PM

woow... the George V florins!

oh my florin · November 21, 2014, 09:02:50 PM

The part about the highlights was taken from their statement about the collection on their website. I agree a lot will be sent to PCGS because even a cross over at the same grade for a few would make them quite a bit more valuable. However it is a fabulous collection particularly with quite a number of beautifully toned coins in the silvers section and it's sale should boost PCGS and NGC immensely.

stevo1962 · November 21, 2014, 09:14:48 PM

Quote from: 'oh my florin' pid='62705' dateline='1416565970'it's sale should boost PCGS and NGC immensely.

Looking forward to that

echidna · November 21, 2014, 10:32:21 PM

Quote from: 'oh my florin' pid='62705' dateline='1416565970'The part about the highlights was taken from their statement about the collection on their website. I agree a lot will be sent to PCGS because even a cross over at the same grade for a few would make them quite a bit more valuable. However it is a fabulous collection particularly with quite a number of beautifully toned coins in the silvers section and it's sale should boost PCGS and NGC immensely.

Some of the silvers have been in dansco supreme albums.
And the sulphur has toned the coins black and blue around the rims.
Some like it but I think its awful.

oh my florin · November 21, 2014, 11:01:04 PM

Quote from: 'echidna' pid='62709' dateline='1416571341'
Quote from: 'oh my florin' pid='62705' dateline='1416565970'The part about the highlights was taken from their statement about the collection on their website. I agree a lot will be sent to PCGS because even a cross over at the same grade for a few would make them quite a bit more valuable. However it is a fabulous collection particularly with quite a number of beautifully toned coins in the silvers section and it's sale should boost PCGS and NGC immensely.

Some of the silvers have been in dansco supreme albums.
And the sulphur has toned the coins black and blue around the rims.
Some like it but I think its awful.

My comment is directed primarily from the earlier shillings particularly the 1921* and they don't look like they have been stored like that (the other silvers I haven't studied in detail yet.) I have seen a fair share of Dansco toning topics particularly on some American coin forums and it is generally the more brilliant colours which come out such as the red and blues hues of tone on silvers. Personally I think a number of them have been stored in coin cabinets or something along those lines as a number have cabinet wear.

robbiegal · November 21, 2014, 11:14:48 PM

I think there was a thread or part thereof about this collection some time back. It is great to see a whole a aussie pre Dec collection in that set up. Not so sure about the cross over increase in value. I think the general gist was that most will downgrade considerably. Or I might be thinking of the wrong set!

stevo1962 · November 22, 2014, 07:34:45 AM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='62713' dateline='1416573888'I think there was a thread or part thereof about this collection some time back. It is great to see a whole a aussie pre Dec collection in that set up. Not so sure about the cross over increase in value. I think the general gist was that most will downgrade considerably. Or I might be thinking of the wrong set!

http://www.australian-coins.net/showthread.php?tid=2440&highlight=benchmark

dcoin · November 22, 2014, 10:35:30 AM

Will be interesting to see what prices the coins achieve. Some very nice coins, however, some are up to 2-3 points over graded with a couple which would not get graded at PCGS. The florin set in particular looks like a super collection. I will put in a bid or two for sure (assuming the estimates are not completely crazy).

Goldseeker · November 22, 2014, 05:57:33 PM

Where is this collection held at the present?

If it is an Australian collection, rather than break it up why can't a multi millionaire buy the collection as a whole and display it somewhere.

This happened to that other collection that was on display at the RAM many moons ago.

trout · November 22, 2014, 06:48:37 PM

Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='62744' dateline='1416641253'Where is this collection held at the present?

If it is an Australian collection, rather than break it up why can't a multi millionaire buy the collection as a whole and display it somewhere.

This happened to that other collection that was on display at the RAM many moons ago.

Why doesn't RAM just buy it, They are making an absolute killing of us poor suckers lately :angel:

oh my florin · November 22, 2014, 10:16:33 PM

Wouldn't it have been a masterstroke if Strand Coins had displayed it at the RAM just prior to the auction? I bet there would be a bidding frenzy like anything just from the publicity.

robbiegal · November 23, 2014, 10:51:02 AM

Quote from: 'trout' pid='62745' dateline='1416644317'
Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='62744' dateline='1416641253'Where is this collection held at the present?

If it is an Australian collection, rather than break it up why can't a multi millionaire buy the collection as a whole and display it somewhere.

This happened to that other collection that was on display at the RAM many moons ago.

Why doesn't RAM just buy it, They are making an absolute killing of us poor suckers lately :angel:

The RAM don't need to
the National collection is far superior to this lot
It just isn't all out on display
and fortuitously I would doubt that the RAM would have their beautiful coins in those horrid cases

although, the slabbing is perfect for cataloguing and storing

autocoupler · November 24, 2014, 12:09:22 AM

Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='62760' dateline='1416702062'The RAM don't need to
the National collection is far superior to this lot

Are you sure about that RG. The Benchmark collection does include some of our most important coins, for example, 1920 Penny London obverse, both dot below and dot above bottom scroll, 1921 Penny London Obverse, 1924, 1927 and 1931 Penny Indian obverses just to name a few. Incredibly, none of these coins are included in any of the primary listings of McDonalds, Renniks or Blue Sheet, but hats off to the RAM if they have shown the foresight to include them in the National Collection. :angel: