Noble Numismatics in Sydney, Australia | Auction house

Noble Numismatics

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9223 4578

Address: 169 Macquarie St 2000 Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.noble.com.au

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24.01.2022 Today is Saffron Day! Wear orange on this day to honour the life of Deyaan Udani, a seven year old boy who tragically passed away in 2016. Deyaans parents decision to donate his organs, however, allowed for four other lives to be saved. @saffron_day urges all Australians to Do it for Deyaan by registering their decision to become an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au something that we at Noble Numismatics wholeheartedly support. To find out more visit saffronday.org #SaffronDay #DoitforDeyaan

23.01.2022 #onthisday , February 26, 1919, @grandcanyonnps was made a national park! It was made a World Heritage Site in 1979, and covers nearly 500 hectares (thats just over 1 million acres) of canyons and desert, carved by erosion and the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon receives nearly 6 million visitors a year, and it is one of only a few natural landmarks that can be seen from space! As well as its amazing geographic features, the Canyon also has a strong human connection - alth...ough at first glance it may not look like it! The areas earliest evidence for human inhabitation dates back 11,500 years - before the end of the last ice age. Native American cultural groups have lived in the gorge and surrounds continuously since c. 1200 BC, and the land still supports living indigenous groups today. The dry climate has meant excellent preservation of archaeological material. Not only has ceramic material, domestic and communal architecture survived, but fine tools, rock art, seed & other storage facilities (including remnants of the stored items) - but even items such as baskets, sandals, and mats. Even more intriguing are split twig figurines, made from one twig, usually willow, split down the middle and folded into the shape of an animal, often a deer or bighorn sheep. They date to a period c. 2-4,000 years ago and may have been part of a hunting ritual or totem object. Also preserved are palaeontological remains - the semi-arid conditions and geological formations have safeguarded hundreds of fossils. No wonder the Grand Canyon is considered one of the Wonders of the World! As such, it was featured in the first release of the "America the Beautiful" quarter series, in 2010. The reverse features a view of the Colorado River as it passes through Marble Canyon, home to the Nankoweap granaries. For more information about this incredible geographical and historical region, visit the @nationalparkservice at www.nps.gov/grca or @grand_canyon_association at grandcanyonhistory.clas.asu.edu/index.html ! #numismatic #numismatics #numismatik #numismtica #numismatica #numismatique #America #usa #grandcanyon #onthisdayinhistory #ushistory #americanhistory #americanmoney

23.01.2022 Its almost time for our next auction (starting July 31), so what better way to prepare than to show off some of the lots were most excited about? The best place to start is with the iconic New South Wales holey dollar: this beautiful example is from 1813 and has an estimate of 300,000! Worth it for such a fine and well struck coin, and especially worth it given the rarity of holey dollars in this condition! Holey dollars were the first official currency of any colonial Aust...ralian settlement, and were made by punching the middle out of 40,000 imported Spanish reales. The two resulting parts were then counterstamped with their new denominations, (15 pence and 5 shillings respectively) the year of issue, and the name of the colony. Our superb example was counterstruck on a Charles III Mexico City Mint eight reales, 1788FM. The smaller 15 pence became affectionately known as the dump, and the larger doughnut-shaped 5 shillings as the holey dollar. Before this, a barter system had operated, with liquor (especially rum) forming a significant currency in the early colony. But you dont necessarily have to bid hundreds of thousands of dollars to own a piece of unique Australian history - we have thousands of Australian lots available in this auction, some starting for less than $50 AUD! Our catalogue is online at www.noble.com.au or available for purchase at our office at 169 Macquarie St, Sydney. Why not see what catches your interest? (Background credit: Plan of the town and suburbs of Sydney, August 1822, held in the National Library of Australia, call number MAP.F.107) #numismatics #numismatic #numismatik #numismtica #holeydollar #australia #australian #auctions #auction #silver #silvercoin #silvercoins #australianhistory #nsw #nswhistory #sydneyhistory #sydney #coin #coins #1800s #eighteenhundreds #currency

21.01.2022 Another post about #womeninstem because we just couldnt pass up the chance to highlight an Aussie microbiologist, especially one who is featured on an @auspost 2002 Australian Legends stamp and has an @ausacademyofscience medal in her honour! Nancy Millis, born in 1922, was a trailblazer for women in science; she was a microbiologist whose research specialised in fermentation science. Not only was she one of the first women to receive a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from ...@unimelb (in 1946), but also one of the first women appointed as Professor there (in 1982), although she had originally planned to work at a brewery! Notwithstanding her academic work and research, Millis is also known as an incredible teacher, working to link industry and education within universities, and someone who strived to promote the work and status of women within science throughout her life. Medal worthy to say the least! Think the image in the background of this post is just a nice painting? Well, youre technically right...but it is painted with bacteria! It was a finalist in the 2015 Agar Art Competition - where scientists from across the world submit artworks painted, or more correctly grown, in agar jelly. All the colours you see are the actual colours of the bacteria themselves! Some of the entries, like this one (from Maria Eugenia Inda, of Argentina) really give oil paintings a run for their money! For more information about: Millis, and to read an interview with her, go here: https://www.science.org.au//intervi/professor-nancy-millis The medal in Millis honour and its recipients, see: https://www.science.org.au//mid-c/nancy-millis-medal-women The Agar Art Competition, including some truly amazing entries: https://www.asm.org/index.php/public-outreach/agar-art #numismatic #womeninscience #womeninhistory #internationalwomensmonth #internationalwomensday #girlscan #girlscandoanything #microbiology #womanscientist #medal #numismatics #stamp #agarart #agar #science

20.01.2022 Todays post in our week celebrating #internationalwomensday will be focusing on women in STEM! Women have made some incredibly important contributions to STEM fields, but have been often overlooked in favour of male collaborators & colleagues, many of whom appropriated or used their work. This @royalaustmint 2017 coin is part of a stellar set, with its bimetallic design representing the ring system of Saturn; the full set with pop-out solar system diorama is available for p...urchase on the RAM website. Born #onthisday in 1953, Carolyn Porco is a planetary scientist, most famous for her work on Saturn and its moon Enceladus, primarily on the planets ring structures, and as an imaging scientist, playing a key role in the photographing of Earth from the outer solar system. Working on the Voyager, Cassini, and New Horizons missions as well as in her own research, Porco has made some incredible contributions to the study of the outer solar system, and is also a renowned science communicator and public speaker, arranging such events as The Day The Earth Smiled; she has an asteroid (the 7231 Porco) named in her honour. Also born #onthisdayinhistory is the first woman to go to & the only woman to have ever flown solo in space, Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who completed 49 orbits of Earth in 2 days, 22 hrs, 50 mins. More generally in science, today is the day that Mendeleev presented his Periodic Table of the Elements to the Russian Chemical Society - a table to which a myriad of women have since contributed, including Ida Tacke, who discovered rhenium and masurium, the existence of which had been theorised by Mendeleev; she was also the first person to discuss nuclear fission. Read more about: Carolyn Porco & her work, on her website: carolynporco.com/ or on Twitter: @carolynporco Forgotten women of science: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33157396 #numismatic #womenshistory #womeninhistory #girlscan #internationalwomensmonth #womeninstem #stemwomen #womeninscience #numismatics #goldcoin #silvercoin #bimetallic #space #solarsystem #saturn #spacephotography #girlscandoanything

19.01.2022 Sale 118 has finished and were in the middle of post-auction madness! With the auction realising a cool 5.1 million AUD and achieving a clearance rate of 85%, were excited to share some of its results - like this Royal Society Queens Medal, which sold for $34,000 on a $15,000 estimate! This 22-carat gold medal, designed by the famous British medallist William Wyon, was awarded to Warren de la Rue in 1864 for his pioneering work in the field of astronomical photography. Thi...s work included using collodion wet-plate process to produce crisp and detailed photographs of the moon in several phases, far surpassing the previous daguerreotype images that had been produced by other astronomers. De la Rue is also famous for developing the photoheliograph (now known as the solar telescope), which detects wavelengths of light within the visible spectrum, used to observe our Sun. He used the photoheliograph to photograph a total solar eclipse that occurred on the 18th of July, 1860 - a large part of why he was awarded this Royal Medal. As well as being awarded the Royal Medal, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and gave the esteemed Bakerian Lecture in 1862; he was president of the Chemical Society and the Royal Astronomical Society at various points, among many other prizes and accolades. Perhaps most fittingly, the De La Rue crater on the Moon is named for him, 59.1N 53.0E on the lunar surface. #numismatic #numismatics #auction #auctions #gold #goldmedal #royalsociety #astronomy #delarue #astrophotography #history #historyofscience #guernsey #British #medal #medals #historicalmedals #space #sun #astronomical #numismatik #numismtica #auctionhouse #britishgold

18.01.2022 Auction time is getting nearer and bids are already getting placed on a variety of exciting lots across our catalogue! One especially interesting lot is this 1921 Melbourne Mint Type 11 pattern kookaburra square penny - said to be the coin that Deputy Master of the Melbourne Mint, A.M. Le Souef, carried in his wallet! There are only c.20 of this type accessible to collectors, and with an estimate of $9,000 AUD, this funky little coin is more affordable than you might think! T...hese coins were minted between 1919 and 1921, primarily from alloys of nickel, tin, and copper - this is a cupro-nickel example. The aim was to replace the bulkier, heavier bronze penny and halfpenny coins in circulation at the time, but ultimately the square coins were never issued. This was primarily due to the sudden resignation of the Treasurer that had supported the project (Wyatt), and a backlash from vending-machine companies, who argued the coins jammed more easily. Another controversy was that many design prototypes, such as the lot featured here, had an uncrowned portrait of the King - although George V did eventually approve this, in 1921. If youre interested in getting a better look at one of our lots (such as the pattern square kookaburra penny) before the auction begins next Tuesday, viewing opens this Wednesday! More details on our website (www.noble.com.au) Background credit: Melbourne street scene on a business day, 1921. Photograph taken by J.W. Twycross, accessed via Wikimedia. #numismatic #numismatics #numismatik #numismtica #auction #auctions #australia #Australian #coin #coins #australiancoins #kookaburra #melbourne #currency #australianhistory #victoria #victorianhistory #melbournehistory #kookaburras #square #weird #twenties #twentiethcentury #1920s #20s #jazzage

17.01.2022 #onthisday in 1916 one of the bloodiest battles of World War One began at the French citadel of Verdun, on the Meuse River in northwestern France. There were approximately 400,000 French and 350,000 German casualties, with 300,000 killed. It was, as Churchill would later write, "the anvil upon which French manhood was to be hammered to death by German cannon." This "sweetheart brooch" was probably bought by someone serving in the Allied forces passing through the area as a so...uvenir before the Battle of Verdun, however, and sent home as a gift to a loved one. Sweetheart brooches were immensely popular in the First World War, and also during the Second World War. They could be enamelled, jewelled, custom made or mass produced, personalised or generic. Some were made from the soldiers regiment badge or colours; others had their details engraved into them; and some even contained a photograph of the serving individual. Their variety and personalisation makes them touching historical objects, although sadly if unembellished with any personal details, the people to whose stories they belong are lost to time. Background credit: Flix Vallotton, Verdun, 1917, oil on canvas, held in the Muse de lArme (part of the Ministre de la Dfence), Htel des Invalides, Paris. #militaria #military #badge #brooch #sweetheartbrooch #verdun #battleofverdun #worldwar1 #ww1 #worldwarone #militaryhistory #history #australia #australianhistory #britishhistory #ww1history #french #frenchhistory #histoirefranaise #premireguerremondiale #premiereguerremondiale #guerremondiale #histoiremilitaire #numismatic #numismatics #numismtica #numismatik #numismatique

17.01.2022 Today is the 86th birthday of one of Australias most iconic landmarks: the Sydney Harbour Bridge! Nobles has been fortunate enough to have handled a great deal of original Harbour Bridge medals, badges, and other assorted items, and today well be showcasing just a few of our favourites. The first two items - a medal, and a shaved and engraved florin commemorative - were made to celebrate an iconic moment in the bridges construction - the locking of the arch, and were pr...esented to workmen. The arch had begun construction in late October of 1928 and was completed less than two years later, on the 19th of August, 1930, when the southern and northern ends of the arch met in the middle. They were riveted together and it became self-supporting, celebrated the next day by the flying of Australian and UK flags from the creeper cranes used to build the respective halves. The third item is a silver medal (63mm) commemorating the opening of the bridge, designed by R.M. Phipps and produced by Angus & Coote, c.1932. All background images - depicting the archs locking, and of school children celebrating the opening day - are sourced from the NSW Government State Archives and Records collection, in particular the Sydney Harbour Bridge Photographic Albums, which document the construction and opening of the bridge. View them here: https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/series/12685 #sydneyhistory #sydney #sydneyharbourbridge #nsw #nswhistory #numismatics #numismatic #australia #australianhistory #localhistory #localhistorymatters #anniversary #silver #sydneycity #sydneyharbour #medal #vintage #thirties #1930s #australian #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory

17.01.2022 This beautiful gold stater features the bearded head of the satyr Silenus on its obverse, and a horned griffin grasping a spear in its jaws and standing on an ear of corn on the reverse. Silenus, the elder companion and tutor to Dionysos, is often depicted as the oldest, wisest, and drunkest of the gods entourage; he was said to have prophetic powers and deep knowledge when intoxicated. Although a relatively minor figure in terms of the vast Greek pantheon, Silenus is well r...emembered in the philosophical tradition for his antinatalist views: Aristotle quotes him as saying: . "...but for humans, the best for them is not to be born at all, [...] not to be is best. This should be our choice, if choice we have; and the next to this is, when we are born, to die as soon as we can." (Aristotle, Eudemus, quoted in Plutarch, Moralia, Consolatio ad Apollonium, xxviii). . There is some debate as to whether the figure is Silenus or Pan; given the coins were minted in a locale named Panticapaeum (in Crimea), there is some evidence to suggest a pun on the place name of their origin, and some of the more ambiguous representations certainly support this argument! Even this coin has P A N on the reverse, suggesting a nod to the obvious...yet another mystery in the study of Greek regional numismatics! (Background credit: William-Adolphe Bouguereau, La Jeunesse de Bacchus, 1884, oil on canvas, held in a private collection.) . #numismatic #numismatics #numismatica #numismtica #numismatique #numismatik #greek #ancienthistory #ancientgreece #ancientgold #ancientcoin #ancientcoins #greekcoin #gold #goldcoin #silenus #dionysus #greekgod #greekgods #griffin See more

13.01.2022 Our next auction starts next week (Tuesday November 20) and we are excited to share with you some of the wonderful lots that will be part of this sale! Todays coin is a beautiful gold aureus depicts the laureate head of Nero Claudius Drusus on the obverse. The reverse bears two crossed oblong shields and a vexillum, which was used as a military standard in the Ancient Roman army. Nero Claudius Drusus, also known as Drusus Senior, was the younger brother of the emperor Tiberi...us and father to Germanicus, Livilla and the future emperor Claudius. This coin, like many others that bear his name, celebrates Drusus numerous military victories in Germany, before his untimely demise at approximately 29 years of age in 9 B.C. No coinage was issued in his name until his son Claudius became emperor, around half a century after Drusus death. This aureus, part of the commemorative coinage instituted by Claudius, was struck c.41-42 A.D at the Lugdunum mint in Gaul. This coin will be auctioned on Friday November 23 at 9.30am! Be sure to check out our other ancient coins at noble.com.au (Background Credit: A Classical Atlas of Ancient Geography by Alexander G. Findlay. New York: Harper and Brothers 1849). #numismatic #numismatics #coin #auction #noblenumsimatics #history #ancienthistory #gold #NeroClaudiusDrusus #ancientrome #aureus #romancoin #numismatica #numismatik #imperialrome

13.01.2022 Some breaking news in the world of Australian banknotes! The Reserve Bank of Australia released its designs for the new fifty-dollar banknote today, which will begin circulating in October of this year. The note still features David Unaipon and Edith Cowan, and many elements of its design are inspired by the two. But despite their familiarity to most Aussies, not many people know what place these incredible individuals have in our recent history. Unaipon (September 28th, 1872... - 7th February, 1967), was an Indigenous Australian of the Ngarrindjeri people; a well known writer, inventor, and preacher, he was the first Indigenous author to be published, an acclaimed public speaker, and a staunch supporter of Indigenous political rights. Cowan (2nd August, 1861 - 9th June, 1932) was a prominent suffragette, womens rights activist, and the first female member of parliament in Australian history; she was also key in the founding of the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women, as well as working throughout her life for the rights of women and children. The banknote, like the new $5 and $10 notes, has a braille feature to assist visually impaired people; they also feature a top-to-bottom clear strip, holographic rolling colour detail, and microprint of Cowans first speech to Parliament in Western Australia and an extract from Unaipons book, Legendary Tales of the Australian Aborigines, all features which are the result of the Reserve Banks research into the latest anti-counterfeit measures. And as ever, these notes can survive a trip through the washing machine when accidentally left in your jeans pocket, so no worries! Read more about the RBA Next Generation Banknote program at their website here: https://banknotes.rba.gov.au//next-generation-banknotes-p/ #numismatics #numismatic #banknote #banknotes #australia #reservebankofaustralia #newbanknote #australian #aussie #fiftydollars #50dollars #numismatik #numismtica #rba #breakingnews

13.01.2022 Its March 15th, and you know what that means... #bewaretheidesofmarch ! These silver denarii, struck during Julius Caesars reign, both depict his head on their obverse - top with diadem, bottom with wreath. The grey-silver coloured issue was produced at the Rome Mint in 42 BC, a short while after Caesars death, and features on its obverse a charging bull with the name .s / s - a Republican moneyer known only from the coins he issued.... The golden-toned coin was minted just months before Caesars assassination, in January-February of 44 BC, depicting Venus holding Victory and a sceptre on its obverse, with the name of its moneyer printed: s . #Roman #coins are one of our most popular categories at auction, and its not hard to see why! With fine #bronze, #silver, and #gold coins starting at just $50, theres something for everyone, collector or not! Weve got some spectacular lots in our upcoming #sale (April 17-20), so keep an eye out for our #catalogue coming soon for more details, or why not browse some of our previously auctioned lots at www.noble.com.au/auctions/search ?? #caesar #romancoin #romanhistory #ancientrome #idesofmarch #auction #ancientcoins #ancientcoin #denarius #goldcoin #silvercoin #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory #juliuscaesar

13.01.2022 This week Nobles is celebrating #internationalwomensday ! What better way to start than with a brand new @royalmintuk issue and a brief look at the forgotten life of an incredible woman, born #onthisday in 1882? The Royal Mint announced in February that its 2018 releases would include this 50p - here the Piedfort silver proof issue - designed by Stephen Taylor and with a limited striking of 1,918. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act (1...918), which gave (some) women the right to vote, it takes inspiration from posters and photos of suffragettes, and is available to purchase from the RM website. Born #onthisdayinhistory is Dora Marsden, a suffragette, editor, writer, and philosopher, known for several extra-legal acts as a suffragette, as well as for her work publishing several revolutionary feminist, egoist, and anarchist journals. As a young woman Marsden became involved in suffrage through university acquaintances; she was well-known and much praised for her devotion to the cause. Arrested multiple times and jailed twice, she hunger-striked, demanded to be treated as a political prisoner, refused to wear prison clothes (instead stripping naked) and when forced into a straitjacket freed herself - she was a "very small woman," according to the prison governor. She is known for 2 events of 1909 - dressing in academic regalia to interrupt the Chancellor of her alma mater (Victoria University of Manchester) demanding he speak out against the force-feeding of fellow alumni; and breaking into a theatre, hoisting herself into its domed roof, then waiting 15 hours to heckle Winston Churchill whilst he was speaking at an election rally. The journals she established also became notorious for their radical ideas about feminism, free love, egoism, and anarchism, and also published many early versions of works by now famous authors. For more info & images see: http://spartacus-educational.com/WmarsdenD.htm #numismatic #suffragette #womenshistory #womeninhistory #britishhistory #silvercoin #englishhistory #womenofhistory #iwd #internationalwomensmonth #feminism #feministhistory #numismatics #england #history #numismatics

12.01.2022 A huge variety of coins pass through our office each auction, many of which are unique and beautiful, but sometimes a coin just grabs your interest...like these Danish 20 and 2 krone coins, with their friendly dolphins! The gold 20 krone dates to 1900, and the silver 2 krone to 1899, both being minted during the reign of Christian IX. The 20 krone is also known as the "Mermaid Coin" - on the reverse, Dania sits holding a sceptre (representing Denmarks sovereignty) and restin...g her other arm on a shield with the Danish coat of arms; next to her feet is a dolphin, symbolising naval excellence. If you squint, it almost does look like a mermaid! The dolphins on these issues, unusual for European coinage, symbolise good luck, fair weather, friendship, and exploration, a motif also found in Danish paintings of the same era. The ear of wheat and the bags of grain behind the seated Dania symbolise the agricultural prosperity of the land and its people. More examples of Danish coinage can be found on our website, by searching krone at: http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/search You can also add a beautiful krone to your collection from as little as $80 - keep an eye on our website for more details about our April auction! (Background image credit: Peder Mrk Mnsted, Stranden i Aalsgaard, oil on canvas, 1919) #numismatic #numismatics #krone #denmark #danish #danishkrone #dolphin #dolphins #silvercoin #goldcoin #gold

12.01.2022 Sale 118 is underway! Four sessions down and results are starting to come through - just like the lot pictured here. Its an Edward VII - Elizabeth II date set, ranging from 1910-1964, and it sold for $2,600 on a $450 estimate! Tonights session has just started (7.30pm AEST), and features the holey dollar that everyones talking about! Even if you dont have $300,000 available to put a bid on it, tune in at @invaluableofficial (https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/jj8uyx0z4m) ...to watch the auction live, led by our wonderful auctioneer Jonathan! (If you are having trouble streaming video, try enabling Flash player!) #auction #auctions #numismatic #numismatics #numismatika #numismtica #penny #kinggeorgev #history #coin #coinage #currency #Australia #australian #holeydollar #liveauction #coins #1920s #twenties #australianhistory #Australian

10.01.2022 Another lot were excited to feature in our upcoming auction (July 31 - August 3) is this beautiful and very rare Rainbow pound! Its serial (000001D) & extremely fine condition make it completely unique, and our auction will be the first time that it has been on the market in 28 years! These emergency issues were circulated in 1914, when shortages in currency due to inflation and increasing metal prices were caused by the First World War. At this time in Australia coins fo...rmed 90% of currency in active circulation. Inflation, however, encouraged the use of paper money. The 1 was the most practical denomination to issue at short notice, as weekly earnings were approx. 3, and notes higher than 10 were not generally used. This note became known as the Rainbow pound because of its colourful design. Developed and printed at short notice, it was relatively simple in design and had no security features. It began to be produced in October of 1914 and counterfeits immediately appeared alongside it. The issue was withdrawn from circulation in April of 1915. This lot also belongs to an incredible collection of Australian banknotes that we are lucky enough to be auctioning in this upcoming sale - the Caldwell Collection! This comprehensive collection features a vast array of rare and important banknotes, and thus deserved its own catalogue! This is available on our website (www.noble.com.au), or for purchase at our office (169 Macquarie St). For more info on the Rainbow pound and how it features in the development of Aussie banknotes, see the Reserve Bank of Australias Museum website (http://museum.rba.gov.au/displays/a-new-currency) #numismatic #numismatics #numismatik #rainbow #banknote #banknotes #australian #australia #australianhistory #worldwar1 #ww1 #ww1history #aussiehistory #papermoney #currency #twentiethcentury #20thcentury #auctions #auction #auctionhouse #pound #poundnote #papernote

09.01.2022 Ever thought about wearing a coin as a piece of jewellery? Well, so did the Victorians, and they took it one step further with the use of enamel! Enamelled coins were produced in the late 19th century, and were especially popular in the 1880s, and even more so in 1887 - Queen Victorias Golden Jubilee, which saw an enormous demand for souvenirs. Enamelled buttons were already popular during this period and the process was fiddly, but not too difficult to transfer to coins of ...all kinds, which were made into brooches, pendants, pins, and all kinds of other decorative elements. The most famous producer of enamelled coins was Edwin Steel, who opened a factory in Birmingham in 1886 to sell enamelled coin jewellery. Many enamelled coins feature designs modelled closely on that of the original coin or one of its prominent design elements, such as a crest or bust. Most were produced with silver coins; gold examples are excessively rare. This is because gold is a softer metal and therefore far more difficult (and expensive) to enamel, especially to maintain the integrity of the original coin while doing so. The process involved two phases: first, the coin was prepared - the background and any other unwanted elements removed, leaving usually the letters and decoration. Secondly, the enamel (a paste made of powdered glass) was applied in layers, fired, and ground down to fix different colours at different levels. This second phase could be repeated many times, depending on the complexity of the decoration and overall size of the coin, and was usually done over several stages to achieve the finest results. Enamelled coins remained relatively popular as curiosities and trinkets into the early 20th century, but were made obsolete by the Gold and Silver Act of 1920, which made it illegal to use gold and silver coins for anything but currency - prohibiting the enamelling of coins. #numismatic #numismatics #numismatik #numismtica #coins #coin #enamelled #enamel #enamelledjewellery #enamelpin #enamelpins #enameljewelry #auction #england #english #victorian #victorianjewelry #jewellery #jewelry #victorians #victorianenamel #victoriana #auctionhouse #queenvictoria

07.01.2022 Here is a selection of commemorative and souvenir badges celebrating the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which turned 86 today! Dating to the opening year of the bridge or shortly after (c. 1932-35), many of them are unique. Most of the enamelled badges you see here were made by Millers Ltd, Sydney. Given the bridges prominence in the skyline of 1920s-1930s Sydney, and its importance as a project during the Depression, it is no surprise that these small commemorative items were immen...sely popular, as were the opening celebrations themselves. Its estimated that approximately three quarters of a million people attended the festivities: particularly incredible given the population of Sydney in 1932 was c. 1,256,000! You can watch a newsreel clip of the opening archived at australianscreen (part of @nfsaonline ) here: https://aso.gov.au//n/opening-sydney-harbour-bridge/clip2/ #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyhistory #sydneyharbour #cityofsydney #sydney #australia #australian #enamelpins #enamelledjewellery #enamel #enamelled #badge #enamelbadge #localhistory #localhistorymatters #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory #numismatics #numismatic #australianhistory #nsw #nswhistory

06.01.2022 We can’t believe March is almost over, which means it’s almost time for our first auction of 2019, Sale 120! The first fascinating lot we are excited to share with you from this sale is this Chain America cent, lot 2546. Struck in 1793, the chain cent was not only America’s first large cent, but also the first circulating coin to be produced by the United States Mint in Philadelphia. This specimen features a die clash on the obverse and is very rare in this condition. #coin #coins #numismatics #chaincent #numismatic #auction #americanhistory #numismatica #numismatik

06.01.2022 We cant believe March is almost over, which means its almost time for our first auction of 2019, Sale 120! The first fascinating lot we are excited to share with you from this sale is this Chain America cent, lot 2546. Struck in 1793, the chain cent was not only Americas first large cent, but also the first circulating coin to be produced by the United States Mint in Philadelphia. This specimen features a die clash on the obverse and is very rare in this condition. #coin #coins #numismatics #chaincent #numismatic #auction #americanhistory #numismatica #numismatik

05.01.2022 Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most famous figures in French history; "the most competent man who has ever lived". Following the Treaty of Fontainebleu in 1814, Napoleon was forced to abdicate. This followed mounting disillusionment within his own armies and allies with his goals of conquest, particularly after a disastrous attempt to threaten Russia; and the Treaty of Chaumont (struck between Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Great Britain earlier in 1814) delineating that sig...natories would work together for a period of 20 years until Napoleon had been overthrown. Under the Fontainebleu treaty, however, Napoleon was granted the Italian island of Elba, in the Tyrrhenian Sea, as a sovereign principality over which he was (somewhat ironically) given the title of emperor. He was also given 2 million francs a year, and a guard of 400 men, although the French government refused to pay him the allowance, leaving him nearly penniless. Whilst he was on the island, he remained aware of political developments in Europe - particularly an increasing notion amongst some diplomats to send him further afield in the Atlantic Ocean. This culminated in his escape from the island - #onthisday February 26th, 1815, less than a year after his exile had begun. Despite his relative fall from grace towards the end of his life, Napoleons military exploits and his deeds as emperor were embedded in the French cultural memory, as well as by by following emperors (especially Napoleon III). It is this image we remember today - "the Little Corporal", prestigious military leader and liberal reformer of Europe; symbol of military genius and political power. (Background credit: Napoleon Crossing The Alps, Jacques-Louis David, 1801, oil on canvas, held in the Chteau de Malmaison; The Coronation of Napoleon, Jacques-Louis David, 1805-1807, oil on canvas, held in the Louvre Museum. David was Napoleons official painter.) #napoleon #numismatic #numismatics #numismtica #numismatik #numismatique #histoirefranaise #histoire #france #napoleonbonaparte

03.01.2022 Something look familiar about these odd coins? Thats probably because theyre Australian mis-strikes! Also known as mint-made errors, they result when mint equipment deteriorates or malfunctions, an accident occurs during minting, or from intentional interventions by mint staff. Of these, accidental mis-strikes are by far the most common. Interventions are not done necessarily to make error coins: usually theyre a corrective action, or one aimed at quality control, that ...does not work. Given the accuracy and control of modern mint technology, contemporary mis-strikes are very rare. They can also be exceptionally valuable, demonstrated by these examples from our last sale! In the first image, the round 2015 50c has been struck on the wrong planchet (also known as a blank or flan). This example has been struck on a ten-cent blank, creating an incredibly rare error coin - no wonder it sold for $3,400! The triangular coin with our familiar twenty-cent platypus is another planchet error: a 2016 20c that has been struck on a Cook Islands $2 triangular blank. With its bizarre shape and special commemorative design, this example is extremely rare, and sold for $4,900 on a $3,500 estimate - our highest selling mis-strike in this auction! The very strangely shaped 2015 50c in the second image was double struck with the two dies at approximately 50% apart, and sold for $3,600 on a $1,500 estimate! The final coin, a 1947 florin, has a number of errors: it has full reverse brockage (a mirror image of the obverse imprinted on it), and it is struck out of collar with a blank rim (the collar prevents the blank flowing outside the dies confines when it is struck, so this coin has a plain rim), and sold for $3,000 on a $1,500 estimate! Every Nobles sale features mis-strikes and error banknotes, but keep an eye on your spare change and you might not need to bid in our November sale! #numismatics #misstrikes #Australia #Australian #coin #coins #silver #silvercoin #errorcoin #numismatik #numismtica #numismatique #auction #aussie #error

03.01.2022 Youve probably heard of the Iceni - most famous for their revolt against the Romans in 61 BC - and youve almost certainly heard of their leader, Boudicca, but did you know that they are the only British group to produce coins bearing their own name? The Iceni lived in what is today the county of Norfolk and parts of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, in eastern Britain. They began to produce coins c.10 BC, and these are most often found in hoards. The numbers in which they are fou...nd give a typology of their development that is almost unmatched by any other British group. They are also known to have produced other fine metal items: torcs made of gold and silver, horse fittings, jewellery, and other smaller metal objects. Nobles actions often feature ancient British coins - ranging from $50 estimates all the way to $5,000! Owning a piece of Celtic history is far easier than you might think! If this has piqued your interest, search "Celtic" in our auction archives at www.noble.com.au/auctions/search to see more examples! #numismatic #numismatics #numismtica #numismatica #numismatik #numismatique #celtic #british #English #coins #coin #celts #celtics #englishcoin #englishhistory #britishhistory #ancientbritain #ancientengland #ancientcelts #ancientcoin #ancientcoins #ancientsilver #ancientgold #gold #silver #goldcoin #silvercoin

02.01.2022 And now for some Sydney #localhistory ! This "Tea Stores" copper token, along with some other examples, are all that remain of S. Peek and Co., Sydney Tea and Coffee Merchants and Grocers, active c.1835-1855. Samuel Peek was a free settler who arrived in Sydney in 1835 and began a grocery business. Originally formed with other partners, it was named "S.Peek and Co.", and would later become most well known as the Tea Stores and Steam Coffee Mill, of 424 George Street, Sydney.... The original building was rebuilt in 1866 into what now stands as the Dymocks building and bookshop, still standing at 424 George St, and just a short walk from the Nobles office! The tokens were produced from 1852-3 by J.C. Thornthwaite, the first manufacturer of medals and tokens in Australia. Thornthwaite had several issues in his attempts to produce tokens, particularly in accessing suitable blanks, and in that he was forced to use unsuitable tools (that of a seal maker, not a die sinker). He still produced many Tea Stores tokens which survive today as important pieces of Sydney history, even if they are not the finest in numismatic terms! Sam Peek was also an important figure in the early economic history of Gosford, and the nearby Peeks Point is named for him. Peek and his wife Caroline died in 1857 when the ship Dunbar was wrecked at the Gap, and their bodies were never found. Background credit: ArchivePix, City of Sydney Digital Photograph Bank; Plans of Sydney by Doves (1880), from the Historical Atlas of Sydney, City of Sydney For a more detailed history of Samuel Peeks life and the Tea Stores story (including lots more examples of its tokens), see the Museums Victoria article written by Tom May and Adrian Reagan at https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/2488 #numismatic #numismatics #numismtica #numismatik #token #tokens #teastore #sydney #sydneyhistory #nsw #nswhistory #copper #auction #tea #localhistorymatters #australia #australianhistory #aussiehistory #cityofsydney

02.01.2022 And we’re off!! Sale 120 is currently underway and while we have already had an amazing start, there are still many more wonderful things to come! One of which is this lovely gold ducat, which is due to go under the hammer tonight. It was minted by Johann Ludwig Wallmoden-Gimborn, the illegitimate son of British King George II from an extramarital affair with Amalie Sofie, the wife of Adam Gottlieb von Wallmoden. With only 400 ever struck, this ducat is extremely rare. What... will it sell for? Follow along live at invaluable.com or check out noble.com.au tomorrow for the results. #coin #coins #numismatics #numismatica #auction #noblenumismatics #numismatik #numismatic #ducat

01.01.2022 #didyouknow that the beginning of March marks the anniversary of colour television broadcasting in Australia? Colour transmission officially began 43 years ago on C-Day, 12.00am March 1st, 1975, with the slogan "March Into Colour"! It must have worked, because Australia was to see one of the fastest changeovers to colour TV in the world, with almost 70% of households in Sydney and Melbourne switching to colour televisions by 1978. The switch also saw a boom in Australian lo...cally produced shows, particularly @abctv s legendary Countdown, which had begun being produced in colour and broadcast on colour frequencies from its inception in November of 1974. Although the RAM is yet to release coins commemorating colour television, there are two TV related issues of note! The first is a gold one dollar, commemorating 50 years of television in Australia, issued in 2006; this example featuring the Canberra mint mark. The second issue is a 2017 two coin set, that commemorates 25 years of an Aussie childrens television staple - the Bananas in Pyjamas. It features a silver 20c with the Bananas in Pyjamas and the Teddy Bears, and a silver 5c, with Rat in a Hat, on their respective obverses. The five cents is particularly notable as the first ever colour issue of its denomination! See televisionau for more info about the colour switch as well as old broadcast schedules and other tv history factoids here: http://televisionau.com/2014/10/40-years-of-colour-tv.html #numismatics #numismatic #australia #australian #coin #coins #australianhistory #australiantv #aussietv #aussiehistory #goldcoin #silvercoin #bananasinpyjamas #bananasinpajamas #commemorative #colourtv #colortv #countdown #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory #history

01.01.2022 Its Monday and our next auction begins tomorrow! Viewing is in full swing and were making our final preparations! Todays featured lot is this beautiful Adelaide pound! Minted in 1852 from five pennyweight fifteen grain (approximately eight grams) of 22-carat gold, these tokens were produced to solve issues in South Australia caused by the 1850s gold rush. As gold-diggers left for Victoria they took money with them - almost 120,000 worth by 1852! This not only withdrew cur...rency from circulation, but those that returned did not have legal tender, but gold, and there was nothing to trade it for. To solve this problem a temporary Bullion Act was passed, allowing the Adelaide Assay Office to smelt the gold into ingots. These could be exchanged for currency at banks. As gold was deposited, economic stress increased as more banknotes were circulated: the Assay Office processed 143,761 worth of gold - thats $17,954,722 worth in modern Australian dollars! To deal with this, particularly given the impending expiry of the initial Bullion Act, it was decided that the gold would also be minted into tokens - as one pound coins. Although the British Colonial Government had approved the original Bullion Act, they refused to allow this secondary measure. By the time the request for authority had reached England, been refused, and returned to Adelaide, however, the Assay Office had already opened, issued the tokens, and closed again! Despite the fact that over 24,000 Adelaide Pounds were issued, their gold bullion value meant that many were exported and melted down, with less than 400 surviving today. This fine and very rare example to be auctioned tomorrow night at the @statelibrarynsw has an estimate of $17,500! Background image credit: (Old) Parliament House, North Terrace, Adelaide, c.1860, @statelibrarysa , accession number B.7448. #numismatic #numismatics #australia #gold #goldcoin #22carat #australiangold #adelaide #southaustralia #sa #sahistory #adelaidehistory #localhistory #numismtica #numismatik #currency #pound #poundsterling #goldrush #history #auction #auctions