The small mahogany coin box.
The top individual lot at Whyte’s Eclectic Collector sale in Dublin was this small mahogany coin cabinet. It made 10,500. The coin collection made up 51 of the 100 lots of coins and proved to be a major draw. Estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 in the catalogue they made over 40,000 thanks to spirited bidding from British and American collectors and dealers who had specially travelled to the salesroom.
The coins are predominantly from Ancient Rome, Britain and America. The cabinet was offered with a mixture of coins including about 150 Roman Republic and Imperial denarii and was estimated at 2,000-3,000.
The sale grossed 220,000, with 80% of lots sold. 400 bidders registered on line from North America, Europe, Australia, China, Japan, UAE and Qatar. Most lots were sold in the room.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for June 10 and June 4, 2015).