The Eldorado Collection of Colombian Coins and Paper Money, to be offered in two auction catalogs, is the finest ever cataloged and represents an important event in Latin American numismatics. The Eldorado Collection is so sweeping in scope, that these catalogs are only the initial offerings, featuring many of the rarest and highest grade selections from this epic cabinet. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to be showcasing the first installment of this collection as part of their official auction January 11-13, 2018, during the New York International Convention at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. The January offering of the Eldorado Collection shepherds together many of the most notable highlights from this wide-ranging cabinet, an accomplishment that was many decades in the making.
The coins span chronologically from the very first gold coin of the New World — the 1622 2 Escudos struck in Cartagena, a historic masterpiece of global importance — to modern issues of the Bogotá Mint. In the 350 years of history these coins bookend, a nation blossomed, from colony, through fits and starts of several republican (and not so republican) governments, to a modern power. The earliest coins represent some of the first treasure taken from the ground by representatives of the Spanish crown, while those of the 19th century show a nation whose wealth made it a player in world trade, and a home to growing cities and grand aspirations.
This remarkable historical legacy is written in gold and, to a lesser but still important extent, silver. The vast majority of the coins in this offering are gold: onzas from colonial days and their later descendants, patterns of European workmanship and great beauty, and smaller denominations intended not for world trade, but local circulation. The silver coins here are all from Colombia’s colonial beginnings: a world class collection of cobs, from Cuartillos to 8 Reales; rare Pillar types; and an extensive run of portrait coins depicting Carlos III and Carlos IV, including many struck during the reign of Ferdinand VII.
The paper money, featured in its own sale catalog, portrays the broadest view of this subject ever published in English or Spanish. Commencing in 1819 and continuing to the present day are countless note types, from the majority of known series and issuers, cataloged and offered in this and subsequent sales for the first time. The lot descriptions and their accompanying full-color images often confirm rumored examples listed, but unpriced, in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.
Many are first time individual offerings at public auction. This is especially true of previously unlisted types that were discovered in the Archives of the American Bank Note Company, sold by Christie’s initially on November 28-29, 1990. Nearly all 66 Colombia lots enumerated in that "Leo" moniker catalog (including two immense and unique record books) were obtained at the sale by Eldorado’s architect, who recognized their immense research importance and the opportunity to expand the collection’s scope in the span of a few hours.
Lot viewing will be available at the Stack’s Bowers Galleries Santa Ana office before the sale, in New York City in their offices at 123 West 57th Street and on site at the Grand Hyatt Hotel immediately prior to the sale itself. Check StacksBowers.com for specific dates and times. For more information on bidding in this event, please contact ckarstedt@stacksbowers.com.
And of course no announcement would be complete without a reminder that when you are ready to sell, Stack’s Bowers Galleries is your source for auction. The firm offers professional handling of your collection, with a proven track record of accomplished sales. Currently, they are accepting consignments for their 2018 auction program of live gallery sales and internet auctions. Contact a consignment specialist at 949-253-0916 or via email at info@StacksBowers.com.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s 80-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, The Guia Collection, The Thos. H. Law Collection, and The Robert O. Ebert Collection.
Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar graded Specimen-66 (PCGS) that realized over $10 million, part of their sale of the famed Cardinal Collection. The company is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with offices in New York, Wolfeboro, Hong Kong, and Paris. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is an Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including American Numismatic Association events, the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, and its April and August Hong Kong Auctions.
