ANS' foreign decorations auction

This blog brings numismatic news you don't get elsewhere.

Last month the ANS sold part 1 of its collection of foreign medals, orders and decorations. The press release can be found on the ANS web site.

Morton & Eden auctioned the first half of the collection on 24-25 May. The Prices Realized [PDF] is on the Morton & Eden site, but unlike the other auctions there there is no Sale Report. I was curious how the sale went, so I made my own 'report.'

I added up the prices realized and got £898,660 (= approx $1,650,000).

I spot-checked the auction highlights and they seemed to be selling above estimates

Naval General Service Medal, estimate £15-20k, sold for 40k. (lot 23)
Conspicuous Gallantry group, estimate £4-6k or £6-8k, sold for 22k (lot 332)
Most Noble Order of the Garter, estimate £18-22k, sold for 30k (lot 294)

In the pre-sale Press Release director Wartenberg Kagan promised “Money raised from the sale will go into our acquisition fund to improve our core collection of American and world coins.” I wish her and the society good hunting.

Congratulations to the ANS on a successful sale. Part 2 of the auction will be held on 25-26 October.

If any blog readers attended the live auction please write about it in the comments section below. [Disclaimer: I volunteer for the ANS but this blog entry is my own idea].