NGSA 18 Established a New Price Level for Coins from Geneva

Top-class numismatics, that is what we are used to from Numismatica Genevensis. And top-class numismatics was the collection of Geneva coins auctioned off on Nov. 15, 2022. It was nothing less than the most comprehensive ensemble of coins from Geneva ever offered at auction. And as is common with genuine special collections, there were many specimens among the offer that were extremely rare but not of perfect quality. The fact that these coins too are highly coveted on the market provided that their rarity is accurately described, is shown by the results of this sale of Numismatica Genevensis, the auction house for discerning special collectors.

What this means is probably best illustrated by lot No. 2003, a piece that anyone who is not a collector of Geneva coins would probably have rather expected to find in a box of bargain coins than at a premium auction sale. However, Numismatica Genevensis’ catalogue points out how rare this piece is and highlights its crucial numismatic importance. For it is much more than a unique piece – it is the only surviving testimony to an archival note that tells us that the Council of the City of Geneva had small coins minted as early as on 3 February 1550 because the city was in urgent need of them. Therefore, this small coin takes us right back to the centre of the Reformation, where Calvin’s personality attracted numerous religious refugees from other parts of Europe.

The tiny, rather shabby coin had already been estimated at CHF 1,000. The hammer fell at CHF 15,000 – which is certainly not too much for a key specimen that is a unique numismatic testimony to the role Geneva played during the Reformation.

An exception? Certainly not! Auction 18 of Numismatica Genevensis demonstrated the true value of rare pieces. An inconspicuous 1551 quart, whose description in the auction catalogue mentioned that it was missing from Demole’s standard work on Geneva coins, climbed from an estimate of 80 Swiss francs to a hammer price of 1,000 Swiss francs, highlighting how important a scholarly catalogue is when it comes to the sale of special collections. This is the only way to guarantee that a rarity actually realises its true potential in terms of the hammer price.

We could show many more such examples: coins regarding which only experts know about their central numismatic importance and incredible rarity. Take a look at the results of this auction and see for yourself how many examples there are for this phenomenon at https://www.biddr.com/auctions/ngsa/browse?a=2980.