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gold doubloon

Gallery Report: 1787 gold doubloon cashes in at $9.4M

ATLANTA – At the start of each month, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers top auction highlights from around the United States and beyond. Here’s what made headlines since last month’s Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium.

gold doubloon1787 gold doubloon coin, $9.36 million, Heritage Auctions

A 1787 gold doubloon coin, the finest example of just the seven known to exist, graded NGC MS65, sold for $9.36 million at an auction of important U.S. coins held Jan. 21 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. It was the most ever paid at auction for a gold coin, eclipsing the previous record of $7.59 million for a 1933 $20 Double Eagle, sold in 2002. The doubloon, officially titled the 1787 New York-Style Brasher Doubloon, has been called “The World’s Most Famous Coin.”

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David Hasselhoff’s K.I.T.T. car, $345,000, Diligent Auction

Actor David Hasselhoff’s personal K.I.T.T. Knight Rider car, with full conversion, sold for $345,000 at The Hoff Auction (items from the career archive of David Hasselhoff), held Jan. 23 by Diligent Auction Services, based in Canoga Park, Calif. The auction was handled exclusively through LiveAuctioneers.com. Also, Hasselhoff’s red 1961 SL190 Mercedes Benz car roared off for $72,600; and a lunch date with Hasselhoff in Los Angeles went to a determined bidder for $10,890.

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Copy of Fantastic Four #1, $16,800, Bruneau & Co.

A copy of Fantastic Four #1 (Nov. 1961), featuring the first appearance and origin of the Fantastic Four and Mole Man, graded CBCS 3.5, sold for $16,800 at a Comic, TCG & Toy Auction held Jan. 9 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, R.I. Also, a 2002 Yu-Gi-Oh Legend of Blue-Eyes White Dragon first edition Blue-Eyes White Dragon holographic trading card, graded BGS 9 Mint, fetched $11,875; and a copy of Incredible Hulk #181 (Nov. 1974), hit $4,125.

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Sebastian Matta etchings, $3,750, Holabird Western

A portfolio of five aquatint etchings by the Chilean artist Sebastian Matta (1911-2002), titled L’ame du Tarot de Theleme (1994), sold for $3,750 at a Holiday Sale held Dec. 17-21 by Holabird Western Americana Collections LLC, in Reno, Nev. Also, a pictorial letter-sheet from 1856 illustrating all the major types of gold mining done in California by 1855 changed hands for $3,500; and a pair of Chinese publishing company stock certificates from the 1920s fetched $2,125.

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Strand of Tahitian pearls, $1,200, Crescent City Auction Gallery

A graduated strand of 35 dark grey cultured Tahitian pearls, 11-13mm each, with a 14K white gold ball clasp, sold for $1,200 at an Important Winter Estates Auction held Jan. 16-17 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orlean. Also, an oil on canvas painting by Vladin Stiha (American), titled Rocky Island on Water (1982), signed, realized $800; and an oil on canvas by Charles Victor Ensinck (Dutch, 1846-1914), titled Mother and Child in the Kitchen, signed, went for $800.

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Chinese cinnabar lidded box, $81,250, Ahlers & Ogletree

A Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) carved cinnabar lidded box sold for $81,250 at a Collector’s Dream Auction held Jan. 17-19 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, an oil on canvas equestrian painting by John Frederick Herring (British, 1795-1865) realized $62,000; golf legend Bobby Jones’s personal 1950s-era shag/range ball bag finished at $27,900; and a brass and bronze framed porthole with glass window retrieved from the RMS Carpathia passenger ship rose to $16,120.

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Lois Dodd oil painting, $71,875, Ripley Auctions

An oil on canvas painting by Lois Dodd (American, b. 1927), untitled (Can’t See the End Table for the Trees), 66 inches by 48 inches (sight), sold for $71,875 at an Estate Art & Antiques auction held Jan. 16 by Ripley Auctions in Indianapolis. Also, a colorful untitled 1962 abstract still life oil painting by Mercedes Carles Matter (American, 1913-2001), made $65,624; and a vibrant abstract oil painting by Gillian Ayres (UK, 1930-2018), titled Angel Heart (1992), signed, hit $12,500.

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Pair of George II chairs, $230,400, Nye & Company       

A pair of English mid-18th century George II Anglo-Chinese huanghuali chairs sold for $230,400 at an Estate Treasures Auction held Jan. 21 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, N.J. Also, a pair of nearly identical George II chairs, but with different upholstery, gaveled for $166,400; an English George II Anglo-Chinese huanghuali armchair topped out at $121,600; and an English late 18th century George III ormolu-mounted mahogany secretary went for $23,040.

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Group of Fabergé wine carafes, $56,200, Sarasota Estate Auction

A group of four Fabergé crystal and silver wine carafes sold for $56,200 at a Fine Art, Antiques & Jewelry sale held Jan. 23-24 by Sarasota Estate Auction in Sarasota, Fla. Also, an oil on canvas painting by Laura Adeline Muntz-Lyall (Canadian, 1860-1930) realized $26,700; an oil on canvas painting by Adam Emory Albright (American, 1862-1957) brought $12,500; and a painting by Frank Myers Boggs (American, 1855-1926), titled Rough Day, Port of Honfleur, made $7,900.

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Kobe Bryant road jersey, $337,334, Grey Flannel Auctions

A 2009 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals game-worn road jersey sold for $337,334 in a Winter Catalog Auction held Jan. 23 by Grey Flannel Auctions in Scottsdale, Ariz. Also, a 1997-1998 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls game-used home jersey was a slam-dunk for $230,401; a 2007 Lebron James Cleveland Cavaliers NBA China games game-used jersey brought $78,709; and a 1972 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants game-worn road flannel uniform hit $60,667. gold doubloon

Paddle steamer model, $50,000, John Moran Auctioneers

A silvered and gilt model of the American paddle steamer Harlan left port for $50,000 at a Traditional Collector auction held Dec. 16 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, Calif. Also, a French marquetry vitrine changed hands for $6,875; a painting done in the style of Jean-Marc Nattier (French, 1685-1766), titled Portrait of Anne Henriette of France Playing the Vioncello (circa 1727-1752) earned $8,125; and a Buccellati sterling silver Octopus centerpiece went for $10,000.

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Copy of ZAP Comix #1, $27,000, PBA Galleries

Legendary cartoonist R. Crumb’s personally owned first-edition copy of ZAP Comix #1 (Nov. 1967) sold for $27,000 at a Comic Books Auction held Dec. 10 by PBA Galleries in Berkeley, Calif. It was the most ever paid for an underground comic book. Also, a limited-edition statue by Richard Corben, titled Reclining Nude (circa 1977) made $7,800; and the first 11 issues of Weird Science and Weird Fantasy magazines (1966), bound by Russ Cochran, both hit $3,600.

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Nancy Whorf painting, $34,375, James R. Bakker

A painting by Provincetown Art Colony artist Nancy Whorf (1930-2009), titled Ice House Beach Snow, sold for $34,375 in an online art auction held Dec. 19 by James R. Bakker Antiques, based in Provincetown, Mass. Also, Aldro Hibbard’s Provincetown knocked down for $11,250; Charles Kaeselau’s Provincetown achieved $8,125; Arthur Cohen’s First House went for $10,625; Karl Knath’s The Clock hit $16,250; and a Paul Resika landscape realized $8,125.

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Ted Williams jersey, $139,714, Lelands

A Boston Red Sox jersey worn circa 1954-1955 by Ted Williams and signed by the Splendid Splinter, in MEARS 10 condition, sold for $139,714 in a Fall Classic Auction that closed Dec. 11 by Lelands in New York City. Also, a Roy Campanella photo-matched and game-worn Brooklyn Dodgers uniform from his 1955 MVP and World Series season brought $131,066; and a Zion Williamson 2019-2020 Panini Prizm Gold rookie card finished at $118,261.

 

gold doubloonTornek-Rayville watch, $95,250, Michaan’s Auctions

A rare Tornek-Rayville TR-900 military diver’s stainless-steel wristwatch, circa 1964, with a box, sold for $95,250 at a Winter Fine Sale held Dec. 18 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, a diamond, platinum riviere fringe necklace topped out at $84,000; and a lithograph in colors on wove paper by David Hockney (British, b. 1937), titled Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (1980), signed and dated lower right and numbered 671/1000 brought $50,800.

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Parker & Perry candelabras, $22,500, Auctions at Showplace

A pair of Parker & Perry English George III Wedgwood and gilt-bronze girandole candelabras sold for $22,500 at a sale of items from the estate of Martin Bregman held Jan. 3 by Auctions at Showplace in New York. Also, a still-life painting of flowers on a ledge by Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer (French-Flemish, 1636-1699) realized $16,250; and an early 20 century Louis XV-style gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock with chinoiserie motifs went for $17,500.

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Fitzgerald fan letter, $37,987, RR Auction

A four-page letter written to author F. Scott Fitzgerald by a fan in the late 1920s sold for $37,987 in an online auction that ended Jan. 13 by RR Auction, based in Boston. The handwritten letter was addressed to “Mr. Fitzgerald” in Paterson, New Jersey, and commented on the writer’s debut novel, This Side of Paradise. The letter came with a matte-finish photo of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, the author’s wife (shown), boldly signed by him in fountain pen with an inscription.

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Platinum and diamond ring, $204,000, Nadeau’s Auction

A platinum and diamond ring set with a 4.54-carat emerald cut diamond, flanked by trillion cut diamonds, sold for $204,000 at a New Year’s Day auction held Jan. 1 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Conn. Also, a 5.5-carat platinum and pear-shaped diamond ring, purchased in 1910 by Francis M. “Borax” Smith, founder of Twenty Mule Team Borax, earned $138,000; and a set of three original pencil drawings by John Tenniel (British, 1820-1914) hit $72,000.

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Thomas Woodward painting, $10,710, Doyle

A painting by Thomas Woodward (British, 1801-1852), titled A Young Man on a Bay Hunter, sold for $10,710 at an auction of Old Masters & 19th Century Paintings & Drawings held Jan. 21 by Doyle in New York. Also, a portrait of Rear Adm. John Sprat Rainier by John Hoppner (British, 1758-1810) achieved $11,340; a pair of Dutch 17th century floral still lifes realized $12,600; and a Still Life of Fruit on a Marble Ledge by a follower of Willem van Aelst brought $10,710.

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Michael Jordan rookie card, $222,630, Goldin Auctions

The 1986/87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card, graded PSA Gem Mint 1, sold for $222,630 at an End of Year Auction held Jan. 2-3 by Goldin Auctions in Runnemede, N.J. It was a new auction record for the card, besting the $211,560 record set less than 30 days earlier in Dec. 2020. Also, a 1986 Panini Supersport (Italian) #153 Mike Tyson rookie card, graded BGS Gem Mint 9.5, gaveled for $47,970, shattering the previous high sale of $6,999 for a 683% yield.

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By KEN HALL

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