Greek coin dates back to 336BC
Coins, banknotes, medals and militaria with a total estimated value of £100,000 are included in this afternoon's auction being held on the premises of Whyte's of Marlborough Street in Dublin. Coinage dates back as far as a Greek Alexander III (336-323BC) silver drachma, which is expected to sell for £350-£375, together with an early Irish piece - a Phase VII Hiberno-Norse silver penny (£350-£400) - and more recent examples, such as an English Queen Anne crown of 1707 (up to £700). Among the banknotes is one German lot dating from 1922; a collection of notes with a total surface value of 1.8 million marks, this is now carrying a much more humble estimate of £20-£25. A misprinted 1993 £10 note is expected to go for £180-£200 and a 1939 Hibernian Bank £5 "Ploughman" has an estimate of £130-£150. Medals include an Olympic gold of 1908, which was awarded to Colonel J.K. Millner of Ireland for long-distance shooting. This carries an estimate of £400-£500, while a group of Boer War medals presented to an Irishman in the Royal Artillery is expected to fetch £450-£500. The sale's most important lot is an 1865 album of photographs of General Grant's American Civil War headquarters. Assembled by Irish-born General Sir Charles Hastings Doyle, Governor General of Nova Scotia, while he was on a confidential visit, the album carries an estimate of £7,000-£8,000.
More curious items on offer include a set of American brothel tokens - no longer redeemable - for £25-£30 and a Dublin token of 1797 "to prevent the abuse of charity in the consumption of whiskey" (£30-£40). Complementing the sale, an international coin fair will be held in Dublin Castle's Coach House tomorrow. Dealers from Ireland and overseas will offer coins, medals, stamps, militaria, telephone cards and banknotes.
Wellington partners desk for £1,000-plus
19TH and 20th-century furniture predominates at next Wednesday afternoon's auction being held by Hamilton Osborne King in Blackrock, Co Dublin. Lots with higher estimates include an early 19th-century fold-over card table (£800-£1,200), a late 19th-century mahogany Wellington partners desk (£1,000-£1,500), a mid-19th century rosewood centre table (also £1,000-£1,500) and an early 19th century mahogany linen press (£600-£800).
Wide range of porcelain for Cork auction
A private Co Cork residence is providing the principal lots at next Thursday morning's auction being conducted by O'Regan's in the company's Lavitts Quay premises. Among the items on offer will be a wide range of porcelain by Sevres, Meissen, Royal Doulton, Minton and Belleek among others, as well as plenty of 18th-century furniture. The latter lots include a walnut oak-lined bureau, a walnut bachelor chest, a set of Chinese Chippendale chairs and a pair of French gilt chairs.
On Thursday, the South Kensington premises of Christie's will be hosting a sale of 19th and 20th century posters including a section devoted to travel in Ireland. Paul Henry's work in this area is represented by five examples, showing Connemara, Donegal, Lough Derg and Wicklow; these are expected to sell for between £300 and £500 sterling each. Other posters promote Killarney, Irish railways and Aer Lingus.
Chippendale dining chairs for £1,800-plus
Town & Country will be conducting a house contents sale in Ballsbridge, Dublin, tomorrow afternoon when a set of eight Chippendale mahogany dining chairs is expected to fetch £1,800-£2,000, a pair of boulle and tortoiseshell side cabinets has an estimate of £1,500-£2,000 and a Victorian circular mahogany dining table is priced at £1,200-£1,400.
Furniture from Children's Hospital to be sold
The Thomas Adams salerooms in Blackrock, Co Dublin, will be disposing of a number of items of furniture from the former Children's Hospital in Harcourt Street next Tuesday. A Victorian mahogany boardroom table is expected to make £3,000-£4,000, a mahogany telescopic table, also Victorian, is expected to go under the hammer for £600-£1,000 and an early 19th-century mahogany D-end table has an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.
