World's Greatest Collection of South African Coins to be sold by Dix Noonan Webb

 

The world’s greatest collection of South African coins will be auctioned by Dix Noonan Webb 22 September 2014. Assembled by Robert Bakewell over the past 11 years, it is expected to fetch over R40 million (£2.2 million US$3.7 million).

The collection, which covers the years 1892 to 2012, contains many extremely rare coins of unparalleled quality. Bakewell is a multiple winner of the prestigious “Finest Known” awards bestowed by the NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) in the United States.

“It is a tremendous honour to be entrusted by Robert Bakewell with the sale of his collection,” said Christopher Webb, head of the coins department at DNW. “In little more than a decade he has assembled a collection of South African coins which has won many awards both in his home country and internationally. His determination to create a collection which is not only complete but also of the highest possible grades has been remarkable.”

Among the highlights of the Bakewell Collection of South African coins to be auctioned are:
● Proof Set 1926 PF 63-65. Only four sets known, of which two are in museums. The location of the fourth is unknown.
● Proof Set 1933 PF 61-65. Only 20 sets were struck.
● 1893 Florin MS 64. Finest Known.
● 1924 Sovereign MS 65. Very rare in this grade.
● 1926 Florin MS 65.
● 1931 Sixpence MS 65. Finest Known.
● 1933 Halfcrown MS 66.
● 1898 Pond MS 65. Finest Known.
● 1902 Veld Pond MS 64.

Robert Bakewell was born in South Africa in 1957. A visit to his local car wash started his coin collection 11 years ago. He noticed a small coin between the paving bricks and, on picking it up, found that it was a common but out of circulation 1970 half cent. He was intrigued and began collecting.

Early in his collecting career he received good advice from dealer Peter Bowles who told him: “Rather buy one good coin than ten scrap or cheap coins.” This insistence on only the best served him well as he built up the world’s finest collection of South African coins, buying around the world and constantly hunting for upgrades.

He decided to send all his coins to the United States to be graded and slabbed by NGC, receiving several NGC “Finest Known” awards. His final goal was to produce a catalogue of the Bakewell Finest Known coins before selling the collection. He will now concentrate on upgrading the collections of his two sons.