An impressive collection of rare and old coins will be auctioned on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 January at the Couvent des Minimes in Lille. This is the collection of Doctor F., a passionate doctor from Lille. A real treasure of more than 800 pieces in total, the combined value of which exceeds one million euros.
More than two millennia
While over 50 years old, Doctor F. has collected hundreds of pieces. Upon his death, his family, who wish to remain anonymous, decided to disperse his collection. It then took more than 3 months for the team of auctioneers and experts in numismatics, the science of coins, to sort, photograph, label each of the currencies. Thierry Parsy is an expert with the Paris Court of Appeal, he supervised these operations: “This collection is impressive, he marvels. There are pieces that date from the archaic period of Croesus, in the 4th century BC, and we go as far as the 5th Republic! We have therefore covered the whole history of France and part of ancient history.”
There are pieces that date from the archaic period of Croesus, to the 4th century BC, and we go all the way to the 5th Republic!
Browsing through the dozens of trays where the pieces are stored behind double-locked showcases, we also find sesterces, the currency of Asterix, guilders Italians, but also parts of the region, like this great golden helmet from the county of Flanders, which dates from the 14th century.
– Study by Maître Wattebled (document sent)
The highlight of the show is a complete series of gold louis from the Louis XVI period, currencies that were reserved for those close to the king. “If at first glance, one has the impression that they are all identical, the enthusiast knows how to differentiate them and trace their origin, explains Baptiste Portay, auctioneer, taking the tray out of the window. For example, on this one, you see the letter K which corresponds to a specific mint.“And in case of doubt, one can always refer to the many rare and pointed works by Doctor F., also on sale.
From 150 to 40,000 euros per piece
There remains the question that everyone is asking: how much do these collector’s items cost? It is Baptiste Portay who answers: “We have pieces that start at 120, 150 euros as a low estimate, and we go up to 40,000 euros. We hope to reach a million, a million and a half with the total sale“, he explains. It’s an 18th century piece, a “essay on gold blank from the shield to the headband“, minted in only 50 copies, who owns this highest estimate at 40,000 euros.
– Study by Maître Wattebled (document sent)
Some potential buyers have already come inspect parts, during the days of exposure. They examine the batches they are interested in under a special light to ensure that there are no defects. Others will follow the sale from a distance, they should be several hundred, from all over the world.
Among them, collectors, from merchants, and even museums. What particularly delights Baptiste Portay: “Participating in the handover of an object means saying to yourself that you have participated in safeguarding the memory and history of this object, it is rewarding!“
The first hammer blows will be given from 14h, this Wednesday, January 26 at the convent of the Minimes.