NGC-certified 'Holey Dollar' Among Top Rarities at August ANA Auction in Chicago

An NGC-certified example of an unusual monetary solution used in early Australia is being featured at the Heritage Auctions ANA World’s Fair of Money World Coins Platinum Night Auction set for August 15 in Chicago.

The coin is unusual because it has a large hole punched in its center. Called a “Holey Dollar,” the 1813-dated coin was intended to address the British colony’s shortage of coins, which constantly left through trade with visiting ships.

New South Wales Gov. Lachlan Macquarie had a convicted forger named William Henshall punch the centers out of £10,000 worth of Spanish 8 Reales coins in 1812. Click images to enlarge.

The New South Wales colony of Australia imported £10,000 worth of Spanish 8 Reales coins in 1812. To prevent their use outside the colony, Gov. Lachlan Macquarie had a convicted forger named William Henshall punch the centers out of the coins and counterstamp them with the name of the colony (New South Wales), the year (1813) and the denomination (5 shillings). The smaller, punched-out centers were used as coins valued at 15 pence.

The Australian coin began its life as a Mexico Ferdinand VII Silver 8 Reales dated 1808. Its estimated sale price is $150,000 to $200,000 (USD).

The Heritage auction also includes much older coins, including a 2,600-year-old Electrum Stater that is graded NGC Ancients VF, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface. The oval coin has a depiction of a stag on its obverse and has three punched marks on its reverse. It is one of the earliest recorded coins with both a type and an inscription. Its estimated sale price is $100,000 to $150,000 (USD).

Other NGC-certified ancient highlights of the auction include:

• A Roman Empire Gold 4.5-Solidi Siscia medallion from 337-350 A.D. graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface, with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000 (USD).
• A Lablienus Silver Denarius from 40-39 B.C. graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, with an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000 (USD).
• A Croesus Gold Stater from 561-546 B.C. graded NGC Ancients Ch MS★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, with an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000 (USD).
• A Sicily Silver Decadrachm from 405-367 B.C. graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface, with an estimate of $65,000 to $85,000 (USD).

Particularly significant NGC-graded world coins in the sale include:

• A Brazil 1822-R Gold 6,400 Reis graded NGC AU Details with an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000 (USD).
• A lot of four British India 1854 Gold 5 Rupees, 10 Rupees, 1 Mohur and 2 Mohur Restrike Proofs graded NGC PF 63, NGC PF 63, NGC PF 64+ and NGC PF 64, respectively. The lot has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000 (USD).
• A Great Britain 1768 Gold 2 Guineas Pattern graded NGC PF 64 also has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000 (USD).
• A Great Britain 1716 Gold 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 60 with an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000 (USD).
• A South Africa Orange Free State Essay Silver 1887 Kroon Proof graded NGC PF 64 with an estimate of $50,000 to $60,000 (USD).
• A Great Britain 1746 “Lima” Gold 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 61 with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 (USD).
• A Brazil 1922 Gold 10,000 Reis graded NGC MS 64 with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000 (USD).

All estimates are provided by the auction house.

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