Press release -
Rare Coin from Ancient Greece in 400 BC up for Auction along with Denmark's First Gold Coin and Silver Medal from the Olympic Games
Historical Coin from Ancient Greece in 400 BC up for Auction
If you are looking for a historical collector’s item from ancient Greece and a true work of art in the shape of a coin, you should take a closer look at Bruun Rasmussen – Part of the Bonhams Network's Live Auction on 25 April. Here an extremely expensive coin will be up for auction with an estimated price of DKK 200,000.
The coin on offer is from around 400 BC, and according to Chief Numismatist Michael Fornitz, this is original Greek art from the very highest shelf.
"Almost all Greek original works have been lost in the sands of time, but this is an original, miniature Greek work of art," says Michael Fornitz.
On the obverse of the coin, a charioteer with four horses harnessed in front and the Greek goddess Nike flying above can be seen. The reverse shows the head of the Greek nymph Arethusa and four dolphins swimming around her.
"The coin is a bit oval-shaped, as it was only later that coins were minted with a round ring around them. Therefore, the material only consisted of a lump of silver that was struck with a hammer. It is amazing that this result could be achieved. Just consider the composition and the depth of the motif on the front with the four horses standing in front of and behind each other. In my view, it really is a true masterpiece from ancient Greece," says Michael Fornitz, adding that the coin is extremely well preserved, which makes it extra rare.
As something quite special, the coin is signed by the artist behind the miniature work, Euainetos. It has been part of J.E. Berthelsen's prominent collection since 1986.
The coin’s value is estimated to be DKK 200,000, and it will go under the hammer at Bruun Rasmussen's Live Auction with coins on 25 April at 3 pm (CET) in Bredgade 33. Go to the auction HERE.
Denmark's First Gold Coin up for Auction
You now have the opportunity to become the new owner of Denmark's first and oldest gold coin when it comes up for auction at Bruun Rasmussen – Part of the Bonhams Network on 25 April. The rare and coveted coin has an estimated value of DKK 200,000.
Denmark's first gold coin could end up in your collection when Bruun Rasmussen, as part of Bonhams’ global network, offers the historical coin at their upcoming Live Auction on 25 April.
The coin dates back to the end of the 15th century, when the war for secession with the Swedish Statesman and Regent, Steen Sture, took place. In the attempt to preserve the Kalmar Union and achieve a decisive victory over Sweden, the reigning King Hans of Denmark hired German mercenaries. They would not accept the ordinary contemporary Danish coins as payment, so in order to pay the German mercenaries, the Danish King had gold coins minted according to the German model, including the offered coin, which was made around the year 1496-1497.
According to Chief Numismatist Michael Fornitz, this is an extremely rare and exceptionally well-preserved coin.
"It's always nice when rarity and high quality go hand in hand, but when this is combined with an incredibly interesting historical context, it's hard not to get excited," explains Michael Fornitz.
Denmark's first gold coin has an estimated value of DKK 200,000 and will go under the hammer at Bruun Rasmussen's Live Auction with coins on 25 April at 10 am (CET) at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen.
You can already view the entire coin auction at bruun-rasmussen.dk
Silver Medal from the Olympic Games
If you have ever dreamed of winning a medal at the Olympics, but you have now realized that this is unlikely to happen, you can console yourself with an original silver medal from the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. Such a medal will be under the hammer at Bruun Rasmussen – Part of the Bonhams Network on 25 April. The estimated value is DKK 25,000-30,000.
The silver medal was won by the Danish athlete Niels Kristian Ferdinand Larsen (1895-1972) during the Summer Olympics in August 1920 in the discipline of gymnastics (Swedish system), where the gold medal went to Sweden.
According to Michael Fornitz, Chief Numismatist at Bruun Rasmussen, it is rare for the auction house to sell winning medals from the Olympic Games at auction since such medals typically stay with the family for many years, where they are passed down through generations.
"A piece like this is not "just" a medal, but a piece of sports history, which is why the potential buyer will just as likely be a sports enthusiast as an "ordinary" medal collector," says Michael Fornitz.
The obverse of the medal depicts a victorious athlete, while the reverse depicts the Brabo Fountain in Antwerp. The Belgian sculptor Josuë Dupon, who made the medal, actually won a bronze medal himself in the art competition of the Olympic Games for his equestrian medals.
The Olympic silver medal from 1920 has an estimated price of DKK 25,000-30,000 and will go under the hammer at Bruun Rasmussen's Live Auction with coins on 25 April at 10 am (CET) in Bredgade 33, Copenhagen. View the auction HERE.
Topics
"Going once, going twice. Sold to the lady in the front row”. For 75 years, Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers has sold art, antiques, design, jewellery, wristwatches and collector’s items in the heart of Copenhagen. It was Arne Bruun Rasmussen who founded the auction house at Bredgade 33 in 1948, and until 2022 the Bruun Rasmussen family owned the company. Today, the company is owned by the British auction house Bonhams - one of the world's leading and oldest auction houses.
Being a part of Bonhams, means that Bruun Rasmussen has joined a global network, which benefits both the art and the customers, the latter has gained access to far more auctions and the former has a better chance of achieving the market's best hammer prices. The goal is to constantly confirm to our customers that Bruun Rasmussen is a sought-after auction house with the highest expertise in valuation and sales. Bonhams and Bruun Rasmussen share the core values of knowledge, credibility, commitment and renewal, and the old Copenhagen auction house will thus continue to base its business on its well-known values under the auspices of Bonhams.
With CEO Jakob Dupont at the helm, an extensive digitization process has taken place during the past years, making the auction house a significant player on the international market. With solid experience and in-depth knowledge complemented by highly professional advice and appraisal service, the company is the link between sellers and interested buyers from all over the world. Every year, 70,000 unique works of art are sold at two types of auctions – the traditional Live Auctions and the Online Auctions.
