ALBAWABA – The world’s most expensive coin collection was sold in an auction after 100-year of ban. The unique collection was carefully assembled over more than six decades by Lars Emil Bruun, Danish numismatist and businessman, and was reserved to protect the Danish heritage over the years.
Massive auction
After a 100-year ban, the coin collection will be offered in a series of auctions and is expected to set high record numbers. Bruun who died in 1923, stipulated in his will that the collection of banknotes, coins, and medals -assembled over more than six decades- should be kept as an emergency reserve for the Danish national collection. The collection could be sold after a full century if the Danish economy was stable.
It is worth noting that next month, the first of 20,000 coins from Bruun's personal coins collection will be offered at auction. Stack’s Bowers, America's oldest rare coin auctioneer and dealer, said Brunn’s collection will need several auctions to be sold as the collection is too expensive and massive.
L.E. Bruun's collection was listed by Stack’s Bowers as the most expensive collection ever sold in the global currency market with an estimated value of approximately $72.5 million (500 million Danish Krone).
The first auction is set to take place on September 14, 2024, and will feature more than 280 lots including gold and silver coins from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. These coins, dating from the late 15th century to the last years of Bruun’s life, are valued at nearly more than $10 million.
L.E. Bruun collection was listed by Stack’s Bowers as the most expensive collection ever sold in the global currency market with an estimated value of approximately $72.5 million (500 million Danish Krone). (Shutterstock)
It is worth mentioning that the most valuable and expensive piece in the collection is one of the oldest gold coins from Scandinavia, according to Stack’s Bowers catalogue. The coin, a royal issue from King Hans dated 1496, will potentially sell for up to $672,510 (600,000 euros).
Matt Orsini, director of the world and ancient numismatics at Stack’s Bowers, said: “Hands-down my favorite piece in the sale is the 1496 gold noble of King Hans, who was king of Denmark and Norway under the Kalmar Union, as well as Sweden for a brief time. It is important on so many levels — it’s the very first gold coin struck by Denmark, it’s the very first dated coin struck by the Danish kingdom, and it’s unique in private hands.”
