NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS

Public Numismatic Auction #36

Closed Friday 20th March 2026

Total sales were a record at $865,000, including Dr Isaac Featherston’s New Zealand Cross at $215,000 including buyer premium. Contact us to sell your coins, medals and banknotes.

Click here to download a PDF copy of the Catalogue.

Click here for additional Research notes on named medals.

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Auction 36 - Friday, March 20, 2026

FURTHER INFORMATION ON LOTS
For any enquiries regarding lot descriptions etc, contact our office, +64 6 364 8270 or email auctions@mowbrays.nz

ABSENTEE BIDDING
For those not attending the auction or using our live bidding platform, bids can be placed by mail, phone, fax, e-mail or via our home website.  Such bids should be received by us no later than 8am NZ time (GMT + 13) Friday 20th March (at your risk if not received by auctioneer in time).  Mailed bids from overseas should be lodged at least two weeks prior, or phone us or place bids electronically. 

Phone bidding may be made during the course of the auction; by prior arrangement only; please make early contact.  Total minimum of $1,000 in bids applies. 

IMPORTANT
All Buyers Please Note: no GST will be added to the hammer price of lots.  However, a Buyers Premium of 17% (plus 15% GST on buyers premium for NZ buyers) will be added to the hammer price of each lot.

ALL ESTIMATES ARE IN NEW ZEALAND DOLLARS
Exchange rates (approximate and subject to change) NZ$ = U􀀼 44p, USA 60c, Euro50c, Australia 84c.   Click here for an online currency converter.

WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS
Credit card payments will incur a surcharge of 2% for Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

BIDS UNDER 70% OF ESTIMATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Vendor bids are not accepted.
  

Our next International catalogue is again a record with $750,000 of estimates and 572 lots of medals, coins, banknotes, tokens and jewellery items, to suit many budgets and buyers.

Lot 1 stands out as the rarest British gallantry medal, the New Zealand Cross, to Dr Isaac Featherston, first time to market since its 1875 award, and estimated at $200,000. Instituted in 1869 because Colonial volunteers and Māori allied with the Government were not eligible for the Victoria Cross, the New Zealand Cross was only awarded 23 times. With few available to the market, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for buyers.

Dr Featherston was the pre-eminent Wellington leader for a quarter of a century, Provincial Superintendent from 1853 to 1871, an MP, a campaigner for representative Government, respected by local Wellington Iwi leaders, and gallant under fire in battle.

Exceptionally rare is the very first Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) awarded, part of a group of seven, estimated at $20,000. New Zealand Flight Sergeant Lesley Bruce Wallace of Invercargill earned it on 21 December 1942. Just five were awarded to kiwis and his was the first ever awarded to anyone. Other outstanding medals are the DSO and DFC group to kiwi test pilot James Bayntun Starky (Est $12,500) and the rare Korean War Military Medal Group of 12 to kiwi Bruce Redfearn (Est $9000) for amazing courage under fire. These medals are some of those from the collection of the late Graeme McLeod, a respected authority on official New Zealand and British Commonwealth awards.

Other medals among the ninety lots in the auction are DFCs, DCMs, and Military Crosses.

Naval awards include to George Dunn who survived three sinkings by U-Boat in World War One and a Halifax disaster pair to Arthur Bagnall, present at the largest explosion prior to nuclear weapons. Single medals include the New Zealand Medal to J C Richmond, an important politician and artist, (Est $3000). There are also many more affordable medals.

There has been a surge of interest in gold and silver coins recently with sharp price movements. We have not adjusted estimates for most silver and gold coins given the volatility is ongoing. More than 80 gold lots, 127 World and ancient coin lots and 31 higher grade New Zealand coin lots provide choice for most collectors. Julius Caesar and Tiberius are present. A special feature is higher grade Tradesmen’s tokens with a New Zealand uncirculated 1879 pattern penny and A S Wilson Penny in EF.

British coins include hammered Pennies from scarcer kings, such as William I & II from a broad collection celebrating the Penny in history by New Zealand diplomat Jim Howell, right up to proof British gold pennies struck for Elizabeth II from 2002 to 2015.

The hundred world and New Zealand banknote lots offered include a New Zealand Fleming £50 specimen No 4, with black oval specimen overprints in AU, serial R000000 and a Wilson specimen set of 4, 10 Shillings to £10, both estimated at $3000.

We again thank all who helped create this sale – our many vendors and our team, especially Numismatic Manager Liam Jennings, Martin Purdy, Abel Oveges, Eamon Wood, John Mowbray, Maree Malin, Kirsten Fulford, Amor Van Tonder, Sallie Bassett, Clare Cross and Margaret Galt. We also welcome Ethan Woodney who has joined our numismatic team.

David Galt
Managing Director

VERY HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF NUMISMATIC LOTS

https://bit.ly/MowbraysA36

This link provides access to a Dropbox folder for very high resolution images for  lots in Numismatic Auction 36.  These are likely to take significant time to download.