Winner in Utah

REAL ESTATE AUCTION SEES RECORD PARTICIPATION AS SKI RETREAT REALIZES $4.2 MILLION

A record number of qualified bidders pushed the auction price of a sophisticated mountain retreat nestled among the ski and film scene in Park City, Utah, to $4.2 million when Heritage Luxury Real Estate Auctions offered the estate this spring.

With access to world-class skiing and the world’s indie-film scene, the no-reserve auction of the estate on White Pine Canyon Road marked the firm’s most successful luxury estate auction to date.

“There is no doubt we reach qualified, motivated buyers,” says Nate Schar, director of Heritage Luxury Real Estate Auctions. “A record 10 qualified and fully vetted bidders stood ready to cast a bid for this property and the result rocked the Park City real estate community.”

Heritage’s next Luxury Real Estate Auction ( HA.com/LuxuryRealEstate ) is scheduled for Sept. 27, when an estate in Highland Park, Texas, goes to auction.

NGC Labels Hand-Signed by Congressman Mike Castle

Former Governor of Delaware Mike Castle, who is responsible for some of the most important and popular modern U.S. coins, has agreed to hand-sign NGC labels exclusively for Numismatic Guaranty Corporation and Heritage Auctions.

While a member in Congress, Castle wrote and sponsored bills that created the 50 State Quarters Program, the Sacagawea Dollar, the Presidential Dollar Series, the American Platinum Eagle, the America the Beautiful Quarters Program and a number of modern commemoratives.

“Mike Castle’s revolutionary numismatic programs created a new generation of coin collectors who now form the backbone of today’s vibrant modern coin hobby,” says Heritage CEO Steve Ivy.

Castle’s individually hand-signed NGC certification labels will be available from select retailers.

Castle’s first numismatic legislation was the Commemorative Coin Authorization and Reform Act of 1995, which created the American Platinum Eagle bullion coin. A year later, he drafted legislation that limited the number of new commemorative coin subjects to two per year. This limit, designed to focus the series and build collector interest, continues to shape the modern U.S. commemorative coin series. He also drafted and sponsored legislation for several new commemoratives, including the 2006 silver dollars that honored Benjamin Franklin.

“I am excited to continue my involvement in coins and the collecting community with NGC,” Castle says. “This innovative program is yet another way for new people to be introduced to this great hobby.”

Rare Kwangtung Dollar Leads Hong Kong Auction

An elegantly preserved 1889 Kwangtung Empire Specimen Pattern Dollar commanded $150,000 at Heritage Auctions World & Ancient Coins and Currency auctions in Hong Kong.

The June auction at the Mira Hotel recorded more than $3.5 million in total prices realized. The price realized for the Kwangtung Dollar is one of the highest prices paid for any Chinese copper coin.

Prices realized for modern Chinese coins were considerably stronger than previous auctions with any firm, says Kenneth Yung, Heritage Auctions’ director of Asian operations. The top modern sale was a 1979 People’s Republic “Year of the Child” Proof Piefort Set containing a 35 Yuan silver coin and a 450 Yuan gold coin, which realized $143,400.

The event realized total sales about 30 percent higher Heritage’s inaugural Hong Kong coin and currency auction in December 2015.

Heritage Expands with Chicago Office

Heritage Auctions is opening a full-service office in Chicago, adding to its U.S. locations in New York, Beverly Hills, Dallas and San Francisco, in addition to offices in Europe and Asia. Roberta Kramer, a 25-year veteran of the art and antiques world, has been named General Manager of the new location.

“We’ve been waiting patiently for the right opportunity and the right people to open a physical office in the city,” says Heritage President Greg Rohan. “Roberta is a top professional with the perfect background experience to run the new Chicago office and lead our expansion in this part of the country.”

Kramer brings a deep range of experiences to her position with Heritage. In 2001, she founded Roberta Kramer & Associates Inc., an appraisal and art consultation firm. Previously, she worked in various functions for Rosenthal Fine Art, Rita Bucheit Ltd., and Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.

Rudy Aronoff is joining the Chicago staff as Director of Operations. 

The new office, at 215 W. Ohio St., is scheduled to open by Oct. 3. For information, call 1-877-HERITAGE (437-4824), ext. 1759.

Attention Hong Kong, Dallas Wine Lovers

The next two rounds of the 2016 Blind Wine Challenge, presented by Heritage Auctions and The Intelligent Collector, are scheduled for Sept. 7 in Dallas and Sept. 14 in Hong Kong.

“This is a blind tasting geared specifically toward the collector community, so we’ll be testing you on wines you probably have in your cellar or have at least tasted with friends,” says Amanda Crawford, Heritage Auctions’ Beverly Hills director of fine and rare wine. “Contestants earn points for correctly identifying country, region, varietal, vintage, appellation, vineyard and producer.”

The Chicago tasting is scheduled for Oct. 29. Visit HA.com/Wine for entry information. There is no cost to participate.

Finalists from Dallas, Hong Kong and Chicago will compete with top tasters from Beverly Hills and New York at November’s grand finale in Las Vegas.

Internship Program Accepting Applications

Currently enrolled or recently graduated college students are encouraged to apply to Heritage Auctions’ paid internship program for a chance to work with the industry’s top fine art and collectibles professionals. Young collectors, entrepreneurs and programmers with a strong passion for collecting are encouraged to email Intern@HA.com for more information.

People

GINA D’ONOFRIO, FGA, has been named Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions’ Beverly Hills location. She has worked in the retail, auction and manufacturing sectors of the jewelry industry for more than 25 years. She is a Certified Master Appraiser with the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers and a Master Gemologist Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers.

JOAN GOLDBERG has been named Director, Florida, serving the region’s collectors and consignors. As president of management-consulting firm Diversified Circle Inc., Goldberg’s clients included government and nonprofit organizations, brand and event marketing firms, and specialty retail groups.

GILES MOON has joined Heritage Auctions as Consignment Director of Entertainment & Music Memorabilia in San Francisco. Giles previously worked at Christie’s South Kensington, London. He later joined Christie’s Popular Entertainment department. He then joined Sotheby’s London as Associate Director of Rock & Roll before an appointment to Sotheby’s Collectibles department in New York.

PETER J. SHEMONSKY, G.G., is Director of Fine Jewelry for Heritage Auctions in San Francisco. He previously directed the fine jewelry and watch department at Butterfield & Butterfield, later Bonham’s, before establishing and managing the offices of CIRCA in San Francisco and Hong Kong. He is an appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow.

TRACY SHERMAN has joined Heritage Auctions as Director of Fine Jewelry for the company’s Palm Beach, Fla., offices. She began her career at Sotheby’s in New York as a fine jewelry expert. As an auctioneer, she handled the sales of Ella Fitzgerald and George Burns. She later started her own jewelry brokerage business.

ANA WROBLASKI, G.G., has been named Assistant Director of Fine Jewelry for Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills. She has spent the past 10 years in the auction industry, specializing in fine jewelry. She is a Graduate Gemologist, earning her degree with the prestigious Gemological Institute of America.