As part of its international expansion in collectibles auctions, Spink Smythe of Dallas, Texas, New York City and London, England has hired Jim Fitzgerald as Senior Vice President of Auctions.

“We are delighted to add such a knowledgeable and well-respected numismatist to lead the Spink Smythe team. We are extremely proud of our past and look forward to continued success in the future with our new, truly global presence,” said Tracy L. Shreve, Chief Operating Officer of Spink USA.

The former Director of Currency Auctions at Heritage Auction Galleries, Fitzgerald also has extensive management experience in the travel and hotel industry. He started collecting coins as a child when his grandfather helped him fill Whitman folders with Lincoln cents found in circulation. In addition to coins, he collects small-size U.S. notes, Texas obsoletes, Confederate and National Bank Notes.

He has presented educational seminars for the Texas Numismatic Association (TNA) and the Tarrant County Historical Society, and recently served as Chairman of the TNA Convention in his hometown of Fort Worth. He and his wife, Sheli, have a son born this past December.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity with Spink Smythe, and look forward to blending two distinguished names both firmly established in their fields into the marketplace,” said Fitzgerald.

“Emphasizing a boutique, more personalized service to our clients is the main goal here at Spink Smythe. In these uncertain economic times people want to know their collection is important and that it will be sold with the same care and dedication that they have given it over the years,” he said.

In January, Spink Smythe launched its Collector’s Series Sales that will feature coins, banknotes, antique stocks and bonds, autographs, ephemera, photographs and tokens and medals.

“Under the Spink banner, Spink Smythe now offers a truly global experience for both buyers and sellers. Additionally, Spink Smythe is pleased to offer the world’s leading online bidding platform, SpinkLive.com. This innovative and easy to use system offers real time bidding featuring audio and streaming video so that bidders may participate as though they were on the auction floor,” explained Shreve. (more…)

by Greg Reynolds for CoinLink

On Oct. 23 in New York City, the firm of Spink-Smythe auctioned the Frederick Mayer collection of Costa Rican coins. Please see part 1 for an overview of the event. Here in part 2, the focus is on silver coins of the 1840s. In part 3, choice and/or interesting silver coins dating from 1850 to 1889 will be covered. Mayer’s Costa Rican gold coins will be discussed in part 4. The fascinating Cost Rican coins of the Central American Republic (1823-40) are the subject of part 5. A primary purpose is to discuss the Mayer collection such that someone who knows nothing about Costa Rican coins can come to understand a good deal about them and may appreciate the greatness of Mayer’s collection.

Although the gold coins in the Mayer collection are much more highly demanded than the silver coins, I devote a lot of attention to silver coins because these are relatively inexpensive and are largely unrecognized by collectors outside of Central America.

Even especially choice and/or rare Costa Rican silver coins sell for only a fraction of the values of parallel U.S. coins. In general, Costa Rican silver coins are very inexpensive. They may appeal to collectors of 19th century U.S. coins, to collectors of various world coins, and to new collectors, as scarce or rare, attractive, interesting Costa Rican coins can be obtained for low prices.

Costa Rican silver coins of the 19th century are often confusing because the monetary system was changed four times. The first system stemmed from that of the Spanish Empire. Sixteen silver reales equaled one gold escudo. The Eight Reales silver coins, of the Spanish Empire, were the basis for U.S. silver dollars. The term ‘two bits’ refers to Two Reales coins which were about equivalent to U.S. quarters. From the 1790s to the 1830s, U.S. quarters were not often seen in circulation in the U.S., and Two Reales coins of the Spanish Empire served as quarters in the U.S. It was very common then for Two Reales coins to be given in change when purchases were made with U.S. half dollars or gold coins. Indeed, the silver coins of the Spanish Empire circulated widely in the U.S. at least until the 1860s, and circulated to some extent in the West until the 1880s. (more…)

Manhattan, New York – Spink Smythe (http://www.Smytheonline.com) to offer Part 14 of the Schingoethe obsolete currency collection April 9th, 2008. The auction will contain 1037 lots of obsolete notes.

When it came to coins and paper money Herb Schingoethe collected almost everything, but it was obsolete currency that his wife Martha liked to collect most of all. She fell in love with the incredible diversity of issuers, and with the artistic quality of the vignettes on the notes. She enjoyed meeting and dealing with the people who bought and and sold obsolete currency. Martha had the skills and the energy required to organize and maintain everything they acquired. Her husband Herb had the passion to collect on a grand scale. Together they created what is now known as the Schingoethe collection.

On April 9th, 2008 Spink Smythe will be offering part 14, as this incredible collection continuing the tradition of exceptional rarities and choice notes from many diverse series. This sale feature the final section of Illinois notes from Herb’s core Illinois collection that were treasured by Herb and Martha. The sale also includes many western rarities including some exceptionally rare Utah notes. This sale also contains notes from the North, South and Midwest, including many pieces from Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Tennessee. Many well vignetted and choice proof notes that Herb and Martha prized are also featured. (more…)