More than a Dozen Coins from L. E. Bruun Collection Realize Six Figures in Stack's Bowers Galleries Auction

Thirteen coins realized prices of more than $100,000 as Stack's Bowers Galleries presented Part 2 of the L. E. Bruun Collection, a spectacular group of thousands of Scandinavian coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®). The auction sessions were held March 14-15, 2025.

The top highlight of the Part 2 sessions was a Denmark 1788 20 Ducats graded NGC AU Details (lot 13249), which realized €312,000 (about $339,000). Weighing in at 69.22 grams, it was struck on a thick planchet for use by Danish King Christian VII and Prince Regent Frederick VI, who at the time of the striking of this coin was effectively running the country for his mentally ill father. The auction house notes that because the only other two known examples are in Norwegian collections, these coins (the largest of any gold ones struck during the Denmark-Norway union) were likely commissioned to be gifts to important Norwegian dignitaries.

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This coin's diplomatic background stands in stark contrast to the coin with the second-highest price realized in this auction: a Denmark 1659 5 Ducats graded NGC UNC Details (lot 13140). It realized €288,000 (about $313,000), more than double its pre-auction estimate. The coin celebrates the failure of the King of Sweden to capture the Danish capital of Copenhagen during the Second Northern War. The coin depicts a sword-wielding hand of God cutting off a hand reaching for the Danish crown, along with the date of February 11, when Swedish king ordered an ill-fated assault by his forces.

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A Danish entrepreneur who made his fortune in butter and real estate, Lars Emil Bruun amassed a collection of roughly 20,000 numismatic pieces from Denmark and other Scandinavian countries. He ordered these numismatic treasures to be set aside for 100 years after his death to serve as a replacement for the ones owned by the Danish government, in case that collection was lost or destroyed. Now that a century has passed, the coins are being presented in a series of auctions. NGC, which was selected to certify the collection, encapsulated the coins with a special certification label that highlights this renowned pedigree.

The first auction was held on September 14, 2024, and included more than 30 coins realizing prices of more than $100,000. Leading the way was a Denmark 1496 Noble graded NGC AU 55 that realized €1.2 million (about $1.33 million), a record for any coin from Scandinavia.

Other highlights in the auction sessions included:

• a Denmark 1612 Rose Noble graded NGC MS 63 (lot 13089) that realized €204,000 (about $222,000)
• a Denmark (undated) Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp 10 Ducats graded NGC UNC Details (lot 14212) that realized €198,000 (about $215,000)
• a Denmark 1662 10 Ducats graded NGC AU Details (lot 13146) that realized €192,000 (about $209,000)
• a Denmark 1665 5 Ducats graded NGC MS 61 (lot 13153) that realized €192,000 (about $209,000)
• a Denmark 1627 Rose Noble graded NGC MS 64 (lot 13105) that realized €180,000 (about $195,000)
• a Denmark 1591 10 Ducats graded NGC AU Details (lot 13076) that realized €156,000 (about $170,000)
• a Denmark 1699 10 Ducats graded NGC MS 60 (lot 13201) that realized €156,000 (about $170,000)
• a Denmark 1646/5 Ducat - Hebrew Legend graded NGC MS 61 (lot 13119) that realized €144,000 (about $157,000)
• a Norway 1673 3 Ducats graded NGC AU 58 (lot 14078) that realized €102,000 (about $111,000)
• a Denmark 1670 2 Ducats graded NGC MS 62 (lot 13171) that realized €102,000 (about $111,000)
• a Denmark 1604 8 Daler Klippe graded NGC AU 55 (lot 13082) that realized €96,000 (about $104,000)

Estimates are set by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.