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Walter Niggeler, 1878-1964

Walter Niggeler was born in Bergamo, Italy in 1878 but soon moved to his family’s ancestral home in Bern, Switzerland. He studied mechanical engineering and joined the firm of Brown- Boveri in Baden in 1906. He remained at this firm throughout his career becoming a chief engineer specializing in electric transformers and furnaces. He was an avid mountaineer and was active with the Swiss Alpine Club.

His interest in coins began sometime near the end of the 1920's and was sparked by a dupondius of Tiberius that had been found during canal excavations in his neighborhood in Baden. The city had a Roman settlement and was known for its mineral springs. His collecting first gravitated toward Roman coins, then adding Swiss, and finally concentrating on Greek and Greek Imperial coins beginning after World War II until his death.

Niggeler enjoyed attending auctions and participated in many of the important sales of his day including the sale of the famous Haeberlin Republican collection in 1933 in Frankfurt. He later visited many of the significant auctions that were held in Lucerne and Basel. He also bought coins privately for many years from Herbert Cahn of Münzen und Medaillen and later Jacob Hirsch and Leo Mildenberg. He was able to add some important Greek coins from the Jameson collection which were on the market at the time. He spent many hours considering which coins to purchase and then studying and cataloging his collection. The Swiss Numismatic Society in which he had been very active struck a medal in 1958 to celebrate his 80th birthday. He stated in his will that he desired to have his coins presented in a catalog and auctioned so that other collectors could share in his enjoyment. The collection of over 1600 ancient coins as well as a section of European coins was auctioned jointly by Münzen und Medaillen and Bank Leu over four sales from 1965-1967.

Sammlung Walter Niggeler, 1 Teil, Introduction to the auction by Herbert Cahn, Basel, 1965.

Spring, J. (2009). Ancient Coin Auction Catalogues: 1880-1980, Spink, London 2009.

(3 coins)
57356 New Add to Cart
Demetrios Poliorketes, 306-283 B.C. ex: Benson, et

AR Tetradrachm, 17.17g.  26mm.  Salamis mint, c.300-295 B.C. Nike alightlng on the prow of a defeated galley of Ptolemy and blowing a trumpet.  Rev.  Poseidon hurling trident to left; monograms in fields to left and below.  Newell 23(this coin listed).  Lovely old cabinet toning.  This is of the finest style and with a stellar pedigree.

This is an early issue from Salamis near where the referenced naval engagement was fought and very different from the common later ordinary style issues from Pella and Amphipolis.

Provenance/Pedigrees:
Ex: Durefle collection, Sotheby, May 28, 1900, lot 213, bought by Raedy for £18/5
Ex: Frank Sherman Benson collection, Sotheby, Feb. 3, 1909, lot 432, bought by Dr. Hirsch for £19/10
Ex: Vicomte Sartiges collection, published in Paris, 1910, no. 209.
Ex: Niggeler collection, Bank Leu and Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, December 3, 1966, lot 243.

 

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Extremely Fine $40,000.
Augustus, 27 B.C.-14 A.D. ex: Niggeler collection,

AR Cistophorus, 11.87g. 30mm.  Ephesus, c.25-20 B.C. IMP CAESAR.  Bare head of Augustus to right.  Rev. AVGVSTVS.  Two deer standing in front of an altar decorated with garlands, wreaths, and festoons.   RPC 2215. Banti/Simonetti 331(this coin). Sutherland 371a and plate IX(this coin).   Some double striking and possible evidence of over-striking.  Fine style and toned.

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: H. Otto collection, Hess, Lucrne, Auction 207, 1931, lot 919.
Ex: Niggeler Collection, Bank Leu and Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, Auction part 2, October 21-22, 1966, lot 1026 (for bio see: https://www.coin.com/indexes/?find=2672
Ex: Auctiones, Basel, Auction 7, 1977, lot 657.

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Extremely Fine $7,500.
Constantius II, 337-361 A.D. ex: Niggeler

AR Light Miliarense, 4.31g. 22mm.  Sirmium mint, 351-354 A.D.  D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG.  Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Constantius to right.  Rev. FELICITAS ROMANORVM; SIRM in exergue. Constantius and Constantius Gallus in military attire standing under an arch constructed with spiral decorated columns.  RIC VIII, 13; minute scrape on edge at 9:00 obv.  Beautiful old cabinet toning, an exceptional strike, and an important peidgree.

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, Auction 8, 1949, lot 976
Ex: Walter Niggeler collection part 3, Bank Leu and Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, Auction, November 2-3,1967, lot 1530
Ex: L. Herold collection, Hess/Divo, Zurich, Auction324, 2013, lot 111.

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Extremely Fine $15,000.

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