一枚罕見的 17 世紀硬幣在拍賣會上以 252 萬美元的驚人價格售出

這枚令人難以置信的拍賣會發生在這枚硬幣被發現藏在阿姆斯特丹的一個櫃子裡八年後

A rare 17th Century coin recently made headlines after it sold for an incredible $2.52 million at auction. This remarkable sale occurred eight years after the coin was discovered tucked away inside a cabinet in Amsterdam, capturing the interest of collectors and historians.

一枚罕見的 17 世紀硬幣最近在拍賣會上以令人難以置信的 252 萬美元成交，成為頭條新聞。這次非凡的拍賣發生在這枚硬幣被發現藏在阿姆斯特丹的一個櫃子裡八年後，引起了收藏家和歷史學家的興趣。

The coin in question is known as the 1652 New England threepence, and it measures about the size of a nickel, weighing just 1.1 grams. Its silver content would currently be valued at only about $1.03 based on today's market conditions. However, its exceptional rarity and rich historical backstory drove its auction value to a new record for any non-gold U.S. coin struck prior to the establishment of the United States Mint in 1792. This impressive amount far surpassed the previous record of $646,250 for coins of its kind.

這枚硬幣被稱為 1652 年新英格蘭三便士，尺寸約為 5 分鎳幣大小，重量僅 1.1 克。根據當今的市場狀況，其銀含量目前的價值僅為 1.03 美元左右。然而，其非凡的稀有性和豐富的歷史背景使其拍賣價值創下了1792 年美國造幣廠成立之前鑄造的非金幣美國硬幣的新紀錄。美元硬幣的記錄。

According to Stack's Bowers Galleries, which managed the auction, the coin's historical significance is closely linked to notable American figures of its time. It is believed to have connections to the Quincy family of Boston, which boasts famous descendants, including Abigail Adams—the wife of John Adams, the second U.S. president. Intriguingly, John Adams was the very first American ambassador to the Netherlands and had personal ties to the people responsible for minting this threepence coin.

據負責此次拍賣的 Stack's Bowers Galleries 稱，這枚硬幣的歷史意義與當時的美國著名人物密切相關。據信，它與波士頓昆西家族有聯繫，該家族擁有著名的後裔，其中包括美國第二任總統約翰亞當斯的妻子阿比蓋爾亞當斯。有趣的是，約翰·亞當斯是第一位美國駐荷蘭大使，他與鑄造這枚三便士硬幣的人有著私人關係。

Particularly rare, the New England threepence coins have only one other known example, which is part of the collection at the Massachusetts Historical Society and has been on display for over 120 years. The recent auction marked the first time one of these coins was available to individual collectors, adding to its allure and historical prestige.

特別罕見的是，新英格蘭三便士硬幣只有另一枚為人所知，它是馬薩諸塞州歷史學會收藏的一部分，已展出 120 多年。最近的拍賣標誌著這些硬幣首次向個人收藏家出售，增加了其吸引力和歷史聲望。

The Massachusetts threepence was struck at the Boston Mint, which was established due to the growing economic needs of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was experiencing increasing commerce. Before the mint’s creation, England was reluctant to send sufficient coins to the colonies, making localized minting necessary to facilitate trade. On May 27, 1652, the Boston authorities licensed John Hull and Robert Sanderson to manufacture this coin, as they sought to defy English authority over the colonies’ currency.

馬薩諸塞州三便士是在波士頓鑄幣廠鑄造的，該鑄幣廠的成立是為了應對馬薩諸塞灣殖民地不斷增長的經濟需求，該殖民地的商業不斷增長。在鑄幣廠創建之前，英國不願意向殖民地發送足夠的硬幣，因此有必要進行本地鑄造以促進貿易。 1652 年 5 月 27 日，波士頓當局授權約翰·赫爾 (John Hull) 和羅伯特·桑德森 (Robert Sanderson) 製造這枚硬幣，因為他們試圖反抗英國對殖民地貨幣的權威。

This threepence features distinctive markings; one side displays three Roman numerals, indicating the coin's value, and the other side bears the initials “NE” for New England. Remarkably, this coin was produced just weeks before the Boston Mint began its operations, adding historical depth to its origin and existence.

這枚三便士具有獨特的標記；一側顯示三個羅馬數字，表明硬幣的價值，另一側刻有新英格蘭的首字母“NE”。值得注意的是，這枚硬幣是在波士頓造幣廠開始運作前幾週生產的，增加了其起源和存在的歷史深度。

The discovery of this threepence was quite unforeseen. It resided for years within furniture, far removed from the eyes of collectors who are usually eager to snap up such treasures. The owner only realized its potential value after conducting extensive research on the coin, which prompted its eventual sale.

這枚三便士的發現是完全出乎意料的。它在家具中存放了多年，遠離那些通常渴望搶購此類珍品的收藏家的視線。所有者在對硬幣進行廣泛研究後才意識到其潛在價值，並促使其最終出售。

This record sale raises interesting conversations about the world of numismatics, drawing attention to the potential hidden treasures lurking within old furniture and belongings. Experts encourage individuals to examine their antiques and left-behind trinkets, as what may seem ordinary might actually have extraordinary stories and value tied to American history.

這張唱片拍賣引發了有關錢幣學世界的有趣對話，引起人們對舊家具和物品中潛在隱藏寶藏的關注。專家鼓勵人們檢查他們的古董和遺留下來的小飾品，因為看似普通的東西實際上可能有著與美國歷史相關的非凡故事和價值。

Joan Sherlock, the curator of the American Numismatic Association, noted, “The history behind this coin is incredibly significant, and it is thrilling to see its value recognized today.” The excitement surrounding such auction events brings attention to not just wealth, but cultural heritage and the stories behind currency throughout time.

美國錢幣協會館長瓊·夏洛克 (Joan Sherlock) 指出：“這枚硬幣背後的歷史非常重要，今天看到它的價值得到認可，真是令人興奮。”圍繞此類拍賣活動的興奮不僅引起人們對財富的關注，也引起人們對文化遺產和貨幣背後故事的關注。

With the bidding process captured largely online, numismatists and interested collectors worldwide witnessed the intense competition for the coin, which enthralled aspiring bidders and collectors, showcasing the demand for unique historical artifacts. It showcased how collectors are willing to invest large sums for items steeped in historical significance.

由於競標過程主要在網上進行，世界各地的錢幣學家和感興趣的收藏家目睹了對硬幣的激烈競爭，這吸引了有抱負的競標者和收藏家，展示了對獨特歷史文物的需求。它展示了收藏家如何願意為具有歷史意義的物品投入大量資金。

Given the coin’s heritage, this sale may inspire other collectors to research their collections or perhaps even test their luck at future auctions. The confluence of history, economics, and culture surrounding this 17th Century coin serves as both entertaining and educational, shining light on the fascinating world of antique coins.

考慮到這枚硬幣的傳承，這次拍賣可能會激發其他收藏家研究他們的藏品，甚至可能在未來的拍賣中測試他們的運氣。這枚 17 世紀硬幣融合了歷史、經濟和文化，既具有娛樂性又具有教育意義，照亮了古董硬幣的迷人世界。

What remains clear is the notion of coins not merely being currency but vessels of history, encapsulating the narratives and eras of the societies they hail from. With this latest auction, the story continues, reaffirming the timeless allure of numismatics and the treasures awaiting discovery.

仍然清楚的是，硬幣的概念不僅僅是貨幣，而且是歷史的容器，封裝了它們所屬社會的敘事和時代。透過這次最新的拍賣，故事仍在繼續，重申了錢幣學和等待發現的寶藏的永恆魅力。