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The
collection, kept by Bruun's relatives in line with his will,
includes rare coins and medals from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and
England dating back to the Viking age. It is expected to attract
bids from some of the world's wealthiest people.
Bruun, born into poverty in 1852, amassed a fortune through his
butter export business. He developed a passion for coin
collecting in his childhood, resulting in what is expected to be
the most valuable non-U.S. coin collection ever sold.
"The collection is unique in many ways, partly because it's so
valuable, but also because it's been kept safe as a sleeping
beauty for 100 years without nobody having access to the coins,"
said Michael Fornitz, a professional numismatic appointed by
auction house Stack's Bowers to oversee the sale.
After World War One, Bruun, fearing another war or bombing of
Copenhagen, decided his historic collection should be kept in
reserve for the Royal Coin and Medal Collection in Copenhagen
for a century.
The auction will commence on Saturday with the sale of the first
286 coins, starting with a coin minted in 1496 for Denmark's
King Hans. The coin has an estimated price of up to 600,000
euros ($663,900).
"It was probably been struck for King Hans' personal use when he
traveled through Europe and he needed to show that Denmark was
not just an insignificant province in the North of Europe but
actually a power to be reckoned with," said Fornitz, holding the
coin in his hand.
The collection has been showcased to potential buyers in Hong
Kong, Europe, and the United States. According to Brian
Kendrella, Stack's Bowers president, the coins are expected to
sell for amounts ranging from less than $100 to more than $1
million each.
"Buyers might be some of the wealthiest people who are making
Forbes lists and things like that. But there's also regular
people that have deep interest in history and interest in coin
collecting," he said.
Proceeds from the auctions, expected to continue for several
years, will go to Bruun's direct relatives, as stipulated in his
will. A representative for his relatives did not reply to a
request for comment.
($1 = 6.7472 Danish crowns)
($1 = 0.9038 euros)
(Reporting by Isabelle Yr Carlsson; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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