PREVIEW: COINS AND BANKNOTES OF THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN: 27 MAY

The dedication of the late Jörg Hauchler (1956-2022) created a rare opportunity for numismatics thanks to his passion for Madagascar, Reunion, the Seychelles, and, above all, Mauritius.

At an early age he became interested in history, geography and speleology, especially that of the Southwest Indian Ocean region, and later he embarked on many scientific expeditions throughout Madagascar with his Australian friends, Owen Griffiths, and Greg Middleton.

It was in Mauritius, however, where he married and chose to live, and it was there that this history buff and an informed collector turned his attention to the coins, medals, tokens, and other related objects of the South-West Indian Ocean.

These objects acted as historical records of subjects that fascinated Jörg: slavery, French colonies, Malagasy Railways and Royalty in the Great Island. The Plantation tokens alone convey a rich history whose details might otherwise have been lost or overlooked. Jetons and even communion tokens form part of the fare here.

“He excelled at following leads – stories in local newspapers or simply visiting old shopkeepers and in so doing successfully tracked down the most amazing items including sugar estate tokens. Visiting rural markets in remote areas of Madagascar also yielded many treasures,” his wife Roseline revealed.

This auction yields some of the fruits of his labours, both among the imported coinages and those locally produced, and ranging in date from the 17th to 20th centuries.

A rich vein of incidents is recalled in the section of historical medals, among the more notable being the Rescue of the Strathmore in 1875, marked by the issue of a gold medal for life saving a year later.

Issued by the people of Mauritius, the 43mm diameter medal was presented to Chief Officer F.C. Swain For Heroic Conduct of the Captain, Officers, and Crew of the American Barque Young Phoenix in the Rescue of the Survivors from the Ship Strathmore, Wrecked on the Crozet Islands 1875.

The sailing ship Strathmore left Gravesend on 19 April, 1875 for New Zealand carrying 51 passengers, 38 crew and a cargo of railway iron and gunpowder. On 1 July the ship sailed into thick fog in the South Indian Ocean and was wrecked on the Crozet Islands. Captain Macdonald and the first officer were washed overboard, but the second officer and crew managed to launch two lifeboats, with survivors taken ashore onto one of the islands. They remained there for seven months until rescued by Captain D. L. Gifford of the American whaler Young Phoenix on 21 January 1876. Twenty of the survivors were transferred to the Sierra Morena and landed in Ceylon, while Captain Gifford took the rest to Mauritius.

A small run of silver and bronze medals was issued to the crew members of the Phoenix. This particular example in gold, however, is the only known one of its type, having come up for private sale just once in the last 50 years. Accompanied by its original presentation case, it is estimated at £4,000-5,000.

Other highlights in the sale include the catalogue cover lot, a Madagascar silver fantasy Pattern 5 Francs from 188, the obverse showing the Ranavalona III, Madagascar’s last sovereign, in the style of the earlier Queen, Rasoherina. The crowned half-length bust faces slightly right, while the reverse has a crowned R. Extremely fine and very rare, it is expected to fetch £1,500-2,000. Never intended for circulation in Madagascar, it was one of a series of pattern coins featuring the bust of Ranavalona III to be struck in silver, platinum and gold at the request of the British collector Dr Reginald Huth, after the acquisition of the country by France.

Another fantasy Pattern 5 Francs (or Medal), struck c.1883-1897, shows Ranavalona III in the style of Rasoherina. facing slightly right, the reverse displaying a trophy of eight flags. Light brown in patina with traces of the original colour, it is also extremely fine and very rare, but less expensive at £150-200.

At £600-800 is a fascinating piece of social history: a plantation token for two days’ work bought directly from the Schoenfeld Estate in Mauritius for whom it was struck.