Auctioneers Figures

Total sales across London coins and medals auctions fell £10m in 2024. So, are the first cracks appearing in a market that was riding high in Covid? As always, the devil is in the detail.

Focusing on the single-owner space helped both Dreweatts and Lyon & Turnbull to achieve strong numbers in 2024.

Auction firms in France followed a more traditional course in 2023 according to the latest figures.

Regional firms report that while big buyers remain active the middle level is challenging

In Ireland, Adam’s of Dublin held 32 auctions over the course of 2023, raising a hammer total of €13.8m (£12m) which was up from €12.6m in 2022.

Jewellery, watches and luxury goods have become a key battleground in the regions. A persistently strong market has brought competition from specialist departments and the arrival of new designated auction firms based in and around the London area.

Entertainment memorabilia specialist auction house Propstore held some of the most successful sales of 2023.

Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Bonhams revealed mixed annual sales figures indicating the ups and downs of the art market in 2023.

In the first test of the post-Covid era many of the UK’s top salerooms posted strong figures for art, antiques and luxury items across the calendar year.

The record business enjoyed by London’s coin auction houses during Covid lockdowns largely continued last year.

At least five leading auction houses posted their best-ever annual figures in France for 2022, while others boasted exceptional sales during the year.