Two NGC-certified Greek Coins Each Expected to Sell for Six Figures

Two exceedingly rare Greek coins that are certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company™ (NGC®) are being offered this month. Respected London-based auction house Morton & Eden's Auction 118 will be held July 20, 2022.

One of the rare coins is an 1869 Gold Essai 20 Drachmai (lot 1145), which depicts George I, king of Greece from 1863 until his assassination in 1913. Graded NGC PF 65 Cameo, it is the finer of the two examples in the NGC Census. It has an estimate of £100,000 to £150,000 (about $119,000 to $178,000).

Greece 1869 Gold Essai 20 Drachmai graded NGC PF 65 Cameo Click images to enlarge.

The other coin was struck for Constantine I, who succeeded his father in 1913 and ruled until 1917, and again from 1920 to 1922. Graded NGC PF 64, the 1915 Gold Essai 2 Drachmai (lot 1147) is the only one in the NGC Census. It also has an estimate of £100,000 to £150,000 (about $119,000 to $178,000).

Greece 1915 Gold Essai 2 Drachmai graded NGC PF 64 Click images to enlarge.

Both are essais, or patterns, which are proposed designs for coinage. This is denonated by an 'E' to the left of the year on the obverse of the 20 Drachmai and the word 'ESSAI' to the right of the year on the obverse of the 2 Drachmai.

Other NGC-certified highlights in this sale include:

• a Mormon 1849 $5 graded NGC XF 45 (lot 1250), with an estimate of £12,000 to £15,000 (about $14,000 to $18,000)
• a US 1836 Gobrecht Silver Dollar graded NGC PF 58 (lot 1258), with an estimate of £12,000 to £15,000 (about $14,000 to $18,000)
• a US 1798 Large Eagle Large 8 $5 with 13 Stars on Reverse graded NGC AU 53 (lot 1220), with an estimate of £8,000 to £10,000 (about $9,500 to $12,000)
• a Norris, Gregg & Norris 1849 Reeded Edge $5 graded NGC AU 58 (lot 1245), with an estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 (about $9,500 to $14,000)
• a US 1799 $5 graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1221), with an estimate of £7,000 to £9,000 (about $8,300 to $11,000)
• a Greece 1915 Copper-Nickel Essai 1 Drachma graded NGC PF 64 (lot 1146), with an estimate of £5,000 to £7,000 (about $6,000 to $8,300)

All estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.