Rarities from the Roman Empire Certified by NGC Ancients Realize Six Figures

Ancient coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company™ (NGC®) realized exceptional results in a recent Heritage Auctions sale. Over 500 coins from the earliest days of coinage to the Byzantine Empire were featured in the World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature Auction, which concluded on August 25, 2022.

Many of the coins certified by NGC Ancients easily exceeded their pre-auction estimates, including a Roman Imperatorial, Octavian & Divus Julius Caesar Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch VF, 3/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, and pedigreed to the Historical Scholar Collection (lot 32082). It realized $288,000, well above its pre-auction estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. Julius Caesar’s portrait in gold is exceedingly rare in comparison to silver, which prompted the lively bidding.

Roman Imperatorial, Octavian & Divus Julius Caesar Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch VF, 3/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface and pedigreed to the Historical Scholar Collection Realized: $288,000 Click images to enlarge.

Another coin that surpassed its pre-auction estimate is a Roman Empire, Caligula, A.D. 37-41 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients XF, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 32103). It realized $192,000, more than quadrupling its pre-auction estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. This beautiful example depicts a stoic image of Caligula — one of the least popular Roman emperors — on the obverse, while his great-grandfather Emperor Augustus appears on the reverse.

A Roman Empire, Caligula, A.D. 37-41 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients XF, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface. Realized: $192,000 Click images to enlarge.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the auction included:

• a Mysia, Lampsacus, c.395-350 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients MS, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 34033) that realized $132,000
• a Lydia, Croesus, 561-546 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch MS★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 34038) that realized $120,000
• a Lydia, Croesus, 561-546 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (lot 34035) that realized $108,000
• a Cyprus, Salamis, Pnytagoras c.351-332/1 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 34048) that realized $102,000
• a Lydia, Croesus, 561-546 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (lot 34036) that realized $84,000
• a Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III 336-323 B.C. Gold Distater graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 34009) that realized $84,000
• a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Arsinoe II, Gold Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 34059) that realized $78,000
• a Roman Imperatorial, Marc Antony and Octavian Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface and pedigreed to the Historical Scholar Collection (lot 32086) that realized $72,000
• a Lydia (Croesus or later) after c.561 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 34039) that realized $60,000
• a Sicily, Syracuse, c.405-370 B.C. Silver Decadrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 34001) that realized $52,800
• a Roman Imperatorial, Cleopatra VII and Marc Antony Silver Tetradrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch XF★, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 34079) that realized $48,000

All prices realized include a buyer's premium.