NGC-certified Ancient Coin Brings $930,000 in Goldberg Sale

An extremely rare coin of a turncoat Roman general certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) has been sold for nearly a million dollars. The gold rarity was part of The New York Sale, presented by Goldberg Auctioneers and several other numismatic firms on January 10-12, 2023.

The top lot in the auction was a gold aureus of the Roman general Quintus Labienus, issued 40-39 BC and graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, with a 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface (Lot 145). With a price realized of $930,000, the coin far exceeded its pre-auction estimate of $500,000. The obverse shows Quintus Labienus "Parthicus", an ally of Brutus who joined forces with the enemy Parthians to seize Roman territories in the Near East. He held power only briefly before the Romans captured and executed him.

Roman Imperatorial Q. Labienus, 40-39 BC Gold Aureus graded NGC Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface. Click images to enlarge.

“Just a handful of Labienus' gold coins survive, making them classic rarities among Roman coins,” said NGC Ancients Director David Vagi. “We're pleased to have handled this aureus, which hails from a turbulent period of history following the murder of Julius Caesar.”

Watch the NGC Ancients video to learn more about Labieunus:

The complete results from The New York Sale are available here. Additional NGC-certified highlights included:

• an England (1502-04) Henry VII Sovereign graded NGC AU Details (lot 1171) that realized $117,000
• a Netherlands 1681 Holland Gold Gulden graded NGC PF 64 Cameo and pedigreed to the Paramount Collection (lot 1249) that realized $96,000
• an England (1584-86) Elizabeth I Sovereign graded NGC AU 55 (lot 1174) that realized $54,000
• a Russia 1781CNB Novodel Rouble graded NGC AU 58+ and pedigreed to the Soedermann Collection (lot 2072) that realized $43,200

Prices realized include a buyer’s premium.