Seven NGC-certified Coins Realize Six Figures in MDC Monaco Auction

An extremely rare British coin that realized an astounding €720,000 was among more than 750 vintage world and ancient coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) in a recent MDC Monaco Auction. The MDC Monaco Auction 14 was held on May 3-5, 2024.

The top NGC-certified coin was a Great Britain 1817 Gold Pattern Crown graded NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo (lot 944), which realized €720,000 (about $776,000). In 1816, the English government was going through a transitional period with their currency, as The Royal Mint added a new Silver Crown and a new gold coin, the Sovereign. Engraver William Wyon joined the Royal Mint in 1817 and created the design seen on the Gold Pattern Crown in this auction. However, his design lost out to Benedetto Pistrucci's now iconic Saint George and the Dragon, which The Royal Mint still utilizes to this day.

Another highlight of the sale was a Russia 1835 Imperial Family 1.5 Roubles graded NGC MS 63 and pedigreed to the Sigma Collection (lot 1363), which realized €504,000 (about $543,000). In 1835, engraver Paul Utkin drew inspiration from the historic thaler issued by King Ludwig I of Bavaria when creating a prototype for one of the "Family Roubles." Each side of the prototype features a signature as well as the bust of Emperor Nicholas I on the obverse and his wife and children's portraits on the reverse. The "Family Roubles" are among the finest rarities in Russian numismatics.

Other NGC-certified coins in this auction included:

• an England 1687 Elephant & Castle 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 63 and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection (lot 933), which realized €264,000 (about $284,000)
• a Great Britain 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 61 Ultra Cameo (lot 954), which realized €204,000 (about $220,000)
• a France 1868E Essai Gold 100 Francs graded NGC PF 61 (lot 706), which realized €132,000 (about $142,000)
• a Roman Empire, Constantine II AD 337-340 Gold Medallion graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (lot 132), which realized €120,000 (about $129,000)
• a Russia 1836 Imperial Family 1.5 Roubles graded NGC MS 60 (lot 1364), which realized €120,000 (about $129,000)
• a Mysia, Cyzicus c.450-350 BC Electrum Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 23), which realized €84,000 (about $90,000)
• a Germany 1677 Hamburg 10 Ducat graded NGC MS 61 PL (lot 173), which realized €84,000 (about $90,500)
• a France 1716S Double Louis d'Or graded NGC MS 62 (lot 530), which realized €72,000 (about $77,600)
• a Great Britain 1831 2 Sovereign graded NGC PF 64+ Ultra Cameo and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection (lot 951), which realized €72,000 (about $77,600)
• a Great Britain 1853 Sovereign graded NGC PF 65 Cameo and pedigreed to the SINCONA British Collection (lot 959), which realized €72,000 (about $77,600)

Prices realized include buyer’s premium. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.