NGC-certified Spanish Coin Realizes a Record $3.48 Million in NGSA Sale

A historic Spanish coin has realized $3.48 million, breaking the auction price record for any world coin certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®)! An English coin that realized more than $1.1 million was also part of stunning group of NGC-certified rarities presented by Numismatica Genevensis SA (NGSA) in Auction 22 - Masterpieces, which concluded on November 24, 2025.

The Spain 1609 C Segovia 100 Escudos graded NGC AU 58 (lot 314) realized CHF 2,817,500 (about $3.48 million). Weighing just over a third of a kilogram, this impressive coin is the only vintage Spanish 100 Escudos in the NGC Census. 1609 marked the first year of the 100 Escudos, the highest denomination of this era in Spanish history.

"This record-setting result reflects the trust that NGC's authentication and grading services have earned among collectors around the world," said Ben Wengel, NGC Chief Grader and Senior Vice President of World Coins. Learn more about this coin in a video narrated by Wengel:

The result is the highest price ever paid for an NGC-certified world coin at auction, and it comes on the heels of a price realized of about $2.95 million for another large European gold coin struck around the same time. A Bohemia 1629 Prague 100 Ducats graded NGC AU 58 and pedigreed to the Traveller Collection was sold by Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC) just 18 days earlier. The all-time record price realized for any NGC-certified coin is $9.36 million for a 1787 Brasher Doubloon graded NGC MS 65★ and pedigreed to the Donald G. Partrick Collection, which was offered by Heritage Auctions in January 2021.

Sharing the spotlight with the 100 Escudos in the NGSA sale was a England (1492) Sovereign - Henry VII graded NGC AU 50 (lot 231), which realized CHF 918,750 (about $1.13 million). This is among the earliest gold Sovereigns available to collectors, representing not only the beginning of the Tudor dynasty but also the establishment of England as a major world power. The obverse depicts Henry VII seated on a wooden throne, while the reverse features the quartered shield of England upon a Tudor rose.

Meanwhile, a Mexico 1729/7MO R/D 8 Escudos - Royal Coinage graded NGC MS 65 (lot 300) realized CHF 735,000 (about $907,000). Known as a "Royal" for the superb attention involved in the planchet and strike, this coin is the epitome of Spanish colonial numismatics.

Other NGC-certified coins in this auction included:

• a Spain 1611/0 C Segovia 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 58 (lot 315), which realized CHF 465,500 (about $574,000)
• an England 1662 Gold Crown - Off-Metal Strike graded NGC PF 62 (lot 238), which realized CHF 367,500 (about $453,000)
• an England 1662 Gold Crown - Off-Metal Strike graded NGC PF 61 (lot 239), which realized CHF 269,500 (about $333,000)
• a Poland 1618 Lithuania 10 Ducats graded NGC AU 55 (lot 304), which realized CHF 245,000 (about $302,000)
• a Spain 1637/6 R Segovia 8 Escudos graded NGC MS 64 (lot 317), which realized CHF 134,750 (about $166,000)
• a Russia 1725 OK Novodel Rouble graded NGC MS 63 (lot 310), which realized CHF 75,950 (about $94,000)
• a Hungary 1607 Transylvania 10 Ducat graded NGC AU 55+ (lot 336), which realized CHF 70,437 (about $87,000)

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