MDC Monaco Offers NGC-certified Rarities from France and Ancient Rome Each Worth Six Figures

Great rarities from eastern European rulers that were struck almost 1,800 years apart are among hundreds of coins certified by NGC® that are being offered in an upcoming MDC Monaco auction, which includes an exceptional collection of French essais. Bidding is already underway for MDC Monaco Auction 18, which is set to end on May 13-15, 2026.

One of the top NGC-graded highlights in the auction is a Roman Empire, Clodius Albinus AD 195-197 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch XF★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (lot 238), which has a starting price of €300,000 (about $352,000). The coin features the bust of Clodius Albinus, who was proclaimed emperor in AD 193 by the legions in Britain and Hispania after the murder of Pertinax. Albinus was one of five rulers who were proclaimed Roman emperor in what is known as the Year of the Five Emperors. He initially worked with Emperor Septimius Severus, agreeing to serve as his Caesar. However, the two rulers betrayed each other in AD 196, which began a civil war that led to Albinus' death after an epic battle in AD 197.

Another NGC-certified highlight of the auction is a France 1855 Essai Gold 100 Francs graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 1139), which has a starting price of €300,000 (about $352,000). It features the bust of Emperor Napoleon III of France, who was the son of Louis Bonaparte (the King of Holland) and the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte. This coin was struck near the beginning of his reign over the Second French Empire, which lasted from 1852 to 1870, and brought about economic growth and the transformation of Paris. Like Clodius Albinus, his reign ended in a decisive military defeat during the Franco-Prussian War.

Other NGC-certified coins in this auction include:

• a Roman Empire, Augustus 27 BC-AD 14 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (lot 205), which has a starting price of €150,000 (about $176,000)
• an Eastern Roman Empire, A. Flaccilla AD 379-386/8 Gold Solidus graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 264), which has a starting price of €150,000 (about $176,000)
• a Roman Empire, Macrinus AD 217-218 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 244), which has a starting price of €80,000 (about $94,000)
• a Roman Empire, Elagabalus AD 218-222 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 245), which has a starting price of €80,000 (about $94,000)
• a Romano-Gallic Empire, Tetricus I AD 271-274 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 251), which has a starting price of €70,000 (about $82,000)
• a US 1915-S Panama-Pacific $50 Round graded NGC MS 64 (lot 2514), which has a starting price of €70,000 (about $82,000)
• a Hungary 1892KB Gold 10 Francs graded NGC MS 63+ (lot 2146), which has a starting price of €60,000 (about $70,000)
• a Roman Empire, Sabina AD 128(?)-136/7 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 225), which has a starting price of €50,000 (about $59,000)
• a German New Guinea 1894A 5 Mark graded NGC MS 67 (lot 401), which has a starting price of €50,000 (about $59,000)
• a Belgium 1911 Gold Pattern 100 Francs graded NGC MS 60 (lot 444), which has a starting price of €50,000 (about $59,000)

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