Several Ancient Rarities Certified by NGC Expected to Sell for Six Figures
Posted on 5/12/2026
Two ancient coins certified by NGC® that were struck more than 500 years apart are among the top highlights in a pair of elite auctions presented by Numismatica Ars Classica. Online bidding is already underway for Auction 164 and Auction 165, which will both be held in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 26, 2026.
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The top lot in the auction sessions is a Roman Empire, Domitius Domitianus (c.296-297/8) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 601), with an estimate of CHF350,000 (about $450,000). The coin shows the ill-fated usurper, who is believed to have died amid his revolt carried out from Egypt against Emperor Diocletian. This is believed to be one of only three examples of an aureus of this ruler in private hands, according to the auction house.
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Another top highlight is a Paphlagonia, Amastris c.305-285/4 BC Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface with Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 312), with an estimate of CHF200,000 (about $257,000). Struck for a region in what today is northern Turkey, the coin shows Athena on the obverse and Nike on the reverse, a design popularized by Alexander the Great a few decades earlier. However, the coin is considered unique because it names Queen Amastris rather than Alexander.
Other NGC-certified highlights include:
- a Roman Imperatorial, Octavian and Divus J. Caesar Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (Auction 164, lot 73), with an estimate of CHF150,000 (about $193,000)
- a Roman Empire, Manlia Scantilla (AD 193) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch XF★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 541), with an estimate of CHF150,000 (about $193,000)
- a Roman Empire, Titus (AD 79-81) base-metal Sestertius graded NGC Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 497), with an estimate of CHF100,000 (about $129,000)
- a Roman Imperatorial, Sextus Pompey (d. 35 BC) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 465), with an estimate of CHF100,000 (about $129,000)
- a Romano-Gallic Empire, Postumus (AD 260-269) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface with Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 589), with an estimate of CHF75,000 (about $96,000)
- a Roman Empire, Saloninus (AD 258-260) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 587), with an estimate of CHF60,000 (about $77,000)
- a Roman Empire, Macrinus (AD 217-218) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 556), with an estimate of CHF60,000 (about $77,000)
- a Roman Empire, Civil War (AD 69-70) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients AU, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 488), with an estimate of CHF60,000 (about $77,000)
- a Roman Empire, Florian (AD 276) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 593), with an estimate of CHF50,000 (about $64,000)
- a Roman Empire, Domitian (AD 81-96) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 498), with an estimate of CHF50,000 (about $64,000)
- a Roman Imperatorial, Cleopatra VII and Marc Antony Silver Tetradrachm (c. 36 BC) graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 471), with an estimate of CHF50,000 (about $64,000)
Estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.
