NGC-certified Ancient Roman Coin Realizes $1.6 Million

A fabled rarity of ancient Roman coinage, the aureus (lot 601 in NAC’s Auction 165) was graded Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface by NGC Ancients. It quickly raced past its pre-auction estimate of CHF 350,000 to realize 1.28 million CHF (about $1.63 million). The obverse shows the aspirational emperor, while the reverse shows Victory advancing. Domitius Domitianus launched his rebellion from Egypt, only to have his revolt crushed by the legitimate emperor Diocletian (A.D. 284-305).

According to NAC, it is believed to be just one of only three aurei of this usurper in private hands.

"One of the great ironies of Roman coinage is that some of the most valuable coins are of emperors who most people have never heard of," said David Vagi, Director of NGC Ancients. "It’s one of the finest coins to cross my desk, and we’re pleased that this astonishing rarity was entrusted to NGC."

NGC Ancients has certified other Roman gold coins that made headlines at auction, including, in January 2023, a ten-aureus medallion of the emperor Diocletian that realized $2.32 million and an aureus of Q. Labienus (40-39 B.C.) that realized $930,000. Two NGC-graded aurei of Brutus, the assassin of Julius Caesar, also crossed the block: one that realized about $2.05 million in December 2024 (aureus of ratorial, Brutus d. 42 B.C. Gold Aureus) and another that in October 2020 realized $4.2 million.

Other NGC-certified highlights in the NAC auctions in May 2026 included:

• a gold aureus of Octavian and Divus Julius Caesar (c. 43 B.C.) graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (Auction 164, lot 73), which realized 441,000 CHF (about $560,000)
• a gold aureus of Manlia Scantilla (A.D. 193) graded NGC Ancients Ch XF★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 541), which realized 441,000 CHF (about $560,000)
• a seemingly unique gold stater of Queen Amastris (c.305-285/4 B.C.) of Paphlagonia graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 312), which realized 318,500 CHF (about $404,000)
• a ‘Colosseum Sestertius’ of Titus (A.D. 79-81) graded NGC Ancients Ch VF, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 497), which realized 318,500 CHF (about $404,000)
• a gold aureus of the Imperator Sextus Pompey (d.35 B.C.) graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 465), which realized 208,250 CHF (about $264,000)
• a gold aureus of the Civil War of A.D. 69-70 graded NGC Ancients AU, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 488), which realized 159,250 CHF (about $202,000)
• a gold aureus of Florian (A.D. 276) graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 593), which realized 159,250 CHF (about $202,000)
• a gold aureus of Macrinus (A.D. 217-218) graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface, Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 556), which realized 147,000 CHF (about $187,000)
• a gold aureus of Saloninus (A.D. 258-260) graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 587), which realized 134,750 CHF (about $171,000)
• a gold aureus of the Romano-Gallic emperor Postumus (A.D. 260-269) graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 589), which realized 134,750 CHF (about $171,000)
• a portrait denarius of Julius Caesar (d.44 B.C.) graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface (Auction 164, lot 66), which realized 110,250 CHF (about $140,000)
• a silver tetradrachm of Cleopatra VII and Marc Antony (c.36 B.C.) graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 471), which realized 91,875 CHF (about $117,000)
• a gold stater of Taras (c.334-330 B.C.) graded NGC Ancients Ch VF, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, Fine Style (Auction 165, lot 130), which realized 79,625 CHF (about $101,000)
• a gold aureus of Domitian (A.D. 81-96) graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (Auction 165, lot 498), which realized 79,625 CHF (about $101,000)

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