NGC Ancients: Dimitriadis Collection of Roman Gold Coins

SARASOTA, Fla. (March 12, 2014) — Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has graded more than 200 Roman gold coins from the superb collection of Andre Constantine Dimitriadis. Assembled over a period of more than 20 years, the Dimitriadis Collection includes a number of extremely rare and finest known examples of Roman gold coins struck circa 100 BC to 500 AD.

In April Heritage Auctions will offer the Dimitriadis Collection, which is considered to be the most impressive assemblage of Roman gold coins to be sold in the United States in recent memory. Many of the coins were purchased from the most important sales of the last two decades, including the collections of Herbert Hunt, Neil Philips, Gordon McLendon, and Anton Dreesmann. In his book The Roman Aurei, Xavier Calico used many of the Dimitriadis coins to illustrate their type.

According to David Vagi, Director of NGC Ancients, “The Dimitriadis Collection includes a number of museum-quality specimens that are virtually never available in the marketplace. This collection is undoubtedly one of the most significant assemblages of Roman gold pieces and NGC is honored to have been chosen to grade these coins.”

The selection of NGC to grade the Dimitriadis Collection is a reflection of the growing demand from collectors and dealers for NGC-graded ancient coins.

“NGC grading of ancients opens the market to new buyers, especially those looking for quality,” says Cristiano Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President for International Numismatics at Heritage Auctions. “It also adds tremendous value to the coins by having a third party opinion on the grade and additional expertise.”

Several extraordinarily rare and well preserved specimens highlight the collection. A gold aureus of Marc Antony, struck 43-41 BC, is graded NGC XF 5/5 – 3/5 and is one of the finest examples of this very rare type.

A Maximian gold aureus struck AD 286-305 is graded NGC MS 5/5 – 4/5 and likely the finest known example of this rare issue. Another important rare and high grade gold aureus in the Dimitriadis Collection features Caracalla and was struck AD 198-217. This important piece, which features a youthful military bust of the famed emperor Caracalla, is graded NGC Choice MS 5/5 – 5/5, Fine Style.

“Because of the quality of the coins in the Dimitriadis Collection, we wanted to use NGC to grade them,” says David Michaels, Heritage Auctions Director of Ancient Coins. “Having a third-party option on the coins will broaden their appeal…we are certain that third-party grading for ancients is paramount to the continued growth of the ancient coins market.”

Other significant coins in the Dimitriadis Collection include a Severus Alexander gold aureus struck AD 222-235 and graded NGC AU 4/5 – 4/5, a gold aureus of Galba (AD 68-69) graded NGC Choice VF 5/5 – 4/5, Fine Style, and an attractive Caracalla gold aureus (AD 198-217) graded NGC AU 5/5 – 3/5.Heritage Auctions will sell the Dimitriadis Collection in April at the Chicago International Coin Fair. For more information and to bid, visit the Heritage Auctions website, www.HA.com.