NGC-certified Roman Coin Tops Heritage Auction Featuring Ancients Coins

A high-grade Roman Empire coin that is over 1,800 years old tops an impressive selection of coins graded by NGC Ancients and offered by Heritage Auctions. Online bidding is now open for World Coins & Ancient Coins Platinum Night Auction, which ends August 5, 2020.

Roman Empire – Septimus Severus, A.D. 193-211 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch MS, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style. Click images to enlarge

The Roman Empire – Septimus Severus, A.D. 193-211 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch MS, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style was struck during his rule. He rose to power in the bloody Year of the Five Emperors. His rule was marked by military campaigns, including one that reinforced Rome's African territories and another that aimed to conquer modern-day Scotland but was cut short by his own fatal illness.

His wife, Julia Domna, is featured on the back of the coin with one of her titles, Julia Augusta. Born to an Arab family in Roman Syria, she married Severus a few years before he became emperor. As empress, she accompanied Severus on his military campaigns and had considerable influence with him. Their son Caracalla ruled as emperor from 211 to 217 after arranging the murder of his brother Geta.

The NGC Ancients' Choice Mint State grade underscores the clarity with which this coin captures a fascinating time in history. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.

Nearly all of the more than 200 ancient coins in the sale are certified by NGC Ancients, including every coin with an estimate of at least $10,000. They include:

• a Sicily, Syracause – Euainetos, circa 405-370 B.C. Silver Decadrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 3/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style, with an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000
• a Kingdom of Macedon – Alexander I, circa 498-454 B.C. Silver Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Roman Empire – Titus, A.D. 79-81 Sestertius graded NGC Ancients VF, with an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000
• a Roman Empire – Commodus, A.D. 177-192 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, with an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000
• a Thraco-Macedonia – Bisaltae, circa 480-465 B.C. Silver Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, with an estimate of $30,000 to $35,000
• a Roman Imperatorial – Julius Caesar, circa 46 B.C. Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface, with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Lydia – Croesus, 561-546 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Thessaly, Larissa circa mid-4th century B.C. Silver Stater-Didrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style, with an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000
• a Roman Empire – Diocletian, A.D. 284-305 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, with an estimate of $12,000 to $15,000
• a Roman Empire – Aurelian, A.D. 270-275 Gold Heavy Aureus graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, with an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.

To learn more about NGC Ancients, click here.

All estimates are provided by the auction house and are in US dollars.