NGC-certified Coins Led the Way in Spink Ancient Coin Auction

NGC Ancients certified the top three lots in a recent Spink sale offering Peter Stagnetto Collection of Ancient Coins. The sale was held in London on Wednesday, October 7, 2020.

The Sicily, Syracuse circa 430-420 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style realized £20,400 (about $26,400 USD). Click images to enlarge.

A Sicily, Syracuse circa 430-420 B.C. Silver Tetradrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style realized £20,400 (about $26,400 USD), well beyond its pre-sale estimate of £4,000 to £6,000 (about $5,100 to $7,700 USD). The coin features the Spring Goddess, Arethusa. The Arethusa/quadriga design was quite common in Syracuse at the time.

A phenomenally well-preserved Kingdom of Macedon - Philip II, 359-336 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style realized £20,400 (about $26,400 USD), exceeding its pre-sale estimate of £8,000 to £12,000 (about $10,300 to $15,500 USD). The gold stater was struck posthumously under King Philip III in honor of King Philip II, ruler of Macedon from 359 to 336 B.C. During his reign, King Philip II expanded Macedon’s empire through his revolutionary military tactics and political savvy.

Another outstanding ancient coin surpassed its pre-estimate sale of £6,000 to £8,000 (about $7,700 to $10,300 USD), realizing £18,000 (about $23,300 USD). The Roman Empire - Augustus, 27 B.C.-A.D. 14 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients XF, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface bears the visage of Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor, who reigned from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14. Its reverse features the legionary eagle, which symbolized the era of peace that was ushered in by Augustus.

Other NGC-certified highlights include:

• A Sicily, Syracuse circa 405-395 B.C. Gold 50-Litrai graded NGC Ancients MS, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface that realized £7,800 (about $10,100 USD)
• A Romano-British Empire - Carausius, A.D. 286/7-293 Silver Denarius graded NGC Ancients AU, 3/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface that realized £4,800 (about $6,200 USD)
• A Carthage circa 350-320 B.C. Zeugitana Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients Ch XF, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface that realized £4,800 (about $6,200 USD)
• A Roman Empire - Nero, A.D. 54-68 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients XF, 4/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface that realized £4,560 (about $5,900 USD)
• A Kingdom of Macedon - Philip II, 359-336 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients AU, Strike 5/5 and Surface 2/5 that realized £3,840 (about $5,000 USD)
• A Roman Empire - Antoninus Pius, A.D. 138-161 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style that realized £3,840 (about $5,000 USD)
• A Roman Empire - Trajan, A.D. 98-117 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface that realized £3,480 (about $4,500 USD)
• A Kingdom of Macedon - Philip II, 359-336 B.C. Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients XF, Strike 5/5 and Surface 2/5 that realized £3,120 (about $4,000 USD)

Prices realized include buyer's premium. All estimates provided by the auction house.