NGC-certified Roman and South American Coins Excel at Heritage Sale

Three rare coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company™ (NGC®), including a Roman gold coin featuring a portrait of Julius Caesar, were among the highlights of the NYINC World Coins Platinum Night sale that concluded January 10, 2022. In all 15 coins certified by NGC achieved prices over $100,000.

The Roman Imperatorial, Octavian and Divus J. Caesar (c. 43 BC) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients VF★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 30060) realized $204,000 in the auction. Issued about a year after Caesar’s assassination, the gold coin is the one struck closest to his death that features his portrait.

Roman Imperatorial, Octavian and Divus J. Caesar (c. 43 BC) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients VF★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface. Realized: $204,000 Click images to enlarge.

Two other stars of the sale were South American coins. First up, a Venezuela 1786MO FM 8 Reales Struck in Mexico City graded NGC AU 58★ (lot 30396) realized $163,000. Examples of these coins are rare because after a Spanish royal ordinance in 1786 allowed underweight coins to be struck for Venezuela, the king ordered them to be melted down eight months later amid worries that they would undermine commerce elsewhere.

Venezuela 1786MO FM 8 Reales Struck in Mexico City graded NGC AU 58★. Realized: $163,000 Click images to enlarge.

Meanwhile, a Colombia 1622 S-F Phillip III Posthumous gold 2 Escudos NGC graded MS 64 (lot 30147) — commonly considered the first gold coin of the Americas — realized $156,000. One of the first gold coins struck in the New World, fewer than 10 survivors are known of this coin.

Colombia 1622 S-F 2 Escudos graded NGC MS 64. Realized: $156,000 Click images to enlarge.

Other NGC-certified highlights of the sale included:

• a Great Britain 1826 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 63 Ultra Cameo (lot 30254) that realized $156,000
• a Roman Imperatorial, Cleopatra VII and Marc Antony (c. 36 BC) Silver Tetradrachm graded NGC Ancients XF, 4/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (lot 30065) that realized $156,000
• a Great Britain 1741/38 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 63 (lot 30244) that realized $156,000
• a Mexico, 1609MO A 8 Reales - Royal Coinage graded NGC AU 55 and pedigreed to the Huntington Collection (lot 30321) that realized $156,000
• a Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III (336-323 BC, lifetime or early posthumous) Gold Distater graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 4/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 30009) that realized $156,000
• a French Colonies 1670A 15 Sols graded NGC XF 45 (lot 30191) that realized $132,000.
• a Great Britain 1847 Gothic Type Crown graded NGC PF 63 Cameo (lot 30261) that realized $132,000
• a Roman Empire, Licinius II (AD 317-324) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 30110) that realized $117,000
• an India 1835.(C) 2 Mohurs Restrike graded NGC PF 65 Ultra Cameo (lot 30305) that realized $108,000
• a Hungary 1694KV Transylvania 3 Ducat graded NGC MS 63 (lot 30390) that realized $108,000
• a Colombia 1759NR JV 8 Reales graded NGC AU 55 (lot 30150) that realized $102,000
• a Mysia, Pergamum (after 336 BC) Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 30019) that realized $102,000

Prices realized include buyer's premium.