Rare Ancient Coins Propel Heritage’s Nov. 1-2 Auction Beyond $7.7 Million

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A rare Gaius (Caligula) (AD 37-41), with Agrippina Senior. AV aureus NGC AU 4/5 – 4/5 soared to a record $216,000 to lead Heritage’s Nov. 1-2 Heritage’s World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction to $7,764,132.

Gaius (Caligula) (AD 37-41)
Gaius (Caligula) (AD 37-41)

"This beautiful coin, which came from the Lattimer Collection, was a microcosm of the overall auction, " says Cris Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President of International Numismatics at Heritage Auctions. "It is an exceptional coin that drew the attention of several of the almost 3,000 bidders who took part in this event, thanks in part to the full beaded borders on both sides that are such a huge plus for serious collectors of ancient coins. The collectors recognized the extraordinary quality of lots throughout this event, for both ancient and world coins, and that was reflected in the outstanding prices realized."

Another magnificent ancient that reached six figures was an unpublished Stater of Menelaus, King of Cyprus that closed at $114,000. This beauty is exceedingly rare, with no examples in sales archives, and apparently unknown as a full stater. Only a hecte was previously known. This coin is particularly intriguing because of the obverse, which appears to show the letters "MEN." But upon closer scrutiny, rotating the coin reveals that what looks like three letters actually contains all eight letters of the name "MENELAUS."

Unpublished Stater of Menelaus
Unpublished Stater of Menelaus

Also from the Lattimer Collection was a Star Mint State Julius Caesar Aureus that ended at $78,000. Mint State ancient coins, especially those with a star designation for superior eye appeal, are experiencing strong results in all of Heritage’s auctions, and this example has the benefit of featuring the first of 12 Caesars, an enormously popular theme among bidders.

Star Mint State Julius Caesar Aureus
Star Mint State Julius Caesar Aureus

Imperial collectors found a number of lots to capture their interest, among them an Otho (15 January-16 April AD 69). AV aureus NGC Choice VF 4/5 – 3/5 that climbed to $72,000. Gold aurei like this example, which was one of 14 lots in the auction from the Lattermer Collection, are rare and coveted by collectors and often are referred to as the "key" coin in any set of the first 12 Caesars.

Otho AV aureus_12_Caesars
Otho AV aureus 12 Caesars

A Michael III "the Drunkard" (AD 842-867), with Theodora and Thecla. AV solidus (19mm, 4.42 gm, 7h). NGC MS★ 5/5 – 5/5, one of 12 offerings in the auction from the Kestenband Collection, reached $66,000. This magnificent coin is the highest-certified example of this rare and attractive issue.

Michael III "the Drunkard" (AD 842-867)
Michael III “the Drunkard” (AD 842-867)

World Coins

Among the top offerings from the World Coins were the 21 pieces from the Coenen Collection, which included a Provincial gold Proof Pattern Ducaton (Silver Rider) 1672 PR63 NGC that closed well above pre-auction estimates when it drew a winning bid of $180,000. This coin is the only certified example across NGC and PCGS and the first emission of this 11 Ducat weight that Heritage Auctions experts could locate at auction in recent memory. Originally conceived in the Seven Provinces in 1659, the Ducatoon (Ducaton) — also known as the Silver Rider — came to fruition during a century in which the Netherlands was at the peak of its power and influence around the globe. While the silver issues of the type are highly collectible and command a significant premium when encountered in Choice preservation, the off-metal gold presentation issues are of an entirely different class in terms of both rarity and desirability.

Holland. Provincial gold Proof Pattern Ducaton (Silver Rider) 1672 PR63
Holland. Provincial gold Proof Pattern Ducaton (Silver Rider) 1672 PR63

A near-Choice Willem I silver Proof Trial 25 Cents 1817 PR62 NGC — found a new home at $78,000. A stunning silver Trial of this 25 Cent type, it was deemed significantly rare by Schulman, as supported by the absence of certified representatives apart from this very piece and the dearth of auction results for the emission. Several Trials in various metals were produced throughout 1817 and 1818 in anticipation of the issue that would enter circulation in 1819.

Willem I silver Proof Trial 25 Cents 1817 PR62 NGC
Willem I silver Proof Trial 25 Cents 1817 PR62 NGC

A George III gold Proof Sovereign 1817 PR63 Cameo NGC closed at $66,000. It represents a coin far more rare than the 1817 1/2 Sovereign, which is seen with some regularity at Heritage. There are just 10 on NGC’s census, and nine at PCGS, some of which might be crossovers, making this a trophy-level addition to any collection of British gold coinage.

George III gold Proof Sovereign 1817 PR63 Cameo
George III gold Proof Sovereign 1817 PR63 Cameo

A Charles II gold "Elephant & Castle" Guinea 1676 MS62 NGC reached $55,200. An outlier for the entire Charles II series, and certainly among the most widely collected types from this era, it is distinguished by an unmistakable "Elephant & Castle" below Charles II’s bust. Only four between the major grading services rank higher.

Cryptocurrency

The auction included a selection of nine Casascius brass "Casacius" from the Otoh Collection of Physical Cryptocurrency.

Leading the collection was a Casascius brass "Casacius" Loaded (Unredeemed) 1 Bitcoin (BTC) 2011 MS66 NGC that ended at $84,000. Loaded in 2011, it is an immensely popular type, owing to the fact that this issue represented the first funded physical Bitcoins ever produced. The "error" on the coin refers to the spelling mistake on the hologram incorrectly written as CASACIUS, which was corrected in subsequent series.

Casascius brass "Casacius" Loaded (Unredeemed) 1 Bitcoin (BTC)
Casascius brass “Casacius” Loaded (Unredeemed) 1 Bitcoin (BTC)

Five other bitcoins, including a highly original Casascius Series 1 Bitcoin MS 65 NGC and a 2013 Casascius 1 Bitcoin 2013 MS67 PCGS, each brought $72,000.

Complete results can be found at HA.com/3119.

About Heritage Auctions

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet’s most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 1,750,000 registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of more than 6,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.

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CaliSkier

Speaking of auctions… East Coast Guru said in the previous thread: “Well, straight from the horses mouth…” So here it is, the US Mint press release for November 7, 2024. The most likely scenario IMO, will be an auction hosted by none other than Stack’s Bowers. Since the Mint teamed with them on the 2022 At Dusk and Dawn 35th Anniversary American Silver Eagle Type 1 and Type 2 auction, I’m speculating the Mint was happy with that previous arrangement and will go back to the well. Within the hour: “United States Mint Opens Sales for the 230th Anniversary Flowing… Read more »

Last edited 27 days ago by CaliSkier
Antonio

Once again, out of the reach of the average, everyday collector. I have my silver medal, which I’m happy with.

Kaiser Wilhelm

Possession is nine-tenths of the law and one hundred percent of the satisfaction.

Kaiser Wilhelm

CaliSkier,

I’m curious to see what the first of the 230 to be auctioned coins, the one with not just the privy mark but the die itself included in a special case, will end up going for.

East Coast Guru

This is ECG’s plan to buy a gold flowing hair coin in a few years on the secondary market. I will buy as much gold bullion as I can for the flowing hair projected price of $3,690 or so, the estimated price as of today. In a couple of years, Trade that gold for cash and use that money, probably plus just a little more to buy the flowing hair gold coin. The other Liberty gold coins 2015 (Angela Joelle) 2017, 2019 have really only performed well due to the rise in gold. I don’t see much of a demand… Read more »

AKBob

ECG, I like your plan and it makes total Cents! I am still backing up the truck on this release. I really, really like this coin and our Friend Shark?, shared some real Live Photo’s on the next Article after this one that I saw and I’m loving this more and more. Even “if” this coin has no legs which I’m confident it will, I will still be happy to own 4-5 of these beauties. It’s going to be very interesting having a mintage of 17,500. I just hope the 230 that will have the Privy won’t steal any of… Read more »

Kaiser Wilhelm

AKBob,

If you keep scooping up gold at the feverish rate you’ve got going now you will soon singlehandedly be the next Alaskan “gold rush”!

Kaiser Wilhelm

I don’t get “physical bitcoin” since it appears to be an oxymoron if there ever was one.

Kaiser Wilhelm

My favorite by far of all the items displayed in the column above is the 1672 Dutch 11 Ducat Proof Pattern Gold Ducaton (Ducatoon) aka “Silver Rider”. Awesome coin!