The Most Expensive: Ancient Gold Coins
“To what crime do you not drive the hearts of men, accursed hunger for gold?”, old Virgil once wrote. This time, our record section presents the ten most expensive ancient gold coins and gold medallions sold at auction. As there’s a tie on place 9, the 10th place was not awarded.
01Roman Imperial period. Pescennius Niger. Aureus, AD 193–194, Caesarea in Cappadocia. Previously unknown variety of a type of which only one specimen was known. Almost mint state. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 84 (2015), 1053.
02Roman Republic. Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus. Aureus, 41 BC, moving mint. Extremely fine. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 83 (2015), 509.
03Roman Imperial period. Constantius II. Medallion of 4½ solidi, AD 325. Nicomedia.
“Virtually as struck and Fdc”, “An apparently unrecorded variety of an exceedingly rare type. One of the most impressive gold medallion of this period in existence.”. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 106 (2018), lot 1069.
04Roman Republic. Quintus Labienus Parthicus. Aureus, 40 BC, moving mint. Extremely fine +. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 70 (2013), Lot 192.
05Seleucid Empire. Antiochus III. Octodrachm, 204–197 BC. Antioch. Extremely fine +. “Of the highest rarity, by far the finest of only two specimens known.” From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 114 (2019), lot 349.
06Abydos. Gold stater, around 330 BC. “A unique coin of exceptional importance. Excellent specimen.” From Numismatica Genevensis auction 6 (2010), lot 84.
07Roman Republic. M. Iunius Brutus, 43–42 BC, moving mint. Almost mint state. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 86 (2015), 23.
08Roman Imperial period. Maxentius. Medallion of 8 aurei, ca. 308. Good extremely fine. “Of the highest rarity, by far the finest of only two specimens known. One of the largest gold medallions to have survived. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 59 (2011), lot 1164.
10Roman Republic. M. Iunius Brutus. Aureus, 42 BC, military mint in the east. NGC MS★ 5/5 – 3/5. Almost FDC. “Excessively rare; the third known example.” From Roma auction XX (2020), lot 463.
10Black Sea. Greek colony of Panticapaeum. Stater, approx. 350–300 BC. Extremely fine. “Fantastic style, one of the greatest and most admired of all ancient Greek coins, a true masterpiece and incredibly rare.” From NAC auction 138 (2023), lot 155.
