The Most Expensive: Roman Denarii
The denarius was introduced in c. 211 BC and continued to be the most important Roman silver coin for 500 years. Today, we look at the most expensive Roman denarii sold in auction.
Types and specific coins which would have appeared multiple times in the list were skipped and only the most expensive example is shown here. If we hadn’t skipped recurrences, our first place would have made almost the entire list. You probably already guessed which coin this is…
01Roman Republic. Moneyer Flaminius Chilo. Denarius with portrait of Julius Caesar. 43, Rome. Superb Extremely Fine. From Classical Numismatic Group Triton XIII (2010), lot 291.
02Roman Republic. C. Antonius. Denarius, 43, mint moving with C. Antonius in Illyricum. Good extremely fine. “Extremely rare and undoubtedly the finest specimen known”. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 83 (2015), lot 451.
03Roman Imperial. Augustus, Denarius, 18-16 BC, Spanish mint. Fleur de Coin. “This issue is among the very rarest of Augustus’ denarii – only two other examples, both in very modest condition, have come to the market in recent years.“ From Roma Numismatics auction XIII (2017), lot 753.
04Roman Republic. Moneyer P. Clodius. Denarius with portrait of Julius Caesar. 42, Rome. Superb Extremely Fine. “An exceptional example, one of the finest in existence.” From Ira & Larry Goldberg auction 80 (2014), lot 3084.
05Roman Imperial. Clodius Macer, Governor of Africa. Denarius, 68, Carthage. Superb Extremely Fine. “Exceedingly rare and probably the finest specimen known.” From Ira & Larry Goldberg auction 80 (2014), lot 3124.
06Roman Imperial. Under Elagabalus. Annia Faustina. Denarius, 221. Extremely Fine. “One of the greatest rarities of the entire Imperial series.” From Ira & Larry Goldberg auction 80 (2014), lot 3205.
07Roman Republic. Quintus Labienus Parthicus. Denarius, 40 BC, mint moving in Asia Minor. Good extremely fine. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 62 (2011), lot 2009.
08Roman Republic. M. Arrius Secundus. Denarius, 43 BC, Rome. Almost EF. From Roma Numismatics auction XVII (2019), lot 693.
09Roman Republic. Sextus Pompeius and Q. Nasidius. Denarius, 44-38 BC, mint moving with Sextus Pompeius in Sicily. About extremely fine. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 86 (2015), lot 16.
10Roman Republic. M. Iunius Brutus with L. Plaetorius Caestianus. Denarius, 43-42 BC, Military Mint in Northern Greece. From Numismatica Ars Classica auction 92 (2016), lot 431. If we hadn’t skipped recurrences, specimens of this coin type would have made 9 out of 10 places on this list.
