The most expensive ancient coins

and, briefly, why they're so great

Let’s take a look at the three most expensive ancient coins ever sold, along with why they’re so desirable. Two of these actually sold earlier this year (both in the same NAC auction), and the other only back in 2020. I’ve included prices as auction hammers converted to USD, so bear in mind that the buyer would have to pay about 20% more for buyer’s premium! You can decide for yourself whether they’re actually worth what they sold for, though. In any case, an excellent opportunity to look at some fantastic coins. Poll available at the end if you’d like to vote for your favourite.

🥉Probus Medallion

$2,800,000

Probus, 276-282. Medallion 281, AV 26.05 g. IMP C PROBVS AVG CONS IIII Jugate busts r. of Probus laureate and cuirassed, wearing imperial mantle, holding eagle-tipped sceptre, and Hercules laureate, wearing lion skin-headdress and holding club. Rev. TRA – IECTVS – AVG Emperor advancing l., crossing on the river Rhine; in l. field, Victory preceding him and holding wreath; in r. field, Mars and in background, two soldiers, holding shields and legionary ensigns. Below, the river-god lying l. in the waves. C –. RIC –. S. Estiot, Probus et les ‘Tyrans Minuscules’ Proculus et Bonosus. Que dite la Monnaie?, in Historiae Augustae. Colloquium Nanceiense, Bari 2014, fig. 28 (this coin illustrated).

- Sold by Numismatica Ars Classica, 2023

The only extant (surviving) example of a gold medallion of emperor Probus (276-282 AD), this piece is both historically significant and visually stunning. While it technically can’t be considered a coin (rather than having a legal tender value and being intended for circulation, it would have instead been given as a donative (gift) to a high ranking Roman), it’s similar in most regards, and so deserves a spot on this list. The obverse features jugate (conjoined) busts of the emperor and the god Hercules, a symbol of military strength and Roman courage. And on the reverse, the emperor crossing the Rhine, coming back to Rome, victorious. The river is personified, as was Roman and Greek tradition, lying in the waves below. On the ship we see Victory and Mars (god of war), Probus between them, along with two Roman soldiers. A huge (26g) piece of gold with stunning detail and striking relief, this one’s probably my favourite of the three.

$3,500,000

Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus AV Aureus. Military mint travelling with Brutus in the East, late summer-autumn, 42 BC. L. Plaetorius Cestianus, moneyer. Bare head of Brutus to right; BRVT above, IMP before, L • PLAET • CEST behind / Pileus between two daggers of differing design, their points downwards; below, EID•MAR. A. Campana, Eidibus Martiis (forthcoming), 13 (O1/R6) and pl. 1, 13 (this coin); Crawford -; Sydenham -; BMCRR -; Bahrfeldt -; Babelon -; H. A. Cahn, Eidibus Martiis, QT XVII (1989), pp. 211-32, 4a = CRI 215 = NFA XXV, 1990, 306 = Sotheby's Zurich, 1993, 87 (same obverse die) = R. Walburg, Zeitzeugen. Münzen aus der Sammlung der Deutschen Bundesbank. Hirmer Verlag, München 2018, pp. 48-9 (Kat. 65, 66); Cahn, L'aureus de Brutus avec EID MAR, Actes du Congrés Internationale de Numismatique 1953, obverse die 'A'; Calicó 58 = Biaggi 39 = Cahn, Actes, Actes du Congrés Internationale de Numismatique 1953, p. 213 = Cahn, Eidibus Martiis, 24a; for this type in silver see: - A. Campana, Eidibus Martiis, 14-18 (same dies); Crawford 508/3; Sydenham 1301; BMCRE East 68; Cahn, Eidibus Martiis, 6 (same dies); S. Nodelman, Brutus the Tyrannicide in Ancient Portraits in the J. Paul Getty Museum: Volume 1, p. 51, fig. 8 (same dies); Vagi, vol. II, p. 198, 95 = Feirstein Collection, NAC 39, 2007, 89 (same dies); John Work Garrett Collection, part I, Leu-NFA, 1984, 685 (same obverse die); Loscombe Collection, Sotheby, 1855, 683 = BMC II 480, 69 (same obverse die); Lanz 158, 2014, 373 (same obverse die); Künker 124, 2007, 8483 = Leu 71, 1997, 265 = Münzen & Medaillen 19, 1959, 150 (same obverse die). 8.06g, 19mm, 12h.

- Sold by Roma Numismatics, 2020

Easily the most famous Roman coin type, it’s no wonder the Eid Mar Aureus took the spot for most expensive ancient coin ever sold for a while. Issued to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March (15th), 44 BC, it ironically features the head of Brutus on the obverse: Caesar had been criticised for doing this months earlier. The reverse depicts the pileus (cap of liberty), worn by freed slaves, and two daggers. The type would have been intended as a propaganda piece; at the time, coins were a very effective way to send messages across the empire. There exist about 100 examples of this coin in silver, one of which sold for $720,000 this year. The gold version is even rarer: only three are known. Earlier this year, as you might have seen, this coin was returned to Greece, having been (allegedly) illegally exported. You can read more about it here.

$4,900,000

Tauric Chersonesus, Panticapaeum.
Stater circa 350-300, AV 9.12 g. Facing bearded head of Pan, slightly l. Rev. Π – A – N Griffin standing l., head facing and its r. forepaw raised. Locker Lampson 122 = Gulbenkian 583 (these dies). Gulbenkian 584 (this obverse die) and 580 (this reverse die). K. Regling, Der Griechische Goldschatz von Prinkipo, ZfN XLI, 1931, 165 (this obverse die). Jameson 2143. Gillet 851 (this coin).

- Sold by Numismatica Ars Classica, 2023

This gold stater, “among the most spectacular numismatic objects to survive from the classical world”, was issued by Panticapaeum, a Greek city state that grew wealthy by selling grain (note the grain ear on the reverse). It’s most notable for the artistic merit of the obverse, the 3/4 facing head of Pan a fine work of portraiture evidently produced by a highly talented celator (die-engraver). A sculpture-like masterpiece of Greek art in gold, what more could you ask for.

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I hope you enjoyed this last post of 2023, and wish you all a happy new year! 🥳