Numismatica Genevensis Presents Rare Opportunity to Acquire Gold Brutus Coin Graded by NGC Ancients

A gold coin struck for the treacherous Brutus amid Roman civil war is among the ancient and world rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) that are expected to realize at least six figures in an upcoming auction. Numismatica Genevensis SA is presenting Auction 20 on December 9-10, 2024.

Leading the auction with a starting price of CHF750,000 (about $851,000), the Roman Imperatorial, Brutus (d. 42 BC) Gold Aureus is graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 1032). Following the murder of Julius Caesar that he helped organize in 44 BC, Brutus and his allies amassed a formidable army but were defeated at the Battle of Philippi. Ironically, while Brutus was never able to gain the power he sought, his coins today are royalty in the numismatic world. Only 17 of these coins are known to have survived, according to the auction house.

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The obverse of the Gold Aureus shows a portrait of Brutus, while the reverse shows weapons that symbolize military success in the eastern Mediterranean preceding the Battle of Philippi. That fateful event in 42 BC saw Brutus and his allies swept aside by Mark Antony and Octavian, who later consolidated power as Emperor Augustus. Watch a video about the history of this coin, narrated by NGC Ancients Director David Vagi, below:

The auction also includes some fascinating world rarities, including a Spain 1652 AP Pamplona 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 53 and pedigreed as Heiss/Calico Plate (lot 1679). Struck during the rule of King Philip IV, the coin bears the name of Navarre, an area in northern Spain that has Pamplona as its main city. At the time the coin was struck, France and Spain were competing for control of northern Spain, with the French supporting the revolt of Catalonia. With a starting price of CHF400,000 (about $454,000), this coin is believed to be the only surviving example of its kind, according to the auction house.

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Another great rarity in the sale is an England (1544-47) Sovereign graded NGC AU 55 and pedigreed to the Royal Gold Set (lot 1563), which has a starting price of CHF300,000 (about $340,000). It was struck near the end of King Henry VIII's 37-year reign, a time when war had severely strained England's financial health. It is the only example of its catalog number in the NGC Census and is one of only three such pieces in private hands, according to the auction house.

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Meanwhile, an unparalleled group of NGC-certified 5 Guineas also pedigreed to the Royal Gold Set is being offered by Numismatica Genevensis in another sale. To learn more about this auction, which is being held December 10, go here.

Other NGC-certified highlights in Auction 20 include:

• an Austria 1671 IGW Graz 10 Ducats graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1112), which has a starting price of CHF200,000 (about $227,000)
• a Germany 1694-dated Nuremberg 10 Ducats graded NGC MS 65 PL (lot 1479), which has a starting price of CHF200,000 (about $227,000)
• a France 1740A Gold Ecu graded NGC PF 63 (lot 1341), which has a starting price of CHF100,000 (about $113,000)
• a US 1915-S Panama-Pacific Round $50 graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1758), which has a starting price of CHF60,000 (about $68,000)
• an England 1642 Oxford Triple Unite graded NGC AU 55 and pedigreed to the Royal Gold Set (lot 1569), which has a starting price of CHF50,000 (about $57,000)
• an England 1687 5 Guineas NGC MS 61 (lot 1573), which has a starting price of CHF50,000 (about $57,000)
• an England 1687 5 Guineas NGC MS 61 (lot 1574), which has a starting price of CHF50,000 (about $57,000)
• a South Africa 1892 Pond graded NGC PF 64 (lot 1676), which has a starting price of CHF50,000 (about $57,000)

Related Link:
Coins Weekly preview of December 2024 Numismatica Genevensis SA auctions

Starting prices are set by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.