Brutus Coin Certified by NGC Ancients Realizes More than $2 Million

A gold coin struck for Brutus amid the chaotic years after Julius Caesar's assassination realized more than $2 million as rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) impressed in a pair of auctions in Switzerland. Numismatica Genevensis SA presented Auction 20 and Auction 21 on December 9-10, 2024.

Leading all lots in both auctions was a Roman Imperatorial, Brutus (d. 42 BC) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 1032) that realized CHF1,837,500 (about $2.05 million). The coin was struck between Caesar's murder in March 44 BC and the Battle of Philippi in October 42 BC, after which Brutus committed suicide following the defeat of his army. Only 17 of these coins, showing Brutus on the obverse and weapons symbolizing military success on the reverse, are known to have survived, according to the auction house.

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Another NGC-certified coin associated with a well-known historical figure realized CHF857,500 (about $955,000) later in the sale. The England (1544-47) Sovereign graded NGC AU 55 and pedigreed to the Royal Gold Set (lot 1563) 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 one of only three such pieces in private hands, according to the auction house.

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A Spanish coin believed to be the sole surviving example of its kind was also a top highlight of the sale. The Spain 1652 AP Pamplona 8 Escudos graded NGC AU 53 and pedigreed as Heiss/Calico Plate (lot 1679) realized CHF735,000 (about $820,000). Struck during the reign 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.

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Meanwhile, an unparalleled collection of 5 Guinea coins, all certified by NGC, were offered in Auction 21. The top lot was a Great Britain 1777 Gold Pattern 5 Guineas graded NGC PF 64 Cameo (lot 2058), which realized CHF588,000 (about $655,000). The Royal Gold Set included 58 coins that encompassed all 49 dates of the 5 Guinea denomination. In a testament to how difficult it is to assemble such a collection, a dozen of these coins realized six-figure amounts in the sale.

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Other NGC-certified highlights of Auction 20 included:

• an Austria 1671 IGW Graz 10 Ducats graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1112), which realized CHF416,500 (about $464,000)
• a Germany 1694-dated Nuremberg 10 Ducats graded NGC MS 65 PL (lot 1479), which realized CHF392,000 (about $437,000)
• a France 1740A Gold Ecu graded NGC PF 63 (lot 1341), which realized CHF232,750 (about $259,000)
• an England (1619-20) Ryal graded NGC MS 64+★ pedigreed to the Royal Gold Set (lot 1566), which realized CHF122,500 (about $136,000)
• an England 1642 Oxford Triple Unite graded NGC MS 61 and pedigreed to the Royal Gold Set (lot 1568), which realized CHF110,250 ($123,000)
• a US 1915-S Panama Pacific Round $50 Commemorative graded NGC MS 64 (lot 1758), which realized CHF91,875 (about $102,000)

Other NGC-certified highlights of Auction 21 included:

• a Great Britain 1770 5 Guineas graded NGC PF 62 (lot 2056), which realized CHF490,000 (about $545,000)
• an England 1703 VIGO 5 Guineas graded NGC UNC Details (lot 2035), which realized CHF343,000 (about $382,000)
• a Great Britain 1706 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 63 (lot 2038), which realized CHF294,000 (about $327,000)
• a Great Britain 1773 5 Guineas graded NGC PF 58 (lot 2057), which realized CHF294,000 (about $327,000)
• an England 1673 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 60 (lot 2007), which realized CHF196,000 (about $218,000)
• an England 1700 Guineas graded NGC MS 62 (lot 2033), which realized CHF134,750 (about $150,000)
• an England 1675 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 61+ (lot 2009), which realized CHF110,250 (about $123,000)
• an England 1687 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 61+ (lot 2023), which realized CHF104,125 (about $116,000)
• an England 1687 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 62 (lot 2022), which realized CHF98,000 (about $109,000)
• an England 1706 5 Guineas graded NGC AU 58 (lot 2037), which realized CHF98,000 (about $109,000)
• an England 1688 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 61+ (lot 2025), which realized CHF91,875 (about $102,000)

Prices realized include buyer's premium. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.