Roman Empire Gold Medallions Certified by NGC Ancients Among Highlights of Paramount Collection Sale

Gold medallions from two Roman rulers whose fleeting grip on power ended in battle are among dozens of ancient rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) featured in an upcoming sale. Bidding is already underway for the ancient coins, which are part of a larger Paramount Collection World and Ancient Coins Signature Auction presented by Heritage Auctions March 25-27, 2021.

A gold medallion of Magnentius, who briefly usurped power from AD 350 to 353, graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike, 3/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30066) has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. Flavius Magnus Magnentius was a soldier who rose through the ranks to become commander of the guard of Constans, ruler of the western part of the Roman Empire. Constans' unpopularity with the army gave Magnentius the opportunity to seize power and kill Emperor Constans.

Roman Empire, Magnentius (AD 350-353) Gold Medallion graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike, 3/5 Surface, with Fine Style Click images to enlarge.

The gold medallion includes the word LIBERATOR, reflecting his ambition to be seen as a savior in a wide swath of the Roman world under his rule. However, it was not to be. Constantius II, the ruler in the east (who was also the brother of Constans), defeated Magnentius in key battles in modern-day Croatia in AD 351 and in modern-day France in AD 353. Magnentius killed himself after the latter battle.

A gold medallion from another ill-fated ruler of the Roman Empire is also expected to realize an impressive sum at the auction. The Maxentius (AD 307-312) gold medallion graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30065) has an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000.

Roman Empire, Maxentius (AD 307-312) Gold Medallion graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 2/5 Surface, with Fine Style Click images to enlarge.

The son of Emperor Maximian, Maxentius spent his brief reign as emperor vying for power in a civil war. Maxentius died in the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312 against the forces of his brother-in-law Constantine I "the Great" when they marched on Rome. Constantine reportedly had a vision before the battle that led to his embrace of Christianity, a turning point in world history.

A silver Decadrachm of Syracuse, Sicily, produced centuries earlier was also drawing intense interest from bidders. Issued circa 405-400 BC and signed by the artist Kimon, it is graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30013) and has an estimate of $50,000 to $75,000.

Syracuse was an important colony for Greeks as they vied with Carthage for control of the large Mediterranean island of Sicily. Silver Decadrachms like these are considered a spectacular achievement in ancient Greek numismatics, and this particular example earned the NGC Star (★) Designation for its superior eye appeal.

The Paramount Collection is a stunning group of rare coins from around the world, including a 1907 Extremely High Relief, Lettered Edge $20 graded NGC PF 68 that realized an astounding $3.6 million at a sale of US coins from the Paramount Collection in February 2021. A Great Britain 1937 Edward VIII 5 Sovereign Pattern graded NGC PF 67 Ultra Cameo with an estimate of at least $1 million is also part of the March 2021 world and ancient coin sale.

Other NGC Ancients-certified highlights in this Paramount Collection sale include:

• a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Berenice II (d. 221 BC) Pentekaidekadrachm graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30041) with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• a Sicily, Siculo-Punic circa 264-260 BC Silver 5-Shekels (or Decadrachm) graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike, 3/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30015) with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Calabria, Taras circa 450 BC Silver Didrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike, 3/5 Surface (lot 30001) with an estimate of $20,000 to $25,000
• a Roman Empire, Commodus AD 177-192 Bimetallic Medallion graded NGC Ancients Ch AU (lot 30058) with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Bosporus, Panticapaeum circa 340-320 BC Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30024) with an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000
• a Sicily, Syracuse circa 485-480 BC Silver Tetradrachm graded NGC Ancients AU★, 5/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30012) with an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000
• a Lydia, Croesus 561-546 BC "Light Series" Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface (lot 30031) with an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000
• a Thraco-Macedonian circa 525-475 BC Electrum Stater graded NGC Ancients XF, 3/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface (lot 30020) with an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000
• a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Arsinoe II (d.270/68 BC) Gold Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike, 3/5 Surface (lot 30044) with an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000
• a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy II 285/4-246 BC Gold Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike, 3/5 Surface (lot 30040) with an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000
• a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Arsinoe II (d.270/68 BC) Gold Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike, 2/5 Surface (lot 30043) with an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000
• a Roman Empire, Hadrian AD 117-138 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30054) with an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000
• a Roman Empire, Trajan Decius AD 249-251 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike, 4/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 30062) with an estimate of $8,000 to $10,000

All estimates are provided by the auction house and expressed in US dollars.

Related Links:

• NGC-certified 1907 Extremely High Relief $20 Realizes an Astounding $3.6 Million in Paramount Collection Sale
• NGC Certifies the Paramount Collection, an Extraordinary Culmination of Ambition and Acumen
• NGC Ancients