NGC-certified Vintage European Rarities Part of Upcoming Paramount Collection Sale

A breathtaking selection of world and ancient coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) is part of a Heritage Auctions sale of the Paramount Collection. Bidding is already underway for the auction, which will be held March 26, 2021.

The sale includes nine coins from Continental Europe with an estimate of at least $100,000, in addition to another eight from Great Britain with an estimate of at least $100,000 and two ancient gold medallions from the Roman Empire, also with estimates in the six figures. Already, seven US coins from the ambitious Paramount Collection realized figures of at least $100,000 at a February 2021 sale, including a 1907 Double Eagle that realized $3.6 million.

The Continental Europe selections include vintage gold rarities from France, Austria, Italy and Germany, including a France 1878 Essai 100 Francs graded NGC PF 66 Cameo (lot 30190). This exceptionally well-preserved treasure from near the beginning of France's Third Republic has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000.

1878 France Essai 100 Francs graded NGC PF 66 Cameo and pedigreed to the Paramount Collection Click images to enlarge

Meanwhile, a coin from the previous French regime has an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000. The France 1861* Essai Gold 100 Francs graded NGC PF 64 Ultra Cameo (lot 30186) bears a bust of Napoleon III, who ruled as emperor from 1852 to 1870. This coin is extremely rare in this weight, which was driving spirited bidding in the weeks before the auction.

France 1861* Essai Gold 100 Francs graded NGC PF 64 Ultra Cameo and pedigreed to the Paramount Collection Click images to enlarge

Another exquisite gold rarity shows a ruler from two centuries earlier. Archduke Sigismund Franz ruled Further Austria (in modern-day southwestern Germany) from 1662 until his death in 1665. A (1662-65) 20 Ducats graded NGC MS 61 (lot 30113) has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. The medal is 69.26 grams, nearly 2.5 ounces, a weight that Heritage says is extremely rare, if not unique, for this issue.

Austria (1662-65) 20 Ducats graded NGC MS 61 and pedigreed to the Paramount Collection Click images to enlarge

Hundreds of other NGC-certified rarities from Continental Europe are featured in the Paramount Collection sale, including:

• an Austria 1678 25 Ducat graded NGC UNC Details (lot 30118) with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000
• a Bohemia 1633 10 Ducat graded NGC MS 65 (lot 30133) with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000
• a Germany (1599-1633) Brunswick-Luneburg 20 Ducat graded NGC AU 55 (lot 30218) with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000
• an Italy 1610 10 Doppie graded NGC MS 61 (lot 30364) with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000
• an Austria 1690 GFN Gold Joseph I Coronation Medal graded NGC MS 61 PL (lot 30120) with an estimate of $100,000 to $200,000
• a France 1640A 10 Louis d'Or - Early Restrike graded NGC MS 61 (lot 30162) with an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000
• an Austria 1655 20 Ducat graded NGC AU 55 (lot 30111) with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000
• a France L'An 10A Gold 5 Francs graded NGC PF 62 Cameo (lot 30172) with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000
• an Italy 1641 10 Scudi d'Oro graded NGC AU 58 (lot 30383) with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000
• a Germany 1611 10 Ducats graded NGC MS 65★ (lot 30269) with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000
• a Hungary 1696KV Transylvania 10 Ducat graded NGC AU 58 (lot 30495) with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000
• a Switzerland Undated 12 Ducat graded NGC MS 61 (lot 30453) with an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000
• a France 1740A Ecu graded NGC PF 62 (lot 30169) with an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000
• an Italy 1677 10 Zecchini graded NGC MS 61 (lot 30464) with an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000
• a Portugal (1495-1521) 10 Cruzados graded NGC MS 62 (lot 30430) with an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000
• a France 1640A 8 Louis d'Or graded NGC MS 61 (lot 30161) with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• an Italy 1663 10 Scudi d'Oro graded NGC MS 61+ (lot 30384) with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a Netherlands 1687 Gold Ducaton graded NGC PF 61 (lot 30420) with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a Romania 1939 100 Lei graded NGC MS 62 (lot 30439) with an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000
• a Switzerland 1714 10 Ducat graded NGC MS 62 (lot 30466) with an estimate of $50,000 to $75,000
• a France 1862 E 100 Francs graded NGC PF 65 Cameo (lot 30187) with an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000
• a Bohemia (1612) 5 Ducats graded NGC MS 63 (lot 30130) with an estimate of $20,000 to $40,000
• a France 1878 Essai 100 Francs graded NGC PF 62 (lot 30191) with an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000

All estimates are provided by the auction house in US Dollars.