One of the great pluses of coins for collectors is that they last. 

Really last. 

Coin collections are going to be going strong long after even the most well protected stamp collections have crumbled into dust. 

It’s a magical thing to hold something that was made more than 2,000 years ago, by a living hand. 

And you can do that. 

For prices that are surprisingly accessible in some cases. 

Not all coins are available to everyone though. 

These ancient treasures are the best of the best, the rarest and most valuable ancient coins ever sold. 

Ancient means struck before the end of the Roman Empire in the West around the end of the 400 ADs. 

1 - Stater of Panticapaeum from 340 - 325 BC 

There's so much life in this image, it's hard to believe it's 2,000 years old.

 

Sold for $6 million in May 2023 

You may think these coins belong in a museum. This one was in a museum, the Hermitage in Russia, until 1934, when Stalin, pushing to industrialise the Soviet Union sold off a load of state-owned artworks. 

It then travelled to France, and the collection of Charles Gillet of the family who own the Rhône-Poulenc chemical businesses. 

It’s now in another private collection. 

The coin was minted in Crimea (currently Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory) in the city of Panticapaeum, a Greek settlement. 

The design shows a satyr, a mischievous god, and a stater was a type of coin that could be worth upwards of 20 drachmae if minted in gold like this beautiful example. 

The quality of the coin shows it to be the work of a master and it will probably remain unique.  

2 - Aureus of Marcus Junius Brutus from 42 BC 

It was me! Brutus was proud of his deadly work and made his claim to power in gold. 

 

Sold for $4,174,950 in October 2020 

Controversy and conflict are everywhere in this coin’s story. 

“Et tu, Brute!” is a Shakespeare quote we all know, aptly capturing Julius Caesar’s dismay as his friend Brutus joined the knife-wielding mob who killed him. 

Brutus himself wasn’t shy about what he did. And in fact, the most desirable coin in history was his way of celebrating his murderous achievement. It's usually known as the Ides of March coin to celebrate the date of the killing. 

The coin was supposed to promote Brutus’ claims to take Caesar’s place. In fact, he was to take his own life after a brief civil war followed Caesar’s death. 

Two styles of coin were struck, one in silver and one in gold and there were around 85 known survivals (most in museum). 

This gold example was sold in 2020, then identified as looted and returned to Greece, where it had been found. 

3 - Decadrachm of Agrigentum, from 409 to 406 BC 

This is a reproduction, showing the design that may link this coin to a precisely dated chariot race win. 

 

Sold for $2,918,000 in October 2012

Agrigentum was a Greek city state in Sicily, now known as Agrigento. 

Back in the 4th Century BC it was the front line of Greek settlements in Italy. And they were putting out their own coinage. 

This is a decadrachm, the most valuable coin in the Greek monetary system (that was somewhat standardised), worth 10 drachmae and supposed to weigh 43 grams of silver.  

It was auctioned as one of fewer than 10 known surviving examples. Because it had previously been sold it was a good barometer of the market - in 1990 it realized $572,000 and was teh most valuable non-US coin, the most valuable Greek coin and the most valuable Greek silver coin. It subsequently made a reported $1 million in a private sale in 1980. 

Now, it is just the most valuable Greek silver coin. 

The coin was designed to look impressive and give prestige to the city. Its precise date is up for grabs: some link it to a chariot race in the 92nd Olympic Games of 412 BC, others date it via the Carthiginian invasion of Sicily in 406 BC. 

Either way, it is very old, extremely beautiful and extraordinarily valuable.  

4 - Aureus of Marcus Junius Brutus from 42 BC

The reverse of the Brutus coin shows a soldier enjoying the spoils of war, it was very much an invitation to join in and prosper. 

 

Sold for $2 million in December 2024 

The market for rare and ancient coins remains very healthy as this confirmed and legitimate sale of another Brutus Aureus last year. 

It realised €1.9 million (around $2 million) in Geneva. 

It’s one of 17 known gold survivals of the type that reflect a truth about Brutus’s popularity - he paid well and was generous with gifts like these propagandistic coins. 

5 - Sestertius of Hadrian from 135 - 136 AD

Hadrian's portrait, which was rated very highly for its quality and condition. 

 

Sold for $1,648,805 in December 2008 

Called “the most beautiful Roman coin ever minted“ when it was sold, the Sestertius was not valuable at issue but was rare. 

They had initially been silver by Republican Rome but were struck in brass during the Roman Empire period. 

These coins were large, and that meant a good field for designers to work on. 

This example was probably made by Antoninianos of Aphrodisias and its beauty and age made it hugely valuable. 

6 - AR Shekel from Arwad from 66 - 70 AD 

The ornate complex design of this prototype didn't survive into production, making it extraordinarily rare. 

 

Sold for $1,105,375 in March 2012 

Arwad is an island city, now off the coast of Syria. 

Back in the first century AD it was governed by Rome. 

This coin, a shekel, was struck as a prototype Jewish currency during the Jewish War, probably in Jerusalem.

There are only two examples of this coin in existence and one is in a museum in Jerusalem. 

This one then was the only one ever to sell. 

Its extreme rarity and the elaborate and beautiful design were further complemented by great condition. 

Owning rare, ancient coins today 

We hold a stock of ancient coins, and you can see some of what we have here. 

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