These were believed to be Polyainos and Myron. This one was in excellent condition, with just a tiny crack on the reverse – not bad for a coin over 1,600 years old.Īnd as with the Sestertius of Hadrian, the engravers of this coin were key to its value. This was part of the ancient Greek empire in what is now Sicily.Īs ever, rarity was key to its value. and came from the coastal city state of Agrigentum. It’s thought to date from between 409 and 406 B.C. This decadrachm coin set a new record for Greek silver coins when it was auctioned in 2012. It is now estimated to be worth around $6.8 million. It sold for around $850,000, then a record for a British coin. The coin went to auction the same year that it was found. The other side shows a cross surrounded by crowns, foliage and lions. The depiction has given the coin its common name among collectors – the “double leopard”. One side bears the portrait of King Edward III seated on a throne, a leopard sitting on either side. This coin is made of 23-carat gold and would have been circulated between December 1343 and July 1344. Today those coins reside in the British Museum in London. The other two were found together in the river Tyne in the north of England by two Victorian schoolchildren. The gold coin is one of only three examples known to exist. It was found by a man with a metal detector at an undisclosed location in 2006. The story of this coin gives hope to treasure hunters everywhere. Originally estimated to make around $1 million, it exceeded all expectations when it came under the auctioneer’s hammer. And it is one of only 12 or so specimens known to exist. The coin therefore has religious as well as historic significance. And the reference to the Commander of the Faithful is a reference to the Caliph, a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad. The mine referred to lies in present day Saudi Arabia. This makes it the first Islamic coin to mention a specific location. It means “Mine of the Commander of the Faithful in the Hijaz”. This reads “Ma’din Amir al-Mu’minin bi’l-Hijaz”. So what is it about this coin that makes it so special? The answer lies in the Islamic script engraved on it. When this one came to auction in 2021, the price equalled the record achieved for an Islamic coin. It’s a thing of considerable beauty – but even so, similar dinar coins have sold for a few hundred dollars. It was minted in the Umayyad Caliphate and is made of solid gold. But it’s more than its advanced age that creates its value. 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar, Umayyad Caliphate The reverse depicted the crowned coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.ģ. The obverse showed Sigismund in ornamented armor and a commander’s sash. For the Catholic Sigismund, it was a victory of Christianity over Islam. There, the Commonwealth soldiers successfully held out against the Ottoman Army, which had hitherto appeared invincible. This coin is believed to have been minted to celebrate the 1621 Battle of Chocim. This was then the largest country in central Europe and a considerable power. Following various battles, the Swedish – and ultra-Catholic – prince Sigmund III Vasa became king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1586, the Polish King Stephen of Báthory died without children. Its value is attached to the unique historical moment in which it was created. This 100 Ducat specimen bears the mantle of the most expensive Polish coin ever to have been minted. 100 Ducats, Sigismund III Vasa, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth The coin was considered to be a masterpiece by a famous artist, exciting coin collectors into a bidding frenzy.Ģ. The second was that it had been convincingly attributed to the master engraver known as Antoninianos of Aphrodisias. The first was that it was in excellent condition. There were two reasons it commanded such a high price. This coin is considerably later, but sold at auction in 2006 for $1.65 million. Sestertii from the reign of Nero, 54 to 68 A.D., are particularly prized for their exquisite workmanship. This gave the engravers a bigger area on which to produced finely detailed portraits. The earlier versions were produced in brass and were much larger than the later silver coins. But some can be considerably more valuable. It’s possible to pick up examples for less than $100. The value of a sestertius varies wildly, depending on its age, quality and condition. This one, produced during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, dates to between 135 and 136 A.D. A sestertius was a brass or silver coin which was made only rarely, and for specific occasions. This coin from ancient Rome is amongst the oldest on our list. So read on to find out more! Most Valuable Foreign Coins 1. And we’ll learn what makes them so special. That’s what we’re going to find out! We’re going to take a tour of the 10 most valuable coins to have come to the market.
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