MaximianHammer 550 pounds.
A good type in "near mint state"
Hammer 550 pounds
https://www.romanumismatics.com/271-lot-1152-maximian-bi-antoninianus?auction_id=172&view=lot_detail
Some ancient coins that sold for remarkably high prices:
(This does not include fixed-price coins offered at high prices, but only coins that actually sold.)
Here are some coins that might have sold at one third their price, but in their particular auction brought a high price.
If you think out-of-line high prices are a new phenomenon, think again. Four high prices from long ago.
Now, for some recent coins at auction.
Maximian
Hammer 550 pounds.
A good type in "near mint state"
Hammer 550 pounds
https://www.romanumismatics.com/271-lot-1152-maximian-bi-antoninianus?auction_id=172&view=lot_detail
Gallienus, supposedly unlisted bust type.
Hammer 600 pounds.
https://www.romanumismatics.com/271-lot-1071-gallienus-bi-antoninianus?auction_id=172&view=lot_detail
Byzantine. Michael III with Basil, 842-867.
Sear 1693
Recently this type is this condition has been c. 300 euros, but this one went for 1200 euros!
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/bucephalusnumismatic/browse?a=3232&l=3682164
Demos 15, lot 592, Jan, 2023
18 mm. Arcadius
PR 260 euros+ 18% !
Why is this not a 20-euro coin?
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/demos/browse?a=3186&l=3616973
Savoca 145, lot 799. October, 2022.
Sasanaian King Khusru II
Many of his coins that look just like this go for 40-50 euros or so, but they do have mintmarks and dates. Maybe this one is special in that regard, but, if so, there must have been two experts bidding to notice it.
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=2952&l=3319803
Hammer 220 euros plus 19%.
A common Roman Republican with Ulysses walking right, his dog before
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/tauleryfau/browse?a=2266&l=2497773
750 euros.
Savoca 111, 2021 August 8: 280 euros plus 19%. 0.78 grams. Very well-struck. Tiny. Common.
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=1929&l=2112356
Leu 22 Byzantine, Irene, Sear 1598, hammered at 1200 CHF:
https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/35/297
Leo V, common AE in unusally high grade, 840 CHF:
https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/35/300
Added Jan. 21: A Byzantine copper tetarteron (Sear 2019, Isaac II Angelos, with Alexius IV), admittedly rare,
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=2245&l=2476449
at 2600 euros + 19%!
Added March 7: An Aurelian with a deep bust, sold for 550 euros + 16%.
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/lucernae/browse?a=2324&l=2569494
Added Feb. 26: One of the most common ancient coins of all, Constantine GLORIA EXERCITVS, slabbed, in high grade but there are many better, sold Feb. 2022 (but now the site says "passed" after previously saying it sold for $1560. It would have been high at 1/10 the price. Maybe the buyer backed out?):
https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-VB97Z/constantine-i-ad-307-337-bi-nummus-264-gms-siscia-mint-1st-officina-ad-334-335-ngc-ms-strike-55-surface-55
Constantine GLORIA EXERCITVS imitation with a terrible strike, but a hoard pedigree
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8444762
$225+ fees! CNG 499, lot 424, imitation GLORIA EXERCITVS from the Nether Compton hoard.
An extremely nice, but very common, Maximian follis at 650 pounds:
https://www.romanumismatics.com/258-lot-1031-maximian-bi-nummus?auction_id=158&view=lot_detail
This coin is so nice it is probably worth it.
Added Jan. 18, 2022:
Byzantine Justinian follis, 31 mm, 16.59 grams.
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=2221&l=2451258
Hammer: 280 euros. I thought that was remarkably high. I inquired and found out this coin has a published note saying "CON" is not for Constantinople, but in this case used by a military mint in Italy. The coin is light and attributed to Justinian's campaign in Italy!
Added Jan. 6, 2022
Byzantine Phocas, Cyzicus, XXXX, from CNG, hammered at $425, although only 30 mm.
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2461831
Mine, with a much larger flan (35-32 mm), cost me $82 including shipping, Dec. 2021. I admit that was a good price. Mine:
Added Dec. 2021
Constantius GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/290286
Hammered at 700 euros!
A common Gallienus zoo-series type in mediocre condition:
https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/28/2889
Hammered at 700 CHF (= c. $770)
Another common Gallienus zoo type in nice, but not outstanding, condition:
https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/28/2884
Hammered at 750 CHF (= c. $820)
Turkoman figural bronze in high grade, which is not uncommon:
https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/28/3682
Hammered at 2600 CHF (= $2850).
Compare to mine, bought for $140 in 2018, which is as good:
Byzantine. A common anonymous follis it is easy to get in better condition for less:
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-2MQUSF/anonymous-folles-temp-romanus-iv-circa-1068-1071-follis-26mm-853-g-6h-class-g-constantinople-mint
Hammer $225.
Next are two I bought in 2021 and 2020 for $71 and $55, including shipping:
A broken Sasanian Shapur I with much missing:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/zeusnumismatics/browse?a=1775&l=1930151n
Hammered at 140 euros.
Constantine /LIBERTAS galley in super shape
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8392596
Hammered at $1200!
Constantine eyes-to-heaven/DAFNE in high grade (but there are many as good or better)
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-4GSSBS
Hammer $1200!
Compare to this one, sold Feb. 2023, at 70 euros:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/olympusnumismatik/browse?a=3243&l=3692799
and this one at 80 euros.
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/olympusnumismatik/browse?a=3243&l=3692805
Common Constantine II anepigraphic with rough surfaces, hyped for the mispelling; it is missing a V in INVS on the reverse.
https://www.romanumismatics.com/251-lot-1369-constantine-ii-or-constantius-ii-as-caesar-a-19mm?auction_id=151&view=lot_detail
Hammer $800!
VRBS ROMA
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1845238
Hammer $523. What a story of hype!
An extremely high-grade fresh-dies common Roman Republican
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/aureocalico/browse?a=1997&l=2199462
Hammered at 10,000 euros.
Another one from the same auction, with surfaces toned:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/aureocalico/browse?a=1997&l=2199469
Hammered at 15,000 euros!
Constantine II as Caesar campgate VIRTVS AVGG
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=2046&l=2258239
Hammered at 380 euros.
Constantine campgate with VIRTVS AVGG
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/zeusnumismatics/browse?a=1830&l=1992148
Hammered at 340 euros.
Another one:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=1829&l=1991066
361 euros.
Constantine unrecorded, from Constantineople, really different, and interesting:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/numismatiknaumann/browse?a=94&c=1732&l=83826
20 mm. Hammered at 3500 euros.
Trajan Arabia drachm
https://cngcoins.com/Lot.aspx?LOT_ID=44806
Sold at $2500 + 20%
Next is mine, bought 2021 for c. $100. Their coin is better, but that much better?
Maybe. It is extremely difficult to find one of these full flan. A coin which is a little bit better may cost a lot more.
Salonia with a good reverse type:
https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/305297
Hammered at 3800 euros.
Mine cost $35 in 1985 (next):
A barbarous radiate with a portrait of Tetricus II (no beard) and a legend ending "AVG" (His official coins did not have him as Augustus.)
https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=334647
Hammered at $600.
Quintillus, crowded, but very nice portrait
https://www.romanumismatics.com/282-lot-851-quintillus-bi-antoninianus?auction_id=183&view=lot_detail
Hammered for 2000 pounds.
Maximius II at $360 + 20%. Heritage, 2021, May 20,
https://coins.ha.com/itm/roman-imperial/ancient-coins/ancients-maximinus-ii-ad-310-313-bi-follis-or-reduced-nummus-21mm-479-gm-12h-ngc-au-5-5-5-5/a/232120-63234.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515Maximinus II/GENIO AVGVSTI in beautiful condition
Greek
Nice Keleneris (Cilicia) horse/goat obol (i.e. very small) with goat right (most goats are left)
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/demos/browse?a=1966&l=2153755
Hammered at 800 euros.
Cycizus, obol, perhaps the most common type of obol:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=1929&l=2112086
Hammered at 170 euros. Nice shape, but there are very many better.
Byzantine
A nice (for type) anonymous follis of Class J
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/zeusnumismatics/browse?a=2200&l=2420591
Hammered at 220 euros.
The most common Byantine type, Leo VI:
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-4MA21X/leo-vi-the-wise-886-912-follis-27mm-771-g-6h-constantinople-mint
Hammer $190.
Anonymous A2 in very crowded condition:
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-4MA22H/anonymous-folles-temp-basil-ii-constantine-viii-circa-1020-1028-follis-25mm-682-g-6h-class-a3-constantinople-mint
$100 and it is not a good example. "graded AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5." but the flan is far too small. NGC did not consider flan size when they gave a number to the "strike". I think "strike" should include flan size and centering, I'd give the strike 1/5.
Licinius
Licinius II
CrispusBy the way, many other Sternberg prices in later catalogs seem very high as well, but I am not taking the time to illustrate them.
Price disparity:
A Turkoman type in two auctions the same week:
https://nomosag.com/obolos-25/
240 CHF. Oct. 23
https://www.biddr.com/
44 euros Oct. 21.
I prefer the second coin, even though it was less than 1/5 the price.
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