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 Replies: 9 / Views: 2,093 |
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Press Manager
 United States
1420 Posts |
A highly rare Roman gold coin discovered with a metal detector has stunned auctioneers in the U.K after it sold for more than $700,000. The 1,700-year-old coin was found earlier this year by a metal detectorist whilst searching a field in Kent, and had been authenticated by the British Museum. It had initially been valued at £70,000 - £100,000 ($91,500 - $131,000), but soared to a final price of £552,000 ($701,730) during a sale in London on June 6 at Dix Noonan Webb. "I am delighted with the phenomenal price achieved in today's sale," said Christopher Webb, Director and Head of DNW's Coin Department. "This is the most expensive coin that we have ever sold at Dix Noonan Webb - as well as being one of the world's most expensive Roman coins, it is the most money ever paid for a coin of Allectus and it is now the most valuable Roman coin minted in Britain to have been sold at auction."  Read Entire Article |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
659 Posts |
Wow! Nice coin - beautiful.
Thank you for sharing.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
This coin reminds me of the aureus of Saturninus - a Roman ursurper against Probus.
Although this coin was also authenticated by the British Museum, they left deliberately left the door very slightly ajar, concerning it's authenticity.
Both coins are in exceptional 'as struck' condition with no evidence at all that they may have been in direct soil contact burial for 1,700 years, despite the fact that they are of non corrodable gold.
Even gold coins can take on an antique toning in aggressive soil conditions. There is a slight tendency to develop a very thin patina of gold double salts, over a period of centuries. Telluride is an example of a gold double salt.
I can understand why an exceptional gold coin of Allectus would have created so much excitement in the U.K., if considered authentic. Antoninianii of Allectus are much scarcer than those of Carusius.
Along with the British Museum, I feel 99.9% sure that this coin is authentic, but I just like speculating on the tiny amount of doubt.
Edited by sel_69l
06/07/2019 11:07 am
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Beautiful coin, it would have been nice to see what the reverse looked like. I can only dream of owning a coin like that.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
905 Posts |
Edited by Victor
06/07/2019 4:58 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3441 Posts |
Pure speculation but I would suppose much like the EF Tetrarchy folles I purchased several years ago there must have been some sort of pot (bronze or clay) that protected the coin from suffering any environmental damage
Either that or it's a fake !
I assume the experts inquired about this
Surprised it ended up on the open market
Unless the British Museum already has a better one !
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I read about this one a few months ago; it is indeed a match to a BM specimen, and at the time I thought that their auction estimate was way too low. About a year ago Aureii & Calico auctioned off a monster collection of very nearly every Roman emperor and empress in gold, and a helmeted Carausius aureus took the spotlight at half a million Euros if I recall. Even beat out a Romulus Augustulus by a few hundred grand.
These British guys are popular!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
A search on Google images for
Allectus aureus
reveals three different reverses.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5394 Posts |
I was at the DNW London Auction on the 6 th and really enjoyed seeing this piece then watching it Auction.
Pretty exciting and a big round of applause at the hammer! Chris informed me that there were NINE different
Bidders for this beauty! Who says the coin collecting hobby is dead or dying!
Many lots sold to the internet as is usual these days and room attendance was sparse
With the most I counted being 13 at the height of the sale.
Overall there were very few real deals in this sale , many lots with multiple bids .
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Pillar of the Community
United States
905 Posts |
Quote:
A search on Google images for
Allectus aureus
reveals three different reverses. RIC lists these-- ADVENTVS AVG COMES AVG (two different reverse types) ORIENS AVG PAX AVG (three different types) SALVS AVG SPES AVG VICTORIA AVG VIRTVS AVG (two types) Depeyrot additionally lists- PROVID AVG |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 2,093 |
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Posted 06/07/2019 11:06 am
