NGC Ancients-certified Gold Coin Featuring Roman Emperor Macrinus Among Highlights in NAC Sale

An astounding coin featuring a Roman emperor who held power for only a year is among dozens of ancient rarities certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) that are being offered in an upcoming Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG sale. Bidding is already underway for Auction 138 - Collection of Greek, Celtic, Roman & Byzantine Coins, which will be held May 18-19, 2023.

A top coin in the auction is a Roman Empire Macrinus, AD 217-218 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 762), with an estimate of 100,000 CHF (about $112,300). This well-pedigreed aureus features the draped and laureate bust of the Roman emperor Marcus Opellius Macrinus, who reigned for just over one year from April 217 to June 218. Macrinus was the first emperor who did not come into power from the Roman senatorial class. Additionally, he never set foot in Rome during his short reign, which was dominated by military conflict in the east.

Click image to enlarge.

Other NGC-certified coins in this auction include:

• a Roman Empire, Galba, AD 68-69 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 658), with an estimate of 75,000 CHF (about $84,250)
• a Roman Empire, Titus, AD 79-81 (posthumous) Sestertius graded NGC Ancients VF, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface (lot 671), with an estimate of 75,000 CHF (about $84,250)
• a Sicily, Syracuse, c. 405-395 BC Gold 100-Litrai graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 84), with an estimate of 60,000 CHF (about $67,400)
• a Kingdom of Bactria, Eucratides, c. 170-145 BC Gold Stater graded NGC Ancients MS, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 291), with an estimate of 60,000 CHF (about $67,400)
• a Roman Empire, Septimius Severus, AD 193-211 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 745), with an estimate of 60,000 CHF (about $67,400)
• a Roman Empire, Hadrian, AD 117-138 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 691), with an estimate of 50,000 CHF (about $56,000)
• a Roman Empire, Hadrian, AD 117-138 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 692), with an estimate of 50,000 CHF (about $56,000)
• a Roman Empire, Caracalla, AD 198-217 Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface with Fine Style (lot 754), with an estimate of 50,000 CHF (about $56,000)

Estimates are provided by the auction house. The $ symbol represents US Dollars.