NGC-certified South African Coin Realizes More than $2 Million in Heritage Sale
The January auction also included a stunning Caligula gold aureus graded by NGC Ancients that realized $600,000.
Posted on: 1/14/2025
A coin at the pinnacle of South African numismatics just realized $2.16 million while 14 other coins certified by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) realized six-figure amounts in a major auction. Heritage Auctions' NYINC Platinum Session World & Ancient Coins Signature® Auction was held on January 13, 2025.
The South Africa 1898 Stamped Single '9' Pond graded NGC MS 63 PL and pedigreed to the Gatsby Collection was struck at the onset of the Second Boer War in November 1898 in Pretoria, the capital of the South African Republic. The seizure of the 1899 reverse dies forced the mint master to improvise, punching a single '9' below President Paul Kruger's bust on the obverse to signify a new date. However, the number was too large, so a smaller '99' punch was used for the remaining 130 pieces. The Single '9' was presented to an American diplomat, found its way into the collection of Egypt's King Farouk and has been a pacesetter for South African numismatics ever since.
Other NGC-certified coins from the Gatsby Collection in this auction included:
a South Africa 1898 Stamped '99' Pond graded NGC MS 65 (lot 31068), which realized $108,000
a South Africa 1892 Double Shaft Pond graded NGC PF 64 (lot 31059), which realized $78,000
a South Africa 1874 Coarse Beard Pond graded NGC MS 65 (lot 31026), which realized $72,000
a South Africa 1887 Orange Free State Copper Kroon graded MS 62 BN (lot 31016), which realized $66,000
a South Africa 1887 Silver Kroon with a British East Africa counterstamp graded NGC AU 55 (lot 31017), which realized $55,200
a South Africa 1874 Gilt-Copper 5 Shillings graded NGC PF 64 Ultra Cameo (lot 31024), which realized $52,800
a South Africa 1892 Double Shaft Half Pond graded NGC PF 64 Cameo (lot 31052), which realized $36,000
The second-highest price realized in the auction was a Roman Empire, Caligula (A.D. 37-41) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike, 5/5 Surface (lot 33054), which realized $600,000. The coin features the bust of Caligula on the obverse and the bust of the first Roman emperor, Augustus, on the reverse. This is "easily the finest Caligula aureus in private hands," according to the auction house.
Other NGC-certified coins in the auction included:
a Great Britain 1839 Una and the Lion 5 Sovereign graded NGC PF 62+ Ultra Cameo (lot 33263), which realized $336,000
an England 1688 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 64 PL (lot 33202), which realized $336,000
a Russia 1845CNB 6 Roubles graded NGC PF 64 and pedigreed to the Eternal Collection (lot 32112), which realized $156,000
an India AH1030//16 Mughal Empire Mohur - Jahangir graded NGC MS 62 (lot 33290), which realized $144,000
a Russia 1830CNB 12 Roubles graded NGC MS 63 PL (lot 32113), which realized $132,000
a Roman Empire, Macrinus (A.D. 217-218) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ancients Ch MS★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 33083), which realized $132,000
a Roman Empire, Hadrian (AD 117-138) Gold Aureus graded NGC Ch AU★, 5/5 Strike and 5/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 33073), which realized $126,000
an England 1705 5 Guineas graded NGC MS 61 (lot 33217), which realized $120,000
a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Berenice II Gold Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients Ch AU, 5/5 Strike and 3/5 Surface, with Fine Style (lot 33034), which realized $120,000
a Russia 1830CNB 6 Roubles graded NGC MS 67 (lot 32111), which realized $114,000
a Russia 1741CNB Rouble graded NGC MS 64 (lot 32097), which realized $114,000
a Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy III Gold Octodrachm graded NGC Ancients MS★, 5/5 Strike and 4/5 Surface (lot 33035), which realized $114,000
