KUENKER AUCTION SALES 438-441, PART ONE

Künker is the place to go when it comes to selling large and important collections. Many collectors know this, as is demonstrated once again by Künker's upcoming Spring Auction Sales. They will be held from 16 to 20 March 2026 and contain numerous important and extensive collections.

Coins from the Ancient World

Auction 438 with coins from the ancient world is dominated by three large collections. On offer are the Topp / Dormagen Collection, the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt / Bovenden Collection as well as the Everglades Collection. Anyone who loves ancient coins will find carefully selected specimens from all areas that will make a collector's heart beat faster.

Celtic Coins

This is particularly evident in the case of Celtic coins, most of which are from the Topp Collection. More than 100 lots, some of which are of a high caliber, cover the full spectrum – from England to the Balkans. Gaul is particularly well represented, with numerous early imitations of Philip II's gold coins, inspired by those earned by Celtic mercenaries during the Macedonian campaigns.

The highlight is an extremely rare gold stater of Vercingetorix, who has found his way into modern popular culture. The Averni prince once succeeded in uniting the Celtic tribes against the Romans, almost preventing Caesar's conquest of Gaul. In the 19th century, Vercingetorix became a symbol of French identity, and he is still depicted as such in Asterix comics and films today, throwing his arms on – not at – Caesar's feet when he surrenders. Coins bearing his name are among the great and coveted rarities of Celtic numismatics.

No. 14: Celts. Gaul. Anonymous. Gold stater, "Pons Sainte-Eanne" type, early 2nd century BC. Rare. From the Topp Collection. About extremely fine. Estimate: 6,000 euros

No. 29: Celts. Gaul. Vercingetorix, 52 BC. Gold stater. Very rare. Signs of weak strike, otherwise very fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros

No. 104: Celts. Southern Germany. Gold stater, rainbow cup. Extremely rare. From the Topp Collection. Very fine. Estimate: 7,500 euros

Greek Coins

You will also find numerous carefully selected pieces of great beauty and excellent quality in the section of Greek coins. For fans of US gradings, it is worth mentioning that all coins in the Everglades Collections have been graded.

Of particular interest is a series of 20 electrum staters from Cyzicus that always depict a tuna on the obverse.

The Schmidt couple were particularly interested in the enemies of the Romans – the peoples who lived on the eastern border of the Roman Empire. You will find an extensive range of Parthian and Sasanian issues, including pieces from rare rulers, such as a tetradrachm of Phraatakes and Musa, as well as a drachm of Queen Buran, and the entire royal family of Vahran II. Of course, there is also an extensive offer of Bactrian issues from the Schmidt Collection. So if you are interested in the ancient cultures of the East, take the time to study this catalog in detail.

No. 162: Syracuse (Sicily). 100 litrae, 295-289. Rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 320: Rhodes (Caria). Gold stater, 125-88. Extremely rare. Very fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 388: Parthians. Phraatakes and Musa. Tetradrachm, 2nd century BC to 4th century AD, Daisios 312 of the Seleucid Era (= May 1 AD). Very rare. Very fine +. Estimate: 5,000 euros

No. 416: Sasanians. Buran, 630-631. Drachm, year 2 Sakasan. Very rare. From the Jürgen and Erika Schmidt Collection. Extremely fine. Estimate: 1,000 euros

No. 449: Zeugitania. Carthage. Trihemistater, around 260 BC. Very rare. NGC AU, 4/5, 4/5, Fine Style, light marks. Extremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros

Gold, Silver and Bronze from Rome

Of course, there are also plenty of fascinating Roman coins to discover. No matter your budget or which period you collect – be it coins from the Republic, the Civil War, the Empire or the Later Roman period – you will find the piece of your dreams in this auction.

No. 518: M. Iunius Brutus. Denarius, 42, military mint in Asia Minor or Northern Greece. Very rare. Obv. fine. Rev. fine to very fine. Estimate: 50,000 euros

No. 559: Roman Empire. Spintria, 22-37. Extremely rare. Extremely fine. Estimate: 8,000 euros

No. 691: Pertinax, 193. Aureus. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 40,000 euros

An Extensive Collection of Byzantine Coins

Most of the Byzantine rarities on offer at auction 438 are from the Topp Collection. Prepare to be amazed by rare solidi of a quality rarely seen! The highlight is a probably unpublished solidus created during the Heraclian revolt. At the time, Heraclius, the Exarch of Carthage, and his son of the same name rebelled against the unpopular Phocas. The titles and attire of the two men are remarkable: on this coin, they refer to themselves as consuls, a title bestowed upon them by the Carthagian senate. This is not the only rarity. The Topp Collection includes many coins of historically significant figures, including a solidus of Empress Irene and one of Michael III with his mother, Theodora, and his sister, Thekla.

No. 945: Byzantium. Heraclian revolt, 608-610. Solidus, unknown mint. Extremely rare. Probably unpublished. From the Topp Collection. About extremely fine. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 1034: Byzantium. Michael III with Theodora and Thekla. Solidus 842/3. Very rare. From the Topp Collection. Very fine to extremely fine. Estimate: 7,500 euros

Rarities of the Gupta Dynasty

Friends of Indian culture will find two exceptionally rare Gupta gold coins in this auction. They were minted by Kumaragupta I between 415 and 455. His reign is now considered the late heyday of the Gupta Empire, when the economy and arts flourished once more before regional interests permanently weakened the empire and initiated its slow decline.

No. 1076: Gupta. Kumaragupta, 414-455. Stater, rhinoceros slayer type. Very rare. About extremely fine. Estimate: 25,000 euros

To order a catalog contact Künker, Nobbenburger Straße 4a, 49076 Osnabrück; phone: +49 541 / 962020; fax: +49 541 / 9620222; or via e-mail: service@kuenker.de. You can access the auction catalogs online at www.kuenker.de. If you want to submit your bid from your computer at home, please remember to register for this service in good time.

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web