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HERITAGE: WORLD AND ANCIENT COINS AUCTIONHeritage Auctions will be hosting their World & Ancient Coins Auction on November 5. Select Curators' Picks are discussed below. -Garrett 
IONIA. Uncertain mint. Ca. 540-500 BC. EL stater (22mm, 14.02 gm). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 4/5. Recumbent bull right, head reverted, on dotted groundline; lotus above / Rectangular incuse punch between two square incuse punches, all with geometric patterned surfaces. Weidauer-. BMC-. SNG Kayhan-. Kraay-Hirmer-. Traité-. Rosen-, cf. 148 for similar obverse type. Linzalone-, cf. 1174 for similar type with lion. Seemingly unpublished and unfound in sales archives. An immaculate, unique specimen on a broad, sunny flan. This fascinating example appears to be a transitional type between Rosen 148 (obverse type) and Linzalone 1174 (recumbent lion and lotus with three incuse reverse). The Rosen example similarly features a recumbent bull with lotus, but it is a single punch reverse. Alternatively, the Linzalone example features a recumbent lion with lotus above, and three individually struck punches. These similarities suggest that, along with Rosen 149, they were likely struck at the same mint as part of a series of coinage featuring lotus flowers. However, as Wartenberg notes in White Gold (2020), the lotus flower is a common motif across Hellenistic coinage, so it cannot be linked to one specific mint.
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IONIA. Uncertain mint. Ca. 540-500 BC. EL stater (21mm, 13.98 gm). NGC VF 5/5 - 4/5. Conjoined foreparts of bull left and roaring lion right / Rectangular incuse punch between two square incuse punches, all with geometric patterned surfaces. White Gold, pp. 569-640, 1-2 (this obverse die). Linzalone-. Kraay-Hirmer 590 (Croesus). Weidauer 133 var. (lion left, bull right). Very rare specimen with only two other examples in sales archives. Wonderfully animated dies on a nicely oval flan. Scholarship on electrum coinage over the last century places this coin as a prototype of Croesus's bimetallic coinage based on the assumption that electrum coinage ceased to be produced once silver coinage was introduced. However, recent research from Wartenberg published in White Gold (2020) has concluded that electrum coinage continued to be made even until the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, that electrum was an intentionally made alloy through the introduction of silver to almost-pure gold, and that the coins circulated even as far as Egypt. Thus, this specific type cannot be definitively attributed to any one mint. Based on hoard data of this series and of similar types, it can be comfortably placed in the late 6th century BC. Scholars such as Barclay Head, Robinson, Kraay, Weidauer, and Konuk have put forth many theories about dating and symbolism for this series of coins - both the type with the bull protome left and lion protome right, and the inverse. Robinson even suggests that "Both branches of the Lydian royal house traced their origin to a native solar deity...and the royal badge is also a solar symbol. Then the ox is perhaps a lunar one. Is it too fantastic to carry the symbolism one stage further? Lion = sun = gold: ox = moon = silver. In the issue of gold and silver alloy, lion and ox are shown still joined together, back to back. In the parallel issues of the later coinage in pure gold and silver they are not only separated but opposed." This theory, while impossible to validate, holds true even if this series was minted later than Robinson proposed.
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Vespasian (AD 69-79). AV aureus (19mm, 7.34 gm, 5h). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 2/5, ex-jewelry, scuffs. Judaea Capta issue, Rome, ca. 21 December AD 69-early AD 70. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right / IVDAEA, Judaea, seated right on ground before palm tree, hands tied behind her. Calicó 644a. RIC II.1, 3. GBC 6, 6493. Very rare, only a few examples in sales archives. Mirror-like flashes. Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 313 (5 July 2018), lot 19. Descended from a family of small-time entrepreneurs and tax farmers in the Sabine hill country north of Rome, Flavius Vespasianus was born in AD 9 and rose to prominence in the Roman Army. He gained distinction during Claudius' invasion of Britain in AD 43-44 and won a Consulship in AD 51, but fell from imperial favor when he dozed off during one of Nero's musical performances. When a Jewish faction in the province of Judaea rebelled and massacred the local Roman garrison in AD 66, Nero sent Vespasian at the head of three legions to crush the revolt. Through his able son Titus, Vespasian gained the friendship and support of Mucianus, governor of Syria, who had another three legions at his disposal. When the collapse of Nero's regime in AD 68 led to a free-for-all for the throne, with Galba, Otho, and Vitellius following in quick succession, Vespasian realized he had the means and ability to make his own try for supreme power. On 1 July AD 69, the legions of Alexandria, Egypt declared Vespasian as emperor. He decided on a policy of blockade and attrition to defeat Vitellius, but the sudden declaration of support by the Danubian legions and their invasion of Italy in the fall of AD 69 brought a much quicker victory. Vitellius was executed on 20 December, and the Senate proclaimed Vespasian emperor two days later. Arriving in Rome the following October, Vespasian celebrated a magnificent triumph for the Judaean campaign before launching an austerity program to put the Empire's finances on sound footing. His decade of rule was largely untroubled by revolts and conspiracies. Upon his death due to a sudden illness in AD 79 he was widely and sincerely mourned, and power passed smoothly to his son Titus.
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Nicholas I platinum 6 Roubles 1829-C?? AU55 PCGS, St. Petersburg mint, KM-C178, Bitkin-55 (R2), Sev-596, Uzd-0386. Struck in 1829, the very same year Nicholas I ascended to the Russian throne, the platinum specimen offered here is an artifact from the outset of his historic reign. This fantastic 6 Roubles is second highest denomination of the platinum pieces struck under Nicholas I, and one this cataloger is ecstatic to handle. Although the outermost peripheries exhibit some disturbance, and chatter across the fields ultimately limits the grade, the crispness of the obverse design is particularly praiseworthy, with its sharply rendered elements projecting boldly against the distinctive platinum backdrop. Hailing from a production of just 828 pieces, this near-Mint State representative presents an enticing opportunity for the collector whose interests lie in the rarities of Imperial Russian coinage. Metal: Platinum
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Philip V gold Cob Escudo 1715 Mo-J MS65 NGC, Mexico City mint, cf. KM51.2 (1715 unlisted, without flowers on reverse), Cal-1740. 3.36gm. Struck with royal dies. A piece that is easy to cherish. Presented here is a prime gold Escudo, not only displaying the full date, Mint, and assayer marks, but in a level of clarity that is breathtaking. Metal: Gold
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Eggenberg. Johann Anton Taler 1644 MS62 NGC, Krumau mint, KM27, Dav-3389, Donebauer-3312. An impeccable specimen, reigning superior in its quality and displaying a notable visual appeal. Acting as another indication of the careful aura of preservation, the remaining brilliance cascades across the flan with a simple whirl, appearing almost prooflike in hand. This Taler type was only struck in the 1644 and 1649 dates, with this 1644 example struck just two years after the opening of the Krumau mint in 1642. This representative will undoubtedly inspire competition upon its offering, as it is uncertain when another high-quality piece of this type will present itself again on the auction block. Metal: Silver
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Kutch. Khengarji III silver Pattern 10 Kori VS 1998 (1942) MS64 NGC, KM-XM6 (Rare). Small portrait. Edge: lettered. A fabulous Pattern 10 Kori, and the highest denomination of the Pattern series produced in Kutch. Particularly desirable due to its scarcity and preservation, as there were no other examples that appeared at market, let alone with a elevated near-Gem grade. The closest example to the type was a pattern 5 Kori with the same design (large portrait type) realizing $29,710 in 2025 (Numismatica Genevensis SA Auction 23, November 2025, Lot 1066). Krause Mishler's Unusual World Coins reference notes, "in the last years of its coinage history, Kutch struck some non-circulating coins which state de-nomination. At least one was a pattern which wasn't approved for circulation strikes and the others were probably presentation pieces." A fascinating rendition and one of the exceedingly few portrait issues ever produced by Kutch. The lone example certified by NGC and considerably rare as such. Metal: Silver
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Charles I gold Unite (20 Shillings) 1643 AU53 NGC, Oxford mint, KM254, S-2734, N-2389 (R), Brooker-851 (same dies). 9.01gm. Plume mm. Declaration in continuous scroll that connects with outer legend. Truly a very handsome rendition of this beloved type from the English Civil War, which while showing some minor irregularities in the dies, still demonstrates a superb craftsmanship and remarkable fullness of expression. Whereas the issue usually comes on heavily wavy flans with an uneven strike, that is not the case for this fantastic example. Metal: Gold
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Oliver Cromwell "Dutch Copy" 6 Pence 1658 MS62 NGC, S-3229a, ESC-263 (prev. 1506; R4). Edge: Plain. Dutch copy by Tanner. An incredibly curious issue, with an estimate of less than 50 pieces extant. Bull notes that "only four genuine Cromwell sixpences are believed to exist, although rather more of the copies were executed in the Low Countries by Tanner c. 1738." A type last offered by Heritage in 2010, this piece sits just one point below the highest available certified, making it quite the prize for the Cromwellian specialist. Metal: Silver
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