What is the rarest ancient coin? Unfortunately, the rarest ancient coins are not easy to find or name, for that matter.
Some coins are rare because of the number of existing coins, but others are rare because of their historical value.
What is the Rarest Ancient coin:
Pantikapaion Gold Stater
The Pantikapaion gold stater is an ancient coin minted in the city of Pantikapaion.
It is a gold coin, and it was minted between 350 and 300 BC. The coin is considered one of the rarest and most expensive ancient coins ever sold!
Short History of Pantikapaion Gold Stater
The Pantikapaeon gold stater, also known as the “Pantikapaion Stater,” is among the world’s most famous ancient coins.
It was minted in the 2nd century BC by Pantikapaion and is one of the most sought-after ancient coins.
Characteristics of Pantikapaion Gold Stater
It features a bearded satyr portrait on its obverse and a griffin on the reverse that stands over an ear of wheat surrounded by the first three letters of the town’s name. It’s made of gold and weighs 9.12 grams.
Why is it Valuable?
The Pantikapaion gold stater is valuable because it’s one of the few surviving examples of the first minted coins: the Lydian electrum stater.
The coin was minted around 650-625 BC in Lydia, an Asia Minor area now modern-day Turkey.
It’s important because we only have a few ancient coins from this period; most were melted down for their precious metals at some point during history and aren’t around today.
But this particular coin survives because someone decided to bury it—possibly as a sacrifice or offering to the gods—and not dig it back up again until its discovery by French archaeologists in 1890.
How Much Was it Sold For?
The most expensive ancient coin ever sold was a gold stater of King Pantikapaion.
This Athenian coin, which dates back to around 390 BC, was sold at auction for $3.25 million to an anonymous bidder in 2012.
Takeaway:
The rarest ancient coins are not easy to find or name. Some coins are rare because of the number of existing coins, but others are rare because of their historical value.
This can include their age, where they were discovered, and the circumstances behind their creation.
Some ancient coins are rare because they were made from valuable metals like gold or silver.
In contrast, other coins have become more valuable over time due to rarity or interest from collectors.
Before you go…
Some ancient coin types are also extremely difficult to make and, therefore, more desirable than others. The rarest ancient coins are not easy to find or name, for that matter. Some coins are rare because of the number of existing coins, but others are rare because of their historical value.
Check out my next article: “100 Ancient Coin Names!
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