Baldwin's has sold one of the rarest modern Greek coins, the 1876 gold 100 drachmai, for a new world record price in its sale of European Coins from the Ake Linden Collection.
 Baldwin's now holds the record for both modern and ancient Greek coins |
Held on May 7 in London, the auction boasted an array of exceptional coins from the Swedish numismatist's collection, which is regarded as one of the finest in the world.
The 100 drachmai coin sold for ?�216,000 ($363,932), a record for any modern Greek coin.
Baldwin's also holds the record for an ancient Greek coin, with a magnificent gold stater from Pantikapaion, which bears an astonishing portrait of a satyr, selling for $3.2m from the Prosper Collection in 2012.
The George I 1876 gold 100 drachmai was minted in a limited run of just 76, making it one of the rarest regular issues ever produced in modern Greece. It is decorated with the Order of the Saviour, Greece's highest decoration, under the royal arms.
 This was the last coin minted in the Kingdom of Italy, and one of the rarest |
Also selling well was a 1864 Vittorio Emanuele II gold 50 lire coin. It is the rarest one-year coin of the whole Italian Kingdom series, with just 103 in existence.
One of the last coins to be minted in the Kingdom of Italy before joining the Latin Monetary Union (a precursor to the Euro), it sold for ?�130,000 ($219,033) - a 116.6% increase on estimate.
Baldwin's set another record on May 8, when it sold an Edward VIII proof sovereign for ?�516,000 ($875,616) - a new record for British coinage.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a fantastic selection of rare coins for sale, including a superb 1509 Alfonso I D'Este double ducat - one of only five known examples.
