A gold medallion of nine solidi, produced under the reign of Roman emperor Constantine I (AD 272-337), is to headline a sale at Bonhams.
The lot is valued at $200,000-300,000 ahead of the June 1 coins and medals auction in Los Angeles.
 Constantine I was a powerful Roman emperor |
Bonhams comments: "The present lot appears to be related by subject to small group of gold medallions and coins that was discovered in the village of Helleville, near Cherbourg in Normandy, France in 1780."
The hoard was purchased for the French national collection. Sadly, most of those coins were stolen and melted down in 1830 - although a few (the present example included) were spared.
A Newfoundland 1865 $2 coin is expected to make $35,000-40,000.
Bonhams says: "A nice Specimen example of the first date in the Newfoundland gold series. It is estimated that no more than 10 Specimen strikings were produced, with most going to English collectors desiring an example of the first Newfoundland gold coin.
"It is thought that today approximately six pieces are known."
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