A correspondent kindly drew my attention to the following piece in the Daily Express.
Rare Roman coin featuring early depiction of the Colosseum sells for £372,000
AN INCREDIBLE rare Roman coin featuring one of the earliest depictions of the Colosseum has sold for £372,000 – nearly five times its estimate.
The bronze Sestertius coin that dates back to AD81 is believed to be only one of 10 that exist today.
Seven are in museums around the world while the other three are in private hands.
This one, appearing in public for the first time in almost 80 years, was acquired by a wealthy British connoisseur of Roman bronze coins in 1939.
It had remained in the late collector’s family ever since but was today sold to a European private collector through London coin dealers Dix Noonan Webb.
A packed auction room watched on in amazement as the relic far exceeded its £80,000 estimate.
One side of the coin features an image of the famous Colosseum in Rome, which had only just been built.
It’s very interesting to learn that his coin is so rare. In case they vanish from the web, I’d like to place here copies of the marvellous large photographs of the coin. Note the depiction of the fountain, the Meta Sudans, to the left of the Colosseum, and some kind of long-vanished portico to the right.
