Ancient hoard of 2,000-year-old coins sold at auction for approximately £3 million.
Rare Gold Coin Collection Discovered in France Auctioned for Over €3 Million
A remarkable gold coin collection, spanning centuries and boasting rarities, has been sold at auction in Paris for over €3 million. The collection, which consists of more than 1,000 pieces, was discovered hidden within the walls of a French home in southwestern France.
The collection was meticulously amassed by Paul Narce, a man who spent his entire life accumulating historical artifacts, including this ancient gold coin collection. Despite living a modest life, Narce, who passed away in 2024, spent a significant amount of money on his collection.
The gold coin collection, described as exceptional by coin expert Thierry Parsy, includes near-complete series of coins from the reigns of French monarchs Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. It also features pieces dating back to the Kingdom of Macedonia during the reign of Alexander the Great.
The collection was largely built by Narce using his fortune. Ten packages, each containing 172 gold 20-franc coins, were also uncovered. The auction's success highlights the enduring allure of ancient treasures, now accessible to collectors and enthusiasts alike.
The treasure was discovered hidden behind a painting in Narce's former home. It was later auctioned by Beaussant Lefevre and Associates, with every single coin finding a buyer during the auction. The final bid for the collection reached over €3 million, well above the pre-auction estimate of €2 million.
Paul Narce remained largely out of the public eye, but his lifelong passion for numismatics (the study of coins and money) is now celebrated through the success of this auction. The gold coin collection is one of the most significant of its kind, containing rarities that will undoubtedly captivate collectors for years to come.
