Rare Genghis Khan Gold Dinar Leads Heritage’s Near East World & Ancient Coins Showcase Auction to More Than $609,000

A Great Mongols. Chingiz (Genghis) Khan gold Dinar AH 618 (1221/1222) brought exceptional results, leading Heritage’s July 20-21 Spotlight: Near East World and Ancient Coins Showcase Auction to $609,642. From the earliest Islamic monetary reforms to the coinage of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and the mighty Sasanian Empire, the auction showcased more than 1,500 years of numismatic history while demonstrating Heritage’s continued leadership in presenting premier ancient and world coin auctions to collectors.

Leading the event was the remarkable Great Mongols. Chingiz (Genghis) Khan gold Dinar AH 618 (1221/1222) MS62 NGC, which brought $20,740. Certified as the sole finest example of its type by NGC, the coin represents one of the earliest gold issues struck under the rule of Genghis Khan at the Ghazna mint. The Mint State rarity displays bold legends, traces of original luster and extensive floral ornamentation surrounding inscriptions naming both the Abbasid Caliph and the famed Mongol conqueror. The piece had not appeared at auction since 2012, underscoring its desirability among collectors of Islamic and Mongol coinage.

Among the auction’s strongest performers was a MACEDONIAN KINGDOM. Alexander III the Great AV Stater from the posthumous Sidon mint issue of 310/309 BC, which realized $18,300. Featuring an elegant portrait of Athena wearing a Corinthian helmet decorated with a griffin and a reverse depicting Nike advancing with wreath and stylis, the impressive gold stater exemplifies the artistry and enduring appeal of coinage produced in the decades following Alexander’s extraordinary conquests.

Another highlight came from the formative years of Islamic coinage when an Umayyad ‘Abd al-Malik gold Dinar AH 81 (700/701) MS65 NGC realized $12,200. Certified as the sole finest example across all grading services, the beautifully preserved coin showcases radiant golden surfaces and commemorates one of the most important monetary reforms in history. During his reign, Caliph ‘Abd al-Malik fundamentally transformed Islamic coinage by replacing figural imagery with Arabic inscriptions and Quranic quotations, establishing the iconic epigraphic style that would define Islamic currency for centuries.

Collectors also showed continued enthusiasm for gold staters of Alexander the Great, with two additional examples each realizing $9,150.

A lifetime or early posthumous issue struck at Amphipolis around 330-320 BC realized $9,150. The attractive coin features Athena wearing a serpent-adorned Corinthian helmet, while the reverse depicts Nike holding a wreath and stylis alongside a cantharus control mark.

An equally desirable lifetime-early posthumous issue from Salamis, struck circa 332-323 BC, also brought $9,150. Distinguished by its quiver control mark and finely engraved portrait of Athena, the piece reflects the remarkable consistency and artistry achieved across the mints of Alexander’s expanding empire.

Ancient Persian gold also attracted strong interest, as a SASANIAN KINGDOM. Shahpur I the Great AV Dinar realized $9,150. The Mint State issue depicts Shahpur I wearing his imposing mural crown while the reverse features the Zoroastrian fire altar flanked by attendants. Shahpur I remains one of the most significant rulers of the Sasanian Empire, remembered for defeating Roman Emperor Gordian III, capturing Emperor Valerian after the Battle of Edessa in AD 260 and overseeing major architectural and religious projects that strengthened the empire during its period of greatest expansion.

Complete results can be found at HA.com/61644.