As alternative assets boom, a retired teacher’s remarkable cache of ancient Roman and Greek gold — plus two Victoria Crosses — is poised to ignite fierce auction interest.
When retired teacher Anthony Taylor first wandered into Noble Numismatics years ago, few imagined he would assemble the most significant private collection of ancient gold coins to hit the Australian market.
Yet his painstakingly built portfolio — spanning coins of Alexander the Great through, Julius Caesar to Caligula — is estimated to be worth $1.5 million.
“When he used to come to our sales he was hard to outbid.”
Jim Noble, Noble Numismatics
It forms the spine of next week’s Sydney auction run by Noble Numismatics, a five-day event arriving at a moment when soaring bullion prices are drawing investors into rarer, historically charged assets. Alongside Taylor’s coins, two Victoria Crosses — including the only VC awarded to a member of the Royal Australian Regiment — may set local records.
Noble Numismatic’s Jim Noble says the Taylor collection of ancient coins is the best to ever come on the market in Australia from one owner. “He’s just a private citizen who’s studied and come to meetings at our office about ancient coins over the years.
“He’s a retired teacher. He’s an ex-American citizen and he lives in Australia with his wife and he does a bit of writing, research and he’s very passionate.
“When he used to come to our sales he was hard to outbid.”
Noble says the market for old coins has been very strong overseas. “Record after record has been broken in recent sales.”
Also to be sold is Australia’s first gold coin, the Adelaide pound from 1852, estimated at around $12,500, and a rare Canadian gold sovereign from 1916 estimated at $30,000.
Record high bullion prices affect the coin market, Noble says. “All those holding gold can dip some of their gold out, sell it and buy something rare. It does improve the rare coin market.”
The two Victoria Cross medals are separated by 90 years and $300,000. One was awarded in WWI posthumously to Robert Beatham, killed in action in France on August 9th, 1918, and personally presented to his mother by King George V in 1919.
It is estimated to be worth $500,000.
The other is the VC awarded to Corporal Daniel Keighran for an action in Afghanistan. Keighran was part of a joint Australian/Afghan National Army patrol that came under attack in 2020. “The enemy fire, which came from different locations, was accurate and deadly,” according the Australian War Memorial website. “Corporal Keighran deliberately and repeatedly exposed himself in order to direct suppressing fire. From high points, he identified targets for machine-gunners and light armoured vehicles. He also drew attention away from a mortally wounded comrade (Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney) and, while under fire, set about clearing a landing zone for his evacuation.”
The VC is part of 10 medals Keighran is selling, so it is anticipated to go for more than the older cross. Keighran is hoping a rich benefactor might keep the Victoria Cross where it is.
“He would like to see it stay in the Australian War Memorial for permanent display where it has been,” says Noble. “He had to uplift it to bring it to auction. It’s a very conservative $800,000.”
Keighran’s was the third “Victoria Cross for Australia” to be awarded, behind Mark Donaldson and the controversial Ben Roberts-Smith. The Victoria Cross is Australia’s highest military medal for bravery.
“It’s a priceless thing … They do attract a lot of attention. The fact is, it can’t be exported out of the country. So, people like Lord Ashcroft, who’s been buying Victoria Crosses for years in England, he could own it, but he’d have to leave it in Australia on display at the War Memorial.
“We’re selling Keighran’s on behalf of him. He’s got his mother in a nursing home. He needs money. It’ll be a good thing to see it sell for a good price. See if you can pitch it to some of the Forbes billionaires.”
In 2023, Noble sold a VC was $1.46 million. After fees, the anonymous buyer paid almost $1.8 million for the medal by Corporal Jack French at Milne Bay, New Guinea, in 1942.
The auction goes over five days, starting Monday November 24. The 3,723 lots include coins and banknotes, stamps, documents, memorabilia, antiquities, Asian pottery and statues, orders decorations and medals, militaria, ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins and other items.
Highlights
Ancient and rare gold coins
- Caligula/Agrippina gold aureus — est. $100,000
- Julius Caesar gold aureus (two available) — est. $15,000 each
- Galba gold aureus — est. $70,000
- Otho gold aureus — est. $50,000
- Alexander the Great gold coins — (no estimate provided)
- Alexander the Great silver coins — (no estimate provided)
- Philip II (father of Alexander) gold/silver coins — (no estimate provided)
- Lysimachus gold coins featuring deified Alexander — (no estimate provided)
- Holey Dollar (NSW first coinage), 1813 — est. $120,000
- Three 1813 Dumps (centrepieces) — est. $18,000; $12,000; $2,500
- Adelaide Pound, 1852 (Australia’s first gold coin) — est. $12,500
- Canadian gold sovereign, 1916C — est. $30,000
Victoria Crosses
- Victoria Cross (WWI), Robert Beatham — est. $500,000
- Victoria Cross (Afghanistan), Corporal Daniel Keighran — est. $800,000
Australian & World Coins, Banknotes, Tokens
- Elizabeth II Royal Ladies gold proof set, 1992 — est. $15,000
- Elizabeth II Floral Emblems gold proof set, 1995–2003 — est. $13,500
- Elizabeth II Perth Mint four-coin gold proof set, 1986 — est. $15,000
- Australian Jamberoo penny, 1855 — est. $5,000
- Internment Camps Five Shillings (WWII, off-centre punched) — est. $5,000
- Nottingham/Shropshire Donald & Co. pattern halfpenny, unique — est. $10,000
- Australian Collins/Allen “rainbow” one pound banknote, 1915 — est. $15,000
Medals & Militaria
- Agricultural and other prize medals (selection) — est. $30 – $10,000
- Chief’s Medals for North America, Africa and Asia (lots 768–781) — est. $800 – $10,000
- Boer War medals (groups and singles, lots 1342–1359 & 1371–1378) — est. $400 – $7,500
