A rare 17th-century gold coin minted during the reign of Spain’s King Philip III has shattered European auction records after selling for 2.817 million Swiss francs (USD 3.49 million) in Switzerland, drawing global attention from collectors of coins and historical artefacts.
The extraordinary coin, minted in 1609 in the Spanish city of Segovia, weighs an impressive 339 grams and was struck from New World gold brought back by Spanish conquistadors from the Americas. Known as a centén, the coin was originally crafted as a symbol of royal prestige, wealth and imperial power.
Experts say the coin’s value at the time was equivalent to several years of wages, underscoring its status as an elite royal token. The piece vanished from public records for centuries until resurfacing in the United States around the 1950s, when it was purchased by a New York collector. It later changed hands several times, but the identity of its latest buyer has not been disclosed.
According to Alain Baron, founder of the auction house, the coin was originally a royal gift exchanged exclusively among rulers. He said the new buyer has acquired “a piece worthy of kings,” given its history as a diplomatic and ceremonial treasure.
The sale also surpassed the previous European auction record of 1.95 million francs set by a 100-ducat piece from Habsburg ruler Ferdinand III, cementing the centén’s place in numismatic history.
Collectors from around the world reportedly vied for the coin as a trophy asset, adding intensity to an already high-profile auction.
