Gold coin from 1609 sells for $3.49 million, breaking European record

A remarkable gold coin minted in 1609 for Spain's King Philip III has set a new record as the most valuable coin in Europe. This unique 339-gram piece, known as the Centen (or 100 escudos), sold for 2,817,500 Swiss francs (approximately $3.49 million) at a recent auction in Switzerland. The auction house Numismatica Genevensis SA reported that the sale broke the previous European record for the most valuable coin.

The coin was produced in Segovia, Spain, from gold obtained by Spanish conquerors in the Americas, symbolizing regal wealth and authority. According to Alain Baron, the auction house's founder, it represents "many years' salary" and is the largest coin of its kind in modern European history.

After being lost for centuries, the coin surfaced in the United States around 1950. It was initially acquired by a New York collector before being sold to a Spanish buyer a decade later. Its identity, following multiple transfers of ownership, remains undisclosed.

Baron described the coin as "truly a royal gift" that could symbolize equal standing between a future owner and kings, emphasizing its historical significance. There was interest from buyers across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, attracted by the coin’s status as a "trophy asset."

Previously, the record for a European coin was held by a 100-ducat piece that belonged to Ferdinand III of Habsburg, which sold for 1.95 million Swiss francs ($2.42 million). This latest sale not only highlights the coin's historical value but also the ongoing fascination with numismatic treasures.