17th century coin to be most expensive ever sold at $2 million

By James Gamble

A gold coin that had to be hidden from the Nazis is set to become the most expensive ever sold with an estimate of nearly $2m.

The rare 100 ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg, minted in the early 1600s, weighs around the same as a tin of soup.

It is set to be sold at auction alongside another 100 ducat coin, which is expected to sell for over $320,000.

The coins were part of a hoard of 15,000 that lay underground for over half a century after being buried by their anonymous collector, to prevent them from being looted during the Nazi invasion of mainland Europe.

The Traveler Collection is now being sold as the most valuable collection ever sold at auction, and is expected to fetch in excess of $100m (£74m) in total.

Numismatica Ars Classica's second auct