Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC) is set to host the second auction of the celebrated Traveller Collection on November 6, 2025, at the Hotel Bar Au Lac in Zürich, Switzerland. This highly anticipated sale will shine a spotlight on the collection’s exceptional Central European coins, a core focus of the anonymous collector known as “the Traveller.” The auction is expected to draw global attention, with several coins poised to shatter existing records.
The collection, valued at $100 million, is the one of the most expensive groups of coins ever to come to auction. Following the first sale earlier this year, which more than doubled its initial estimate to a total price of CHF 6,341,200 (approximately $7.48 million), the November event is estimated to exceed CHF 5 million.
The Traveller Collection itself has a fascinating history. For over 50 years, the coins were buried in Europe to protect them from being looted during the Nazi invasion. Comprising over 15,000 pieces, the collection spans diverse geographical areas and is renowned for its exceptional rarity and state of preservation. The Traveller had a strong interest in Central European coins, particularly those from the Habsburg Empire, Germany, Bohemia, Poland, Hungary, and Transylvania. The collector was able to acquire many of these pieces with little competition, often from legendary collections being broken up at the time, including the Waldo Newcomer and Philip Ferrari de La Renotière collections.
Gold Giants and Historic Records
The highlight of the upcoming auction is a 100-ducat gold coin of Ferdinand III of Habsburg, minted in 1629. Weighing an extraordinary 348.5g of fine gold, it is the largest denomination of a European gold coin ever minted in historical times. One of only three known specimens, this coin has an initial estimate of CHF 1,250,000 but is expected to realize over CHF 2 million, which would make it the most expensive European gold coin ever sold at auction. The auction is also notable for being the first time two 100-ducat coins have been offered in a single sale.
Another standout is a 100-ducat coin of Polish King Sigismund III, minted in 1621. A similar example of this coin currently holds the record for the highest auction price for a Polish coin. This lot is estimated at CHF 350,000 but is also expected to reach a significantly higher final price.
These monumental coins reflect the collection’s strength in large gold pieces, a tradition that began in the region with the 10-ducat ‘Portugalöser’ coin. This coin, minted in Hamburg between 1553 and 1566, represents a pivotal moment when German mints began producing high-denomination gold coins in very small series, inspired by the Portuguese mints that had increased their gold reserves from their colonies. This rare coin is estimated at CHF 75,000.
Coins That Tell a Story
The sale also features coins that serve as a testament to pivotal moments in European history. A rare 10-ducat coin from the city of Sibiu, a rarity in Transylvanian numismatics that hasn’t appeared at auction in over 80 years, commemorates the Transylvanian civil war of the early 17th century and is estimated at CHF 150,000.
Additionally, an 8-ducat Polish medal depicting future king John (Jan) Sobieski commemorates his decisive victory at the Battle of Chotyn, a key event in the Ottoman-Polish War that paved his way to the throne. This coin carries an estimate of CHF 75,000.
“Numismatica Ars Classica is proud to present the first sale dedicated to Central Europe after the great success of the first auction,” said Arturo Russo, Director of NAC. “The Traveller collected in this area in the most meticulous and systematic manner. We are extremely proud that Christian Stoess, after retiring from his role at the Coin Cabinet of Berlin State Museums, has joined our team. With his expertise, we are sure the catalogs of the Traveller Collection will become an important reference.”
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