The Prospero Collection

In 2010 a rare collection of ancient coins, called the Prospero Collection, fetched a record price of $25 million at an auction in New York. The Prospero Collection was a spectacular assemblage of 642 historical coins by a private British collector over three decades. Included in the collection is a coin which has been regarded as an artistic masterpiece by experts. The catalogue cover coin features the head of a satyr - a character widely used in Greek mythology - and sold for $3.25 million, breaking all previous world records for an ancient Greek coin.

A Calabria, Tarentum Gold Stater coin circa 344-338 BC, featuring Head of Hera. Reverse Taras.

Silver Tetradrachm from Kyrenaika, Kyrene (circa 400 BC) bears the likeness of Head of Zeus Ammon, Reverse Silphium. It is described as a coin "of immense power and majesty."

KINGDOM OF MACEDON. Alexander III, The Great (336-323 B.C.), Gold Stater

Kyzikos (c.450-400 B.C.), Electrum Stater, Silenos, with a horse's ear and tail, kneeling to right, pouring wine from an amphora into a kantharos he holds in his right hand, a tunny below. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square.

MYSIA. Lampsakos (c.350 B.C.), Gold Stater, Head of a female satyr facing to left, with a long pointed ear, wearing a wreath of ivy. Reverse Pegasos

KYRENAIKA. Kyrene (c.331-322 B.C.), Gold Stater, Magistrate Jason. Nike, with her wings spread, in a facing quadriga. Rev. Zeus Ammon

ITALY. Calabria, Tarentum (c.280 B.C.), Gold Stater . Head of Zeus facing to right. Rev. TAPANTINΩN, eagle standing to left on a thunderbolt.

SICILY. Akragas (c.409 B.C.), Silver Tetradrachm. Nike driving a galloping quadriga to left, holding a kentron in her left hand and the reins in both, a vine with a bunch of grapes above. Rev. ΖTPATΩN, two eagles standing to left on top of a dead hare.

SICILY. Naxos (c.461-430 B.C.), Silver Tetradrachm. c.460 B.C. Bearded head of Dionysos facing to right, wearing an ivy-wreath, his hair tied in a krobylos at the back. Rev. N-AXI-ON, naked, bearded Silenos