CoinTalk Forum Members Discuss Whether the Gold Price Affects Byzantine Solidi and Roman Aurei
Members of the CoinTalk forum discussed whether the price of gold affects the prices of Byzantine solidi and Roman aurei. One member said gold affects common, low-quality gold coins but not high-quality or rare ones; another said a high gold price sets a floor for reference for Byzantine solidi. These are the posters' opinions, and the source does not give the date of the thread.
Correction (Oct 13, 2026): We rewrote the headline, summary and body to match the source. The source is a CoinTalk forum thread only; we removed the claim that the discussion took place on Reddit, as well as unsupported passages on the history of the aureus, authentication, the market outlook and long-term appreciation, and made clear that these are the posters' opinions and that the source gives no date. The previous headline was "Roman Aureus Coins Defy Gold Spot Prices Due to Numismatic Value."
This article is based only on posts in a CoinTalk forum thread titled "Goldprice affecting numismatic gold coins? Also Aureus?" The source does not give the date of the thread. What follows are the posters' own statements and opinions; the prices they mention have not been verified.
The question
The first poster, Herberto, wrote that more than 10 years ago low-grade Byzantine solidi (normally 4 or 4.5 grams) often sold for about 200 to 300 euros, and that today they sell for 550 to 800 euros. In his view, the reason is clearly, or largely, the rise in the gold price.
He then asked about Roman aurei. He wrote that low-grade aurei cost about 2,200 to 3,000 euros today, and asked what they cost 10 years ago.
"High quality and rarities: no effect"
A member named panzerman replied that he did not think the gold price affects solidi and aurei, but that it does affect common gold coins.
As an example, he said the Iranian gold 10 Pahlavi is valued close to the gold price, and that a Mint State example that sold for 450 US dollars in the 1980s now goes for 13K US dollars. He also wrote that an MS-66 France 1810-A 20 Francs is not affected, but a Napoleon 1855-A in VF is.
He summed it up as: high quality and rarities, zero effect; low-quality gold, yes. He said he owns more than 1,500 gold coins and wishes the gold price would go down.
"A new floor for Byzantine solidi"
A member named medoraman agreed with panzerman except on Byzantine solidi. He wrote that because a solidus contains about 0.14 to 0.16 ounce of gold, a high gold price sets a new floor for reference.
By his calculation, at "$5100 gold" (his wording), that is $714 to $816 in gold melt value per coin.
medoraman also wrote that he wishes gold would go down. He said he has about 40 ancient gold coins and would like to buy more, but not at these prices. He added that he will probably still buy pieces such as a gold Alexander III or Sasanian gold, where melt value is not an issue.
An Irene gold coin
Herberto asked medoraman when and for how much he bought his Irene gold coin. medoraman replied that he got it from CNG a few months after his daughter, also named Irene, was born, maybe 5 years ago, for about $2,800 plus commission, as he recalled. He said he has not looked at prices recently, because he bought it only because of her.
Source: CoinTalk, "Goldprice affecting numismatic gold coins? Also Aureus?"
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