The Financial Times points out the $25m sale of the 642-item Prospero collection of coins:

AH Baldwin & Sons, the London-based specialist coin dealer behind the sale, declined to reveal the identity of the Prospero Collection’s owner. However, the collection is believed to have been started by Colonel Richard Seifert, the late architect of London’s Centre Point skyscraper and Tower 42.

Ian Goldbart, Baldwin’s managing director, has said that coin collecting has become an increasingly popular pastime in recent years, particularly for wealthy clients from the emerging markets.

“This has always been a multimillion dollar business in the United States and Europe, however we now have a portfolio of eminent buyers who come from Russia, China and the Middle East,” Mr Goldbart said.

Ancient Greek Coins Fetch Record $25m (Financial Times)