When we sent out our first auction leaflet fifteen years ago, subtitled “what you will see at the auction…”, we had no idea where the journey would take us. But we knew what we wanted: to bring international-standard numismatic auctions to Central Europe, built on quality, expertise and trust.
Two families, one vision
We began writing our story in 2010, built on a three-generation collecting tradition. The company was founded by four partners, and its name carried the names of two families – Macho and Chlapovič. From the very beginning, we have been united by one idea – to pass on values from generation to generation. Just as our grandfathers passed them on to our fathers, and our fathers to us, we are passing them on to our children today.
Coins struck in our mints and later scattered across the world are gradually returning home. Piece by piece, we are putting together the mosaic of our ancestors’ cultural heritage – and we are not alone. We are helped by friends, clients and everyone who devotes their time, energy and resources to this vision.
How it all began
Our first auction took place on Saturday, 15 October 2011, at the Kempinski Hotel River Park in Bratislava. Even then, the offering included pieces that would hold their own in any auction today: Gabriel Bethlen’s ducats of 1620 and 1621, his exceptionally preserved 1621 thaler, a 1527 ducat of Ferdinand I from the former Salgo collection, a 1704 ducat of Francis II Rákóczi, as well as rare mining and emergency coins – a 1664 Ľubietová 30 denars and a countermarked poltura from Prešov.
The leaflet proudly highlighted what made several lots special. The 1643 2 ducats of Ferdinand III was an unpublished year, while the Ľubietová 30 denars and the Prešov emergency coin were the very specimens illustrated in the reference work by Szemán and Kiss. Even then, we knew that to succeed we had to offer the very best and document every lot thoroughly.
Take a look at our original logo on the leaflet cover, too. Its symbolism was taken from Roth’s Kremnica medal dedicated to friendship – the tree of life, strong roots and two clasped hands stood for integrity, friendship and solid foundations.
Leaflet for our 1st International Numismatic Auction, 15 October 2011
Coming full circle
The cover of our first auction leaflet featured a detail of Christian Hermann Roth’s gold medal commemorating the liberation of Buda in 1686 – a rare 10-ducat issue of the Kremnica Mint. Fifteen years later, this issue returns to our auctions – Auction #40 offers a different specimen – the finest known example of this medal, graded NGC TOP POP.
A page from the 2011 leaflet featuring the Buda liberation medal
The specimen of the 1686 Buda liberation medal offered in Auction #40
From Bratislava to Prague and the world
A single auction in Bratislava has grown into a regular series of international auctions. We opened a branch on Biskupská Street in Prague, our floor auctions now take place at the Mandarin Oriental in Prague, and thanks to eLive auctions and the AUEX bidding system, collectors from all over the world take part online.
Alongside our auctions, we have added numismatic shops in Bratislava and Prague and an online shop, the sale and buyback of investment gold, silver and platinum, coin and banknote grading, and auction representation. We are a member of the IAPN – the International Association of Professional Numismatists, a contractual partner of the National Bank of Slovakia and the Czech National Bank, and an authorized dealer for NGC and PMG.
Today, we work with clients from more than 50 countries and hold several world auction records. Alongside Bratislava and Prague, we are preparing Vienna as our third pillar, strengthening our presence on the Central European numismatic market.
15 years in numbers
- more than 50,000 lots sold
- 69 auctions held
- over 7,000 satisfied clients from more than 50 countries
- €1,140,000 – the highest price achieved at our auctions
- branches in Bratislava and Prague
Moments we will never forget
The highest price in the history of our auctions was achieved by the 1642 10 ducats of Ferdinand III. Struck in Kremnica, the coin travelled through European collections before returning to Slovakia. From a starting price of €200,000, bidding in the room drove the price up almost six-fold, and a Slovak collector secured it for €1,140,000 – a world record for a coin struck in Kremnica.
10 Ducats 1642 of Ferdinand III, Kremnica – €1,140,000
Among First Republic coins, the 1937 2 ducats from the collection of Karel Hackenschmied stands out. Hackenschmied worked for the Austro-Hungarian Bank and later for the Czechoslovak Ministry of Finance. Only a handful of pieces of this extremely rare Kremnica issue are believed to have been struck. In Auction #31 in 2023, it sold for €840,000.
Other outstanding results:
- 10 Ducats 1669 of Leopold I from the Václav Bruna collection – €780,000 (Auction #33)
- 10 Ducats 1937 – €660,000 (Auction #13)
- 10 Ducats 1661 of Leopold I – €600,000 (Auction #38)
Collections entrusted to us
The greatest honour for an auction house is the trust of collectors who place their life’s work in its hands. The Václav Bruna collection, built over more than half a century, comprised Bohemian and Moravian coins from the Celtic period to the First Republic. The collection of Prague businessman Josef Novák, owner of the U Nováků department store, has a remarkable story – it lay forgotten in an old suitcase in a Prague house for almost a century. In Auction #26, it fetched twice its estimate of €1,200,000, and the unique 1644 3 thalers of Ferdinand III from the Joachimsthal Mint rose from a starting price of €60,000 to €220,000. The Jaroslav Kokolus collection is an exceptionally complete ensemble of Kremnica coinage – on 23 October we will present its seventh part. And Auction #40 features the First Republic collection of František Trefanec, which remained virtually untouched for decades.
You can browse all our records in our Hall of Fame.
A new name, the same values
This year, we entered a new chapter – Macho & Chlapovič became MACHO NUMISMATIC GALLERIES. Our new name reflects our international outlook, while our values remain the same: expertise, discretion and a guarantee of authenticity for every lot we sell, backed without limitation and for life. We are gradually developing our premises into living centres of numismatics – places for presenting major collections, exhibitions, expert lectures, education and personal meetings between collectors.
Celebrate with us
We would like to thank all the collectors, bidders, consignors, partners and colleagues who have shared these 15 years with us. The best way to celebrate is with our autumn auctions: on 23 October 2026, floor Auction #39 – JAROSLAV KOKOLUS COLLECTION (10:00) and floor Auction #40 (16:00), followed by eLive Auction #40 from 26 to 30 October 2026.
👉 Current auctions | AUEX bidding system
Do you have a memory of one of our auctions – your first winning bid, a thrilling bidding battle or an encounter you will never forget? Write to us at info@machogalleries.com. We will be delighted to share the best ones.
