roma numismatics 7 (2014 03 22 23)

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ROMA NUMISMATICSLIMITED

Auction VII

22 & 23 March 2014

Roma Numismatics Limited

20 Hanover Square Mayfair London W1S 1JY

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3178 2874Fax: +44 (0) 20 3178 2456

www.romanumismatics.comemail: [email protected]

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Auction VII

22 March 10:00 Celtic, Greek and Judaean Coins

23 March 10:00 Roman, Byzantine, Merovingian and Medieval Coins

LocationThe Alto Room

The Cavendish Hotel London81 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JF

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Viewing

At the office of Roma Numismatics: 20 Hanover Square, Mayfair

London, W1S 1JY United Kingdom

From February 24th - March 22ndMonday – Friday, 09:30 – 17:30

lots will not be available for viewing during the sale.

Lot pickup will be available from 10:00am on Wednesday 26th March

Roma Numismatics Limited

Richard Beale – DirectorAdele Pullarp

Alexander Morley-Smith

SPECIAL THANKS TOItalo Vecchi

Deniz GrotjohannSalem Alshdaifat

Without whose loyal and unwavering supportthis would not have been possible.

Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno.

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ABSENTEE BIDDING

If you are unable to attend the auction in person, you may submit an absentee bid that will be executed on your behalf by Roma Numismatics. Roma Numismatics will attempt to obtain the lot for you at the lowest possible price, and will not purchase the lot for you at a price higher than the maximum you specify. This service is free and confidential. Absentee bids must be sent and received in good time.

To place absentee bids please submit your list of lots, together with your maximum bids, either by mail, fax, post using the form provided, or online at www.RomaNumismatics.com. You may also participate live online during the sale at www.coretech.cc.

Mail, fax or postal bids

The customer is responsible for submitting these in good time and confirming that the bids have been received.

Telephone bids

Bids may be placed by telephone as the auction is in progress, but are accepted only at the discretion of Roma Numismatics Ltd and at the risk of the customer. Roma Numismatics Ltd will not be held responsible for any failure to execute bids by telephone during the auction resulting from technical issues, miscommunication or any other reason. Any client wishing to bid by telephone should inform Roma Numismatics Ltd no later than 72 hours before the auction, and should have a prepared list of all the lots they wish to bid on.

Internet Bidding

BID ONLINE PRIOR TO THE AUCTION, SEE BIDS UPDATED IN REAL-TIME ON THE ROMA SITE.Internet bids may be submitted prior to the auction at www.RomaNumismatics.com - these bids will be automatically ex-ecuted on the website. These bids will then be carried over into the live auction and executed by the auctioneer on the day.

BID ONLINE DURING THE AUCTION, HEAR THE AUCTION LIVE ON YOUR COMPUTER.Real-time bids may be placed at www.coretech.cc on the day of the sale. These bids will be executed live on the floor. A 2.5% surcharge will apply to lots won through www.coretech.cc. Roma Numismatics is not responsible for any missed lots or bids due to network speed or down-time. It is advisable to register as early as possible for this service, since all internet bidder must be manually approved by the auctioneer.

Successful Bids

Successful bidders will be notified and invoiced within a few days of the auction. Prices realized will be published around the same time.

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Conditions of Sale

The following terms and conditions will apply to this auction:

I. All estimates are in Pounds Sterling. The opening bids will be 80% of the estimate unless there are existing higher bids. There will be a 17.5% Buyer’s Fee added to the hammer price. II. VAT at 20% is due on the Buyer’s Fee only, not the hammer price. III. The auctioneer guarantees the absolute authenticity of any and all coins sold. There is no expiration to this guarantee. Any coins subsequently found to be not authentic will be exchanged for a full refund of the purchase price.IV. Absentee bids should be submitted and received by 20:00 on the day before the auction. It is the bidder’s responsibility to ensure that bids have been received by Roma Numismatics.V. All grades and descriptions are the opinion of the cataloguer. Conditions of all lots are as per the photographs displayed on the Roma Numismatics website; condition reports are available upon request. It is not possible to note all marks or defects, and thus customers are encouraged to carefully examine in person all lots that they are interested in bidding on. Bids, once placed, are final and will not be rescinded. If, however, the attribution is found to be incorrect, the item is returnable within 21 days after the sale. No other returns will be accepted except on the grounds of non-authenticity. All prospective bidders who exercise the opportunity to examine lots in hand shall assume all responsibility for any damage they cause in so doing. The auctioneer shall have sole discretion in determining the value of the damage caused, which shall be promptly paid by the prospective bidder. VI. The auctioneer will have absolute discretion to accept or decline any bid, withdraw lots from the sale at any time until such point as the purchaser takes physical possession, re-open any lot, even after the hammer has fallen, in which a bidding error has occurred, and to determine in the event of a dispute, the final winner of a lot or to rescind the sale and put the lot up for sale again. VII. For the protection of mail or absentee bidders, no ‘unlimited’ or ‘buy’ bids will be accepted. When identical bids are received for the same lot, preference will be given to the bid received first. A mail bid will take preference over a floor bid. VIII. Some lots may carry a reserve. The auctioneer reserves the right not to sell an item below the confidential price, or will repurchase the item on behalf of the consignor or for the account of Roma Numismatics Ltd. If a reserve exists the auctioneer reserves the right to bid on any lot on behalf of the consignor up to the amount of the reserve against any floor or mail bidders. The auctioneer also reserves the right to bid on any lot on behalf of Roma Numismatics Ltd. IX. Title remains with the owner until such time as the customer has paid in full. X. Invoices are due immediately upon receipt. Roma Numismatics Ltd. reserves the right to charge interest on unpaid invoices at the rate of 2% per calendar month, except where prior agreement has been made with regards to payment arrangements. XI. A 3.5% surcharge will be applied to debit / credit card payments or payments made via PayPal. The customer is responsible for paying all bank charges and shipping and insurance costs. XII. A 2.5% surcharge will be applied to lots won through www.coretech.cc. Roma Numismatics is not responsible for any missed lots or bids due to network speed or down-time. XIII. By making a bid the customer agrees to the above terms and conditions and accepts to be bound by them. These conditions shall take effect and be construed in accordance with the provisions of English Law.

US COIN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS

Any coins in this sale that fall under US import restrictions but may still be legally imported into the US are accompanied by documentation proving that they were outside of the source country prior to the effective date, or are accompanied by a valid export certificate issued by the country of origin.

Any coins subject to US import restrictions that may not lawfully be imported into the United States of America will be clearly indicated as such with the note: ‘not suitable for US market’.

Roma Numismatics will make every effort to ensure that US import restrictions affect our clients as little as possible, and will carry out all necessary importations and procedures as required on behalf of the client.

Payment Methods

Invoices to be settled in Pounds Sterling immediately upon receipt unless previously agreed otherwise. Bank Transfer:Barclays Bank, 22 The Borough, Farnham, GU9 7NH, UK | Account Name: Roma Numismatics IBAN: GB81 BARC 2031 0663 0101 39 | BIC: BARC GB22 | SORT CODE: 20-31-06 | ACC #: 63010139Cheque (in GBP only): Please make payable to Roma Numismatics LimitedPayPal (add 3.5%): [email protected] / Credit Card (add 3.5%): contact us directly on +44 (0)20 3178 2874

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Akragas AR TetradrachmLot 86

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COINS OF THE CELTSSPAIN

Spain, Carteia Æ Quadrans. Circa 40-20 BC. Head of Vulcan right, wearing wreathed pileus, tongs behind / CL.VAL.I.L prow right. Unpublished in the standard references, including the specialist study of F. Chaves Tristan, Las monedas Hispano-Romanas de Carteia, Barcelona 1979; Cf. Jesus Vico sale 121, 2009, 37. 3.67g, 21mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine. Only the second example recorded. 500

Livy records that in 171 BC, the Roman Senate was petitioned by the sons of Roman soldiers and Iberian women from Carteia who, because they did not possess Roman citizenship, were therefore not permitted to marry women who were Roman citizens themselves. The Senate therefore elevated Carteia to the status of a Roman colony, and granted the inhabitants the right to marry Roman citizens. The elevation of Carteia was a landmark reform – it was the first instance of the Latin Rights (a half-way status between non-citizen provincial and full Roman citizen) being granted outside of Italy. With this new status, Carteia gained its own mint, amphitheatre, temples and port.

1.

Spain, Gades Æ26. 2nd century BC. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion’s skin headdress / Two tunny fish left; between, crescent with pellet, central pellet and Punic aleph. CNH p. 86, 35; SNG BM Spain 228; Álvares Burgos 1339. 12.56g, 26mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 300

2.

Second Known Example

Spain, Bolscan-Osca AR Denarius. Circa 150-100 BC. Bearded male head right; ‘BoN’ in Iberian characters behind / Rider with spear on prancing horse right; ‘BoLSCan’ in Iberian characters below. CNH p. 210, 3; SNG BM Spain 695-704 (Jenkins group I); Álvares Burgos 1911. 4.03g, 18mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned, an exceptionally attractive example. 500

3.

Britannia, Atrebates. Verica AV 1/4 Stater. Circa AD 10-40. Thunderbolt, COM above, FILI below / Horse prancing to right, VIR above, pellet in circle below. Rudd, Ancient British Coins 1205; van Arsdell 4681. 1.29g, 11mm, 7h.

Lustrous, reddish metal. Extremely Fine. A truly outstanding example. Very Rare. 1,500

A son of Commius, Verica succeeded his elder brother Eppillus as King of the Atrebates in about AD 15. He was recognised by Rome as Rex and therefore an ally. A disastrous war with the Catuvellauni eventually led to his capital of Calleva being conquered in around AD 25, and the total loss of his kingdom by about AD 40. Expelled from Britain around this time, the emperor Claudius used the pretext of aiding Verica as cause to launch his invasion of Britain.

4.

Excellent Verica Quarter Stater

BRITANNIA

2

GAUL

Northwest Gaul, the Aulerci Cenomani in the lower Seine and Loire region AR Stater. 2nd century BC. Celticized head right, with large locks of hair / Celticized chariot driven right by auriga, drawn by human-headed horse; below, fallen human form. Delestrée-Tache II, 2143; LT 6493. 6.10g, 23mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 600

5.

Northwest Gaul, the Aulerci Eburovices AV 1/2 Stater. 2nd - 3rd century BC. Celticized head left / Celticized horse left, boar beneath. Delestrée-Tache 2406. 2.80g, 18mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. Rare. 750

6.

Northwest Gaul, the Veneti and Cenomani in the lower Loire region AV Stater. Late 2nd - early 1st century BC. Celticized head right, beading around / Celticized horse driven right by auriga, drawn by human-headed horse; below, upper part of human form with stretched arms, looking up. Cf. Delestrée-Tache II, 2181-2188; cf. LT 6723, 6728. 1.14g, 13mm, 10h.

Good Fine. 500

7.

Northwest Gaul, the Coriosolites in Armorica Billon Stater. Circa 100-50 BC. Celticized head right, hair in large spiral curls, S-like ear / Celticized rider on horseback right; cross before; rayed circular ornament below. Delestrée-Tache II, 2333; LT 6684. 6.34g, 22mm, 2h.

Very Fine, well struck. 100

8.

Northwest Gaul, the Lexovii and Eburovices in lower Seine region AV Half-Stater. Circa 100-50 BC. Celticized male head with diadem, boar below / Celticized chariot driven right by auriga, pellet in rosette in right field, boar below. Delestrée-Tache II, 2402; Sheers, Rouen 287; LT 7018. 2.41g, 20mm, 8h.

Very Fine. 500

9.

Northwest Gaul, The Senones AV Stater. Circa 120-60 BC. Gallo-Belgic “Bullet Type.” Broad cross, with trefoil terminals, in centre of plain globule with prominent rim / Convex surface, blank but for small torque. Cf. Delestrée-Tache II, 2539; Reddé, Alésia, p. 191, 22. 7.11g, 12mm.

Good Very Fine. Extremely rare variety with small torque turned inwards. 500

10.

3

Northwest Gaul, The Senones AV Stater. Circa 120-60 BC. Gallo-Belgic “Bullet Type.” Broad cross, with trefoil terminals, in centre of plain globule with prominent rim / Convex surface, blank but for small torque. Cf. Delestrée-Tache II, 2539; Reddé, Alésia, p. 191, 22. 7.07g, 12mm.Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 500

11.

Northwest Gaul, The Senones AV Stater. Circa 120-60 BC. Gallo-Belgic “Bullet Type.” Broad cross, with trefoil terminals, in centre of plain globule with prominent rim / Convex surface, blank but for small torque. Delestrée-Tache II, 2539; Reddé, Alésia, p. 191, 22. 7.09g, 12mm.Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 500The unusual globular coinage of the Senones stands it apart from other ancient coinages; the symbolism of the cross on the obverse is obscure, and the meaning of the torque present on certain very rare examples of this coinage is uncertain.

12.

Northeast Gaul, Suessiones Potin 19mm. Circa 50-30 BC. Stylized head to right / Abstract boar right above central pellet-in-annulet; annulet to left, five pellets and torque below. Delestrée-Tache I, 530; BMC 444-446. 4.26g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 150

From the John Hayes Collection.

14.

Northwest Gaul, the Pictones and Santones in Loire and Gironde region AV Stater. Circa 100-50 BC. Celticized head right, with four large locks of hair raised into S-shaped curls, beading all around / Celticized chariot driven right by auriga, drawn by human-headed horse; below, raised hand. Cf. Delestrée-Tache III, 3645-3664: Depeyrot III, 67; LT 4395. 6.66g, 21mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 500

13.

Gaul, uncertain derivative pale gold Stater of the Jura or Aquitaine. Late 2nd century BC. Celticized head with long locks right / Celticized horse with long reigns driven right by auriga right, triskeles below. The triskeles is similar to the staters of the Arverni (cf. LT 3722) or, more likely, the Moisy type staters and quarters (cf. Delestrée-Tache Supl. 3041). 1.64g, 10mm, 9h.

Very Fine, and interesting. 500

15.

1211

Belgica, the Ambiani in the Somme region AV Stater. Gallic Wars, circa 50 BC. Plain bulge / Large disjointed horse right, ornaments around. Delestrée-Tache I, 238; LT 8707; SCBC 11. 5.14g, 17mm.

Extremely Fine. 300

16.

Bohemia, the Boii AV 1/3 Stater. Circa 120 BC. Raised protuberance / Derivative design of Athena Alkidemos advancing left. Cf. Paulsen 94-111. 2.68g, 11mm.

Very Fine. 100

17.

BELGICA

BOHEMIA

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COINS OF THE GREEKSETRURIA

Etruria, Populonia AR 5 Asses. Circa 3rd century BC. Young male head right, V behind / Blank. Vecchi EC I, 90.33 (this coin). 1.47g, 13mm.

Very Fine. Very Rare. 750

Ex Artemide sale 22, 2008, lot 11.

18.

CAMPANIA

Campania, Cumae AR Obol. Circa 475-455 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Mussel shell, KY (retrograde) above. HN Italy 527; Rutter 44-58. 0.54g, 11mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 500

19.

Campania, Nuceria Alfaterna AR Didrachm. Circa 250-225 BC. Head of Apollo Karneios left with horn of Ammon, Oscan legend ‘nukrinum alafaternum’ around / Dioskouros standing facing, head turned to left, beside his horse, holding the reins and a thyrsos. HN Italy 608; SNG ANS 560; SNG Copenhagen 566; SNG München 388; Sambon 1008. 7.22g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Handsome, lustrous metal. Rare. 1,500

Ex Münzen und Medaillen Basel 75, 1989, lot 16.

20.

Excellent Metal Quality for the Type

Lucania, Herakleia AR Stater. Circa 390-340 BC. Eu... and Apol..., magistrates. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone; in right field, EY / Herakles standing facing, leaning right, strangling the Nemean lion; behind him, club; between his legs, oinochoe; in left field, APOL. Van Keuren 51; SNG ANS 65 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1378. 7.43g, 22mm, 9h. Very Fine. Lightly toned. 1,500

21.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 400-340 BC. Youthful head of Demeter Hygieia to right, wearing earring, her hair tied with a band; YΓIEIA along bust truncation / Ear of barley, leaf on right, META to left. Noe 412 (same dies). 7.73g, 21mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 1,200

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Münzen & Medaillen Deutschland 16, 19 May 2005, lot 856.

22.

LUCANIA

5

Signed by Aristoxenos

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 380-370 BC. Signed by Aristoxenos. Head of Demeter to left, wearing boat-shaped earring, necklace, and with her hair in an ampyx; on the neck truncation in tiny letters, signature APIΣTO / Ear of barley; to left, kantharos. HN Italy 1521; Noe-Johnston 434; SNG ANS 332. 7.83g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, lustrous metal. Very Rare. 2,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Privately purchased from J.D. Cahn AG, June 2009.

23.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Wreathed head of Demeter right / META, barley-ear with leaf to left; tongs above, AΘA below. HN Italy 1583; Johnston 77; SNG ANS 460. 7.78g, 20mm, 12h.Rough surfaces; about Very Fine. 300

24.

24 25

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Head of Demeter right wearing grain wreath, triple-drop earring and necklace / Ear of barley with leaf to right; ΛY to left of stem, star above leaf. Johnston Class C, 8.14–5; HN Italy 1592. 7.92g, 20mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

25.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 325-290 BC. Wreathed head of Demeter left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace / META, barley ear with leaf to left; above leaf, tongs; below leaf, AΘA. Johnston C. 4.21; SNG ANS 460 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1583. 7.84g, 22mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 1,000

26.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 280 BC. Head of Demeter left, wearing barley-wreath / Ear of barley; cock facing right standing on stalk in left field, META in right field. Johnston D 2.1. 7.81g, 23mm, 5h.


Ex Gorny & Mosch 133, 2004, lot 29.

27.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 280 BC. Head of Demeter right, wearing earring / Ear of Barley, leaf to the left, Satyr standing on leaf playing flute, META in right field. Johnston D27. 7.80g, 22mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 750 Ex Gorny & Mosch 142, 10 October 2005, lot 1115.

28.

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A Superb Issue of Punic Controlled Metapontion

Lucania, Metapontion AR 1/2 Shekel. Punic occupation, circa 212-207 BC. Head of Athena to right wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Ear of barley with leaf to right; owl in flight above leaf. Robinson, Punic pg. 50, 3; SNG ANS 550; HN Italy 1634. 3.53g, 20mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasing old tone; a wonderful example of the type. 2,500

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 29, 11 May 2005, lot 45;Ex Athos D. Moretti Collection.

Sometime after the defeat of Pyrrhos of Epeiros by Rome, Metapontion came under Roman domination. We do not know precisely when this occurred or the circumstances of the event, but the city was amongst the first to defect to Hannibal after the battle of Cannae in 216 BC. However, it was still occupied by a Roman garrison sometime afterwards, and only in 212 when Hannibal captured nearby Taras did the Metapontines expel the Roman garrison and fully declare for the Carthaginian cause. Hannibal quickly utilised the city as a supply depot, garrisoning the town with his troops.

It was during the Punic occupation of Metapontion that this coin was struck. Like other Punic issues minted at this time in southern Italy, the fabric and execution of strike are neat and precise, with thin flans and competent engraving. While the coin retains the grain ear on the reverse, the obverse employs a type rarely used before at the city, the head of Athena wearing a crested Corinthian helmet. It is not known the significance of this change, but is paralleled elsewhere at other Punic-aligned cities.

After the Carthaginian defeat at the pivotal battle of the Metaurus in 207 BC, Hannibal’s hopes for victory in Italy were dashed. Having first relocated the inhabitants of Metapontion to protect them from Roman vengeance, in 202 he withdrew all his forces to Africa to protect the motherland from Scipio. Afterwards the city of Metapontion never regained its former prominence, and by the mid second century AD was, according to Pausanias, totally deserted and in ruins (Paus. vi, 19. § 11).

29.

A Beautiful Early Stater of Poseidonia

Lucania, Poseidonia AR Stater. Circa 445-420 BC. Poseidon standing right wielding trident, chlamys draped over both arms; ΠOMEΣ before / Bull standing left, ΠOMEΣ (retrograde) above. HN Italy 1114; SNG ANS 657. 8.07g, 18mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone with iridescent flashes. 5,000

Ex NGSA 7, 27 November 2012, lot 129;Ex Swiss private collection, acquired in April 1977.

Little is known of Poseidonia from its foundation at around the end of the seventh century BC by colonists from Sybaris, other than that information which can be gleaned from archaeological study of the city and its remaining artefacts. Evidence from votive figurines and the city’s architecture suggest close trade relations with Metapontion during the sixth and fifth centuries, but the city is not mentioned in the classical sources until the fifth century, when the city was conquered by the Lucani. A sizeable Greek population must have remained despite the conquest however, as the archaeological record shows both Greek and Oscan culture continuing to thrive alongside one another.

As a Lucanian city, Poseidonia sided with Pyrrhos of Epeiros when he landed in Italy and upon the latter’s withdrawal, the Lucani suffered severe reprisals from Rome throughout a ten year punitive campaign. When Hannibal invaded Italy it is unsurprising then that most of the Lucani sided with the Carthaginians. Poseidonia however, having become a Roman city in 273 BC, remained faithful to Rome’s cause and was granted civic honours as a result, including the right to mint its own coins once more.

30.

Lucania, Sybaris AR 1/3 Stater. Circa 560-510 BC. Bull standing to left, head reverted; VM above / Incuse bull standing to right, head reverted. SNG ANS 847 var.; SNG München 1159 var. 2.68g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Scarce denomination and Very Rare variant with ethnik above bull. 1,500

From the Gutekunst Collection.

31.

Scarce Denomination and Very Rare Variant

7

Lucania, Thourioi AR Stater. Circa 4th Century BC. Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with Skylla / Bull charging right, ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ above, IP below, fish right in exergue. SNG ANS 1042 (same dies); SNG München 1096 var. 7.72g, 22mm, 3h.

Near Extremely Fine. 1,250

Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 45.

32.

Lucania, Velia AR Drachm. Circa 430-420 BC. Head of nymph right, hair bound with a band / Owl standing right on olive branch with wings closed, YEΛH behind, Δ before. SNG ANS 1266; Dewing 455; Jameson 384; Williams 183b; HN Italy 1272. 4.13g, 19mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone. 500 Ex Rockefeller University / Dr. Alfred Mirsky Collection.

33.

Lucania, Velia AR Stater. Circa 334-300 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with olive-wreath / Lion advancing left, with right paw raised; ΥΕΛHΤΩΝ in exergue. SNG Lockett 553 (same dies); HN Italy 1298; Williams 379j (this coin). 7.59g, 23mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine; old cabinet tone. 2,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 46, 2 April 2008, lot 171;Ex Leu 57, 25 May 1993, lot 11;Ex Hess 257, 12 November 1986, lot 40;Ex Hess-Leu 7 April 1960, lot 52.

34.

Published by Williams Ex Hess-Leu 1960

Lucania, Velia AR Stater. Circa 300-280 BC. Philistion group. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with a dolphin, Φ on neck guard; [monogram before] / Lion standing right; above, Φ-I flanking ornate trident head right; YEΛHTΩN in exergue. Williams 506 (O254/R355); HN Italy 1312; SNG ANS 1387 (same dies); Weber 938 (same dies). 7.61g, 21mm, 10h.


From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Paul H. Gerrie Collection, Triton XII, 6 January 2009, lot 48.

35.

8

Lucania, Velia AR Stater. Circa 300-280 BC. Philistion group. Helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with wing; monogram behind neck guard, Φ before neck / Lion standing right; above, grain ear between Φ and I; YEΛHTΩN in exergue. Williams 489.7; SNG Copenhagen 1578; HN Italy 1309 (Philistion-Group). 7.38g, 23mm, 11h.


Ex Lanz 155, 10 December 2012, lot 24.

36.

Apulia, Teate Æ Quadrunx. Circa 225-200 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / TIATI, lion standing right, club above, star below, four pellets in exergue. HN Italy 704 var. (no star); SNG ANS 5 (Apulia appendix) 1230; SNG Copenhagen 700. 12.83g, 25mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine; rare this well preserved. Scarce. 300

37.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Diobol. Circa 380-325 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla / Herakles kneeling right, strangling lion with one hand and holding club lowered, K between legs, TA above. Vlasto 1299. 1.06g, 13mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. 500

38.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 280-272 BC. Nude youth on horseback right, crowning horse that raises left foreleg; EY above, ΑΠΟΛΛΩ and two amphorae below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding kantharos and cradling long trident; ΘI behind, TAPAΣ below. HN Italy 1010; Vlasto 763; SNG ANS 1119. 6.51g, 22mm, 7h.


39.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Drachm. Circa 302-280 BC. Zor..., magistrate. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with Skylla hurling a stone / TAP, owl with folded wings standing right, head facing; in right field, ZOP downwards and olive branch. Vlasto 1047; SNG ANS 1303. 3.30g, 16mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned and excellent condition for the type. 1,000

Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 9;Ex BVH Collection; Heritage 3012, 2 January 2011, lot 24377.

40.

CALABRIA

APULIA

9


Calabria, Tarentum AR Drachm. Circa 281-276 BC. Zor..., magistrate. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with Skylla preparing to hurl a stone / Owl standing to right on olive branch, head facing; ZOR to right, TAP to left. HN Italy 975; Vlasto 1052. 2.96g, 16mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. A sensitive portrait of Athena engraved in wonderful style; attractive old tone. 1,500

From a private German collection.

41.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 332-302 BC. Warrior on horseback right, preparing to cast spear downward with right hand, holding shield and two spears in left hand, HPAKL below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding shield and spears in left hand and extending right hand upon which Nike flies right to crown him; ΦΙ below, ΤΑΡΑΣ behind. HN Italy 936; Vlasto 599 (these dies); SNG ANS 994 (these dies). 7.87g, 22mm, 2h.


42.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 280-272 BC. Nude youth on horse standing to left, looking up at figure standing right as he unbridles horse with both hands; ΓY to right, API-ΣTI-Π in three lines below / Taras, holding bow and arrow, astride dolphin right, elephant to right below, ΤΑΡΑΣ behind. Vlasto 736; HN Italy 1000. 6.47g, 22mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. 1,250

43.

44 45

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 280-272 BC. Youth, nude, on horseback right, crowning himself; ΞΩ to left, ΞΑΛΟ and Ionic capital below / Taras on dolphin left, holding aphlaston and distaff; TAPAΣ below, ANΘ to right. HN Italy 1014; SNG ANS 1142; Vlasto 803. 6.35g, 19mm, 3h.Very Fine. 500

44.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 280-272 BC. Youth, nude, on horseback right, crowning horse with wreath held in his right hand, left hand on rein; ΣA behind, APE/ΘΩN in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding tripod in extended right hand, left hand resting on dolphin; TAPAΣ behind, CAΣ below. Vlasto 666; HN Italy 957; SNG ANS 1046-50; SNG France 1869. 7.74g, 23mm, 11h.

Very Fine. 500

45.

46

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 280-272 BC. Nude warrior on horseback to right, brandishing spear in right hand and carrying shield and javelins in left; before, Nike flying upwards with wreath in outstretched arms, ΣI to right, ΛΥΚΩΝ below / Taras seated astride dolphin to left, holding kantharos and trident; ΓU to right, TAΡΑΣ below. Vlasto 730; HN Italy 1004; SNG ANS 1096. 6.28g, 20mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 200

46.

10

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 275-235 BC. Lykinos, magistrate. Nude rider crowning horse left, ΣΥ to right, ΛΥKΙ-ΝΟΣ in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, brandishing trident, wearing chlamys around shoulders and left arm, owl standing left, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 836; HN Italy 1025; SNG ANS 1165. 6.53g, 20mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful old toning. 1,500

Ex Norman Davis Collection.

47.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 275-235 BC. Aristokrates, magistrate. Youth on horseback right, crowning horse; behind, Nike flying right, crowning youth; APIΣTO-KPATHΣ in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding cornucopiae and trident; PI to left, herm to right, TARAS below. Vlasto 908; HN Italy 1041. 6.59g, 20mm, 5h. Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 1,250

Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 14.

48.

Bruttium, Kaulonia AR Stater. Circa 475-425 BC. Apollo advancing right, holding branch; small daimon running right on Apollo’s left arm; to right, stag standing right, head reverted / Stag standing right; laurel branch to right. Noe, Caulonia 98 (same dies); HN Italy 2046. 8.01g, 21mm, 9h.


49.

BRUTTIUM

Bruttium, Kaulonia AR Stater. Circa 450-445 BC. Apollo, naked, advancing right, holding a branch in uplifted right hand, small daimon running right on outstretched left arm; stag on tablet in right field, looking backwards; KAVL to left / Stag standing right; branch in right field; KAVL in retrograde above. Noe, Caulonia 91. 8.32g, 21mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 500

50.

Bruttium, Kroton AR Stater. Circa 530-500 BC. Tripod, legs terminating in lion’s feet; to right, heron standing left; QPO to left / Incuse tripod; to right, heron standing left; QPO to left. SNG ANS 248-50; HN Italy 2081. 8.48g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 500

51.

11

Bruttium, Kroton AR 1/3 Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Tripod with lion’s feet, QPO to left, crab to right / Incuse tripod, QPO to left. Attianese -; SNG ANS -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; unpublished in the standard references, for obverse type with crab in left field cf. Attianese, Kroton 31 and for denomination Attianese 26.

2.67g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Dark old tone. Very Rare. 1,500

From the Gutekunst Collection.Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 53.

52.

Bruttium, Kroton AR Stater. Circa 400-325 BC. Head of Hera Lakinia facing slightly right, wearing necklace and stephane decorated with palmette and two griffin foreparts; Δ to right / Herakles Epitrapezios: young Herakles, nude, holding cup, reclining left on lion’s skin draped over rock; KPOTΩNIATAΣ above, tripod to left, club and bow below. HN Italy 2166; SNG ANS 383 (same dies). 7.81g, 23mm, 6h.


From the David Freedman Collection.

53.

54 55 56

1.5x 1.5x1.5x

Bruttium, Kroton AR Triobol. Circa 400-350 BC. Tripod; leaf to left / Upright thunderbolt; to left, eagle standing left, head right, on column; star to right. Cf. Attianese 172; HN Italy 2185; cf. SNG ANS 416. 1.06g, 12mm, 11h.Good Fine. Rare. 200

54.

Bruttium, Kroton AR 5 Tetartemoria. Circa 400-350 BC. Tripod / ΠΤ monogram. HN Italy 2187; SNG Copenhagen 1816. 0.25g, 9mm, 6h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 200

55.

Bruttium, Kroton AR Triobol . Circa 270-250 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right, KPOTONIATAΣ around / Herakles advancing right, wearing lion skin, club held in his hand; B to left, OIKISTAΣ to right. HN Italy 2199; SNG ANS 425. 1.06g, 12mm, 12h.


From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Heritage 3012, 2 January 2011, lot 24385.

56.


Bruttium, Lokroi Epizephyrioi AR Stater. Circa 375-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus, ZEYΣ below / Eirene (Peace) holding kerykeion and seated left on cippus decorated with bukranion; ΛOKPΩN to right, EIPHNH below. De Luynes 765 (same dies); SNG ANS 501 (same reverse die); Kraay-Hirmer pl. 102, 291 (same reverse die); HN Italy 2310. 7.17g, 20mm, 3h.

Slight porosity, scrape on neck and edge chip; Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 7,500

The inaugural issue of coinage at Lokroi, this stater presents a unique type in a remarkably fine style; its rarity today suggests that the issue was a brief one. Despite being the subject of extensive study, there remains no agreement among scholars as to the dating of the issue, or why it was produced.

57.

12

Bruttium, Lokroi Epizephyrioi AR Stater. Circa 350-275 BC. Pegasos flying left / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; LOKPΩN around. Pegasi 10; HN Italy 2341. 8.62g, 23mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. 750

Ex Hess-Divo 317, 27 October 2010, lot 38.

58.

Bruttium, Lokroi Epizephyrioi AV 1/10 Stater. Time of Pyrrhos of Epeiros. Circa 280 BC. Attic standard. Head of eagle left with serpent in its beak, ΟΛ above / Winged thunderbolt. HN Italy 2346; SNG ANS 498; SNG Lloyd -; SNG Ashmolean -; SNG Copenhagen 1857; Jameson 447; Pozzi 795. 0.85g, 10mm, 2h.

Very Fine. Usual area of flat strike. Very Rare. 2,000

Like most of the gold issues of Magna Graecia, this coin can be associated with a time of emergency that required the striking of extraordinary currency. This type most likely hails from the time of Pyrrhos of Epeiros’ campaign in Italy, as the weight standard adheres more closely to that present during the third century, and has a parallel in an issue struck at Tarentum that has been definitively dated to this time.

59.

Very Rare Gold Issue of Lokroi

Bruttium, Terina AR Stater. Circa 445-425 BC. Head of the nymph Terina left, wearing ampyx and earring, her hair tied up; all within olive wreath / Nike seated to left, holding wreath in outstretched right hand and resting left on stool, [TEPI]NAIΩN above. McClean pl. 62, 3 (same dies); Holloway-Jenkins 18; HN Italy 2576; Regling 18. 7.74g, 22mm, 3h.


Ex NAC Auction Q, 6 April 2006, lot 1149.

Little is known of the history of Terina. The city was probably founded by Kroton around the time of the Krotoniate defeat of Sybaris circa 510 BC. A war with Thourioi is attested a few years after 444/3 BC. In 356 the city was besieged and taken by the Brettians, and it became a Brettian community, surviving the conquest of Alexander the Molossian in 325. Ultimately, Terina was razed by Hannibal in 203 and never rebuilt.

60.

Bruttium, Terina AR Stater. Circa 400-356 BC. Head of the nymph Terina right, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; TEPINAIΩN before / Nike, wearing a long chiton and himation, sits left on a cippus shown in perspective, her feet crossed, the folds of her himation fall between her legs, draping the cippus; upon her outstretched right hand, held palm down, a dove alights; her left rests on the cippus. Regling, Terina 78 (dies MM/οοο); Holloway & Jenkins 84 (same obv. die); HN Italy 2629; SNG ANS 852 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 761-2 (same obv. die); BMC 41 = GPCG p. 46, 25 (same dies); Basel 242; Gulbenkian 154 (same obv. die); Kraay-Hirmer pl. 97, 280. 7.69g, 19mm, 3h.


Ex Nomos Fixed-Price List 4 (2011), lot 6.

The present coin hails from the age of prosperity and power of Terina, and is directly influenced by the works on the coinage of both Olympia and Syracuse. The nymph Terina’s form is evidently inspired by Euainetos’ Arethusa, while the reverse is a direct evolution of the die dated c.410-405 which is signed by ‘P’ (Regling 43), and which Harlan J. Berk suggests as being a possible work of the master Polykrates. That die had been undoubtedly inspired by the coinage of Elis for the 87th Olympiad in 432 (Seltman 133), which in its turn was a celebration of the masterful Nike balustrade in the Temple of Athena Nike on the Athenian Acropolis.

61.

Dies Inspired by Euainetos and the Nike Balustrade

13

Bruttium, Terina AR 1/3 Stater. Circa 325-300 BC. Head of the nymph Terina to right, TEPI behind / Nike seated to left on a cippus, the base shown in perspective, a small bird resting on outstretched right hand. Holloway & Jenkins 96; HN Italy 2634; SNG München 1741; cf. SNG ANS 858. 2.33g, 15mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful old tone. Very Rare. 1,000

62.

Bruttium, The Brettii AR Drachm. Circa 216-214 BC. Attic Standard, Second Punic War issue. Diademed and draped bust of Nike right / River god standing facing, crowning himself with wreath and holding sceptre; thunderbolt to right. Arslan dies 34/52; Scheu 6; HN Italy 1958; SNG Fitzwilliam 715 (same dies); Pozzi 268 (same dies). 4.66g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine; flan crack. Rare. 500

63.

Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation AR Half-Shekel. Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 215-205 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right; solar disk above. Jenkins & Lewis pl. 28, 3; Visona -; cf. Robinson, Second, pg. 45, 4; Crawford, CMRR, pg. 67; SNG Copenhagen 361-2; HN Italy 2016. 3.82g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine, lustrous metal with golden highlights. 1,500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Auctiones 25, 1995, lot 568.

64.

Excellent Carthaginian Occupation Half-Shekel

NORTH AFRICA

North Africa, Carthage EL Stater. Circa 350-310 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace / Horse standing right on single ground line, on which two pellets. Jenkins & Lewis, Group IV D, 328-329. 7.52g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive red tone around the devices. 1,500

65.

North Africa, Carthage EL Stater. Circa 310-270 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; pellet in field before neck / Horse standing right on single ground line; pellet in field before forelegs. Jenkins & Lewis, Group V, 253. 7.72g, 18mm, 12h.

About Very Fine. 750

66.

14

North Africa, Carthage EL Stater. Circa 310-290 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace / Horse standing right on single ground line, on which two pellets. Jenkins & Lewis VI, 328. 7.45g, 18mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 750

67.

North Africa, Carthage EL Stater. Circa 310-270 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace / Horse standing right on single ground line. Jenkins & Lewis, Group VI, 317ff. 7.39g, 19mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 1,000

68.

SICILY

Sicily, Panormos as ‘Ziz’ Æ Hemilitron. Circa 415-400 BC. Cockerel standing right; Punic letters ‘Ziz’ around / Six pellets. CNS I p. 269, 1-1/6 (Ziz); HGC 2, 1053. 10.96g, 24mm.


69.

Sicily, Panormos AR Litra. Circa 410-405 BC. Horned male head left, grain behind / Forepart of a man-headed bull right, Punic ‘ZIZ’ above. Jenkins pl. 24, 13; SNG Copenhagen 508-510. 0.72g, 11mm, 6h.

Very Fine; exceptional for the type. Very Rare. 150

70.

Sicily, Panormos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 340-310 BC. Charioteer holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga to left; Nike flying above to crown charioteer; Punic ‘ZIZ’ below exergual line / Head of Arethusa left, wearing grain wreath, pendant earring and necklace; scallop shell below chin, four dolphins around. Jenkins 78; SNG Copenhagen 502; SNG ANS 540; SNG Lloyd 1586. 17.08g, 25mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Beautiful style. Very Rare. 5,000

71.

Beautiful Style Punic Tetradrachm

15

Sicily, Panormos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 310-290 BC. Charioteer holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; Nike flying above to crown charioteer; Punic ‘ZIZ’ between two dolphins below double exergual line / Head of Arethusa left, wearing grain wreath, pendant earring and necklace; four dolphins around. Jenkins 78. 16.93g, 24mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Exceptional for the type. Very Rare. 3,000

This magnificent coin, which hails from the final series of tetradrachms produced at Panormos, is found almost without exception in poor condition; this example by contrast is as fine as any that Jenkins could locate while compiling his work on the coinage of Punic Sicily, and is among the finest known surviving specimens of the type. The style of the engraving displays a level of refined classical beauty that is unmatched in the earlier coinage of this city, and represents the pinnacle of tetradrachm production at Panormos.

72.

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Punic issue. Circa 345-315 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing barley-ear wreath, triple-pendant earring, and necklace; four dolphins around, shell below chin / Horse walking right in front of palm tree. Jenkins, Punic 134 (O45/R120); Nanteuil 411 (same dies). 16.84g, 24mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine, lightly toned. A superb specimen. 10,000

73.

Attractive Punic Horse

Sicily. Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Circa 410-395 BC. Forepart of bridled horse right, Nike above holding wreath; wheat grain in right field / Palm tree with drooping branches, small date bunches; legend QRTHDST (Carthage) in Punic letters. Jenkins, SNR 53 (1974), p. 37, no. 23 (O6/R23); SNG Copenhagen 71; SNG Delepierre 716. 17.65g, 26mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Light grey tone. Rare. 4,000

From a private German collection. One of the earliest coins struck by the Carthaginians in Sicily, this intriguing type was issued to finance the war against Selinos and Himera in the war of 410-409/8 BC, which resulted in the the capture and destruction of those cities. The types are distinctively Carthaginian: the horse refers to the omen upon the foundation of Carthage that indicated the city would be powerful in war; the palm tree (phoinix), is a pun pointing to the origin of the Carthaginians, namely Phoenicia.

74.

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Circa 310-300 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Horse’s head left, palm tree with date clusters behind; ‘MHSBM’ (Paymaster, or Quaestor) in Punic characters below. Dewing 983; Jenkins, Punic 394. 16.92g, 24mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. 2,500

75.

16

A Spectacular Coin

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Circa 330 BC. Head of Tanit-Persephone to left, wearing barley-wreath, triple-pendant earring and necklace; four dolphins around / Horse standing to right, palm-tree in the background, crescent above to left; poppy on exergual line. Jenkins, SNR 56 (1977), 119 (O39/R108); SNG Lloyd 1618 (these dies). 17.13g, 26mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Sound metal, beautifully toned. A spectacular coin. Very Rare. 12,500

Ex Prospero Collection, The New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012, lot 203;Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., London, 30 October 1985.

The source of inspiration for this stunning portrait of Tanit-Persephone is instantly recognisable as the wonderful series of Arethusa heads engraved by Euainetos for Syracuse half a century before. The style is so convincing an imitation, right down to the loose strands of hair that radiate from the goddess’ coiffure, that one could be forgiven for thinking it to be a work by Euainetos’ own hand. The Punic reverse of course dispels such thoughts, though it too is particularly well engraved. This is certainly one of the very finest Punic tetradrachms we have ever had the privilege to handle.

76.

Sicily, Akragas AR Didrachm. Circa 500-490 BC. Sea eagle standing left, AKRA behind / Crab within shallow incuse circle. SNG ANS 920 ff. 8.29g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

77.

Sharp Akragantine Didrachm

Sicily, Akragas AR Didrachm. Circa 495-478 BC. Sea eagle with closed wings standing to left, AKRA-CAN around / Crab within circular incuse. Jenkins, Gela Group III; SNG ANS 937. 8.71g, 18mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned; sharply detailed eagle. 3,500

From the Gutekunst Collection,Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, lot 110.

78.

17

Sicily, Akragas AR Didrachm. Circa 495-478 BC. Sea eagle standing left with folded wings; AKRACAΣ around / Crab within incuse circle; ΕΧΑ (retrograde) below. SNG ANS 919 var.; Jenkins, Gela 6 var.; Traité 2328 = de Luÿnes 848 (same dies). 8.79g, 20mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 3,500

Ex Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, lot 28;Ex A. D. Moretti Collection, NAC Auction P, 12 May 2005, lot 1135.

The didrachm issues of Akragas with either symbols or letters (as here) on the reverse are very rare, and must have been issued toward the end of the didrachm series.

79.

Rare, Inscribed Reverse

Sicily, Akragas AR Didrachm. Circa 495-478 BC. Sea eagle standing left, AKPACANTOΣ around / Crab within incuse circle. Lee Group I; SNG ANS -, cf. 941 (without full ethnik); SNG Lloyd -; Rizzo -; Dewing 556. 8.67g, 20mm, 2h.Very Fine. Extremely Rare denomination for this period, contemporary to the early Akragas tetradrachms. 750

80.

81 82

Sicily, Akragas AR Didrachm. Circa 495-478 BC. Sea eagle standing left, AKPA behind / Crab within incuse circle. SNG ANS 943-945. 8.93g, 20mm, 1h.Very Fine. 300

81.

Sicily, Akragas AR Didrachm. Circa 478-470 BC. Sea eagle standing left, AKPA around / Crab within incuse circle, CAΣ below. Jenkins, Gela, group IV, pl. 37, 17 (same dies); SNG ANS 961 (same dies). 8.46g, 21mm, 9h.Good Very Fine. Rare. 500

82.

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 471-430 BC. Sea eagle standing left, AKPACΑΝΤΟΣ around / Crab within incuse circle. SNG ANS 978 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 41. 17.22g, 27mm, 3h.



83.

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-446 BC. Sea eagle standing left; AKRAC-ANTOΣ (partially retrograde) around / Crab, whose shell has the features of a human face, within shallow incuse circle. Lee Group I; HGC 2, 77; SNG ANS 973 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 804 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 158 (same obv. die); Pozzi 377 (same obv. die). 17.35g, 26mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. 5,000

From a private American collection.

84.

80

19

Fleur De Coin

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 450-439 BC. Sea eagle standing left, AKRAC-ANTOΣ around / Crab; below, inverted dolphin swimming to left; all within shallow incuse circle. Lee Group III; SNG ANS 985. 17.44g, 25mm, 11h.

Fleur De Coin. Extremely Rare. 30,000

From the James Howard Collection.

A truly breathtaking example of this majestic type, engraved in incredible detail and perfectly preserved. The features of the eagle’s head and plumage display an attention to detail that is difficult to match in ancient coinage.

The reverse is no less impressive, the crab being well rendered and sharp. The inverted dolphin is a wonderful and unexpected symbol; quite apart from being an immensely rare control mark, it possesses an innocent simplicity when compared to the extravagant detail lavished on the eagle and crab. Not only is this the finest known of its type, it is certainly among the very finest of all surviving Akragantine tetradrachms from this period.

85.

21

The Eagles of Akragas

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 409-406 BC. Nymph or goddess driving quadriga galloping to right, about to turn, her robes billowing behind her; Nike above, flying left to crown the charioteer; crab swimming downwards in exergue / Two eagles standing right on dead hare lying on a rock; the closest eagle with its wings closed and head upraised, the further with open wings and head preparing to tear at the hare; ΑΚΡΑΓΑΝΤΙΝΩΝ (retrograde) around. Jameson 1889; Kraay/Hirmer 178; Rizzo pl. II, 1 (= de Hirsch 288); Seltman, Engravers 6 (all from the same dies). 17.23g, 28mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Superb quality for the issue, attractively toned.Very Rare. 30,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex A. Tkalec, 9 May 2005, lot 14.

The coinage of Akragas consistently depicted the crab and eagle since its earliest issue of the sixth century BC, and the best engravers were recruited to render these symbols of the city in the finest possible style. Late in the fifth century the coinage of the city underwent a remarkable transformation; like many of the cities of Sicily such as Messana and Syracuse, a renaissance began that saw numismatic art reach new heights of intricacy and magnificence. The traditional types were transformed, and the metamorphosis could not have been more pronounced - the previously static types are replaced by dynamic scenes full of activity and energy. This particular design of the two eagles may have been inspired by the omen received by Agamemnon and Menelaos in Aeschylos’ Agamemnon, where two eagles, representing the two kings, devoured a pregnant hare, an allusion to the forthcoming destruction of city of Troy. Such was the fate of Troy, and also of Akragas which was sacked and razed by the Carthaginians in 406 BC. Thus was this brief flourishing of vibrant art in Akragas brutally put to a premature end.

86.

22

Sicily, Akragas Æ Hemilitron. Circa 400-380 BC. Diademed head of river-god left, ΑΚΡΑΓΑΣ before / Sea eagle standing left on Ionic column, head right; crab to left, six pellets (mark of value) to right. CNS I, 89; SNG ANS 1097-1101. 17.84g, 26mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. A very attractive example of the type. Rare. 1,000

87.

Sicily, Akragas AR Drachm or 1/2 Shekel. Circa 213-211 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Sea eagle standing right with spread wings; ΔΓ monogram to right. SNG ANS 1135. 3.33g, 20mm, 11h. Pleasantly toned. Extremely Fine. 1,000 Akragas suffered badly during the Second Punic War, during which both Rome and Carthage fought to control it. This coin dates from the time of the Punic occupation. The Romans eventually captured Akragas in 210 BC and renamed it Agrigentum.

88.

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-475 BC. Bearded charioteer, holding reins with both hands, driving walking quadriga to right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses with wreath / Forepart of man-headed bull right, CEΛAΣ around. Jenkins, Gela 179 (O48/R103). 17.37g, 26mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 1,000

89.


Very Fine. 1,000


90.


Very Fine. 1,000

91.

23

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-475 BC. Bearded charioteer, holding reins with both hands, driving walking quadriga to right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses with wreath / Forepart of man-headed bull right, CEΛAΣ around. Jenkins, Gela 104 (O32/R59); SNG ANS 22; Randazzo 19; SNG Oxford 1727 (all same dies). 16.85g, 24mm, 6h.

Areas of corrosion; Very Fine. 1,000

92.

The Liberation of Syracuse

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. Charioteer driving slow quadriga right, Ionic column behind, Nike flying above to crown horses, ear of corn in exergue / CELAΣ, forepart of man-headed bull with long beard right. Jenkins 205; Hunterian 5. 17.10g, 31mm, 3h.

Near Extremely Fine; struck on a very broad flan. Lightly toned. Very Rare. 7,500

When Hieron I died, the tyranny of Syracuse was usurped by his brother Thrasyboulos, who it appears had corrupted the son of Hieron into an odious youth, that he might more easily set him aside and take the throne for himself. According to Diodorus (XI, 67) his rapacity and cruelty soon provoked a revolt at Syracuse, which Thrasyboulos sought to crush using foreign mercenaries and troops from Aetna and Katane. The Syracusans entrenched themselves in the quarter of the city called Tyche, and sent requests for assistance to Gela, Akragas, Selinos, Himera and the other inland cities of Sicily. Gela and the other cities responded, and dealt Thrasyboulos a decisive defeat on land and sea, forcing his abdication and retirement into exile.

The Group III tetradrachms were struck an appreciable interval after the last issue of Group II, and appear to have been coined at the time of the expedition to Syracuse as the means of meeting the implicit expense of the campaign.

The most distinctive feature of the obverse die is the Ionic column in the background, which it is reasonable to assume is a terma, or turning point. This deduction is reinforced by the presence on the first two dies of a wreath and Nike respectively, emphasising the agonistic nature of the scene. The terma is included as a stylistic and cultural symbol that serves the purpose of being a pleasant architectural adjunct that places the quadriga in a more specific context.

93.

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 420-415 BC. Charioteer driving slow biga right, Nike flying left above with wreath / ΓΕΛΑΣ, forepart of man-headed bull right. Jenkins 475; SNG Lockett 652. 16.80g, 27mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. A superb reverse in fine style, beautifully preserved. 5,000

Bought in France, December 2010.

94.

24

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 420-415 BC. Charioteer driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; [in exergue, bird standing left, head lowered] / Forepart of man-headed bull right within shallow incuse circle. Jenkins, Gela, Group VIII, 476 (O92/R186); SNG ANS 95 (same dies). 16.74g, 25mm, 7h.

Usual obverse die wear; rev. Extremely Fine. Attractive, severe style. 2,500

From a private Austrian collection.

95.

Sicily, Gela Æ Tetras. Circa 420-415 BC. Bull standing left; three pellets in exergue / Diademed head of the river-god Gelas right, ΓEΛAΣ before. Jenkins, Gela Group IX, 505; SNG ANS 109, Calciati III 12, 15. 3.71g, 18mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. 250

96.

Sicily, Gela Æ Onkia. Circa 420-405 BC. Bull butting left, ΓEΛAΣ and leaf above / Head of river-god Gelas right, barley grain behind. Jenkins 518; CNS III, p. 14, 22; HGC 2, 382. 1.20g, 10mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 100

97.

Sicily, Herbita AR Litra. Circa 4th Century BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, ERBITAIΩN around / Apollo seated to right on Ionic capital, holding bow and arrow. C. Boehringer, Herbita, Q. Tic. 10, 1981, pl. 1, A (these dies). 0.52g, 10mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare, one of only four known specimens. 500

98.

One of Four Known

Very Rare Chalkidian Drachm of Himera

Sicily, Himera AR Chalkidian Drachm. Circa 520-482 BC. Cockerel standing left / Mill sail pattern incuse design. SNG Lockett 779; Kraay, The archaic Coinage of Himera, 103 (D74/R61). 5.46g, 20mm.

Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned and superb for the type. Very Rare. 5,000

The Chalkidian colony of Himera, one of the first cities to begin coining in Sicily, followed the monetary standard of its mother city Chalkis, in Euboia. There the basic denomination was the stater of approximately 17.4 grams; the heaviest fractions being third staters. While neither Himera nor the other Chalkidian colonies Naxos or Zankle minted Euboian standard staters, they did strike smaller fractions, including the third, which are referred to as Chalkidian drachms.

99.

25

Sicily, Himera AR Chalkidian Drachm. Circa 500 BC. Cockerel standing right / Hen standing right within incuse square. SNG Copenhagen -; SNG ANS 146. 4.97g, 20mm, 7h.

Very Fine. Rare. 1,000

100.

Sicily, Himera Æ Onkia. Circa 460-450 BC. Gorgoneion with protruding tongue / HIMERAION around pellet. CNS I, p. 28, 1; HGC 2, 471. 5.20g, 19mm.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 750

101.

Sicily, Himera Æ Trias. Circa 430-420 BC. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue and furrowed cheeks / Four pellets. CNS I pg. 28, 8; SNG ANS -. 20.80g, 27mm.

Very Fine. Very Rare denomination. 500

102.

Sicily, Himera AR Litra. Circa 430 BC. Helmeted male head right / Helmet. SNG ANS -; SNG Lloyd 1029; Jameson 905. 0.54g, 9mm, 6h.


103.

Sicily, Thermai Himerensis AR Tetradrachm. Circa 400-375 BC. Charioteer, wearing Phrygian cap, driving galloping quadriga left; above, Nike flying right; altar in exergue / Female head left; three dolphins around. Jenkins, Punic 1 (O1/R1), pl. 22, 1. 17.11g, 26mm, 11h.

Very Fine. Very Rare. 1,500

Thermai was founded in the wake of the utter destruction of Himera and the slaughter of the majority of its citizens by the Carthaginian general Hannibal Mago, when the survivors of this devastation relocated to the nearby hot springs whose original discovery lay in myth associated with the wanderings of the hero Herakles (Diodorus Siculus IV. 23, v. 3). Though the site had long been inhabited, it was now swelled by the displaced Himerans, and the newly enlarged town was thereafter considered to be the successor to the old city of Himera, and in time appears to have become a sizeable settlement, though now subject to Carthaginian rule.

The first series of coinage at Thermai appear to have been tetradrachms in Punic style produced in the first half of the fourth century, in all likelihood created by engravers imported from one of the other Punic dominated cities, probably Panormos. These issues, which are today very rare, bear the distinctive sharp features associated with the contemporary work of that mint.

104.

Rare, First Tetradrachm Series of Thermai

26

Sicily, Thermai Himerensis AR Didrachm. Circa 365-350 BC. Head of Hera right, wearing stephane ornamented with foreparts of three griffins to right; dolphin behind, ΘERMITAN around / Youthful Herakles seated nude to left on rock covered with lion’s skin, holding club downwards in right hand and resting left on rock; behind, strung bow and quiver with strap. Jenkins, Punic, pl.22, 7; BMC 1; de Luynes 983; Regling, Die Antike Münze Als Kunstwerk, 733. 8.47g, 22mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare - one of only six known examples, three of which are in museums. 7,500

From a private German collection, purchased in Munich, September 2008.

It is probable that the didrachm issue was an item of some prestige that was closely associated with the later and much greater issue of litrai in the mid fourth century. Greek in style, both denominations display an image of a youthful Herakles that appears to bear distinct resemblance to the seated figure of Pan on the staters of the Arkadian League (Jameson 1276), struck circa 363/2 BC, and to the staters of Kroton (Jameson 429) struck circa 420 BC. While it is certainly possible that this reverse type was independently devised without external influence, it is tempting to see in the positioning of Herakles a close parallel with the Arkadian reverse, especially given that the two issues should be considered contemporary to each other. The head of Hera meanwhile finds its closest parallels in the coinage of Argos, circa 370-350 BC, notably Jameson 1255 (drachm) and BMC 38 (stater). Whatever the reason or occasion for the issue of this superb type, it and its accompanying litrai represent the period of finest numismatic art at Thermai, which never again issued silver coinage of such artistic merit.

105.

One of Only Six Examples

Only Example in Private Hands

Sicily, Kamarina AR Drachm. Circa 339-300 BC. Head of Persephone to left, wearing necklace and pendant earring, grain wreath in hair; E-Y before and behind / Pegasos flying left, KAMAPINAIΩN below. SNG ANS 1219 = Jameson 532 = Westermark-Jenkins 207.3 (dies B/b). 2.49g, 15mm, 4h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - Westermark and Jenkins record just five examples of this very rare type, which is the only issue in silver from this period. All other specimens known to Westermark and Jenkins reside in museum collections, the coin here vying with the finest of those five recorded - the BM specimen, ex Hess-Leu 1957, lot 69 - as far as quality is concerned. 2,000

The issue was quite small (only two obverse and three reverse dies are known) and should be dated to soon after the reconstruction of the city during the time of Timoleon of Syracuse circa 339 BC. In other ways it is very closely tied to Timoleonic types from Syracuse as well; the letters EY found on our coin are also present on concurrent Syracusan silver issues, and the straight-line presentation of the ethnic beneath the Pegasos is so strikingly similar to a drachm from Syracuse that it is thought to be by the same engraver (see Westermark-Jenkins pl. 38, b). The denomination is fairly secure, being a drachm on a light Corinthian standard, and conforms to the influx of Corinthian coinage into Sicily during this period.

106.

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right, fish below; above, a heron standing upon his back and walking left / Nike, wearing long chiton, in flight upwards to right, holding open wreath in hands, upturned murex shell below; KATANE before. Rizzo pl. IX, 1 (same dies); Kraay-Hirmer 31 (same dies); Randazzo -; SNG ANS -; Boehringer Ognina 74 (same dies); Ognina Hoard AttiMem pl. 1, 3 (same dies). 16.71g, 28mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine, obverse surface slightly rough. Extremely Rare. One of very few known examples. 3,000

From a private English collection.

The prominence of Amenanos, the personification of the river that flowed through the territory of Katane (whose name itself can be translated as ‘harsh land’ or ‘rough soil’), on the early coinage of Katane suggests the vital import of the river to the sustenance of the city, and the fertility of the surrounding lands. The two creatures that appear here in combination with Amenanos very probably therefore represent its life-giving power both to the citizens of Katane and the local fauna. The reverse has been hailed as a masterpiece of numismatic art for its portrayal of Nike in flight as she holds an open wreath. The presence of the murex shell beneath Nike is its only appearance on the coinage of Katane, and is important evidence for at least one source of the city’s wealth, for this mollusc was the source of the luxury ‘Tyrian’ purple dye, which product was worth more than its own weight in gold.

107.

27

Extremely Rare Tetradrachm of Katane

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right, fish below; above, a heron standing upon his back and walking left / Nike, wearing long chiton, advancing left, holding taenia in her outstretched right hand; KATANE around. Rizzo pl. IX, 2 (same dies); Randazzo pl. 3, 48-53 (same rev. die); Kraay-Hirmer 31 (same obv. die); SNG ANS -; Boehringer Ognina 74 (same obv. die); Ognina Hoard AttiMem pl. 1, 3 (same obv. die). 17.31g, 29mm, 3h.

Obverse die heavily used; Extremely Fine, light grey tone. Extremely Rare. 20,000


108.

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull swimming to right; branch above, fish below / Nike, wearing long chiton, advancing left, holding taenia in her outstretched right hand; KATANE around. Randazzo - (O54/R-). 17.29g, 26mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 2,000

From the N.R.S. Collection.

109.

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right; above, a nude horse-tailed Silenos kneeling to right on left knee, stretching left hand over the god’s head; ketos to right in exergue / Nike, wearing long chiton, advancing right, holding a taenia in each hand; KATANAION before. Jameson 534 (same dies); Randazzo -; SNG ANS -; Rizzo -. 17.17g, 28mm, 3h.

Near Extremely Fine.

From the N.R.S. Collection. 1,500

Of all the reverse dies used in this period at Katane, virtually all feature a left-facing Nike; in the famed Randazzo hoard of 1980 not a single right facing Nike was present.

110.

28

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right; above, a nude horse-tailed Silenos kneeling to right on left knee, stretching left hand over the god’s head; ketos below / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding taenia in her outstretched right hand; KATANAION around. SNG ANS -; Jameson -; SNG Copenhagen -; Randazzo pl. 3, 67-68 (same rev. die); Rizzo pl. IX, 12 (same rev. die). 17.33g, 25mm, 5h.

Near Very Fine. Rare. 1,000

111.

Sicily, Katane Fourrée Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right; above, a nude horse-tailed Silenos kneeling to right on left knee, stretching left hand over the god’s head; ketos below / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding taenia in her outstretched right hand; KATANAION around. Cf. Randazzo pl. 3, 67-68 for type; cf. Rizzo pl. IX, 12. 15.46g, 28mm, 6h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare contemporary imitation. 500

112.

Sicily, Katane AR Litra. Circa 440-425 BC. Head of Silenos left / KATANAIΩN, upright winged thunderbolt flanked by shields at both sides. SNG Copenhagen 182. 0.77g, 12mm 11h.


113.

Sicily, Katane AR Litra. Circa 415/3-404 BC. Head of Silenos to left, wearing ivy wreath / ΚΑΤΑΝΑΙΩΝ Winged thunderbolt between two shields. Boehringer, Kataneische LI 6-7; Rizzo pl. XIV, 18 var; SNG ANS 1266. 0.76g, 10mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. 500

114.

Sicily, Katane AR Drachm. Circa 412-410 BC. Charioteer driving fast quadriga right, Nike flying left above, crowning charioteer; KATANAIΩN in exergue / Head of Amenanos left, wearing tainia; two fish and crayfish around, AMENANOΣ above. SNG ANS 1263; SNG Copenhagen 181; Basel 335. 3.94g, 18mm, 3h.



115.

Attractive Amenanos Drachm

29

Sicily, Katane AR Litra. Circa 405-403/2 BC. Head of nymph to left, wearing ampyx and sphendone / Bull butting to right, KATANAIΩN above, shrimp in exergue. C. Boehringer, ‘Kataneische Probleme: silberne Kleinstmünzen,’ Proceedings of the 9th International Numismatic Congress, Pl. 6, 8; SNG ANS 1270. 0.76g, 12mm, 6h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 400

116.

Extremely Rare Hemidrachm of Kephaloidion

Sicily, Kephaloidion AR Hemidrachm (?). Circa 307-305 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress; EK ΚΕΦΑΛΟΙΔΙON around / Bull butting left on tablet; monogram AK and ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΩΤΑΝ above. Campana, Kephaloidion 1; Jenkins, Coinages, p. 97, 1 = CNS I p. 245 (Herakleia) = Basel 345 = Numismatica Ars Classica 13, lot 345. 1.93g, 16mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare, one of only very few examples. 3,000 From a private German collection. Once in the territory of Himera, the Sikeliote city of Kephaloidion fell into Carthaginian possession after the destruction of Himera, from where the “Rash Melkarth” or “Promontory of Herakles” coins appear to have been issued. The city was recovered in 393 BC by Dionysios of Syracuse, and he settled here a group of Italian mercenaries who called themselves the Herakleotai. The series of coins produced by these mercenaries is extremely rare, such that very few examples of each denomination survive - of the drachms there are believed to be only two surviving specimens, and this uncertain denomination is of similar scarcity. It is described by the ANS as a triobol, and as a hemidrachm by Jameson, though the present specimen is heavier than both of those, being slightly greater than hemidrachm weight. The great rarity of this series means that this coin represents a near singular opportunity for collectors to acquire a coin of this Hellenised city in a denomination any greater than a litra.

117.

Sicily, Leontinoi AR Trias. Circa 450 BC. Head of river god to right / Four pellets around leaf. Cf. Jenkins, Punic Sicily I pl.23, 7 (var, Motya); Boehringer, Leontinoi pl.11, 30ff. (var.); Manganaro in JNG 34 pl. V, 60. 0.21g, 7mm, 3h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 300

118.

Sicily, Leontinoi AR Tetradrachm. Circa 440 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Lion’s head right, with open jaws and tongue protruding; four barley grains and LEONTINON around. Boehringer, Leontinoi 37 (same dies); SNG ANS 226 (same dies). 16.87g, 27mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 1,000

119.

Extremely Rare Trias of Leontinoi

30

Ex Leu 1972

Sicily, Zankle-Messana AR Chalkidian Drachm. Circa 520-493 BC. Dolphin swimming left within sickle shaped harbour of Zankle, DANKLE above / Scallop shell within incuse pattern. HGC 2, 766; SNG Lloyd 1076; Basel 359; Boston MFA 285; SNG ANS 298-303; Kraay-Hirmer 49; Jenkins 97; Rizzo pl. 25, 4. 5.49g, 23mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine, very pleasant old tone. 8,000

Ex Leu 2, 25 April 1972, lot 88.

The circumstances and time of the foundation of Zankle are uncertain, due to conflicting accounts from the historical sources. According to Thucydides, the place was originally settled by the Chalkidian colony of Kyme (Cumae), first as a trading outpost, then as a polis in its own right at a later date, when greater numbers of Chalkidian and other Euboian settlers arrived. According to Ps.-Skymnos 283-86 (possibly drawing on Ephor fr. 137A; cf. Strabo 6.2.2-3) however, Zankle was founded by Naxos as a sub-colony at around the same time as Katane and Leontinoi, i.e. circa 735-730 BC. This date seems to be supported by archaeological evidence, and by the Zanklaian participation in the foundation of Rhegion.

Situated new the narrowest point of the straights south of Cape Pelorus on a low coastal plateau facing a natural, sickle-shaped harbour from which the city took its name (ζάγκλον – scythe), the settlement of Zankle lay along the inner harbour and upon the sickle-shaped peninsula that enclosed the harbour. The city appears to have been prosperous until around 488/7 BC, when the Zanklaian forces were laying siege to a native Sikel town, and their undefended city was captured by Samian exiles.

120.

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 478-476 BC. Charioteer driving mule biga to right, laurel leaf in exergue / Hare springing to right, pellet below; MEϞϞENION (partially retrograde) around. Caltabiano 52 (D28/R22); SNG ANS 314; SNG Fitzwilliam 1067. 17.34g, 26mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 500

121.

31

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 470-466 BC. Charioteer driving mule biga to right, Nike flying right above, laurel leaf in exergue / Hare springing right, MESSENION around. Caltabiano 305 (D137/R130); SNG ANS 315-320. 17.37g, 27mm, 9h.

Near Very Fine. 300

122.

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 470-466 BC. Charioteer driving mule biga to right, laurel leaf in exergue / Hare springing right, MESSENION around. Caltabiano 77; SNG ANS 316-317. 17.25g, 26mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 300

123.

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-456 BC. Charioteer driving mule biga to right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning mules; leaf in exergue / Hare springing right, A above; MESSENION around. Caltabiano 302; SNG ANS 330; Randazzo 179-80. 17.28g, 30mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 750

124.

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 420-413 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving mule biga to right, MEΣΣANA around; two dolphins, confronted, in exergue / Hare springing to right, dolphin to left below; MEΣΣANION around. SNG ANS 363 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 401 (same dies). 17.14g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 2,000

125.

Sicily, Messana Æ Litra. Circa 310-288 BC. Wreathed head of Pelorias left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace; two dolphins before, ΠEΛOPIAN behind / Nude warrior (Pheraimon?) advancing left, wearing crested helmet, holding hoplon and spear; MEΣΣANIΩN behind. CNS I 55, Em. 22; SNG ANS 394; HGC 2, 834; Caltiabiano 862-864. 9.63g, 23mm, 7h.

Near Very Fine. 400

126.

32

Two Exceptional Bronzes of the Mamertinoi

Sicily, The Mamertinoi Æ Quadruple. Messana, circa 288-278 BC. Laureate head of youthful Ares right, helmet with apex behind, APEOΣ before / Bull charging to left; MAMERTINΩN around. Särström 17-42; CNS I p. 91, 1; SNG ANS 399. 19.26g, 28mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, with a sound, untouched patina. 500


127.

Sicily, The Mamertinoi Æ Hexas. Messana, circa 270-220 BC. Laureate head of youthful Ares to right; two pellets behind head, ΑΡΕΟΣ before / Athena Promachos advancing to right, holding transverse spear in her right hand and resting her left on shield set on the ground before her; MAMEPTINΩN behind. CNS 21; SNG ANS 420-422; Särström Series X, 155; SNG Morcom 631. 8.60g, 23mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. A superb specimen of this rare type with a wonderful, intact patina. 500


128.

Sicily, Morgantina Æ Hemidrachm. Circa 339/8-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet decorated with serpents; behind neck guard, owl standing right, head facing; MOPΓANTINΩN before / Lion standing right, devouring stag’s head; Γ above, coiled serpent below. Erim & Jaunzems issue 6, 4; Castrizio series I, 2; CNS 2; SNG Morcom 640; SNG ANS -; SNG Lloyd -; Rizzo pl. LX, 7; Basel 375; SNG Delepierre 3054. 15.48g, 25mm, 11h.

Very Fine. Untouched patina. 500

129.

Sicily, Morgantina Æ Hemidrachm. Circa 339/8-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet decorated with serpents; behind neck guard, owl standing right, head facing; MOPΓANTINΩN before / Lion standing right, devouring stag’s head; Γ above, coiled serpent below. Erim & Jaunzems issue 6, 4; Castrizio series I, 2; CNS 2; SNG Morcom 640; SNG ANS -; SNG Lloyd -; Rizzo pl. LX, 7; Basel 375; SNG Delepierre 3054. 17.69g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Very well preserved for the issue. 1,000

130.

34

A Masterpiece of Fifth Century Art

Sicily, Naxos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460 BC. Bearded head of Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath, his hair tied in a krobylos behind / Nude, bearded and ithyphallic Silenos squatting facing, head left, holding kantharos in right hand, leaning on left; NAXION around. Cahn 54; SNG ANS 515; SNG Lloyd 1150; SNG Lockett 840; Gulbenkian 230-231; Rizzo pl. XXVIII, 2; Jenkins 673; SNG Fitzwilliam 1108; Kraay-Hirmer 6 (all from same dies). 17.22g, 30mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine, with a deep, beautiful tone. Very Rare. 75,000


One of the great masterpieces of fifth century Greek numismatic art, and one of the most famous of all Greek coins. Produced from a single set of dies, this tetradrachm was struck in commemoration of the refoundation of the city of Naxos following the return of its citizens from their forced relocation to Leontinoi by the tyrant Hieron of Syracuse.

Undoubtedly the most accomplished engraver of his time, this artist is also believed to have been responsible for the unique Brussels Aetna tetradrachm - in both cases his work is a tour de force that showcases his singular ability. On the present piece, the obverse presents us with a refined portrait of Dionysos, which though bearing distinctly archaized features such as the arrangement of the god’s hair, wreath and beard, shows his eye in profile. This, combined with the god’s merry expression and the deliberate extension of the design through the dotted border indicate clear progression of style away from the more formal and rigid types of previous decades. The result is, of course, the most iconic and artistically meritorious portrait of Dionysos in all of ancient coinage.

Yet it is upon the reverse that the artist has worked a wonder that has earned this type such a lofty reputation as one of the most desired of all ancient Greek coins, and the most costly of all the tetradrachms. Here, the artist’s composition combines handsome naturalistic musculature with a unique and inspired design of Silenos drunkenly gazing into his wine cup as he supports himself with his other hand. In choosing to depict Silenos facing the viewer, the artist not only proves his ability to render the design in adept relief and detail, he also effortlessly demonstrates an advanced understanding and application of the principle of foreshortening in Silenos’ right leg and foot.

It is this combination of a striking, masterful image of Dionysos with such a remarkable reverse scene that was so far ahead of its time that has led so many to acclaim it a triumph of late archaic art.

131.

36

A Very Rare Archaic Drachm

Sicily, Naxos AR Drachm. Circa 460 BC. Bearded head of Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath, his hair tied in a krobylos behind; beard, krobylos and wreath tips traversing the dotted border / Nude and bearded Silenos squatting facing, head left, holding kantharos in right hand, resting left hand on knee; ΝΑΧΙΟΝ around, all within shallow incuse circle. Cahn 55 (V40/R46); Rizzo pl. XXVIII, 13; SNG Lloyd 1151 = Weber 1467; Basel 385; SNG Lockett 841 = Pozzi 508; Jameson 674; de Luynes 1063; McClean 2467 (all from the same dies). 4.27g, 18mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 40,000

From the Ambrose Collection of Greek and Roman coins.

The parallel issue to the famous tetradrachm, this coin presents us with dies engraved by the same hand, yet subtly different in execution. The bold overlapping of the obverse design across the dotted border by the head of Dionysos is the same as that on the tetradrachm - it is the clear statement of a unique ability that delights in breaking the constraints that bind lesser artists, an attitude that is equally reflected on the reverse with its remarkable avant-garde use of the principle of foreshortening, which assists in the creation of a sense of depth and perspective. Yet this Silenos is visibly less intoxicated than he appears on the tetradrachm - here he remains upright without the use of his left hand to steady him, and instead rests it upon his knee.

Possessing a more muscular build and a seemingly younger face, it may be that we are expected to see in this scene a more youthful version of the companion of Dionysos, one better able to hold his wine. The execution of Silenos’ musculature and his posture both on this coin and on the tetradrachm demonstrate a clear tendency in this artist towards naturalism and observational realism that was greatly ahead of his time.

132.

37

An Exceptional Specimen

Sicily, Naxos AR Drachm. Circa 460-430 BC. Bearded head of Dionysos right, wearing tainia decorated with an ivy branch / Nude and bearded Silenos squatting half-left, holding kantharos in right hand and resting his left hand on his knee, tail behind; NAXION around; all within shallow concave circular incuse. Cahn 56 (V41/R47); HGC 2, 990; SNG Lloyd 1152; BMC 9; Jameson 676; de Luynes 1064; Pozzi 507 (all from the same dies). 4.29g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasant old cabinet tone, with remarkable visual appeal. Rare. 10,000


Executed perhaps as little as a decade after the preceding lot, the contrast between it and this coin could not be sharper. The god Dionysos has become increasingly humanised, with a less severe appearance not too dissimilar we may imagine from noblemen of that time.

The reverse appears to continue the development away from static, romanticised scenes, instead portraying Silenos in a rather less than reverential pose, clearly inebriated and with an apparent carefree disregard for himself or his surroundings - instead preoccupied solely with his drinking cup.

133.

38

Sicily, Naxos AR Trionkion - Tetras. Circa 415 BC. Head of river god Assinos(?) right, wearing laurel wreath / Kantharos; three pellets (mark of value) around. Cahn -; Campana 31; Manganaro pl. 24, 42 = Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 373, no. 22; CNG 67, lot 310. 0.16g, 7mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Exceptional for the type. 500


134.

Sicily, Segesta AR Didrachm. Circa 440-416 BC. Hound standing right / Head of the nymph Aigeste to right, her hair bound with a taenia; all within a linear circular border. Hurter 103a (this coin); SNG ANS 633 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1168 (same dies). 8.59g, 22mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. 4,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, lot 120;Ex Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, lot 51;Ex Coin Galleries, 2 August 2006, lot 147;Ex Spink 5014, 28 September 2005, lot 33.

135.

Exceptional Naxos Trionkion

Fine Style Didrachm of Segesta

Sicily, Selinos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 450 BC. Artemis driving slow quadriga to left, beside her, Apollo shooting bow; ΣΕΛΙΝΟΝΤΙΟΝ around / The river god Selinos, naked, standing to left, holding branch upwards in left hand, pouring phiale over altar before which cockerel stands to left; selinon leaf above bull standing to left on base; ΣΕΛΙΝΟΣ around. Schwabacher 9; Rizzo pl. 31, 13 (same dies); AMB 407 = SNG Lockett 361 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1229 (same dies); SNG ANS 690 (same dies). 17.34g, 27mm, 3h.

About Very Fine. 2,000

136.

Lustrous Selinos Didrachm

Sicily, Selinos AR Didrachm. Circa 540-515 BC. Selinon leaf; two pellets below / Dekapartite incuse punch. Arnold-Biucchi Group I, 4 var. (four pellets on obverse); Selinus Hoard 19 (same dies); SNG ANS 667 (same obverse die); SNG Copenhagen 592. 9.07g, 22mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous metal, lightly toned. 3,000

Ex Tony Hardy Collection; Triton VIII, 11 January 2005, lot 74.

137.

39

Sicily, Selinos AR Didrachm. Circa 540-515 BC. Selinon leaf / Dekapartite incuse punch. SNG ANS 672; SNG Copenhagen 591. 9.02g, 21mm.Good Extremely Fine, beautifully toned with golden iridescent highlights. 3,000From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 195, 7 March 2011, lot 55;Ex A. Tkalec, 25 October 1996, lot 9.

138.

Sicily, Selinos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 410 BC. Head of Herakles facing slightly left, wearing lion-skin / Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga left; selinon leaf above, ΣEΛINONTION in exergue. HGC 2, 1228; SNG ANS 713; SNG Lloyd 1268; Pozzi (Boutin) 1195; Rizzo pl. XXXIII, 7. 1.74g, 16mm, 1h.Very Fine. Rare. 1,000

139.

Sicily, Selinos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 410 BC. Head of Herakles facing slightly left, wearing lion-skin / Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga left; selinon leaf above, ΣEΛINONTION in exergue. HGC 2, 1228; SNG ANS 713; SNG Lloyd 1268; Pozzi (Boutin) 1195; Rizzo pl. XXXIII, 7. 1.72g, 14mm, 10h.Very Fine. Rare. 500

140.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-80 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike flying above to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied with pearl headband; ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 59 (V31/R38) = SNG Fitzwilliam 1174; SNG ANS 13 (same dies); Randazzo 242 (same dies). 17.41g, 25mm, 2h. Extremely Fine. Struck from a beautiful obverse die featuring a most graceful Nike with wings spread over the quadriga. 3,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Comery Collection.

141.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-480 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 73 (V35/R48); SNG ANS 18, (same obverse die). 17.23g, 25mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 3,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Münzen und Medaillen List 449, October 1982, 3;Ex Pozzi Collection.

142.

40

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-479 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 81 (O38/R53). 17.38g, 27mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. 750

143.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-479 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Randazzo 257; Naville Numismatics, 3 July 1933, lot 659; Noble Numismatics 103, 13 August 2013, lot 3455; cf. Boehringer 95 (O45/R-). 17.34g, 25mm, 8h.

Very Fine. 750

144.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Didrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-479 BC. Nude rider on horseback to right / Head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl diadem and necklace; ΣVRAKOΣΙΟN and three dolphins around. Jameson 748 (these dies); Pozzi 566; SNG Copenhagen 619; Dewing 700 (these dies); SNG ANS 26 (this obverse die); Kraay-Hirmer 77; Boehringer 99.6. 8.33g, 21mm, 5h.


145.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-479 BC. Bearded charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 109 (V50/R75); Randazzo -; SNG ANS -. 17.30g, 24mm, 9h.

Very Fine. Very Rare. Only two examples cited by Boehringer. 750

146.

Rare Didrachm of Syracuse

41

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right, Nike flying above right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl diadem and necklace, ΣVRAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 117 (V53/R42); SNG ANS 29-30. 17.24g, 25mm, 9h.About Very Fine. 500

147.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-479 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 122E (V55E/R82); SNG ANS 32 (same obverse die); Weber 1554 (same reverse die). 17.57g, 24mm, 12h.Very Fine. Rare. 750

148.

148147

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 134 (V60/R93). 17.06g, 24mm, 1h.

Near Very Fine. 500

149.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with wreath / Head of Arethusa right, hair in pearl band, wearing loop earring with single pendant and pearl necklace; ΣVRAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 187 (V84/R125); SNG Lloyd 1291 (these dies); SNG ANS 56 (this obverse die). 17.37g, 25mm, 4h.

Very Fine. Old collection tone. An archaic portrait of fine style – one of the most pleasing in the series; beautifully centred reverse. 4,000

Ex Rockefeller University/Dr. Alfred E. Mirsky Collection.

150.

152151

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 202 (O89/R140). 17.05g, 25mm, 9h.Very Fine. 500

151.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 211 (O93/R132). 17.60g, 25mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. 750

152.

153

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 228 (V102/R154); SNG ANS 78 (same obverse die). 17.22g, 26mm, 3h.Near Very Fine. 500

153.

42


About Very Fine. Very Rare. 500

154.


Very Fine. 500

155.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 475-470 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 303 (V144/R210); Randazzo 467-468 (same dies); SNG ANS 99 (same dies). 17.04g, 26mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 500

156.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 475-470 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with wreath / Head of Arethusa right, hair in bunch, wearing pearled hair-tie, earrings, and necklace; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 323 (O158/R226). 17.42g, 25mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 750

157.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding reins with both hands; Nike above, flying left to crown charioteer, ketos to right in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied at back with pearl headband; ΣVRAKOΣION and four dolphins swimming clockwise around. Boehringer 448 (V234/R319). 17.17g, 26mm, 9h.

Evidence of old corrosion and smoothing on rev., otherwise Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 3,000

158.

43

Ex Leu 1989

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton and holding the reins in both hands, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying left to crown the charioteer; ketos swimming to right in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl diadem, pearl necklace, and drop earring, hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins swimming clockwise around. Boehringer 442; Jameson 758. 17.19g, 26mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. A superb example of this simple but elegant type. Beautifully toned. Rare. 10,000

Ex Leu 48, 10 May 1989, lot 60.

159.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike flying right above, crowning horses, ketos to right in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied with pearl headband; ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 470. 17.21g, 28mm, 9h.

Poorly struck reverse, obverse; Good Extremely Fine. A portrait of remarkably fine style and quality. Rare. 4,000

160.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right, Nike flying right above, crowning horses, ketos swimming right in exergue / Diademed head of Arethusa right, four dolphins and ΣVΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ around. Boehringer 477 (V255/R342); SNG ANS 148 (same obv. die); SNG München 1010 (same dies); Ward 254 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 208 (same obv. die). 17.14g, 30mm, 9h. Extremely Fine. 3,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Comery Collection.

161.

44

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton and holding the reins in both hands, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right to crown the charioteer; ketos swimming to right in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl diadem, earring and necklace, her hair rolled in a bun at the back, ΣYRAKOΣION and four dolphins swimming clockwise around. Boehringer 509 (V268/R365); SNG ANS 162 (same dies). 17.28g, 25mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasing old cabinet tone. Very Rare. 6,000

Privately purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica, London, January 2011.

162.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy. Circa 440-430 BC. Charioteer driving fast quadriga left; Nike above, flying right and crowning charioteer; ketos left in exergue / Diademed head of Arethusa right; ΣYRAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 604 (V296/R410); SNG ANS 198-9; Jameson 775 (these dies). 17.02g, 25mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine and attractively toned. Rare. 7,500

Ex David Freedman Collection.

Engraved in wonderful style, the usual die break detracts nothing from the beauty of the artistry we observe here.

163.

Signed by Phrygillos

Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemilitron. Dionysios I, circa 415-405 BC. Obverse die signed by Phrygillos. Head of Arethusa left, hair in sphendone inscribed ΦPI; dolphin behind / Wheel of four spokes; ΣY-PA in upper quarters, dolphins in lower quarters. CNS 19; SNG ANS 412. 3.64g, 17mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. A very pleasing example of a signed Syracusan bronze. 500

164.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Dionysios I, circa 410 BC. Signed by Euainetos and Eumenes. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to right, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying to left carrying tablet inscribed EYAINETO; two dolphins confronted in exergue / Head of Arethusa left, wearing ampyx and sphendone, earring and necklace; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN and four dolphins around, EYMENOY below. Tudeer 45; SNG ANS 272. 17.20g, 26mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Very Rare. A beautiful coin created by two of Syracuse’s most accomplished engravers. 7,500

The obverse of this coin was the second die engraved by the master Euainetos for the city of Syracuse, and on this work he cleverly incorporates his signature into the scene by placing it in the hands of Nike – thus allowing it to at once blend into the design and also ensure his name is prominently featured.

165.

46

‘The Admiration of the Ancient and Modern World’

Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Time of Dionysios I, circa 450-370 BC. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; above, Nike flies to right, a wreath in her outstretched arms to crown the charioteer; in the exergue, a panoply of arms is set on two steps: a cuirass, two greaves, and a Phrygian helmet / Head of the nymph Arethusa to left, wearing a reed wreath, triple-pendant earring, and a pearl necklace; below her chin, a pellet, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind, four dolphins playing around her. Gallatin XXI-G.I; Dewing Coll. 920; SNG Delepierre pl.17, 68.

A couple of minor flan flaws on reverse, otherwise Good Extremely Fine, wonderfully lustrous metal, and featuring a remarkably detailed and attractive Nike. 40,000


The dekadrachms of Syracuse have been called ‘the admiration of the ancient and modern world’, and ‘perhaps the most famous of all ancient coins’; rightly so, for by virtue of not only their impressive size and weight, but more importantly the incredibly detailed artistry of exquisite style which they bear, they represent the zenith of cultural and numismatic technological achievement at ancient Syracuse, and are among the most beautiful coins ever struck for circulation.

Produced at the apex of Syracuse’s power and glory, the dekadrachm issue began circa 405 BC, following the election of Dionysios as supreme military commander of Syracuse for his achievements in the war against Carthage, and his subsequent seizure of total power. Syracuse had only recently defeated an Athenian invasion of Sicily that resulted in the utter destruction of Athens’ expeditionary force and ultimately contributed significantly to Athens’ defeat at the hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Then under Dionysios in 405, despite the ruin of great cities such as Akragas and Gela, Syracuse repulsed a Carthaginian invasion that might have resulted in a complete conquest of the island. Such glory was short-lived however, as the rule of Dionysios’ son and successor was to bring only civil strife that would weaken the power of Syracuse. Never again would the city issue coinage on such a grand scale, and with the cessation of tetradrachm production in c.400 BC, the dekadrachms represent the last great flourishing of classical numismatic art at Syracuse before two centuries of steady decline and eventual conquest at the hands of the Romans.

166.

48

Sicily, Syracuse AV Didrachm – 10 Litrai. Dionysios I, circa 405 BC. Head of Athena left wearing crested Attic helmet; ΣYPA (retrograde) before / Aegis with facing gorgoneion in centre. Bérend –; Boehringer, Münzprägungen –; SNG ANS 316; SNG Lloyd 1418; Rizzo pl. XLVIII, 6; Jameson 817. 0.65g, 8mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. Rare. 2,500

167.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Drachm. Dionysios I, circa 405-400 BC. Head of Athena facing, wearing triple crested Attic helmet, earring and necklace of pendant acorns; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ and four dolphins around / Leukaspis, nude but wearing helmet, striding right, holding spear in his right hand and shield with his left; behind, square altar; before, sacrificed lamb lying on its back; ΛΕΥΚΑΣΠΙΣ in exergue, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ around. BMFA 420; Kunstfreund 121; Rizzo pl. XLII, 1; SNG ANS 308-310. 4.10g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Fine. 500

168.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ Litra. Time of Dionysios I, circa 390 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with wreath, SYPA before; dolphin before and behind / Bridled hippocamp left. CNS II, p. 88, 44; SNG ANS 447. 8.70g, 20mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Very well preserved for the issue. 500

169.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Hemidrachm. Timoleon and the Third Democracy, circa 344-339/8 BC. Corinthian standard. Head of Aphrodite to left, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied with ribbon and bound at top, falling loose behind / Pegasos flying left, ΣVPAKOΣION around. Giesecke pl. 18, 7; Lederer, Berl. Mzb. 1912 p. 339; Imhoof-Blumer, NymphenChariten, p. 53. 1.76g, 13mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Of the highest rarity, apparently only the fourth known specimen. 3,000

Timoleon was dispatched from Corinth at the head of an army to answer a call for aid from Syracuse. When he arrived in Sicily there was no local currency sufficient to pay his mercenary troops. No Greek coinage had been minted for several decades in Sicily and the older coins that remained in circulation were worn and of mixed origin. Timoleon undoubtedly brought with him a war-chest consisting primarily of staters (Pegasi) from his native Corinth and her allies and colonies in northwestern Greece which quickly became the dominant currency in Greek Sicily. When bullion became available, it is not surprising that Timoleon struck his own staters, based on the weight and bearing the types of his native Corinth, but with the Syracusan ethnik.

The present drachm bears a wonderful portrait of the goddess Aphrodite, whose cult flourished in Corinth more so than in any other city of mainland Greece. The goddess had her temple atop the monolithic rock known as the Acrocorinth, widely regarded as the most impressive acropolis in all of Greece. This mountain peak which towered over the city was assigned to Helios by Briareos when he acted as adjudicator between that god and Poseidon in their contest for the city, and was handed over, the Corinthians said, by Helios to Aphrodite. The temple of Aphrodite here was particularly wealthy, and according to Strabo it at one time possessed over a thousand temple slaves. It is fitting therefore that upon this drachm of Timoleon we find a beautifully engraved image of the goddess Aphrodite.

170.

Fourth Known Specimen

49

Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemidrachm. Time of Timoleon, circa 344-338 BC. Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios right, ZEΥΣ ΕΛΕΘΥΕPΙΟΣ around / Upright thunderbolt; barley grain in left field; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. CNS II, p. 167, 71; SNG ANS 474–6. 15.77g, 26mm, 8h.


Ex Roma Numismatics VI, 29 September 2013, lot 453 (sold for £1,200 but not paid);Ex private German collection.

171.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemidrachm. Time of Timoleon, circa 344-338 BC. Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios right, ZEΥΣ ΕΛΕΘΥΕPΙΟΣ around / Upright thunderbolt; eagle in right field; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. CNS II, p. 167, 72; SNG ANS 477-88. 15.64g, 25mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Excellent detail. Attractive dark green patina. 1,000

172.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Stater. Time of Timoleon, circa 344-338 BC. Pegasos flying left / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. Calciati 2; SNG ANS 496-510. 8.60g, 20mm, 6h.


173.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Stater. Time of Timoleon, circa 344-338 BC. Pegasos flying left / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. Pegasi 2; SNG ANS 496-507. 8.50g, 21mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. 750


174.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ20. Time of Timoleon, circa 344-338 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; cornucopiae behind / Pegasos flying right; NI below. CNS 85 Ds41/R15; HGC 2, 1486. 5.42g, 20mm, 9h.

Very Fine. Rare. 300

175.

50

Sicily, Syracuse AV 60 Litrai. Time of Agathokles, circa 317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Charioteer driving fast biga to right, holding reins in his left hand and kentron in his right; triskeles running to right below. SNG ANS 549ff.; SNG München 1189ff. 4.26g, 14mm, 12h.Very Fine. 1,500

176.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Time of Agathokles, circa 310-305 BC. Wreathed head of Arethusa left, wearing triple-pendent earring and necklace, three dolphins around; NI below neck / Charioteer driving quadriga left; triskeles above; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN and monogram in exergue. HGC 2, 1348. SNG ANS 638. 17.15g, 25mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 3,000

177.

Sicily, Syracuse EL 50 Litrai. Time of Agathokles, circa 310-304 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Tripod lebes, phiale above, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. Jenkins group B; cf. SNG ANS 621-631. 3.41g, 15mm, 9h.Very Fine. 1,500

178.

278 BC – Invasion and Civil War

Sicily, Syracuse AV Dekadrachm. Thoinon and Sosistratos, 278 BC. Head of Persephone to left, wearing wreath of grain leaves, pendant earring and pearl necklace; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ before, bee behind / Nike driving galloping quadriga to right, holding reins and kentron; crescent moon above, Θ below, ΕΠΙ ΙΚΕΤΑ erased from the die in exergue. Buttrey, Morgantina, 5-R (same dies); SNG Munich 1292; Nomos 8, 22 October 2013, 58 (same dies). 4.27g, 17mm, 9h.

Scattered surface marks; near Mint State. Very Rare. 4,000

After Agathokles’ assassination by Maenon, the latter put the former tyrant’s grandson to death and seized command of his army that was then besieging Aetna, directing it instead against Syracuse. Hiketas was entrusted with the command of a sizeable force by the Syracusans to defend the city. Despite later seizing supreme power, Hiketas apparently never styled himself as king. During his nine year reign he defeated Phintias of Akragas and took that city, then turned his attention to the Carthaginians. He was however dealt a severe defeat in battle against their forces at the river Terias and as a result was expelled from Syracuse by Thoinon, one of his officers. Thoinon however faced opposition from both Sosistratos, a fellow officer, and from the Carthaginian forces that had defeated Hiketas. In this desperate time of civil war and foreign invasion before Pyrrhos would arrive and be hailed saviour by the Syracusans, there was apparently no time to produce new dies at the mint, and thus the old dies of Hiketas were reused - with his name hastily obliterated.

179.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ24. Hiketas II, circa 287-283 BC. Wreathed head of Kore left; grain ear behind / Charioteer driving biga right; star above. BAR issue 38; Favorito type 54; SNG ANS 760. 10.31g, 24mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 300

180.

51

Sicily, Syracuse Æ24. Time of Pyrrhos, circa 278-276 BC. ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin headdress / Athena Promachos advancing right, wielding thunderbolt and holding shield; in left field, vertical trident head. CNS II, p. 325, 177; SNG ANS 852-7. 11.12g, 4mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. 300

181.

Sicily, Syracuse AR 5 Litrai. Philistis, wife of Hieron II. Circa 218/7-214 BC. Diademed and veiled bust left / Nike driving walking biga left, [K before]; BAΣIΛIΣΣA above, ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ below. CCO 229 (D2/R1); BAR issue 66; SNG ANS -; Enna -. 4.51g, 17mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 1,000


182.

Sicily, Syracuse AR 10 Litrai. Hieronymos, circa 215-214 BC. Diademed head of Hieronymos left; K (retrograde) behind / BAΣIΛEOΣ IEPΩNYMOY, winged thunderbolt; ΞΑ above. Holloway 55 (same dies); SNG ANS 1032. 8.53g, 24mm, 1h.

Fleur De Coin. 3,500


183.

Sicily, Syracuse AR 10 Litrai. Hieronymos, circa 215-214 BC. Diademed head left / Winged thunderbolt; BAΣIΛEΩΣ and ΦI above, IEPΩNYMOY below. Holloway 33; BAR issue 80; HGC 2, 1567; BMC 643; de Luynes 1386. 8.50g, 22mm, 2h.


184.

Sicily, Syracuse AR 8 Litrai. Fifth Democracy, circa 214-212 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Winged thunderbolt, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN above, ΞA below. Burnett, Enna hoard in SNR 62, 1983, Pl. 9, D 25; SNG ANS 1045. 6.82g, 23mm, 9h.


185.

Very Rare Fifth Democracy 8 Litrai

52

Sicily, Tauromenion Æ14. Campanian mercenaries. Circa 354/3-344 BC. Campanian helmet / Monogram in laurel wreath. Castrizio Series I, 2; CNS II, 2. 2.29g, 14mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Pleasant, untouched patina. 150

186.

Illyria, Dyrrhachion AR Stater. Circa 400-330 BC. Pegasos flying right, Δ below / Helmeted head of Athena right; club and Δ behind, dolphin above helmet. Pegasi 31; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC Corinth 10. 8.50g, 20mm, 10h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 1,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Privately purchased from Edward J. Waddell, November 2004.

187.

Illyria, Korkyra AR Stater. Circa 344-338 BC. Pegasos flying to right, K below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet. Pegasi 11/3 = Bonham’s IV 1980, lot 148. 8.68g, 20mm, 4h.


The pegasos staters of Korkyra appear on the market with astounding infrequency, due in part to the very narrow window of time in which they were produced and the small size of the issue. These rare coins can be attributed to the time of Timoleon’s expedition to Sicily, when the city joined in the venture despite their political relations with Corinth being still strained. Along with Dyrrhachion, Apollonia and Anaktorion, Korkyra sent settlers in two ships along with a supply of pegasos staters, having suspended their traditional types and denominations to conform with the coinage of Corinth, which had overnight become the dominant currency of Syracuse.

188.

Illyria, Korkyra AR Stater. Circa 344-338 BC. Pegasos flying to right, K below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet. Pegasi 11/3 = Bonham’s IV 1980, lot 148. 8.68g, 20mm, 4h.


189.

Kings of Paeonia, Lykkeios AR Tetradrachm. Circa 358/6-335 BC. Astibos or Damastion mint. Laureate head of Zeus right / Herakles strangling the Nemean Lion; bow and quiver to right. Peykov E1000; NBRM Paeonia 32 (same dies); SNG ANS 1019. 12.78g, 23mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500

190.

ILLYRIA

PAEONIA

53

A Stunning Stater of Amrakia

Epeiros, Ambrakia AR Stater. Circa 360-338 BC. Pegasos flying left; A below / Head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet; spear to right. Ravel 169 (A75/P110); Pegasi 111 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 16 (same dies). 10.49g, 23mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Struck on an exceptionally heavy flan, and of wonderful style. 3,000

Ex Herbert Cahn Collection.

Founded between 650 and 625 BC by Corinthian colonists led by Gorgos, son of Kypselos, the city was initially ruled by its founder and then by his son Periander, who was later expelled in favour of a moderate oligarchy. The early policy of Ambrakia was characterised by its loyalty to Corinth and hostility to Korkyra; the city also had frequent disputes with the Amphilochians and Akarnanians. The city suffered a disastrous defeat in 426 BC at Idomene during the Peloponnesian War, when it sent a relief column to help the army that had invaded Amphilochia. Unbeknownst to the Ambrakians, the first army had been defeated, surrounded and scattered by the allied Athenians, Amphilochians and Akarnanians the day before. Unaware of the approaching Athenian army, they were attacked before dawn while still asleep, and were utterly destroyed.

In the fourth century the city resumed its traditional policy, but in 338 BC it was besieged by Philip II of Macedon. With Corinthian and Athenian assistance, it avoided capture and a sack, but was forced to accept a Macedonian garrison, at which point its Corinthian type coinage ends.

191.

EPEIROS

Kingdom of Epeiros, Pyrrhos AR Oktobol. Syracuse, circa 297-272 BC. Wreathed head of Persephone left; altar and A behind / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΠYPPOY to left. SNG Copenhagen (Epirus) 94; SNG ANS (Syracuse) 829. 5.54g, 18mm, 7h.Very Fine. 500

192.

192 193

Kingdom of Epeiros, Pyrrhos AR Oktobol. Syracuse, circa 297-272 BC. Wreathed head of Persephone left; altar and A behind / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΠYPPOY to left. SNG Copenhagen (Epirus) 94; SNG ANS (Syracuse) 829. 5.43g, 19mm, 1h.Very Fine. 500

193.

Kingdom of Epeiros, Pyrrhos AR Oktobol. Syracuse, 297-272 BC. Wreathed head of Persephone right; to left, forepart of Pegasos right / Athena Alkidemos advancing left; thunderbolt to left, E to right. BAR Issue 46; SNG ANS 833 var. (control mark on rev.; same obv. die); SNG Lloyd 1531 (same dies). 5.62g, 21mm, 6h.Good Very Fine, slight roughness. Rare, and a difficult issue to find in good condition. 1,500

194.

Kingdom of Epeiros, Pyrrhos AR Oktobol. Syracuse, 297-272 BC. Wreathed head of Persephone left; poppy to right / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, sunburst above, thunderbolt to left, B to right. Cf. SNG ANS 829 and BMC 9-17 (Epirus). 5.53g, 22mm, 1h.Very Fine. Rare. 300

195.

195194

54

Extremely Rare and One of the Finest Known

Epeiros, Epirote Republic AR 1/3 Stater. Circa 233-168 BC. Jugate heads right of Zeus Dodonaeus, wearing a wreath of oak leaves, and Dione, diademed and draped; monogram behind, BO before / Thunderbolt, ΑΠΕΙ above, ΡΩΤΑΝ below; all within oak wreath. BMC 42; SNG Copenhagen 126. 3.32g, 17mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. One of the very finest known examples of this rare and attractive issue. 5,000

From a private American collection;Privately purchased from Harlan J Berk.

The obverse type of the jugate heads of Zeus and Dione is a civic emblem representative of the great shrine at Dodona in Epeiros, that was regarded as the oldest Hellenic oracle and second only in prestige to the great oracle of Delphi. In 233 BC, the murder of Deidamia, last surviving member of the Aeacid royal house that claimed its descent from Achilles, brought the Epirote monarchy to an abrupt extinction, and a federal republic was set up, though with diminished territory. Western Akarnania had asserted its independence, and the Aitolians had seized Ambrakia, Amphilochia, and the remaining land north of the Ambrakian Gulf. The new Epirote capital was therefore established at Phoenike, the political centre of the Chaonians. Epeiros did however remain a powerful entity, unified under the auspices of the Epirote League as a federal state with its own synedrion, or parliament. In the following years, Epeiros faced the growing threat of the expansionist Roman Republic, which fought a series of wars with Macedonia. The League remained neutral in the first two Macedonian Wars but split in the Third Macedonian War (171–168 BC), with the Molossians siding with the Macedonians and the Chaonians and Thesprotians siding with Rome. The outcome was disastrous for Epeiros; Molossia fell to Rome in 167 BC and 150,000 of its inhabitants were enslaved.

196.

Akarnania, Leukas AR Stater. Circa 320-280 BC. Pegasos flying left, Λ below, Θ above / Helmeted head of Athena right, Boeotian shield and kerykeion behind. SNG Copenhagen 340; Calciati, P. II, 405, 56. 8.59g, 21mm, 12h.


197.

AKARNANIA

55

Extremely Rare and One of the Finest Known

Akarnania, Thyrreion AR Stater. Circa 94 BC. Head of Athena Parthenos right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with four horse foreparts above visor, griffin above raised ear flap, and tendrils on neckpiece / ΘΥΡΡΕΙΩN, Athena Promachos standing right, brandishing spear in raised right hand and holding round shield on left arm; LE-ΩN across fields, monogram in upper left field, ΦATNI – ADA below, horizontal club in right field. Liampi, Thyrreion 174, 2 (this coin). 0.86g, 24mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine, attractively toned. Extremely Rare. 2,500 From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD Collection, Münzen & Medaillen Deutschland 27, 18 October 2007, lot 404.

198.

Akarnania, Akarnanian League AR Stater. Circa 229-168 BC. Lykourgos, magistrate. Head of the River god Acheloüs right; ΛYKOYPΓOΣ to left / Apollo Aktios seated left on throne, holding bow; AKAPNANΩN to right, monogram to left. BMC Thessaly pg. 168, 4; SNG Copenhagen 418 var. (monogram); Dewing 1467 (same dies); CH IV (1978), 43, fig. 6/4 (this coin). 9.99g, 24mm, 11h.

Very Fine. 750

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD Collection, Münzen & Medaillen Deutschland 23, 18 October 2007, lot 22.2;From the find at Akarnania, 1977.

199.

Aitolia, Aitolian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 205-150 BC. Head of Aitolia to right, wearing petasos / Boar running to right, ΑΙΤΩΛΩΝ above, K below; A and spearhead in exergue. Tsangari 597; Thompson, Agrinion 611. 2.52g, 15mm, 9h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 261.

200.

Thessaly, Atrax Æ Trichalkon. Circa 3rd-2nd century BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Unbridled horse standing right on ground line, ΑΤΡΑ above, ΓΙΩΝ below. Pozzi (Boutin) 2724; cf. Helios 6, 9 March 2011, lot 483 (same dies). 8.86g, 21mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine, and exceptional for a bronze of Atrax. Beautiful emerald green patina. Rare. 1,000

This type was re-attributed in BCD Thessaly part 1 from the 4th century to the 3rd-2nd Centuries on account of the flan properties, and re-identified as being a head of Apollo rather than that of the nymph Bura due to the presence of the wreath and lack of any feminine jewellery. A comparable coin there fetched CHF 6,000.

201.

AITOLIA

THESSALY

56

Thessaly, Krannon AR Hemidrachm. Circa 460-400 BC. Youthful hero Thessalos walking right, nude but for cloak and petasos tied over his shoulders, restraining the forepart of a bull rushing to right with a band held around the bull’s head; ΧΑΝ around / Forepart of bridled horse to left, trident behind, KRΑ (retrograde) around; all within incuse square. BCD 1080; Moustaka 36; SNG Copenhagen 38. 2.90g, 16mm, 8h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Lanz 151, 30 June 2011, lot 381 (incorrectly attributed as Pharkadon).

202.

Thessaly, Lamia AR Obol. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of young Dionysos left, wearing ivy wreath / Amphora with two handles, ivy leaf above, prochous to right, ΛAMIEΩN around; all within incuse circle. Georgiou, Mint 7; BCD Thessaly II 127.1; BCD Thessaly I 1090 (hammer of CHF 7000). 0.88g, 10mm, 12h.


Ex BCD Collection.

203.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 460-420 BC. Aeginetic standard. The hero Thessalos, trailing petasos and cloak, wrestling bull right / Horse running right, trailing reins; ΛAPIΣAI around; all within incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian, pl. 42, 46 (same dies); Herrmann Group IIIF, pl. III, 2; cf. Moustaka 190; SNG München 47 var. (obv. type left); SNG Copenhagen 109 var. (same). 6.22g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, attractively toned. 1,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, lot 104.

204.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 440-400 BC. Horse prancing right; Σ (retrograde) above, O below / Λ-A-P above, IΣA downward to left (all retrograde), the nymph Larissa seated left on hydria with its mouth facing the viewer, leaning her left hand on its side and tossing or catching a ball with her right hand; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 165. 0.97g, 12mm, 9h. Good Very Fine. 150

205.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 420-400 BC. The hero Thessalos, nude but for chlamys, his petasos flying in the air behind him, holding band around the head of a bull charging right / ΛAP–ΙΣAIA, bridled horse prancing right; all within shallow incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian pl. 43, 53; BCD Thessaly II 372.4 var. (shorter ethnic arranged differently). 6.17g, 19mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. 400


206.

57

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 410-405 BC. Head of nymph Larissa left, hair bound in sphendone / Horse galloping right, ΛΑΡΙ above. Herrmann group IV, pl. IV, 11; CNG e235, 23 June 2010, 101 (same dies). 6.09g, 18mm, 9h.

Slight die shift on rev., otherwise Near Extremely Fine. 1,500


207.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarters facing, turned slightly to right, wearing plain necklace / Horse grazing right on ground line on which grow plants; ΛΑΡΙΣAI above. Lorber, Early, 35.1a (these dies). 6.11g, 19mm, 5h.Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 2,500A supremely elegant and unusually severe portrait of the nymph Larissa that is stylistically distinct from all other issues before or after. This is undoubtedly one of the great highlights of the Larissan facing portrait series.

208.

Elegant, Severe Portrait

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Thessalos left, petasos flying out behind him, restraining charging bull / Bridled horse galloping right, ΛΑΡΙ above, ΣΑΙΑ below; all within incuse square. Herrmann group III, series H, 18; SNG Copenhagen 108. 5.93g, 20mm, 2h.Good Very Fine. 750From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Lanz 151, 30 June 2011, lot 373.

210.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Thessalos advancing right, with petasos over his shoulders and chlamys tied at his neck, holding a band around the forehead of a bull rushing to right / Bridled horse with loose rein prancing right, ΛΑ above, ΡΙΣ retrograde below, all within incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 99 (same dies); cf. Roma Numismatics 5, 175, and R. Ratto, 4 April 1927, 998 (both from the same dies). 6.01g, 18mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. Some graffiti on rev. 500From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 240.

209.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Thessalos left, petasos flying out behind him, restraining charging bull / Bridled horse galloping right, ΛΑΡΙ above, ΣΑΙΑ below; all within incuse square. Herrmann group III, series H, 18; SNG Copenhagen 108. 5.93g, 20mm, 2h.Good Very Fine. Pleasantly toned. 500Ex BVH Collection.

211.

58

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Thessalos right, petasos flying out behind him, restraining charging bull; countermark K in a small rectangle / Bridled horse galloping right, ΛΑΡ above, ΙΣΑΙ below, all within incuse square. Cf. Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, lot 104 (same dies). 6.04g, 18mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 500

Privately purchased from Brian Kritt, November 1984;Ex Stacks, 10 June 1970, lot 221.

The K countermark on the edge of the obverse was applied by an ancient magistral office or money changer to indicate the authenticity of the coin, the K meaning kalon, literally good, or genuine. Given the number of forgeries from this time that have survived to this day it appears that the scale of the counterfeiting problem was sufficient to warrant such examination and authentication of the currency.

212.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 365-356 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down; ΛΑΡΙΣ-ΑΙΩΝ around. Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-II; BCD Thessaly II 316. 5.76g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. 200

213.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, wearing ampyx, earring, and necklace / ΛAPIΣ–AIΩN, horse to right, preparing to lie down. Lorber, Hoard Phase L-III, 42 (same dies); BCD Thessaly II 318. 6.05g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine, pleasantly toned. 500

214.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarters facing, turned slightly to left, wearing pendant earring and plain necklace, her hair combed back behind the ampyx / Horse right, preparing to lie down, ΛΑΡΙΣ above, ΑΙΩΝ in exergue. Cf. J. Schulman 231, 6 March 1958, lot 3656 (same dies); cf. Auctiones 15, 18 September 1985, lot 88 (same obv. die). 6.13g, 20mm, 12h.


Well struck on a large flan, this beautiful obverse die engraved in fine style diverges from the other late heads on account of the unusual combing of the nymph’s hair.

215.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarters facing, turned slightly to left, wearing ampyx and necklace / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down; ΛAPIΣ above, AIΩN below. Lorber, Hoard 43 (same obv. die); BCD Thessaly 1155-7; SNG Copenhagen 120. 6.12g, 18mm, 12h.


216.

59

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarters facing, turned slightly to left, wearing pendant earring and plain necklace, her hair combed back behind the ampyx / Horse crouching right. Lorber, Hoard 43 (same obv. die); BCD Thessaly 1155-7; SNG Copenhagen 120. 6.02g, 20mm, 12h.Rev. slightly off-centre; Very Fine. 300

217.

Thessaly, Perrhaiboi AR Drachm. Circa 197-146 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Hera seated to right, holding sceptre, ΠEPPAI-BΩN around. SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; BMC -; SNG Berry 547; McClean 4665. 3.98g, 19mm, 1h.Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 400From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Lanz 151, 30 June 2011, lot 378.

218.

Thessaly, Pharkadon AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440-400 BC. The hero Thessalos, nude but for petasos and chlamys, holding band around the head of a forepart of bull charging right / Forepart of horse to right, ΦAPKAΔO around; all within shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 210; BCD 1268. 2.84g, 17mm, 10h.Very Fine. 300From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Lanz 151, 30 June 2011, lot 383.

219.

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440 BC. Head of Athena right in crested Attic helmet ornamented with three coiled serpents above visor and spiral at bottom of bowl / Horse’s head right, ΦAR around; all within shallow incuse square. Lavva 5 (V4/R4). 3.03g, 16mm, 7h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gemini III, 9 January 2007, lot 126.

220.

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Drachm. Circa 424-404 BC. Head of Athena right wearing Athenian Helmet with cheek-guards, TH behind / Horseman wearing petasos, on horseback trotting right, mace over shoulder, ΦΑΡΣ around, ΤΗ below. Lavva, Pharsalos 101. 5.91g, 21mm, 8h.Near Extremely Fine. 1,500

221.

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Hemidrachm. Late 404-350 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right, ΙΠ behind / Head of horse right, ΦAPΣ around. Cf. Lavva 113-27; cf. BCD Thessaly II 655; SNG Copenhagen 222. 3.01g, 15mm, 9h.Good Very Fine. 500From the Gutekunst Collection.

222.

60

Thessaly, Pherai AR Hemidrachm. Circa 465-460 BC. Forepart of horse right, emerging from rock / Grain ear, ΦETA around; all within incuse square. Franke, Geschichte, 9; SNG Copenhagen 236; SNG München 194. 2.79g, 14mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. 400

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Lanz 151, 30 June 2011, lot 386.

223.

Lokris, Lokris Opuntii AR Stater. Circa 350 BC. Head of Demeter to left, wearing wreath of wheat leaves, pearl necklace and tripartite earring / ΟΠΟΝΤΙΩΝ, Ajax striding right, nude but for helmet, holding short sword in his right hand and round shield with his left; within shield, griffin to right; below, broken spear and bunch of grapes. BCD 59 (this coin); Delbridge, Corpus, Group 15, 128v. 12.17g, 24mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone. 5,000

Ex BCD Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 55, 8 October 2010, lot 59.

224.

225 226Phokis, Federal Coinage AR Obol. Circa 460-458/7 BC. Head of bull facing / Forepart of boar right within incuse square. Williams 177; BCD Lokris 461.5. 0.91g, 11mm, 3h.Very Fine. 100

225.

Phokis, Federal Coinage AR Obol. Circa 460-458/7 BC. Head of bull facing / Forepart of boar right within incuse square. Williams 177; BCD Lokris 461.5. 0.92g, 10mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. 100

226.

Elis, Olympia AR Hemidrachm. Achaean League type. Circa 40-30 BC. Kallippos, magistrate. Laureate head of Zeus right, KAΛΛIΠΠΟΣ behind / AX monogram; FA to left, XE to right, Φ above, thunderbolt below. BCD 691; Clerk 275. 2.38g, 15mm, 2h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. An incredibly fine portrait of Zeus on a relatively small coin. 1,000


227.

Fine Style Zeus PortraitELIS

Rare Hemidrachm of Sparta

Lakonia, Lakedaimon (Sparta) AR Hemidrachm. Circa 125-75 BC. Laureate head of Herakles right / Amphora between the pilei of the Dioskouroi, monograms above and below; all within olive wreath. SNG Copenhagen 557; BCD Collection 853ff. 2.34g, 15mm, 9h.

Fleur De Coin. Rare. 2,500

Ex Hirsch 195, 5-7 May 1997, lot 208.

228.

LAKONIA

LOKRIS

PHOKIS

61

An Extraordinary Rarity from HeraiaPedigreed to 1879

Arkadia, Heraia AR Hemidrachm. Circa 500-495 BC. Veiled head of Hera to left, wearing stephane and beaded necklace / ΕΡ, beaded square around; all within a shallow incuse square. BCD 1350, BMC 1, BMFA 1237, Williams Period I, 2 (O2/R2) (all from the same dies); Jameson 2109 = Weber 4279 (this coin). 2.99g, 14mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - Williams knew of just seven specimens, of which only two were in private hands. 27,500From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD Collection;Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, lot 169;Ex Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, 163;Ex R. Jameson Collection;Ex Sir Hermann Weber Collection;Ex Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe Collection, Sotheby’s Wilkinson and Hodge 1879, lot 18.

Located near the border of Arkadia and Elis, Heraia was situated on the banks of the Alpheios river - one of the most prosperous and fertile regions in all of Greece, a beautiful region that gave rise to the Renaissance association of Arkadia with a harmonious, unspoiled idyll. According to Pausanias, the founder of the city was Heraieus, a son of the legendary Arkadian king Lykaon. Lykaon is celebrated for having instituted the worship of Zeus at Mount Lykaion, the mythical birthplace of the god. He supposedly met his end at a feast, when to test Zeus’ omniscience, he arranged for the god to be served a meal into which had been mixed the entrails of a child. In his rage, Zeus slew Lykaon and his fifty sons with lightning.

Initially a member of the 5th century Arkadian League, in 425 BC Heraia changed its allegiance to the Spartan dominated Peloponnesian League. Heraia was to remain a faithful ally of Sparta, even after the disastrous defeat of the Spartans at Leuktra in 371 BC when the other cities of Arkadia revolted and attempted to secure independence from a weakened Sparta. Although Heraia’s coinage issues were small in number, they are remarkable not only on account of their early date, being among the earliest coinage in Heraia, but also for the wonderful, fully archaic presentation of Hera.

This remarkable coin has passed through the hands of a number of very distinguished collectors: BCD, Robert Jameson, Sir Hermann Weber, and its first known modern owner, the noted diplomat Stratford Canning, later Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe. The present coin is the only one from his collection to have been offered for sale in many years.

Upon the sale of his collection in 2006, BCD noted of the type: “I always thought of these stunningly archaic Hera heads as one of the prize groups of my Peloponnesian collection. If one would wish to define the word ‘archaic’ what more appropriate than these, almost grotesque, but at the same time divinely imposing profiles? ...I remember pleading with, almost begging, Mr. George Muller at Spink’s to sell me two out of the three pieces just purchased from an old English collection and which were going to be offered to the legendary Mr. A, the greatest collector of Greek coins at that time. Mr. Muller was kind to me and I was able to purchase lots 1350 and 1351 for what was then the princely sum of £205. The best one, though (lot 1352) went to Mr. A. Thirteen years later I had to pay a hammer price of 16,500 Swiss Francs for it but never regretted doing so. Now all three are on offer...Will they be appreciated for what they are?” BCD retained the present specimen, which was not offered in the 2006 LHS sale, and was only presented at public sale a few years later in 2010.

229.

ARKADIA

63

Fine Style Zeus Portrait

Arkadia, Pheneos AR Stater. Circa 360-350 BC. Head of Demeter to left, wearing grain wreath, elaborate disc and crescent earring with pendants, and pearl necklace / ΦΕΝΕΩΝ, Hermes, nude but for his petasos and for a cloak over his shoulders, partially facing and moving to the left, holding a kerykeion in his right hand; his head is turned back to right to gaze at the infant Arkas, whom he holds on his left arm with his left hand and who raises his right hand towards Hermes’ face. S. Schultz, Die Staterprägung von Pheneos, SNR 71, 1992, pp. 47-90, (V-/R3.3). The obverse die of Persephone head left is unrecorded by Schultz. 10.98g, 25mm, 12h.

Very Fine – Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. Of the finest classical style. 15,000

230.

Arkadia, Pheneos AR Obol. Circa 370-340 BC. Bust of youthful Hermes to right, his cloak tied around his neck and with his petasos hanging behind, suspended by a cord / ΦΕ, Ram standing to right; above, kerykeion to right. BCD 1608; BMC 5; Traité II, 3, 891; Weber 4317. 0.89g, 12mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. Rare. Wonderfully sound, lustrous metal. A very beautiful coin. 5,000

From the Gutekunst Collection; Acquired privately before 2009.

231.

Arkadia, Stymphalos AR Obol. Circa 350 BC. Head of Herakles to right wearing lion skin headdress / Head of water bird to right, ΣΤΥΜΦΑΛΙΟΝ (retrograde) around. BCD 1703 (but from different dies); SNG Copenhagen 286; Nomos 2, 18 May 2010, 100 (same dies). 0.95g, 12mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. Very Rare. Superb metal quality; this coin is among the very finest known obols of Stymphalos. 5,000

From the Gutekunst Collection; Acquired privately before 2009.

232.

Among the Finest Known Obols of Stymphalos

Fleur De Coin Pheneos Obol

65

A Masterpiece of Classical Numismatic Art

Arkadia, Arkadian League AR Stater. Circa 363-362 BC. Bearded, laureate head of Zeus Lykaios left / Young Pan reclining upon a rocky outcrop, his mantle spread beneath him, Pan’s head three-quarters facing, in his right hand a lagobolon (a throwing club for the hunting of hares), a syrinx propped against the rocks below; in the left field, the monogram of the Arkadian League; OΛVM in small letters upon the rocks. Gerin 3–12 variant (dies 1/– [unlisted reverse die]); BCD Peloponnesos (Megalopolis) 1511 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 49; SNG Fitzwilliam 3851 (same obverse die); Gulbenkian 532 (same obv. die); Seltman, Masterpieces of Greek Coinage 48b = Weber 4259 (same obv. die); Traité pl. CCXXIV, 2 = Mionnet II pg. 244, 7 (same obv. die). 12.21g, 25mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 50,000

Ex Nomos 2, 18 May 2010, lot 97 [incorrectly listing rev. die c];Ex Triton VIII, 11 January 2005, lot 329.

One of the great rarities of the late Classical coinage of Greece, and a true masterpiece of Greek numismatic art. One of only twelve staters of the Arkadian League known to exist outside public collections.

After the Boeotian victory over the Spartans at Leuktra in 371 BC, an anti-Spartan democratic movement arose in Arkadia in the central Peloponnesos. By 369 BC a confederacy of most of the Arkadian city-states was established, and, under the auspices of the Boeotian leader Epaminondas, a city was founded by combining five pre-existing neighbouring villages. This new urban centre, Megalopolis, became the capital of the short-lived Arkadian League and, like Messene, a fortified buffer against Spartan power in the Peloponnesos. Though it experienced difficulties with its constituent communities, Megalopolis developed into the largest city in Arkadia and exerted a stronginfluence in the Peloponnesos.

This brief series, struck at Megalopolis from just 3 sets of dies, were produced by one of the great engravers of the mid 4th century; he almost certainly undertook work for the sacred mint of Zeus at Olympia, and surely also inspired the engravers of Philip II of Macedon.

The head of Zeus has been thought to have been taken from Leochares’ statue of Zeus Brontaios (the Thunderer) in Olympia, a city the League had conquered in 365 BC. As they had no experience of organising the games themselves, the Olympics of 364 BC were organized by the Arkadians’ allies the Pisatans. To pay their troops the Arkadians melted down gold dedications from the sanctuary in order to produce an emergency series of gold coins, of which only a few genuine examples survive (as BMC p. 76, 1 and pl. XVI, 8). During the Olympic festival of364 the Eleans mounted an assault on the sanctuary of Olympia, as a result of which both the Arkadians and Eleans were forced to withdraw. A treaty was signed with the Eleans, under which the Arkadians would return Olympia, but retain the territories of Lepreo and Lasion. Zeus figures on this coin no doubt as a reminder of the Arkadian claim to the sanctuary, as well as representing the Arkadian Zeus Lykaios (wolf-Zeus) whose sanctuary was on Mount Lykaion and who had a major temple in Megalopolis as well.

According to the accepted dating, these staters comprised a short series struck from Spring 363 until July 362.Thereafter the League dissolved into two factions, respectively centred on Megalopolis and Mantineia, who foughton opposing sides at the Battle of Mantineia for Thebes and Sparta. The result was a victory for Thebes, though theirbrilliant leader Epaminondas was mortally wounded while fighting in the front line of his army. With his loss and theutter defeat of Sparta, the stage was set for the Macedonian conquest of all Greece under Philip II.

233.

66

Arkadia, Arkadian League AR Triobol. Megalopolis, circa 320-275 BC. Laureate head of Zeus left / Pan seated to left on rocks, right hand raised, lagobolon in left hand; monogram of the League to left, I to right. BCD 1523. 2.80g, 16mm, 8h.


234.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; palmette behind. Pegasi 111; Ravel 343. 7.76g, 23mm, 1h.


From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Gemini VII, 9 January 2011, lot 417.

235.

237236Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right, bukranion below chin; behind, hand holding flaming torch. Pegasi 116; Ravel 400. 8.46g, 22mm, 1h.Good Fine. 200From the John Hayes Collection.

236.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; rose behind. Pegasi 117; Ravel 408. 8.48g, 22mm, 6h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 208, 16 October 2012, lot 1443.

237.

239238Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, hound seated right. Pegasi 135; BCD Corinth 65. 8.46g, 22mm, 12h.Fine. 100From the John Hayes Collection.

238.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; EYΘ (retrograde) before, ‘pudenda virilia’ behind. Pegasi 155; Ravel 599. 8.37g, 22mm, 9h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

239.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos standing to right, drinking at the spring of Peirene on the Acrocorinth, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, dolphin above; behind, a rose. Pegasi 180; BMC 345. 8.28g, 21mm, 6h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 500From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch St. A. 1, 22 November 2010, lot 225.

240.

CORINTHIA

67

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos advancing to left on ground line, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, dolphin above; behind, a rose. Pegasi 183. 8.59g, 20mm, 10h.



241.

243242

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; archaic statue of a nude, bearded male holding staff and knotted cord. Pegasi 192; Ravel 715. 8.41g, 21mm, 6h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

242.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; open hand behind. Pegasi 212; BCD Corinth -. 8.63g, 23mm, 3h.Good Fine. Rare. 200From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 208, 16 October 2012, lot 1444.

243.

245244

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa. 400-375. Pegasos standing right, drinking at the spring of Peirene on the Acrocorinth, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; bukranion behind. Pegasi 213; Ravel 498; BMC 175. 8.41g, 22mm, 3h.Porous; Very Fine. Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics IV, 30 September 2012, lot 1446.

244.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; coiled serpent (or divining rod?) behind. Pegasi 221; Ravel 507. 8.44g, 22mm, 9hAbout Very Fine. Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

245.

247246

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena; thymiaterion behind. Pegasi 238; Ravel 574. 8.40g, 20mm, 3h.Very Fine. 300From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 208, 16 October 2012, lot 1445.

246.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; aphlaston behind. Pegasi 245; Ravel 636. 8.34g, 20mm, 8h.Very Fine; surfaces a little rough. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

247.

68

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos advancing to left on ground line, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right, dolphin above; behind, Zeus standing right, preparing to hurl thunderbolt. Pegasi 280; Ravel 774. 8.65g, 21mm, 3h.Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 750From the John Hayes Collection.

248.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; Nike above, dolphin behind. Pegasi 315; BCD Corinth -; Ravel 824. 8.45g, 22mm, 9h.Very Fine. 350From the John Hayes Collection.

249.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; dolphin above, thymiaterion behind, ivy branch with five leaves below. Pegasi 324 (these dies); Ravel 835. 8.64g, 23mm, 4h.Good Very Fine, spectacular toning. Very Rare. 2,500From the John Hayes Collection.

250.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left; koppa below / Helmeted head of Athena left, dolphin above; behind, cockerel standing right. Pegasi 331 (this coin); Ravel 867; BCD Corinth –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 153. 8.32g, 23mm, 12h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 750From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Triton XVI, 8 January 2013, lot 393;Ex Auctiones 11, 30 September 1980, lot 120;Ex Auctiones 8, 27 June 1978, lot 204.

251.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos advancing left on ground line, QE below / Helmeted head of Athena right, EY before; bukranion behind. Pegasi 338; Ravel 889. 8.49g, 23mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 750From the John Hayes Collection;Ex ArtCoins Roma 5, 14 May 2012, lot 220.

252.

69

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos walking left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; dolphin above, Σ behind. Pegasi 342; Pozzi 1683; cf. BMC 386; BCD -. 8.61g, 20mm, 9h.



253.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Head of Athena facing right, wearing Corinthian helmet; behind, Nike standing right holding thymiaterion. Pegasi 347; Boutin, Pozzi Coll. 3726; Cammann 84e. 8.39g, 21mm, 5h.


From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 208.

254.

256255

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; retrograde K and trident behind. Pegasi 353; Ravel 959. 8.25g, 20mm, 9h.Near Very Fine; obverse die shifted. Very Rare. 200From the John Hayes Collection.

255.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right, K-A flanking; trident head behind. Pegasi I 354; BCD Corinth 92. 8.43g, 21mm, 12h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

256.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying right, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; E and poppy-head behind. Pegasi 366; Ravel 984. 8.45g, 21mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 500


257.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; E and poppy-head behind. Pegasi 367; Ravel 986. 8.51g, 20mm, 3h.About Good Very Fine. Rare. 350From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 193.

258.

70

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; E and race torch behind. Ravel 995; Pegasi 372; BCD Corinth 95; SNG Copenhagen -. 8.63g, 23mm, 3h.

Some almost invisible cleaning marks, otherwise Mint State. 1,500

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 208.

259.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; E and bow behind. Pegasi 373; BCD Corinth 96. 8.12g, 20mm, 12h.

About Very Fine; obverse rough, some horn silver deposits. 300


260.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; E and rose behind. Pegasi 374; Ravel 997; BCD Corinth 97; SNG Copenhagen 102. 8.44g, 22mm, 4h.

Good Very Fine. Toned. 1,000

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 117.

261.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, Artemis Phosphoros advancing to left carrying long torch. Pegasi 451; Ravel 1076; BCD Corinth -. 8.53g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 500


262.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, N and Ares standing right, holding shield and spear. Pegasi 376; Ravel 1056; BCD Corinth 121; SNG Copenhagen 121. 8.60g, 25mm, 3h.



263.

71

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; behind, N and head of cockerel to right. Pegasi 377; Ravel 1057; BCD Corinth 122; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 379; Pozzi -. 8.59g, 20mm, 4h.

Light cleaning marks, otherwise virtually Mint State. 1,000

From the John Hayes Collection;Privately purchased from Roma Numismatics, 7 May 2011.

264.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; aryballos and N behind. Pegasi 378; Ravel 1058. 8.46g, 22mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 200


265.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet; kantharos and N behind. Pegasi 379; Ravel 1061; BMC 374. 8.48g, 21mm, 9h.


From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 196.

266.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; N and kantharos behind. Pegasi 380; Ravel 1061. 8.44g, 21mm, 9h.



267.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet; bukranion and N behind. Pegasi 382; Ravel 1064. 8.40g, 23mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 500

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics May Auction, 21 May 2013, lot 207.

268.

72

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; N and triskeles within circle behind. Pegasi 383; Ravel 1065; BCD Corinth 126. 8.55g, 21mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous metal. 750


269.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; N and triskeles within circle behind. Pegasi 383; Ravel 1065; BCD Corinth 126. 8.35g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300


270.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, N within wreath of grain ears. Pegasi 386; BCD 128; Ravel 1069; SNG Copenhagen 119; BMC 372. 8.50g, 22mm, 3h.

Some minor deposits, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. 750


271.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; Δ and krater behind. Ravel 1001; Pegasi 388/1 corr.; BCD Corinth 98. 8.55g, 21mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. By far the best example offered in the past decade. Very Rare. 2,000 From the John Hayes Collection;Ex D.V. Collection, Roma Numismatics IV, 30 September 2012, lot 151 (£3,200).

272.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, Δ and Dionysos standing right, holding kantharos and grape cluster. Pegasi 389; BCD Corinth -. 8.41g, 21mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine. 500

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Artemide XXX, 9 October 2010, lot 60.

273.

73

275274

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, Δ and ivy wreath. Pegasi 390; Ravel 1003; BCD Corinth -. 8.54g, 21mm, 9h.Very Fine. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

274.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; Δ below, head of Helios behind. Pegasi 393; BCD Corinth 100; Ravel 1006; SNG Copenhagen 83. 8.53g, 21mm, 2h.Near Extremely Fine. Hints of iridescent toning around the devices. Fine style. 500From the John Hayes Collection;Privately purchased from Roma Numismatics, 2 March 2011;Ex Rockefeller University – Dr. Alfred Mirsky Collection, Gemini VII, 9 January 2011, lot 409.

275.

277276

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A and bee behind. Ravel 1037; Pegasi 397; BCD Corinth -. 8.38g, 23mm, 3h.Good Fine. 100From the John Hayes Collection;

276.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right; A below, bee to left behind. Pegasi 399; BCD Corinth 114; SNG Copenhagen -. 8.32g, 24mm, 3h.Near Very Fine. 200From the John Hayes Collection;Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, 27 May 2013.

277.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; A below chin, astragalos behind. Pegasi 400; Ravel 1039. 8.56g, 22mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. 500

278.

280279

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A below, astragalos behind. Pegasi 400; Ravel 1039. 8.48g, 21mm, 6h.Near Very Fine. 150From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics May Auction, 21 May 2013, lot 208.

279.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A below chin, Thessalian helmet behind. Pegasi 402; Ravel 1040. 8.33g, 21mm, 4h.Good Fine – Very Fine. 150From the John Hayes Collection.

280.

74

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A below, wreath behind. Pegasi 403; Ravel 1041. 8.13g, 21mm, 3h.

Good Fine. 150


281.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A-Λ below, krotalon behind. Pegasi 406; BCD 118. 8.42g, 22mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500


282.

284283Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; head of Silenos behind, A below chin, Λ below neck truncation. Pegasi 408; Ravel 1046. 7.98g, 21mm, 9h.Good Fine – Very Fine. 250From the John Hayes Collection.

283.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A below chin, Λ and trophy behind. Pegasi 411; Ravel 1050. 8.51g, 21mm, 10h.Very Fine. Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

284.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A-Λ flanking neck truncation, wheel behind. Pegasi 413; Ravel 1052; BCD Corinth -; SNG Copenhagen -. 8.59g, 21mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 500


285.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; Γ below chin, filleted thyrsos to right. Pegasi 416; Ravel 1025; BCD Corinth 109; SNG Copenhagen 81–2. 8.35g, 23mm, 10h.

Very Fine, surfaces a little rough. 300


286.

75

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; Γ below chin, dove within wreath to right. Pegasi 419; Ravel 1029; BCD Corinth 110; SNG Copenhagen -. 8.61g, 21mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive tone. 1,000

287.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; dove within wreath behind. Pegasi 419var. (no Γ below chin); Ravel 1029var. (same). 8.57g, 22mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare variant. 1,000

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 215 (£2,600).

288.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; Γ below chin, dove in wreath to right. Pegasi 419; Ravel 1029; BCD Corinth 110; SNG Copenhagen -. 8.21g, 21mm, 12h.


289.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right, I below chin; behind, Nike flying left holding fillet. Pegasi 420; Ravel 1030; BCD Corinth 111. 8.45g, 21mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 300

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Artemide XXX, 9 October 2010, lot 62.

290.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, Ι below, cockerel on club behind. Pegasi 423; Ravel 1032. 8.55g, 20mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 350


291.

76

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, Ι below, cockerel on club behind. Pegasi 423; Ravel 1032; SNG Lockett 2092; SNG Fitzwilliam 3410. 8.54g, 21mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 300


292.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right, I below chin; quiver and bow behind. Pegasi 424; Ravel 1033. 8.43g, 21mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine, reverse slightly double struck. 750

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Lanz 153, 12 December 2011, lot 222.

293.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, I below chin; eight rayed star behind. Pegasi 425; Ravel 1034; BCD Corinth -; SNG Copenhagen 113. 8.46g, 21mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. 300


294.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A-P below; to right, eagle standing left, head right. Pegasi 426; Ravel 1008; BCD Corinth 101; SNG Copenhagen 73-4. 8.63g, 21mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. Pleasing tone. 1,000

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 119 (£1,100).

295.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; A-P below; to right, eagle standing left, head right. Pegasi 426; Ravel 1008; BCD Corinth 101; SNG Copenhagen 73-4. 8.59g, 21mm, 9h.

Cleaning marks, Very Fine. 300

296.

Fine Style

77

An Exceptionally Beautiful Athena

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Laureate, helmeted head of Athena left; A-P below neck, aegis behind. BCD -; Pegasi 427; Ravel 1009. 8.55g, 21mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 1,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 29, 11 May 2005, lot 190.

297.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with laurel wreath, A-P below, aegis behind. Pegasi 427; Ravel 1009; BCD Corinth -. 8.61g, 21mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. 1,000


298.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with laurel wreath; A-P below, Chimaera to left behind. Pegasi 428; Ravel 1010. 8.56g, 21mm, 3h.

About Good Very Fine. 500


299.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with laurel wreath; A-P below, cornucopiae behind. Pegasi 430; Ravel 1012; BCD Corinth 103. 8.57g, 21mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Wonderful surfaces, and beautiful old tone. 1,500

From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 279.

300.

Wonderful Surfaces

78

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with laurel wreath; A-P below, ivy-leaf behind. Pegasi 434; Ravel 1016; BCD Corinth -. 8.35g, 21mm, 3h.Extremely Fine. 500From the John Hayes Collection;Privately purchased from Roma Numismatics, 15 April 2011.

301.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with laurel wreath, A-P flanking; boar behind. Pegasi 435; Ravel 1017; BCD Corinth -; SNG Copenhagen 68. 8.54g, 21mm, 6h.Very Fine. 500From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics May Auction, 21 May 2013, lot 216.

302.

302301

An Exceptionally Beautiful Specimen

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, Δ-I flanking; behind, Artemis Phosphoros advancing left. Pegasi 453; BCD Corinth -; Ravel 1077; cf. SNG Copenhagen 98. 8.69g, 22mm, 9h.Extremely Fine. Exceptionally beautiful specimen with vivid iridescent toning. 1,000From the John Hayes Collection;Privately purchased from Roma Numismatics, 2 August 2011;Ex Paul H. Gerrie Collection, CNG 79, 17 September 2008, lot 260.

303.

305304Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, Δ−Ι flanking; behind, Artemis standing to left with bow. Pegasi 454; BCD Corinth -. 6.80g, 22mm, 12h.Near Very Fine. Rare. 300From the John Hayes Collection.

304.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left, Δ- I across fields, monogram and Nike left, holding tainia behind. Pegasi 472. 6.79g, 22mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. Rare. 250From the John Hayes Collection.

305.

307306Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; B below chin, monogram and herm behind. Pegasi 482; Ravel 1107; BCD Corinth 136. 7.75g, 20mm, 6h.Porous metal; Very Fine. 300From the John Hayes Collection;Ex ArtCoins Roma 6, 10 December 2012, lot 416.

306.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena left; behind, ΠA monogram and herm. Pegasi 486; BCD Corinth -; SNG Copenhagen -. 8.16g, 21mm, 3h.Good Fine. Rare. 150From the John Hayes Collection.

307.

308

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; dove flying left behind. Pegasi 491. 8.47g, 22mm, 1h.Good Fine. Rare. 500From the John Hayes Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 201.

308.

79

SIKYONIA Magnificently Toned Sikyon

Sikyon AR Stater. Circa 350-330 BC. Chimaera advancing left, right paw raised, SE below, wreath above / Dove flying left, N below beak; all within laurel wreath. BMC 57; SNG Copenhagen 48; BCD 218. 12.25g, 24mm, 2h.Good Extremely Fine. Struck on a large flan, well centred and magnificently toned. 5,000Ex Gemini V, 6 January 2009, lot 114;Privately purchased from Harlan J. Berk, July 1988.

309.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Stater. Circa 350-330 BC. Chimaera walking left, right paw raised; wreath above, ΣΕ below / Dove flying to left within wreath; Ν below dove’s head. BCD Peloponnesos 218; BMC 57. 12.25g, 23mm, 9h.About Good Very Fine. 1,250

310.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Tetradrachm. Social War issue, circa 225-215 BC. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; youth holding taenia over his head in left field, wreath above, monogram below throne. Price 724; Noe, Sikyon 55. 16.97g, 30mm, 3h.Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. See lot 315 for a parallel issue from Argos. 1,000From the James Howard Collection.

By the end of the 220s Greece was effectively split between two great alliances - the Aitolian League on the one hand formed by the Aitolian states, Athens, Elis and Sparta, and the Hellenic Symmachy on the other, which was principally controlled by Philip V of Macedon, and Epeiros, though it also included the Achaian League and Boiotia. Concerned about the prospect of Achaia forming an alliance with the territory of Messenia and thus leaving the Aitolian League surrounded by its enemies, the Aitolian strategos Ariston sent a force through Achaia to the city of Phigaleia, in Messenia. A declaration of war by Macedon and the Hellenic Symmachy followed; Achaia was then assailed from the south by Sparta under Lykurgos, from the west by Elis, and from the north by the Aitolians – attacks which Achaia was unable to face alone, and which brought it to its knees. Aratos, strategos of the Achaian League, was a native of Sikyon and because that city was not only his home, but also the occasional headquarters of the League, it was a focal point for the League’s enemies. Sikyon fared very badly – it was besieged by the Spartan Kleomenes for three months, and its territory was severely ravaged. In the winter of 219 however, Philip launched a counter-offensive, devastating Elis and central Aitolia, as well as launching a series of raids on Sparta. The war ended only when in the summer of 217, Philip received word of Rome’s crushing defeat at Lake Trasimene, and called for peace in order to focus his attentions on Rome. Despite this inconclusive end to the war, Philip was left the undisputed military power in central Greece.

312.

311310

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Stater. Circa 350-330 BC. Chimaera walking left, right paw raised; wreath above, ΣΕ below / Dove flying to left within wreath; Ν below dove’s head. BCD Peloponnesos 218; BMC 57. 12.12g, 23mm, 9h.About Good Very Fine. 1,000

311.

The Social War (225-215 BC)

80

An Extraordinarily Rare Coin

Argolis, Argos AR Drachm. Circa 490-470 BC. Wolf at bay to left, his head lowered, standing on base composed of pellets between two parallel lines / A within shallow incuse square containing, in the upper part, two deep square incuses of pyramidal section. BMC 1-2; Hirsch XXI (Consul Weber) 2004; Traité 1194, pl. XXXVII, 12. 5.65g, 16mm, 12h.

Pleasant old cabinet tone, Fine. Extremely Rare. 5,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD Collection, LHS 96, 8 May 2006, lot 1003;Acquired from Seaby’s in October 1984, coming from “an old collection.”

The earliest coinage of Argos is extraordinarily rare. When Traité was published in 1907, only three examples were known to exist (two in London and one in Paris). A further specimen appeared the following year in the Consul Weber sale, which was bought by Rollin et Feuardent – its whereabouts are presently unknown. This coin is only the fifth known to exist, and the only example currently available to collectors. All of the known examples are very worn, indicating that they persisted in circulation for a great many years.

One possible reason for this may be the crippling defeat suffered at Sepeia in 494 BC against the Spartans under Kleomenes I, in which battle the Argives lost six thousand hoplites. According to Herodotus, the Spartan army tricked the Argives into believing that the Spartans were going to their evening meal, and when the Argives did the same, the Spartans seized up their arms and attacked them, gaining an overwhelming victory. The battle is a controversial one in terms of the Spartan legend for, according to Herodotus, Spartan King Kleomenes massacred the remaining Argives—most by burning them alive in the sacred grove of Argos to which they had fled for refuge. In any case, Argos suffered a severe manpower shortage during the next generation and its prosperity was severely stunted. Argos’ next major issue of coinage was to be in c. 370-350 BC, a century later; during the intervening period it seems the only coinage produced were smaller fractions (see the following lot).

313.

Argolis, Argos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-430 BC. Wolf protome to left / A and pellet within incuse square with linear divisions. BMC 9; BCD (LHS 96, 2006) 1022ff; Traité 1200. 3.00g, 13mm.



314.

Argolis, Argos AR Tetradrachm. Social War issue, circa 225-215 BC. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; bukranion with fillets tied from horns in left field, APΓ below throne. Price 727; Müller -. 16.99g, 31mm, 1h.


This issue was struck for the Achaian League at Argos in order to finance the alliance’s war effort against the invasions that were at that time bringing it near to collapse. See lot 312 for further information.

315.

ARGOLIS

Argolis, Epidauros AR Hemidrachm. Circa 295/80-250 BC. Laureate head of Asklepios left / Retrograde EΠ monogram within wreath. BCD 1230; Requier, SNR 72 (1993) 85 (D3/R3); SNG Copenhagen 114. 2.65g, 16mm, 12h.


Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 400, 22 April 2010, lot 112.

316.

Rare Social War Issue of Argos

83

An Enormously Rare Coin

Argolis, Epidauros AR Drachm. Circa 250-45 BC. Laureate head of Apollo Maleatas to right, his long hair falling behind, draping his neck / Asklepios, bearded, seated to left, holding a long sceptre in his left hand and extending his right over the head of a serpent that coils to left before him; hound lying to right below him; ΘΕ beneath seat, E in right field. BCD 1240 (this coin); BMC 7; Jameson 2107; SNG Lockett 2508 (all same dies); Requier 57 (this coin). 4.74g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, the finest known drachm of Epidauros. Very Rare. 30,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD Collection, Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, lot 168;Ex Peter Guber Collection, Manhattan Sale II, 4 January 2011, lot 53;Ex A. Tkalec, 22 April 2007, lot 56;Ex LHS Numismatics 96, 8 May 2006, lot 1240.

The silver drachms of Epidauros were produced on a very limited scale, and before the appearance of the Epidaurus Hoard in the late 1970s (CH VIII, 298) most great collections lacked even a single example. A most interesting fact about this particular coin is that it comes from Epidauros’ third series of Hellenistic drachms, struck to a lighter, reduced Aeginetic standard than those drachms of Series II which are struck on the full Aeginetic standard, yet it shares the same obverse die as the drachms from Series II.

The reverse depicts the statue of Asklepios, son of Apollo, by Thrasymedes of Paros made circa 375 BC, and honours the cult of the healing god for which Epidauros was an important site of pilgrimage. Reputed to be the birthplace of Asklepios, Epidauros was famous for the sanctuary that lay about five miles from the town. Known as the Asklepieion, this sanctuary was the most important and celebrated healing place in the Hellenic world; its fame ensured its survival well into Roman and Christian times, being active as late as the mid fifth century AD. Pilgrims would spend the night in enkoimeteria, a big sleeping hall, and in their dreams, the God himself would advise them what they had to do to remedy their ailments. Panhellenic games devoted to the god, the Asklepiaia, were conducted at the great sanctuary located a few kilometres south of Epidauros, where the well-preserved remains of the sanctuary can be seen today.

317.

84

Argolis, Kleonai AR Obol. Circa 500-490 BC. Forepart of roaring lion left / Incuse square divided into raised and sunken triangles. BCD Peloponnesos 1310-1311. 1.15g, 10mm.



318.

Phliasia, Phlious AR Obol. Late 6th - Early 5th Century BC. Human leg bent to right, with prominent kneecap / Incuse square divided into six irregular compartments. BCD Peloponnesos 79; Cf. Nomos Auction 6, lot 68. 1.06g, 9mm.


From the Gutekunst Collection

319.

Ex Naville V, 1923

Phliasia, Phlious AR Hemidrachm. Circa 270 BC. Bull butting to left, head lowered and turned to face the viewer / Φ within ivy wreath with four inner leaves, and rosette of berries above. BMC 18 ff; LHD 3/f. 2.78g, 15mm, 6h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD Collection, LHS 96, 8 May 2006, lot 185;Ex Peus 288, 30 September 1975, lot 204;Ex Naville V, 18 June 1923, lot 2175.

320.

Attractive Archaic Tetradrachm of Athens

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 510-490 BC. Archaic head of Athena right wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern / Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig behind, ΑΘΕ before. Cf. Svoronos pl. 5, 38; cf. Asyut 268.

Very Fine. In unusually good condition for the issue, with a full crest. Very Rare. 8,000

Athens was one of the few Greek cities with significant silver deposits in their immediate territory, a remarkable stroke of fortune upon which Xenophon reflected: “The Divine Bounty has bestowed upon us inexhaustible mines of silver, and advantages which we enjoy above all our neighbouring cities, who never yet could discover one vein of silver ore in all their dominions.” The mines at Laurion had been worked since the bronze age, but it would be only later in 483 that a massive new vein of ore would be discovered that enabled Athens to finance grand new schemes such as the construction of a fleet of 200 triremes, a fleet that would later prove decisive in defending Greece at the Battle of Salamis.

This coin was produced in the period before the discovery of the new depostits at Laurion, around the time of the Ionian Revolt and the subsequent first Persian invasion of Greece. Athens aided the Ionian Greeks in their rebellion against Persian tyranny with both coin and soldiers, participating in the 498 BC march on Sardes which resulted in the capture and sack of that city – the only significant offensive action taken by the Ionians, who were pushed pack onto the defensive and eventually subjugated once more. Vowing to punish Athens for their support of the doomed rebellion, the Persian king Darius launched an invasion of Greece, landing at Marathon in 490 BC. Just twenty five miles from Athens, a vastly outnumbered Athenian hoplite army inflicted a crushing defeat on the Persians, who after suffering horrendous casualties turned to their ships and fled.

321.

PHLIASIA

ATTICA

85

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 490-482 BC. Archaic head of Athena right wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern / Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig behind, ΑΘΕ before. Cf. Svoronos pl. 5, 42; cf. Asyut 390.

Near Extremely Fine, superb metal quality. Very Rare. 5,000

322.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480 BC. Archaic head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Owl standing right, head facing; two olive leaves to left, AΘE to right. Cf. Svoronos pl. 5; cf. Asyut pl. XVIII. 17.28g, 21mm, 6h.


Minor flan defect on obv., otherwise Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

323.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480 BC. Archaic head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Owl standing right, head facing; two olive leaves to left, AΘE to right. Cf. Svoronos pl. 3; cf. Asyut pl. XVIII. 17.36g, 23mm, 1h.


324.

87

One of the Finest Known Athenian Drachms

Attica, Athens AR Drachm. Circa 467-465 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace / ΑΘΕ, owl standing three-quarters right, head facing, olive sprig behind. SNG Berry 676 (these dies); Svoronos pl. VIII, cf. 34-38; Seltman pl. XXII, ωω; Starr 85 (these dies). 4.29g, 14mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone. Rare. 20,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 52, 7 October 2009, lot 131.

The drachms struck by Athens during the second quarter of the 5th century, circa 467-465, are undoubtedly the finest and most attractive drachms ever produced by Athens. The heads of Athena are very close in style to the dekadrachms produced around the same time, and as on the present specimen, can be true miniature masterpieces.

This was a particularly significant few years for Athens; in 466 the Persians had begun to assemble a large fleet and army in preparation for a major offensive against Athens and its Delian League. This force gathered near the Eurymedon, its intent apparently to move up the coast of Asia Minor, capturing each city in turn, securing naval bases from which to launch further expeditions into the Aegean. Learning of the Persian preparations, the Athenian general Kimon took 200 triremes and sailed to Phaselis in Pamphylia, which eventually agreed to join the Delian League. This effectively blocked the Persian strategy at its first objective.

Kimon then moved to pre-emptively attack the Persian forces near the Eurymedon. Sailing into the mouth of the river, Kimon quickly routed the Persian fleet gathered there. Most of the Persian fleet made land-fall, and the sailors fled to the shelter of the Persian army. Kimon then landed the Greek marines and proceeded to attack the Persian army, which was also routed. The Greeks captured the Persian camp, taking many prisoners, and were able to destroy 200 beached Persian triremes. This stunning double victory seems to have greatly demoralised the Persians, and prevented any further Persian campaigning in the Aegean until at least 451 BC.

325.

88

Attica, Athens Fourrée Tetradrachm. Circa 465-454 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace / ΑΘΕ, owl standing right with head facing; to left, crescent and olive sprig; all within incuse square. Cf. Starr Group V.A. 16.02g, 24mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. A superb example of a plated Athens tetradrachm. 1,000

327.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-454 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves and palmette, round earring and pearl necklace / Owl standing right with head facing, ΑΘΕ to right, crescent and olive sprig to left; all within incuse square. Starr Group V.B. 17.13g, 24mm, 3h.


328.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-454 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves and palmette, round earring and pearl necklace / Owl standing right with head facing, ΑΘΕ to right, crescent and olive sprig to left; all within incuse square. Starr Group IV. 16.74g, 26mm, 3h.

Dies a little worn, otherwise Near Extremely Fine. Test cut. 1,250

326.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-454 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace / ΑΘΕ, owl standing right with head facing; to left, crescent and olive sprig; all within incuse square. Starr Group V.B. 16.96g, 26mm, 4h.

Near Extremely Fine. Obverse die a little worn, reverse struck in exceptional depth, well framed in a high-bordered flan. 7,500

329.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-454 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace / ΑΘΕ, owl standing right with head facing; to left, crescent and olive sprig; all within incuse square. Starr Group V.B. 16.86g, 24mm, 4h.

About Extremely Fine. Metal somewhat crystallized, scrape on rev. 2,500

330.

89

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; Dewing 1591-8. 17.12g, 25mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine, with a significant portion of the crest preserved. 2,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Private purchased from Edward J. Waddell, December 2004.

332.



333.



334.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-454 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss and pearl necklace / ΑΘΕ, owl standing right with head facing; to left, crescent and olive sprig; all within incuse square. Starr Group V.B. 16.69g, 25mm, 4h.Minor delamination; About Extremely Fine. 2,000

331.

90



336.



337.



338.



339.



335.

91



340.



341.



342.


Good Very Fine. 750

343.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; Dewing 1591-8. 17.23g, 25mm, 7h

Extremely Fine. 750

344.

92

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; Dewing 1591-8. 16.56g, 25mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 750

346.


347.


Good Very Fine. 750

348.

350349Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; Dewing 1591-8. 17.09g, 25mm, 9h.Extremely Fine. 750

349.


350.


Extremely Fine. Test cut. 750

345.

93

352351

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; Dewing 1591-8. 17.18g, 24mm, 9h.Countermark on obv., marks on rev. Good Very Fine. 500

351.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, in crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, wearing round earring with central boss / AQE, owl standing three-quarters right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent moon behind; all within incuse square. Flament group III, 28/b; Kroll 8; SNG Copenhagen 31; SNG München 46; Dewing 1591. 17.02g, 26mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. Struck on a broad flan, and with a well centred reverse displaying a full incuse square. 3,000

353.

Attica, Athens AR Hemidrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. (12mm, 2.10 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing facing between olive sprays. Kroll 12; SNG Copenhagen 44; Dewing 1603. 2.10g, 11mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 150

354.

Attica, Athens Æ13. Circa 322-307 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Two owls confronted, heads facing; Eleusis ring between; all within olive wreath. Kroll 44; SNG Copenhagen 92. 2.93g, 13mm, 5h.

Good Fine. 100

355.

Extremely Rare New Style Hemidrachm

Attica, Athens, New Style AR Hemidrachm. Mened.. and Epigeno, magistrates. Circa 135/4 BC. Head of Athena Parthenos right, wearing single-pendant earring and triple crested Attic helmet decorated with Pegasos and floral pattern / Owl standing right, head facing, on branch; A-ӨE above ME-NE/EΠI-/ΛΥΣ in four lines across field; in left field, serpent-entwined staff; all within wreath. Thompson 359e. 2.08g, 13mm, 12h.


The hemidrachms of Athens have not survived in great numbers. While those of the earlier period (454-404 BC) are fairly frequently encountered, the ‘New Style’ denomination are seldom, if ever, seen by collectors.

356.


352.

94

The Finest Known

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater. Circa 530-525 BC. Proto-tortoise seen from above, shell divided into into thirteen segments, head turned slightly to right / Square incuse punch divided into eight triangles. Traité III, 110, pl. CXCIV ; Milbank pl. I, 12; Robinson, Pseudoaeginetica, 3, pl. IX, 3 ; Arnold-Biucchi, Selinus, 123-124. 12.37g, 21mm.

Mint State; the finest known example. Very Rare. 20,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 133;Ex Numismatica Genevensis 6, 30 November 2010, lot 70.

Robinson attributed these proto-tortoise coins, which bear an animal displaying features of both turtles and tortoises, to Kydonia in Crete. It was Holloway’s study of the early Aeginetan coinage which conclusively demonstrated that they belonged to that mint, not Kydonia. They are now recognized as being a rare variant type that was used alongside the normal ‘T-back’ sea turtle type. It appears that the latter was produced in large numbers, as indicated by numerous specimens struck from very worn obverse dies. In contrast however, this proto-tortoise with its segmented shell is usually found having been struck from fresh dies, and it is likely that very few were ever struck, implying that the type had a special significance or was produced for a specific purpose.

357.

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater. Circa 510-485 BC. ‘Proto-tortoise’, thin neck band, pellets running down its shell, pointed hind-quarter / Rough incuse square of ‘Union Jack’ pattern. Milbank pl. 1, 3; Asyut Group II; Dewing 1655; BMC Attica pg. 126, 3; SNG Copenhagen 502. Cf. CNG MBS 76 (2007), 504. 12.35g, 20mm.

Very Fine. 500

358.

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater. Circa 480-457 BC. Sea turtle with line of pellets down the back of its shell / Square incuse with large skew pattern. Gulbenkian 523. Kraay / Hirmer 336. Milbank Pl. I, 15. SNG Copenhagen 507. 12.42g, 21mm.

Very Fine. 750

359.

95

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater. Circa 480-457 BC. Sea turtle with line of pellets down the back of its shell / Square incuse with large skew pattern. Gulbenkian 523. Kraay-Hirmer 336; Milbank Pl. I, 15; SNG Copenhagen 507. 12.29g, 20mm.

Very Fine. 500

360.

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater. Circa 456-431 BC. Tortoise / Land tortoise with segmented shell / Square incuse with skew pattern. ACGC 127. Dewing 1683. Milbank Pl. II, 12-13; SNG Copenhagen 516. 12.38g, 20mm.


361.

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Stater. Circa 456-431 BC. Land tortoise with segmented shell / Square incuse with skew pattern. Milbank pl. II, 12; HGC 6, 437. 12.37g, 20mm.


362.

Pedigreed to 1951; Published in WallaceEUBOIA

Euboia, Euboian League AR Stater. Circa 375-357 BC. Cow reclining to left, its head turned backwards to lick its flank, its tail tucked under its leg and emerging above / Head of the nymph Euboia to right, wearing earring, her hair bound up on top; EVB before, all within incuse square. Wallace, ANSNNM 134, 1956, 2, II-1 (this coin); Gulbenkian 506 (same dies); Jameson 1176 (same dies); SNG Lockett 1777 (same reverse die). 12.08g, 23mm, 9h.

Some minor porosity, otherwise Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 5,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Dr E O and Mrs F M Halliwell Collection, Baldwin’s 68, 28 September 2010, lot 3399;Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, volume LIX, No. 9, October 1951, item 48262.

363.

Euboia, Euboian League AR Drachm. Eretria, circa 304-290 BC. Head of the nymph Euboia to left, wearing a triple pendant earring, her hair rolled on top of her head / Head and neck of a cow to right, the head ornamented with a fillet and turned slightly toward the viewer, ΕΥ above; bunch of grapes in right field. BCD 20 (this coin); CH VIII, 517 and pl. XXXIII, 17 (this coin); SNG Copenhagen 485. 3.78g, 17mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. Extremely Fine. 1,500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex BCD collection, Lanz 111, 25 November 2002, lot 20.

364.

96

BOEOTIA

Boeotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 395-387 BC. Boeotian shield / Amphora, fully fluted; above, bow, string upward; BO-IΩ across central field; all within concave circle. BCD Boiotia 8. 12.17g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Attractively toned. 500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex CNG 84, 5 May 201, lot 364.

365.

Boeotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 368-364 BC. Kabi-, magistrate. Boeotian shield / Amphora; KA-B[I] across fields. Hepworth 61; BCD Boiotia 539; SNG Copenhagen 339. 11.91g, 22mm.Good Fine. 300

366.

367366 368

Boeotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 364-362 BC. Epaminondas, magistrate. Boeotian shield / Amphora, Boeotian shield above, EΠ-ΠA across central field; all within concave circle. BCD Boiotia 542; Hepworth, Epaminondas pl. 3, 4; Hepworth 35; BMC 138.11.86g, 22mm.Good Fine. 200

367.

Boeotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 363-338 BC. Timo–, magistrate. Boeotian shield / Amphora; TI-MO across fields. Hepworth 90; BCD Boiotia 556. 12.13g, 21mm.Good Fine. 300

368.

One of Only Six Surviving Tenos Tetradrachms

Cyclades, Tenos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 200-180 BC. Head of Apollo Karneios to right / Poseidon seated left, holding trident and dolphin; THNΩN to right, grape bunch to left, monogram below throne. Étienne & Artémis-Gyselen 202; Hoover 727 (this coin). 13.96g, 25mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine, attractively toned with flashes of iridescence. Extremely Rare - Étienne and Artémis-Gyselen note only six surviving tetradrachms from Tenos. 5,000

The head on the obverse of this coin, while clearly inspired by the portrait of Alexander on the principal type of Lysimachos, cannot be other than Apollo Karneios, due to the presence of the laurel wreath. This intriguing issue is one of the very rarest of all Cycladic coins.

369.

Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-470 BC. Bull, with head raised and reverted, kneeling to left, attacked by lion leaping on to its back; bukranion below dotted exergual line / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG ANS 9; BMC 3; Desneux 69-74. 17.19g, 28mm.


370.

CYCLADES

MACEDON

97

Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-470 BC. Bull, with head raised, collapsing to left, attacked by lion leaping on his back to right; Θ above; bukranion in exergue / Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 519; Desneux 61; SNG ANS 10. 17.04g, 29mm.


Ex Numismatic Fine Arts VIII, 6 June 1980, lot 91.

371.

Macedon, Eion AR Trihemiobol. 460-400 BC. Goose standing right, head reverted; lizard above / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. SNG ANS 287. 0.74g, 12mm.

Very Fine. 100

372.

Macedon, Ennea-Hodoi (?) AR Stater. Circa 500-480 BC. Cow standing right, head left towards calf suckling left below; pellet above / Quadripartite incuse square divided diagonally. HPM p. 139, 2; AMNG III/2, p. 134, 7 (Uncertain mint); Traité I 1290 (Korkyra); SNG ANS 924-5; BMC -; cf. Rosen 158; Asyut -. 7.56g, 17mm.

Good Fine. Very Rare. 250

373.

Macedon, Neapolis AR Stater. Circa 500-480 BC. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 6; SNG ANS 406–19; Dewing 1604; Traité I 1740. 9.25g, 20mm.


374.

Macedon, Neapolis AR Hemidrachm. Circa 424-350 BC. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Head of nymph right within circular incuse, NEOΠ around. SNG ANS 430. 1.83g, 14mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 500

375.

Two Impressive Gorgoneia of Neapolis

98

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Kithara with eight strings, ΧΑΛΚΙΔΕΩΝ around. SNG ANS 524; Robinson & Clement Group H. 2.42g, 15mm, 3h.Extremely Fine. 300

376.

376 377

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Kithara of seven strings, XAΛKIΔEΩN around. Robinson & Clement Group H, 84; SNG ANS 533. 2.44g, 15mm, 3h.Extremely Fine. 300

377.

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Kithara of seven strings, XAΛKIΔEΩN around. Robinson & Clement Group H, 84; SNG ANS 533. 2.40g, 14mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 300

378.

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Kithara of seven strings, XAΛKIΔEΩN around. Robinson & Clement Group I; SNG ANS 535. 2.41g, 15mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 300

379.

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Kithara of seven strings, XAΛKIΔEΩN around. Robinson & Clement Group I, 91; SNG ANS 534. 2.42g, 15mm, 6h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

380.

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Kithara with eight strings, ΧΑΛΚΙΔΕΩΝ around. SNG ANS 524; Robinson & Clement Group H. 2.42g, 11mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 250

381.

Macedon, Chalkidian League AR Tetrobol. Olynthos, circa 382-379 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Kithara of seven strings, XAΛKIΔEΩN around. Robinson & Clement Group H, 77; SNG ANS 530. 2.40g, 14mm, 3h.Good Very Fine. 200

382.

99

The Early Coinage of Alexander I

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander I AR Oktadrachm. Circa 492-479 BC. Horseman, wearing chlamys and petasos, carrying two spears, leading horse to right / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG ANS 1 = Rosen 117; SNG Lockett 1266; D. Raymond, Macedonian Regal Coinages to 413 BC, ANSNNM 126, pl. 2, 4 (same dies); Goldberg 72, 5 February 2013, 4042 (same dies). 28.41g, 33mm.

Slight roughness, otherwise Extremely Fine. Sharply struck from fresh dies and very well detailed for the issue. 10,000

Alexander I, the first Macedonian king to issue coins in his name, emerged from the Greco-Persian Wars with a political strength that seems never to have been challenged during his reign. He secured the former Derronian silver mines by extending his rule eastwards, and it is at this time that the considerable output of Thraco-Macedonian tribal coinage ended. Shortly thereafter, Alexander began issuing coins with his name neatly arranged around the incuse square on the reverse. Interestingly, on this regal coinage of Alexander the weights of the oktadrachms and heavy tetrobols are struck on a heavier Thraco-Macedonian standard, while the tetradrachms, oktobols and light tetrobols are struck to a lighter standard following that used at the principal Greek mints.

The earlier coins of Alexander, of which this coin is a particularly outstanding example, employed the denominations, types and weight standards of the surrounding Thraco-Macedonian tribal coinages. The oktadrachms in particular strayed little from the preceding tribal oktadrachms, and show on the obverse a horseman either leading or riding his steed, while the reverse employs a quadripartite square in incuse, such as is found on contemporary oktadrachms of the Bisaltai (see lot 470). The engraving style is still provincial, and has not yet been replaced by the more sophisticated style that appears later in Alexander’s reign, perhaps indicative of the employment of Greek artists at the royal Macedonian court.

383.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 355-349 BC. Laureate head of Zeus to right / The king, wearing kausia and chlamys, raising his right hand in salute and riding a horse walking to the left; ΦIΛIΠΠOY above; a bow below the horse´s foreleg. Le Rider 167a (076/R137); SNG ANS 487. 14.24g, 24mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned; a splendid, perfectly centred example of very fine style. Struck in exceptionally high relief; crystal-like metal. Rare. 2,000

This is an exceptional sample of classical Greek art, where the skill of the die cutter is obviously superior to that of other coins of the same series. The overall image of the reverse side of the coin is characterised by harmony, which derives from the proportionality of the rider and the horse. Even the small letters of the inscription indicate the skill of the artist. The head of Zeus renders this skill even more visible and its proportionality and expression make it delightful to look at. This is one of the earliest of Philip´s issues from Amphipolis and the reverse type is surely a representation of the King´s arrival on his accession to the throne. The style of the horse was adopted from the previous coins of the Bisaltai and of Alexander I, whilst the style of the king was adopted later on by the Romans mainly in ADVENTVS reverse types.

384.

100

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 342-336 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, thunderbolt below horse, [N] in exergue. Le Rider 289. 14.33g, 27mm, 5h.


385.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 340-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga right; ivy leaf below, ΦIΛIΠΠOY in exergue. Le Rider 67; SNG ANS 250-254. 8.61g, 17mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 2,500

386.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 340-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving galloping biga right; below, Nike flying to right, holding wreath; ΦIΛIΠΠOY in exergue. Le Rider 362, D159/R269 (this coin); SNG ANS 158-9. 8.54g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Small edge bruise. 1,500

Ex Clinton Sherwood Ward Collection, Stack’s, 11 January 2010, lot 93;Ex R. Ratto List XIV, 1935, 1474;Ex R. Ratto, June 1929, lot 243.

387.

Ex R. Ratto 1929

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 336-326 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, nude, holding palm; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ above, bee below, janiform-head vase to right. Le Rider 263-325; SNG ANS 510-20. 14.43g, 25mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. Golden toning around the devices. 1,000

388.

101

Spectacular Alexander Portrait Issue

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AV Stater. Struck under Philip III. Kolophon, circa 323-319 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, with the features of Alexander III / charioteer driving biga right, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; tripod below horses. Thompson, Philip 12 = Jameson 978 (same obv. die); cf. Le Rider pl. 93, 26; SNG ANS 309. 8.65g, 17mm, 12h.

Fleur De Coin. A truly wonderful coin with a finely engraved portrait of Alexander. 7,500

389.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AV Stater. Lampsakos, circa 323-315 BC. Struck under Philip III. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving biga right; ΦIΛIΠΠOY below. Le Rider pl.93, 54. 8.56g, 19mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful lustrous surfaces. Slight double-striking on reverse. 3,000

390.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, youth on horseback right, holding palm, wreath below, Λ to right. Le Rider pl. 45, 22. 14.28g, 26mm, 8h.

Near Extremely Fine. Superb style. Pleasant toning around the devices. 2,500

391.

102

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Struck under Philip III. Laureate head of Zeus right / Nude youth on horseback right, holding palm in right hand and reins in left; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, aphlaston and Π below. Le Rider pl. 46, 18. 14.27g, 24mm, 9h.

Virtually Mint State. Attractive light golden toning. 1,500

392.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 307-297 BC. Struck under Kassander. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / ΦIΛIΠΠ-OY, nude youth, holding palm in right hand and reins in left, on horseback right; below, Λ above torch; monogram below raised foreleg. Le Rider pl. 47, 23; SNG ANS 794; SNG München 137. 14.20g, 27mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned and struck on a broad flan. 3,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 54, 2 March 2010, lot 74.

393.

394 395

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Struck under Antipater. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, quiver in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 106; Troxell, Studies, Issue F5. 17.23g, 25mm, 12h.About Extremely Fine. 500

394.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Struck under Antipater. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, palm in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ around; Π below throne. Price 111; Troxell, Studies, Issue H1. 17.15g, 25mm, 1h.Extremely Fine. Rare. 500

395.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Phrygian helmet in left field. Price 112; Troxell, Studies, Issue H2. 17.26g, 26mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 750

396.

103

397 398Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre; BAΣIΛEΩΣ left, AΛEΞANΔPOY right, Phrygian helmet before. Price 112; Troxell H2; Müller 854. 17.23g, 26mm, 11h.Extremely Fine. 500

397.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; monogram in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 120. 17.15g, 25mm, 3h.Extremely Fine. 750

398.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 318-317 BC. Struck under Polyperchon or Kassander. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, grain ear in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ around; Π below throne. Price 122. 17.22g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. 500

399.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; club with fillets in left field, Π with pellet below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 128. 17.17g, 25mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 750

400.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 316-315 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, aphlaston in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 129;Troxell, Studies, Group L3. 17.17g, 26mm, 5h.

Fleur De Coin. Stunning mint lustre. 1,000

401.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 316-315 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, aphlaston in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 129;Troxell, Studies, Group L3. 17.24g, 25mm, 12h.


402.

104

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 316-315 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, aphlaston in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 129;Troxell, Studies, Group L3.17.23g, 25mm, 9h.


403.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. ‘Amphipolis’, circa 316-315 BC. Struck under Kassander. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, crescent in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 131; Troxell, Studies, Group L5. 17.20g, 25mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare – only five examples on CoinArchives. 1,000

404.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. ‘Amphipolis’, circa 316-315 BC. Struck under Kassander. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, crescent in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 131; Troxell, Studies, Group L5. 17.24g, 25mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare – only five examples on CoinArchives. 500

405.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; wreath in left field, Π with pellet below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 132. 17.40g, 27mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasant lustre and toning around the devices. 1,000

406.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, wreath in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 132. 17.28g, 25mm, 5h.


407.

105

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 316-311 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, shield in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 132. 17.23g, 25mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. 500

408.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, dolphin in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 133. 17.25g, 25mm, 9h.


409.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, thunderbolt in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π with pellet below throne. Price 138. 17.12g, 28mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare – only one other example of CoinArchives. 500

410.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Fourrée Drachm. 336-323 BC. Miletos, circa 325 BC. Struck under Philoxenos. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Eagle standing to right on thunderbolt, head left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝ[ΔΡΟΥ] around; monogram to left. Price 153 (Macedon); ADM I Series I, 28–31 (Miletos). 3.50g, 17mm, 9h.


411.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 325-315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; trident head in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 220; SNG Berry 206. 17.22g, 27mm, 5h.


412.

106

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-318/7 BC. Struck under Antipater or Polyperchon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, thunderbolt in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 232; Moore 170-93. 17.23g, 27mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 500

413.

414 415

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 325-315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; club and AΞ in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 240. 17.19g, 27mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

414.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 325-315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, horizontal axe in left field, coiled snake beneath throne. Price 246var. (position of axe). 17.28g, 25mm, 3h.Extremely Fine. 500

415.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 315-310 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre; Boeotian shield in left field, coiled serpent under throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 249; SNG Copenhagen 728; Muller 754. 17.25g, 26mm, 3h.


416.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Myriandros, circa 330-325 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, BAI monogram in left field; MI monogram below throne; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3229; Müller 1302. 17.25g, 26mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 500

417.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 311-305 BC. Struck under Kassander, as regent. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, ant to left, star below left wing. Price 831. 8.61g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractive lustre and toning. 4,000

418.

Sharp and Lustrous Alexander Stater

107

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in Greece or Macedon, struck circa 310-275 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; amphora in left field. Price 863. 17.07g, 31mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 500

419.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Lampsakos, circa 328-323 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, bowl decorated with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, conjoined foreparts of two horses in left field; below left wing, monogram. Price 1358. 8.58g, 18mm, 9h.


420.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Assos, circa 210 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; griffin seated left in left field. Price 1599; Müller -. 16.56g, 31mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. Beautiful style. 1,000

421.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, 220-180 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated right, holding sceptre, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; kithara in left field, monogram above. Price 1699; HGC 6, 1046. 16.96g, 30mm, 1h.


422.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, 220-180 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated right, holding sceptre, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; kithara in left field, monogram above. Price 1699; HGC 6, 1046. 16.71g, 31mm, 12h.


423.

108

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AV Stater. Kolophon, circa 319-310 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent, pendant earring and pearl necklace / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, wings spread, holding laurel-wreath in her right hand and stylis in her left, kithara and EΛI in left field. Price 1772. 8.49g, 18mm, 12h.


424.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Magnesia ad Maeandrum, circa 200-196 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram in left field; horse-head below throne, maeander pattern in exergue. Price -, cf. 2049-2057; Müller -; Roma V, 23 March 2013, 262 (same dies). 16.98g, 30mm, 1h.Light porosity on obv., otherwise Good Extremely Fine. 750

426.

426 427

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Magnesia ad Maeandrum, circa 200-196 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram in left field, maeander pattern in exergue. Cf. Price 2004-2030. 16.97g, 26mm, 1h.Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

427.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Civic issue of Kaunos, circa 300-280 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, drapery about legs and waist, holding sceptre and eagle; double headed axe before, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2074; Müller 1128. For the reattribution to Kaunos, see R.H.J. Ashton, ‘Kaunos, not Miletos or Mylasa,’ NC 2004, pp. 33–46. 17.08g, 29mm, 12h.

Beautiful style, Good Extremely Fine. 3,000

428.

The Medallic Civic Coinage of Kaunos

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Magnesia ad Maeandrum, circa 200-196 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram in left field; horse-head below throne, maeander pattern in exergue. Price 2049 var. (control marks); Roma V, 23 March 2013, 262 (same dies). 16.98g, 30mm, 12h.


425.

109

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Civic Issue of Kaunos, circa 300-280 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, drapery about legs and waist, holding sceptre and eagle; double headed axe before, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2074; Müller 1128. For the reattribution to Kaunos, see R.H.J. Ashton, “Kaunos, not Miletos or Mylasa,” NC 2004, pp. 33-46. 17.13g, 28mm, 12h.


429.

430 431

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Civic Issue of Kaunos, circa 300-280 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, drapery about legs and waist, holding sceptre and eagle; double headed axe before, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2074; Müller 1128. For the reattribution to Kaunos, see R.H.J. Ashton, “Kaunos, not Miletos or Mylasa,” NC 2004, pp. 33-46. 17.12g, 29mm, 12h.Obv. die worn, otherwise Extremely Fine. 500

430.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Civic Issue of Kaunos, circa 300-280 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, drapery about legs and waist, holding sceptre and eagle; double headed axe before, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2074; Müller 1128. For the reattribution to Kaunos, see R.H.J. Ashton, “Kaunos, not Miletos or Mylasa,” NC 2004, pp. 33-46. 17.05g, 28mm, 12h.Obv. die worn. Very Fine. 300

431.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Phokaia, circa 210-200 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated right, holding sceptre, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; griffin-head and IΩ monogram in left field. Price -, cf. 2226-2228; Mektepini -. 17.07g, 32mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 750

432.

433 434Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Drachm. Chios, circa 290-275 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram above grapes in left field. Price 2318 corr.; Müller 1531. 4.13g, 20mm, 12h.Rev. die shifted, otherwise Extremely Fine. 200From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 216.

433.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Drachm. Chios, circa 290-275 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, M within vine wreath in left field, bunch of grapes below. Price 2324. 4.15g, 20mm, 11h.Good Extremely Fine, vivid iridescent toning. 500Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 253.

434.

110

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Asian mint, circa 323-310 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, monogram and bearded head in left field; monogram below throne; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2816. 17.00g, 31mm, 12h.


435.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Aspendos, circa 300-250 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, AΣ over E to left. Price 2884; Müller 1201; SNG Copenhagen 768. 16.60g, 35mm, 12h.Mint State. 750

436.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint of Pamphylia, circa 220-180 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, no symbols. Price 2982; Maktepini 719-722. 17.12g, 31mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. 500

437.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 333-327 BC. Struck under Balakros, governor of Cilicia. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress, B below / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre, ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY around; in left field, Nike flying to right above B and kerykeion, monogram below throne. Price 3051. 17.22g, 28mm, 9h.


Prior to Alexander’s arrival at Tarsos there was already a well established Persian coinage produced from that city by the satrapal governors of Cilicia, whose silver staters displayed the figure of Baal, seated and holding his lotus-tipped sceptre. Indeed, the depiction of this deity is in some cases so similar to the Zeus of Alexander’s imperial coinage that O. Zervos and F. de Callataÿ suggested that Alexander’s tetradrachms could not have been issued until after his arrival at Tarsos – that the Baal of Tarsos was the model for his enthroned Zeus. Though shown to be an improbable notion by Price, what is certain is that the engravers working at Tarsos were immediately re-tasked to producing Alexandrine coinage without any great break in production.

Price demonstrates conclusively that the dies produced at Tarsos bearing BA as well as simply B refer to Balakros, son of Nikanor, who was one of Alexander’s somatophylakes (bodyguards) and was appointed satrap of Cilicia after the Battle of Issos in 333 BC. His initial appears on a great many issues from Tarsos, and his name appears in full on one very rare issue of staters (Price pl. CLVIII.k). He enacted many new fiscal measures in Alexander’s name, and served Alexander loyally until his death in circa 324 BC while leading an expedition against a revolt in Pisidia. In adulthood his three sons all served Antigonos Monophthalmos and his son Demetrios afterwards, and were honoured with dedications at the Sanctuary of Delos.

438.

Exceptionally Artistic Dies Signed by Balakros

111

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Salamis, circa 332/1-323 BC. Struck under Nikokreon. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, AΛEΞANΔPOY, to right; below left wing, eagle standing left. Price 3125; Troxell, New, Group III, 30. 8.61g, 17mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 2,000

439.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Salamis, circa 332/1-323 BC. Struck under Nikokreon. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, bow in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3139; Newell, Some 1. 17.18g, 27mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 300

440.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Myriandros, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ below; M below throne, monogram in left field. Price 3219. 17.10g, 26mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 1,000

441.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Arados, Circa 324-320 BC. Struck under Menes or Laomedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, kerykeion in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ below; AP monogram below throne. Price 3332; Duyrat group IV, series 11. 17.17g, 27mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

442.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘The Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Laodikeia ad Mare (?), circa 225 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated right, holding sceptre, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; dolphin over TA monogram to right. Price 3336; SNG Berry 326. 16.84g, 30mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. Superb style. 750

443.

112

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Lifetime issue. Tarsos, circa 332-327 BC. Struck under Balakros or Menes. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet decorated with griffin, and necklace / Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; AΛEΞANΔPOY to left, kerykeion below right wing. Newell, Sidon 2; Price 3458. 8.53g, 17mm, 8h.


444.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Sidon, circa 333-305 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to left, filleted palm branch below right wing. Price 3470. 8.58g, 17mm, 12h.


445.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Babylon, circa 323 BC. Struck under Stamenes or Archon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; M in left field, monogram below throne. Price 3673. 17.23g, 27mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 1,000

446.

Kings of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 315-311 BC. Struck under Peithon. Head of Athena right, wearing triple crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram below left wing, monogram inside wreath under right wing, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ in right field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ in left field. Price 3724. 8.54g, 17mm, 12h.


447.

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-305 BC. Struck under Seleukos. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent, pendant earring and pearl necklace / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, wings spread, holding laurel-wreath in her right hand and stylis in her left, MI in left field, monogram within wreath in right field. Price 3745. 8.55g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 1,500

448.

113

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip III Arrhidaios AR Tetradrachm. ‘Pella’, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Herakles right wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, grasshopper in left field, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ below; A below throne. Price P1; BMC P1; Demanhur Hoard 1637. 17.24g, 26mm, 10h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare – only one other example of CoinArchives. 500

450.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip III Arrhidaios AV Stater. Lampsakos, 323-317 BC. Struck under Leonnatos, Arrhidaios, or Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; in left field, buckle above crescent-over-A. Price P13; ADM II Series IX, 182. 8.62g, 18mm, 12h.


451.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip III Arrhidaios AV Stater. Arados, circa 323-316 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / ΦIΛIΠΠOY, Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; monogram to left, I below right wing. Price P146. 8.49g, 19mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 2,000

452.

Kingdom of Macedon. Philip III Arrhidaios AV Stater. Babylon, circa 323-17 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin, single-pendant earring and necklace / Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm, ΦΙΛΙΠΠOY to right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left; monogram below left wing, wheel before, TE monogram (engraved over N) below right wing. Price P201. 8.57g, 17mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 2,500

453.

Excellent Quality and Style

Very Rare Symbol

Kingdom of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain Eastern mint, circa 325-300 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; torch in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ below, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 4001. 17.27g, 25mm, 10h.


449.

114

Unique and of Great Numismatic Importance

Kingdom of Macedon. Antigonos I Monophthalmos (or II Gonatas) AR Drachm. Uncertain mint in the Peloponnesos, circa 306-301 BC. Head of Herakles wearing lion skin headdress to right / Zeus enthroned to left, holding sceptre with left hand, eagle perched on outstretched right hand; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to left, ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ to right. Apparently unpublished in the standard references; for the tetradrachm series, cf. H.A. Troxell, The Peloponnesian Alexanders, ANSMN 17, 1971, pl.19.1 (Antigonos Gonatas); cf. Head, HN S.229 (Antigonos I.); cf. Alexander The Great, Athens Exhibition 2010, 177 (Antigonos Gonatas). 4.11g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Apparently Unique and unpublished in the standard references. Of great numismatic importance. 3,500


This highly important drachm struck in the types of Alexander III but bearing the name and royal title of Antigonos presents us with another small piece of the complex puzzle that is the early coinage of the Antigonid dynasty. Troxell recorded a very rare issue of Alexandrine tetradrachms in the name of Gonatas (The Peloponnesian Alexanders, ANSMN 17, 1971, 75-6, note 68), which through hoard evidence was conclusively proven to be struck at Pella circa 272 (see R. W. Mathisen, Antigonus Gonatas and the Silver Coinages of Macedon circa 280-270 BC, ANSMN 26, 1981, pp. 79-123, esp. p. 104). However, this unique drachm has no controls that would tie it explicitly with the Pella mint tetradrachms, and even more perplexing is the style of the engraving, which is clearly dissimilar to the tetradrachms as well. One might suppose that it is in fact not a coin of Gonatas at all, but rather a hitherto unknown drachm of his grandfather, Antigonos I Monophthalmos. However, this also does not sit well, again for reasons of style, which is inconsistent with the period of Monophthalmos’ reign. For the time being, therefore, this coin must remain a numismatic enigma until further evidence can shed additional light on it.

454.

Kingdom of Macedon. Demetrios I Poliorketes AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 294-293 BC. Nike, blowing a trumpet and holding a stylis, alighting to left on a left-facing galley prow / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ, Poseidon, nude but for wreath of reeds and a chlamys wrapped around his left arm, striding left, hurling trident from his upraised right hand; to left, monogram of ΖΩ; to right, within inscription, dolphin swimming left above star with eight rays. Newell 68. 17.21g, 29mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine, beautifully toned. 3,000

455.

Attractive Tetradrachm of Demetrios I

115

Kingdom of Macedon. Demetrios I Poliorketes AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 289/8 BC. Diademed head of Demetrios right, with bull’s horn / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ, nude Poseidon standing left, right foot on rock, resting right arm on thigh and holding trident in left hand, monograms in inner left and outer right fields. Cf. Newell 123, pl. 12, 12; de Hirsch 1112; SNG Berry 340; Pozzi 2012. 17.35g, 29mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine, pleasantly toned. 1,200


456.

Kingdom of Macedon. Antigonos II Gonatas AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 277/6-239 BC. Horned head of Pan left, lagobolon behind, in the centre of a Macedonian shield / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis on left arm, preparing to cast thunderbolt held aloft in right hand; crested Macedonian helmet to inner left, TI monogram to inner right. SNG Copenhagen 1199; Dewing 1203; Mathisen ANSMN 21, p. 111; SNG Alpha Bank 986; SNG Ashmolean 3258. 16.82g, 31mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous metal, lightly toned. A very handsome example. 1,000

457.

Kingdom of Macedon. Antigonos III Doson AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 228-227 BC. Head of Poseidon to right, wearing wreath of seaweed / Apollo seated to left on prow upon which inscribed ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ, holding bow in his right hand; monogram below. SNG Alpha Bank 1046-1047; SNG Berry 362. 17.01g, 32mm, 12h.


458.

116



459.



460.


Very Fine. 1,000

461.


Very Fine. 500

462.

117

Kings of Macedon. Philip V AR Drachm. Zoilos, mintmaster. Pella or Amphipolis, struck circa 184-179 BC. Diademed head right / Club; monogram above, two monograms below; all within oak wreath, star to outer left. Mamroth, Philip 32; SNG München -; SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Saroglos -; Pozzi 975. 3.98g, 19mm, 12h.

Rare. Good Very Fine. 1,200

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Hirsch 275, 22 September 2011, lot 3510;Ex Münzhandlung Beckenbauer, private purchase, 1981.

463.

Kingdom of Macedon. Perseus AR Tetradrachm. Pella or Amphipolis, circa 173-171 BC. Diademed head of Perseus right / Eagle standing to right on thunderbolt, its wings spread, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠEPΣEΩΣ across fields in two lines; magistrate’s monogram to right, monogram above, Φ between eagle’s legs; all within an oak-wreath, plough below. Mamroth, Perseus 21b; SNG Copenhagen 1269; Berlin 391. 15.46g, 32mm, 11h.Good Very Fine. 1,000

464.

464 465

Macedon under Roman Rule AR Tetradrachm. Aesillas, quaestor. Circa 95-70 BC. Head of the deified Alexander III ‘The Great’ right, Θ behind / Money chest, club, and chair, all within wreath. Bauslaugh Group VI. 16.49g, 28mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. Flaw on reverse. 200

465.

Macedon, Koinon Æ25. Circa 3rd Century AD. Head of Alexander to right, wearing lion skin headdress, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ before / KOI MAKEDONΩN B NEΩ, Alexander standing to right, taming Bukephalos who rears up on hind legs. BMC 108; SNG Copenhagen 1357. 10.29g, 25mm, 1h.

Very Fine, superb for the type. Very Rare. 500

466.

Macedon, Koinon Æ25. Circa 3rd Century AD. Head of Alexander to right, wearing lion skin headdress, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ before / KOINON MAKEDONΩN B NEΩN, Zeus seated left, holding sceptre and Nike in outstretched right hand. Gaebler 408; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -. 12.37g, 25mm, 7h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 300

467.

Three Pleasant 3rd Century AD Alexander Portraits

118

Macedon, Koinon Æ26. Circa 3rd Century AD. Diademed head of Alexander with flowing hair to right, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ before / KOINON MAKEDONΩN B NEΩ, Alexander on Bukephalos galloping right with lance couched and cloak billowing behind. BMC 120-2; SNG Copenhagen 1355. 12.62g, 26mm, 6h.

Minor scrape on reverse, otherwise Extremely Fine. Rare. 200

468.

Thraco-Macedonian Region. Uncertain mint (Olynthos?) AR Drachm. Circa 525-480 BC. Eagle standing to right with wings closed, head left / Quadripartite incuse punch. 5.01g, 14mm.

Apparently unique and unpublished, seemingly without parallel in the numismatic record. 1,000

469.

THRACO-MACEDONIAN

Thraco-Macedonian Tribes. The Bisaltai AR Oktadrachm. Circa 475-465 BC. Bridled horse walking right; behind is a young man wearing a petasos holding two spears; [CIΣAΛT]IKΩN around / Quadripartite incuse. SNG ANS -; cf. SNG Ashmolean 2242; cf. Svoronos 3. 28.91g, 34mm.

Multiple flan defects and cuts, otherwise Very Fine. Very Rare. 2,000

470.

Thraco-Macedonian Tribes, Mygdones or Krestones AR Stater. Circa 485-480 BC. Goat kneeling to right, rosette above / Quadripartite incuse square. Lorber, Goats, Issue 4; AMNG III 4 (Aigai); Asyut 150 (Aigai). 8.59g, 23mm.

Rare. Good Very Fine. Pleasantly toned. 5,000

471.

Without Parallel in the Numismatic Record

Very Rare Oktadrachm of the Bisaltai

Excellent Stater of the Mygdones or Krestones

119

Extraordinary Early Rarity

Ionia or Northern Greece, uncertain mint (Mylasioi in Pangaion region?) EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Phokaic standard. Scorpion / Irregular incuse square. Weidauer -; Rosen -; cf. Leu 30, 1982, 173 (hemihekte of the same types); Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 183 (this coin); A. Tsintsifos, Perix Pangaion Epeiros, p. 161, 1 (this coin). 2.74g, 10mm.

Near Mint State. Unique and of great numismatic interet. 5,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 183;Ex Gorny & Mosch 190, 11 October 2010, lot 245.

It has been occasionally suggested that this remarkable type struck on the Phokaic standard may have been produced in the Thraco-Macedonian region, with the rough nature of the reverse incuse cited as evidence in favour of this proposition. Similarities to coins now understood to have been produced in this area lend credence to this idea; a similar scorpion appears on later silver coins (see the following lot) which is now attributed to northern Greece (previously attributed to Asia Minor). A. Tsintsifos, in his recent work ‘Perix Pangaion Epeiros’, proposes that the coins of northern Greek origin bearing the scorpion device should be attributed to settlers from Mylasa who arrived in the Pangaion region around the beginning of the 6th Century, probably with the Samians. If this should be the case, it is indeed likely that they would have struck coins bearing their native city’s devices, but on a weight standard that was more convenient to them for trade.

472.

Thraco-Macedonian Region, Uncertain mint (Mylasioi in Pangeion region?) AR Diobol. 5th century BC. Scorpion / Dolphin left within incuse square. Tzamalis 6 var. (dolphin right); Rosen 400 var. (same, Asia Minor); SNG von Aulock 6664 var. (same, Asia Minor); SNG Copenhagen 377 var.; A. Tsintsifos, Perix Pangaion Epeiros, p. 161, 3 var. 1.02g, 10mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 300

473.

Thrace, Ainos AR Tetradrachm. Antiadas, magistrate. Circa 453-450 BC. Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos on which AINI / Goat walking right within linear frame, outside which Pan stands right holding lagobolon, raising left arm, ΑΝΤΙΑΔΑΣ around; all within incuse square. Jameson 1050; May, Ainos 85 (A55/P68). 16.49g, 24mm, 9h.


The coinage of Ainos consistently displayed Hermes on one side and a goat on the other, the reasons for which are that the goat represented the source of Ainos’ prosperity, and Hermes was the patron god of the city. According to a poem by Kallimachos, the sculptor Epeios, who constructed the Trojan Horse, also made a wooden statue (xoanon) of Hermes, which was washed out to sea and recovered by fishermen on the Hebros river. The fishermen, thinking it just a piece of driftwood, tried to burn it in their bonfire. When it failed to burn they took fright and threw it back into the sea, which promptly cast it back again. The natives accepted it as a relic of the gods, and erected the sanctuary of Hermes Perpheraios (the Wanderer) at the future site of Ainos.

Engraved in beautiful early classical style, this obverse die that bears the city’s ethnik is arguably the most handsome of all the profile issues of Ainos. This issue under the magistrate Antiadas was the last struck in May’s Period I, after which the Athenian coinage decree led to an interruption in the issue of tetradrachms that lasted until 435/4 when Ainos was granted a special dispensation to resume tetradrachm issues.

474.



475.

THRACE

120



476.

Thrace, Ainos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 412-409 BC. Head of Hermes to right, wearing petasos / Goat walking right, kerykeion before, AIN above; all within incuse square. May 255c; Kraay-Hirmer 422; Locker-Lampson 131; SNG Lockett 1157. 16.50g, 25mm, 6h.


Beautiful late classical style. This portrait is one of the last profile heads to appear on the coinage of Ainos, and its severe features make it one of the most striking of the entire series.

477.

Thrace, Abdera AR Tetrobol. Circa 411-385 BC. Nymphagores, magistrate. Griffin pouncing left, ΑΒΔΗ above / Dolphin in dotted square, EPI ΝΥΜΦΑΓΟΡΗΣ around. May 377; SNG Copenhagen 335; Jameson 1038. 2.86g, 16mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 600

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 60, 1992, lot 81.

478.

Thrace, Abdera AR Drachm. Circa 386-375 BC. Griffin to left / Kantharos within linear border and shallow incuse square. May 446. 2.87g, 15mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 150 Ex Hirsch 263, 24 September 2009, lot 2129.

479.

Attractive Late Period Tetradrachm of Ainos

121

Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 550-463 BC. Satyr to right in kneeling-running pose, carrying protesting nymph who raises her hand / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Svoronos, HPM, pl. 10, 13; Le Rider, Guide de Thasos 1967, pl. 1, 5; SNG Copenhagen 1008. 9.40g, 21mm.



482.

Thrace, Thasos AR Trihemiobol. Circa 500-480 BC. Satyr running right / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Le Rider 4; Svoronos pl. 10, 18. 1.20g, 10mm.

Very Fine. 150

481.

Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 520-510 BC. Naked and bearded ithyphallic satyr with goat’s ear and hoofs, hair arranged in long plaits over back, carrying off maenad, wearing sleeved chiton, large circular ear-ring, hair also in plaits, ring and plain necklace, left arm lowered, right raised in air / Quadripartite incuse square partly filled. Cf. Svoronos, HPM, pl. 10, 7-11; Le Rider, Guide de Thasos 1967, pl. 1, 2; idem, Guide de Thasos 2000, fig. 268. 9.95g, 22mm.


Ritual abduction as a form of exogamy was frequent in tribal societies. The reference here is probably to the cult of Dionysos and is perhaps modelled on one of the stone reliefs for which it was famous for, as later with the Herakles archer type, Guide de Thasos, 2000, fig. 85. For a very similar archaic treatment of the same satyr abducting a maenad theme see J. Boardman, Greek Sculpture: The Archaic Period, fig. 210, a sculpture from Delphi dated to about 525 BC.

480.

Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 412-404 BC. Bald headed and nude Satyr in kneeling-running stance to right, carrying off a protesting nymph; Α in right field / Quadripartite incuse square. Kraay-Hirmer 437; Gulbenkian 464; Le Rider, Thasiennes, 6; SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 103. 8.50g, 21mm.

Good Extremely Fine, excellent high classical style. 7,500

Ex A. Tkalec, 7 May 2009, lot 29.

Thasos, a large island off the western coastal region of Thrace, gained its enormous wealth by virtue of its local silver mines as well as mines it controlled on the Thracian mainland opposite the island city-state. According to Herodotos (VI, 46), the city derived 200-300 talents annually from her exploitation of this mineral wealth. Additionally, Thasos gained much material wealth as a producer and exporter of high quality wines, which was tightly regulated by the government, and it was perhaps due to this trade in wine that her coinage spread throughout the Aegean making it a widely recognized and accepted coinage in distant lands.

The artistry of this coin is exceptional, and belongs to the very end of the 5th century BC before the end of the Peloponnesian War. Earlier didrachm staters struck to a local Thracian standard originally of 9.8 g and subsequently to 8.7 g are quite crude in style, portraying a vigorous and beastly satyr forcibly abducting a very unwilling nymph. By contrast the nymph on this coin seems to barely protest the abduction, and the satyr is imbued with almost wholly human qualities. The engraving is by a superior artist and is in a very lovely style, the head of the satyr reminding us of the miniature masterpieces from Katane in Sicily depicting a satyr’s head facing, while the head of the nymph here is strongly reminiscent of the head of the nymph found on the coins of nearby Neapolis in Macedon.

There is no explanation in the relevant literature of the letters A, Σ, or Φ which sometimes appear in the obverse field of these later staters (they never appear on the earlier staters). They cannot be the signatures of the artists as the staters with the same letter often show a markedly different hand at work, so they most probably simply identify the magistrate responsible for the issue, a commonplace feature on other coinages from a number of mints during this and subsequent times.

483.

Stunning Classical Stater of Thasos

122

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AV Stater. Uncertain mint, circa 305-281 BC. Head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing diadem and horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros enthroned left, shield resting against base of throne; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙMΑXOY to left, Θ below right hand. SNG Copenhagen 2082-5 var; Müller -; SNG Fitzwilliam -; Thompson -. 8.47g, 18mm, 1h.

A few light marks, otherwise As Struck, and lustrous. Unpublished in the standard references. 7,500

Ex Roma Numismatics III, 1 March 2012, lot 183.

A beautiful gold stater of Lysimachos, with a portrait of Alexander engraved in excellent style.

484.

Excellent Style

Exceptional Lysimachos Tetradrachm

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Magnesia ad Maeandrum, circa 297/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike in extended right hand, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; monogram to inner left. Thompson 113; Müller -. 17.22g, 30mm, 12h.Good Extremely Fine. A bold portrait of fine style. 5,000Ex William and Louise Fielder Collection, Triton VIII, 11 January 2005, lot 272.

485.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint (Pella?), circa 305-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙMΑXOY to left, no control marks. Thompson -; Müller -; Mektepini 232 (same dies). 17.04g, 30mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. Very attractive style. 2,500Ex CNG 87, 18 May 2011, lot 276.

486.

123

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AV Stater. Uncertain mint, circa 305-281 BC. Head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing diadem and horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros enthroned left, shield resting against base of throne; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙMΑXOY to left, AP monogram to inner left. Thompson -; The New York Sale XXX, 9 January 2013, 80. 8.42g, 17mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 2,500

487.

488 489

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, circa 305-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander with horn of Ammon right / Athena enthroned left, holding Nike and resting right elbow on shield decorated with lion’s head, spear resting to her right; monogram in right field. Müller 560. 16.96g, 31mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

488.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Kios, circa 305-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander with horn of Ammon right / Athena enthroned left, holding Nike, resting left elbow on shield, spear behind; club in outer left field, monogram in inner left field, bow in bowcase and KT monogram in exergue. Cf. Müller 409 (monogram). 17.04g, 30mm, 12h.Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 200

489.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Byzantion, 3rd century BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing horn of Ammon / Athena Nikepohoros seated left resting elbow in shield, Nike crowning royal name, BY inscribed on throne, ΙΠ in inner left field. Müller, Lysimachus 530 (incert); Meydancikkale 2701. 16.85g, 30mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 500

490.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Byzantion, circa 3rd century BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing horn of Ammon / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena Nikephoros seated left resting elbow in shield, Nike crowning royal name, BY inscribed on throne, KΓ monogram in inner left field. Müller 198. 16.15g, 31mm, 11h.


491.

Sharply Struck on a Broad Flan

124

Ex Pozzi Collection, Naville 1921

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Kolophon, circa 299-296 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑXΟΥ, Zeus seated left, holding eagle in extended right hand, sceptre in left; in left field, forepart of lion right above crescent; pentagram below throne. Pozzi 1159 (this coin); Thompson 123; Price L23; Müller 19. 17.15g, 28mm, 12h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, lot 212;Ex Prof. S. Pozzi Collection, Naville I, 14 March 1921, lot 2021.

492.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 288-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike and resting elbow on shield; in background, spear; behind, shield decorated with head of gorgon; in inner left field, monogram; monogram below. Cf. Thompson 213 (different left monogram); Tkalec Auction May 2010, lot 32. 16.99g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Attractively toned. 1,500

493.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Pergamon, circa 287-281 BC. Diademed head of Alexander the Great to right with horn of Ammon; Κ below neck / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena seated to left on throne, leaning her left elbow on her shield and holding Nike, crowning the king’s name; behind, transverse spear with point below left; herm at outer left, cult image at inner left, ΩΞ monogram in exergue. Arnold-Biucchi, Pergamene, 40 var; Thompson 220 var. 17.11g, 30mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. An unpublished variant with herm and cult image (the cult image is normally paired with a crescent). Fine style engraving in high relief. 1,200


494.

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Kalchedon, circa 260-230 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander with horn of Ammon right / Athena enthroned left, holding Nike, resting left elbow on shield, spear behind, AB monogram in inner left field, grain ear in exergue. Müller 254 (var); Meydancikkale 2708 (var); Mektepini 150 (var); HGC 7, 524. 16.94g, 31mm, 12h.


495.

125

Kingdom of Thrace. Lysimachos AV Stater. Kalchedon, circa 215-210 BC. Head of the deified Alexander right / Athena seated left on throne with KA monogram on base, holding Nike in extended right hand, left arm resting on shield which bares a device, (possibly the city monogram), spear behind; monogram before knee; bull butting left and AP monogram to right in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references; for general type, cf. Seyrig, “Monnaies Hellénistiques de Byzance et de Calcédoine,” in Essays to Robinson, pl. 25, 24-28. (different monogram) and Müller 358. 8.49g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 3,500

An extremely interesting specimen with a highly unusual shield decoration.

496.

Thracian Dynasts. Koson AV Stater. Circa 44-42 BC. Roman consul (L. Junius Brutus?) walking left, accompanied by two lictors, monogram before, KOΣΩN in exergue / Eagle with spread wings standing left on sceptre, clutching laurel wreath in right talon. RPC 1701; BMC Thrace p. 208, 2. 8.43g, 21mm, 12h.


497.

CRETE

Crete, Gortyna AR Drachm. Circa 250-230 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right; countermark: bull butting right / Europa seated on bull right, ΓOPTINIΩN around, AR monogram below; countermark: head of Apollo right. Svoronos 116. 5.19g, 21mm, 12h.


From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 54, 24 March 2010, lot 103.

498.

Crete, Lyttos AR Stater. Circa 500-300 BC. Eagle flying left / Head of boar right, ΛΥΤ... (ΛΥ retrograde) above, within square of dots in incuse square. Le Rider, Monnaies crétoises pl. 7, 23; Svoronos, Crète anciennne pl. 21, 23; cf. BMC 13 (legend). 10.46g, 26mm, 12h.


499.

Very Rare Stater of Lyttos

126

Crete, Phalasarna AR Stater. Circa 300-270 BC. Head of Artemis-Britomartis right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace / Ornate trident head; Φ-A between prongs. Svoronos 2; SNG Copenhagen 522; BMC 1-2; Le Rider pl. X, 12-13; SNG Lockett 2596. 11.23g, 24mm, 12h.


Ex NFA 33, 1984, lot 205.

Britomartis was the Minoan goddess of mountains and hunting, who was later assimilated into classical Greek mythology through her equation to Artemis. She was worshipped as an aspect of Potnia, the Cretan Mother of Mountains, who in Minoan art appears as a demonic gorgon, accompanied by double-axes of power, and gripping divine serpents. Her name Britomartis, which means ‘sweet maid’, appears to have been an apotropaic euphemism to allay the dangerous, terrifying side to the goddess.

500.

Troas, Abydos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 4th Century BC. Philonid.., magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / Eagle standing left, barley grain and ABY to left, ΦIΛONIΔ to right. Cf. BMC 12-24 (this magistrate and symbol not recorded). 3.51g, 14mm, 6h.


501.

Troas, Kebren AR Diobol. Circa 450 BC. Female head to left, wearing disc earring and necklace, her hair bound with a band / Ram’s head to left within square incuse. Rosen 534; SNG von Aulock 1546; Traité II, 2, 2331, pl. CLXIV, 19. 1.23g, 10mm, 3h.Numerous marks, otherwise Very Fine. Rare. 200

502.

502 503

Troas, Neandria Æ11. 4th century BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Grain kernel; NEAN to left, grape bunch to right. SNG Copenhagen 448. 1.53g, 11mm, 9h.Near Very Fine. Rare. 100

503.

Troas, Skepsis AR Diobol. Circa 480-450 BC. Forepart of Pegasos to right, ΣKAΨION around / Tree; E-N (retrograde); all within dotted incuse square. BMC Troas pg. 80, 3; cf. SNG Copenhagen 470 (drachm); Traité pl. CLXV, 3; SNG von Aulock 7642. 2.04g, 16mm, 11h.


BMC suggests that the NE on the reverse may indicate an alliance between Skepsis and Neandria.

504.

Aeolis, Aigai AR Tetradrachm. Circa 150 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, bow and quiver over shoulder / AIΓAIEΩN, Zeus standing left, holding eagle and lotus-tipped sceptre, monogram in left field; all within wreath. SNG Copenhagen 6; Dewing 2227. 16.74g, 34mm, 12h.

Minor flatness, otherwise Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 3,500

505.

TROAS

AEOLIS

127

Aeolis, Kyme AR Hemiobol. Circa 480-450 BC. Eagle head to left, KY below beak / Quadripartite incuse square. BMC 10; SNG Copenhagen 32; SNG von Aulock 1623; Klein 333. 0.31g, 7mm.

Very Fine. 75

506.

Aeolis, Kyme AR Tetradrachm. Circa 165/55-145/0 BC. Stephanophoric type. Seuthes, magistrate. Head of the Amazon Kyme right, wearing taenia / Horse prancing right; one-handled cup below, raised foreleg, ΣEYΘHΣ below; all within laurel wreath. Oakley obv. die 61; SNG von Aulock 1640 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 79 (same obv. die). 16.69g, 34mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 750

507.

Aeolis, Myrina AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding branch and phiale; monogram and MYPINAIΩN to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks, ANS MN 3 Em. 38. 16.61g, 33mm, 1h.


508.

Aeolis, Myrina AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding branch and phiale; omphalos and amphora at his feet, MΥΡINAIΩN behind, monogram in left field; all within wreath. SNG Copenhagen 221; BMC 11; Sacks Issue 29, obv. die 33. 16.71g, 33mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. Fine style, and beautifully toned. 1,000

509.

128

IONIAAll images on this page are 2x enlargements unless otherwise indicated

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Milesian standard. Plain type. Plain globular surface / Square incuse punch. Weidauer -; cf. SNG Kayhan 676 (hemihekte); Rosen 324. 0.58g, 5mm.Very Fine. 200

510.

510 511

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Milesian standard. Plain type. Plain globular surface / Square incuse punch. Weidauer -; cf. SNG Kayhan 676 (hemihekte); Rosen 324. 0.59g, 5mm.Very Fine. 100

511.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/96 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Plain type. Plain globular surface / Square incuse punch. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan –; Boston MFA –; Rosen –. 0.10g, 3mm.


512.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Milesian standard(?). Rough, typeless surface / Incuse square punch. Weidauer -; Traité I -; cf. SNG Kayhan 686-7. 1.44g, 7mm.


513.

514 515

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/12 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Striated type. Flattened striated surface / Incuse square punch. Weidauer 9; Traité I 13; SNG Kayhan 681. 1.23g, 7mm.Extremely Fine. 500

514.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Milesian standard. Striated type. Flattened striated surface / Incuse square punch. Weidauer –; Traité I 14–5; SNG Kayhan 682; SNG von Aulock –; BMC p. 5, 19. 0.79g, 7mm.Good Very Fine. Exceptionally large and heavy for the type. Very Rare. 300

515. Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/12 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Striated type. Flattened striated surface / Incuse square punch. Weidauer 9; Traité I 13; SNG Kayhan 681. 1.20g, 7mm.Good Fine. 500

516.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 650-600 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Striated type. Flattened striated surface; countermarked with ‘spine’ pattern / Incuse square. Weidauer –; Traité I 14-5; Elektron II 15; Rosen -; SNG Kayhan 682; SNG von Aulock -. 0.57g, 5mm.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare. Intriguing countermarked issue. 500

517.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hekte. Circa 650-600 BC. Milesian standard. Plain type. Globular surface with cluster of pellets / Double incuse punch. Weidauer –; Traité I 3; SNG Kayhan –; SNG von Aulock 7761; Rosen 253; Boston MFA 1749; Rosen Sale 3. 2.30g, 10mm.


518.

Very Rare Globular ‘Pellet Cluster’ Type

Interesting, Countermarked Striated Type

129

All images on this page are 2x enlargements unless otherwise indicated

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Samian standard. Numerous short lines across field / Rough incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references, for type cf. ATEC 92 (1/12 Stater, Ashmolean). 0.75g, 7mm.

Mint State. Apparently unique and unpublished. 500

519.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/48 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Geometric type. Geometric figure composed of a vertical line with horizontal lines radiating outward / Quadripartite square punch with a pellet in the centre; each quarter contains a diagonal line radiating from the central pellet. McFadden 5; Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan –; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron –; Zhuyuetang 6. 0.27g, 5mm.

Mint State. Extremely Rare. 500

520.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Raised clockwise ‘swastika’ pattern / Quadripartite incuse square. Weidauer -; Traité I 234; SNG Kayhan 702-3; Boston MFA 1782; Rosen 365; Elektron I 44. 0.71g, 7mm.Extremely Fine. 300

521.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Raised ‘swastika’ pattern / Quadripartite incuse square punch. Weidauer -; Traité I 234; SNG Kayhan 702-3; Boston MFA 1782; Rosen 365; Elektron I 44. 0.72g, 7mm.Good Very Fine. 200

522.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/48 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Phokaic standard. Geometric type. Raised quadripartite pattern / Incuse square punch. Weidauer -; Traité I 238 = BMC p. 5, 22; SNG Kayhan -; SNG von Aulock -; Rosen -. 0.30g, 5mm.


523.

521 522

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Trite. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian Standard. Figural type. Head of a roaring lion to right in linear form / Double incuse punch. Weidauer 117; Linzalone 1096. 4.79g, 12mm.

About Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 2,000


524.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Figural type. Head of a roaring lion to right in linear form / Rough incuse square. Weidauer 119; Traité –; cf. Elektron II 24 (hemihekte); cf. Rosen 278 (hemihekte); cf. SNG Kayhan 708–10 (myshemihekte); SNG von Aulock –; SNG Berry 1029. 2.36g, 11mm.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 397. 1,000

525.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian Standard. Figural type. Head of a roaring lion to right in linear form / Rough incuse square. Weidauer 120 (same dies); Rosen 278. 1.19g, 10mm.


526.

130

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Phokaic standard. Conjoined protomes of a griffin and a female (or sphinx) / Quadripartite incuse square with linear striations in one quadrant. Weidauer -; SNG von Aulock -; Vismara, Elektron -; Rosen -; SNG Kayhan -; Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, 384 (this coin). 2.61g, 9mm.

Very Fine. Apparently Unique and unpublished in the standard references. 800

From the Gutekunst Collection;Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 384.

527.

3x

Unique Hekte


Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-575 BC. Blade of axe-head shaped object, rosette with central pellet in field / Rough incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references, for this uncertain weight standard cf. Rosen collection 370-371. 0.90g, 7mm.

Very Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 500

528.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-575 BC. Milesian standard. Stylized head of dolphin(?) right / Incuse square with pellet in centre. Unpublished in the standard references, for general type cf. ATEC 270-271 (Rosen collection, MMAG 72, 1987, 94-95); cf. Gorny & Mosch 196, 7 March 2011, 1568 (different reverse punch). 0.57g, 6mm.

Mint State. Apparently unique and unpublished. 500

529.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Samian-Euboeic standard. Figural type. Scarab beetle(?) / Incuse square punch with linear striations. Cf. CNG 72, 14 June 2006, 774 (same obverse design). 1.17g, 17mm.

Extremely Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 500

530.

3x

Ionia, uncertain EL 1/48 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Figural type. Head of a roaring lion to right in linear form / Incuse square punch. Weidauer 125; Traité I -; cf. SNG Kayhan -. 0.34g, 6mm.


531.

532 533 534

Ionia, uncertain EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Milesian standard. Figural type. Head of bull right / Incuse square punch. Weidauer -; Traité I -; SNG Kayhan 734; SNG von Aulock -; Boston MFA -; Rosen -. 0.61g, 6mm.

About Very Fine. Extremely Rare - SNG Kayhan notes the type in this denomination is otherwise unpublished. 400

532.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Milesian standard. Figural type. Forepart of goat right / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. CNG 91, 19 September 2012, 304 (1/48 stater); otherwise unpublished. 0.67g, 6mm.

Good Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 300

533.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Calf’s head to right / Quadripartite incuse square punch. Rosen 328; SNG von Aulock 7774. 0.68g, 7mm.

Extremely Fine. 300

534.

131


Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Facing lion’s head / Incuse square. Vismara, Arcaica 38; cf. Weidauer 162 (1/12 stater); cf. SNG Kayhan 712 (1/12 stater); cf. Rosen 370 (1/12 stater). 0.59g, 5mm.


535.

3x

Ionia, uncertain mint (Miletos?) EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Figural type. Head of lion right / Incuse square with lines and pellets. Weidauer –; Traité I –; cf. SNG Kayhan 451; Rosen –; Elektron I 21; CNG 93, lot 402. 1.09g, 9mm.


536.

537 538

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Milesian standard. Figural type. Lion’s paw / Stellate pattern within incuse square. Weidauer -; Traité I -; SNG Kayhan -; Rosen 285. 0.59g, 16mm.Very Fine. 150

537.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Milesian standard. Figural type. Head of lion facing / Incuse punch. Weidauer 162-5 var. (hemihekte); Traité I -; SNG Kayhan 713. 0.59g, 6mm.Very Fine. 150

538.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/48 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. ‘Lion paw’ / Incuse square. Karwiese series I; ATEC 107. 0.25g, 4mm.

Very Fine. 100

539.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 570-520 BC. Phokaic standard. Figural type. Dog curled up in foetal position / Incuse square. ATEC 263 = Rosen collection MM 72, 1987, 85 (same dies); Rosen collection, ANS 1983, 323; BMFA 1798. 1.37g, 12mm.


The cataloguers of the known examples of this type have over the years variously described the animal on the obverse as a seal, dog, mouse or simply ‘animal’. In considering the morphology of the type, it should be immediately clear that it cannot be a seal, since the hind quarters are obviously those of a quadruped. It bears strong resemblance to the silver fraction from an uncertain Macedonian mint which is purported to display a ‘kangaroo mouse’ (Gemini XI, 12 January 2014, 31), however the description of that coin must be reconsidered since jumping mice are native only to North America. Returning to the present specimen, the elongated head and snout as well as the long, pinned back ear are far more suggestive of a dog. As the primary device upon a coin, dogs appear very infrequently; instead they are normally an adjunct of another larger design. The only parallels we may see in the immediate vicinity are to be found at Kyzikos, whose coinage bears three distinct types with a dog as the primary symbol.

540.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 520 BC. Milesian standard. Eagle standing left with head reverted / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. SNG Aulock 7778; Boston 1808; BMC Ionia pl. I, 23 (all staters); MMAG 72 (1987), lot 144 and NAC 59, 4 April 2011, 610 (both trites, the latter attributed to Abydos); Gemini X, 13 January 2013, 107 (hekte). 1.15g, 7mm.

Very Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished in this denomination. 1,000

541.

Unique Eagle Hemihekte

Extremely Rare Dog Hemihekte

3x

132

Ionia, Ephesos (?) EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Milesian standard. Bridled head of horse left / Rough incuse square punch. Weidauer 141 = Weber 5718; cf. Traité I 346 (Hemihekte); cf. SNG Kayhan 715 (Hemihekte); cf. SNG von Aulock 1780 (Hemihekte). 2.39g, 10mm.

Mint State. Very Rare. 5,000

The first coins, struck from the naturally occurring amalgam of gold and silver known as electrum (in Greek, ἤλεκτρον, derived from the word ἠλέκτωρ - ēlektōr – literally, ‘shining sun’), were either very primitive globules of metal with an incuse punch reverse, or had a rough striated surface (see the preceding lots). Very soon there followed coins with recognizable designs, the first likely being those with a lion’s head and understood as being issues of the Lydian kings marked with their royal device, then a plethora of types exhibiting all manner of designs, this being an example. Some of these latter coins used as a device a punning allusion to the city name, such as the coins of Phokaia with a seal, but the very diversity of the types make it difficult in most instances to determine the issuing authority. In fact, it is probable that many of the coin types exhibit a personal as opposed to civic badge, being guaranteed by an individual of wealth and power rather than a municipality. In the case of the present piece, the type of the bridled horse may very well be a reference to the material that the coin itself is made from - see lot 546.

This rare and desirable type is known in only small numbers, in denominations from staters to myshemihektes, is among the very earliest of figural coins. Its early date is proven by the presence in the Artemision foundation deposit of a hemihekte and myshemihekte of this issue (E.S.G. Robinson, “Coins from the Ephesian Artemision Reconsidered” in JHS LXXI [1951], 24–5).

544.

Very Rare and Desirable Bridled Horse Hekte

‘Shining Sun’

Islands off Ionia, Chios AR Drachm. Circa 400-380 BC. Sphinx seated left; amphora to left; ΛΕ or ΛK monogram to right / Quadripartite granulated incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references; cf. for general type: Baldwin p. 30, no. 84-87 (other monograms). 3.59g, 14mm.

Good Very Fine. Apparently unique. 500

542.

Ionia, Ephesos (?) EL Stater. Circa 575-560 BC. Forepart of bridled horse left, sunburst before; lotus flower on its back / Rectangular incuse punch between two square incuse punches, all with roughly patterned surfaces. Weidauer 138 (these dies); Mitchiner 135; ACGC 56. 14.28g, 21mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one of only seven known specimens. 15,000

The lotus flower that appears upon the horse’s back is an element common to several electrum staters from uncertain mints attributed to Lydia or Ionia, all struck on the Milesian standard: the recumbent lion type (Rosen 245; NAC 72, 16 May 2013, 369), bull kneeling with its head reverted (Rosen 148), and two rampant lions upright on their hind legs with heads reverted and paws extended (Rosen 149). On all of these coins the lotus flower may initially appear incidental, though its commonality to all types indicates otherwise – it is evidently to be seen as the key element of the obverse type that links the different animal designs together.

The lotus flower appears only sporadically in Greek mythology, though it had a deep rooted use in Egyptian art and legend, where it was taken as a symbolic representation of the sun on account of its physical behaviour: it closes at night time and descends into the water, rising and flowering again at dawn. In Egyptian creation myth, the lotus was the first thing to spontaneously form from chaos, and it was from the lotus that the sun itself was born on the first day.

The eastern coastal areas of the Mediterranean in the sixth century BC had been for a long time familiar with Egyptian religious beliefs that spread as a consequence of trade and population dispersal; the lotus’ insinuation in its Egyptian meaning into Greek culture is evident in the lotus-tipped sceptre carried by Zeus on the coinages of Karia, Mysia and Kilikia (among others), being a legacy of the assimilation of an attribute of the major Egyptian solar deity Ra with the principal god of the Greek pantheon Zeus. The lotus’ appearance here as a polyvalent symbol can best be understood then in the context of assimilated Egyptian beliefs, representing at once both a solar and divine aspect, as well as a clear allusion to the minting city’s location.

Interestingly however, the lotus is not the only solar element present on this coin – immediately before the horse’s chest we can discern the presence of a sunburst similar in depiction to those found on the contemporary coinage of Alyattes. This element may have been included on account of its being more universally familiar, being well understood to signify what we now refer to as Anatolia, which comes from the Greek Aνατολή (Anatolē) meaning the ‘East’ or more literally ‘sunrise’, used to refer to the Ionian colonies on the west coast of Asia Minor. Moreover the horse was itself considered a solar symbol, not only throughout the East, but also among Celtic and Germanic tribes, suggesting a common ancient root to this association. Such preponderance of solar symbolism is indeed only fitting for this metal, and is in fact an overt statement of the coin’s composition: ἤλεκτρον, the Greek word for electrum, is derived from the word ἠλέκτωρ (ēlektōr) - ‘shining sun’.

543.

133

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Hekte. Circa 575-550 BC. Milesian standard. Bridled head of horse left / Rough incuse square punch. Weidauer 141 = Weber 5718; cf. Traité I 346 (Hemihekte); cf. SNG Kayhan 715 (Hemihekte); cf. SNG von Aulock 1780 (Hemihekte). 2.41g, 10mm.


545.

Ionia, uncertain mint EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 575-550 BC. Milesian standard. Bridled horse’s head left / Incuse punch, within raised surface in form of a cross. Weidauer 144; Rosen 287; SNG Kayhan 717. 0.59g, 7mm.


546.

Extremely Rare Stater of Ephesos

Ionia, Ephesos AV Stater. Circa 133-88 BC. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephane, necklace of pearls and with her bow and quiver over her shoulder / Cult statue of the Artemis of Ephesos facing, a fillet hanging from each hand, deer to inner left, bee to inner right; Ε-Φ across fields. Apparently unpublished in the standard references. 8.51g, 20mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 20,000

The Hellenistic era gold coinage struck at Ephesos is extremely rare and rarely well preserved. Previously thought to have all been struck during the Mithradatic wars, this is now believed not to be the case. Some appear to be dated by the era of the Province of Asia and the dates they bear are too early for them to be Mithradatic War issues. That being said, they were not necessarily all issued at the same time, and such undated types as the present specimen could well have been issued much later.

547.

Ionia, Erythrai (?) EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-520 BC. Floral pattern with central pellet / Quadripartite incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references, cf. Tkalec September 2008, 34 = Lanz 151, 2011, 461 (same dies); Tkalec September 2008, 35; Hauck & Aufhäuser 20, 2007, 103; Gorny & Mosch 159, 2007, 176. 1.32g, 8mm.

Extremely Rare and apparently unpublished. Good Very Fine. 2,000

The tentative attribution of this issue is based on the distinct similarity to the floral patterns on the reverses of some of the early silver of Erythrai, cf. BMC Ionia: Erythrea 20, pl. 15, 2.

548.

134

Ionia, Erythrai (?) EL 1/24 Stater. Phokaic Standard. Circa 550-520 BC. Eight-rayed sunburst or rosette / Quadripartite incuse square. Weidauer -; SNG von Aulock -; Vismara, Elektron -; Rosen -; Traité -. 0.73g, 7mm.

Mint State. Extremely Rare, unpublished in the standard references. 1,000


549.

Ionia, Erythrai EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG von Aulock 1942; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; Boston MFA 1806-7. 2.55g, 10mm.

Good Extremely Fine. An exceptional example of the type. 1,500

550.

551 552

Ionia, Erythrai EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG von Aulock 1942; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; Boston MFA 1806-7. 2.57g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 500

551.

Ionia, Erythrai EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG von Aulock 1942; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München -; Boston MFA 1806-7. 2.57g, 11mm.Extremely Fine. 500

552.

Ionia, Herakleia ad Latmon AR Tetradrachm. Circa 190 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with volute, Pegasos and five foreparts of horse / Club of Herakles right, HPAKΔEΩTΩN above, Nike below between two monograms, all within oak wreath. SNG Copenhagen 781; SNG Lockett 2823. 17.24g, 32mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful style. 2,500

553.

Ionia, Kolophon AR Tetartemorion. Circa 450-410 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / TE monogram, cicada left; all within incuse square. Milne, Colophon 33; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Kayhan 359. 0.30g, 6mm, 3h.


554.

An Intricately Detailed Athena Portrait

135

One of Only Two in Private Hands

Ionia, Kolophon AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Klarios standing right holding filleted branch, right hand placed on lyre, ΚΟΛΟΦΩΝΙΩΝ to left, all within laurel wreath. SNG von Aulock 7916; Waddington 1489; Milne Colophon 164. 16.31g, 34mm, 11h. Light porosity, otherwise Extremely Fine. Exceedingly Rare. 20,000

Ex Roma Numismatics IV, 30 September 2012, lot 303. Four examples of this type are known to exist, only two of which are in private hands. Of the two, this specimen is arguably the finer, having suffered less wear and damage. Kolophon was a city of great antiquity, and one of the oldest of the twelve cities of the Ionian League. It was the strongest of these cities, and was renowned for its cavalry as well as the luxurious lifestyle of its inhabitants, until it was conquered by Gyges of Lydia in the 7th century BC. Kolophon then went into decline and was rapidly eclipsed by Ephesos. In 430 Kolophon was conquered by the Persians in consequence of a stasis between the citizens. Many Kolophonians living in the city fled and settled in Notion, which would later come to be known also as New Kolophon, Kolophon-on-Sea, or simply as Kolophon. The old city was destroyed by Lysimachos around the same time as he destroyed and forcibly depopulated nearby Lebedos, and unlike the latter, Kolophon did not recover. Indeed, it appears that Ephesos made efforts to ensure that this was the case. The obvious similarities in style and fabric between this coin and those of Myrina suggest that not only were the dies most likely produced by an artist responsible for engraving dies for Myrina, but also that they were struck at the same mint facility. While a cooperation between Myrina and Kolophon is unattested in the ancient sources, such an arrangement would not have been unprecedented or unusual. The reverse of this coin depicts Apollo Klarios, who had a temple at Klaros, near the site of Notion. Klaros was famed throughout the Greek world for its oracle, which appears to have existed there far back into Greek history, being mentioned in the Homeric Hymns to Artemis. This oracle delivered her prophesies in a dark, crypt-like adyton under the Temple of Apollo, much of which remains to the present day. The narrow, vaulted labyrinthine corridors under the temple remain, as do the base and fragments of a colossal sculpture of Apollo with his lyre. This statue, partially restored, appears to have measured over seven metres in height. The monumental entrance to the sanctuary was discovered in 1905 and between 1950 and 1961 a further series of important dedicated monuments were excavated, along with the famous Doric Temple itself.

555.

136


Ionia, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Themistokles AR Hemiobol. Circa 465-459 BC. Barley grain right; ΘE above, meander pattern below / Male head (Themistokles?) right, wearing diadem; [M-A] across field; all within incuse square. Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, 185 (same dies); cf. Nollé & Wenninger Th5c; cf. Gorny & Mosch 160, lot 1516; otherwise unpublished. 0.40g, 7mm, 11h.

Near Extremely Fine. The second known specimen. 1,500

Themistokles was one of the greatest statesmen and generals of the early Athenian democracy. It was his influence that led Athens to considerably increase its naval power, which would prove decisive in its conflicts with the Achaemenid Persian empire. He fought at the Battle of Marathon, and commanded the Greek allied navy at the battles of Artemision and Salamis. It was due in part to Themistokles’ cunning that the allies were able to lure the Persian fleet into the straights of Salamis, and in the cramped conditions the superior numbers of the Persians became a hindrance. Disorganised and unable to manoeuvre, the Greeks formed in line and won a decisive victory. The following year, the Persian army was soundly defeated at the Battle of Plataea, ending the Persian attempts to conquer the Greek mainland.

These battles of Salamis and Plataea thus mark a turning point in the course of the Greco-Persian wars as a whole; from then on, the Greek city-states would take the offensive. A number of historians believe that a Persian victory would have hamstrung the development of Ancient Greece, and by extension western civilization, and this has led them to claim that Salamis is one of the most significant battles in human history.

Despite this and other accomplishments, the perceived arrogance of Themistokles alienated him from his fellow citizens and in 472/1 he was ostracised, and went into exile. Having before aroused the hostility of Sparta by ordering the re-fortification of Athens, the Spartans now implicated him in the treason of Pausanias, forcing Themistokles to flee from Greece to Asia Minor. There, he offered his service to his former enemies, and entered the service of the Persian Great King Artaxerxes. In recognition of his reputation and former glories, the Persian king made him governor of Magnesia, where he lived out the remainder of his life (also see lot 664 and 665).

556.

3x

Themistokles, Architect of the Greek Victory at Salamis

Ionia, Miletos EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Lion reclining left, head reverted, within rectangular frame / Two square punches containing geometric and stellate designs. SNG Kayhan 443; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; SNG von Aulock -; Traité I -; Boston MFA -; Rosen -. 2.33g, 10mm.

Good Fine. Very rare denomination. 350

557.

559 560558

Ionia, Miletos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion left / Incuse punch of stellate pattern. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Kayhan 449. 1.14g, 7mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 300

558.


559.


560.

562 563561

Ionia, Miletos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion right / Incuse punch of stellate pattern. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan 446-8; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I 66. 1.13g, 7mm.Very Fine. Rare. 200

561.

Ionia, Miletos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion right / Incuse punch of stellate pattern. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan 446-8; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I 66. 1.14g, 7mm.Good Very Fine. Rare. 200

562.


563.

137


564 565Ionia, Miletos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion right / Incuse punch of stellate pattern. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan 446-8; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I 66. 1.14g, 6mm.Very Fine. Rare. 200

564.


565.

566 567

Ionia, Miletos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion right, paw extended below / Incuse punch of stellate pattern. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan 446-8; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I 66. 1.11g, 8mm.Very Fine. Rare. 200

566.

Ionia, Miletos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of lion right, paw extended below / Incuse punch of stellate pattern. Weidauer –; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan 446-8; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I 66. 1.14g, 8mm.Very Fine. Rare. 200

567.

568 569Ionia, Miletos EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lion’s head facing / Incuse punch. SNG Kayhan 453; Klein 416. 0.55g, 5mm.Extremely Fine. 150

568.

Ionia, Miletos EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Lion’s head facing / Incuse punch. SNG Kayhan 453; Klein 416. 0.58g, 6mm.Very Fine. 100

569.

3x

Extremely Rare First Issue from Phokaia

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 625-600. Head of a griffin to right with open jaws and protruding tongue / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 1 (a/α). 1.36g, 8mm.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare – Bodenstedt noted only four examples. 2,000

570.

571 572

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-600 BC. Head of seal with large round eye to left, teeth bared; small seal swimming to left below / Rough quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 2.2 (dies a/a). 2.61g, 10mm.Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare, and among the finest known specimens. 2,000

571.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-600 BC. Head of seal with large round eye to left, teeth bared; small seal swimming to left below / Rough quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 2.2 (dies a/a). 2.58g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 1,500

572.

Ionia, Phokaia EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Head of seal right / Quadripartite incuse. Bodenstedt 2.2; SNG von Aulock 1774; Rosen Collection 328. 0.66g, 7mm.


573.

138


Ionia, Phokaia EL 1/48 Stater. Circa 625-600 BC. Head of seal left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 2.1; SNG von Aulock 7781; Rosen 307. 0.30g, 6mm.


574.

One Example Recorded by Bodenstedt

Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-600 BC. Helmeted head to left, seal upwards behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 6 (unlisted dies) = Münzen und Medaillen FPL 201, no. 240; Tkalec (29 February 2000), lot 126. 2.59g, 11mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – Bodenstedt recorded only one example. 3,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Sternberg 18, 1986, lot 149.

575.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-600 BC. Head of boar left; below, small seal left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 14; BMC 30; Jameson 1509 (same die and punch); Tkalec, 29 February 2000, lot 129; Traité I 153. 2.57g, 10mm.

Very Rare, apparently only the eighth known specimen. 2,000

576.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-522 BC. Head of androcephalic bull (river god Acheloüs) to left, seal downwards behind / Rough quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 16 (a/α). 2.58g, 10mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, Bodenstedt noted only one example. 2,000

577.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-522 BC. Ram kneeling left, seal above / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 18; SNG von Aulock 7945. 2.59g, 10mm.

Slightly off-centre, otherwise Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare, only 3 specimens cited by Bodenstedt. 500

578.

Ionia, Phokaia EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 625-522 BC. Head of ram to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 20 (unlisted dies); SNG von Aulock 7939; BMC 29. 0.67g, 16mm.

Struck from worn die, but otherwise Mint State. Rare. 200

579.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-522 BC. Head of bull left, dotted truncation; small seal above the forehead / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 21. 2.58g, 11mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. Bodenstedt lists only two examples. 1,200


580.

139

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 625-522 BC. Head of calf to left; small seal before / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 21 (dies b/α); BMC 26 (same dies). 2.58g, 11mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, Bodenstedt lists only two examples. 1,000

581.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of ram left; below, small seal to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 37 (dies e/ε); SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; Boston MFA 1896var. (seal right); BMC 28var. (same). 2.53g, 10mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – the seal to right variant is much scarcer than seal left. 1,500

582.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Panther’s head facing, small seal to right above / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Rosen collection, Münzen und Medaillen 72, 1987, 75 = Rosen 312 = ATEC 339 (these dies); Bodenstedt -. 2.59g, 10mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - the second recorded example. 3,000

The small seal above the head was off the flan in Copenhagen, missed by Münzen und Medaillen, and the type was not known to Bodenstedt.

583.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of lion left; to right, small seal upward / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 38; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; Boston MFA –; de Luynes 2542 (same dies). 2.58g, 10mm.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare – Bodenstedt notes only four examples. 750

584.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Helmeted male head to left, with frontal eye and tendril ornament on bowl of helmet; below, seal swimming to left / Rough quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 50. 2.60g, 10mm.

Very Rare. 3,000

This militaristic type appears to depict an anonymous warrior or hero, the latter appearing more likely considering the ornamentation of the helmet he wears. His individual features being completely obscured, leaving only his eye and nose visible, imparts a stern, solemn tone to the composition. The type may have held some special significance to Phokaia, as it is a restoration of a much earlier type (Bodenstedt 6).

585.

Extremely Rare Variant

Second Recorded Example

Very Rare ‘Hero’ Hekte of Phokaia

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of a lion facing, mane standing proud behind; seal to left, swimming downwards / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 53; Traité II, 2 pl. CLVIII, 8. 2.57g, 11mm.

Extremely Fine. Rare. A sharp, well centred and very attractive specimen. 3,000

The design of this type has been borrowed from the city of Rhegion in Bruttium, which used this facing lion’s head seen from above as their civic type. The manner of its depiction is however stylistically distinct from that of Rhegion, and shows the lion as a much leaner animal, with a less pronounced head of hair, but a very prominent mane that is seen standing up behind the lion’s head. This is probably the finest and most complete example offered at auction in over a decade.

586.


140


Ionia, Phokaia AR Diobol. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of griffin to right with protruding tongue / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. SNG Kayhan 514 = SNG von Aulock 2116. 1.67g, 9mm.


587.

589 590588

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of Hermes left, wearing petasos; small seal downwards behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 82; SNG von Aulock 2125; Boston MFA 1915. 2.54g, 10mm.Very Fine. 200

588.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of young male left, wearing tainia; behind, seal downward / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 63; SNG von Aulock -. 2.52g, 10mm.Very Fine. 200

589.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Wreathed head of Dionysos left; seal behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 89; SNG Copenhagen –; Boston MFA –; McClean 8253. 2.51g, 10mm.Good Very Fine. 300

590.

592 593591

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Female head, her hair bound with a sphendone / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 90 (c/β). 2.57g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 600

591.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Female head, her hair bound with a sphendone / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 90. 2.54g, 10mm.Very Fine. 300

592.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing earring, her crested Attic helmet adorned with a Pegasos on the bowl / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 91 (d/δ). 2.54g, 10mm. Good Very Fine. Highly lustrous. 750

593.

595 596594

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of Io to left; below, small seal to left / Incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 96; SNG von Aulock 1710; Boston MFA 1730–1. 2.49g, 10mm.

Good Very Fine. 300

Io was a nymph who attracted the lust of Zeus; he covered her with clouds to hide her from the eyes of his jealous wife, Hera, who nonetheless came to investigate. In a vain attempt to hide his infidelity, Zeus turned himself into a white cloud and transformed Io into a beautiful white heifer. Hera was not fooled, and demanded the heifer as a present, a request that Zeus could not refuse without arousing suspicion.

Hera tethered Io to the olive-tree in the temenos of her cult-site, the Heraion, and placed her in the charge of many-eyed Argos Panoptes to keep her separated from Zeus. Zeus commanded Hermes to kill Argos - the first stain of bloodshed among the new generation of gods. Hera then forced Io to wander the earth without rest, plagued by a gadfly to sting her into madness. Io escaped across the Ionian Sea to Egypt, where at last she was restored to human form by Zeus.

594.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Artemis left, seal below / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 99. 2.56g, 9mm.Good Very Fine. 300

595.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Female head left with hair pulled back in low bun at base of neck, wearing ear pendant; [seal behind] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 106. 2.57g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 500

596.

141

Ionia, Smyrna AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Head of Tyche right, wearing turreted crown / ΣMYP-NAIΩN over monogram, all within laurel wreath. SNG von Aulock 2161; Milne, Numismatic Chronicle 1927, 145; SNG Deutschland 2161. 16.44g, 35mm, 12h.

Mint State. A superb example, well struck on a very broad flan, with none of the usual flatness. 4,000

Ex CNG 66, 19 May 2004, lot 457.

597.

Ionia, Smyrna AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Head of Tyche right, wearing turreted crown / ΣΜΥΡ-ΝΑΙΩΝ over monogram, all within laurel wreath. Milne, Autonomous 141; Milne, Silver obv. die A; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 4 (same obv. die). 16.37g, 35mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Exceptionally sharp reverse with none of the usual flatness. 2,000

598.

Ionia, Teos AR Stater. Circa 510-490 BC. Griffin seated to right, with left paw raised, vines and bunch of grapes in lower right field; THIOS around / Quadripartite incuse square. Balcer 15; BMC 55 var. 12.09g, 26mm. Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 2,000

599.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of ram to right; below, cockerel standing left / Incuse head of lion left; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt 11 (unlisted dies); SNG von Aulock 7718; SNG Copenhagen 300. 2.56g, 11mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous metal. 2,500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex CNG 85, 15 September 2010, lot 406.

600.

Two Excellent Tetradrachms of Smyrna

LESBOS

142


602 603601Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of roaring lion right / Incuse head of calf right; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt 13; SNG Copenhagen 301. 2.58g, 10mm, 2h.Extremely Fine. 1,000

601.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of roaring lion right / Incuse head of calf right; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt 13; SNG Copenhagen 301. 2.57g, 10mm, 11h.Extremely Fine. 1,000

602.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Head of roaring lion right / Incuse head of calf right; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt 13; HGC 6, 938; SNG von Aulock 1685; Boston MFA 1679-81; BMC 18-22. 2.53g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 500

603.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress. Bodenstedt 19.1; SNG von Aulock 1691; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 14. 2.51g, 10mm, 9h.


604.3x

606605Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 478-455 BC. Head of lion right / Incuse head of bull right. Bodenstedt 28; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; Boston MFA -; Traité II 2132. 2.53g, 10mm, 6h.Near Very Fine. Extremely rare, Bodenstedt recorded only 4 examples. 750

605.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 478-455 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Incuse head of Artemis (?) right wearing sphendone. Bodenstedt 31; Boston MFA 1691 = Warren 1603. 2.60g, 11mm, 1h.About Very Fine. Extremely Rare – possibly only the second known example. 750

606.

608607Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-427 BC. Forepart of boar right / Head of lion right within linear square. Bodenstedt 41 (dies a/a); Traité pl. CLIX, 30; Boston MFA 1684; BMC Lesbos pg. 159, 31; SNG Copenhagen 309; SNG von Aulock 1694. 2.48g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. 500

607.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-427 BC. Forepart of boar right / Head of lion right within linear square. Bodenstedt 41 (dies a/a); Traité pl. CLIX, 30; Boston MFA 1684; BMC Lesbos pg. 159, 31; SNG Copenhagen 309; SNG von Aulock 1694. 2.50g, 10mm, 3h.Very Fine. 200

608.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-427 BC. Head of a nymph, (possibly Europa?), three-quarter facing, turned slightly to right, wearing a taenia / Two confronting boars’ heads, A between. BMC 51; Bodenstedt 45a. 2.54g, 10mm, 11h.Very Rare. Near Extremely Fine. 1,500This obverse of this rare coin was used at Mytilene for two consecutive issues; one with a reverse showing the head of the bull, and the present one with two confronted boars’ heads that harks back to the early coinage of Lesbos (cf. BMC 10). The type evidently struck a chord with the cataloguer of Nomos 2, 108, who postulated that the portrayed nymph may have been inspired by a particularly beautiful girl known to the engraver. This is, in any case, one of the most charming electrum issues of that city.

609.

Charming Facing Head Hekte

143


611610

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-427 BC. Wreathed head of young Dionysos right / Wreathed and draped bust of satyr right. Bodenstedt 87; SNG von Aulock 1719. 2.56g, 10mm, 3h.Near Very Fine. Rare, only nine cited by Bodenstedt. 200

610.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-428 BC. Female head right, wearing sakkos / Two herms facing, one male, one female, within linear border; all within shallow incuse square. Bodenstedt 46. 2.48g, 11mm, 6h.Good Fine. Extremely Rare, Bodenstedt noted only six examples. 500

611.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-428 BC. Head of Aktaion right / Facing gorgoneion within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 54; Boston MFA 1701. 2.58g, 11mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Exceptional for the type. 1,000

612.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of calf to right within incuse square. Bodenstedt 56; Traité II 2 pl. 159, 40; SNG von Aulock 7727. 2.52g, 10mm, 9h.About Extremely Fine. Rare. 750

613.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Wreathed head of Persephone right / Bull butting left within linear square. Bodenstedt 88; SNG von Aulock 7737; HGC 6, 1014. 2.52g, 11mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

614.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Head of Dionysos right, wearing ivy-wreath / Mask of Silenos facing in thin square frame. Bodenstedt 90; Traité II 2, col. 2200, pl. 161, 1; BMC 77; SNG Copenhagen 324. 2.57g, 10mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 1,250

615.

617 618616Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Ivy-wreathed head of Dionysos right / Head of youthful Pan to right, small coiled serpent behind; all within linear square. Bodenstedt 93. 2.53g, 10mm, 3h.Near Very Fine. Very Rare. 200

616.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Lyre within linear square. Bodenstedt 94; Boston MFA 1741. 2.56g, 10mm, 1h.Good Very Fine. 300

617.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Head of Kabeiros right, wearing pileos; two stars flanking / Head of Persephone right within linear square. Bodenstedt 99; SNG Von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen 321. 2.54g, 10mm, 6h.Good Extremely Fine. 750

618.

614613

3x

3x

144

620 621619


Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of Artemis right, hair in sakkos, small coiled serpent behind; all within linear frame. Bodenstedt 100; SNG Von Aulock 1714; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.54g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 300

619. Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, small coiled serpent behind / Head of Artemis right, hair in sakkos; all within linear frame. Bodenstedt 100B; Boston MFA 1718; SNG von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.53g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 300

620.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 377-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of Artemis right, hair in sakkos, small coiled serpent behind; all within linear frame. Bodenstedt 100B; SNG Von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.53g, 10mm, 6h.About Very Fine. 200

621.

MYSIA

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Ram’s head to left, tunny fish above / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 19, pl. I, 20; SNG von Aulock -; SNG France -. 1.36g, 18mm.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 300

622.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Sphinx, with ornamental tendril on her head and with her right fore-paw raised, standing left on tunny fish / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 26; SNG France 5, 201-202. 2.64g, 10mm.


623.

625624Mysia, Kyzikos Hemihekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Winged male left, holding tunny fish in each hand / Quadripartite incuse punch. Von Fritze 27. 1.34g, 8mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 750

624.

Mysia, Kyzikos Hemihekte. Circa 600-550 BC. Winged male left, holding tunny fish in each hand / Quadripartite incuse punch. Von Fritze 27. 1.35g, 8mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 750

625.

Mysia, Kyzikos AR Hemiobol. Circa 600-550 BC. Tunny head left, [tunny fish below] / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. SNG France 357-9; Klein 262; SNG von Aulock 7325. 0.40g, 8mm.

Extremely Fine. 100

626.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Winged tunny fish flying left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 33 (stater and hemihekte only); cf. Boston 1405 (stater); Gemini V, 6 January 2009, 598. 2.68g, 10mm.


627.

Beautiful Sphinx Hekte

Extremely Rare ‘Flying Fish’

145


Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Winged tunny fish flying left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 33; cf. Boston 1405 (stater); Greenwell 160. 1.36g, 8mm.


628.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Crab; above, head of tunny right / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 37; SNG France 176-7; Jameson 2160 = Weber 4966. 1.34g, 8mm.

Very Fine. 400

629.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of roaring lion to right, tunny fish swimming upward behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 38; SNG France -; Boston MFA. 2.61g, 11mm.

Very Fine. Of the highest rarity. 2,000


This extraordinarily rare type bears an interesting and striking resemblance to the roughly contemporary issues at Mytilene (see lots 601-603).

630.

Exceptionally Rare Kyzikos Hekte

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of lioness left, with collar of pearls, tunny fish swimming upward behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 39; SNG France 178. 2.65g, 11mm.

Good Extremely Fine, highly lustrous. Very Rare. 1,500

631.3x

633 634632

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of ibex left, tunny upward behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 49; SNG France 187; cf. SNG von Aulock 1174 (hekte). 1.33g, 7mm.Slightly off-centred, Good Very Fine. Rare. 200

632.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Dolphin left; tunny fish to left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 53; Greenwell 157; SNG von Aulock -; SNG France -; BMC 11-2; Boston MFA -; Jameson -. 1.36g, 8mm.Very Fine. A very rare type only known as hektes and hemihektes, of which two denominations the hemihekte is more difficult to find. 750

633.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Chimaera to left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 55. 1.38g, 8mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 500

634.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of griffin to left, tunny fish on either side / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 57; Rosen 440. 2.68g, 10mm.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare. 300

635.

147

Mysia, Kyzikos EL 1/12 Stater (Hemihekte). Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of Pegasos left; tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse. Cf. Von Fritze 59 (hekte); Bodenstedt 4 (Phokaia). 1.38g, 8mm.Very Fine. Rare. 200

636.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 520-500 BC. Helmeted head of Athena left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 63. 2.71g, 11mm.Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 2,000

637.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 64, pl. II, 17; SNG BN -; Boston 1432 (same obv. die). 16.12g, 20mm.Very Fine. Very Rare.Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 358 (sold for £2,400 but not paid). 1,500

638.

One of Very Few Known

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of youthful Perseus to left wearing winged cap; tunny fish downwards behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 65; SNG France 193. 16.16g, 21mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one of very few known examples. 20,000

Kyzikos, purportedly the first Milesian colony, was located on the southwest shore of the Propontis in ancient Mysia next to the river Aisepos. Its prosperity was due principally to its two fine harbours, which made the city a convenient stopping point for merchant ships trading between the Aegean and Black Seas. Its principal export was the tunny, of which its waters had abundant stock.

The prevalence of winged beings in Kyzikene coinage is a reflection of archaic mythological convention that assigned wings to virtually all divine or sacred entities as an immediately visible and understandable symbol of their nature, and in the case of gods, of their power to move at will across great distances. In the case of the winged animals, we should probably understand these to be attributes of or animals sacred to a particular Olympian god.

On the present coin we see Perseus, the child of Zeus and the mortal Danaë, the daughter of the king of Argos, who though he had no mythical connection to Kyzikos, is most likely chosen as the type in recognition of his divine status and widespread worship among the Hellenes. He wears here the Ἄϊδος κυνέην - the so-called Helm of Hades which rendered its user invisible to other supernatural entities, given to him by Athena to help him evade the gorgons Sthenno and Euryale after he had slain and decapitated their sister Medusa.

639.

641640Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Bearded archaic head of Zeus to left, tunny fish to left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Von Fritze I 66 (stater); SNG BN -; BMFA -; Hurter & Liewald -. Rosen 447 (same dies). 2.66g, 11mm.Extremely Rare. A charming and artistically meritorious type. 2,000

640.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet, tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 67; SNG France -. 2.67g, 11mm.Near Extremely Fine. A beautiful example of this desirable type. 750

641.

148

The Flower-Girl of Kyzikos

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Half-length bust of a winged female deity or spirit to left, wearing kekryphalos headdress, round earring and long-sleeved chiton, in her right hand holding a tunny fish by the tail, and raising a flower to her chin; bust truncation indicated by dotted line between parallel lines / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 75; SNG France 205; Boston MFA 1448 = Warren 1519. 16.15g, 19mm.

About Extremely Fine, struck on a very broad flan. Very Rare, among the finest known specimens of the type. 20,000


The winged figure on this coin of Kyzikos is most frequently simply described as a winged female, though on occasion numismatists have ventured to suggest that the depiction is that of a harpy, one of the mythical ‘snatchers’ who were sent by the gods to torment Phineos, the blind seer-king of Thrace, for his transgressions.

Though in the Homeric poems the harpies are nothing more than the personifications of storm winds, Hesiod (c. 750-650 BC) described them as the daughters of Thaumas by the Oceanid Electra; fair-haired and winged maidens, who surpassed the winds and birds in the rapidity of their flight. Archaic pottery depicts them thus, in a manner that closely resembles the winged figures on the coins of Kaunos in Karia - see in particular Wagner Museum L164 – black figure clay vase.

Later tradition portrayed the harpies as hideous half-woman, half-bird creatures - a development resulting from a confusion of harpies with sirens. By the time of Aeschylus (c. 525-455 BC), this transformation was largely complete, though the harpy’s ‘beautiful’ image is still occasionally seen as late as 480 BC - see the J. Paul Getty Museum hydria/kalpis by Kleophrades, on which the harpies are rendered as young winged girls.

The identification of the figure on this stater as a harpy is therefore plausible, though other identifications are also possible. Iris, goddess of the rainbow, was depicted as a winged woman with a herald’s staff, as likewise was Nike, though the latter usually carried a wreath or palm. However, none of these beings was associated with flowers, which above all were an attribute of Aphrodite.

Regardless of her identity, the winged deity on this coin is rendered in exquisite detail, from her ornamented cap to her expressive face and crinkly chiton. The same treatment of the chiton can be observed in major art of the archaic period, for example in the east frieze of the Siphnian treasury at Delphi.

642.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Upper body of winged woman (harpy?) to left, holding tunny fish in right hand, and flower to her face with left hand / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 75, pl. II, 30; SNG von Aulock 7280; SNG France 206. 2.58g, 11mm.

Extremely Fine. 750

643.

149

A Remarkable Archaic Portrait of Poseidon

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Bearded head of Poseidon to left, wearing a helmet in the form of the head of a sea monster; below, tunny fish to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Fritze -; cf. Hurter & Liewald, SNR 81 (2002), p. 28, no. 17; SNG Aulock 7291. 2.63g, 11mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 7,500

The male head on this coin has been variously identified as a nameless hero, Perseus wearing a griffin skin helmet, or Herakles wearing a lion skin. Other specimens of the type have revealed that the helmet in fact bears a fin-like crest and pointed ears (which on the present coin are off the flan). It therefore seems that the headdress is actually in the form of a ketos, one of the familiar sea monsters of Greek myth which is most frequently seen on Sicilian coinage, in particular that of Katane and Syracuse.

Given that the bearded head is less likely to represent Perseus (who appears beardless, as on von Fritze 65 (see lot 639), it could well be Herakles, who killed a Ketos in the course of rescuing the Trojan princess Hesione, daughter of Laomedon and sister of Priam. According to some versions of the myth, Herakles was swallowed whole by the monster, and slew it by hacking at its innards for three days until it died, by which time he had lost all his hair. Perhaps during the course of this contest, Herakles temporarily misplaced his trademark lion skin headdress, and resorted to covering his baldness with a nice ketos skin hat.

We must bear in mind however that Kyzikene electrum is more frequently influenced by religion (and, it has been supposed, by cult images in particular) than by myth, and so we must look elsewhere for a positive identification - given the marine monster, Poseidon is a prime candidate. Although the god is more frequently encountered with a trident attribute to facilitate identification, a Ketos headdress attribute is also appropriate.

F. Catalli (Monete Etrusche, Roma 1990, p. 90) included in his work an image of the remarkable Volterra kelebe which depicts a very similar god head wearing a ketos, which though formally identified as Hades, must in fact be Poseidon due to the presence on the one side of a marine monster, and on the other of a bridled horse – both symbols of the God of the Sea. This identification is confirmed by coins of the Etruscans – see Vecchi, Etruscan Coinage I, part 1 pp. 319-321, nos. 2-4 – on these coins we find an identical head identified as Nethuns (Neptune-Poseidon), paired with a reverse showing a hippocamp and border of waves.

644.

Mysia, Kyzikos AR Hemiobol. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of tunny fish to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze II 3; SNG France –; SNG von Aulock 7323. 0.47g, 7mm.Very Fine. 100

645.

647646

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte (1/12 Stater). Circa 500-450 BC. Forepart of galley with wolf’s head prow left, beneath, tunny fish left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 80; Hurter-Liewald, p. 33, 80, pl. 6 (staters). 1.34g, 8mm.Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 750

647.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Triton(?) to left, holding head of tunny; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 78; Greenwell -; SNG France 209; SNG Copenhagen -; Boston MFA -; SNG von Aulock -. 1.38g, 8mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 750

646.

150

Lustrous Kyzikene Hound

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Dog standing left, fore-paw raised; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 93, pl. III, 12; Boston 1469; SNG von Aulock 1192; SNG France 230. 16.30g, 21mm.

Extremely Fine, lustrous metal. Rare. 7,500

648.

Among the Finest Known Examples

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Bearded facing head of Silenos, tunny fish swimming upwards on either side / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 77; SNG France 208; SNG von Aulock 7269; Rosen Coll. 455. 2.67g, 11mm.

Good Extremely Fine; exceptionally complete for the type, well centred and among the finest known examples. Very Rare. 4,000

650.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Dog standing left, fore-paw raised; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 93; SNG France 231. 2.67g, 11mm.

Very Fine. 750

649.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Forepart of winged lioness left; tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 96; SNG France 237; Boston –. 16.28g, 21mm.


651.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Forepart of winged lioness left; tunny fish upward behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 96; SNG France 237 (stater); SNG von Aulock 1179. 2.74g, 10mm.

Extremely Rare. Good Very Fine. 1,500

652.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Forepart of winged stag left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 102; Boston 1434; Jameson 2181; SNG von Aulock 7281; Greenwell -; SNG France -; BMC -. 16.21g, 19mm.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous surfaces, extremely well preserved for the issue. Very Rare. 7,500

653.

151

A Marvellous Archaic Female Head

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Female head left, wearing circular earring and necklace, hair bound in kekryphalos or sphendone, tunny fish left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 106. 2.76g, 11mm.


654.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Nude youth kneeling left, holding tunny fish / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 112, pl. III, 31; Boston 1487; SNG France 253. 16.28g, 19mm.


655.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Gorgoneion with mouth open and tongue protruding, six serpents on top of head, another below each ear, tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 129. 2.66g, 12mm.


656.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Gorgoneion with mouth open and tongue protruding, six serpents on top of head, another below each ear, tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 129. 2.68g, 10mm.


657.

Two Exceptional Kyzikene Hemihektes

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Head of Attis facing right, wearing ornamented Phrygian cap, [tunny fish below] / Quadripartite incuse square. Boston 1523; W. Greenwell, ‘The Electrum Coinage of Kyzikos’, NC 1887, 56, pl. III, 5; cf. Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 142 (stater and hekte); SNG France 291 (stater and hekte). 1.35g, 8mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - possibly only the fourth known specimen. 3,000

Attis was of Phrygian origin and thus he is always represented in a Phrygian costume such as he wears here. He was the Phrygian god of vegetation and consort of the mother-goddess Cybele.

658.

659658

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 450-375 BC. Head of youthful Pan to right, wearing an ivy wreath and with a goat’s ear; below truncation, tunny fish to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 192 (stater only); SNG Paris 331(stater); Jameson 1418a (stater); Traité pl. CLXXIII, 30 (stater). 1.31g, 9mm.

Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished as a hemihekte. 3,000


659.

152

Mysia, Kyzikos AR Obol. Circa 450-400 BC. Forepart of boar to left, tunny fish behind / Head of roaring lion to left within incuse square. SNG France 361 ff. 0.88g, 10mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. A superb example. 500


660.

Mysia, Kyzikos AR Obol. Circa 450-400 BC. Forepart of boar to left, H on shoulder, tunny fish behind / Head of roaring lion to left within incuse square. BMC 117. 0.44g, 10mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 150

661.

Mysia, Kyzikos AR Hemiobol. Circa 450-400 BC. Forepart of boar to left, tunny fish behind / Head of roaring lion to left; star to upper left; all within incuse square. Von Fritze II 14; SNG France 375. 0.43g, 10mm, 12h.



662.

Ex Pozzi and von Aulock Collections

Mysia, Kyzikos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 3rd Century BC. Head left of Kore-Soteira, in sphendone and with hair wrapped in broad band, wearing button earring with conical pedant and beaded necklace / KY - ZI, Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding phiale in outstretched right hand, resting left on lyre at his side; to left, monogram over prow. SNG von Aulock 1225 (this coin); von Fritze 31. 13.24g, 23mm, 6h.

Dies somewhat worn, otherwise Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 4,000

Ex Hans von Aulock Collection;Ex Prof. S. Pozzi Collection;Ex LHS Numismatik 95, 2005, lot 653;Ex Hess-Leu 3, 1956, lot 304;Ex Ars Classica 17, 1934, lot 537;Ex Ars Classica 1, 1921, lot 2221.

Best known for its remarkable series of Electrum staters and fractions which began around the end of the sixth century BC and continued down to the time of Alexander the Great, Kyzikos in the early Hellenistic period also struck an extremely beautiful issue of tetradrachms, of which the present coin is a very well-pedigreed example. It is interesting to note that Kyzikos was the only city in this region minting larger silver denominations at this time.

663.

153

Exceptionally High Grade Lampsakos Stater

Mysia, Lampsakos EL Stater. Circa 480-450 BC. Forepart of Pegasos with curved wings to left, vine with bunches of grapes around / Quadripartite incuse square. A. Baldwin, Period I, pl. I, 11; BMC 9; Traité pl. 8, 2. 15.18g, 20mm.

Good Extremely Fine. In an exceptional state of preservation for the issue, being sharply struck from fresh dies on a broad flan, and having suffered remarkably little circulation compared to other examples of the type. A truly magnificent coin.

From the James Howard Collection. 15,000

Lampsakos was founded in around 654/3 BC by Phokaian colonists, and in the sixth century became a dependency of Lydia; when the Lampsakenes had captured Miltiades, the Athenian tyrant of the Chersonesos, they were forced by Kroisos to set him free. After the fall of the Lydian kingdom in 547, the city then fell under the dominion of Persia. Lampsakos joined the Ionian cities in revolt in 499, but was conquered by Daurises in 498 or 497, and thereafter remained under Persian control until it was given by Artaxerxes to the exiled Athenian general Themistokles as part of the governorship of the Magnesian district. Themistocles’ district also included the cities of Myos, and Magnesia itself, who along with Lampsakos paid him revenue of 50 talents per year, for ‘meat’, ‘bread’ and ‘wine’ respectively. At an uncertain date after the death of Themistocles in 459, Lampsakos joined the Delian League, and is recorded in the tribute lists from 453/2, paying a phoros of fifteen talents.

The dating of this issue has long proven to be difficult, with earlier scholars having attributed it to as far back as 525-500, though this has been shown to be unlikely, not least on account of the style being of a more dynamic and baroque nature than the rather static designs of the Archaic period. At the time Baldwin published her study of the electrum coinage of Lampsakos in 1914, she knew of just fourteen varieties encompassing approximately forty specimens of all of Lampsakene electrum. As for coins from the first period under which this coin falls, she knew of just thirteen specimens. Of course while additional specimens have appeared over the past century, this coin is still of exceptional rarity.

The style is much more refined than the earliest issues of the period, and while it is tempting to perceive the Pegasos motif as one symbolising freedom, and thus try to place this as a product of the Ionian revolt, the general modern consensus is that the issue should belong to the period of 480-450. This being the case, it should reasonably be viewed within the context of Themistokles’ control of the city – under his control, Lampsakos was required to pay tribute, for which purpose a substantial issue of coinage was necessary. The subsequent issue has the same types and is also of a highly refined engraving style, but shows the letter Ξ below the winged horse of the obverse, thus tying it to the Athenian Coinage Decree and the banning of the use of non-Athenian silver soon after 450.

664.

154

Mysia, Lampsakos EL Stater. Circa 480-450 BC. Forepart of Pegasos with curved wings to left, vine with bunches of grapes around / Quadripartite incuse square. A. Baldwin, Period I, pl. I, 11; BMC 9; Traité pl. 8, 2. 15.18g, 22mm.

Extremely Fine, struck on a very broad flan. A very impressive coin of great visual appeal. Rare. 15,000

665.

A Beautiful Example, Well Struck on a Broad Flan

Mysia, Lampsakos AR Diobol. Circa 480-450 BC. Forepart of Pegasos left, displaying both wings / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 180. 2.33g, 11mm.


666.

Mysia, Parion AR Hemidrachm. Circa 4th century BC. Gorgoneion / Bull standing left, head right; eight-pointed star and ΠA above, PI below. SNG Copenhagen 262. 2.38g, 13mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Rare with star above. 250

667.

Fine Style Gorgoneion

155

The Seleukos I Portrait Coinage of Philetairos

Mysia, Kingdom of Pergamon. Philetairos I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 270-265 BC. Diademed head of Seleukos I to right / Athena enthroned left, holding shield and spear; small bust of Athena to left before, ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ behind, crescent below. SNG France -; SC. 309.2; Newell 10; Ingvaldsen 2. 16.98g, 29mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Extremely rare variety. 2,500

Philetairos began his career serving under Antigonos Monophthalmos, but after the Battle of Ipsos in 301 BC where Antigonos was killed, he shifted his allegiance to Lysimachos, who entrusted him with command of the fortress of Pergamon, and a treasury of nine thousand talents of silver (234 metric tonnes). Philetairos served Lysimachos until 282 BC, when perhaps because of conflicts involving the court intrigues of Arsinoe, Lysimachos’ third wife, Philetairos deserted Lysimachos, offering himself and the important fortress of Pergamon, along with its treasury to Seleukos, who subsequently defeated and killed Lysimachos at the Battle of Korupedion in 281 BC. Seleukos himself was murdered by Ptolemy Keraunos, a brother of Arsinoe, a few months later at Lysimacheia.

After the death of Seleukos, though he and Pergamon remained nominally under Seleukid dominion, Philetairos had considerable autonomy and with the help of his considerable wealth was able to increase his power and influence beyond Pergamon. His first coinage was struck under the reign of Antiochos I, the son of Seleukos, and though it proclaims his loyalty to Seleukos, the presence of his name upon the reverse must have inevitably raised suspicions about his ambitions.

668.

Mysia, Kingdom of Pergamon. Eumenes I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 263-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena seated left, left elbow resting on shield, crowning ΦIΛETAIΡOY with wreath held in her extended right hand, spear diagonally in background, ivy leaf in outer left field, A in inner left field, bow in right field. SNG France 1612. 16.97g, 32mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, struck in high relief. 2,000

669.

Mysia, Kingdom of Pergamon. Eumenes I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 263-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena seated left, left elbow resting on shield, crowning ΦIΛETAIΡOY with wreath held in her extended right hand, spear diagonally in background, ivy leaf in outer left field, A in inner left field, bow in right field. SNG France 1612. 16.95g, 31mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine, struck in high relief. 1,500

670.

156

672671

Mysia, Kingdom of Pergamon. Eumenes I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 263-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena seated left, left elbow resting on shield, crowning ΦIΛETAIΡOY with wreath held in her extended right hand, spear diagonally in background, ivy leaf in outer left field, A in inner left field, bow in right field. SNG France 1612. 17.07g, 30mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. 1,500

671.

Mysia, Kingdom of Pergamon. Eumenes I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 263-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena seated left, resting elbow on small sphinx, holding shield and transverse spear; monogram on throne, ivy leaf to inner left, ΦIΛETAIΡOY and bow to right. SNG France 1606–9. 16.60g, 28mm, 12h.Very Fine. 1,500

672.

674673

Mysia, Kingdom of Pergamon. Eumenes I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 263-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena seated right, elbow resting on shield, crowning ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ with wreath held in her extended hand, spear diagonally in background, ivy leaf in outer left field, A in inner left field, bow in right field. SNG France 1612. 17.24g, 30mm, 12h.Very Fine. 500

673.

Mysia, King of Pergamon. Eumenes I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 263-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / ΦIΛETAIPOY, Athena enthroned left, right hand resting on shield set at her feet, left elbow resting on small sphinx seated right; transverse spear in background, ivy leaf above arm, A on throne, bow to right. Unpublished in the standard references, for general type cf. U. Westermark, Das Bildnis des Philetairos von Pergamon, 1961, group III, pls. 1-6. 17.08g, 29mm, 1h.Very Fine. Extremely rare variety. 500

674.

Mysia, King of Pergamon. Eumenes II AR Tetradrachm. Circa 241-197 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena seated to left, left elbow resting on shield, crowning ΦΙΛΕΤΑΙΡΟΥ with wreath; bow behind. SNG France -; BMC -; SNG Copenhagen -; Westermark -, cf. Group VII (V.CLIII-R.1). 16.67g, 37mm, 1h.

About Extremely Fine. Apparently unpublished in the standard references without monograms or controls. 2,000


Interestingly, this coin is overstruck on a tetradrachm of Antiochos IV 175-164 with seated Zeus reverse (cf. SC 1396-1397 dated 173/2-169/8 BC circa or SC 1398-1400 dated 168-164 BC); the following traces of the undertype are visible on the reverse: letters TH-E-O-Y on Athena’s shoulder; folders of Zeus’ himation on Athena’s face; and leg of Zeus’ throne on Athena’s right arm.

675.

Apparently Unpublished Type of Eumenes II

157

A Beautiful Hemihekte of Alyattes

Kingdom of Lydia EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Time of Alyattes – Kroisos. Sardes, circa 610-546 BC. Head of roaring lion right, sun on forehead (later style) / Incuse square punch. Weidauer group XVI, 90; Traité I 47; SNG Kayhan 101; Rosen 654; Elektron I 72. 1.18g, 8mm.

Extremely Fine. An excellent example of the type. 300

676.

Kingdom of Lydia EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Time of Alyattes – Kroisos. Sardes, circa 610-546 BC. Head of roaring lion right, sun on forehead (later style) / Incuse square punch. Weidauer group XVI, 90; Traité I 47; SNG Kayhan 101; Rosen 654; Elektron I 72. 1.13g, 7mm.

Very Fine. 200

677.

Kingdom of Lydia AV Stater. Time of Kroisos. Sardes, circa 560-546 BC. Light series. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left / Two incuse square punches of unequal size. Traité I 401-3; SNG Kayhan -; SNG von Aulock 2875; SNG München 8; Boston MFA 2073. 8.21g, 17mm.

Obv. weakly struck; Very Fine. 3,000

678.

Kingdom of Lydia AV Trite. Time of Kroisos. Sardes, circa 560-546 BC. Light series. Confronted foreparts of lion right, and bull left / Two incuse square punches of unequal size. Walburg Group II, 3 = BMC 36; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Kayhan -; Rosen -; Traité I 404 = de Luynes 2779; Boston MFA 2074. 2.66g, 10mm.

Very Fine. 2,000

679.

Excellent Double Siglos of Kroisos

Kingdom of Lydia AR Stater – Double Siglos. Time of Kroisos. Sardes, circa 560-546 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left / Two square punches of unequal size. Berk 20; Traité I 407; SNG Kayhan 1018; SNG von Aulock 2874; SNG Copenhagen 455. 10.37g, 18mm.

Good Very Fine. A well centred and detailed example. 2,000

680.

LYDIA

158

High Grade ‘Kroisos’ Stater

Kingdom of Lydia AV Stater. Time of Cyrus to Darios I. Sardes, circa 546-520 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion, with extended right foreleg, and bull / Two incuse square punches of unequal size. Carradice 8; Boston MFA 2073; SNG von Aulock 2875. 8.05g, 16mm.

Extremely Fine. Well centred on a broad flan. A superior example. 12,500

Ex Heritage 3019, 26 April 2012, lot 23146.

Kroisos is credited with issuing the first true gold coins with a standardised purity for general circulation. His kingdom represented the last bastion against Persian expansion westwards into Greek lands; encouraged by a prediction of the Delphic Oracle that if he attacked Persia he would destroy a great empire, Kroisos made his preparations for war with Cyrus the Great. The war resulted in defeat for Kroisos; his numerically superior army was smashed, and the capital Sardes was captured along with him and his family. The fate of Kroisos is uncertain; according to some accounts he was immolated on the orders of Cyrus, but in others he was spared by the Persian king who retained him as an advisor. Lydia itself became a satrapy of the Persian Empire, though it continued to mint coins in the traditional types, and indeed the legendary wealth of Kroisos was used by Cyrus to form the basis of a new Persian gold standard currency.

681.

Kings of Lydia AR Siglos (Half Stater). Time of Kroisos. Sardes, circa 560-546 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Double incuse square punch. Rosen 663; SNG Copenhagen 456; SNG von Aulock 2875. 1.71g, 12mm.

Small cut on rev., otherwise Good Very Fine; lustrous metal, unusual for the issue. 750

682.

Karia, uncertain mint AR Stater. Circa 500-480 BC. Forepart of roaring lion to left with protruding tongue, one paw extended to left below / Dipartite incuse square, parted diagonally. Cf. Newell, NC 1914 pl. 2, 14; Traité pl. 25, 19. 10.96g, 21mm.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch, 9 October 2006, lot 205.

683.

KARIA

159

Karia, uncertain mint AR Tetartemorion. Circa 500-450 BC. Scorpion / Incuse punch. Cf. SNG von Aulock 6664. 0.25g, 6mm.

Very Fine. 300

684.

Karia, uncertain mint AR Drachm. Circa 360-340 BC. Pseudo-Rhodian type. Head of Helios left within solar disk / Rose with bud to each side; M-E flanking. Ashton, Solar 26 (A13/P19); SNG Keckman –; Karl 796 (same dies); SNG von Aulock 2769; SNG Copenhagen 913. 3.05g, 15mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Rare. 500 While some of these “solar disk” drachms are attributable to Rhodes, the ME issues have long been recognized as being pseudo-Rhodian issues from a Karian mint. Originally attributed to Megiste, R. Ashton (The Coinage of Nisyros in Travaux Le Rider) persuasively argues against this assignment. Also occasionally attributed to Nisyros or Euthana, recent find evidence confuses the matter further, with finds in the region of Troas.

685.

Karia, Achaemenid Period AR Tetradrachm. Circa 341-334 BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow / Satrap on horseback right, thrusting spear; to left, bearded male head right. Konuk, Influences, Group 5 var. (head of Herakles); SNG Copenhagen (Persian Empire) 290-291 var. (same); Traité II 121 var. (same); CNG 72, 14 June 2006, 801. 14.66g, 23mm, 11h.

About Very Fine. Very Rare, and unpublished in the standard references with this symbol. 2,500

Struck in the last years before Alexander’s invasion of the Persian empire, the archer-horseman tetradrachms of Achaemenid Karia are one of the rarest and most enigmatic Persian coinages struck in Asia Minor. We are unfortunately aware neither of where nor why there were produced - no inscription is present to facilitate identification of the issuing authority, with only various symbols and letters present as control marks.

These control marks allowed Konuk to discern two distinct series: those with subsidiary symbols, and those without. Analysis of the Pixodarus Hoard has allowed the coinage to be dated from the decade beginning circa 350 BC. Additionally, since that hoard contained only the earlier, non-symbol, type, Meadows concluded that the date of deposit of the hoard (341 BC) should be seen as the earliest possible start of the second series, to which this coin belongs.

686.

The Enigmatic Achaemenid Karia Tetradrachms

Satraps of Karia. Pixodaros AV Diobol. Circa 340-334 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Zeus Labraundos standing to right, wearing a chiton and a himation, holding a double-headed axe and lotus-tipped sceptre; ΠIΞΩΔ to right. SNG Keckman -; SNG Copenhagen 595; BMC 3. 0.66g, 8mm, 12h.


687.

Satraps of Karia. Pixodaros AR Obol. Halikarnassos, 340-334 BC. Facing head of Apollo / Eight-rayed star, ΠIΞOΔAPO (retrograde) around. SNG Keckman 281. 0.79g, 9mm.

Porous; Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 250

688.

160

Islands off Karia, Kalymnos AR Didrachm. Circa 3rd-2nd centuries BC. Head of warrior to right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Kithara, KAΛYMNION below, all within pelleted square border. SNG Keckman 282; SNG Copenhagen 602; SNG München 489; SNG von Aulock 2741. 6.69g, 18mm, 6h.



689.

Karia, Kindya AR Tetrobol. Circa 510-480 BC. Samian standard. Head of ketos to right / Geometric pattern within incuse square. Kagan and Kritt, “The Coinage of Kindya,” NC 1995, 1 var. (head left); SNG Keckman 920 var. (same); SNG Kayhan 815; Asyut 688. 2.18g, 11mm.

Very Fine. 150

690.

Karia, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 411-404 BC. Forepart of lion to right, with open jaws and protruding tongue, right paw outstretched below / Head of Aphrodite to right, wearing a plain necklace, her hair bound in a sphendone ornamented with ivy leaves, A behind; all within incuse square. Cahn 93; De Luÿnes 2704 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 252; (same dies). 6.15g, 18mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned, and struck from dies of fine style. 2,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, lot 202.

691.

A Beautiful Portrait of Aphrodite

Karia, Knidos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 390-340 BC. Euripides, magistrate. Forepart of lion to right with protruding tongue, paw extended to right below / Head of Aphrodite to right, her hair bound in sphendone; anchor behind, ΕΥPIΠIΔA before. BMC -; SNG von Aulock 2603 var. (magistrate); SNG Keckmann 170 var. (same). 1.70g, 12mm, 1h.

Very Fine. Attractive old tone. Extremely Rare. 300

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Lanz 151, 30 June 2011, lot 495.

692.

Karia, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 350-330/20 BC. Rhodian standard. Autokrates, magistrate. Head of Aphrodite right, wearing stephane, earring and necklace / Forepart of lion to right, AYTOKPATHΣ before, KNI below. BMC 40; SNG Keckman 174; Karl -. 3.28g, 16mm, 12h.



693.

161

Karia, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 350-330/20 BC. Rhodian standard. Teleas, magistrate. Head of Aphrodite right, wearing stephane, earring and necklace, TE monogram behind / Forepart of lion to right, TEΛEAΣ before, KNI below. BMC 46; SNG Keckman 181; SNG Copenhagen 272. 3.13g, 14mm, 12h.


694.

696695

Karia, Mylasa EL 1/48 Stater. Mid 6th century BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Figural type. Facing lion’s head / Scorpion. Weidauer 166-7; Traité I ; SNG Kayhan 925-7; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I –. 0.28g, 5mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 300

695.

Karia, Mylasa EL 1/48 Stater. Mid 6th century BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Figural type. Facing lion’s head / Scorpion. Weidauer 166-7; Traité I ; SNG Kayhan 925-7; Boston MFA –; Rosen –; Elektron I –. 0.29g, 5mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 250

696.

Karia, Mylasa (?) EL Hemihekte – 1/12 Stater. Circa 600-575 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Facing forepart of lion / Incuse square punch. Unpublished in the standard references; for obv. Type cf. SNG Keckman 917 and SNG Kayhan 934-8. 1.12g, 6mm.

Near Very Fine. Apparently unpublished in the standard references. 200

697.

Karia, Mylasa (?) EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 600-550 Century BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Lion’s paw / Incuse square punch. Cf. Weidauer 168; SNG Kayhan -; Rosen 285. 0.56g, 7mm.


698.

Apparently Unpublished

Karia, Mylasa (?) EL 1/48 Stater. Circa 575-525 BC. Lydo-Milesian standard. Figural type. Lion’s paw / Scorpion. Weidauer 168; Traité I –; SNG Kayhan –; Boston MFA –; Rosen 302; Elektron I 39 (all uncertain). 0.30g, 5mm, 6h.

Mint State. 200

699.

Two Extremely Rare Kamiros Electrum

Islands off Karia, Rhodos. Kamiros EL 1/24 Stater. Circa 500-460 BC. Fig leaf / Irregular incuse punch. BMC 1; SNG Copenhagen 710; SNG Tubingen -. 0.66g, 7mm.

Extremely Fine, truly exceptional condition for the issue. Extremely Rare. 4,000

The early electrum fractions of Kamiros are in themselves very difficult to find, and are hardly ever seen in such superb state of preservation. This example, struck in unusually high gold-content electrum, possesses both beautiful colour and lustre.

701.

Karia, Mylasa AR Stater. Circa 500 BC. Forepart of a lion to left / Rough quadripartite incuse square. SNG Kayhan 929 (var., incert); Traité 915 pl. XXV 19 (Issos); SNG Keckman 64 (Kaunos). 11.03g, 20mm.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch, 5 March 2012, lot 233.

700.

699698

162

Islands off Karia, Rhodos. Rhodos AR Didrachm. Circa 250-229 BC. Mnasimachos, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose with bud to right; MNASIMAXOS above, P-O flanking stem; to left, Athena Nikephoros standing left. Ashton 208; SNG Keckman 537 (this obv. die); Karl 471 (this coin); SNG von Aulock 2807; SNG Copenhagen 765. 6.70g, 22mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Well centred and attractively toned. 1,000 Ex Erich Karl Collection;Ex Lanz 131, 27 November 2006, lot 471.

703.

Islands off Karia, Rhodos. Rhodos Æ18. Circa 100-25 BC. Radiate head of Helios to right / Rose, ΡΟΔΙΩΝ and palm branch around; all within pelleted border. SNG Copenhagen 876; BMC - . 4.77g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Fine – Very Fine. Very Rare. 150

704.

Dynasts of Lycia. Uncertain dynast AR Stater. Circa 490-430 BC. ‘Protodynastic’ period, Group B. Boar standing left on ground line / Tortoise in dotted square border within incuse square. SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 373; SNG von Aulock 4071. 9.16g, 18mm, 2h.Near Very Fine. 500

705.

Dynasts of Lycia. Uncertain dynast AR Stater. Circa 490-430 BC. ‘Protodynastic’ period, Group B. Boar standing right on ground line / Tortoise in dotted square border within incuse square. Falghera 48; SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 385-6; SNG von Aulock 4072. 9.27g, 18mm.Obverse die worn out, rev. Very Fine. 200

707.

Dynasts of Lycia. Uncertain dynast AR Stater. Circa 490-430 BC. ‘Protodynastic’ period, Group B. Boar standing right on ground line / Tortoise in dotted square border within incuse square. Falghera 48; SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 385-6; SNG von Aulock 4072. 9.07g, 18mm, 6h.Good Fine. 300

706.

707706705

Dynasts of Lycia. Orou (Uvug) AR Obol. Circa 470-440 BC. Sphinx seated to left, one paw outstretched / Head of Apollo right, OFOV behind, all within incuse square. Babelon, Traité II/2, 316; Müseler/Nollé IV, 67; SNG von Aulock 4191; Rosen 718. 1.08g, 11mm, 6h.


708.

LYCIA

Islands off Karia, Rhodos. Kamiros AR Trihemiobol. Circa 500-460 BC. Fig leaf / Square incuse punch. Cf. SNG Copenhagen 714-5 (hemiobol); SNG Keckman 320-1. 1.48g, 12mm.

Extremely Fine. Struck on a very broad flan for the type and unusually well preserved. Extremely Rare. 500

702.

Extremely Rare Kamiros Trihemiobol

163

Only Example in Private Hands

Dynasts of Lycia. Teththiveibi AR Stater. Circa 440-430 BC. Head of a goddess, perhaps Aphrodite, to left, wearing pearl necklace and spiral earring, her hair tied with bands and bound up at the back / Owl standing to left, head facing , TETHTHIVEIBI around. SNG von Aulock -; BMC -; Traité -; SNG Copenhagen -; Kraay, ACGC 208 = Mørkolm-Zahle, Acta Archeologica 47, 1976, p. 54, 8, pl. 1, C = Robinson NC 1936, p. 194, no. 43 (correction: 9.65g not 11.59g). 9.58g, 20mm, 11h.

Slight mark on obv., otherwise Good Very Fine. Of the highest rarity – one of only two known specimens, and the only one in private hands. 5,000


This remarkable coin is obverse die linked to the regular tetraskeles staters of Teththiveibi, though was clearly struck in far reduced numbers than that type. Its production coincided with an issue of coinage at Teos which also accurately reproduced the Athenian owl as an adjunct symbol on its obverse; these issues flooded the eastern markets and have been found as far afield as Rhegion and Messana, where they were overstruck with local types. H. Mattingly (A New Light on the Early Silver Coinage of Teos) convincingly argued that ‘standardised’ owls became known in the east only after 449 BC, and given that it would have taken some considerable time for them to become familiar enough to invite imitation, the copying at Teos and in Lycia should be dated to after 440 BC. The type was continued and strongly favoured by Kheriga in his ‘Aphrodite’ series, circa 440-410 BC.

709.

Lycia, Phaselis AR Stater. Circa 530-500 BC. Prow of galley in the form of a boar’s forepart to right; small dolphin swimming to right below ram / Rough incuse punch. Heipp-Tamer Series III, Em. 1a; SNG Copenhagen -; Traité I 842; Asyut 732-735; SNG von Aulock 4391. 10.88g, 19mm.

Extremely Fine, and exceptionally well preserved and complete for the issue. 2,000

Phaselis was founded in 691/0 BC by settlers from Lindos on Rhodes - the same year in which Rhodian colonists founded the city of Gela on Sicily. As a Dorian city, and indeed the only purely Greek city in Lycia, Phaselis differed in language and culture from all of its surrounding neighbours. Little is known of its early history, though it appears to have existed peacefully; after the Persian defeat at Plataea however, the city was forced to join the Delian League in around 469 BC, at which point the city was fortified with circuit walls.

Phaselis began striking coinage in around 550 BC on the Lydo-Milesian standard; its silver coins are among the earliest struck in Asia Minor, beginning a few decades after the introduction of coinage in Lydia.

710.

Exceptional Stater of Phaselis

164

Lycia, Phaselis AR Stater. Circa 250-220 BC. Akousiad…, magistrate. Prow of galley to right with fighting platform on deck, apotropaic akrostolion bent backwards, oar box, central beam ending in upper ram, below which triangular box ending in proembolon; waves below / ΦΑΣ - ΑΚΟΥΣΙΑΔ, aphlaston of a galley to right. Cf. for general type: Heipp-Tamer, Die Münzpragung der lykischen Stadt Phaselis in greichischer Zeit, Saarbrücker 1993, 83-159. This magistrate’s name is also unrecorded by Leschhorn in LAGM. 9.86g, 21mm, 3h.

About Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished for this magistrate. 2,000

711.

Lycia, Phaselis Æ11. Circa 250-220 BC. Prow of galley to right / Stern of galley to right, ΦAΣ above. Heipp-Tamer B2; SNG Copenhagen 122. 1.74g, 11mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Very Rare. 150

712.

Lycian League, Kragos Æ17. Circa 23-18 BC. Bust of Artemis with quiver right / Quiver between K and P. RPC 3324; Troxell 205. 3.13g, 17mm, 12h.


713.

Pamphylia, Aspendos AR Stater. Circa 380-325 BC. Two wrestlers grappling; KI between / Slinger in throwing stance right, counter-clockwise triskeles to right, EΣTFEΔIIYΣ to left; all within pelleted square border. Tekin Series 4; SNG France 104. 11.02g, 24mm, 12h.

Some flatness; Good Very Fine. 500


714.

Pamphylia, Perge AR Hemidrachm. Circa 150 BC. Head of Artemis to right, quiver over shoulder / APTEMIΔOΣ ΠEPΓAIA, Artemis standing left, holding wreath and sceptre, deer at her feet, looking up; A in right field. BMC 3; SNG France 334 (same dies); Seyrig in RN 1963 p. 50, 40. 1.97g, 12mm, 12h.


715.

Pamphylia, Side AR Tetradrachm. Circa 145-125 BC. Kleuch–, magistrate. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike advancing left, holding wreath and palm frond; pomegranate to left, KΛE–VX across field. Seyrig, Side 18; SNG France 697; SNG von Aulock 4797. 16.46g, 30mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 300

716.

PAMPHYLIA

165

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Datames, Satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Circa 375 BC. Baaltars seated right, torso facing, cradling eagle-tipped sceptre in right arm, holding grain ear and grape bunch in extended left hand; B’LTRZ in Aramaic to left, thymiaterion to right; below throne, dog seated to left; all within crenelated wall / Satrap, wearing Persian dress, seated right, inspecting arrow held in both hands; TRDMW in Aramaic to left, winged solar disk to upper right, bow to lower right. Casabonne series 2; Moysey issue 6; SNG France 283. 9.98g, 23mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. 750

Ex Hirsch 237, 24 November 2004, lot 401.

718.

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Datames, Satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Circa 370 BC. Baaltars seated right, head and torso facing, holding eagle-tipped sceptre, grain ear, and grape bunch; thymiaterion to right; all within crenelated wall / Ana, standing right, facing Datames, standing left; thymiaterion between; all within dotted square border within linear border surmounted by three arches. Casabonne series 3; Moysey issue 5; SNG France 290; SNG Levante 83. 10.73g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, an exceptional example of the type. 1,500

719.

CILICIA

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Tarkumuwa (Datames), satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Circa 370 BC. Baaltars seated right, head and torso facing, holding eagle-tipped sceptre, grain ear, and grape bunch; thymiaterion to right; all within crenelated wall / Ana, standing right, facing Datames, standing left; thymiaterion between; all within dotted square border within linear border surmounted by three arches. Casabonne series 3; Moysey issue 5; SNG France 290; SNG Levante 83. 10.20g, 23mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 500

720.

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Pharnabazos, Persian military commander. Circa 380-379 BC. Baaltars seated left, holding lotus tipped sceptre in extended right hand; B’LTRZ in Aramaic to right / Bearded male head (Ares?) left, wearing crested Attic helmet; FRNBZW in Aramaic to left, HLK in Aramaic to right. Casabonne series 4; Moysey Issue 2, 1-27; SNG France 251; SNG Levante 72; SNG von Aulock 5927; SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 609. 10.88g, 24mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasing, light grey tone. 1,500

In the wake of a protracted war against Sparta, Persian power was weakened, causing Egypt to revolt and declare its independence from Persian rule. An initial force sent to crush the upstart Egyptians was defeated by Greek mercenaries hired by the Egyptian Pharaoh. Pharnabazos was then appointed commander of the second campaign to reconquer Egypt, and caused these coins to be struck in order to pay the Greek mercenaries he hired to counter those of the Egyptians.

717.

166

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Circa 361-334 BC. Baaltars seated left, holding eagle, ear of corn and bunch of grapes in right hand, lotus-headed sceptre in left, Aramaic legend ‘BLTRZ’ = Baaltars, to right, Aramaic letters on left and below seat / Lion attacking a bull to left, Aramaic legend above ‘MZDI’ = Mazaios; monogram below. SNG Levante 106 (these dies). 10.65g, 23mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Well detailed and struck on a broad flan. 1,500

721.

Cilicia, Tarsos AR Stater. Balakros, satrap of Cilicia under Alexander III. Circa 333-323 BC. Facing bust of Athena, draped, wearing triple-crested helmet and necklace / Baaltars seated left, holding lotus-tipped sceptre, grain ear and grape bunch to left, B above ivy leaf to right, T under throne. SNG Levante Suppl. 21; SNG France 368; SNG von Aulock 5964. 10.63g, 25mm, 11h.

About Extremely Fine. 1,500

722.

Cilicia, Kibyra Minor Æ16. Circa 2nd to 1st Century BC. Jugate heads of the Dioskouroi right / Nike standing left, crowning trophy and holding taenia, KIBYPAT in exergue; countermark: male head right. SNG Levante 385 = SNG von Aulock 5654. 3.02g, 16mm, 12h.


Interestingly, the Levante/Aulock specimen bears the same countermark in almost precisely the same location, though being slightly further off the flan it is marginally less complete than on this example.

723.

Cilicia, Mallos AR Stater. Tiribazos, Satrap. Circa 390-386 BC. Head of Aphrodite to right / Male head right, wearing satrapal headdress. SNG France 394; Franke-Hirmer 666; SNG Levante 150-151. 9.72g, 21mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 750

724.

Cilicia, Nagidos AR Stater. Circa 400-385/4 BC. Aphrodite seated left, holding phiale over altar to left; to right, Eros standing left, crowning her with wreath / Dionysos standing left, holding grape bunch on vine and thyrsos. Casabonne type 4; Lederer 25 (same dies); SNG France –; SNG Levante –; BMC 12 (same dies). 10.73g, 23mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasant, light tone. 500

725.

167

Mint State Nagidos

Cilicia, Nagidos AR Stater. Circa 375-365 BC. Aphrodite enthroned to left, holding a phiale; Eros stands at her side, with wings displayed / Dionysos standing to half-left, wearing a himation, holding a vine-branch with grapes in his right hand and a thyrsos in his left, NAΓIΔEΩN around, Π in exergue. SNG France 25 (these dies); P. Lederer, ‘Die Staterprägung der Stadt Nagidos’, ZfN XLI, 1931, 23; BMC 11, pl. XIX, 10; SNG von Aulock 5754 var. 10.61g, 22mm, 8h.Mint State. Sound, beautiful metal and superb for the type. 4,000Ex Prospero Collection, The New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012, lot 591;Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1990.

726.

BITHYNIA

Bithynia, Kios AR Hemidrachm. Circa 345-315 BC. Miletos, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / Prow of galley left, ornamented with a star; MIΛH-TOΣ above and below. SNG Copenhagen 370; Dewing 2145; HGC 7, 553. 2.53g, 14mm, 1h.Good Extremely Fine. 300From the Gutekunst Collection.

727.

Kingdom of Bithynia. Prusias I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 238-183 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ to left; thunderbolt above two monograms to inner left. BMC Pontus pg. 209, 1-2 var. (monograms); Waddington pl. XXIX. 16.80g, 32mm, 12h.Good Extremely Fine. Excellent style, struck in high relief. 3,000

728.

Fine Style Portrait of Prusias I

Kingdom of Bithynia. Prusias I AR Tetradrachm. Circa 238-183 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus standing left, holding wreath in right hand, lotus tipped sceptre in left; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ to left; thunderbolt above two monograms to inner left. Waddington 9b; Jameson 1387; SNG von Aulock 6878. 17.01g, 34mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. Pleasant old tone. 3,000From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 59, 4 April 2011, lot 603.

729.

168

Ex Knoepke, Lockett, Bement and Sevastopoulos Collections

Kingdom of Bithynia. Prusias II AR Tetradrachm. Circa 183-149 BC. Diademed head to right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΡΟΥΣΙΟΥ Zeus, naked but for himation round waist, standing to left, holding vertical sceptre and crowning the king’s name; eagle standing to left on thunderbolt in inner left field, ΜΕ (ligate) below. Cf. Gulbenkian Coll. 956; De Hirsch Coll. 1437-8; SNG von Aulock 253; SNG Lockett 2682 (this coin). 16.92g, 35mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone. 2,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex O. H. Knoepke Collection, Glendining-Baldwins, December 10 1986, lot 248;Ex R.C. Lockett Collection, Glendining & Co, February 21 1961, lot 2162;Ex Clarence S. Bement Collection, Naville VI, 28 January 1924, lot 1360;Ex Sevastopoulos (Athens) Collection.

730.

Kingdom of Bithynia. Prusias II Æ21. Circa 182-149 BC. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Centaur walking right, playing lyre. Waddington, RG pg. 225, 26; BMC Pontus pg. 211, 15; SNG von Aulock 255. 5.72g, 21mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Superb patina with earthen highlights. 150

731.

Kingdom of Bithynia. Nikomedes II Epiphanes AR Tetradrachm. Dated 159 BE = 140/39 BC. Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY, Zeus Stephanophoros standing left; to inner left, eagle standing left on thunderbolt above monogram and ΘNP monogram (date). RG 40; HGC 7, 642; DCA 443; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC –; de Luynes 2427 var. (date). 15.30g, 37mm, 12h.Good Very Fine; edge marks. Rare date. 1,000Ex Deyo Collection, Triton XV, 3 January 2012, lot 1197;Ex Spink America, 7 December 1995, lot 2080.

732.

Kingdom of Bithynia. Nikomedes IV Philopator AR Tetradrachm. Bithyno-Pontic year 214 = 85/84 BC. Diademed head of king right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKOMHΔOY, Zeus stephanophoros standing left, holding sceptre and crowning the kings name with wreath; eagle standing left on thunderbolt above monogram and date, monogram in exergue. De Callataÿ 1997, D228-229. 16.18g, 34mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. Rare. 1,000From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Leu 53, 1991, lot 97.

733.

169

Pisidia, Antioch Æ13. Circa 2nd century AD. Bust of Mên right wearing Phrygian cap, ANTIOCHA around / Zebu standing right, COL ANTIO H around. Cf. for general type: SNG France 1059 = Krzyzanowska Av.XII /Rv.13 (head left). 1.15g, 13mm, 12h.

Very Fine, apparently unique and unpublished. 200

734.

Pisidia, Termessos Æ26. Circa 2nd - 3rd Century AD Draped bust of Hermes to right, kerykeion over shoulder, T-EPMHC-CEΩN around / Athena standing left, TΩN MEIZONΩN, Athena standing left holding Nike and spear. BMC 31 var.; SNG France 2174 var. 11.93g, 26mm, 12h.


An interesting example of a punning allusion where a god’s name is included within the city’s ethnik.

735.

Phrygia, Apameia Æ24. Circa 100-50 BC. Attalos and Bianoros, magistrates. Bust of Athena right, wearing high-crested Corinthian helmet / Eagle alighting on base with maeander pattern, flanked by caps of the Dioskouroi; ATTAΛOY-BIANOPOΣ in two lines below. SNG Copenhagen 165-6; SNG München 112-3; SNG von Aulock 3468; BMC 54. 8.75g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 150

736.

Phrygia, Hierapolis Æ16. Autonomous Issue. Circa 2nd Century AD. Draped bust of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis / Nemesis standing left, holding bridle and drawing out drapery from breast. BMC Phrygia 13; SNG Copenhagen 418; SNG von Aulock 3620. 3.14g, 16mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Rare. A beautiful depiction of Athena. 150

737.

Phrygia, Hierapolis, in alliance with Ephesos Æ24. Time of Philip I, AD 244-249. Radiate and draped bust of Apollo Lairbenos right, ΛAIP-BHNOΣ around / IEPAΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΚAI ΕΦECIΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ OMONOIA around clasped hands. Franke & Nollé 721; BMC Phrygia 179; SNG von Aulock 3662. 6.04g, 24mm, 3h.


738.

Hierapolis, in Alliance with Ephesos

PISIDIA

PHRYGIA

170

Phrygia, Kotiaion Æ23. AD 253-268. ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΟΤΙΑΕΩΝ, diademed head of Demos right / ΕΠΙ ΔΙΟΓΕΝΟΥ ΔΙΟΝΥΣΙΟΥ ΑΡΧ ΚΟΤΙΑΕΩΝ, Zeus seated left holding eagle and sceptre. SNG von Aulock 3776; SNG Copenhagen 317. 7.42g, 23mm, 12h.


739.

Paphlagonia, Sinope AR Drachm. Circa 330-300 BC. Ikesio… magistrate. Head of the nymph Sinope to left, her hair in a sakkos, wearing a triple pendant earring and a pearl necklace, aphlaston before / Sea eagle standing left on dolhpin, ΣΙΝΩ below; IKE... below eagle’s wings. SNG Stancomb 774; SNG BM Black Sea 1487. 6.11g, 20mm, 6h.


740.

PAPHLAGONIA

Paphlagonia, Sinope AR Drachm. Circa 330-300 BC. Kallia..., magistrate. Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos / Sea-eagle standing left on dolphin, SINΩ below; KAΛΛ[IA] below eagle’s wings. RG 34; SNG BM Black Sea 1488; SNG Copenhagen –; HGC 7, 391. 5.99g, 19mm, 6h.

Mint State. 300

741.

Paphlagonia, Sinope AR Drachm. Circa 330-300 BC. Form..., magistrate. Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos / Sea eagle standing left on dolphin, SINΩ below; ΦOPM below eagle’s wings. RG 33 var. (unlisted magistrate) and 34 var. (same magistrate, but no aphlaston); SNG BM Black Sea 1489 var. (same magistrate, but no aphlaston); SNG Stancomb –; HGC 7, 391 var. (unlisted magistrate) and 399 var. (same magistrate, but no aphlaston). 6.12g, 19mm, 6h.


742.

Kings of Cappadocia. Ariarathes I AR Drachm. Sinope, circa 333-322 BC. Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; aplustre before, MO behind / Sea-eagle standing left, wings spread, on dolphin left; Ariarathes in Aramaic below. Simonetta p. 15; SNG Copenhagen (Paphlagonia) 290; SNG BM Black Sea 1459 = BMC Pontus p. 96, 9; RG p. 199, 36. 5.43g, 18mm, 9h.


Ariarathes was the son of the Cappadocian satrap Ariamnes I and a devoted supporter of the Persian king Darius III. Although Alexander the Great conquered Cappadocia during his campaign against Persia, and installed a governor there, by the time of Alexander’s death Ariarathes somehow had re-assumed power as the first king of Cappadocians, and even expanded the kingdom beyond its original borders. After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, Perdikkas appointed Eumenes as governor of Cappadocia, and when Ariarathes refused to submit, Perdikkas and Eumenes made war upon him. Ariarathes was defeated, taken prisoner, and crucified, together with many of his relations in 322 BC. Only a few years later, Perdikkas was murdered by his officers and Eumenes betrayed to his death; in this turmoil, the nephew and adopted son of Ariarathes (also named Ariarathes) was able to reclaim the kingdom, and left it to a line of successors who mostly bore the name of the founder of the dynasty.

743.

Ariarathes, First King of CappadociaCAPPADOCIA

172

Kingdom of Pontos. Pharnakes I AR Drachm. Circa 200-169 BC. Diademed and bearded head of Pharnakes right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦAPNAKOY, male figure, wearing petasos, standing facing, cradling cornucopiae and kerykeion in his left arm, and holding vine branch in his right hand; star-in-crescent (Pontic royal symbol) to upper left; to lower left, deer standing right, feeding on vine; monogram to right. De Callataÿ, First, dies O5/R1; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 2 (same obv. die); Boston MFA 1353 = Pozzi 2090 (same dies); SNG BM 1026 (same rev. die); Jameson 2152 (same obv. die); Hirsch 1413 (same obv. die); SNG Berry 890 (same obv. die). 3.30g, 20mm, 12h.

As seen, flan ‘mucked about’ with in antiquity. Extremely Rare. 750

From the David Freedman Collection;Privately purchased from Edward J. Waddell, July 2007.

A violent and arrogant king, Pharnakes in 183 BC succeeded in reducing the city of Sinope, which had long been an object of ambition to the kings of Pontos. Pharnakes is also remembered for bringing war in 181 to Eumenes II of Pergamon and Ariarathes IV of Cappadocia. Despite a brief respite when representatives of the Roman Republic arrived to mediate the conflict, the fighting continued until Pharnakes realised in 179 that he had bitten off more than he could chew. Unable to defeat the combined forces of Eumenes and Ariarathes, Pharnakes was compelled to sue for peace and give up his conquests in Galatia and Paphlagonia, with the exception of Sinope.

744.

PONTOS

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Mesembria, circa 120-63 BC. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; crested Corinthian helmet above ΔΑ in left field, monogram below throne. De Callataÿ Group 2; Price 1062; Karayotov 52. 16.61g, 32mm, 11h.


745.

One of Only Eleven Known Drachms

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Drachm. May-August 95 BC. Diademed head of Mithradates to right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ EYΠATOPOΣ above and below Stag feeding to left; star within crescent to left, date and monogram in exergue; all within ivy wreath. De Callataÿ D2/R1e; SNG von Aulock 6684. 4.14g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Rare; this is one of only eleven known examples, of which five are in museums. 5,000


This coin was struck in a pivotal year for the coinage of Mithradates Eupator. Beginning in the eighth month of the Bithynian-Pontic year 202 (May 95 BC), Mithradates began placing dates in the reverse field on his precious metal coinage. The tetradrachms include both the year and the Greek numeral for the month, while the drachms have only the year. It appears that each year a different magistrate was responsible for the coinage, and all coins for 95 are signed by a certain Theophanes(?) whose monogram appears alongside the date. Months represented on the tetradrachms are May through November, coincidentally but perhaps not unintentionally the duration of a campaign season. Although Mithradates did not strike any dated gold in 95 BC, the reverse of the drachms copies that of the staters by depicting a stag instead of the Pegasos as found on his tetradrachms.

746.

Extremely Rare Drachm of Pharnakes I

173

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. April, 92 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date and monogram to right, month below. De Callataÿ D29/R2a. 16.86g, 31mm, 12h.

Scrape on obverse, otherwise Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 1,000

747.

Superb Pre-War Tetradrachm of Mithradates

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. 90/89 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date and monogram to right, month below; all within ivy wreath. De Callataÿ D47/R5; SNG von Aulock 6678 (same dies). 16.77g, 30mm, 12h.


Privately purchased from Tradart;From a European collection, bought in 1977.

Struck in the year prior to Mithradates’ first war against Rome, this coin was part of an extensive issue struck to finance his preparations.

749.

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. May, 92 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date and monogram to right, month below. De Callataÿ D31/R4a. 16.78g, 31mm, 1h.


748.

174

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Circa 89-88 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date (year 209) and monogram to right. De Callataÿ D55/R31a. 16.89g, 34mm, 12h.


750.

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Circa 89/88 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date (year 209) and monogram to right. De Callataÿ D58/R42. 16.76g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 1,000

751.

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Circa 89/88 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date (year 209) and monogram to right. De Callataÿ D58/R42. 16.84g, 30mm, 12h.


752.

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Circa 89/88 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, date (year 209) and monogram to right. De Callataÿ D55/R31a. 17.03g, 29mm, 1h.


753.

175

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AV Stater. Time of the First Mithradatic War. In the name and types of Lysimachos. Byzantion, circa 88-86 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; BAΣΙΛEΩΣ to right, ΛYΣIMAXOY to left, monogram to inner left, BY on throne, ornamented trident in exergue. Cf. Müller 175; SNG Copenhagen 1086-1088; Cf. Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, 429 (same obverse die, but different reverse monogram and trident ornamentation). 8.55g, 20mm, 12h.

Near Mint State. 2,500

754.

Kingdom of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AV Stater. In the name of Lysimachos. Kallatis, circa 88-86 BC. Diademed head of deified Alexander right / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; HP monogram to inner left, ΚΑΛ on throne, ornamented trident in exergue. Müller 226. 8.39g, 19mm, 12h.


755.

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AV Stater. Pergamene year Γ (3 = 86 BC). Diademed head right / Stag grazing left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY / EYΠATOPOΣ in two lines below; to left, star-in-crescent and to right: Γ above monogram; monogram in exergue; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. De Callataÿ 1997, D8-9. 8.40g, 20mm, 12h.


756.

Very Rare Stater of Mithradates

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AV Stater. Pergamon, dated month 12, year 223 BE (September 74 BC). Diademed head right / Pegasos grazing left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ in two lines below; to left, star-in-crescent above ΓKΣ (year); two monograms to right, IB (month) in exergue; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. CNG 93, 22 May 2013, 339; otherwise unpublished, but cf. De Callataÿ dies D52-55 for tetradrachms from the same date, certainly by the same engraver. 8.42g, 20mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, the second known example, and until recently the latest known stater from Mithradates’ reign (see following lot). 20,000

Although some sources cite the initial battles of the Third Mithradatic War taking place in 74 BC, more recently the Battle of Chalkedon and the siege of Kyzikos have been dated to 73 BC. Cicero supports this dating, as he places Lucullus in Rome in November of 74 BC – Lucullus was only dispatched after reports of Mithradates invasion into Bithynia had reached Rome. Appian also supports the dating of hostilities to early in 73, stating that Mithradates spent ‘the remainder of the summer and the whole of the winter’ before the outbreak of war in building ships and augmenting his army. In this light, the present stater should be seen as part of Mithradates financial preparations for the war to come.

757.

Second Known, Formerly the Latest KnownMithradatic Gold Stater

177

Very Rare Stater of Mithradates

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AV Stater. Bithyno-Pontic year ΓΚΣ, month ΙΓ (223 = 75/74 BC, intercalary month 13). Diademed head right / Stag grazing left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY / EYΠATOPOΣ in two lines below; to left, star-in-crescent above ΓKΣ (year); two monograms to right, IΓ (month 13) in exergue; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. Unpublished in the standard references cf. for date: De Callataÿ 1997, tetradrachms D56-59. 8.41g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Unique and unpublished, a coin of great numismatic importance. 30,000

A beautifully idealized portrait of the ageing king, the obverse die of this coin was also used to strike a previously unrecorded stater dated with the intercalary month IB (i.e., September 74 BC; see CNG 93, 22 May 2013, lot 339). This places this unique coin circa October 74 BC, making it the very latest gold stater of Mithradates of which we are currently aware, and was struck on the very eve of his invasion of the new Roman province of Bithynia and the start of the Third Mithradatic War (73-63 BC). This war, sparked when Nikomedes IV of Bithynia died without heirs in 75 and left his kingdom to Rome, would result in great devastation being wrought on Pontos, betrayal on the part of Mithradates son, Machares, who allied himself with Rome, and rebellion by another son, Pharnakes (see lot 765) who assumed control of the army and forced his father to commit suicide.

Intercalation - the inserting of months, days, even hours and seconds - into the calendar is a practice which aligns the calendar in use with the observable seasons or phases of the moon. There are many recorded instances of intercalation from classical antiquity, and the Romans used it extensively until Julius Caesar reformed the Roman Calendar of 355 days replacing it with his own Julian Calendar of 365.25 days, which took effect in 45 BC.

758.

178

A Spectacular Final Issue Tetradrachm

Kingdom of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. 67/66 BC. Diademed head right / Pegasos on ground line to left, preparing to lie down, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; star within crescent to left, monogram to right, date (year 231) below. De Callataÿ D77/R1a; Paris, BN, Pont 50 = Waddington 131; Burgan, 30 June 1984, 309. 16.44g, 32mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - De Callataÿ recorded only two specimens. The examples presented here bring the known corpus up to just eight surviving coins. 5,000

The latest known tetradrachms struck by Mithradates date from the year 231 BE (67/66 BC), of which De Callataÿ found only three extant examples from two reverse dies. Struck at the height of the Third Mithradatic War, Mithradates had succeeded in regaining control of his kingdom of Pontos after a resounding victory at the Battle of Zela, in which the Romans suffered near catastrophic casualties and were routed, leaving 7000 dead on the field including 24 tribunes and 150 centurions. Despite this victory, Mithradates had only bought himself brief respite, as Pompey’s campaign against the Mediterranean pirates was brought to a close and he proceeded to take command of the war against Mithradates, reorganising the Roman forces and drawing on reinforcements from Cilicia, such that a force of some six legions was brought under his command. Pompey opened peace negotiations with Mithradates, naming his terms as a formal submission to Pompey’s authority and the surrender of a large number of Roman deserters who were now fighting on the Pontic side. Mithradates refused his terms, and forced onto the defensive, he made preparations to receive Pompey’s assault.

759.


Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - De Callataÿ recorded only two specimens. 4,000

760.

179



761.



762.



763.


Mark in rev. field, otherwise Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare - De Callataÿ recorded only two specimens. 2,000

764.

180

I Came, I Saw, I Conquered

Kingdom of Pontos and Cimmerian Bosporos. Pharnakes II AV Stater. Pantikapaion, 52/51 BC. Diademed bust of Pharnakes right, with luxuriant hair falling behind neck / Apollo, semi-draped, seated to left on lion-footed throne, holding laurel branch over tripod, left elbow resting on kithara at his side; BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN above, MEΓAΛOY ΦAPNAKOY below, date ΣMΣ to right, three pellets to left. K.V. Golenko and J.P. Karyszkowski, “The Gold Coinage of King Pharnaces of the Bosporus,” in Numismatic Chronicle 1972, p. 38, fig. 3 (same dies); MacDonald 185/3; HGC 7, 198. 8.25g, 20mm, 12h.

Minor die break on reverse, otherwise Mint State. Extremely Rare – the second known specimen. 30,000

The three pellets symbol depicted on the reverse of this rare coin is known on Sasanian coins where it held great significance as an old Iranian sacral symbol of power (cf. Ardashir I, SNS I Type IV/3a). Such pellets, apparently with the same meaning, are also found on the debased late staters of the Sarmatian king Thothorses of the Bosporos (cf. MacDonald 647/1).

Born the youngest son of Mithradates VI, he nonetheless became the sole heir after the deaths of his brothers Arkathios and Machares – the former died while on campaign in Macedonia in 86, the latter committed suicide after rebelling against Mithradates. After his father’s final defeat and escape to Pantikapaion, Pharnakes had no desire to support his father’s continued wish to wage war with the Romans. He therefore began a plot to remove Mithradates from power. Though his plans were discovered, the army supported him, not wishing to engage Pompey and the Roman armies again. So in 63 BC, surrounded, Mithradates VI was forced to take his own life. Pharnakes II quickly sent an embassy to Pompey with the body of his father, to be at the disposal of Pompey. Pompey granted Pharnakes the Bosporan Kingdom, and named him friend and ally of Rome.

Like his father, he could not resist taking advantage of the war between Caesar and Pompey, thinking Rome to be too distracted to prevent his conquests of Colchis and Lesser Armenia. He defeated Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus and a Roman army, and proceeded to overrun Pontos. Caesar however made haste to give battle himself, and at Zela in 47 BC Pharnakes was routed, escaping with only a small detachment of cavalry. Thus, this parricide would-be ‘Great King of Kings’ was soundly defeated by the might of Rome in the person of Julius Caesar, who reported this victory to the Senate with the famous phrase: ‘vini, vidi, vici’ (Plutarch, Caesar. 50; Suetonius, Iulius Caesar, 37).

765.

181

Superb Tetradrachm of Tigranes ‘the Great’

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 95-56 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles; beaded pyramidal points on tiara / Tyche of Antioch seated to right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming to right; Δ and M in left field, H in right field. CNG 57, 4 April 2001, 665; cf. AC 036; cf. Bedoukian 29; cf. Nercessian, “Silver Coins of Tigranes II of Armenia” Armenian Numismatic Journal, (vol. XXVI, pts 3&4 [2000]), A69. 16.25g, 28mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 4,000

This coin differs from the standard type in a number of ways: the star on the tiara has only six rays, and there is the additional symbol of a Herakles knot above the Δ.

766.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 95-56 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Tyche of Antioch seated to right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming to right; AP monogram to inner right, HΔ monogram on rock; all within wreath. SCADA Group 1, dies A2/P43; CAA 17; AC 31. 15.99g, 25mm, 12h.


767.

Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 95-56 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Tyche of Antioch seated right on rock, holding palm; at her feet, river-god Orontes swimming right; in inner right field, monogram; on rock, monogram; all within wreath. SCADA grp. I, obv. die A10. De Callataÿ obv. die D7. Bedoukian 17. Nercessian 31. 15.62g, 26mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Surfaces harshly cleaned. 750

768.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ Ӕ16. Circa 95-56 BC. Draped bust right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara / Herakles-Vahagn standing slightly left, holding club set on ground and lion’s skin, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΤΙΓΡΑΝΟΥ to left; ΔΗ in exergue. Mousheghian-Depeyrot 45; cf. CAA 100. 3.95g, 16mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 150

769.

ARMENIA

182

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ Ӕ19. Circa 95-56 BC. Draped bust right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara / Herakles-Vahagn standing slightly left, holding club set on ground and lion’s skin, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΤΙΓΡΑΝΟΥ to left. CAA 100. 4.07g, 19mm, 1h.


770.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ Æ18. Artaxata mint, circa 70-55 BC. Head of Tigranes right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Herakles-Vahagn standing left, holding club and lion’s skin, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, BAΣIΛEΩN TIΓPANOY to left; P to inner left, A to inner right. M&D 86; CAA 101; AC 65. 5.68g, 18mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Very Rare. 200

771.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ Æ14. Antioch, circa 70-55 BC. Head of Tigranes right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Cornucopiae, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, BAΣIΛEΩN TIΓPANOY to left; P below, A to inner right. CAA 104; AC 93. 3.23g, 14mm, 12h.


772.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ Æ15. Antioch, circa 70-55 BC. Head of Tigranes right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Cornucopiae, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, BAΣIΛEΩN TIΓPANOY to left; P below, A to inner right. CAA 104; AC 93. 4.54g, 15mm, 12h.


773.

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes II ‘the Great’ Æ13. Tigranocerta, circa 69-55 BC. Head of Tigranes right, wearing five-pointed Armenian tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Cornucopiae, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, BAΣIΛEΩN TIΓPANOY to left; Δ H in exergue. M&D 47; cf. CAA 105; cf. AC 95-8. 2.16g, 13mm, 12h.


774.

183

Mount Ararat

Kings of Armenia. Tigranes IV (Restored) and Erato Æ Dichalkon. 2 BC-AD 1. Jugate busts of Tigranes, wearing tiara and diadem, and Erato right / [ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙCΑΡ], the two peaks of Mount Ararat, as seen from the Armenian capital Artaxata; A in exergue. F. Kovacs, Tigranes IV, V, and VI: New Attributions, AJN 20, 5; CAA 128 (Tigranes II?); AC 122 (Tigranes II). 5.23g, 20mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 1,000

This remarkable type was only discovered in 1978, being first published by Bedoukian. Admitting that he could not arrive at a certain attribution, he placed it in his catalogue under Tigranes II, stating that ‘it may have been struck by Tigranes when he conquered Cappadocia in 93 BC, forcing the ruling king, Ariobarzanes I, to flee to Rome,’ and that the double-peaked mountain on the reverse resembled Mt. Argaios in Cappadocia (CAA pg. 24). It seems that Nercessian merely followed Bedoukian in his placing the coin under Tigranes II without further explanation, although he included a footnote telling the reader to see additional information in a subsequent chapter which he then neglected to provide.

More recently Frank Kovacs has convincingly argued for assigning the coin to Tigranes IV and his sister-queen Erato. He bases his argument on four points: the reverse legend ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙCΑΡ (“Friend of Caesar”), which was previously misread by Bedoukian as KAICAPEΩN; the regnal year A in the exergue, which ‘implies that Tigranes’ earlier reign under the Parthian aegis was illegitimate and that Rome alone had the right to crown the king of Armenia,’ and draws parallels to similar instances in the coinages issued by other client kingdoms of Rome; the extreme scarcity of the coins which of course better fit this king’s short reign than do the plethora of types and number of extant pieces assigned to him by both Bedoukian and Nercessian; and finally the beardless portrait better fits the youthful son of Tigranes III than do the previously assigned bearded types.

775.

184

Phoenicia, Arados AR Tetrobol. Uncertain king. Circa 410-400 BC. Ba‘al-Arwad swimming right, holding fish by the tail in each hand / Phoenician pentekonter right; below, hippocamp right; all within dotted frame within incuse square. Betlyon 6; HGC 10, 39; SNG Copenhagen 4-5. 2.42g, 14mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine, and excellent for the issue. Rare. 500

776.

PHOENICIA

Phoenicia, Arados AR Obol. Circa 380-350. Laureate head of Ba’al-Arwad right / Galley sailing right over waves within dotted square border. Betlyon 13; HGC 46. 0.73g, 10mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 150

777.

Phoenicia, Byblos AR Shekel. Ozbaal, circa 394-352 BC. Three hoplites on galley left above waves; below, hippocamp left above murex shell, `Z (in Phoenician) above dorsal fin / Lion attacking bull left. Betlyon 14 var. (no letters on obv.); Rouvier –; HGC 10, 133. 13.26g, 25mm, 3h.

Reverse die worn, otherwise Extremely Fine. 500

778.

Phoenicia, Byblos AR Shekel. Addirmilk, circa 375-351 BC. Three hoplites standing left, each holding shield, in galley left above waves, prow ornamented with lion’s head; below, hippocamp to left above murex shell, AD in Phoenician script between / ADRMLK MLK GBL, lion attacking bull to left. Betlyon 1; HGC 10, 136. 13.17g, 26mm, 6h.

A little off-centre, but Good Extremely Fine. Excellent condition for the issue. 2,500

779.

Phoenicia, Sidon AR Dishekel. Time of Baalshallim I, circa 425-402 BC. Galley left in front of city walls of Sidon, five towers visible; two pouncing lions in exergue / King of Persia and driver in chariot drawn by two galloping horses left, incuse goat running left below. Betlyon 7. 26.33g, 34mm, 12h.


780.

185

Phoenicia, Sidon AR 1/16 shekel, Circa 425-402 BC. Galley with oars, rudder and row of shields to left in front of city’s fortifications with three towers; lion crouching to left in exergue / Great King of Persia standing right, drawing bow between two incuse figures; Bes to left and ibex to right. Cf. Elayi and Elayi 2004, III.3.a. 362–448. 0.85g, 9mm, 12h.


781.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 35 = 92/1 BC. Laureate head of Herakles-Melkart right, lion’s skin tied around neck / Eagle standing left on prow, palm over win, club before, EΛ(date) – Δ across fields. BMC 126-127. 14.43g, 30mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Bold golden iridescence. 750

782.

784783

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 110 = 17/6 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow, with palm branch over shoulder; to left, PI (date) above club; monogram to right. RPC I 4641; BMC 187 var. (right field control); HGC 10, 357; DCA 920. 13.90g, 25mm, 1h.Very Fine. 250

783.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 111 = 16/5 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIA (date) above club; monogram to right. BMC 188 var. (monogram); RPC I 4642; DCA 920; HGC 10, 357. 13.96g, 27mm, 12h.Area of corrosion, otherwise Extremely Fine. 300

784.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 115 = 12/1 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow, with palm branch over shoulder; to left, PIE (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram. RPC I 4645; BMC 193; HGC 10, 357; DCA 920. 14.02g, 26mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 400

785.

786785

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 120 = 6/7 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PK (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; Aramaic A between legs. Rouvier -; RPC -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -. 13.76g, 28mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. This date apparently unpublished in the standard references. 300

787.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 115 = 12/1 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow, with palm branch over shoulder; to left, PIE (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram. RPC I 4645; BMC 193; HGC 10, 357; DCA 920. 13.98g, 26mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 300

786.

Previously Unrecorded Date

186

789788

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 115 = 12/1 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow, with palm branch over shoulder; to left, PIE (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram. RPC I 4645; BMC 193; HGC 10, 357; DCA 920. 14.06g, 26mm, 12h.Very Fine. 300

788.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 107 = 20/19 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right, lion skin around neck / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, PZ (date) above club; monogram to right, Phoenician B between legs. BMC 184; HGC 10, 357; DCA 919. 14.12g, 25mm, 1h.Very Fine. 250

789.

ARABIA

Southern Arabia, Qataban AR Hemidrachm. Unknown ruler(s). Timna, circa 350-320/00 BC. Imitating Athens. Head of Athena right, Γ on cheek, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor / Owl standing right, head facing; [olive sprig] and crescent behind, Royal Qatabanian monogram, composed of South Arabian letters h and l, and ÅQE to right. Munro-Hay p. 71, 1.0aii, pl. 48, 30-32; HGC 10, 711. 1.98g, 11mm, 9h.


790.

Southern Arabia, Qataban AR Hemidrachm. Unknown ruler(s). Timna, circa 350-320/00 BC. Imitating Athens. Head of Athena right, Γ on cheek, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor / Owl standing right, head facing; [olive sprig] and crescent behind, Royal Qatabanian monogram, composed of South Arabian letters h and l, and ÅQE to right. Munro-Hay p. 71, 1.0aii, pl. 48, 30-32; HGC 10, 711. 2.00g, 11mm, 9h.


791.

Southern Arabia, Qataban AR Hemidrachm. Unknown ruler(s). Late 2nd–1st centuries BC. Bare male head right / Bearded head right; Royal Qatabanian monogram behind neck, control monograms below and before. Munro-Hay p. 73, 1.8biic, pl. 48, 35; HGC 10, 714. 1.92g, 13mm, 12h.


792.

Southern Arabia, Qataban AR Hemidrachm. Unknown ruler(s). Late 2nd–1st centuries BC. Bare male head right / Bearded head right; Royal Qatabanian monogram behind neck, control monograms below and before. CAF 1.8biic; Huth 364ff; HGC 10, 714ff. 1.93g, 13mm, 12h.


793.

Four Rare Fractions from Qataban

187

Bes, Protector of Homes, Mothers and Children

Philistia (Palestine), Gaza AR Drachm. Mid 5th century-333 BC. Bearded male head right / Facing head of Bes; Aramaic A-Z flanking; all within incuse circle. Gitler & Tal VI 13D; HGC 10, 551. 3.55g, 13mm, 3h.


The obverse of this drachm depicts a bearded man; the reverse of this issue, which is virtually always test-cut, depicts the god Bes, an ancient household god predating dynastic Egypt who was worshipped throughout the region of the Levant. The stocky and robust Bes was usually depicted frontally as on this coin, and was regarded as the protector of homes, and in particular of mothers and children, the defender of everything good and the enemy of all that is bad.

The term ‘Philisto-Arabian’ was used for the first time in the early 20th century for the coins of the ancient peoples in the region of Palestine. Little was known then about the origin of those intriguing issues. New evidence however allows us to be more specific and to call them the autonomous, local coins of the satraps, governors, chiefs, nomadic tribes and self-governing cities of the Southern Persian Provinces.

794.

Kyrenaika, Barke AR Hemidrachm. Circa 480-450 BC. Silphium plant / Head of Zeus Ammon right within linear frame, BAPK around. Müller MAA 301. 1.57g, 13mm, 12h.


795.

Three Very Rare Archaic Coins of Kyrene

Kyrenaika, Kyrene AR Drachm. Circa 520-480 BC. Two silphium fruits, pellet above and below / Silphium fruit within square incuse. BMC 18. 3.31g, 12mm, 3h.


796.

Kyrenaika, Kyrene AR Drachm. Circa 520-480 BC. Two silphium fruits, pellet above and below / Silphium fruit within square incuse. BMC 18. 3.27g, 13mm, 12h.


797.

Kyrenaika, Kyrene AR Hemidrachm. Circa 520-480 BC. Silphium fruit, pellet above / Silphium fruit set within square incuse. BMC 22. 1.92g, 10mm, 10h.


798.

PHILISTIA

KYRENAIKA

188

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy I, as satrap. In the name and types of Alexander III. Memphis, circa 323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, drapery about legs and waist, holding sceptre and eagle; AΛEΞANΔPOY to left, rose before, moneyer’s signature ΔI-O beneath. Price 3971. 17.23g, 28mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Rare. 750

799.

EGYPT

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy I Soter AR Tetradrachm. In the name of Alexander III. Alexandria, circa 310-305 BC. Head of Alexander right, wearing horn of Zeus Ammon and elephant’s skin headdress / AΛEΞANΔPOY, Athena Alkidemos advancing right, ΔI, helmet and eagle to right. SNG Copenhagen 30. 15.65g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. A superbly detailed example with a particularly fine style Athena Alkidemos, ‘defender of the people’. 3,000

800.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy I, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. Alexandria, circa 309-305 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin headdress / Athena Alkidemos advancing right; AΛEΞANΔPOY to left, Corinthian helmet, monogram, and eagle standing on thunderbolt to right, star in inner left field. Svoronos 174; SNG Copenhagen 36. 15.74g, 29mm, 12h.

Unobtrusive flan flaw on reverse. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare variety. 5,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex A. Tkalec, 25 October 1996, lot 103.

801.

Three Beautiful Tetradrachms of Ptolemy I

Handsome Ptolemy I Tetdadrachm

189

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy II Philadelphos, with Arsinoe II, Ptolemy I, and Berenike I AV Half Mnaieion (Tetradrachm). Alexandria, circa 270-260 BC. Conjoined busts of diademed and draped Ptolemy II, and diademed and veiled Arsinöe II right; AΔEΛΦΩN above, Gallic shield behind / Conjoined busts of diademed and draped Ptolemy I, and diademed and veiled Berenike I; ΘEΩN above. Svoronos 604; SNG Copenhagen 133; Noeske 38; Boston MFA 2275; Dewing 2753-4. 13.88g, 20mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. 3,000

802.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II AV Mnaieon (Oktadrachm). Alexandria, circa 253/2 BC. Head right, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped sceptre in background; Λ to left / Double cornucopiae, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet; APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY around. Troxell, Arsinoe, pl. 7, 4; Svoronos 476; SNG Copenhagen -; Boston MFA -. 27.83g, 29mm, 11h. Obverse die lightly worn, otherwise virtually Mint State. Lustrous. 7,000

803.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II AV Mnaieon (Oktadrachm). Alexandria, circa 170-116 BC. Struck under Ptolemy VI-VIII. Veiled head of Arsinoe right, wearing diadem and stephane, with ram’s horn at ear; at shoulder and behind head, lotus sceptre, K in left field / Double cornucopiae, bound with fillet; ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ around. Svoronos 1498-9; SNG Copenhagen 321-2; SNG Delepierre 3063 (as head of Cleopatra I); Dewing Coll. 2762. 27.71g, 28mm, 12h.

Brilliant Mint State. 10,000

Ex Heritage 3005, 29 May 2009, lot 20043.

804.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy III Euergetes AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint on Cyprus, dated CY 89 = 222 BC. Diademed bust of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; ΠTOΛEMAIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ around, ΠΘ monogram (date) to left. Svoronos 1111; SNG Copenhagen -; DCA 73. 13.55g, 29mm, 12h.

Scratched surfaces; about Extremely Fine. 200

805.

Brilliant, Mint State Arsinoe II Oktadrachm

190

A Remarkable Pentadrachm of Berenike II

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy III AV Pentadrachm. Circa 241-221 BC. Veiled bust of Berenike II to right, wearing necklace / Cornucopiae tied with royal diadem between two six-pointed stars, Ε below; ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ around. BMFA 2278; Svoronos 973. 21.34g, 27mm, 12h.

Near Mint State; in an exceptional state of preservation for this issue. Very Rare. 45,000


The reverse surface of this coin displays an incredible freshness – we may even observe the linear striations from the die.

806.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy VI Philometor AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in Cyprus, dated Year 110 = 150/149 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; P-I across fields. Svoronos 1217; SNG Copenhagen 557. 6.73g, 21mm, 1h.


807.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy VIII AR Tetradrachm. Paphus Cypri, circa 144-143 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right / ΠΤΟΛEΜΑΙΥ BAΣΙΛEΩΣ, eagle with closed wings standing to left on thunderbolt. Svoronos 1502. 14.34g, 26mm, 10h.


808.

Rare Didrachm of Ptolemy VI

191

Rare Didrachm of Ptolemy VIII

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Ptolemy VIII Euergetes AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in Cyprus, dated Year 116 = 144/3 BC BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; P-I across fields. Svoronos 1226; SNG Copenhagen 561. 6.89g, 21mm, 12h.

Some corrosion on rev., otherwise Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 300

809.

ACHAEMENID PERSIA

Persia, Achaemenid Kings AV Daric. Time of Darius I to Xerxes II. Circa 485-420 BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running right, holding spear in right hand, bow in left, quiver over shoulder / Rectangular incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb; BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26. 8.37g, 16mm.

Very Fine. 1,000

810.

Persia, Achaemenid Kings AV Daric. Time of Darius I to Xerxes II, circa 485-420 BC. Great King with kidaris and kandys in kneeling-running attitude on exergual line to right, holding strung bow, and apple-tipped spear over right shoulder with point downwards, quiver at left shoulder / Oblong incuse punch. BMC 40 pl. XXIV, 24. 8.36g, 15mm.

Very Fine. 1,000

811.

Persia, Achaemenid Kings AR Siglos. Time of Darios I to Xerxes I. Circa 485-420 BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear [and bow] / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIa (pl. XI, 14); BMC Arabia pl. XXV, 19. 4.73g, 17mm.

About Very Fine. 100

812.

Persia, Achaemenid Kings AR Siglos. Circa 420-375 BC. Great King with kidaris and kandys in kneeling-running attitude on exergual line to right, holding strung bow and short dagger (akinakes) with arrow-shaped blade, three annulets on breast of kandys / Oblong incuse punch. BMC 176 pl. XXVII, 19. 5.60g, 15mm. Near Extremely Fine. 500

813.

192

SYRIA

Syria, Seleukeia Pieria AR Tetradrachm. Dated CY 9 = 99/8 BC. Veiled and turreted bust of Tyche right / Filleted thunderbolt on draped throne, ΣΕΛΕΥΚΕΩΝ ΤΗΣΙΕΡΑΣ above; Ι (date) and ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟΝΟΜΟΥ below; all within wreath. BMC pl. XXXII, 6 var; SNG Copenhagen -; de Luynes 3460 var. (letter on reverse). 14.81g, 30mm, 12h.


814.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-308 BC. In the name and types of Alexander. Head of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet ornamented with griffin / Nike standing left, holding stylis and wreath, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY, to right; MHP monogram in wreath at feet to left. SC 81.3; Price 3749. 8.56g, 19mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous; well centred on a broad flan. 3,000

Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 354.

815.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; monogram in wreath below left wing, MI below right wing. SC 81.1 var. (monogram); Price 3745 var. (same); HGC 9, 3a. 8.54g, 17mm, 6h.


The controls on this coin appear to have been re-engraved over previous ones.

816.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Seleukos I Nikator AR Tetradrachm. Seleukeia on the Tigris, circa 300-281 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre, ΣEΛEYKOY to right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ below; monogram in left field; ΔI monogram below throne. SC 117.1c. 17.07g, 28mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. Boldly engraved in high relief. A very attractive specimen. 1,500

817.

Bold Seleukos I Tetradrachm

195

Spectacular Tetradrachm of Antiochos I

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos I Soter AR Tetradrachm. Smyrna, circa 281-261 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos I to right / Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding three arrows in his right hand and resting his left on a bow leaning against the omphalos behind him; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ to left; ΘΕ monogram to right, ΑΤΡ monogram in exergue. SC 311.2; WSM 1494. 17.12g, 31mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. One of the finest known coins of this ruler. 20,000

This is truly a stunning coin whose visual appeal cannot be overstated. Bearing an idealized portrait of exceptionally fine style and detail, struck in high relief, and now possessing vivid flashes of iridescent colour, this remarkable coin is unquestionably one of the most beautiful surviving portrait issues of Antiochos I.

Antiochos I was the son of Seleukos I and Apama, Seleukos’ Persian wife. His date of birth is unknown, but was probably circa 320 BC as he was old enough to lead the Seleukid cavalry at the battle of Ipsos in 301. When Seleukos was assassinated in 281, Antiochos was probably in Ekbatana, where he had maintained court ruling the eastern satrapies on behalf of his father since 294.

With his accession, Antiochos faced immediate attacks by Ptolemy II in Asia Minor and revolts of the cities of Syria. He left his eldest son, Seleukos, as governor of the eastern satrapies and marched west to meet the threats, which he soon overcame. However, it was not long before his attention was once again drawn to disturbances, this time from a menacing force of warlike Celtic tribes that had crossed over the Hellespont in the winter of 278/7 and invaded Asia Minor, and also shortly thereafter renewed hostilities with Ptolemy II (First Syrian War, 274-271 BC). After defeating the Celts and receiving the title of Saviour (Soter) by the Greek cities of Asia Minor, Antiochos concluded an uneasy truce with Ptolemy which allowed him to focus on public relations and administrative work in Asia Minor. His subsequent reign was relatively peaceful, with the exceptions of sedition by his son and co-regent, Seleukos, whom he was forced to execute and replace with his younger son, the future Antiochos II, and the loss of northwestern Asia Minor to Eumenes I of Pergamon.

The tetradrachms of Antiochos from Smyrna are of two iconographic types, one with an elderly but god-like portrait, and the other with rejuvenated, powerful and idealized features, as on this coin. Likewise there are differences in the details of the reverse: on the former, Apollo holds but a single arrow, on the latter either two or three arrows. The figure of Apollo seated on the omphalos gained prominence under Antiochos, publicizing his supposed descent from the god, and became the characteristic reverse type for most Seleukid precious metal coinage down through the reign of Antiochos IV.

This type has long been sought after - the inferior piece from the Houghton Collection (NFA XVIII, 1987, lot 289) sold for the then astounding price of $21,000.

818.

196

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Seleukos II Kallinikos AR Tetradrachm. Teos (?), circa 246-225 BC. Diademed head right / Apollo Delphios standing left, resting elbow on tall tripod, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, ΣEΛEYKOY to right; dove or eagle to inner left. SC – (unlisted control), cf. 645 for obverse die link. 16.63g, 31mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Apparently unrecorded variety. Extremely Rare. 750

819.

Rare Tetradrachm of Antiochos Hierax

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos Hierax AR Tetradrachm. Parion, circa 246-227 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right / Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding arrow and bow; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ to left, monogram and facing satyr mask in exergue. SC 836.5; Roma E-Sale 2, 2 November 2013, 318 (same obverse die). 17.01g, 29mm, 10h.


820.

Unrecorded Symbol for Seleukos II

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos IV Epiphanes Æ32. Antioch, circa 169-168 BC. Laureate head of Zeus-Serapis right, wearing tainia with Osiris cap at tip / Eagle with closed wings standing right on thunderbolt. SC 1413; HGC 9, 643. 32.74g, 33mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 200

821.

197

A Line in the Sand

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos IV Epiphanes AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 168-164 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, with the features of Antiochos / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΘEOY EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKHΦOPOY, Zeus Nikephoros seated left, with Nike standing right crowning Zeus with laurel wreath. Le Rider, Antioche, Series IIIA, 251-2; Mørkholm Series III; SMA 63; SNG Spaer 1003; Houghton 106-107. 16.79g, 33mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, in an exceptional state of preservation for this desirable issue. 15,000

Struck to commemorate Antiochos return to Antioch following the conclusion of his second Egyptian campaign, this coin features a head of Zeus that bears distinct resemblance to Antiochos IV himself. Evidence to support an interpretation of the obverse as an amalgamation of Antiochos and Zeus can be found in the facts that Antiochos both caused the radiate diadem – a symbol of royal apotheosis - to be introduced on Seleukid coinage, and added the self-given title EΠIΦANHΣ (God Manifest) to his coinage.

Yet despite his grand titles, Antiochos IV’s second Egyptian campaign was brought to a conclusion not by any great victory of his or his enemy’s. Before reaching Alexandria, Antiochos’ path was blocked by a single, old Roman ambassador named Gaius Popillius Laenas. Popillius, with whom Antiochos had been friends with during his stay in Rome during his youth, offered Antiochos not a friendly welcome, but an ultimatum from the Senate: he must withdraw his armies from Egypt and Cyprus, or consider himself in a state of war with the Roman Republic. Antiochus begged to have time to consider but Popillius drew a circle around him in the sand with his cane and told him to decide before he stepped outside it. Weighing his options, Antiochus decided to withdraw; only then did Popillius agree to shake hands with him.

822.

198

Among the Finest of Few Examples

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos IV Epiphanes AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 166/5 B.C. Laureate head of Apollo to right, his hair long, draping his shoulders / Apollo, wearing a long peplos, standing facing right, holding a patera and a kithara; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY ΘEOY to right, EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKHΦOPOY to left. Houghton & Lorber, SC 1401; Newell, SMA 64; Houghton 110; Gulbenkian 1040. 16.79g, 33mm, 12h.


Issued for the Panhellenic festival celebrated in the sanctuary of Apollo at Daphne, near Antioch, only around 15 examples of this exceptionally beautiful issue are known to have survived antiquity; of these, this specimen is certainly among the finest.

The Panhellenic festival had been celebrated before the reign of Antiochos IV, but it was he that caused the importance and size of the festival at Daphne to be greatly increased, such that after this time Daphne became a central cult location and oracle of the dynasty’s patron deity Apollo. Antiochos had sent ambassadors and envoys to the Greek cities, and many were eager to send delegations. The festival was preceded by a grand military parade of forty thousand infantry, ten thousand cavalry and sixty four war elephants. More than half of the infantry were elite Seleukid shock troops, including the bronze and silver shield battalions, and a ten-thousand strong formation of soldiers equipped in the Roman legionary fashion (for a full description of the parade, see Polybios 31.16.1). There followed a great number of sacrificial animals and offerings to the gods, and lastly came a great parade of gilded images of “every god or demigod or hero known or worshipped by mankind”.

At least part of Antiochos’ motivation in transforming the festival into such an imposing and lavish monarchical spectacle was to enhance his own reputation and the status of Daphne. Since Didyma had been lost to the Seleukids since the treaty of Apameia in 188, it is likely that he also sought to supplant Didyma with a cult centre within Seleukid territory.

More importantly, the Treaty of Apameia had explicitly forbidden Seleukid possession of war elephants, and therefore the primary purpose of the grand military parade was to announce his power to all the world and make a clear statement that he would not be cowed by Rome, nor abide by the treaty imposed upon his father.

823.

199

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Alexander I Balas AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, dated SE 164 = 149/8 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY to left; monogram to inner right, date and monogram in exergue. SC 1782.3; SNG Spaer 1427 var. (monogram in exergue); SMA 145. 16.41g, 32mm, 2h.


824.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Alexander I Balas AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, dated SE 165 (148/7 BC). Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; Φ to outer left, monogram to inner left, EΞP (date) in exergue. SC 1784.2; DCA 118; HGC 9, 875a. 16.69g, 30mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 500

825.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos VI Dionysos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, year 169 = 144/3 BC. Radiate and diademed head of the youthful Antiochos VI to right, filleted border around / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ, the Dioskouroi galloping left with lances couched; ΘΞΡ below, ΤΡΥ over monogram of ΙΑΡ and ΣΤΑ to right; all within wreath of lily, ivy and grain leaves and ears. SC 2000, 2d; SMA 229. 16.47g, 31mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 2,000

An exceptional example of this beautifully composed type, displaying sound and lustrous metal, in an uncommonly good state of preservation.

The son of Alexander Balas and Cleopatra Thea, the daughter of Ptolemy VI of Egypt, Antiochos was only two or three years old when in 145 BC his father was usurped by Demetrios II ‘Nikator’, defeated in battle, and murdered by a Nabataean prince whose refuge he sought. The young Antiochos’ life was saved by his father’s general Diodotos Tryphon, who hailed him king and true heir to the throne, in opposition to Demetrios II. Being only a boy, Antiochos VI would never rule, and remained in the care of Diodotos Tryphon until his death in circa 142/1 BC. While some ancient authors make Diodotos Tryphon responsible for the death of the king, others write that he died during a surgery.

826.

Exceptional Antiochos VI Tetradrachm

200

A Magnificent Diodotos Tryphon Tetradrachm

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Diodotos Tryphon AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 142/1-138 BC. Diademed head of Tryphon to right, filleted border around / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΤΡΥΦΩΝΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Macedonian helmet adorned with ibex horn, ΠΑ monogram in inner left field, all within oak wreath border. SC 2031.1; Newell, Antioch 264; Houghton 256. 16.99g, 33mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, an exceptional example free from all the normal problems of flat striking, flan flaws and corrosion that typically occur on this issue. Very Rare. 12,500

Ex Freeman & Sear FPL 11, Spring/Summer 2006, lot 60.Ex Arthur Houghton Collection.

827.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos VII Euergetes AR Tetradrachm. Cappadocian mint, circa 138-129 BC. Diademed head right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; to outer left, monogram above A; O to inner left, Λ to inner right; all within laurel wreath. SC 2148; HGC 9, 1069. 16.48g, 28mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

828.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VII Euergetes AR Tetradrachm. Tyre, circa 135-134 BC. Diademed, draped bust right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, eagle standing left on prow, TYP monogram on club to left, APE monogram above club, monogram in right field above HOP, control mark between legs. SC 2109.6. 14.11g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Pleasantly toned. Rare. 750

829.

201

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos VII Euergetes AR Tetradrachm. Tyre, circa 132-131 BC. Diademed and draped bust right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm over shoulder; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY around; monogram above club surmounted by Tyre monogram to left; monogram above date to right; control mark between legs. SNG Spaer 2076-2077; Newell, Tyre 136. 14.10g, 30mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous metal. 1,000

830.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 109-96 BC. Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; two monograms to outer left, monogram below throne; all within laurel wreath. SC 2309.2d; SMA 405; HGC 9, 1200. 16.19g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 750

831.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos IX Philopator AR Tetradrachm. Second reign at Antioch, circa 110/9 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos IX right / Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting hand on grounded shield, spear resting against arm, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY to right, ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ to left; in outer left field, two monograms; in inner right field, monogram; all within laurel wreath. SC 2366.1; HGC 9, 1228i. 16.44g, 28mm, 1h.


832.

Seleukid Kings of Syria. Philip I Philadelphos AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, circa 95/4-76/5 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; no controls. SC –; HGC 9, –; cf. CNG e308, 7 August 2013, 190 (same obverse die). 15.75g, 25mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Unrecorded in SC, but the style is similar to that of SC 2470 (from an unattributed mint in Northern Syria or Cilicia). 200

833.

202

PERSIS

Kingdom of Persis, Bagadat AR Tetradrachm. Early to mid 3rd century BC. Diademed head right, wearing kyrbasia with flaps tied behind, and earring / Gateway to the fire-temple of Ahura-Mazda, with Bagadat standing on left, raising his hand to flames, standard on right, Aramaic legend around. Alram 515 var. (placement of legend); BMC 2 var. (same). 16.66g, 28mm, 8h.


834.

CHARAKENE

Kings of Charakene. Hyspaosines AR Tetradrachm. Charax-Spasinu mint. Dated year 190 = 123/2 BC. Diademed head right / Herakles seated left on rock, holding club on knee; YΣΠAOΣINOY to left, monogram to outer left, date QP in exergue. Assar fig. 16; Alram 491.2; De Morgan pl. 40, 1; BMC Arabia pl. 54, 1 var. 16.30g, 32mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 2,000

Hyspaosines was installed as satrap of Charakene by Antiochus IV Epiphanes; little is known of his life, except for what can be learned from a few Babylonian tablets, and a few brief references to him by Pliny the Elder. He rebuilt the city of Charax-Spasinu after a flood had severely damaged it, and as the eastern empire fell to the Parthian invaders during 141 BC, Hyspaosines declared independence from the Seleukid realm. Two years after the invasion a Babylonian tablet records him with the title of king. He conquered parts of southern Mesopotamia and Persia, and an inscription found in Bahrain, then known as Tylos, indicates that he also ruled this island. That inscription also mentions his wife, queen Thalassia, who appears also in the Babylonian ‘astronomical diaries’. In 124 BC Hyspaosines became ill, and died on June 11. After his death queen Thalassia tried to install her son as king, but this son’s fate is unknown.

835.

Hypaosines, First King of Charakene

An Exceptional Tetradrachm of Apodakos

Kings of Charakene. Apodakos AR Tetradrachm. Charax-Spasinu mint. Dated year 209 (104/3 BC). Diademed head right / Herakles seated on rock, holding club on knee, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, AΠΠΟΔAKΟΥ to left; monogram in outer left field, ΘΣ (date) in exergue. Alram 496; De Morgan pl. 49, 3 var.; BMC Arabia pg. 289, 1 var. 15.90g, 31mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; excellent metal for the type. Extremely Rare. 1,500

This is without doubt the finest tetradrachm of Apodakos to have appeared on the market in many years. All we know of Apodakos is learned from his coins, and as such our understanding is extremely limited. It is uncertain whether he was the son of Hyspaosines, who the latter’s widow Thalassia tried to install on the throne after the king’s death, or whether he was a usurper.

836.

Very Rare Tetradrachm of Bagadat

203

ELYMAISTwo Exceptional Coins of Kamnaskires III

Kings of Elymais. Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 82-75 BC. Conjoined busts left of Kamnaskires and Queen Anzaze; monogram above anchor symbol behind; countermark: Nike standing left / Zeus seated left, holding sceptre and Nike, who crowns him, MAKEΔΩN before; IΛCIΛEΩC KΛMNΛIKIPOY KΛI IΛIIΛIICHC ANZAZH (BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAMNΣKIROY KAI BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ ANZAZHΣ) around, date in exergue. BMC 245/1; Alram 454. 15.91g, 30mm, 12h. Extremely Fine, struck on sound metal and exceptionally well preserved and detailed for the issue. Very Rare. 4,000 The Kingdom of Elymais may be simply described as the land between Babylonia and Persis, though very little is known today of it or its kings. For approximately a century after the disintegration of Alexander’s empire, the principle city of this region, Susa, and the surrounding lands were ruled by the Seleukids. After Seleukia itself, Susa was the second largest city in Seleukid control. Even after the Parthian conquest of the region, Susa retained a considerable degree of autonomy, maintaining its Greek city-state organisation and eventually gaining apparent independence in 147 BC under Kamnaskires I Megas Soter, whose coins depict him as a Greek prince in Seleukid style, with Greek legends. Over time however, the Greek influence in Elymais appears to have significantly diminished, with both Greek legends and portraiture becoming increasingly blundered, until finally we see the sixth king of this dynasty, Kamnaskires III and his wife and co-regent Anzazes, in distinctly Parthian style.

837.

Kings of Elymais. Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 82-75 BC. Conjoined busts left of Kamnaskires and Queen Anzaze; monogram above anchor symbol behind; countermark: Nike standing left / Zeus seated left, holding sceptre and Nike, who crowns him, MAKEΔΩN before; IΛCIΛEΩC KΛMNΛIKIPOY KΛI IΛIIΛIICHC ANZAZH (BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAMNΣKIROY KAI BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ ANZAZHΣ) around, date in exergue. BMC 245/1; Alram 454. 15.86g, 28mm, 12h.


838.

BAKTRIA

Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Euthydemos I Theos Megas AR Tetradrachm. Mint B (“Baktra”), circa 210-206 BC. Diademed head right / Herakles seated left on lion skin draped over rocks, holding club set on rock behind knee; monogram below to right; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, EYΘYΔHMOY to left. Kritt B14; Bopearachchi 9A; Bopearachchi & Rahman 110-2; SNG ANS 136. 16.62g, 29mm, 12h.

Struck from dies of artistic merit, Good Extremely Fine. 2,500

839.

Fine Style Tetradrachm of Euthydemos I

204

Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Antimachos I Theos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 180-170 BC. Attic standard. Diademed and draped bust of Antimachos facing right wearing kausia / Poseidon standing facing, holding trident and palm fronds, BAΣIΛEΩΣ θEOY to right, ANTIMAΧOY to left; monogram at inner right. Bopearachchi Série 1A; SNG ANS 274; MIG 124b. 15.57g, 31mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 500

840.

Baktria, Eukratides I ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Helmeted and diademed bust of Eukratides right / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY EYKPATIΔOY, the Dioskouroi with palms and spears on horseback right, monogram to right. Mitchiner I, Type 177e; Bopearachchi 203 ser. 6E. 16.99g, 36mm, 12h.

Mint State. Struck on a massive flan of medallic proportions; well centred with full borders. 1,500

841.

Superb Tetradrachm of Eukratides

Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Helmeted bust of Eukratides right / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi Série 7. Mitchiner 178c. 15.68g, 34mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 750

842.

Indo-Greek Kingdom. Menander I Soter AR Drachm. Circa 155-130 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing crested helmet with bull’s horn and ear, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis over arm, hurling thunderbolt; monogram to right; Karosthi inscription around. Bopearachchi 16I; SNG ANS 879-92. 2.48g, 17mm, 12h.Fleur De Coin. 200

843.

Indo-Greek Kingdom. Menander I Soter AR Drachm. Circa 155-130 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing crested helmet with bull’s horn and ear, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis over arm, hurling thunderbolt; monogram to right; Karosthi inscription around. Bopearachchi 16I; SNG ANS 879-92. 2.48g, 16mm, 12h.Good Extremely Fine. Pleasant style. 100

844.

844843

205

Kings of Parthia. Mithradates II AR Tetradrachm. Seleukia on the Tigris, circa 119-109 BC. Diademed and draped bust left, wearing long beard, earring, and torque; all within pelleted border / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow in outstretched right hand; palm to outer right; TV in exergue. Sellwood 24.4; Shore 67. 15.99g, 30mm, 12hExtremely Fine. 2,500

845.

Kings of Parthia. Mithradates II AR Tetradrachm. Seleukia on the Tigris, circa 119-109 BC. Diademed and draped bust left, wearing long beard, earring, and torque; all within pelleted border / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ, archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow in outstretched right hand; palm to outer right; TV in exergue. Sellwood 24.4; Shore 67. 16.16g, 30mm, 12h.


From the Gutekunst Collection.Ex Triton XIII, 12 January 2014, lot 264.

846.

846845

One of the Very Finest Parthian Tetradrachms

Kings of Parthia. Orodes I AR Tetradrachm. Seleukia on the Tigris, circa 90-80 BC. Bust of Orodes I left, wearing diadem and richly decorated mantle / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΑΡΣΑΚΟΥ ΘΕΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ ΕΥΣΗΒΟΥΣ ΦΙΛΕΛΛΗΝΟΣ, archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow, monogram above. Petrowicz Coll. 6 (Phraates II); Sellwood 30, 7 (unknown king); Shore 130. 16,06g, 31mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. Very Rare. 20,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Peus 376, 29 October 2003, lot 635.

847.

Kings of Parthia. Phraatakes, with Musa, AR Drachm. Ekbatana, 2 BC-AD 5. Diademed bust of Phraatakes left; Nikai flanking, crowning Phraatakes with wreaths / Diademed and crowned bust of Musa left; legend around, monogram below chin. Sellwood 58.9; Shore 324; Sunrise 404. 3.77g, 21mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine; slightly double struck reverse. Rare. 2,000

Musa was a concubine given by the Emperor Augustus to King Phraates IV of Parthia at the time of their negotiations in which Augustus recovered the eagle standards lost by Crassus at Carrhae in 53 BC. Phraates IV made her his favoured wife; her son Phraates V (2 BC – 4), commonly called Phraatakes (a diminutive form), he appointed successor. She persuaded Phraates IV to send his other sons to Rome as hostages. With all rivals out of the way, she and Phraatakes poisoned the king and assumed the throne in 2 BC. They appear together on their coins, and were apparently co-rulers.

848.

Musa – Concubine, Queen and Usurper

206

849. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year 3 (AD 134/5). Bunch of grapes; paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ around / Jug, branch to left; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Jerusalem” around. Mildenberg 156 (O11/R58); AJC II -; Hendin 1434. 3.47g, 19mm, 6h.

As Struck. 500

JUDAEA

850. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year 3 (AD 134/5). Bunch of grapes; paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ around / Kithara; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Israel” around. Mildenberg 216 (O24/R135); TJC 274; Hendin 1435. 3.39g, 19mm, 6h.

As Struck. 400

850 851

851. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year 3 (AD 134/5). Bunch of grapes; paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ around / Kithara; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Israel” around. Mildenberg 211 (O24/R109); Hendin 1435, AJC II pg. 273, 57a. 2.91g, 19mm, 6h.

As Struck. 400

852. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year three (AD 134/5 AD). paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ within wreath / Kithara; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Israel” around. Mildenberg 95 (O15/R64), Hendin 1424. 3.37g, 19mm, 12h.

As Struck. 400

852 853

853. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year 3 (AD 134/5). Bunch of grapes; paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ around / Kithara; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Israel” around. Mildenberg 142 (O11/R98); Hendin 1435. 3.17g, 18mm, 6h.

As Struck. 400


As Struck. 400

854 855

855. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year 3 (AD 134/5). Bunch of grapes; paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ around / Palm branch; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Jerusalem” around. Mildenberg 149 (O11/R102); Hendin 1430. 3.39g, 20mm, 6h.

As Struck. 400

856. Judaea, Bar Kochba Revolt AR Zuz. Undated, year 3 (AD 134/5). Bunch of grapes; paleo-Hebrew inscription ‘Shimon’ around / Jug, branch to left; paleo-Hebrew inscription “For the freedom of Jerusalem” around. Mildenberg 156 (O11/R58); AJC II -; Hendin 1434. 3.18g, 18mm, 6h.

As Struck. 400

856 857


Cleaning marks, otherwise Good Very Fine. 400

207

ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINS

858. Marc Antony and Octavian Æ23 of Thessalonica, Macedonia. Circa 37 BC. AΓΩNOΘEΣIA, head of Agonothesia right / ANT KAI in two lines in wreath. RPC I, 1552. 12.63g, 23mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 100

859. Augustus Æ28 of Uncertain Mint, Asia Minor. Circa 27 BC - AD 14. Bare head right / Spear, sella quaestoria (Quaestor’s seat of office), and fiscus (imperial treasury); Q below sella. RPC 5409; AMNG II 29 (Pella) note. 20.71g, 28mm, 12h.


There is some debate as to the portrait on this type, as well as its origin. The obverse style is strikingly similar to that of RPC 4082 (Cilicia), which has the legend PRINCEPS FELIX, identifying the portrait indubitably as Augustus. It has also been suggested that the type portrays C. Sosius, a general of Marc Antony, who was quaestor of Syria and Cilicia in 38 BC.

860. Augustus Æ20 of Hierapolis, Phrygia. Circa 5 BC. Heras Epainetou, magistrate. ΣEBAΣTOΣ, bare head right / HPAΣ EΠAINETOY IEPAΠOΛEITΩN, tripod. RPC 2951. 6.03g, 20mm, 1h.


861. Augustus AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. Circa 4-3 BC. KAIΣAPOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY, laureate head right / ETOYΣ HK NIKHS, Tyche, holding palm branch in right hand, seated right, river-god Orontes at her feet swimming right , YΠA monogram and IB above ‘ANT’ monogram in right field Prieur 52; RPC 4153. 15.02g, 26mm, 12h.


862. Nero AR Hemidrachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia. AD 58-60. NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI, laureate bust right / Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath in both hands. RIC 617; BMC 409; RPC 3645. 1.87g, 14mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. 200

208

863. Nero AR Hemidrachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia. AD 58-60. NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI, laureate bust right / Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath in both hands. RIC 617; BMC 409; RPC 3645. 1.90g, 14mm, 1h.


864. Nero AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. RY 8 = AD 61/62. NEPΩNOΣ KAIΣAPOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY, laureate, beardless bust right with archaic aegis 2around neck / Eagle facing, head left, standing on thunderbolt; palm in left field, H IP in right field. Prieur 82; McAlee 258. 15.18g, 25mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 200

865. Nerva AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. New Holy Year 2 = AD 97-98. AYT NEPOYAΣ KAIΣ ΣEB ΓERM, laureate head right, aegis seen at front and back of neck / ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY B, eagle facing, wings spread, head right and tail left, standing on thunderbolt, palm branch in left field. Prieur 150; McAlee 420. 15.34g, 28mm, 12h.


The inclusion of the title Germanicus on Nerva’s year 2 tetradrachms from Antioch date them to a short period between November 97, when he received the title, and his death in January 98. Prieur could find only 8 specimens.

866. Trajan AR Hemidrachm of Cyrene, Cyrenaica. Dated Cos. III = AD 100. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙΣ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ΣΕΒ ΓΗΡΜ, laureate head of Trajan right / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤ Γ, diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right. Sydenham, Caesarea 178; BMC 56-7. 1.94g, 14mm, 6h.


867. Sabina Æ34 of Ephesus, Ionia. Circa AD 128-137.CEBACTH CABEINA, diademed and draped bust right / APTEMICI AΦECIA, cult-statue of Artemis facing; stag on either side. Unpublished in the standard references. 18.58g, 34mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 3,000

The sister of Apollo, Artemis was the virgin huntress worshipped by a cult at Ephesus. This was a wealthy following and her temple in the city was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Destroyed and rebuilt three times before its final destruction, the last incarnation survived into the reign of Gallienus before it was sacked by raiding Goths.

The image of the goddess worshipped at Ephesus was distinctly archaic; she was depicted with many breasts, supposedly (and perhaps, incongruously) denoting her fertility. This attribute, along with the usual mural crown denoting the protection of the city walls and the stags which were sacred only to Artemis, can be seen on the reverse type.

Artemis of Ephesus

209

868. Antoninus Pius Æ34 of Ephesus, Ionia in alliance with Smyrna and Pergamon. AD 138-161. Laureate, draped bust left / Cult statue of Artemis Ephesia facing, flanked by Smyrnaean Nemesis to left, and Pergamene Asklepios to right. Franke/Nollé, Homonoia 309; BMC 403. 24.72g, 34mm, 7h.


Ionia in alliance with Smyrna and Pergamon

Third Known, Only Example in Private Hands

869. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Æ31 of Philadelphia, Lydia. Circa AD 161-169. Lad... Severus, archon (?). AVT K M AVP ANTΩNEINOC K AVP OVHPOC, confronted busts of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus / Statue of Helios, radiate, advancing right, holding extended torch and whip, within distyle shrine, [ΕΠΙ] ΛΑΔ... CΕΒΗΡΟV [ΑΡΧ(?)] around, ?ΙΛΑΔΕΛ[ΦΕΩΝ] in exergue. RPC IV Online temp. 1359; Waddington 5144; cf. Price and Trell 468. 29.55g, 31mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. The third known specimen and the only example not in a museum collection. 5,000

The city of Philadelphia, originally founded by Attalos II of Pergamon, was situated on the lower slopes of Mount Tmolos and commanded the fertile river valley of the Corgamis. Seismic activity in the area is severe, and the city suffered frequent devastation throughout the classical period. After a particularly devastating earthquake in AD 17, the emperor Tiberius aided the town in its reconstruction, and to honour the imperial beneficence the city assumed the additional name of Neocaesarea.

Aside from the trade it controlled, a principal attraction of the city in antiquity was its many religious festivals which brought in numerous pilgrims and much needed revenue. These religious cults figure predominantly on the coinage, and particular honour was accorded Asklepios and, as on this coin, Zeus Helios. In later antiquity Philadelphia is noted as being one of the Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation.

870. Lucius Verus AR Didrachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia. AD 161-166. AYTOKP OYHPOC CЄBACTOC, bare headed and cuirassed bust left / YΠATOC B, Mount Argaeus, with trees and star at summit. SNG Copenhagen - (cf. 249, bust right); BMC - (cf. 194). 6.89g, 21mm, 6h.


871. Lucius Verus AR Didrachm of Caesarea, Cappadocia. AD 161-166. AYTOKP OYHPOC CЄBACTOC, bare headed and cuirassed bust right / YΠATOC B, Mount Argaeus, with trees and star at summit. SNG Copenhagen 249; BMC 194. 6.49g, 21mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 150

210

872. Julia Domna Æ30 of Isaura, Cilicia. AD 193-217. IOVΛIA ΔOMNA CEBAC, draped bust right / MHTPOΠOΛEΩC ICAVPΩN, Athena Promachos advancing right with spear and shield. SNG Levante 260; SNG France 491. 16.22g, 30mm, 8h.


873. Caracalla Æ26 of Perge, Pamphylia. AD 197-211. Laureate head right / ΠЄPΓAIΩN, Artemis, holding two torches, driving biga of stags right. SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Von Aulock -; BMC -; SNG France 445; Waddington 3371. 11.56g, 26mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare; unpublished in the standard references. 300

Unpublished in the Standard References

874. Caracalla Æ26 of Isaura, Cilicia. Circa AD 198-217. Laureate and cuirassed bust right, drapery on shoulder, aegis on cuirass / Tetrastyle temple with arched pediment, bust of Hercules on column within. SNG Levante 263. 8.41g, 26mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, beautiful emerald green patina. Rare. 1,000 Levante describes the reverse bust as Septimius Severus, but the prominence of Hercules in the city’s pantheon makes him the more likely object of a cult temple.

875. Caracalla Æ33 of Tarsus, Cilicia. AD 198-217. Laureate and cuirassed bust right / Artemis kneeling to right over deer, raising its head with her left hand, right hand poised to plunge dagger into its throat. SNG Levante -; SNG France -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -. 20.54g, 33mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 2,000

Here we see a more familiar depiction of Artemis than that of the Ephesian manifestation (see lot 867). The reverse type depicts Artemis as the goddess of the hunt, about to slay a deer. Homer applies the epithet ‘Ποτνια Θηρων’ (Mistress of the Animals) to the goddess, and deer in particular were considered sacred to her.

In addition to female fertility and virginity, Artemis was associated with certain male activities - in particular the transition from boyhood to manhood and warfare. Perhaps it is these latter associations Caracalla wished to conjure in Tarsus, the city from which he launched his Parthian campaign in AD 216.

Artemis the Huntress

211

876. Caracalla Æ32 of Antioch, Pisidia. AD 197-211. IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head right / CAE ANTIOCH COL, colonist ploughing right with yoke of oxen; in the background, two standards; SR in exergue. SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Krzyzanowska pl/ 24, 54; SNG France 1146-1147. 24.14g, 32mm, 6h.


877. Caracalla Æ34 of Antioch, Pisidia. AD 198-217. IMP CAE M AVR ANTONINVS PIVS AVG / COL CAES ANTIOCH, she-wolf standing right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, SR in exergue. Krzyzanowska pl. 39, 70; SNG France 1141-3. 25.40g, 34mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 150

878. Caracalla Æ26 of Laodicea, Phrygia. AD 198-217. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ, Tyche standing wearing modius, holding rudder and cornucopiae, amulet in left field, ΠA in right field. SNG Copenhagen 590 var. (field symbols not listed). 9.22g, 26mm, 6h.


879. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Berytus, Phoenicia. AD 215-217. AYT KAI ANTѠMIMOC CЄ, laureate head right / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATOCTO Δ, eagle, head and tail left, holding wreath in beak; prow of galley between legs. Prieur 1292. 14.04g, 27mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

880. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Berytus, Phoenicia. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right with drapery at front of truncation / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing, head left, prow left between legs. Prieur 1293. 14.48g, 28mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 150

212

881. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Sidon, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC Δ, eagle standing facing, head left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; cart of Astarte below. Prieur 1362. 14.65g, 26mm, 12h.

Fleur De Coin, a spectacular example. Very Rare. Prieur records 17 specimens. 1,000

882. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right, with drapery at front of truncation / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing on club facing, head left, murex shell between legs. Prieur 1548. 12.86g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 250

883. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing on club, head left, murex shell between legs. Prieur 1547. 13.79g, 26mm, 6h.


884. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. AYT KAI ANTѠNINOC CЄ, laureate head right; beneath neck, eagle right passing head behind truncation; in right field, club with haft upwards / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATΔ, laureate head of Melkart right, lion skin around neck. Prieur 1543. 15.00g, 25mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 200

885. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing on club, head left, murex shell between legs. Prieur 1547. 12.25g, 25mm, 4h.


886. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing on club, head left, murex shell between legs. Prieur 1545. 13.79g, 26mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous. Scarce. 200

884 885

213

887. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Uncertain mint, Cyprus. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing on ear of wheat, head left. Prieur 1578. 12.86g, 25mm, 12h.


888. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Zeugma, Commagene. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟ Δ, eagle standing, head right , Z-E across fields, V between legs. Prieur 812. 11.53g, 26mm, 12h.


889. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Zeugma, Commagene. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟ Δ, eagle standing, head right , Z-E across fields, V between legs. Prieur 812. 13.17g, 25mm, 12h.


888 889

890 891890.

891.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 211-212. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕΒ, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟCTO Γ, eagle standing facing, head right, standing on leg and thigh of sacrificial animal. McAlee 674; Prieur 214. 12.86g, 28mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 100

892 893892.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 214-215. B AY T K M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing, head right, star and crescent between legs. McAlee 688; Prieur 235. 13.47g, 26mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 150

893.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 214-215. B AY T K M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing, head right, star and crescent between legs. McAlee 688; Prieur 235. 13.48g, 28mm, 6h.


894.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 215-217. AΥT K M ANTΩNEINOC C EB, laureate bust right /ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤOC TO Γ, eagle standing facing, head right, star in each left and right field. McAlee 673; Prieur 212. 14.61g, 27mm, 12h.


Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Cyrrhus in Cyrrhestica, Syria. AD 215-217. AYT K MA ANTΩNINOC C, radiate and cuirassed bust left, holding shield and spear over left shoulder, with right hand raised / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATOΔ, eagle, head right, holding wreath in beak, standing on filleted thyrsos. Prieur 915. 12.19g, 25mm, 12h.


214

895 896895. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Emesa, Syria. AD 215-7. AΥT K M ANTΩNEINOC C EB, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤOC TO Δ, eagle

standing facing, head left, H under beak; radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Shamash left between legs. Prieur 983. 12.32g, 27mm, 12h.


896. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Emesa, Syria. AD 215-7. AΥT K M ANTΩNEINOC C EB, laureate bust right / ΔHMAPX EΞ OYCIAC, eagle standing facing, head left, crescent above, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Shamash left between legs. Prieur 1011. 14.46g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 150

897 898897. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Laodicea ad Mare, Syria. AD 212-213. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC CE, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC

ΤΟ Γ, eagle standing facing, head left, wreath in beak, star between legs. Prieur 1173A. 11.59g, 28mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. 150

898. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Seleucia, Seleucia Pieria. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕB, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing on thunderbolt. Prieur 1188. 13.14g, 26mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

899. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Carrhae, Mesopotamia. AD 215-217. AVT K M A ANTΩNEINOC CEB, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΥΠΑΤΟ Δ, eagle standing to right with wings spread on bucranium, holding wreath in beak. Prieur 820. 14.57g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Superb metal; wholly exceptional condition for the type. Rare. 750

Exceptional Tetradrachm of Carrhae

901. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Caesarea Maritima, Judaea. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ ΚAIΑΝΤ ΩΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing on torch around which serpent is coiled. Cf. Prieur 1658 obverse and Prieur 1664 reverse. 14.91g, 27mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 200

900. Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Caesarea Maritima, Judaea. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤѠNINOC CEB, laureate bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing on torch around which serpent is coiled. Prieur 1659. 10.91g, 27mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

215

902. Geta AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 209-212. AYT KAI ΓΕΤΑC CEB, laureate head right / ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATOCTO B, eagle standing on club, head left, murex shell between legs. Prieur 1537. 15.45g, 27mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

903. Elagabalus AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 218-222. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CEB, laureate head with slight drapery / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ B, eagle standing facing, head left, star between legs, Δ-Ε across fields. Prieur 249. 12.53g, 27mm, 12h.


Apparently Only the Second Known Example

904. Severus Alexander, as Caesar, Æ33 of Aspendos, Pamphylia. AD 221-222. Bare-headedcuirassed bust right, seen from front, fold of cloak on far shoulder, Medusa head on breast of cuirass / [ACΠEN - ΔIΩN] Triform Hekate standing, wearing kalathos on each of her three heads, holding a patera, two torches, and other attributes in her six hands; below, two hounds spring left and right respectively from the base of her statue. Gemini VI, 10 January 2010, 644 (same dies), otherwise unpublished: BMC -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; Mionnet -; Imhoof-Blumer -; Lindgren -; cf. SNG von Aulock 4591, Julia Soaemias (same reverse die), and SNG France 181, Gordian III (same reverse type). 24.56g, 35mm, 6h.

About Very Fine. Extremely Rare – apparently only the second known example. 300

Despite the lack of an obverse legend, we may attribute this coin to Severus Alexander, and establish that it must have been struck in the brief period when he was Caesar under his cousin Elagabalus in AD 221-222, on account of the bust being bare-headed, and the issue being die-linked through its reverse to an accompanying issue for Julia Soaemias.

The 2nd-century travel writer Pausanias stated that Hekate was first depicted in triplicate by the sculptor Alkamenes in the Greek Classical period of the late 5th century BC, which statue was placed before the temple of the Wingless Nike in Athens. Greek anthropomorphic conventions of art resisted representing her with three faces: a votive sculpture from Attica of the 3rd century BC shows three single images against a column; round the column of Hekate dance the Charities. Later classical portrayals such as the present one show her as a triplicate goddess holding a torch, a key, serpents, daggers and numerous other items, though depictions of a single form Hekate, as well as occasional four headed descriptions, continued throughout her history. Hekate’s triplicity is elsewhere expressed in a more Hellenic fashion in the vast frieze of the great Pergamon Altar, now in Berlin, wherein she is shown with three bodies, taking part in the battle with the Titans.

905. Severus Alexander Æ37 of Amasia, Pontus. Year 234 (= AD 232/3). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Altar of Zeus Stratios; eagle with open wings and Helios driving facing quadriga above; tree to left. SNG Copenhagen 118; RG 107; SNG von Aulock 43. 24.71g, 37mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 100

906. Gordian III AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 238-244. AYTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right seen from behind / ΔHMAPX EΞ OYCIAC, eagle standing facing, head left, SC in exergue. Prieur 282. 11.86g, 27mm, 6h.


216

907. Gordian III AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 241. AYTOK K M ANT ΓOΡΔΙΑΝΟC CEB, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust left / ΔΗMAΡX EΞ ΥΠΑΤΟ Β, eagle standing, head left, ram, head turned back, running left between legs. McAlee 881; Prieur 298. 10.74g, 27mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive bust type. 250

908. Philip I Æ39 of Diocaesarea, Cilicia. AD 244-249. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, star countermark within circle incuse before / Two Tyches facing one another, that on the left seated, that on the right standing, holding rudder and cornucopiae, river-god Calycadnos swimming left below. SNG France 879; SNG Levante 676; Howgego 470 for c/m. 20.68g, 39mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 100

909. Philip I BI Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 248. ΑΥΤΟΚ Κ Μ ΙΟΥΛΙ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CΕΒ, radiate and cuirassed bust left / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Γ, eagle standing right, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak. McAlee 919a; Prieur 354. 12.90g, 28mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. 200

910. Philip I AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 248. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC, laureate and cuirassed bust left /ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ OYXIAX ΥΠΑΤOΓ, eagle standing facing, head left, ANTIOXIA SC in two lines in exergue. McAlee 932; Prieur 351. 11.28g, 27mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

911. Philip II, as Caesar, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 244. MAP IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC KЄCAP, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ΔHAMPX ЄΞOYCIAC, eagle, head and tail left, holding wreath in beak and standing on palm; SC in exergue. McAlee 1008; Prieur 333. 11.85g, 27mm, 1h.


910 911

912. Philip II AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 249. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ΔHMAPX ЄΞOYCIAC ΥΠΑΤΟ Δ, eagle, head left and tail right, holding wreath in beak; ANTIOXIA / S C below. McAlee 1043; Prieur 473. 12.33g, 26mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 200

913. Philip II AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 249. AYTOK K M IOYΛI ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left /ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ OYXIAX ΥΠΑΤOΔ, eagle standing facing, head left, ANTIOXIA SC in two lines in exergue. McAlee 1047; Prieur 468. 13.96g, 26mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

912 913

217

The Stone of El-Gabal

917. Uranius Antoninus Æ32 of Emesa, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria. Dated SE 565 = AD 253-254. AVTOKCOVΛΠ AN TѠNЄINOCCЄ, laureate bust right, wearing paludamentum and cuirass / ЄMICѠN KOΛΩN, hexastyle temple of Elagabal at Emesa containing the conical stone of Elagabal shaded by two parasols; crescent in pediment, ЄΞΦ in exergue. BMC 24; Baldus 38-42; R. Delbrueck, “Uranius of Emesa,” NC 1948, Series I, 2; SNG Hunterian 3174. 26.70g, 32mm, 12h.


The literary sources are unclear about Uranius: Zosimus places him as a usurper during the reign of Gallienus, supported by the usual imperial title AVTOK, while John Malalas, a contemporary Christian writer, notes that he was the hereditary high priest of the sun-god El Gabal, a principal deity of Emesa. The reverse type here indicates that this was the case.

It is understood that Uranius came to prominence while trying to defend the city of Emesa from the army of the Sassanid king Shapur I, who was returning from sacking Antioch. Numismatic evidence from a provincial bronze coin securely dates the reign of Uranius to the 565th year of the Seleucid Era, providing a chronological anchor of AD 253/4 for his rebellion, neatly tying in with the literary sources.

916. Gallienus Æ31 of Antiochia ad Maeandrum, Caria. AD 253-268. Radiate, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield / Bridge spanning the Maeandrus river; gateway to bridge to left, surmounted by stork standing right; on parapet, river-god Maeandrus reclining left, holding reed and cornucopiae. SNG München 92; SNG von Aulock 2430; SNG Copenhagen –. 20.98g, 31mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Scarce. 1,000

915. Trebonianus Gallus BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 3, AD 252/3. AK Γ OVIB TPЄB ΓAΛΛOC ЄV CЄB, laureate bust right, wearing paludamentum and cuirass / Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Dattari (Savio) 5713. 11.57g, 23mm, 12h.


914. Herennia Etruscilla Æ24 of Selge, Pamphylia. AD 249-251. Diademed and draped bust of Herennia Etruscilla to right set on crescent / Low podium supporting two altars and two sacred trees. SNG France 2073. 4.95g, 24mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Beautiful glossy green patina. Extremely Rare. 500

218

THE ROMAN REPUBLICAttractively Toned Republican Didrachm

918. Anonymous AR Didrachm. Rome, circa 265-242 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind / ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, T in right field. Crawford 22/1; Sydenham 21; RSC 7; HN Italy 295. 6.62g, 19mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 5,000

Ex Mayflower Collection, Heritage 3019, 26 April 2012, lot 23227.

Following the victory over the Samnites, the Senate instated a new, standardised monetary system. For the first two decades, bronze bars were the predominant issues, after which point Roman silver coinage began to appear. Crawford dates this type to the First Punic War following the Roman intervention on behalf of the Mamertini. The legend ROMANO as appears on this type was later shortened to ROMA, although the significance of this change is unclear. Cf. Mattingly, H., The First Ages of Roman Coinage, Journal of Roman Studies 35, Parts 1 and 2 (1945), pp 65-77.

919. Anonymous AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint, circa 225-212 BC. Laureate head of Janus / Jupiter, holding sceptre and thunderbolt, in quadriga right, driven by Victory; ROMA incuse on a tablet in relief in linear frame. Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64; RSC 23. 6.60g, 25mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. Struck on a broad flan and lightly toned. 1,000

920. Anonymous Æ Sextans. Semilibral Standard. Rome, 217-215 BC. Head of Mercury right wearing winged petasos; two pellets above / Prow of galley right; ROMA above, two pellets below. Crawford 38/5; Sydenham 85; BMCRR 59. 25.18g, 28mm, 3h.

Good Fine. 200

921. Anonymous Æ Uncia. Rome, 217-215 BC. Helmeted head of Roma left, pellet behind / ROMA, prow right, pellet below. Sydenham 86; Crawford 38/6; BMC 88. 12.17g, 24mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 150

922. Anonymous AR Quinarius. After 211 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / The Dioscuri riding right, stars above, ROMA in linear frame below. Sydenham 141; Crawford 44/6. 2.20g, 17mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Struck on a very broad flan for the type, well preserved and lightly toned. 300

219

923. Anonymous AR Quinarius. After 211 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / The Dioscuri riding right, stars above, ROMA in linear frame below. Sydenham 141; Crawford 44/6. 2.20g, 16mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned; an excellent example of the type. 200

924. Anonymous AV 20 Asses. Sicily, 211-210 BC. Bearded head of Mars right, wearing Corinthian helmet; XX behind / Eagle on thunderbolt right; ROMA and corn-ear below. Crawford 72/2; Sydenham 234; Kestner -; Bahrfeldt 6b. 1.11g, 10mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 3,000

925. Q. Fabius Maximus AR Denarius. Rome, 127 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, XVI monogram below chin, ROMA behind and Q MAX before / Cornucopiae superimposed on thunderbolt, all within wreath. Crawford 265/1; Fabia 5; Sydenham 478; Catalli 358. 3.92g, 18mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 300

926. L. Saufeius AR Denarius. Rome, 152 BC. Helmeted bust of Roma right, X behind / Victory in galloping biga right, L.SAVF below horses; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 204/1; Saufeia 1; Sydenham 384. 3.76g, 20mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasing golden tones around the devices. 200

927. C. Junius C. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 149 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, C•IVNI•C•F beneath; ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 210/1; Sydenham 392; Junia 1. 3.62g, 19mm, 9h.

Very Fine. Attractively toned. 200

928. Q. Marcius Libo AR Denarius. Rome, 148 BC. Helmeted bust of Roma right, LIBO behind, X before / The Dioscuri riding right; Q MARC below horses, ROMA in exergue. Marcia 1; Crawford 215; Sydenham 396. 4.59g, 20mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. Light tone with hints of gold around the devices. 300

220

929. C. Augurinus AR Denarius. Rome, 135 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA behind, X below chin / Aeolic column decorated with two bells at the top and two lions’ foreparts at the base on left, togate figure holding a dish and a loaf, left foot on modius, on right, togate figure, holding lituus in right hand, C.A - VG across fields. Crawford 242/1; Sydenham 463; Kestner 2195-6; BMCRR Rome 952-4; Minucia 3. 3.84g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 200

930. L. Pomponius Cn. f. AR Denarius. Narbo, 112-109 BC. L. POMPONI. CNF, head of Roma right, wearing winged Attic helmet; X behind / L. LIC. CN DOM in exergue, naked warrior (Bituitus) standing right, holding shield, carnyx, and reins in biga galloping right. Crawford 282/4; Sydenham 522. 3.89g, 21mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned with underlying lustre. 300

931. Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 115-114 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind, ROMA below / Roma, helmeted, seated right on two shields, holding spear before her; wolf standing right at her feet, head turned back, suckling Romulus and Remus; in left and right fields, two birds flying towards her. Crawford 287/1; Sydenham 530; Kestner 2478-81; BMC Italy 562-5; RSC (Anonymous) 176. 3.92g, 21mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 300

L. Valerius Flaccus AR Denarius. Rome, 108-107 BC. Draped bust of Victory right; below chin, XVI monogram / Mars advancing left, holding spear and trophy, apex before, grain ear behind, L. VALERI FLACCI in two lines downward in left field. Crawford 306/1; Sydenham 565; Valeria 11. 3.78g, 20mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 250

932.

L. Thorius Balbus AR Denarius. Rome, 105 BC. Head of Juno Sospita right wearing goat’s skin, I. S. M. R. behind / Bull charging right, L above, L. THORIVS below, BALBVS in exergue. Thoria 1; Crawford 316/1; Sydenham 598. 3.93g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 200

933.

D Junius L. f. Silanus AR Denarius. Rome, 91 BC. Diademed bust of Salus right within torque; SALVS below / Victory in biga right; ROMA beneath; D SILANVS in exergue. Crawford 337/2b; Sydenham 645. 4.00g, 19mm, 12h.


Ex A. Tkalec, October 2007, lot 89.

934.

221

935. C. Norbanus AR Denarius. Rome, 83 BC. Diademed head of Venus right, C. NORBANVS below, CXXXXV behind / Ear of barley, fasces, and caduceus. Crawford 357/1b; Sydenham 739. 3.90g, 20mm, 10h.


936. L. Cornelius Sulla AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Sulla, 84-83 BC. Diademed bust of Venus right; L•SVLLA below; cupid with long palm branch before / Capis and lituus between two trophies; IMPER above; ITERVM below. Crawford 359/2; Sydenham 761; Cornelia 29. 3.64g, 18mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; attractively toned. Rare. 350

937. C. Annius T. f. T. n. and L. Fabius Hispaniensis AR Denarius. North Italy or Spain, 82-81 BC. C ANNI T F T N PRO COS EX S C, diademed and draped female bust right, winged caduceus behind, scales before, control mark below / Victory, holding reins and palm, driving galloping quadriga right; Q above, L FABI L F HISP in exergue. Crawford 366/1; BMC Spain 1; Annia 2; Sydenham 748. 3.93g, 20mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. 250

938. M. Caecilius Q. f. Q. n. Metellus AR Denarius. Rome, circa 82-80 BC. Head of Apollo right, hair tied with band, ROMA behind, XVI monogram below chin / Macedonian shield decorated with elephant’s head right, M. METELLVS. Q. F. around; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 369/1; Sydenham 719; Caecilia 30. 3.88g, 17mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Rare and well preserved for the issue. 500

939. L. Procilius AR Denarius. Rome, 80 BC. Bust of Jupiter right; S.C behind / Juno Sospita advancing right with shield, spear aloft and serpent before; L.PROCILI.F behind. Sydenham 771; Crawford 379/1. 3.83g, 17mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. 200

940. P. Satrienus AR Denarius. Rome, 77 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, control mark VII / She-wolf left, ROMA above, P. SATRIE-NVS in exergue. Crawford 388/1b; Satriena 1; Sydenham 781a. 3.93g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine; attractive toning. 300

Ex Peus Auction 372, 30 October 2002, lot 959.

222

L. Rustius AR Denarius. Rome, 76 BC. Helmeted head of Mars right, S•C behind; XVI monogram below chin / Ram standing right, L•RVSTI below. Crawford 389/1; Sydenham 782; Rustia 1. 4.01g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; pleasant toning. 400

Ex Künker Auction 111, 18 March 2006, lot 6423.

941.

Mn. Aquillius Mn. f. Mn. n. AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 71 BC. Helmeted bust of Virtus right, VIRTVS III VIR around / The consul Manius Aquillius standing facing, holding shield and raising slumped Sicilian by the arm; MN AQVIL right; MN F MN N left; SICIL in exergue. Crawford 401/1; Sydenham 798. 3.96g, 20mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. Good metal; lightly toned. 300

The moneyer was probably the son of Manius Aquillius, who shared the consulship with Gaius Marius in 101 BC. Following the consulship, Aquillius was sent to crush the slave revolt in Sicily. He completely subdued the insurgents, and earned a triumph in Rome in 100 BC. In 98 BC, Lucius Fufius accused Aquillius of corruption during his governance of Sicily. In the trial he was defended by Marcus Antonius Orator (the grandfather of Marc Antony), and despite overwhelming evidence against him, he was acquitted as a result of his military achievements. Cf. Plutarch, The Life of Marius.

942.

C. Hosidius C. f. Geta AR Denarius. Rome, 68 BC. Draped bust of Diana right, wearing stephane, earring, and double necklace of pendants; bow and quiver over shoulder; III VIR downwards to left, GETA downwards to right / Calydonian Boar standing right, pierced by spear and harried by hound below; C HOSIDI C F in exergue. Crawford 407/2; Sydenham 903; Kestner 3317-3318; BMCRR Rome 3389-3391; Hosidia 1. 3.98g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 350

943.

M. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus AR Denarius. Rome, 67 BC. Bust of ‘Vacuna’ right, wearing a wreathed and crested helmet, bow and quiver on shoulder; cornucopiae below chin; CESTIANVS behind; S•C before / Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, head left; M• PLAETORIVS M•F•AED•CVR around. Crawford 409/1; Sydenham 809; Plaetoria 4. 3.90g, 19mm, 5h. Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 400

944.

Q. Pomponius Musa AR Denarius. Rome, 66 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, sandal behind / Thalia standing left, holding comic mask, resting elbow on column, Q POMPONI on right, MVSA on left. Crawford 410/9b. 4.17g, 18mm, 6h.

Virtually Mint State. Beautiful iridescent toning and well centred on a broad flan. A choice example. 1,500

Thalia, like all the Muses, is the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne and the eighth born of the nine. Her name means ‘the joyous’, or ‘the flourishing’, and she presides over comedy and idyllic poetry.

945.

Thalia, Muse of Comedy and Idyllic Poetry

223

L. Furius Brocchus AR Denarius. Rome, 63 BC. III VIR BROCCHI, bust of Ceres right, between wheat-ear and barley corn / L FVRI C N F, curule chair between fasces. Sydenham 902; Crawford 414/1. 3.67g, 19mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. Well centred, and struck on a full flan with attractive iridescent toning. 200

946.

P. Fonteius P. f. Capito AR Denarius. Rome, 55 BC. P FONTEIVS P F CAPITO III VIR, helmeted and draped bust of Mars Tropaeophorus right, trophy over shoulder / MN FONT TR MIL, Roman horseman thrusting his spear at a Gallic enemy who is about to slay an unarmed comrade. Crawford 429/1; Sydenham 900. 4.00g, 18mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine, with attractive iridescent tone. 500

947.

C. Coelius Caldus AR Denarius. Rome, 51 BC. Head of C. Coelius Caldus right, C COEL CALDVS before, COS below, tablet inscribed LD behind / Head of Sol right, oval shield decorated with thunderbolt behind, Macedonian shield below chin, CALDVS III VIR before. Crawford 437/1a. 3.92g, 19mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 400

948.

Ex Lynn Collection

C. Coelius Caldus AR Denarius. Rome, 51 BC. Head of Coelius Caldus right, C COEL CALDVS downwards, COS below, standard inscribed HIS behind, standard in the form of a boar before / Table, inscribed L CALDVS VII VR (ligate) EP VL (ligate), with figure behind preparing epulum; on left, trophy with Macedonian shield; on right, trophy with carnyx and oval shield decorated with thunderbolt; on far left, C•CALDVS downwards; on far right, IMP A X downwards; below, CALDVS III VIR. Crawford 437/2a; Sydenham 894; Coelia 7. 3.75g, 17mm, 3h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex A. Lynn Collection; Helios 4, 14 October 2009, lot 137;Ex CNG 54, 14 June 2000, lot 1293.

949.

Q. Sicinius and C. Coponius AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Pompey, 49 BC. Diademed head of Apollo right, III VIR behind, XVI monogram below, Q SICINIVS before / Club of Hercules, arrow and bow, C COPONIVS PR S C around. Crawford 444/1a; Sydenham 939. 3.98g, 17mm, 3h.


From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Numismatica Genevensis 3, 30 November 2004, lot 99.

This coinage was struck by Sicinius for the use of the fleet commanded by Coponius in the East for Pompey. To justify this action the formula SC was added to make it appear as under senatorial authority.

950.

224

L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus AR Denarius. Apollonia, 49 BC. Head of Apollo right; L. LENT. C. MARC. COS. around / Jupiter standing right, eagle in left hand over garlanded altar, thunderbolt in right; star and Q in left field. Crawford 445/2. 3.46g, 18mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. Rare. 750

951.

L. Hostilius Saserna AR Denarius. Rome, 48 BC. Female head right wearing oak wreath / L HOSTILIVS SASERNA, Victory walking right, holding trophy over left shoulder, and caduceus in right hand. Crawford 4481/1a; Sydenham 951; Hostilia 5. 3.99g, 19mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 500

952.

C. Vibius C. f. C. n. Pansa Caetronianus AR Denarius. Rome, 48 BC. Mask of bearded Pan right, PANSA below / Jupiter Axurus (or Anxurus) seated left, holding patera in right hand, sceptre in left, C VIBIVS C F C N IOVIS AXVR around. Crawford 449/1a; CRI 20; Sydenham 947; Kestner 3543; BMCRR Rome 3978; Vibia 18. 3.72g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. A superior example of the type. 500

953.

Mn. Cordius Rufus AR Denarius. Rome, 46 BC. Corinthian helmet with crest on which an owl stands; RVFVS left / The aegis of Minerva with head of Medusa in the centre; MN CORDIVS around. Crawford 463/2; Sydenham 978; Cordia 4. 3.99g, 19mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine, exceptionally well struck for this issue. 500

954.

T. Carisius AR Denarius. Rome, 46 BC. Head of Juno Moneta right / Implements for coining money: anvil die with garlanded punch die above; tongs and hammer on either side; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 464/2; CRI 70; Sydenham 982a; Carisia 1a. 3.72g, 19mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. A beautiful specimen of this type which, ironically, is nearly always poorly struck. 1,000

955.

C. Considius Paetus AR Denarius. Rome, 46 BC. Helmeted bust of Minerva right / Victory driving quadriga right, C. CONSIDI in exergue. Crawford 465/5; Sydenham 992. 3.81g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Scarce.

956.

Well Struck T. Carisius Denarius

225

COINS OF THE IMPERATORS

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar, 49-48 BC. Elephant walking right, trampling on serpent, CAESAR in exergue / Simpulum, aspergillum, axe (surmounted by wolf’s head), and apex. Sear 9; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006. 3.64g, 19mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 750

957.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Caesar, 48-47 BC. Female head right, wearing oak wreath and diadem; mark of value behind / Trophy with Gallic shield and carnyx, axe to right, CAE-SAR below. Crawford 452/2; Julia 26; Sydenham 1009. 4.04g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; toned. 750

958.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. African mint, 47 BC. Diademed bust of Venus right / Aeneas advancing left, carrying palladium in right hand and Anchises on left shoulder; CAESAR to right. Julia 10; Crawford 458/1; Sydenham 1013; Sear 55. 3.58g, 19mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. 750

959.


Extremely Fine. Unusually attractive style. 750

960.


Extremely Fine. 500

961.

226

Julius Caesar AV Aureus. Rome, early 46 BC. A. Hirtius, praetor. Veiled female head (Vesta or Pietas?) right; C•CAESAR COS•TER around / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: lituus, guttus, and securis; A HIRTIVS PR around lower left. Crawford 466/1; CRI 56; Sydenham 1018; BMCRR Rome 4050. 8.15g, 21mm, 9h.

Good Fine. 1,500

962.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Uncertain mint, 46 BC. Head of Ceres right, wearing grain ear wreath; COS TERT downwards behind, DICT ITER upwards before / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, capis, and lituus; D to right, AVGVR above, PONT•MAX below. Crawford 467/1a; Sydenham 1023; RSC 4a. 4.23g, 18mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 300

963.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Uncertain mint, 46 BC. Head of Ceres right, wearing grain ear wreath; COS TERT downwards behind, DICT ITER upwards before / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, capis, and lituus; M to right, AVGVR above, PONT•MAX below. Crawford 467/1b; Sydenham 1024; RSC 4. 3.80g, 18mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 300

964.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BC. Head of Venus right, wearing stephane; Cupid behind shoulder / Trophy of Gallic arms between two seated captives: female resting head in right hand to left, and bearded male with hands tied behind back on right; CAESAR in exergue. Crawford 468/1; CRI 58; RSC 13; Sydenham 1014; Kestner 3641-3643; BMCRR Spain 86. 3.92g, 18mm, 6h.


965.


Extremely Fine. 500

966.


Good Very Fine. 350

967.

227

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BC. Draped bust of Venus left, wearing stephane; small Cupid at point of bust; lituus to left, sceptre to right / Trophy of Gallic arms, holding a shield and carnyx in each hand; on left, kneeling bearded male captive left, looking right; on right, seated female captive right, resting head in hand; CAESAR in exergue. Crawford 468/2; CRI 59; Sydenham 1015; Kestner 3644; BMCRR Spain 86-8; RSC 14. 4.36g, 18mm, 10h.


968.

Julius Caesar Æ Dupondius. Rome, late 46-early 45 BC. C. Clovius, prefect. Winged and draped bust of Victory right, CAESAR DIC TER before / Minerva advancing left, holding trophy over shoulder and spears and shield; at feet to left, snake gliding left with head erect; C CLOVLI PRAEF around. Crawford 476/1a; CRI 62; Sydenham 1025. 14.21g, 28mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Attractive Tiber tone. 350

969.

Mint State Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, January-February 44 BC. Lifetime issue. M. Mettius, moneyer. CAESAR • IMP, wreathed head of Caesar right; lituus and simpulum behind / M • METTIVS, Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory in outstretched right hand and transverse sceptre in left, resting her left elbow on shield set on celestial globe; L to left. Crawford 480/3; CRI 100; Sydenham 1056; Kestner -; BMCRR Rome 4143; RSC 34. 3.85g, 18mm, 3h.

Mint State. Lightly toned. 5,000

Ex A. Tkalec, 8 September 2008, lot 179.

970.

228

Excellent Condition for the Issue

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, January-February 44 BC. Lifetime issue. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, wreathed head of Caesar right / P • SEPVLLIVS MACER, Venus standing left, holding Victory and sceptre resting on star. Crawford 480/11; Sydenham 1072; Babelon 49; Sepullia 4; C 40. 3.94g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lightly toned and excellent condition for the issue. Rare. 5,000

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 46, 1989, lot 498.

971.

Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, April 44 BC. C. Cossutius Maridianus, moneyer. CAESAR PARENS PATRIAE, laureate and veiled head right; apex behind, lituus before / C•COSSVTIVS and MARIDIANVS arranged in form of cross; A A A F•F in angles. Crawford 480/19; Alföldi Type XVII, 49-52, 54-5, and 61-2 (A10/R5); CRI 112; Sydenham 1069; RSC 8. 3.36g, 18mm.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous metal. 1,000

972.

Sextus Pompey Æ As. Sicilian mint, circa 42-38 BC. Laureate head of Janus with the features of Cn. Pompeius Magnus, MAGN (ligate) above / Prow of galley to right, PIVS above, IMP below. Crawford 479/1; CRI 336; Sydenham 1044; RPC I 671. 25.11g, 32mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Attractive emerald-green patina. 500

973.

229

Sextus Pompey AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Sicily (Catania?), 42-40 BC. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, diademed and bearded head of Neptune right; trident over left shoulder / Naval trophy set on anchor, top of trident visible above helmet; the arms composed of the stem of a prow in right and aplustre in left; two heads of Scylla at base; PRAEF CLAS ET ORAE MARIT EX S C around. Crawford 511/2a; RSC 1a; Sydenham 1347; Sear 333. 3.60g, 18mm, 12h.

Usual flatness from striking, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned and superb for the issue. 3,000

It has been remarked that the coinage of Sextus Pompey was a step towards the propagandistic issues of the Roman emperors. Having decided upon an affinity with Neptune, he minted a series of coins depicting the god and continuing his theme of pietas. This virtue was highly valued in Roman society; the city’s founder Aeneas’ epithet is pius and tradition details that his piety was three-fold; to his father, his homeland and the gods.

Pompey was not the only imperator to draw upon the Aeneas myth on his coinage (see Crawford 458/1), however he was unique in commandeering a theme and using it repeatedly. His earliest denarii feature a personification of the goddess Pietas (Crawford 477/1a), but references become subtler and more complex on later issues as per the present example. Here, Pompey Magnus is remembered within the obverse legend, with Pietas also explicitly referenced. Sextus Pompey does not allow us to forget that it was the Senate who declared him praefectus classis et orae maritima, tying his patriotism in neatly. This military title lends itself obviously to Neptune, whose portrait is displayed on the obverse. The naval trophy not only alludes to Pompey’s naval victories but also to his piety towards Neptune to whom he is reported to have sacrificed 100 bulls and in whose honour a live horse was flung into the sea, along with an offering of gold (Florus 2.18.3).

974.

A Superb Sextus Pompey Trophy Denarius

230

Sextus Pompey AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Sicily, (Catania?), 37-36 BC. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right; capis behind, lituus before / Neptune standing left, holding aplustre in right hand, resting right foot on prow, between the Catanaean brothers, Anapias and Amphinomus, carrying their parents on their shoulders, PRAEF above, CLAS ET ORAE MARIT EX S C in two lines in exergue. Crawford 511/3a; Sydenham 1344; Sear 334; RRC 511/3a; BMCRR Sicily 7; Pompeia 27; Catalli 2001, 824. 3.92g, 18mm, 11h.

Very Fine. 500

976.

Very Rare Marc Antony Denarius

Marc Antony and Octavian AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony, 41 BC. L. Gellius Poplicola, quaestor pro praetore. M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C L GELL Q P, bare head of Mark Antony right; capis to left / CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C, bare head of Octavian right; lituus to left. Crawford 517/8; CRI 250; Sydenham 1188; RSC 10. 3.85g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Very Rare. 2,000

Ex CNG 3004, 4 January 2009, lot 20058.

977.

Sextus Pompey AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Sicily (Catania?), 42-40 BC. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right; capis behind, lituus before / Neptune standing left, holding aplustre in right hand, resting right foot on prow, between the Catanaean brothers, Anapias and Amphinomus, carrying their parents on their shoulders, PRÆF above, CLAS ET ORÆ MARIT EX S C in two lines in exergue. Crawford 511/3a; Sydenham 1344; Sear 334; RRC 511/3a; BMCRR Sicily 7; Pompeia 27; Catalli 2001, 824. 3.96g, 20mm, 11h.

Virtually Mint State. 2,500

Ex Chiltern Collection;Ex A. Tkalec, 18 February 2002, lot 119;

This coin of Sextus Pompey is rich with symbolism. The reverse alludes not only to Sextus’ command of the seas and the probable location of the mint through the legend of Amphinomus and Anapias, but is also a reference to the piety of Sextus Pompey in upholding the Republican ideals of his late father, who is depicted on the obverse.

In the ancient version of the legend there was but one pious hero, though by later times this had evolved into the tale that would have been familiar to the Pompeians, and which provided the inspiration for the final verses of the pseudo-Virgilian poem ‘Aetna’. Though the reverse of this coin clearly references the later retelling of the story, Sextus may well have identified more closely with the original form as related by Lycurgus: “A stream of fire burst forth from Etna. This stream, so the story goes, flowing over the countryside, drew near a certain city of the Sicilians. Most men, thinking of their own safety, took to flight; but one of the youths, seeing that his father, now advanced in years, could not escape and was being overtaken by the fire, lifted him up and carried him. Hindered no doubt by the additional weight of his burden, he too was overtaken. And now let us observe the mercy shown by the Gods towards good men. For we are told that the fire spread round that spot in a ring and only those two men were saved, so that the place is still called the Place of the Pious, while those who had fled in haste, leaving their parents to their fate, were all consumed.”

975.

An Allegory of Filial Loyalty and Piety

231

Marc Antony, Octavian, and M. Barbatius AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony (Ephesus?), 41 BC. M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P, bare head of Marc Antony right / CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C, bare head of Octavian right, with slight beard. Sear 243; Crawford 517/2; Sydenham 1181. 3.74g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Attractively toned. 750

978.

A Bold Portrait Issue for Marc Antony

Marc Antony and Octavia AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Ephesus, 39 BC. M ANTONIVS IMP COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath, lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers / III VIR R P C, draped bust of Octavia right above cista, flanked by coiled serpents. RPC I 2201; CRI 262; Sydenham 1197; RSC 2. 11.82g, 28mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. A bold, high relief portrait of Antony; beautifully toned with gold and turquoise iridescent flashes. 5,000

Following the death of Octavia’s first husband C. Claudius Marcellus in 40 BC, her marriage to Antony sought to seal the Pact of Brundisium in which it had been agreed that Octavian would assume control of the west and Antony of the east. The striking of this type cements the agreement before the people of Ephesus, an important city, later made the capital of Asia Minor by Augustus in 27 BC.

Octavia spent two winters with Antony in Athens and in 37 BC assisted in securing the Triumvirate for another 5 years at the Pact of Tarentum. Following this, Antony returned to the east and, having left Octavia behind, lived with Cleopatra in Egypt. Although they divorced in 32 BC, after Antony’s defeat at the Battle of Actium and subsequent suicide, Octavia raised all of his surviving children by Fulvia and Cleopatra, along with her own.

979.

232

Very Well Preserved for the Issue

Marc Antony AR Denarius. Athens, summer 38 BC. Mark Antony, veiled, and wearing the priestly robes of an augur, standing right, holding lituus in right hand; M ANTONIVS M F M N AVGVR IMP TERT around / Radiate head of Sol right; III VIR R P C COS DESIG ITER ET TERT around. Crawford 533/2; CRI 267; Sydenham 1199; Kestner 3822-3823; BMCRR East 141-143; RSC 13. 3.84g, 19mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine, very well preserved for this issue, which is difficult to find in good condition. 1,000

980.

Only Instance of a Signed Republican Coin

Marc Antony AR Denarius. Athens, 32 BC. M. Junius Silanus, quaestor proconsul. ANTON AVG IMP III COS DES III V R P C, bare head of Marc Antony right; in hair below ear, small P / ANTONIVS AVG IMP III in two lines. Crawford 542/2; CRI 347; Sydenham 1209; RSC 2. 3.76g, 20mm, 5h.

Lightly toned. Good Very Fine. 1,000

The small P on the obverse represents the only example of an artist engraving his initials on a Roman Republican coin. This fact went unnoticed for centuries, until it was first pointed out in a Santamaria sales catalogue in 1920.

981.

Marc Antony Legionary AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony (Patrae?), 32-31 BC. ANT. AVG. III. VIR. R. P. C, praetorian galley to right / LEG II, aquila between two standards. RSC 27; Sydenham 1216; Sear 349; Crawford 544/14. 3.85g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful iridescent toning. 1,000

982.

Marc Antony Legionary AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Antony (Patrae?), 32-31 BC. ANT. AVG. III. VIR. R. P. C, praetorian galley to right / LEG III, aquila between two standards. RSC 28; Crawford 544/15; Sydenham 1216. 3.59g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 350

983.

233

COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Augustus AR Cistophorus. Ephesus, circa 25 BC. IMP CAESAR, bare head right / AVGVSTVS, capricorn to right, head turned back to left, cornucopiae on its back; all within wreath. RIC 477; RPC 2213. 11.97g, 25mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. 5,000

The significance of the constellation Capricorn to Augustus is subject to debate, with some ancient sources reporting that it was his birth sign and others relating that he was conceived under the sign - the latter tying in with his official birthday on 23rd-24th September. Although we now view conception and birth as two separate events, the Romans viewed conception through to birth as a continuous process.

Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits Capricorn from late December to late January, marking midwinter and the shortest day of the year. For this reason, often it was considered a hostile sign but Augustus chose to interpret it positively since it had governed two major events in his life - the granting of imperium to him by the Senate in January 43 BC, and the acceptance of the title Augustus on 16 January 27 BC.

The capricorn is represented as a goat with a fish tail, and is often thought to be a representation of Pan escaping an attack by the monster Typhon. Having jumped into the Nile, the half of Pan’s body which was submerged was transformed into a fish. An alternative interpretation is that the goat is Amalthea, who suckled the infant Zeus after Rhea rescued him from being devoured by his father Cronus. The broken horn of Amalthea transformed into the cornucopiae, which on the present example is carried on the back of the capricorn. It is a symbol of fertility and abundance, and here accompanies the corona civica, awarded to Romans who saved the lives of fellow citizens by slaying an enemy, but in the case of Augustus for having saved the entire Roman citizenry from the horrors of further civil war.

In 27 BC, Augustus had declared Ephesus capital of Asia Minor, promoting the city above the former capital Pergamum. The decision to use such striking imagery alongside his birth sign for issues minted in the new capital reinforced Augustus as the head of the new imperial regime.

984.

Very Well Preserved Cistophorus of Augustus

234

Augustus Ӕ Sestertius. Uncertain Asian mint, circa 25 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head right / CA within rostral wreath. C.J. Howgego, Coinage and Military Finance: the Imperial Bronze Coinage of the Augustan East, in NC 1983, p. 7, 2a, pl. 1, 9; RIC 501 (Pergamum); BMC 713 (Pergamum); CBN 956 (Pergamum); RPC 2233 (Asia). 21.70g, 35mm, 12h.

Essentially As Struck, as such Very Rare for this issue. 2,000

A most elegant portrait of the young Augustus early in his reign, enhanced with a beautiful light green patina. The mint identity and reverse legend of the Augustan CA issues has long been discussed. For a survey of theories see RPC I, pp. 380-381.

Following the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra, Augustus returned to Italy via Asia, most likely personally sanctioning at Pergamum the temple dedicated to himself and Rome. At the end of the civil war, Augustus sought to restore peace to the empire and to reinforce her frontiers. This was achieved by establishing diplomatic relations with the surrounding rulers, and the placement of Agrippa as proconsul of Asia Minor once Augustus had returned to Rome in 19 BC. CA may refer to the stabilised Communitas Asiae.

985.

Superb Sestertius of Augustus

Augustus AR Denarius. North Peloponnesian mint, circa 21 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head right / Laurel wreath intertwined with prows, the wreath ties arranged centrally. RIC 473; BMC 669. 3.70g, 18mm, 3h.

Near Extremely Fine. Scarce. 750

986.

Perpetual Conqueror and Saviour

Augustus AR Denarius. Spanish mint (Tarraco?), circa 20-16 BC. Laureate head right / Two laurel trees, CAESAR above, AVGVSTVS below. RIC 51; RSC 47. 3.87g, 20mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful toning around the devices. 2,000

On 16 January 27 BC, Octavian formally handed back all power to the Roman Senate, who in return conferred upon him the titles of Augustus and Princeps and according to Dio Cassius, “in addition to numerous honours already conferred on Augustus, it was ordained by the Senate and people that laurel trees should be planted in front of his palace, and oaken crowns suspended on them, as though he were the perpetual conqueror of the enemies, and saviour of the citizens of the Republic.”

987.

235

Highly Lustrous Denarius of Augustus

Augustus AR Denarius. Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?), circa 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / Round shield inscribed CL•V, aquila and signum flanking, SIGNIS above, RECEPTIS below, S P Q R around. RIC 86a; RSC 265. 3.77g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 2,000

Ex Stack’s (Saint Ludovico and Firth of Clyde Collections), 22 April 2009, lot 1370.

The Parthian kingdom had been a threat to Rome’s eastern frontier for several decades before Augustus had become emperor, and in 53 BC three legionary eagles had been captured at the Battle of Carrhae, where the Romans suffered a crushing defeat under the command of Crassus. The loss of the legionary eagles was a source of great shame for Rome, but they were regained by Augustus following the success of his diplomacy with the Parthian king and this is celebrated on the reverse type.

The clipeus votivus, or votive shield, was an ancient custom, and in his Aeneid Virgil relates that Aeneas dedicated a shield to Apollo Actius (V. 235). Given the Aeneid’s prevalence as a propagandistic tale of Rome’s founding, it is difficult to deny a connection between the importance of Actium to both Aeneas and Augustus and well as the reference to Augustus’ supposed line of descent from Aeneas, via his adoption by Julius Caesar.

988.

Augustus AR Denarius. Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?), circa 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / Round shield inscribed CL•V, aquila and signum flanking, SIGNIS above, RECEPTIS below, S P Q R around. RIC 86a; BMC 418. 3.91g, 19mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. 350

989.

Augustus AR Denarius. Caesaraugusta, circa 19-18 BC. AVGVSTVS below bare head of Augustus right / AEGYPT above, CAPTA below crocodile to right. Unpublished in the standard references. The obverse portrait type and legend is in the style of the first issue attributed to Colonia Caesaraugusta, cf. CBN 1279, RIC 28 and BMC 315. The reverse type and legend is that of the 27 BC issue attributed to the mint of Pergamum, cf. CBN 935, RIC 544 and BMC 655. 3.28g, 22mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Previously unknown and of the highest rarity. 3,000

The capture of Egypt by Octavian in 30 BC was celebrated throughout the nascent empire and it is no surprise that this welcomed novum should emanate from Caesaraugusta, a mint that often followed the repertoire of issues from the main Augustan mints of Italy and Asia Minor.

990.

Augustus AR Denarius. P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Rome, 19/18 BC. TVRPILIANVS III VIR FERON, draped bust of Feronia right, wearing stephane, above which is a row of berries, and pearl necklace / CAESAR AVGVSTVS SIGN RECE, bare-headed Parthian kneeling right, extending in right hand a standard, to which is attached a vexillum marked X, and holding out left hand. RIC 288; RSC 484; BMCRE 14-7; BN 127-37. 4.00g, 18mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasant toning with golden highlights. 300

991.

Previously Unkown Denarius of Augustus

236

Augustus AR Denarius. Lugdunum, 15-13 BC. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head of Augustus right / Apollo Citharoedus standing left in long drapery, holding lyre and plectrum, IMP-X across fields, ACT in exergue. RIC 171a; BMC 461. 3.94g, 20mm, 6h.


993.

Augustus AR Denarius. Q. Rustius, moneyer. Rome, circa 19 BC. Q RVSTIVS FORTVNAE, jugate busts of Fortuna Victrix wearing round helmet and Fortuna Felix, diademed, ANTIAT in exergue / CAESAR AVGVSTO, ornamented rectangular altar inscribed FOR RE, EX SC in exergue. RIC 322. 3.79g, 19mm, 3h.


992.

Rare Sestertius of Augustus

Augustus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 9-14. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head right / Front elevation of the Altar of Lugdunum, decorated with corona civica between laurels, flanked by male figures and Victories on columns facing one another to left and right, ROM ET AVG below. RIC 231a. 26.87g, 32mm, 12h.


Cult worship of Rome and Augustus became a prevalent feature of the provincial cities, with the Altar of Lugdunum dedicated in 12 BC during the time that Augustus’ step-son Nero Claudius Drusus was present to oversee the reorganisation of the region’s administration. The altar was part of a lavish sanctuary to Tres Galliae, the council of the governorships of Gallia Aquitania, Gallia Belgica and Gallia Lugdunensis. Lugdunum was the permanent administrative centre for the three groups, responsible for maintaining the stability of the area under Roman rule.

994.

Divus Augustus Æ As. Rome, AD 22-30. DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head of Divus Augustus left / PROVIDENT in exergue below the Ara Provitentiae Augusti with panelled door and horns, large S – C across fields. RIC 81 (Tiberius); CBN 131 (Tiberius); BMCRE 146 (Tiberius). MIR II-III, pl. 2, 29/7 (Tiberius); Hill, Monuments, 106. 11.03g, 31mm, 7h.


Augustus died in 14 AD at the age of 75 and was immediately deified. He was succeeded as Emperor by his adopted son Tiberius who proceeded to honour several members of his family with commemorative issues. The location of this altar dedicated to the ‘providence’ of Augustus erected by Tiberius is uncertain, probably the Campus Martius. As Mattingly pointed out “the word does not mean ‘providence’ in the ordinary sense, but rather ‘providence’ – the far-sighted wisdom – of Augustus, which distinguished him in life and is remembered as his title to fame after his death’ (BMCRE i, pp. Cxxxixf.).

995.

Divus Augustus Æ Dupondius. Restitution issue under Titus. Rome, AD 80-81. DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER, radiate head left / IMP T VESP AVG REST, eagle standing facing on thunderbolt, head to left, S-C across fields. RIC 469. 12.05g, 29mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 250

996.

237

Tiberius, as Caesar, Ӕ As. Lugdunum, AD 8-10. TI CAESAR AVGVST F IMPERAT V, bare head left / Front elevation of the Altar of Lugdunum, decorated with the corona civica between laurels, flanked by male figures and Victories on columns facing one another to left and right, ROM ET AVG below. RIC 237; BMC 576. 10.39g, 27mm, 3h.


997.

Attractive Aureus of Tiberius

Tiberius AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 36-37. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as Pax, seated right, holding branch and sceptre; plain legs to chair, single exergual line. RIC 25; C. 15; BMC 30. 7.94g, 19mm, 6h.


This reverse type was struck over the greater part of the reign of Tiberius, with the reverse legend of PONTIF MAXIM continuing the obverse title and celebrating Tiberius as the head of the Roman state religion. The seated figure on the reverse is usually taken to be his mother Livia, and on this series she holds a laurel branch and is represented as Pax.

Note the perpendicular features of the reverse; Livia’s sceptre stands at a right angle with the ground, which runs parallel to the line at the base of her chair, and to Livia’s left thigh. The chair legs, in turn, as well as Livia left leg to a lesser extent, again are at right angles to this line running underneath her. This geometric design, and the youthful portrait depicted in fine style on the obverse are typical of earlier issues of this type and its corresponding denarius.

998.

Exceptional Drusus with an Untouched Patina

Drusus Æ As. Rome AD 21-22. Struck under Tiberius. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N, bare head of Drusus to left / PONTIF TRIBVN POTEST ITER around large S C. RIC 45; BMC 99; C. 2. 11.31g, 30mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Wonderful, untouched patina with earthen highlights. An exceptional example. 2,000

The only surviving son of Tiberius, Drusus became Caesar in AD 4 on his father’s adoption by Augustus. Despite his reportedly violent temper, Drusus displayed promise in military and political life; following the death of Augustus he suppressed the mutiny of the Pannonian legions and was consul in AD 15. He was a successful governor in Illyricum AD 17-20 and served as consul again upon his return to Rome. Since his cousin Germanicus, a descendent of both the Julian and Claudian families, had been adopted by Tiberius, Drusus was not in the line of succession. It is notable then that the honour of tribunitia potestas should be conferred upon Drusus, since this was a distinction reserved for the emperor himself or his immediate successor.

999.

Attractive Denarius of Caligula

Gaius Caligula AR Denarius, with Divus Augustus. Lugdunum, AD 37/8. C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, laureate head of Gaius Caligula right / DIVVS AVG PATER PATRIAE, radiate head of Divus Augustus right. RIC 16; BMC 17; RSC 2. 3.80g, 20mm, 5h.


1000.

238

A Magnificent Portrait of Claudius

Claudius Æ Sestertius. Rome, circa AD 41/42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, laureate head right / EX SC OB CIVES SERVATOS in four lines within oak wreath. Von Kaenel type 54; C. 39; BMC 115; RIC 96; CBN 152. 29.60g, 35mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. A magnificent portrait of Claudius in the finest style. 20,000


1001.

239

Claudius Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 41/42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, laureate head right / SPES AVGVSTA, Spes, draped, standing left, holding flower in right hand and raising hem of skirt with left, SC in exergue. Von Kaenel type 55; RIC 99; BMC 124. 25.60g, 34mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 750

1002.

Uncommonly Well Detailed Pax-Nemesis

Claudius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 44-45. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P IIII, laureate head right / PACI AVGVSTAE, Pax-Nemesis advancing right, pulling at fold of drapery with right hand, in left holding a winged caduceus over serpent gliding to right. RIC 27; von Kaenel Type 22; Calicó 366; Biaggi 209; BMCRE 26; BN 40. 7.77g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Uncommonly well detailed Nike, engraved in beautiful style. 20,000

Following his accession to the throne, Claudius oversaw the first major expansion of the empire since the reign of Augustus. Following the appeal of the ally king Verica of the Atrebates, the emperor instigated the conquest of Britannia and was briefly present at the invasion of the island in AD 43. Following the reportedly peaceful surrender of Camulodunum, a temple was dedicated there in Claudius’ honour and the Senate granted him a triumph, celebrated on his return to Rome after a leisurely tour through the provinces. The depiction of Pax-Nemesis on the reverse no doubt refers to the victory over Britannia but the choice of the goddess of ‘peaceful’ retribution rather than Victory is perhaps an indication of Claudius’ military success achieved without excessive bloodshed. The sources report that at the end of Claudius’ reign, he had vastly increased the citizen population of the empire through the foundation of colonies which were then granted citizenship.

1003.

Nero Æ As. Lugdunum, circa AD 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER PM TR P IMP, bare head left; globe at point of bust / Victory flying left, holding round shield inscribed SPQR, S-C across fields. RIC 474; WCN 560; BMC -; CBN -. 11.95g, 29mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

Ex Münz Zentrum 88, 1997, lot 613.

1004.

Attractive Bronze ofNero

240

Attractive Boscoreale Tone

Nero AV Aureus. Rome, AD 64-5. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter, bare to the waist, seated on a throne facing left, holding a thunderbolt in right hand and a long sceptre in left. RIC 52; Calicó 412; BMC 67. 7.34g, 20mm, 6h.

A few hairline marks; Extremely Fine. Attractive ‘Boscoreale’ tone. 7,500

1005.

Nero AV Aureus. Rome, AD 64-65. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter, bare to the waist, seated on a throne facing left, holding a thunderbolt in right hand and a long sceptre in left. RIC 52; Calicó 412; BMC 67. 7.28g, 18mm, 9h.

Scattered marks, otherwise Good Very Fine. 3,000

1006.

Peace Throughout the Empire

Nero Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 65. NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP PP, laureate bust left wearing aegis / PACE PR TERRA MARIQV PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, View of the Temple of Janus with garland hung across closed double doors to left, latticed window to right. RIC 270; BMC 164; C. 134; WCN 140. 28.33g, 33mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful style; wonderful, original patina with untouched surfaces. 3,500

The reverse of this type alludes to the closing of the doors of the Temple of Janus in 66, signifying that there was once again peace throughout the entire Roman world. This extremely rare state of affairs was made possible by the efforts of Nero’s general, Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. Corbulo’s successful prosecution of the war in the east against the Parthians earned him the respect of the military and popularity among the people of Rome, but also the jealousy and fear of Nero who compelled him to take his own life. This type has been dated to AD 65 in RIC which we know to be incorrect since Nero added the title imperator to his name in mid AD 66.

1008.

Nero AV Aureus. Rome, circa AD 66-67. IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter, bare to waist, seated left on throne holding thunderbolt and long sceptre. RIC 63; Calicó 413. 7.31g, 17mm, 6h.


1007.

241

Augustus, the Genius of the Roman People

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. GENIO P. R., bare head of Augustus as the genius of the Roman people, cornucopiae over shoulder / PAX, clasped hands holding winged caduceus flanked by two cornucopiae. Martin 44; C. 391; BMC -; RIC 22; Nicolas 44. 3.62g, 18mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – one of only three or four known examples. 20,000

From the Durand Collection.

Vindex was a descendent of a family of chieftains granted Roman citizenship during the time of Julius Caesar and who were admitted to the Senate by Claudius. On account of this it is tempting to view his revolt as a campaign for Gallic independence. The numismatic evidence, however, suggests the contrary and demonstrates that rather than having an anti-Roman agenda, Vindex was specifically anti-Neronian and anti-tyrannical. His coinage employs consistently Augustan propaganda, recalling the great Pax instilled by Augustus following his defeat of Marc Antony.

The Roman equivalent of the Greek daimon, genius has been defined as ‘the entirety of the traits united in a begotten being’. Utilised by Augustus, the cult of the genius of the paterfamilias, a pillar of client-patron relationships, was invoked at private banquets and alongside the genius Augusti, which linked the Roman people closely to the emperor’s person. Generally represented as a togate male carrying a cornucopiae and sometimes a patera, genius became an important part of feature of Roman ruler-cult. Here however, Vindex elects to present Augustus as genius Populi Romani, an important religious figure during the time of the Republic, perhaps in contrast to the genius Augusti issues of Nero, the tyrant against whom Vindex had taken up arms.

1009.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. DIVVS AVG, laureate head of the deified Augustus to right / SPQR within corona civica, circular jewel in bezel at apex. Martin -; Nicolas -; BMC -; C. -; RIC -, cf. 104. 3.50g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 7,500


Kraay noted the unusual presence of SPQR within a wreath on these coins of Vindex. He states: “it will have been noticed that the earlier formula of SPQR has replaced the Neronian EX SC. In strict Augustan usage SPQR never accompanied the corona, but always the clipeus virtutis of the inscription on which it formed the opening words. However, the choice of SPQR was probably deliberate and represented something more than the mere blurring of Augustan distinction. That broad basis of public and Senatorial support which the principate had had in the days of Augustus was to be restored to it.”

1010.

Coins of the Civil War, AD 68, from the Durand CollectionThe coins of the ill-fated revolt of Vindex in AD 68 are notoriously rare and difficult to obtain. Until relatively recently they had largely been ignored by scholars, though in the 1970s Peter-Hugo Martin, Colin Kraay and Etienne-Paul Nicolas all published studies on this obscure series. The coins themselves are extremely rare, with many types being known from only very few examples, or unique specimens. Despite the revolt being brief, a matter of just a few months, the coinage is exceptionally diverse. This is due in great part certainly to the large number of men Vindex was able to call to his standards - by his account, over 100,000 though more probably about 20,000 as reported by Plutarch - and the need to pay them.

The coins of the Durand Collection are remarkable not only for their extraordinarily high state of preservation, but also because they expand the known population of some of the rarer types, and indeed add several exciting new varieties to the corpus.

242

Juno ‘Who Warns’

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. MONETA, head of Juno Moneta to right, PACI P. R., clasped hands holding winged caduceus. Martin -, cf. 55 for obverse type and 41-43 for reverse type; BMC -; RIC -; C. -; Nicolas -. 3.83g, 17mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Unique and unpublished. Of great numismatic interest. 15,000


This remarkable and unique coin pairs Juno Moneta (Juno ‘who warns’) with a reverse type that is only otherwise only known with an obverse type featuring a female head and the legend BONI EVENT (Martin 41-43). The Juno obverse was previously known only with a reverse that reproduced the types of T. Carisius (Crawford 464/2), which had been struck a little over a century before. In that context the head of Juno Moneta must be connected to the coinage implements depicted on the reverse (namely the dies and tongs), and her depiction should be understood to be in the guise of the protectress of the money.

Juno Moneta’s appearance here cannot be a mere error of mixed die sets, since the portrait is of a significantly superior style to that used to strike Martin 55, which is crude and shrewish. It is worth noting that the obverse type of Juno Moneta is also used on the denarii of L. Plaetorius Cestianus (Crawford 396/1), where it is paired with a reverse type of no connection to monetary matters. The massive 10th Century encyclopedic work known as the Souda draws on old oral traditions that Juno had counselled the Romans to undertake none but just wars. Roman tradition also revered Juno as a protectress who warned of impending disaster and of how to avert it; Cicero suggests that the name Moneta derived from the verb “monere”, because during an earthquake, a voice from her temple had demanded the expiatory sacrifice of a pregnant sow to stay the tremors. He also connects her epithet to the old legend wherein Juno’s sacred geese had warned the Roman commander Marcus Manlius Capitolinus of the surprise attack made by the Gauls during the siege of the city in 390 BC. We may therefore interpret her presence in this instance as being that of a protectress of the Roman people, and patroness of a just effort to remove the cancer at the heart of the empire.

1011.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. AVGVSTVS CAESAR, bare head of youthful Augustus to left / S•P•Q•R - CL•V inscribed in two lines on clipeus virtutis. Nicolas -; Martin -; BMC -; RIC -; C. -. 3.39g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. Of great numismatic interest. 7,500


This coin is a restitution of the type issued under Augustus (RIC 42b), and follows that coin very closely, except for the style of the portrait which is distinctly ‘provincial’. This style is however entirely in keeping with the manner of engraving common among Vindex’s engravers, which tends towards tightly pursed lips, pointed noses and furrowed brows. Quite apart from its being a previously unrecorded type for Vindex, this coin is also among a certain rare league of that series, being a direct copy of a pre-existing type. Other restitutions included the Divus Iulius comet type (RIC 37 and 102), the capricorn reverse type, and the bull reverse type popular under Augustus (see the next lot). The appearance of this type is therefore a pleasant surprise, but not completely unexpected.

1012.

Unpublished and Unique

243

Apparently Unique and Unpublished

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. DIVVS AVG, laureate head of the deified Augustus to right / IMP, bull advancing to right on ground line. Martin 13 var. (obverse legend); RIC 94 var. (same); C. 129 var. (same); BMC 302 var. (same); cf. Nicolas pl. XX 10 (same reverse die). 3.14g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. Apparently unique and unpublished. 10,000


Augustus’ self-styled persona as the protector of the liberty of the Roman people is an obvious choice to champion on the coinage of Vindex as he led a revolt against the tyranny of Nero. The use of this particular type of Augustus (see RIC 166) is also poignant in that it was one the earliest issues from the mint of Lugdunum, established by the emperor in 15 BC. Once again, Vindex is indicating that neither Gallic independence nor the abolition of the principate is his agenda.

1013.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. S•P•Q•R• within corona civica, circular jewel in bezel at apex / SALVS GENERIS HVMANIS, Victory standing to right on globe, bearing wreath in outstretched right hand and palm branch over left shoulder. Martin 78; RIC 73a; C. 421; Nicolas 70, pl. III, 70NIG. 3.99g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare – one of as few as a dozen examples. 5,000


Interestingly, this issue reverses the normal convention of placing Victory on the obverse, who is instead relegated to the reverse of the coin, and replaced by the corona civica.

1014.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. DIVVS AVG P P, laureate head of the deified Augustus to right / PAX, clasped hands holding winged caduceus. Martin A23; C. 200 and 336 (Augustus); BMC 304; RIC 113. 3.66g, 18mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – one of only five known examples. 5,000


1015.

244

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, laureate head of the deified Augustus left / SENAT P Q R, Victory standing to left, holding shield inscribed CL V, palm branch over shoulder. Martin A25; BMC 57; RIC 110. 3.53g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – the third known specimen. 5,000


1016.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, laureate head of the deified Augustus to right / Victory standing to left, holding shield inscribed CL V. Martin -, cf. 11 and 25 (same obverse die); RIC -; BMC 57; C. -; Nicolas pl. XXII, A26BR. 3.17g, 17mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – the second known example. 5,000


1017.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. AVGVSTVS CAESAR, bare head of the deified Augustus to right / PAX, clasped hands holding caduceus flanked by two cornucopiae. Martin A22; C. 219 (Augustus); BMC 302; RIC 103. 4.37g, 17mm, 6h.



1018.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANIS, Victory standing to right, foot on globe, inscribing V on shield / S•P•Q•R P•P OB C•S in three lines within corona civica, circular jewel in bezel at apex. Martin 79; RIC 75; BMC 296; C. 422; Nicolas 85. 3.83g, 18mm, 12h.



1019.

Galba Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 68. SER GALBA IMP CAES TR P, laureate head right / LIBERT AVG, Libertas standing facing, holding sceptre and pileus, S-C across fields. RIC 252. 26.65g, 35mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 300

1020.

245

Galba Æ As. Restitution under Titus. Rome, AD 80-81. SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P, laureate bust right / IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST around large SC. RIC 444; C 351. 10.45g, 28mm, 6h.


1021.

Vitellius AR Denarius. Rome, AD 69. A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP, bare head right / XV VIR SACR FAC, tripod, raven below, dolphin above. RIC 69a. 3.28g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Fine. 150

1022.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 69-70. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right / Judaea seated in attitude of mourning right, to right of trophy, resting head on left hand, IVDAEA in exergue. RIC 2. 2.93g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500

1023.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Ephesus, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P, laureate head right / PACI AVGVSTAE, Victory standing to right, holding wreath and palm branch; at her feet, EPHE (ligate). RIC 1431; C 276; BMC 457; CBN 351; RPC 833. 3.60g, 18mm, 1h.

Mint State. Rare. 1,000

1024.

Mint State Denarius of Vespasian

Vespasian AR Denarius. Ephesus, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P, laureate head right / PACI ORB TERR AVG, turreted and draped bust of Pax right, ΕΦΕ below. RIC 1443; CBN 356; RPC 839. 3.31g, 19mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

1025.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 72-73. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII, laureate head right / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory walking right with palm, crowning a legionary standard. RIC 362; BMC 74. 3.29g, 18mm, 6h.

A few light marks, Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 250

1026.

1022 1023

246

From the Boscoreale hoard of 1895

Vespasian AV Aureus. AD 76. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head left / Bull standing right, COS VII above. C. 117; RIC 840; Calicó 622. 7.33g, 20mm, 6h.

Mint State, with a rich, deep Boscoreale tone. A stunning coin. 35,000

Ex NGSA 5, 2008, lot 220;Ex Leu 93, 2005, lot 13;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 8, 1995, lot 790;From the Boscoréale hoard of 1895.

The famous Boscoreale hoard, recovered in 1895, consisted of 109 pieces of gold and silver plate, along with over 1,000 gold aurei. The hoard had belonged to the owners of a wine-producing villa rustica on the south-eastern slopes of Vesuvius near the modern-day village of Boscoreale, hence its name. The hoard was placed in an empty cistern in the wine cellar of the villa when its owners fled before the eruption of AD 79, and while the villa began to be excavated in 1876 the coins remained undisturbed until 1895.

1027.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 79. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right / TR POT X COS VIIII, radiate figure standing facing atop rostral column, holding sceptre and parazonium. RIC 1065; BMC 254; CBN 222; Bauten S.14/15; Hill, Monuments S. 60/95. 3.21g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous metal, attractively toned. A superb example of this type that is more commonly found for Titus than his father. Rare. 1,000

Ex H. D. Rauch, 15 September 2008, lot 432.

Continuing the Flavian theme of restoring historic coin types from the late Republic and early principate, depicted here is the rostral column erected in honour of Octavian’s victory over Sextus Pompey at the Battle of Naulochus, which bore the bronze rams of Pompey’s captured ships, and was surmounted by a gilded honorific statue.

1028.

Divus Vespasian AR Denarius. Struck under Titus. Rome, AD 80-81. DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS, laureate bust right / SC inscribed on shield supported by two capricorns, orb below. RIC 357; RSC 497; BMC 129; CBN 101. 3.47g, 18mm, 6h.


1029.

247

Divus Vespasian AR Antoninianus. Struck under Trajan Decius. Rome, AD 250-251. DIVO VESPASIANO, radiate head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle. RIC 79. 3.37g, 21mm, 6h.


1030.

Titus AR Denarius. Rome, 23-31 June, AD 79. IMP T CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right / TR POT VIII COS VII, bearded captive, wearing trousers and cape, kneeling right at base of trophy. RIC 1; RSC 334a; BMCRE 1. 3.53g, 19mm, 6h.

Light graffito on reverse, Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 350

Only two specimens in the Reka Devnia Hoard, not in the Paris collection or Cohen. An attractive issue from the first week of Titus’ reign as Augustus.

1031.

Titus AR Denarius. Rome, January-June AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, draped throne with ornamented peaked back. RIC 124; C. 313; BMC 58. 3.11g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine, highly lustrous surfaces. 750

Ex Gorny & Mosch 186, 8 March 2010, lot 1971.

1032.

Titus Æ Sestertius. Eastern mint (Thrace?), AD 80-81. IMP T CAES DIVI VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII, laureate head right / IVDAEA CAPTA, Palm tree; to left, Titus standing right, with spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to right, Judaea seated right on cuirass; SC in exergue. RIC 502; RPC -. 24.82g, 34mm, 7h.


1033.

Titus Æ Sestertius. Uncertain Mint in Thrace, AD 80-81. Laureate head right / IVD-CAP S-C across upper and middle field, palm tree, to left Jewess seated left on shield in attitude of mourning, to right Jew standing right, hands tied behind back, spear and shield before him. RIC -; H.A. Cahn, “An Imperial Mint in Bithynia,” INJ 8 (1984-5), 3 var; RIC 500; RPC 503 (7 specimens); BMCRE 169. 24.87g, 36mm, 1h.

Fine. Rare. 150

1034.

Titus Æ Sestertius. Eastern mint (Thrace?), AD 80-81. IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII, laureate head right / PAX AVGVST, Pax standing left, with branch and cornucopiae; S-C across fields. RIC 498; RPC 501. 25.40g, 34mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 100

1035.

1034 1035

248

1036. Domitian, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 76-7. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head right / COS IIII, legend across fields, cornucopiae with ribbons hanging down each side. RIC 918; Calicó 817. 7.21g, 19mm, 6h.

About Very Fine. 3,500

The cornucopiae reverse of this coin harks back to a type issued in 81 BC by L. Sulla after his victory over the Marian party and his return to Rome, and is a design unique to Domitian in this period. This continues the Flavian tradition of using types of the Republic and early principate.

1037.

Domitian, as Caesar, Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 80-81. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS VII, laureate bust right / Domitian on horseback galloping to left, holding eagle-tipped sceptre; SC below. Unpublished in the standard references; for sestertii of Domitian with ending COS VII and similar reverse type cf. RIC II p. 216, 292-293. 26.06g, 35mm, 6h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare. 500

1039.

Unpublished Sestertius of Domitian

Domitian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 76-7. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head right / COS IIII, Pegasus standing right. RIC 921; BMC 193; C. 47. 3.40g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 500

1038.

Domitian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 80. CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate bust right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, lighted, garlanded altar, with corn ears on either side. RIC 266 (Titus); RSC 397. 3.57g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous, attractively toned metal. 300

Ex Gorny & Mosch 147, 7 March 2006, lot 2058.

1040.

Domitian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 79. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, Salus standing right, leaning on column, holding snake which she feeds from a patera. RIC 1084; C. 384; BMC 265. 3.55g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, beautifully toned and lustrous. 500 Ex H. D. Rauch 85, 26 November 2009, lot 456.

249

Domitian, as Caesar, Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 80-81. CAES DIVI AVG VESP F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / PAX AVGVST, Pax standing left, with branch and cornucopiae; S-C across fields. RIC 288 (Titus). 26.15g, 34mm, 6h.


1041.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 81-83. IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M, laureate bust right / IVPPITER CONSERVATOR, eagle standing on thunderbolt. RIC 40; BMC 53; C. 320. 3.37g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Scarce. 200

1042.

The Deified Son of Domitian

Domitia AR Denarius. Rome, AD 82-3. DOMITIA AVGVSTA IMP DOMIT, draped bust right, with hair massed in front and in long plait behind / DIVVS CAESAR IMP DOMITIANI F, Domitian’s son as naked infant boy seated on a globe surrounded by seven stars. RIC 153. 3.49g, 19mm, 5h.


Domitia was daughter of the general Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, and wife of Domitian. It is attested that Domitia bore a daughter and then a son, whose name is unknown, and who died in his infancy. Domitian subsequently deified the boy, and the reverse type illustrates this with the legend DIVVS CAESAR IMP DOMITIANI F and the depiction of the boy seated on a globe surrounded by the seven stars of the Ursa Major.

Shortly after this type was struck, in AD 83 there was a brief hiatus in the marriage when Domitian exiled Domitia for unknown reasons. Suetonius relates that Domitia’s exile was a result of her affair with an actor named Paris, who was murdered on the orders of Domitian. Cf. Suetonius, Domitianus 3.

1043.

250

Nerva AR Denarius. Rome, AD 96. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head right / CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands holding aquila resting on prow. RIC 3. 3.36g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 200

1044.

Divus Nerva AR Antoninianus. Struck under Trajan Decius. Rome, AD 250-251. DIVO NERVE, radiate head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle. RIC 83b. 3.63g, 22mm, 12h.


1045.

Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 100. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / P M TR P COS III P P, Germania seated to left, leaning left elbow on shields and arms and holding olive branch in right hand. Calicó 1049a; RIC -, cf. 35; MIR 14, 71c; C. -; CRE -. 7.28g, 19mm, 7h.


1046.

Superb Untouched Emerald Green Patina

Trajan Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 105-111. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Trajan standing left in military attire, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, crowned by Victory; SC in exergue. RIC 549; BMC 825; MIR 14, 320b. 28.50g, 35mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine, with a superb untouched emerald green patina. Scarce. 10,000

It is highly uncommon to encounter a sestertius that is both well preserved and displays a sound, untouched patina such as this. The deep green, glassy surfaces make this a coin of immense beauty.

Part of a series struck following the conquest of Dacia, and the obverse legend DAC refers to the title dacicus bestowed upon Trajan by the Senate in AD 102. The Dacian campaign was also commemorated by Trajan’s Column, one of the most visible and iconic monuments of ancient Rome that survives today.

1047.

251

Ex Lynn Collection Quinarius

Trajan AR Quinarius. Rome, AD 107-111. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right, his left shoulder draped / COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Victory seated left holding wreath and palm. MIR 14, 374b; RIC -; C. -; BMC 345; CBN 280; King 10. 1.57g, 15mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine, attractive old cabinet tone. 2,500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex A. Lynn Collection, Helios 4, 14 October 2009, lot 364;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 25, 25 June 2003, lot 440.

1049.

Fleur De Coin

Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 108-109. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding caduceus pointing downwards in right hand and cradling cornucopiae in left arm. RIC 121; MIR 14, 280bD; Strack 147; RSC 81; BMCRE 301-4; BN 271. 3.46g, 19mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. A magnificent specimen. 750

1050.

Trajan Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 103-111. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, radiate bust right / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI S-C; trophy of arms, two shields at base. MIR 14, 320b; RIC 586, Cohen 573, BMC 909. 13.76g, 28mm, 7h.


1048.

Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 114-116. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust right /P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R around, Providentia standing left, leaning against column and holding sceptre, globe at her feet, PRO - AVG across fields. MIR 14, 528; RIC 358. 3.29g, 18mm, 6h.

Rough surfaces. Near Extremely Fine. Scarce. 100

1051.

Trajan Æ Semis. Struck in Rome for circulation in Syria, AD 116. Radiate bust right, folds of cloak on front shoulder and behind neck / Oak wreath with ties, large SC within. MIR 14, 938v; McAlee 520; BMCRE 1100; C. 123; RIC 645. 3.40g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 100

1052.

252

Divus Trajan AR Antoninianus. Struck under Trajan Decius. Rome, AD 250-251. DIVO TRAIANO, radiate head right, with drapery on left shoulder / CONSECRATIO, altar. RIC 86a. 3.49g, 21mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. Scarce. 200

1053.

Divus Trajan AR Denarius. Struck under Trajan Decius. Rome, AD 250-251. DIVO TRAIANO, radiate bust right, with drapery on left shoulder / CONSECRATIO, altar. RIC 86b. 3.40g, 23mm, 1h.

Mint State. Rare. 200

1054.

Diva Marciana AR Denarius. Rome, circa AD 112-113.DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, draped and diademed bust right / CONSECRATIO, carpentum decorated with bas reliefs drawn by two mules left. RIC Trajan 746; BMC Trajan 654. 3.28g, 19mm, 6h.


1055.

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 119-122. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P COS III, Neptune standing left, cloak over shoulders, holding acrostolium and trident. RIC 72; Calicó 1314. 7.14g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 1,000

1056.

Hadrian Ӕ Semis. Rome, AD 121-122. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, eagle standing, head left / P M TR P COS III, thunderbolt, SC below. RIC 625. 3.14g, 19mm, 8h.


1057.

253

Extremely Rare Hadrian Medallion

Hadrian Æ Medallion. Rome, circa AD 123-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder / Eagle standing left, head right, on thunderbolt, between owl perched right on shield and peacock in splendour, standing left on sceptre; COS III in exergue. Gnecchi 64; C. 431; Banti 207. 27.48g, 35mm, 12h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare. 4,000

This intriguing medallion’s ornithological reverse type is a symbol of the Capitoline Triad - the eagle, peacock and owl representing Jupiter, Juno and Minerva respectively as their sacred birds.

1058.

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 124-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, bare headed and draped bust right / COS III, Hadrian on horseback right, raising right hand. RIC 186b; Calicó 1218. 6.95g, 20mm, 6h.


1059.

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 124-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right, slight drapery / COS III, she-wolf standing right, suckling the Twins (Romulus and Remus). RIC 192; Calicó 1231. 7.18g, 18mm, 6h.

Fine style portrait, Good Very Fine. 5,000

Ex Paulo Morais Leitao Collection.

This reverse type is probably associated with Hadrian’s decennalia year in 127 and the renewal of the Golden Age.

1060.

Hadrian AR Denarius. AD 132-134. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, bare head left / LIBERALITAS AVG COS III P P, Liberalitas standing half-right, emptying cornucopiae. RIC 216 var. (bust type); RSC 919a. 3.40g, 17mm, 6h.

Dies slightly worn, otherwise Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1061.

254

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 138. IMP T AEL CAES HADRI ANTONINVS, bare head right / AVG PIVS P M TR P COS DES II, Pietas standing to right by altar, raising right hand and holding box of incense. RIC 13; Calicó 1469. 6.03g, 18mm, 6h.

Edges subtly shaved in antiquity. Near Extremely Fine. Scarce. 3,000

1062.

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 148-149. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P TR P XII, bare head right / COS IIII, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC 177; Calicó 1498. 5.65g, 17mm, 5h.

Edges subtly shaved in antiquity. Extremely Fine. 4,000

1063.

Antoninus Pius AR Denarius. Rome, AD 153-154. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVII, laureate head right / COS IIII, Fortuna standing right, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae. RIC 232, RSC 271. 3.25g, 18mm, 6h.


1064.

Antoninus Pius AR Denarius. Rome, AD 155-156. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II, laureate bust right / TR POT XIX COS IIII, Salus standing left holding snake coiled around altar. RIC 254, RSC 982, BMC 859. 3.29g, 17mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful iridescent tone. 100

1065.

Fleur De Coin

Divus Antoninus Pius AR Denarius. Rome, AD 162. DIVVS ANTONINVS, bare head right / DIVO PIO, square altar with double doors. RIC 441. 3.32g, 18mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. 200

1066.

255

Ex Huntington Collection

Faustina I AV Aureus. Rome, after AD 141. DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, draped and veiled bust right / AETERNITAS, Providentia standing left, holding globe in right hand and sceptre in left. C. 35; Beckmann (daf17/AA) BMC 287 (Pius); RIC 350a (Pius); Calicó 1749. 7.00g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive red tone. 5,000

Ex Huntington Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 67, 17 October 2012, lot 157;Ex HSA 22120.

1067.

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 148. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII, bare head right / TR POT III COS II, Minerva standing right, holding spear and resting hand on shield. RIC 444, RSC 618. 3.16g, 19mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 150

1068.

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 157-158. AVRELIVS CAES ANTON AVG P II F, bare head right /TR POT XII COS II, Apollo standing left, holding patera and lyre. RIC 474a; Calicó 1966. 7.23g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Rare. 3,000

1069.

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 159-160. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG P II F, bare headed and draped bust right / TR POT XIIII COS II, Mars advancing right, carrying spear and trophy. RIC 481c; Calicó 1976. 7.20g, 19mm, 5h.


1070.

256

Marcus Aurelius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 166. M ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XX IMP III COS III, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae, foot on globe. RIC 154; Calicó 1900. 7.15g, 19mm, 12h.


1071.

Marcus Aurelius Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 172-173. M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII, laureate head right / IMP VI COS III, Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and sceptre; SC below. RIC 1064; C. 248. 23.34g, 30mm, 11h.


1072.

Divus Marcus Aurelius AR Antoninianus. Struck under Trajan Decius. Mediolanum, AD 250-251. DIVO MARCO ANTONINO, radiate head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle. RIC 91b. 3.62g, 22mm, 12h.


1073.

Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus AR Denarius. Restitution issue of Mark Antony legionary type. Rome, AD 165-166. ANTONINVS AVGVR III VIR R P C, praetorian galley left / ANTONINVS ET VERVS AVG REST, aquila between two signa; LEG VI across field. RIC III 443 (Aurelius and Verus); RSC 83 (Antony). 3.25g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 200

1074.

Lucius Verus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 164. L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, bare head right / TR P IIII IMP II COS II, Verus seated left on platform, officer behind and soldier before him, king Sohaemus below platform, standing left and raising right hand to his head; REX ARMEN DAT in exergue. RIC 512 (Aurelius); BMC 300 (same dies); C. 158; Calicó 2154 (same dies); Kent-Hirmer pl. 98, 342 (same dies). 7.40g, 19mm, 6h.

Area of weakness on the head, otherwise about Extremely Fine. 7,500

Ex Numismatics Ars Classica Auction R, 17 May 2007, lot 1553.

1075.

257

Lucius Verus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 163-164. L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / TR P IIII IMP II COS II, Hercules standing front, head right, wearing lion-skin on head and over left arm, holding laurel branch and club. RIC 518; Calicó 2171. 7.28g, 20mm, 12h.


1076.

Lucius Verus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 164. L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / TR P IIII IMP II COS II, Victory, naked to waist, standing right, holding writing instrument in right hand and with left hand steadying shield inscribed VIC AVG that is set atop palm tree. BMC 296; Calicó 2177; C. 247 var.; RIC 525. 7.26g, 19mm, 6h.


1077.

Commodus’ Fifth Liberalitas

Commodus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 181-182. M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / TR P VII IMP IIII COS III P P, Commodus seated left on platform between soldier standing left, holding spear, and Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae; at foot of platform, citizen mounting steps; LIBERAL V in exergue. RIC 37; BMC 74; C 13; Calicó 2277. 7.29g, 21mm, 12h.


Following the death of his father in early AD 180, Commodus became sole emperor and quickly made peace with the Germanic tribes his father had warred against and subsequently holding a triumph in October of the same year. The fifth liberalitas of the emperor is not recorded in the ancient sources, although we may assume it took place following the conclusion of the Marcomannic wars, and perhaps included a donativum to the soldiers. This latter word is not found on coins, and seems to be expressed by the more general term liberalitas.

1078.

Pertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right/ AEQVIT AVG TR P COS II, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC 1. 2.99g, 18mm, 12h.


1079.

258

Pertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right / LAETITIA TEMPOR COS II, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and sceptre. RIC 4a. 3.33g, 17mm, 6h.


1080.

Pertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right / OPI DIVIN TR P COS II, Ops seated left, holding two corn ears. RIC8a. 3.39g, 18mm, 12h.


1081.

Attractive Aureus of Pertinax

Pertinax AV Aureus. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate and draped bust right / PROVID DEOR COS II, Providentia standing left, holding up both hands to large star. RIC 10b; Calicó 2388 (same dies). 7.24g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Minor mark on reverse. Very Rare. 10,000

From the James Howard Collection. The first of the men who collectively became known for the ‘Year of the Five Emperors’ was the Urban Prefect Pertinax, who was rushed to the Praetorian camp and proclaimed emperor after the murder of Commodus. In stark contrast to the turbulent period that proceeded his brief reign, Pertinax made attempts at reform and restraint that included a revaluation of the currency and the imposition of stricter military discipline on the Praetorian Guard. Although by the prudent sale of Commodus’ assets he was able to pay at least a part of the donative that the Praetorians expected, after only three months in the imperial palace Pertinax was struck down by the Guard. The reverse type of this rare aureus features Providentia as the divine wisdom of the Gods, which has given Rome a new emperor after the excesses of Commodus’ reign. The star to which she stretches her hands is probably a symbol of the Emperor, bringing salvation to the people of Rome.

1082.

Pertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right / VOT DECEN TR P COS II, Pertinax, veiled, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod. RIC 13a. 3.41g, 18mm, 6h.


1083.

Divus Pertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-194. Struck under Septimius Severus. DIVVS PIVS PERT PATER, bare head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing right on globe, head left. RIC 24A (Severus); RSC 6. 3.15g, 18mm, 6h.


1084.

259

Didius Julianus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES M DID IVLIAN AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P COS, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC 2; BMC 4; C. 8. 3.12g, 18mm, 6h.


1085.

Didius Julianus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES M DID SEVER IVLIAN AVG, laureate head right / CONCORDIA MILIT, Concordia standing left, holding two standards, S-C across fields. RIC 14. 21.51g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Scarce. 750

1086.

Manlia Scantilla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. MANL SCANTILLA AVG, draped bust right, with elaborately waved and coiled hair / IVNO REGINA, Juno standing left, holding patera and sceptre; peacock at feet to left. RIC 7a. 3.13g, 19mm, 6h.


1087.

Didia Clara AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. DIDIA CLARA AVG, draped bust right / HILAR TEMPOR, Hilaritas standing left, holding branch and cornucopiae. RIC 10 (Didius); RSC 3. 3.03g, 17mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 1,500

1088.

Didia Clara AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. DIDIA CLARA AVG, draped bust right / HILAR TEMPOR, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm and cornucopiae. RIC 10 (Didius); RSC 3. 3.12g, 17mm, 6h.


1089.

Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIAE AVG, Niger standing left, holding globe and sword hilt, crowned by Victory standing left behind him, holding palm. RIC -; BMC -; RSC -. Cf. CNG 69, 8 June 2005, lot 1648 & HJ Berk 126, 23 April 2002, lot 348. 3.12g, 17mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare, apparently only the third known example. 2,000

The scarcity of Pescennius Niger’s coinage today belies the fact that it was struck on a monumental scale, and we can only assume that after his defeat at the hands of Septimius Severus in AD 194 his coins were meticulously recalled and melted. Although it has been extensively published, there are such a huge number of minor varieties that no single catalogue is without numerous lacunae. It appears that the all of Niger’s coins were struck at Antioch and possibly a subsidiary mint operating at Caesarea in Cappadocia.

1090.

Third Known Example

260

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-195. D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right / PROVID AVG COS, Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe and sceptre. RIC 1c. 2.92g, 17mm, 6h.


1091.

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-195. D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right / COS II, Aesculapius standing left, naked to waist, feeding serpent climbing up staff. RIC 2. 2.42g, 17mm, 4h.


1092.

1091 1092

1093 1094

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-195. D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right / FORT REDVCI COS II, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder set on globe and cornucopiae, wheel under seat. RIC 5c. 3.08g, 18mm, 6h.


1093.

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-195. D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right / MINER PACIF COS II, Minerva, helmeted, standing left, holding olive branch and shield on ground to right; spear against left arm. RIC 7 var. (obverse legend). 3.69g, 17mm, 6h.


1094.

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-195. D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left, holding palladium and spear. RIC 11. 3.54g, 18mm, 6h.


1095.

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193-195. D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left, holding palladium and spear. RIC 11. 3.02g, 18mm, 6h.


1096.

1097 1098Clodius Albinus AR Denarius. Lugdunum, AD 196-197. IMP CAE D CLO SEP ALB AVG, laureate head right / CLEMENTIA AVG COS II, Clementia holding staff and patera. RIC 14. 3.47g, 18mm, 11h.


Clodius Albinus AR Denarius. Lugdunum, AD 195-197. IMP CAE D CLO ALBIN AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SPE AVG COS II, Spes advancing left, holding up flower and raising skirt. RIC 41 var. (bust type). 2.92g, 18mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. Rare. 150

1097.

1098.

261

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 198-200. L SEPT SEV AVG IMP XI PART MAX, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, with aegis / VIRTVTI AVGG, Virtus seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium; shield behind. RIC 148a; Calicó 2581. 6.99g, 20mm, 12h.


1100.

Septimius Severus, with Caracalla and Geta, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 202-210. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM, Caracalla and Geta, each laureate and togate, standing facing each other, jointly holding Victory standing left on globe with their right hands. RIC 255; Calicó 2435; BMC 312. 7.00g, 20mm, 6h.


1102.

Septimius Severus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right / LEG XIIII GEM M V, legionary eagle between two standards, TR P COS in exergue. RIC 14. 2.93g, 17mm, 6h.


1099.

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 202. SEVER P AVG P M TR P X COS III, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FVDATOR PACIS, Severus, veiled, standing left, holding branch and book. RIC - (cf. 177 for obv., 160 for rev.); Calicó -. 7.20g, 21mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 7,500

1101.

262

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 202-210. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / LIBERALITAS AVG VI, Liberalitas standing left, holding account-board with right hand and cornucopiae in left. RIC 278a; BMC p. 220, 348 note; Calicó 2479. 7.30g, 20mm, 6h.


1103.

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 202-210. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory and sceptre, shield behind. RIC 288; Calicó 2529; BMC 358. 7.07g, 20mm, 6h.


As the protecting goddess of the city of Rome, Roma is represented on this reverse type referencing Septimius Severus’ beneficent rule as founder of peace and restorer of the city, following the tumultuous reign of Commodus and the civil wars that followed his assassination. Septimius strengthened the southern borders of the empire by expansion of the Limes Tripolitanus, a frontier zone of defensive forts in north Africa, and expanded the empire in the east during his successful Parthian campaign.

1104.

Septimius Severus, ‘Restorer of the City’



1105.

263


Die shifted reverse, otherwise Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 5,000

1106.



1107.

Septimius Severus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 206. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate bust right / LAETITIA TEMPORVM, the spina of the Circus Maximus decorated as a ship facing left, with the turning posts at its prow and stern, a sail mounted on the central obelisk, and the spina’s other monuments visible in between; above the ship, four quadrigas racing left; below, seven animals: an ostrich at left and a bear at right; between them a lion and a lioness chasing a wild ass and a panther attacking a bison. RIC 274; BMC 343. 3.41g, 20mm, 12h.


1108.

Septimius Severus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 206. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / Victory driving galloping biga right, VICTORIA above, AVGG in exergue. RIC 299; BMC 370; RSC 713. 3.11g, 20mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. 300

1109.

Divus Septimius Severus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 211 (?). DIVO SEVERO PIO, bare head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing facing, head left, on globe. RIC 1991c (Caracalla). 3.69g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Scarce. 200

1110.

264

Julia Domna AR Denarius. Rome, AD 216. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right / VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated left, extending right hand and holding sceptre in left. RIC 388c. 3.14g, 20mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. 150

1111.

Julia Domna AR Denarius. Rome, AD 211-217. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right / VESTA, Vesta standing left, holding palladium and sceptre. RIC 390. 3.40g, 19mm, 12h.


1112.

Julia Domna AV Aureus. IVLIA DOMNA AVG, draped bust of Julia Domna right, her hair in six waves and bound up at the back / VENERI VICTR, Venus standing right, seen from behind, half nude with drapery hanging low beneath her posterior, holding palm branch in her left hand, a globe in her right and leaning with her left elbow on a low column to her left. BMC 47; Calicό 2641a; Cohen 193; Hill 100; RIC 536. 7.24g, 19mm, 12h.


1113.

Julia Domna, with Geta as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 196-211. IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare headed bust of Geta, draped and cuirassed, right. RIC 571. 3.08g, 20mm, 12h.

Flaw and patch of oxidation on rev.; near Extremely Fine. Rare. 500

1114.

Caracalla and Geta, as Caesars, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 199. IMP CAE M AVR ANT AVG P TR P II, laureate and draped bust right / P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right. RIC -; BMC -. 3.34g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; minor defect behind head on obv. Extremely Rare; not in RIC or BMC. 300

1115.

266

Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 203. ANTON P AVG PON TR P VI COS, laureate bust right, with aegis on left shoulder / VIRTVS AVGG, Caracalla standing left, holding Victory and spear, being crowned by Minerva standing left, holding spear. RIC 73 (misdescribed as a denarius); Calicó 2845a (these dies). 7.55g, 20mm, 6h.


Showing us a portrait of Caracalla in his youth, before the cruel and brutal persona that came to characterise his reign, the young emperor was approximately fifteen when this aureus was struck, having ruled jointly with his father for five years. Caracalla is here associated with the connotations of valour, manliness, excellence, courage, character and worth, traits perceived as masculine strengths, that were inherent in the Roman understanding of virtue (virtus).

Struck during a quiet period of the reign when the senior emperor Septimius Severus was at home in Rome, having recently returned from his campaign in Africa, this aureus beautifully illustrates the desire of Severus to create a strong and lasting dynasty. However, after the death of Septimius in 211 while on campaign in Britain, it was not long before Caracalla had his brother Geta murdered by the Praetorian Guard at a reconciliation meeting organised by their mother, Julia Domna.

1116.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 210-213. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right / MARTI PROPVGNATORI, Mars hurrying left, holding spear and trophy. RIC 223. 3.29g, 19mm, 6h.


1117.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 210-213. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right / PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM, Providentia standing left, holding wand over globe and sceptre. RIC 227. 3.23g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1118.

Very Rare Aureus of Caracalla

267

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 211-212. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right / P M TR P XIIII COS III P P, Pax running left, holding branch and sceptre. RIC 184. 3.36g, 19mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. 150

1119.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 212. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right / P M TR P XV COS III P P, elephant walking left. RIC 199. 3.28g, 19mm, 6h.


1120.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 213. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right / P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and rod. RIC 209a. 2.82g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1121.

Caracalla AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 213-217. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VENVS VICTRIX, Venus standing left, holding Victory and spear, and leaning on shield set on helmet. RIC 311c. 5.56g, 24mm, 6h.


1122.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 215. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right / P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Asclepius standing left, holding wand around which serpent is coiled, globe on ground to right. RIC 251. 3.41g, 20mm, 6h.


1123.

268

Divus Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 218. Struck under Elagabalus. DIVO ANTONINO MAGNO, bare head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle with raised wings standing left, head right, on celestial globe marked with zodiac band. RIC 717 (Severus Alexander); BMC (Elagabalus) 7; C. 32. 2.99g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Very Rare; no specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard. 1,000

1125.

Plautilla AR Denarius. Laodicea ad Mare, AD 202-205. PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE, draped bust right / CONCORDIAE, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae. RIC 370. 3.52g, 19mm, 6h.


1126.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Jupiter, naked, standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC 2. 3.09g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1127.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PONTIF MAX TR P P P, Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC 4; RSC 79. 3.15g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very attractive obverse toning. 250

1128.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 215. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right / P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Apollo, naked, standing facing, holding branch and resting hand on lyre set on altar. RIC 254. 2.83g, 19mm, 12h.


1124.

269

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate draped bust right / VOTA PVBL P M TR P, Felicitas standing, half left, holding caduceus and long sceptre. RIC 6. 3.08g, 19mm, 6h.


1129.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC 21. 3.32g, 20mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 200

1130.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Securitas standing left, legs crossed, holding sceptre and leaning on column. RIC 24. 3.72g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 300

1131.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Securitas standing left, legs crossed, holding sceptre and leaning on column. RIC 24. 3.55g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1132.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Macrinus seated left on curule chair, holding globe and short sceptre. RIC 27. 3.61g, 19mm, 12h.


1133.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC 53. 3.49g, 20mm, 6h.


1134.

270

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing facing, holding standard in each hand, right foot on helmet. RIC 66. 2.97g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 150

1135.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing facing, head right, right foot on helmet, holding standard in each hand. RIC 67. 3.29g, 20mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1136.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing front holding two standards; a standard to each side. RIC 68. 3.29g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1137.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter, naked, standing left with thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC 73; RSC 33b; BMC 66. 2.81g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Iridescent tone. 300

1138.

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / LIBERALITAS AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae. RIC 78. 3.69g, 20mm, 6h.


1139.

271

Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / SALVS PVBLICA, Salus seated left on chair with high back, feeding snake coiled around altar and holding sceptre in left hand. RIC 86. 3.28g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1140.

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 208-218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare headed and draped bust right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing front, head right, holding standard in right hand and sceptre in left, with two standards to the right. RIC 102; BMC 90; C. 3. 3.41g, 20mm, 6h.


1141.

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Antoninianus. Rome, May AD 217. M OPEL DIADVMENIANVS CAES, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing left, holding baton and sceptre; to right, two standards. RIC 106; Szaivert series 1-3; RSC 11. 5.19g, 23mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Rare denomination for Diadumenian. 500

1142.

Rare Denomination for Diadumenian

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare headed and draped bust right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing left, holding baton and sceptre; two standards to right. RIC 107. 3.61g, 20mm, 6h.


1143.

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / PRINC IVVNETVTIS, Diadumenian standing left, holding baton and sceptre; two standards to right. RIC 108. 3.00g, 20mm, 1h.


1144.

272

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising her skirt. RIC 117. 2.95g, 19mm, 12h.


1145.

Elagabalus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 218-222. IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / SALVS ANTONINI AVG, Salus standing right, feeding a snake which she holds in her arms. RIC 140. 3.11g, 19mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. 300

1146.

Elagabalus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 218-222. IMP ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / TEMPORVM FELICITAS, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC 150. 3.17g, 20mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. 300

1147.

Elagabalus AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 218-222. ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FELICITAS TEMP, gallery right, with raised sail and pilot; standard and acrostolium at stern, furled sail at prow. RIC 188. 3.20g, 21mm, 6h.


1148.

Aquilia Severa AR Denarius. Rome, AD 220-222. IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, draped bust right / CONCORDIA, Concordia standing left, holding patera and double cornucopiae; lighted altar to left, star in right field. RIC 226. 3.28g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 300

1149.

273

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 226. IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P V COS II P P, Mars walking right, carrying spear and trophy. RIC 52; Calicó 3105. 6.06g, 21mm, 6h.


1150.

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 228. IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P VII COS II P P, Mars walking right, carrying spear and trophy. RIC 71c; Calicó 3114. 6.24g, 20mm, 12h.


1151.

Severus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 228-231. IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right / PERPETVITATI AVG, Perpetuitas (or Securitas) standing left, holding globe and transverse sceptre, and leaning on column. RIC 208. 3.51g, 19mm, 12h.


1153.

Severus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 228-231. IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right, with drapery on left shoulder / ANNONA AVG, Annona standing right, resting left foot on prow, and holding rudder placed on globe and modius. RIC 190. 2.92g, 19mm, 6h.


1152.

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 229. IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right, with drapery on left shoulder / P M TR P VIII COS III P P, Romulus walking right, holding spear and trophy. RIC 96; Calicó 3118. 5.63g, 20mm, 6h.


1154.

274

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 230. IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / P M TR P VIIII COS III P P, Sol radiate, standing left, raising right hand and holding whip. RIC 100; C. 387; Calicó 3120. 6.10g, 20mm, 1h.

Fleur De Coin. Very Rare. 10,000

Both RIC and Calicó note this type as ‘(R1) - rare’, however the fact that not a single specimen has appeared on the market in well over a decade seems to indicate that it is in fact a rarer type than otherwise indicated.

1155.

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 231-235. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / IOVI PROPVGNATORI, Jupiter in fighting attitude, with feet apart, head turned right, hurling thunderbolt. RIC 234; Calicó 3060. 6.88g, 22mm, 6h.


1156.

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 231-235. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / MARS VLTOR, Mars walking right, holding spear and shield. RIC 245; Calicó 3072a. 5.80g, 20mm, 1h.


1157.

275

Severus Alexander AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 232. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, with spear and shield. RIC 246; RSC 161a. 2.17g, 21mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. Attractive, lustrous surfaces. 200

1158.

Severus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 232. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate draped bust right / PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding corn ears over modius and anchor. RIC 252. 3.28g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful golden red tone. 100

1159.

Severus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 233. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P XII COS III P P, Sol, radiate, walking left, holding whip. RIC 120. 2.84g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 150

1161.

Severus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 233. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P XII COS III P P, Sol, radiate, walking left, holding whip. RIC 120. 3.13g, 20mm, 6h.


1160.

276

Severus Alexander AV Aureus. Rome, AD 234. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P XIII COS III P P, Sol, radiate, walking left, holding whip. RIC 122; Calicó 3129. 6.33g, 21mm, 12h.


1162.

Severus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 222-235. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising skirt. RIC 254. 3.37g, 21mm, 7h.


1163.

Orbiana AR Denarius. Rome, AD 225. SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust right / CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left on throne, holding patera and double cornucopiae. RIC 319; RSC 1; BMC 287. 2.52g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Pleasant toning and fine style. 250

1164.

Maximinus I AR Denarius. Rome, AD 235-236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing facing, head left, holding military standard in each hand. RIC 7a. 3.26g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1165.

Maximinus I AR Denarius. Rome, AD 235. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SALVS AVGVSTI, Salus seated left, feeding from patera a serpent arising from altar. RIC 14. 2.69g, 20mm, 6h.


1166.

277

Maximinus I AR Denarius. Rome, AD 235-236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm. RIC 16. 3.38g, 21mm, 12h.

Mint State. 200

1167.

Maximinus I Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 238. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS PP, Maximinus standing left, right hand raised, holding spear in left, between two military standards to left and one to right. RIC 40. 23.53g, 31mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 50

1168.

Maximus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 235-236. IVL VERVS MAXIMVS AVG, bare headed and draped bust right / PIETAS AVG, jug between lituus and knife to left, and simpulum and sprinkler to right. RIC 1. 3.17g, 20mm, 12h.


1169.

Maximus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 236-238. MAXIMVS CAES GERM, bare headed and draped bust right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Maximus standing left, holding baton and transverse spear; two standards to right. RIC 3. 3.18g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lightly toned, lustrous metal. 500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 185, 8 March 2010, lot 284.

1170.

Maximus, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 236-238. MAXIMVS CAES GERM, bare headed and draped bust right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Maximus standing left, holding baton and transverse spear; two standards to right. RIC 3. 2.80g, 21mm, 12h.


1171.

278

Diva Paulina AR Denarius. Rome, AD 236. DIVA PAULINA, veiled and draped bust right, with waved hair / CONSECRATIO, empress, holding sceptre, seated left on peacock flying right to heaven. RIC 2. 2.69g, 21mm, 6h.


1172.

Gordian II Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus standing left, right hand on shield, holding spear in left, S-C across fields. RIC 14. 17.85g, 29mm, 12h.


1173.

Balbinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P COS II P P, togate emperor standing left, holding branch and parazonium. RIC 5; RSC 20. 3.37g, 20mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 400

1174.

Balbinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P COS II P P, togate emperor standing left, holding branch and parazonium. RIC 5; RSC 20. 3.43g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. A superb portrait; beautifully lustrous metal. 1,500


1175.

Balbinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory standing front with wreath and palm. RIC 8. 2.66g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 500

1176.

Beautiful, Lustrous Metal

279

Balbinus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PIETAS MVTVA AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 12; RSC 17. 4.70g, 22mm, 6h.



1177.

Balbinus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PIETAS MVTVA AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 12. 5.06g, 23mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive old tone. 400

1178.

Pupienus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PAX PVBLICA, Pax seated left, holding branch and sceptre. RIC 4. 3.25g, 20mm, 12h.

Fleur De Coin. A remarkably detailed portrait, engraved in excellent style and high relief. 1,500


1179.



1180.

Fleur De Coin

280

Pupienus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P COS II P P, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and sceptre. RIC 6. 3.17g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 300

1182.

Pupienus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AMOR MVTVVS AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 9b; RSC 1; BMC 77. 4.89g, 21mm, 12h.



1183. Pupienus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AMOR MVTVVS AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 9b; RSC 1; BMC 77. 4.40g, 23mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, an exceptional example. 1,000

1184.

An Exceptional Example


About Good Very Fine. 400

1181.

281

Pupienus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES PVPIEN MAXIMVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / CARITAS MVTVA AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 10b. 5.18g, 22mm, 6h.


1185.

Pupienus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae; SC in exergue. RIC 20; BMC 43. 24.00g, 31mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Beautiful, untouched surfaces. 3,000

1186.

Pupienus Æ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 238. IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory standing left holding wreath and palm, S-C across fields. RIC 23a. 23.50g, 31mm, 11h.


1187.

Gordian III, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. M ANT GORDIANVS CAES, bare headed and draped bust right / PIETAS AVGG, jug between lituus, knife and patera on left, simpulum and sprinkler on right. C. 182; Eauze Hoard 655; RIC 1 var. (patera on rev.); cf. Gemini IV, 8 January 2008, lot 453. 2.91g, 20mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 1,000

As with the Paris specimen described and illustrated by Cohen, this coin includes a patera among the priestly implements. BMC and RIC fail to record the variant with patera.

1188.

282

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 239. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Jupiter standing facing, holding thunderbolt and sceptre over Gordian, standing facing to left. RIC 21; Calicó 3211. 4.89g, 20mm, 6h.


1189.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 239. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Providentia standing facing, holding globe and transverse sceptre. RIC 23; Calicó 3213. 5.35g, 21mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; lustrous. Rare. 5,000

1190.

Sharp and Lustrous

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 239. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Providentia standing facing, holding globe and transverse sceptre. RIC 23; Calicó 3213. 5.10g, 20mm, 12h.


1191.

283

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 239. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Virtus, in military dress, standing front, head left, hand on shield set on ground and holding vertical spear. RIC 25; Calicó 3212a. 4.75g, 20mm, 12h.


1192.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 240. IMP CAES GORDIANVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing facing, head left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC 40; Calicó 3184. 4.69g, 20mm, 12h.


1193.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 240. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / LIBERALITAS AVG II, Liberalitas standing facing, head left, holding abacus and cornucopiae. RIC 42; Calicó 3205. 4.88g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Scarce. 3,000

1194.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 240. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P II COS P P, Gordian, togate and veiled, standing facing, sacrificing out of patera over altar, and holding wand. RIC 43; Calicó 3216. 4.72g, 19mm, 6h.


1195.

284

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AETERNITATI AVG, Sol standing facing, head left, raising right hand and holding globe. RIC 97; Calicó 3186. 5.25g, 21mm, 6h.


1196.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / IOVI STATORI, Jupiter standing facing, head right, holding long sceptre and thunderbolt. RIC 99; Calicó 3200. 4.60g, 21mm, 5h.


1197.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP CAES GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P IIII COS II P P, Gordian, in military dress, standing right, holding transverse spear and globe. RIC 105; Calicó 3222. 4.69g, 21mm, 12h.


1198.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVTI AVGVSTI, Hercules, naked, standing right and resting club on rock, lion skin beside. RIC 108; Calicó 3242. 5.02g, 20mm, 2h.


1199.


Good Very Fine; small contact mark on ear. Rare. 2,000

1200.

285



1201.


Good Very Fine; flan slightly bent. Rare. 1,500

1202.



1203.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PIETAS AVGVSTI, Pietas, veiled, standing facing, head left, raising both hands. RIC 122; Calicó 3210. 5.17g, 20mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine; scuff on cheek. Rare. 3,000

This issue was struck to celebrate the marriage of Gordian III to Sabina Tranquillina in the summer of AD 241.

1204.

286

Gordian III AV Aureus. Contemporary Indian imitation, circa AD 240. Garbled legend, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Garbled legend, Gordian on horse pacing left, raising right hand and holding spear. Cf. RIC 80; cf. Calicó 3220. 4.26g, 20mm, 6h.


1207.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Contemporary Indian imitation, circa AD 241-243. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P V COS II P P, Gordian, in military attire, standing right, holding transverse spear and globe. RIC - (cf. 106 for rev.); Calicó - (cf. 3226 for rev.). 4.38g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Struck on a broad flan. 2,000

1208.

Two Indian ImitationsNo lot. 1206.

Philip I AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 248. Commemorating the 1000th Anniversary of the founding of Rome. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SAECVLARES AVGG, lion walking right; I in exergue. RIC 12; RSC 173. 4.19g, 22mm, 6h.


1209.

Gordian III AR Denarius. Rome, AD 241. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SALVS AVGVSTI, Salus standing right, feeding snake held in arms. RIC 129a. 3.32g, 20mm, 6h.


1205.

Philip I AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 248. Commemorating the 1000th Anniversary of the founding of Rome. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SAECVLARES AVGG, she-wolf standing left, suckling the twins; II in exergue. RIC 15. 4.64g, 24mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1210.

287

Philip I AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 248. Commemorating the 1000th Anniversary of the founding of Rome. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SAECVLARES AVGG, stag walking right, U in exergue. RIC 19. 4.00g, 23mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1211.

Philip I Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 245. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / LIBERALITAS AVGG II, Liberalitas, draped, standing left, holding abacus in right hand and cradling cornucopiae in left arm; S-C across fields. RIC 180a; Banti 23; Hunter 88. 18.15g, 29mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Wonderful two-tone patina. A superb example. 3,500

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, lot 792.

1212.

A Beautiful Sestertius of Philip I

Otacilia Severa AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 244-248. OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust right on crescent / SAECVLARES AVG, Hippopotamus standing right, IIII in exergue. RIC 116b. 3.78g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 150

1213.

Philip II AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 248. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SAECVLARES AVGG, goat walking left, III in exergue. RIC 224. 4.12g, 22mm, 12h.


1214.

289

Extremely Rare Aureus of Trebonianus Gallus

Trebonianus Gallus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 251. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding globe and sceptre. RIC 23; Calicó 3344. 3.38g, 19mm, 6h.

Near Mint State. Extremely Rare. 20,000

In a time when emperors were hard-pressed to maintain their position of power they were, in many ways, wholly dependent on the fickle attitudes of their armies. Trebonianus Gallus became emperor after the death of his predecessor Trajan Decius at the Battle of Abritus against the Scythian invaders in Moesia, and with the support of his army. In his portraiture, most notably on coins and a few sculptures such as the monumental bronze in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Gallus continued the iconographic tradition that was intended to present the emperor as a powerful general who could lead the armies and keep order in the empire. This iconography is characterised by a military style haircut, a short, stubble beard, and a stern, even menacing expression - all of which owe their origins to the mature portrait types of Caracalla.

Early in his reign Gallus shared the purple with his predecessor’s son Hostilian, who had been Caesar in 251 at the time of his father’s death. However Hostilian died in an outbreak of the plague which struck Rome later that year, leaving the way open for Gallus’ son Volusian to be made co-emperor with his father. The reverse legend of this aureus, showing the singular form AVG instead of the more common plural form AVGG, dates this aureus to a period when Gallus was alone as Augustus, making this an extremely rare issue. There are two possible times when the mint at Rome might have been striking solely for Gallus: a brief period before he recognised Hostilian as co-Augustus, and perhaps an equally short time between the death of Hostilian and the raising of Volusian to this rank. It is suggested by RIC that the most probable time of striking was before Gallus recognised Hostilian.

1215.

Trebonianus Gallus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 251-253. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AETERNITAS AVGG, Aeternitas standing left, holding globe surmounted by phoenix, and gathering up drapery. RIC 17; Calicó 3324. 3.95g, 20mm, 12h.


When this rare aureus was struck, the reverse types in use at the mint of Rome called attention to the more practical sides of government (AEQVITAS AVGG and ANNONA AVGG) as well as the eternity that the Emperor claimed to share with Rome and the Victory that was his most essential attribute (AETERNITAS AVGG and VICTORIA AVGG).

1216.

290

Valerian I Ӕ Sestertius. Rome, AD 253-260. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory standing left holding wreath and palm, S-C across fields. RIC 177. 19.81g, 30mm, 12h.


1217.

Diva Mariniana AR Antoninianus. Rome, after AD 253. DIVAE MARINIANAE, diademed and veiled bust right, on crescent / CONSECRATIO, peacock in splendour looking left. RIC 3. 3.10g, 23mm, 7h.


1218.

Diva Mariniana AR Antoninianus. Rome, after AD 253. DIVAE MARINIANAE, diademed and veiled bust right, on crescent / CONSECRATIO, empress, holding sceptre, seated left on peacock flying right to heaven. RIC 6. 2.89g, 21mm, 10h.


1219.

Gallienus Silvered Æ Antoninianus. Rome, AD 260-268. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / SECVRIT AVG, Securitas standing to left, leaning on column, right hand raised above head. RIC 277. 3.91g, 21mm, 12h.

Virtually Mint State, with complete silvering. 150

1220.

291

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 260. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, laureate and draped bust right / RESTITVTOR GALLIAR, emperor standing left holding spear, raising kneeling captive who holds a branch. RIC 159; Bastien 26c. 21.32g, 31mm, 6h.

Some flatness from the strike, otherwise As Struck, with untouched surfaces. Extremely Rare. 7,500

As Gallienus’ military commander on the Rhine, Postumus was left in charge in the West when the emperor was called to defend the Danubian frontier. Although it is unclear if he usurped power and had Gallienus’ son Saloninus killed, or was raised to the purple by his army, Postumus took to the role of emperor of his ‘Gallic Empire’ of Spain, Gaul and Britain very well, protecting the frontiers against both Germanic invasion, and the true Emperor Gallienus in 265. For this he earned the admiration of the ancient writers, and the right to use reverse types and legends such as the extremely rare example of this sestertius where he presents himself as the restorer of Gaul.

Postumus struck coins on earlier weight standards and in good metal as a means of harking back to a golden age of Rome, which he was intent on restoring in his ‘Gallic Empire’. That he was able to strike coins that were of better workmanship and higher precious metal content than coins issued by Gallienus was in part due to his control of the Spanish silver mines.

1221.

Extremely Rare RESTITVTOR GALLIAR

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 260. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIAE AVG, two Victories attaching shield to palm tree between two captives, SC in exergue. RIC 167; Bastien 67a. 22.98g, 31mm, 6h.


1222.

293

Postumus Ӕ Double Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate and draped bust right / LAETITIA AVG, galley right with four rowers. RIC 143; Bastien 87. 15.92g, 32mm, 6h.

Virtually Mint State – apart from a light patina, this remarkable specimen is otherwise exactly as it was when it left the die. One of the very finest known sestertii of Postumus in existence. 10,000

Though Postumus relied on his army to stay in power, the safety of the provinces was not solely an army matter, for the coasts required protection also, and so it is reasonable that his navy deserved mention on the coinage. The issues which couple the reverse legends FELICITAS and LAETITIA with scenes of a galley probably show that the emperor by no means neglected his navy, and perhaps that it achieved success.

The type of galley depicted on the reverse of the present coin could be a navis lusoria, which was a type of a small military vessel of the late Roman Empire that served as a troop transport. It was smaller and narrower than similar earlier vessels, and ideally suited to the rivers close to the Limes Germanicus; the presence of this type of vessel in the Classis Germanica is shown through the discovery of the Mainz Roman ships in 1981-2, thus proving that they operated on the Rhine and Danube.

1223.

One of the Finest Known

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C POSTVMVS PIVS F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / LAETITIA AVG, galley right with four rowers. Cf. RIC 147 (not cuirassed); Bastien 83. 17.43g, 29mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; untouched patina. 5,000

1224.

294

Postumus Ӕ Double Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing facing, head left, holding two standards. RIC 123; Bastien 77e. 20.11g, 33mm, 5h.

As Struck. Despite some minor striking issues, this coin is wonderfully untouched, with the centering lines still visible from the die. 750

1225.

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing facing, head left, holding two standards. RIC 124; Bastien 74c. 19.75g, 29mm, 6h.


1226.

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm, captive at foot, SC in exergue. RIC 170; Bastien 94. 22.90g, 30mm, 6h.


1227.

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVG, Mars standing right holding spear and leaning on shield, S-C across fields. RIC 180; Bastien 52a. 21.34g, 20mm, 6h.

Light flatness from the strike, otherwise near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 3,000

1228.

Very Rare Sestertius of Postumus

295

Postumus Ӕ Sestertius. Lugdunum, AD 261. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P COS II P P, emperor in military attire standing left, holding globe and spear, S-C across fields. RIC 107; Bastien 59a. 27.47g, 30mm, 6h.


1229.

Carausius AR Denarius. ‘RSR’ mint, AD 286-293. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA MLITVM (sic), clasped hand; RSR in exergue. RIC -, 548 var.; C. -; Shiel -. 3.70g, 19mm, 3h.

Minor scrape on obv., otherwise Extremely Fine. Superb metal quality. Apparently unpublished in the standard references. 5,000

When Carausius settled in Britain in 286 the Roman currency was in a degenerate state, made up almost exclusively of base-metal issues; he saw an opportunity to use the platform of coinage as a means to present himself, his regime and his new ideology for the breakaway ‘British Empire’, and gold and silver issues superior to those made by the legitimate empire were the principal manifestation of his traditional standards and virtues.

The present denarius, although apparently a previously unknown combination of obverse and reverse types, fits easily into the known corpus of Carausian silver. The reverse type is of little special interest under Carausius, and that it is misspelt is not unusual; clearly the Emperor was beset by difficulties during the earliest days of striking at the mints he brought into use. However, it is in the exergual mark of RSR that Carausius’ use of classical allusion as propaganda can be seen.

G. de la Bédoyère, in his paper for the Numismatic Chronicle (158, 1998, 79-88), made a strong case for a Virgilian reading of the RSR mark, based on its use on a bronze medallion of Carausius (BM 1972-7-17-1), very similar in style to a second bronze medallion with the exergual mark of INPCDA (BM 1967 9-1-1), and the reverse legend employed by Carausius of EXPECTATE VENI, ‘Come, long awaited one’ (cf. RIC 554-8, 439-40 and Aeneid ii, 283), which usually appears on the silver coinage. He suggests that the RSR mark is an abbreviation of redeunt Saturnia regna (the Saturnian kingdoms return), from Virgil’s Eclogues IV, from which the following line is iam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto (INPCDA, now a generation is let down from heaven above).

Virgil’s Eclogues text is entirely appropriate for the image that Carausius was trying to promote of the ‘British Empire’ as a haven of traditional Roman values, and the Saturnian age was a commonly used theme of Roman literature to symbolise a lost paradise, both of which are employed here to legitimise Carausius’ rule and appeal to the Romano-British inhabitants of his new empire to support him in his desire to uphold the Roman ideal.

1230.

Apparently Unpublished Denarius of Carausius

296

Vabalathus Æ Antoninianus. Antioch, March-May AD 272. IM C VHABALATHVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; star to left. RIC 6; MIR 47, 357o; BN 1267. 4.67g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare and exceptionally well preserved - one of the finest known specimens. 1,500

Septimius Vabalathus, son of the ruler of Palmyra, Septimius Odenathus, came to power in AD 267 with his mother Septimia Zenobia as regent after the murder of his father, who had been entrusted with the defence of the Roman provinces in the east by the Emperor Gallienus. A strong character and very ambitious, Zenobia expanded her sphere of influence through the capture of the province of Egypt and the expulsion of the Roman prefect Tenagio Probus and his forces in 269, a campaign aided in its success in part due to the turmoil inside the Roman Empire after the death of Gallienus.

The Roman East remained under the control of Palmyra under the subsequent emperors Claudius II and Quintillus, and when Aurelian came to power in 270 he pragmatically chose to acknowledge Zenobia and Vabalathus in order to allow himself time to deal with the breakaway Gallic Empire. Early issues of Vabalathus included a portrait of Aurelian with the imperial title of Augustus; later in the reign both Vabalathus and his mother adopted the imperial titles for themselves, and Aurelian disappears from the types.

However their power was not to last as, having subdued the uprisings in the West, Aurelian marched east. The opposing armies met outside Antioch where the Palmyrenes were routed and fled into the desert, with Zenobia and Vabalathus apparently being captured and taken to Rome for display in the emperor’s triumph.

1231.

Very Rare and Exceptional Vabalathus

Sol, Lord of the Roman Empire

Aurelian Æ ‘As’. Serdica, AD 274. SOL DOMINVS IMPERI ROMANI, draped bust of Sol right / AVRELIANVS AVG CONS, Aurelian standing left, holding long sceptre in left hand and sacrificing with patera held in right hand over lighted altar to left. RIC 319; BN 1022-3. 8.32g, 27mm, 6h.


On his successful return from the east having crushed Zenobia and Vabalathus, Aurelian elevated the sun-god Sol to a highly prestigious position in the Roman pantheon, making the priests of Sol pontifices and members of the Senatorial elite. He is known to have built a richly decorated and furnished new temple, the Templum Solis, and to have instituted games in honour of the god to be held every four years beginning in AD 274. The small issue of bronze coins depicting Sol on the obverse, such as the present piece, are thought to date from the dedication of the Templum Solis.

This remarkable coin, showing Sol on the obverse and relegating the Empror to the reverse, can only be associated with a special occasion: Roman tradition and custom dictated that the protrait of the emperor occupied the obverse field. For this issue to have been struck it must be assumed that there were direct orders from Aurelian that the mint should elevate Sol as he desired. That this was the case is confirmed by the reverse type featuring the Emperor pouring a libation in honour of Sol at the dedication of the new temple, a task that Aurelian would have performed himself as pontifex maximus.

Commonly described as an As due to the similarity to the last true Asses struck under Valerian and Gallienus, it is more probable that these coins emerged as part of the monetary reforms of Aurelian and are perhaps based on a reduced sestertius or double aurelianus, the As having been made irrelevant due to debasement and inflation.

1232.

297

Tacitus Silvered Æ Antoninianus. Gaul, AD 275-276. IMP C CL TACTIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PAX PVBLICA, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and sceptre. RIC 45. 3.73g, 23mm, 12h.


1233.

Divus Nigrinian Æ Antoninianus. Rome, AD 284-285. DIVO NIGRINIANO, radiate head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing facing, looking left, KA-crescent-A in exergue. RIC 472. 3.73g, 23mm, 6h.


The very rare CONSECRATIO issues of Nigrinian can be securely placed in this period based on their mintmarks, making the boy featured on the obverse the grandson of Carus. That these issues were struck in Rome make him probably the son of Carinus, as Numerian had marched east with Carus, leaving Carinus as Augustus in the West. Diocletian condemned the memory of Carinus after his death, likely bringing a conclusion to the striking of coins for Nigrinian at the same time.

Nigrinian might possibly be the son of Carinus and Magnia Urbica, named Augusta on her own issues from the European mints, but this is unlikely: the boy shown had grown beyond infancy, and any child from Carinus’ marriage to Magnia Urbica would have been considerably younger. It is therefore more likely that he was the offspring of a previous marriage, eight of which the Historia Augusta records before Carinus married Magnia Urbica.

1234.

Attractive Nigrinian Antoninianus

Julian I of Pannonia AR Antoninianus. Siscia, late AD 284-February 285. IMP C M AVR IVLIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FELICITAS TEMPORVM, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and sceptre; S – B across fields, XXI in exergue. C. 1; RIC 2. 3.44g, 23mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine. Some original silvering remaining. Rare. 2,500

One of the more serious of the ‘Thirty Tyranni’ described by Roman historians as occurring in this period was brought about by the revolt of Marcus Aurelius Julianus of Pannonia, whose uprising against Carinus in 284 caused the emperor to march from Britain and lead his army against the rebels near Verona, or perhaps in Illyricum (the sources are unclear), crushing them in early 285. Issued from the mint at Siscia, the coins of Julian of Pannonia are in the same good style that this mint had previously issued in the service of legitimate emperors, with a fine portrait.

1235.

The Usurper Julian of Pannonia

298

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Siscia, AD 294-295. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, the four tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets. RIC 43a; Jelocnik 3a. 3.00g, 19mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. 600

Ex Stack’s 168, 8 August 2012, lot 20510.

1236.

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Rome, AD 294. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate bust right / VIRTVS MILITVM, the four tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets. RIC 27a. 2.87g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500


1237.

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Nicomedia, AD 295. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIAE SARMATICAE, four-turreted camp-gate open with doors thrown back, each turret surmounted by facing eagle. RIC 22a. 3.37g, 18mm, 12h.


1238.

Diocletian Ӕ Follis. Ticinum, AD 296-297. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG, laureate bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, star in left field, PT in exergue. RIC 31a. 10.00g, 28mm, 6h.


1239.

299

Diocletian Ӕ Follis. Lugdunum, AD 301-303. IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, lighted altar in left field, A in right field, PLC in exergue. RIC 108a var. (bust type). 10.05g, 28mm, 12h.


1240.

Diocletian Ӕ Follis. Lugdunum, AD 301-303. IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, lighted altar in left field, A in right field, PLC in exergue. RIC 108a. 10.71g, 26mm, 12h.


1241.

Diocletian Ӕ Follis. Lugdunum, AD 301-303. IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, lighted altar in left field, B in right field, PLC in exergue. RIC 108b. 8.92g, 26mm, 6h.


1242.

1241 1242

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Thessalonica, AD 302. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate with no doors, TS•B• in exergue. RIC 13a (unlisted officina); RSC 520c. 3.55g, 20mm, 6h.



1243.

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Serdica, AD 303-305. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate with no doors; •SM•SDA• in exergue. RIC 1a; Gautier 1; RSC 520b. 3.22g, 19mm, 12h.

Minor scrape on reverse. Good Extremely Fine. 750


1244.

300

Diocletian Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 303-305. IMP DIOCLETIANVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, S-F across fields, PTR in exergue. RIC 576a. 11.42g, 28mm, 6h.


1245.

Diocletian Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 303-305. IMP DIOCLETIANVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, S-F across fields, IITR in exergue. RIC 519a. 11.42g, 28mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1246.

1245 1246

Domitius Domitianus Æ Follis. Alexandria, AD 295-296. IMP C L DOMITIVS DOMITIANVS AVG, laureate head right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius of the Roman people standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae, eagle with wings spread standing at his feet, B in right field, ALE in exergue. RIC 20. 9.77g, 26mm, 12h.


Stationed in an Egypt that was overtaxed and burdened with considerable administrative corruption, Domitian Domitianus took the purple in an effort to ameliorate the lot of the local people. He instituted agricultural reforms and repairs to the decrepit irrigation channels, undertook a reform of the local coinage in order to improve commerce, and strengthened the province militarily.

Diocletian’s response was swift and brutal, and he invaded Egypt. However, despite being heavily outnumbered Domitianus was able to withstand Diocletian’s advance for months, and although by December of 297 Diocletian had control of Egypt, Alexandria refused to capitulate. Domitianus’ ultimate fate is unrecorded, however he was likely killed or assassinated. In his fury, Diocletian authorised a general sack of the city and a massacre of the population.

1247.

Maximian AR Argenteus. Rome, AD 295-297. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, the four tetrarchs tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets, Δ in exergue. RIC 40b; RSC 622g. 3.54g, 19mm, 12h.

Fleur De Coin. Rare. 600

1248.

Maximian AR Argenteus. Ticinum, circa AD 295. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIA SARMAT, the four tetrarchs tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets. RIC 16b; Sisak Hoard 39. 2.97g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; attractively toned. Very Rare. 750

1249.

301

Maximian AR Argenteus. Ticinum, circa AD 295. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIA SARMAT, the four tetrarchs tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets; pellet within doorway. RIC 16b; Sisak Hoard 39. 3.79g, 19mm, 6h.


1250.

Maximian AR Argenteus. Carthage, circa AD 300. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / XC VI in two lines within laurel wreath. RIC 15b; Jeločnik -; RSC 698†2. 3.63g, 19mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine. Scarce. 1,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Triton XIV, 4 January 2011, lot 814.

1251.

Maximian AR Argenteus. Carthage, circa AD 300. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / XC VI in two lines within laurel wreath. RIC 15b; Jeločnik -; RSC 698†2. 3.38g, 17mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine; beautifully toned. Scarce. 750

1252.

Maximian Ӕ Follis. Lugdunum, AD 301-303. IMP MAXIMIANVS P AVG, laureate bust right with lion’s skin and club over right shoulder / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, lighted altar in left field, A in right field, PLC in exergue. RIC 103. 10.49g, 28mm, 6h.


1253.

Maximian Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 301-305. MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, S-F across fields, PTR in exergue. RIC 594b. 10.79g, 27mm, 12h.


1254.

302

Maximian Æ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 303-305. IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI S-F, Genius standing left, wearing modius, and holding patera and cornucopiae, PTR in exergue. RIC 652b. 8.43g, 29mm, 6h.

Near Mint State. 150

1255.

Maximian AR Argenteus. Serdica, AD 305-306. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate with no doors; •SM•SDЄ•. RIC 11b; Gautier 26 var. (officina); RSC 228†a. 3.15g, 20mm, 12h.



1256.

Unpublished Constantius Argenteus

Constantius I, as Caesar, AR Argenteus. Siscia, AD 295-296. CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILIT, the four tetrarchs tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets; *SIS in exergue. RIC -; Jeločnik -; RSC -. 3.18g, 18mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, scrape on edge of reverse. Apparently unpublished for this mint and emperor with these legends. 750


1258.

Maximian Ӕ Follis. London, AD 305-307. IMP C MAXIMANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae. RIC 42. 9.77g, 27mm, 6h.


1257.

Constantius I Ӕ Follis. Ticinum, AD 296-297. CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, star in left field, PT in exergue. RIC 32a. 10.74g, 28mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1259.

303

Constantius I AR Argenteus. Siscia, AD 300. CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate, open without doors, star SIS in exergue. RIC 67a. 3.34g, 20mm, 6h.


1260.

Constantius I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 300. CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae. RIC 16. 4.13g, 28mm, 7h.


1261.

Constantius I Ӕ Follis. Lugdunum, AD 301-303. CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate and cuirassed bust left, spear over right shoulder / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, head towered, holding patera and cornucopiae, lighted altar in left field, A in right field, PLC in exergue. RIC 167a. 9.69g, 28mm, 12h.


1262.

Constantius I Ӕ Follis. Aquileia, AD 301. CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right / SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae, AQΓ in exergue. RIC 30a. 10.12g, 28mm, 6h.


1263.

Constantius I AR Argenteus. Serdica, circa AD 305-306. CONSTANTIVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, camp gate with open door and three turrets; •SM•SDΔ• in exergue. Gautier 25; RIC 11a. 3.32g, 20mm, 1h.



1264.

1261 1262

Theodora Æ Follis. Constantinople, AD 337-340. FL MAX THEODORAE AVG, bust right, wearing plain mantle and necklace, hair elaborately dressed / PIETAS ROMANA, Pietas facing, head right, holding an infant, CONSΕ in exergue. RIC 50. 1.44g, 16mm, 6h.


1265.

304

Severus II, as Caesar, AR Argenteus. Serdica, AD 305-306. SEVERVS NOB C, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate with no doors, •SM•SDA• in exergue. RIC -; Cf. NAC 62, 6 October 2011, lot 2089 (same dies). 3.29g, 20mm, 12h.

Minor bump behind portrait, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one of very few known examples. 5,000

Most likely struck to mark the commencement of the Second Tetrarchy in AD 305, this extremely rare coin is one of only a handful known. A number of argentei of Severus II came to light in a hoard about a decade ago; prior to this, they were virtually unknown. Cohen lists no such types, and RIC lists one argenteus of Severus II (21), but as Augustus rather than Caesar.

The scarcity of these types might be explained by the short period of time during which Severus held the position of Caesar before being elevated by Galerius after the death of Constantius I in summer 306 - in a matter of months he was raised from the senior ranks of the army to Augustus in the West. However, his time as Augustus came to an abrupt end when he was tasked with the suppression of the revolt of Maxentius in Rome: he marched on the city at the head of an army previously commanded by Maximian, father of Maxentius, to whom his soldiers deserted. Severus fled to Ravenna where, in 307, he was persuaded by Maxentius to surrender.

Despite Maximian’s assurances that he would be treated with respect, Severus was nonetheless displayed as a captive and later imprisoned at Tres Tabernae. When Galerius invaded Italy to suppress Maxentius and Maximian himself, Maxentius ordered Severus’ death. He was executed (or forced to commit suicide) on 16 September 307.

1266.

Severus II as Caesar

305

Maximinus II Ӕ Follis. London, AD 310-312. IMP MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POP ROM, Genius standing, modius on head, holding patera and cornucopiae, star in right field, PLN in exergue. RIC 209b. 3.85g, 23mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1268.

Time of Maximinus II Æ16. ‘Persecution Issue’. Antioch, AD 310-313. IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter seated left on throne, holding globe and sceptre / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory advancing left with wreath and palm, S in right field, ANT in exergue. Van Heesch 2. 1.77g, 16mm, 12h.


1269.

Alexander Æ Follis. Carthage, AD 308-311. IMP ALEXANDER P F AVG, laureate head right /S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, aquila, between two vexilla surmounted by a hand, to left, and a wreath, to right; PK in exergue. RIC 72; Cohen 12. 4.42g, 23mm, 7h. Splendid portrait, well centred, attractive olive-green patina, Good Very Fine. 4,000 From the Ortiz Collection. The usurper L. Domitius Alexander (Alexander of Carthage) was governor of Africa and had sworn allegiance to Maxentius, securing the all-important Carthaginian grain supply for Rome. Constantine and Maximian convinced Alexander to renege on this alliance, and thus he deserted to their camp and halted the grain shipments, causing famine and severe rioting in Rome. Maxentius sent his praetorian prefect Volusian with several Legions to North Africa to put an end to Alexander’s revolt and, when Constantine and Maximian offered no help, Volusian’s legions swiftly defeated Alexander and his troops. Alexander himself was captured and strangled shortly thereafter.

1267.

Alexander the Tyrant

Licinius I BI Pseudo-Argenteus. Treveri (Trier), circa AD 310. IMP LICINIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre / IOVI CONSERVATORI AVG, Jupiter, head left, holding thunderbolt and transverse sceptre, seated on eagle standing right with wings spread; PTR in exergue. RIC 825. 2.93g, 18mm, 6h.


1270.

Licinius I Ӕ Follis. Ostia, AD 312-313. IMP LICINIVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, wearing cloak, right hand raised and holding globe. RIC 84b. 4.82g, 22mm, 12h.


1271.

Licinius I Ӕ Follis. Siscia, AD 313. IMP LICINIVS PF AVG, laureate head right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing facing with head left, chlamys hanging from left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and leaning on sceptre, eagle with wreath left, A in right field, SIS in exergue. RIC 31a. 3.86g, 22mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1272.

1271 1272

306

Constantine I, as Caesar, AR Argenteus. Treveri (Trier), AD 306-307. CONSTANTINVS NOB C, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, camp gate, with no door, and four turrets; PTR in exergue. RIC 638. 2.99g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, superb old tone with iridescent flashes. Very Rare. 5,000

Ex Arthur Bally-Herzog Collection, Münzen und Medaillen Basel 93, 16 December 2003, lot 275.

After the death of his father in 306, Constantine was acclaimed as Augustus by his army and the Alamannic king Chrocus, who had been taken into service under Constantius, while in northern Britain. Galerius, Augustus in the east and colleague of Constantius, declared that Constantine should be Caesar, which he accepted; thus began his inexorable rise. Securing himself in the West through the memory of his father, and his building programme in places such as Treveri where he built a new imperial palace and vast baths, Constantine was settled in his place commanding one of the largest Roman armies, stationed on the Rhine frontier.

Struck for use by mainly military recipients, throughout this period the types of the silver issues were of purely military significance, the most common being the representation of the four rulers at sacrifice before a gate in a fortified enclosure. The more simplified type of the present piece began to replace the earlier type during this period, until it became extremely common to the bronze of Constantine’s reign.

1273.

Rare and Beautiful Constantine I Argenteus

307

Constantine I, as Caesar, Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 307. FL VAL CONSTANTINVS N C, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince standing facing, head left, in military dress, holding standard in each hand, S-A across fields, PTR in exergue. RIC 743. 4.24g, 22mm, 6h.


1274.

1274 1275

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 310-312. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / COMITI AVGG NN, Sol standing left, holding globe and whip, star in right field, PLN in exergue. RIC 153. 3.98g, 23mm, 6h.


1275.

1276 1277

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 310-312. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear on right shoulder and shield on left arm / COMITI AVGG NN, Sol standing left, holding globe and whip, star in right field, PLN in exergue. RIC 166. 4.21g, 24mm, 6h.


1276.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 310-312. CONSTANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield on arm / COMITI AVGG NN, Sol standing left, holding globe and whip, star in right field, PLN in exergue. RIC 185. 4.49g, 23mm, 6h.


1277.

1278 1279

Constantine I Æ Follis. London, AD 310-312. CONSTANTINVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / ADVENTVS AVG N, prince riding left, holding spear, right hand raised, captive before, star in right field, PLN in exergue. RIC 185. 4.49g, 23mm, 6h.


1278.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 310-312. CONSTANTINVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince standing facing, head left, wearing cloak and holding globe and reversed sceptre, star in right field, PLN in exergue. RIC 223 var. 3.72g, 23mm, 6h.


1279.

1280 1281

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 310-313. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, bust of Sol right, radiate and draped. RIC 893. 5.53g, 24mm, 12h.


1280.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 310-313. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, bust of Sol right, radiate and draped. RIC 894. 2.88g, 21mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 100

1281.

308

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 312-313. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing, holding spear and leaning on shield, star in left field, PLN in exergue. RIC 252. 3.19g, 22mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1282.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 312-313. CONSTANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield on arm / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing, holding spear and leaning on shield, star in left field, PLN in exergue. RIC 260. 5.30g, 23mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Rare. Very interesting crest. 200

1283.

1282 1283

1284 1285

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Ticinum, AD 312-313. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing facing in military dress, leaning on reversed spear and holding shield, ST in exergue. RIC 124a. 4.01g, 23mm, 6h.


1284.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Ticinum, AD 312-313. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing facing in military dress, leaning on reversed spear and holding shield, TT in exergue. RIC 124a. 4.26g, 22mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1285.

1286 1287

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Ostia, AD 312-313. IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POP ROM, Genius standing, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae, MOSTS in exergue. RIC 74. 4.01g, 23mm, 12h.


1286.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Ticinum, AD 313. IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing right, in military dress holding upright spear, point downwards, left hand on shield, PT in exergue. RIC 5. 3.43g, 21mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 100

1287.

1288 1289

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Lugdunum, AD 313-314. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate bust left, wearing trabea, eagle-tipped sceptre in hand / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars, standing holding spear and resting hand on shield, T -F across fields, PLG in exergue. Cf. RIC 11 (unlisted bust type). 3.18g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1288.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 313-314. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and with shield on shoulder / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe, right hand raised, S-F across fields, PLN in exergue. RIC 11. 3.57g, 22mm, 4h.


1289.

309

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 313-314. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and with shield on shoulder / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe, right hand raised, S-F across fields, PLN in exergue. RIC 11. 3.47g, 21mm, 6h.


1290.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 314-315. IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing right, helmeted and in military dress holding spear, point downwards and resting left hand on shield. S-F across fields, MLL in exergue. RIC 24. 3.11g, 20mm, 6h.


1291.

Constantine I AV Solidus. Ticinum, AD 315. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate head right / FELIX PROCESSVS COS IIII AVG N, emperor togate, standing left, globe in right hand, short sceptre in left, SMT in exergue. RIC 26. 4.46g, 18mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine; minor scratches on obverse. 4,000

1292.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 315-316. IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / MARTI CONSERVATORI, Mars standing right holding reversed spear, resting left hand on shield on ground, B-S across fields, PTR in exergue. RIC 77. 2.76g, 21mm, 6h.


1293.

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 316. CONSTANTINVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, raising right hand and holding globe. RIC 76. 3.21g, 21mm, 6h.


1294.

1294 1295

Constantine I Ӕ Follis. London, AD 316. CONSTANTINVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, raising right hand and holding globe. RIC 76. 3.38g, 21mm, 12h.


1295.

311

Constantine I AV Medallion of 1¼ Solidi. Nicomedia, AD 325-326. D N CONSTANTINVS AVG, diademed bust right, with uplifted gaze / EQVIS ROMANVS, Constantine, bare-headed and in military dress, mounted right, raising right hand; SMN in exergue. NAC 51, 5 March 2009, 426; C. -; RIC -, (cf. 100 for reverse); cf. Bastien pl. IV, 16 (same); cf. Gnecchi 9 (same); cf. Biaggi 1966 (same); Depeyrot p. 154. 5.29g, 21mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Exceptionally Rare. 10,000

Ex Numismatik Lanz München 145 (with Numismatica Bernardi), 5 January 2009, lot 148.

Multiples of 1½ and 2 solidi have been previously recorded, however this 1¼ is one of only two known, the other having been sold at Numismatica Ars Classica 51, 5 March 2009, lot 426.

After the naval defeat inflicted on Licinius by Constantine at the Battle of the Hellespont, Licinius withdrew his forces from Byzantium across the Bosphorus to Chalcedon in Bithynia. Pursued by Constantine, it was here that the decisive Battle of Chrysopolis was fought, in which Licinius was routed and fled with his remaining troops to the eastern capital of Nicomedia. Here he threw himself on the mercy of Constantine, capitulating in order to save his own life.

Struck shortly after the mint at Nicomedia had begun striking gold for Constantine as sole emperor, and to coincide with Constantine’s vicennial celebrations in 326, this unusual piece honours the traditional concept of the Roman state by hailing the equestrian rank; a similar issue was struck at the same time with the reverse legend SENATVS. Alföldi proposed that these particular reverse types might also commemorate the emperor’s experiment with reorganisation of the equites, which began in 326.

1296.

One of Two Known

313

Constantine I AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 326. Head right, with plain diadem, looking upwards / CONSTANTINVS CAESAR, Victory advancing left, holding wreath in right hand and branch in left, SMTS in exergue. RIC 147. 4.50g, 20mm, 6h.

Virtually Mint State. Very Rare. 15,000

Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 551.

This coin was issued to mark the visit of Constantine I to Thessalonica at the beginning of 326, when he was journeying to Rome. As with other types issued around the same time, it is a design made from a prototype of Nicomedia which, as the interim capital, had the honour of being the centre of gold issues for Constantine up until he declared Byzantium the new capital in 330, renaming the city Constantinopolis.

1297.

Exceptional Solidus of Constantine I

Constantine I Æ Follis. Constantinople, AD 327-328. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, rosette-diademed head right / GLORIA EXERCITVS, soldier standing left, looking right, holding spear and resting hand on shield, S in left field, CONS in exergue. RIC 22. 2.81g, 18mm, 12h.


1298.

Commemorative Series AR Third Siliqua. Struck under Constantine I, Constantinople, circa AD 330. Helmeted and draped bust of Roma right / Large P. Bendall Type 2; RIC -; J.P.C. Kent, Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis Medallions at the mint of Rome, Essays Sutherland, p. 112, pl. 13, 29; RSC -; Vagi 3039. 1.18g, 13mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; almost as struck. Punches on reverse. 500

This issue was struck on the occasion of the dedication and founding of Constantinople on 11th May, AD 330.

1299.

Crispus Ӕ Follis. London, AD 317. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe, right hand raised S-P across fields, PLN in exergue. RIC 113. 3.10g, 20mm, 6h.


1300.

314

Crispus Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince, laureate, in military dress, standing right, holding spear and globe, F-T across fields, BTR in exergue. RIC 171. 3.18g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. 100

1301.

Crispus Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince standing right holding spear and globe, T-F across fields, •ATR in exergue. RIC 141. 3.73g, 20mm, 12h.


1302.

Crispus Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince standing right holding spear and globe, T-F across fields, •ATR in exergue. RIC 142. 2.82g, 20mm, 12h.


1303.

Crispus Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince standing right holding spear and globe, T-F across fields, BTR in exergue. RIC 142. 2.88g, 20mm, 12h.


1304.

1301 1302

1303 1304

Hanniballianus Æ Follis. Constantinople, AD 336-337. FL HANNIBALLIANO REGI, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS PVBLICA, Euphrates seated right, leaning on sceptre, urn at his side, reed in the background; CONSS in exergue. RIC 147; LRBC 1036. 1.44g, 15mm, 11h.


1305.

Hanniballianus Æ Follis. Constantinople, AD 336-337. FL HANNIBALIANO REGI, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS PVBLICA, Euphrates seated right, leaning on sceptre, urn at his side, reed in the background; CONSS in exergue. RIC 147; LRBC 1036. 1.37g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine; attractive desert patina. Rare. 300

1306.

Hanniballianus Æ Follis. Constantinople, AD 336-337. FL HANNIBALIANO REGI, bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS PVBLICA, Euphrates seated right, leaning on sceptre, urn at his side, reed in the background; CONSS in exergue. RIC 147; LRBC 1036. 1.65g, 11mm, 6h.


1307.

1306 1307

Constantine II, as Caesar, Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, bare-headed, cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince, laureate, in military dress, standing right, holding spear and globe, F-T across fields, BTR in exergue. RIC 174. 3.62g, 20mm, 6h.


1308.

Constantine II, as Caesar, Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, prince, laureate, in military dress, standing right, holding spear and globe, F-T across fields, BTR in exergue. RIC 173. 3.82g, 21mm, 12h.


1309.

1308 1309

315

Constantine II, as Caesar, Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, draped and cuirassed bust right / CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE, Sol standing, raising right hand and holding globe, T-F across fields, •ATR in exergue. RIC 147. 3.36g, 20mm, 12h.


1310.

Constantine II, as Caesar, Ӕ Follis. Treveri (Trier), AD 317-318. FL CL CONSTANTINVS IVN N C, draped and cuirassed bust right / CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE, Sol standing, raising right hand and holding globe, T-F across fields, •ATR in exergue. RIC 147. 3.53g, 20mm, 12h.


1311.

Constantius II AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 340-350. CONSTANTIVS AVGVSTVS, rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIAE DD NN AVGG, two confronted Victories standing, holding between them wreath containing VOT / XX / MVLT / XXX in four lines; TES in exergue. RIC 70; Depeyrot 6/1. 4.65g, 21mm, 6h.

Scattered contact marks; near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 1,000

1312.

1310 1311

Constantius II AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 347-355. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, Roma seated facing and Constantinopolis seated slightly left, with right foot on prow, each holding sceptre and supporting shield between them inscribed VOT XX MVLT XXX in four lines; SMANB in exergue. RIC 83; Depeyrot 6/3. 4.48g, 21mm, 11h.

Minor scrape on rev., otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Highly lustrous surfaces. 5,000


1313.

Constantius II AR Siliqua. Constantinople, AD 351-355. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOTIS XXX MVLTIS XXXX in four lines within wreath, C•IA in exergue. RIC 101. 3.27g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 250

1314.

Constantius II AR Siliqua. Sirmium, AD 351-355. DN CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOTIS XXX MVLTIS XXXX in four lines within wreath, SIRM in exergue. RIC 17. 2.21g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 250

1315.

Constantius II AR Reduced Siliqua. Sirmium, AD 355-361. DN CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOTIS XXX MVLTIS XXXX in four lines within wreath, SIRM in exergue. RIC 68. 2.12g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasantly toned. 250

1316.

1315 1316

317

Magnentius AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 350/351. IM CAE MAGNENTIVS, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS EXERCITI, helmeted soldier standing facing, head turned to right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield; TR in exergue. RIC 258; Bastien 18; C. 82. 2.80g, 20mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. Very Rare – Bastien notes only 13 specimens. A sensational example of the type with a light old tone with hints of iridescence over mirror-lustre surfaces; very likely the finest known. 4,000


1317.

Julian II AR Reduced Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 360-363. D N/FL CL IVLIANVS AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Laurel wreath around VOTIS V MVLTIS X in four lines, TR in exergue. RIC 363/4. 1.98g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; attractive iridescent toning. Rare. 250

Ex Stack & Kroisos Collections, 14 January 2008, lot 2382.

The obverse die appears to have been recut to read D N (Dominus Noster) rather than FL (Flavius), suggesting this coin was struck later in the reign.

1318.

Only 13 Specimens Noted by Bastien

Julian II Æ27. Constantinople, AD 360-363. D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REI PVB •, bull walking right, two stars above; • CONSPA palm in exergue. RIC 162. 8.41g, 27mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine; some silvering remaining. 200

1319.

Julian II Æ Double Maiorina. Sirmium, AD 361-363. D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SECVRITAS REI PVB, Apis bull standing to right on ground line, *ASIRM(branch) in exergue. RIC 107. 9.35g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Exceptionally well preserved, with much original silvering. 500


1320.

1319 1320

319

First Known Coin of Helena II

Helena II AR Heavy Siliqua. Uncertain mint, AD 360. FLAV MAX HELENA AVG, diademed and draped bust right, hair bound in bunch behind / AETERNITAS, Aeternitas standing left, holding globe and rudder set on ground line. 2.84g, 17mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Unique and unpublished. Of great numismatic importance. 7,500

Helena was the daughter of Constantine I and Fausta, sister to Constantine II, Constantius II, Constans and Constantina and half-sister of Crispus. Her paternal grandparents were Constantius I Chlorus and Helena I, and her maternal grandparents were Maximian and Eutropia. When on 6 November 355, then emperor Constantius II raised their paternal cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, Helena was within days wed to Julian as a confirmation of the allegiance of Julian to her brother. It was suggested by Ammianus Marcellinus that the reigning empress Eusebia, wife of Constantius II, by malign machinations was the cause of a stillbirth and miscarriages in Helena’s pregnancies. Modern historians consider this heinous allegation disturbingly plausible given Eusebia’s own failure to conceive an heir for Constantius, which thus made Julian the heir presumptive to the imperial throne. Whatever the truth of these allegations, Julian remained without heir.

Helena is reported as being present in Rome on the occasion of Constantius’ Vicennalia, the celebration in honour of his having completing twenty years on the throne. This marked the first and only known visit of that emperor to the ancient capital of the empire. The presence of Constantius, Eusebia and Helena marked this as a dynastic display.

In 360, taking advantage of Julian’s pacification of the Gallic borders by negotiating a truce with the Alamanni, Constantius ordered the transfer of many units and officers from Gaul to the Persian front where he was engaged in a campaign against the Sassanid king Shapur II. A revolt instigated by a unit of Auxilia Palatina in February or March proclaimed Julian Augustus, and this was soon joined by the remainder of the Gallic units who also took up the cause. Julian accepted with some reluctance, and in a surviving letter written to the senate of Athens in 361 explaining and justifying his actions, we have the last reference to Helena who appears to have died of unknown causes some time between Julian’s elevation and the time of his having written the letter.

Ammianus relates that on the Quinquennial games of Julian, he sent to Rome the remains of Helena to be laid to rest in his villa outside the city on the Via Nomentana, where her sister Constantina also lay. He further tells us that ‘he was so conspicuous for inviolate chastity after the loss of his wife that it is well known that he never gave a further thought to love’.

The full name of Helena was previously unknown to us, having not been preserved in the surviving ancient sources. With the appearance of this important and unique coin however we now know her name to have been Flavia Maxima Helena, given to her in the manner of her mother Flavia Maxima Fausta.

On account of the imperial title Augusta here given to Helena, it is immediately apparent that this coin must have been struck after the elevation of Julian in early 360, and almost certainly before her death perhaps less than a year later. The reduction in weight of the siliqua that occurred upon Julian’s accession in order to finance donatives to the troops yields an interesting clue to the function of this remarkable piece. That it is struck to an earlier heavy standard of 2.84g (that would have yielded 114-116 siliquae to the Roman pound), in comparison to the first issues of Julian II that weigh on average 2.18g (150 to the pound), it is likely that this represents a presentation medallette intended as a court token or donative.

Parallels for this coin can be seen in the extremely rare gold medallions issued by Constantine I in the name of his wife Fausta, and the extremely rare bronze issues in the name of Constantia, wife of Licinius and sister of Constantine.

1321.

320

Jovian Æ1. Thessalonica, AD 363-364. D N IOVIANVS P F P P AVG, laurel and rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA ROMANORVM, Emperor standing facing, head to right, holding labarum with Christogram and Victory on globe; •TESA• in exergue. C 22; RIC 238. 9.07g, 27mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very pleasing green patina. 750

1322.

Valens AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 367-375. D N VALENS P F AVG, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VRBS ROMA, Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and spear; TRPS• in exergue. RIC 27e; RSC 109a. 2.34g, 19mm, 12h.


From the Gussage All Saints Hoard.

1323.

Valens AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 367-378. D N VALEN S P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VRBS ROMA, Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and spear; TRPS• in exergue. RIC 27e; RSC 109a. 2.02g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 200

1324.

1323 1324

Gratian AR Siliqua. Aquileia, AD 378-383. D N GRATIANVS P F AVG, pearl diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma enthroned facing, head left, holding globe and sceptre; AQPS in exergue. RIC 28a; RSC 56d. 1.13g, 15mm, 6h.

Clipped, Extremely Fine. Scarce. 150


1325.

Valentinian II AR Siliqua. Lugdunum, AD 375-392. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VRBS ROMA, Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and spear; LVGPS in exergue. RIC 43a.1; RSC 76†b. 2.41g, 19mm, 7h.



1326.

Theodosius I AR Siliqua. Siscia, AD 379-383. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOT V MVLT X in four lines within wreath, jewel at apex; SISCPS in exergue. RIC 24b; C. 64. 1.37g, 15mm, 6h.

Clipped, about Extremely Fine. 150


1327.1327 1328

Theodosius I AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 388-395. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 94b and 106a; RSC 57a. 1.86g, 17mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 175


1328.

321

Theodosius I, with Arcadius and Honorius, Æ Exagium Solidi Weight. Constantinople, AD 402-408. DDD NNN GGG, diademed and draped facing busts of Honorius, Theodosius, and Arcadius respectively / EXAGIVM SOLIDI, Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae; wreath between palm branches in exergue. Bendall, Byzantine Weights 9; Sabatier 8; Cf. Göbl, Antike 228-9; RIC X, p. 8. 4.16g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, and of excellent style. Unaltered by piercing or plugging, rare thus. 3,000

Official solidus weights, based on a standard ‘imperial pound’, came into being with the law of Julian of AD 363, which established a zygostates - an official weigher of solidi in each city to restore confidence in the solidus, which had become subject to widespread clipping. Exagium derives from the Latin exigere “to drive out” - in this case, the underweight solidi, thereby maintaining an acceptable weight standard necessary for the imperial gold coinage to circulate at full value. Many, if not most, such exagia display holes and/or plugs to bring the exagium to the correct weight. Unmodified exagia are thus a rarity.

1329.

An Exagium Solidi of Magnificent Quality

Magnus Maximus AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 383-388. D N MAG MAXIMVS P F AVG, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma enthroned facing, head left, holding globe and spear, TRPS in exergue. RIC 84b1; RSC 20a. 2.02g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 300


1330.1330 1331

Magnus Maximus AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 383-388. D N MAG MAXIMVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma enthroned facing, head left, holding globe and spear, TRPS in exergue. RIC 84b1, RSC 20a. 1.99g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 250

1331.

Flavius Victor AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 387-388. D N FL VICTOR P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma enthroned facing, head left, holding globe and spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 84d; RSC 6Ab; Hoxne 545. 1.81g, 16mm, 12h.



1332.

Eugenius AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 392-394. D N EVGENIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reverted spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 106d; RSC 14a; Spink 682. 1.48g, 15mm, 6h.

Edge slightly scuffed at 12 o’clock (rev). Good Extremely Fine. 1,500


1333.

322

Eugenius AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 392-394. D N EVGENIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 106d; RSC 14a; Spink 628. 1.25g, 18mm, 12h.


Found at Cobham, Kent, 7 August 2010; UKDFD Ref. No. 26241.

1334.

Arcadius AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 392-395. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated left, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 106b; RSC 27a. 1.05g, 15mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 200


1335.

Honorius AV Solidus. Sirmium, AD 393-395. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG H, emperor standing right, holding standard and Victory on globe, his foot on captive, S-M across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC 14d. 4.43g, 20mm, 6h.


1336.

Honorius AR Siliqua. Mediolanum, AD 393-423. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma enthroned facing, head left, holding Victory on globe and sceptre; MDPS in exergue. RIC 32c; RSC 59b. 1.44g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, reverse die worn. 175


1337.

Honorius AV Solidus. Mediolanum, AD 394-395. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing right, foot on captive, holding standard and Victory on globe; M-D across fields, COMOB in exergue. C. 44; LRC 712; Depeyrot 16/2; RIC 1206. 4.41g, 21mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. 750

1338.

323

Constantine III AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 408-411. D N CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AAVGGG, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and inverted spear; TRMS in exergue. RIC 1532. 1.50g, 11mm, 6h.

Near Mint State. Rare. 500

Ex Hunter Collection.

1339.

Exceptional Quality Solidus

Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 408-420. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman / CONCORDIA AVGG E, Constantinopolis seated facing with sceptre and Victory on globe, CONOB in exergue. RIC 202. 4.50g, 21mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine, exceptional for the type. Scarce. 1,000

1340.

Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, 408-420 AD. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman / CONCORDIA AVGG S, Constantinopolis seated facing with sceptre and Victory on globe, resting her foot on a prow; CONOB in exergue. RIC 202. 4.45g, 21mm, 12h.


1341.

Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 425-429. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted facing bust, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman / SALVS REIPVBLICAE Z, two Emperors enthroned facing, both nimbate and each holding mappa and cruciform sceptre, star above, CONOB in exergue. RIC 237; Hahn 23a. 4.45g, 20mm, 6h.


1342.

324

Marcian AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 450. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield, decorated with horseman motif, on left arm / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 510. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h.


1343.

Marcian AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 450. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield, decorated with horseman motif, on left arm / VICTORIA AVGGG Θ, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 510. 4.43g, 20mm, 6h.


1344.

Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, circa AD 465/466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield, decorated with horseman motif, on left arm / VICTORIA AVGGG H, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIRB 3b; LRC 527; Depeyrot 93/1; RIC 605. 4.47g, 21mm, 6h.


1345.

Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, circa AD 465/466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield, decorated with horseman motif, on left arm / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIRB 3b; LRC 527; Depeyrot 93/1; RIC 605. 4.49g, 21mm, 6h.


1346.

325

COINS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Justinian I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 537-542. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globe cruciger in right hand, shield with horseman device on left shoulder / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, angel standing facing with long cross in right hand and globus cruciger in left hand; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 8b; MIBE 6; Sear 139. 4.49g, 22mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine; struck on a broad flan. 500

1347.

Justinian I AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 527-565. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory seated right, inscribing numerals on shield set on knee, star to left, christogram to right, CONOB in exergue. Sear 143; DOC 17. 2.17g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; struck on a broad flan. 200

1348.

Justin II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 565-567. D N IVSTINVS P P AVI, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, beardless, holding globe surmounted by Victory and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG P, Constantinopolis seated facing, head right, holding spear and globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. Sear 345; MIBE 14; DOC 4. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h.

Mint State. 750

1349.

Tiberius II Constantine AV Light Weight Solidus. Theoupolis (Antioch), AD 579-582. d M TIb CONSTANT PP AVI, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGG ΘS, cross potent on four steps; OB +* in exergue. DOC 38; MIBE 5 (Constantinople); Sear 446. 4.07g, 20mm, 6h.


1350.

Tiberius II Constantine AV Light Weight Solidus. Theoupolis (Antioch), AD 579-582. d M TIb CONSTANT PP AVI, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGG ΘS, cross potent on four steps; OB +* in exergue. DOC 38; MIBE 5 (Constantinople); Sear 446. 4.06g, 20mm, 6h.


1351.

326

Tiberius II Constantine AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 579-582. DM TIB CONSTANT PP AVG, crowned and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger and shield / VICTORIA AVGG H, cross potent set on four steps, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 15; Ranieri 437; Sear 468. 4.49g, 22mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very well struck and centred on a broad flan. 750

1352.

Maurice Tiberius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 582-602. D N Nb TIbЄR PP AVG, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield / VICTORIA AVGG A, angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by christogram and globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 6; DOC -; Sear 475. 4.47g, 22mm, 6h.


1353.

Maurice Tiberius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 582-602. O N MAVRC Tib PP AVG, draped and cuirassed bust facing, wearing plumed helmet and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGG H, angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by christogram and globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. Sear 478; DOC 5; MIBE 6. 4.44g, 21mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine; struck on a broad flan. 300

1354.

Maurice Tiberius AV Light Weight Solidus. Constantinople, AD 582-602. O N MAVRC Tib PP AVG, draped and cuirassed bust facing, wearing plumed helmet and holding globus cruciger; star in right field / VICTORIA AVGG A, angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by christogram and globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 11; DOC -; BMC 4; Sear 481. 4.28g, 22mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; struck on a broad flan and lustrous. 250

1355.

Maurice Tiberius AV Solidus. Constantinople, Consular issue of AD 602. DN MAVRC TIb PP AVG, Maurice enthroned facing, crowned and wearing consular robes, holding aloft mappa and cross / VICTORIA AVGG A, angel standing facing, holding long staff surmounted by Christogram and globus cruciger; CONOB in exergue. DOC 2a; MIBE 2; Sear 474. 4.41g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous. Rare. 750

1356.

327

Phocas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 602/3. DN FOCAS PERP AVG, crowned, draped, and cuirassed facing bust, holding globus cruciger; crown with pendilia / Victory standing facing, holding staff surmounted by Christogram and globus cruciger; VICTORIA AVGG I; CONOB in exergue. MIBE 5; DOC 1d; Sear 616. 4.47g, 21mm, 7h.

Fleur De Coin. A highly lustrous, uncirculated example. 1,500

1357.

Fleur De Coin

Phocas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 602-610. dN FOCAS PERP AVG, draped and cuirassed facing bust, wearing crown without pendilia, holding cross on globe / VICTORIA AVGU E, angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by chi-rho and cross on globe; CONOB in exergue. MIBE 9; Sear 620. 4.50g, 21mm, 7h.

Fleur De Coin. An exceptional example. 500

1358.

Heraclius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 610-613. d N hЄRACLIVS PP AVG, draped and cuirassed facing bust with plumed helmet, and holding cross / VICTORIA AVGV Є, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. MIB 5; Sear 731; DOC 3. 4.40g, 20mm, 7h.


1359.

Heraclius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 610-613. d N hЄRACLIVS PP AVG, draped and cuirassed facing bust with plumed helmet, and holding cross / VICTORIA AVGV Є, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. MIB 5; Sear 731; DOC 3. 4.40g, 20mm, 7h.


1360.

328

Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 613-616. ddNN HЄRACLIUS ЄT HЄRA CONST PP AVG, crowned busts of Heraclius on left and Heraclius Constantinus on right, each wearing chlamys and elaborate crowns, cross above / VICTORIA AVGU I, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. DOC 8; MIB 8a; Sear 734. 4.37g, 20mm, 6h.

Mint State; lustrous. 300

1362.

Heraclius AV Tremissis. Ravenna, AD 611-641. D N HERACLIVS PP AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVN, cross potent, CONOB below. MIB 125a; Ranieri 570; Sear 902. 1.47g, 16mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive lustre. 500

1361.

Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine AV Solidus. Constantinople, circa AD 616-625. dd NN hЄRACLIVS ЄƮ hЄRA CONSƮ PP AVG, facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, each wearing chlamys and crown with cross on circlet; cross above / VICTORIA AVGV Є, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. MIB 11; DOC 13d; Sear 738. 4.48g, 22mm, 7h.

Near Extremely Fine; struck on a broad flan. 250

1363.

Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine AV Solidus. Constantinople, circa AD 616-625. dd NN hЄRACLIVS ЄƮ hЄRA CONSƮ PP AVG, facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, each wearing chlamys and crown with cross on circlet; cross above / VICTORIA AVGU I, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. MIB 11; DOC 13d; Sear 738. 4.46g, 20mm, 7h.


1364.

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 641-668. dN CONSƮANƮINVS PP AVG, bust facing, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys and hold globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV S, cross potent on three steps, CONOBK in exergue. Sear 937; DOC (Heraclonas) 2; MIB 4a. 4.38g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 200

1365.

329

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 651-654. dN CONSƮANƮINVS PP AVG, bust facing, with long beard and moustache, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV B, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. Sear 956; MIB 23. 4.42g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; as struck. 250

1366.

Constans II Lightweight AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 652-654. Crowned and draped facing bust, holding globus cruciger / Cross potent set on three steps; star to right; officina H, CONOB in exergue. DOC 23; MIB 47; Sear 978. 4.30g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 250

1367.

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. dN CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSƮANƮI, facing busts of Constans, on left with long beard, and Constantine IV, beardless, each wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, a cross / VICTORIA AVGV Γ, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. Sear 959; MIB 26. 4.43g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 250

1368.

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. dN CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSƮAN, facing busts of Constans, on left with long beard, and Constantine IV, beardless, each wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, a cross / VICTORIA AVGV Θ, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. Sear 959; MIB 26. 4.40g, 20mm, 7h.


1369.

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 659-662. Crowned and draped facing busts of Constans and Constantine; cross above / Cross potent set on globe; at sides, Heraclius and Tiberius standing facing, each holding globus cruciger; officina S +. Sear 963; MIB 30; R. 1610. 4.28g, 18mm, 6h.


1370.

330

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 681-685. P CONSƮANVS PP A, facing bust, wearing plumed helmet, and holding spear and shield / VICTORA AVGV B, cross potent on three steps, CONOBA in exergue. DOC 15a; MIB 11; Sear 1158. 4.32g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; lustrous. Rare. 1,500

1372.

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 681-685. P CONSƮANVS PP A, facing bust, wearing plumed helmet, and holding spear and shield / VICTORA AVGV B, cross potent on three steps, CONOBA in exergue. DOC 13; MIB 11; Sear 1158. 4.48g, 19mm, 6h.


1373.

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 681-685. d N CONSƮANƮINO PP, bust facing, wearing crown and holding spear and shield / VICƮORIA AVGVSƮOR, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. DOC -; MIB 57 (Ravenna); Sear 1222 (Mints in Italy); Ranieri, Ravenna -. 4.34g, 20mm, 6h.


The coinage of Byzantine Italy is very poorly understood, due in large part to its great rarity. Coinage was struck at the official mints in Rome, Ravenna and Syracuse, but also in minor ones in Naples and, probably, elsewhere. Ricotti Prina (La monetazione aurea delle zecche minore bizantine dal VI al IX secolo) assigned the known coins to various mint locations, but his attributions have been largely discredited.

1374.

Very Rare

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. Fragmentary legend, d N TNVS, bust facing, wearing helmet with frontal plume and cuirass, holding spear and shield with horseman motif / VICTOA AVGV Є, cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, both beardless and wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger. DOC 8; MIB 7a; Sear 1154. 4.43g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500

1371.

331

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Uncertain Italian mint, circa AD 681-685. Bust facing, wearing crown and holding spear and shield / VICTROIA and retrograde CXOTROT, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. DOC -; MIB - (cf. Plate 34, X6); Sear -. 4.23g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 7,500


In stark contrast to lot 1371, where the co-emperors Heraclius and Tiberius feature in the reverse design, on issues struck in 681 and later they are no longer present on the coinage. This is due to the internal conflicts within the imperial family that led Constantine to depose and mutilate his brothers so that they could not rule, leaving the way open for his son Justinian II to succeed to the throne after his death in 685.

1375.

Unpublished Western Mint Solidus

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Uncertain Italian mint, circa AD 681-685. d N CONSTANTINVS PP AV, bust facing, wearing crown and holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGVS, cross potent on three steps; B and IA (ligate) in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOC - (cf. Tremissis 75); MIB - (cf. Tremissis 51b “Rome”); Sear - (cf. Tremissis 1225). 4.14g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; large scratches on obverse and reverse. Unpublished in the standard references. 3,000

1376.

Unique and Unpublished

Justinian II, First Reign, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 687-692. D IVSTINIANVS PЄ AV, facing bust with short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV B, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. DOC 5b; MIB 6; Sear 1246. 4.43g, 19mm, 6h.


1377.

332

Justinian II, First Reign, AV Solidus. Uncertain Italian mint, circa AD 687-695. d N IVSTINIANVS PP A, bust facing, wearing crown and chlamys, holding globus cruciger / VICTRA AGVTO, cross potent on three steps; Δ between two points in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOC -; MIB - (cf. 29 Naples); Sear - (cf. 1315A). 4.15g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine; graffiti on reverse. Unpublished in the standard references. 7,500

Ex Gorny & Mosch, 10 October 2011, lot 819.

This unpublished solidus of Justinian II is part of a small group of extremely rare solidi that Hahn attributes to Naples (MIB N28, 28-9), a mint which only opened in the 660s, late in the reign of Constans II. The solidi attributed to the mint are of poor quality gold and distinctive fabric, and resemble the ducal coinage of Benevento which were struck somewhat later. Hahn notes three controls following the reverse legend for Justinian’s first reign solidi: four pellets formed into a diamond-shape; a cross composed of four pellets; and a cross placed vertically. The control on our coin appears to be new, and is either a Δ between two points or possibly a Δ surmounted by a cross.

1378.

Unpublished Justinian II Solidus

Justinian II, Second Reign, AV Solidus. Rome or Ravenna, circa AD 705-711. d N IhS ChS RЄX RЄGNANTIVM, facing bust of Christ, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, arms of cross behind / d N IVSTINIANVS MVLTVS AN, crowned facing bust of Justinian, wearing loros, holding cross potent set on three steps and globus cruciger inscribed PAX. Cf. MIB 26; Sear 1439. 4.40g, 18mm, 6h.


In the century preceding the birth of Justinian II, most of Italy had been steadily conquered by the invading Lombards, such that by the start of his first reign, only the fortified centres of Rome, Ravenna and a few smaller enclaves remained under nominal imperial control. In reality, these cities were to all intents and purposes autonomous, being effectively cut off from the rest of the empire and reachable only by the imperial navy. This remarkable coin is one of a very few known Western solidi struck under Justinian II, which like its eastern counterpart displays a radically reformed image of Christ, with urbanely trimmed hair and beard.

1379.

Extremely Rare Western Issue

333

Leo III and Constantine V AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 720-741. d NO LEON PA MUL, crowned facing bust of Leo, holding cross on globe and akakia / d N CONSTANTINU, crowned facing bust of Constantine, holding cross on globe and akakia. DOC 3f; BN 2-5; Sear 1504. 3.96g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

1380.

Constantine V and Leo IV AV Solidus. Syracuse, AD 757-75. Facing crowned busts of Constantine V, bearded, on left, and Leo IV, beardless, on right, each wearing chlamys, cross between their heads / Crowned bust of deceased Leo III facing, wearing loros and holding cross potent on globus. DOC -; Spahr 328; Sear -. 3.97g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare – only four specimens known. 1,000

1381.

Only 4 Recorded

Constantine VII and Romanus I AR Miliaresion. Constantinople, AD 945-959. IhSVS XRISTVS NICA, cross crosslet on three steps, X at centre; small globus below / Legend in five lines, +CONST’ T’ / ΠORFVROG’ / CЄ ROMANO / ЄN XѠЄVSЄb’ / b’ RѠMЄON. DOC 21; Sear 1757. 2.46g, 23mm, 12h.

Mint State. 100

1382.

Constantine VII and Romanus I AR Miliaresion. Constantinople, AD 945-959. IhSVS XRISTVS NICA, cross crosslet on three steps, X at centre; small globus below / Legend in five lines, +CONST’ T’ / ΠORFVROG’ / CЄ ROMANO / ЄN XѠЄVSЄb’ / b’ RѠMЄON. DOC 21; Sear 1757. 2.49g, 24mm, 12h.

Mint State. 100

1383.

Romanus III AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1028-1034. +IhS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTINM, Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus crown, pallium and colobium, raising right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in left / ΘCЄ bOHΘ RWMANW, the Virgin, nimbate on right, and Romanus, bearded to left, both standing facing; the Virgin wears pallium and mophorium, and with her right hand crowns the Emperor, who wears saccos and loros, and holds globus cruciger in left hand; MΘ between their heads. DOC 1; Sear 1819. 4.34g, 23mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

1384.

334


Very Fine. 300

1385.



1386.

Constantine IX AV Histamenon Nomisma. AD 1042-1055. +IHS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTINM, facing bust of Christ, nimbate, raising right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in left / + CWNSƮANƮNOS bASILЄS RM, bust facing, wearing crown and chlamys, holding sword and globus cruciger; in upper left and right upper fields, stars. DOC 4a; Sear 1831. 4.44g, 27mm, 6h.


1387.

Constantine X AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. +IhS IXS REX REGNANTIhM, Christ, nimbate, seated facing on straight-backed throne, raising hand in benediction, holding Gospels / +KWN RACL’ O DOVKAC, Isaac standing facing, wearing crown and loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger. DOC 1a; SB 1847. 4.44g, 26mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 400


1388.

Constantine X AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. Christ enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction, holding Gospels / Constantine standing facing, holding labarum with pellet on shaft and globus cruciger. DOC 1; Sear 1847. 4.38g, 28mm, 6h.


1389.

335

Michael VII AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1071-1078. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; IC XC across fields / + MIXAHΛ RACIΛ O Δ, crowned facing bust holding labarum with pellet on shaft and globus cruciger. DOC 2d; Sear 1868. 4.35g, 29mm, 6h.



1390.

Michael VII AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1071-1078. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; IC XC across fields / +MIXAHΛ RACIΛ O Δ, crowned facing bust holding labarum with pellet on shaft and globus cruciger. DOC 2d; Sear 1868. 4.36g, 29mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 200

1391.

Manuel I AV Hyperpyron. Constantinople, AD 1143-1180. + KЄ ROHΘЄI, Christ enthroned facing, raising right hand in benediction and holding scroll; IC-XC across fields / Manuel standing facing, wearing crown, divitsion and chlamys, holding labarum and globus surmounted by patriarchal cross; in upper field to right, manus Dei; to left, MA / NXHΛ / ΔЄC / ΠO / TH; to right, TѠ / ΠOP / ΦV / POΓ / NH / T. Sear 1956; DOC 1. 4.38g, 30mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 400

1392.

1390 1391

Isaac II EL Aspron Trachy. Constantinople, first reign, AD 1185-1195. The Virgin enthroned facing, holding infant Christ; MP-ΘV across upper fields / Isaac standing facing, holding holding cruciform sceptre and akakia, being crowned by Archangel Michael standing left, dressed in military attire and holding jewelled sceptre; Θ in upper central field, X-M in lower right field. DOC 2a; SB 2002. 4.40g, 29mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; as struck. 200

The debasement of the electrum trachy began during this reign, and some specimens (such as this) are so pale as to have the appearance of silver.

1393.

John III of Nicaea AV Hyperpyron. Magnesia, AD 1222-1254. Christ enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; IC-XC across fields / John standing facing, holding labarum and being crowned by the Virgin Mary. DOC 5; Sear 2073. 4.44g, 27mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; almost as struck. 200

1394.

John III of Nicaea AV Hyperpyron. Magnesia, AD 1222-1254. Christ enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; IC-XC across fields / John standing facing, holding labarum and being crowned by the Virgin Mary. DOC 5; Sear 2073. 4.45g, 29mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; traces of double striking on obverse. 200

1395.

1394 1395

336

Burgundy, Besançon AV Tremissis of 7-siliquae. Circa AD 600-675. + VESO….., Diademed male head right / AO… around circle of pellets, within which, cross on globe, above, VII. Depeyrot II, p. 155, 10, pl. 48; Belfort 4796; Prou 1255. 1.16g, 12mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 500

1396.

MEROVINGIAN COINS

Burgundy, Graye-et-Charmay AV Tremissis. Contolo, moneyer. Circa AD 620-640. CONTOLO MON, Diademed and draped bust right / Monogram GREDACA within border of pellets. Depeyrot II, p. 159, 2 p. 50; Belfort 2012; Prou 122. 1.15g, 13mm, 6h.


1397.

Aquitaine, Banassac AV Tremissis. Circa AD 620-640. Diademed bust right, cross on annulet in front / GAVALETΔNO, BAN, Frankish chalice. Depeyrot IV, p. 17, 22 pl. 26; Belfort 748; Prou 2100. 1.25g, 15mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 500

1398.

MEDIEVAL COINS

Italy, Sicilia. Guglielmo II il Buono AV Tarì. Palermo or Messina, AD 1166-1189. Large symbol; uncertain Kufic legend in outer margin; “King Guglielmo the second powerful through God (Allah)” in Kufic in inner margin / Cross potent on shaft, pellets flanking upper bar; IC XC/NI KA across field; macrons above IC and XC. Travaini, Monetazione, 359; Spahr 108; MEC -. 2.16g, 14mm, 3h.

Very Fine, slight double strike on reverse. Rare. 150

1399.

Italy, Sicilia. Guglielmo II il Buono AV Tarì. Palermo or Messina, AD 1166-1189. Large symbol; uncertain Kufic legend in outer margin; “King Guglielmo the second powerful through God (Allah)” in Kufic in inner margin / Cross potent on shaft, pellets flanking upper bar; IC XC/NI KA across field; macrons above IC and XC. Travaini, Monetazione, 359; Spahr 108; MEC -. 13mm, 1.44g, 13mm, 4h.

Good Fine. 100

1400.

Venetians in the Levant, ‘K’ Series AV Ducat. Smyrna (?), struck in the name of Andrea Dandolo, AD 1344-1354. S/R/V/Є/R/Є/T/I D/V/ΛNDK DΛRDVIO, St. Mark standing right, holding Gospels and presenting flag (type 2) to Doge kneeling left / • SIT . T Є • D • Λ • TQ TV K(retrograde)ЄGIS ISTЄ DVЄ • ΛT •, Christ standing facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, surrounded by elliptical halo containing 9 stars. Cf. CNI VII 37; Schlumberger -; cf. Bell 9, 32, 33, and 36 (for similar flag type). 3.56g, 20mm, 9h.


The ‘K’ Series ducats were struck in the Asia Minor littoral, or more precisely Smyrna. The Smyrnaean association is with the Knights Hospitaller, placing the issue after 1371, although they appear in the Chios hoard of 1435. The type saw rapid debasement to a rather pale electrum.

1401.

337

Italy, Venice. Pietro Gradenigo PB Seal (Bolla in piomba). 49th Doge, AD 1289-1311. PE GRADONICO DVX SC MARCVS, St Mark and Doge standing facing, holding between them long cross / Legend in six lines: PETRVS / GRADONICO / DI GRA VENE / TIE DALMATI / E ATQ CHRO / DVX. Gamberini p. 26, 61. 55.14g, 41mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine, pierced. Very Rare. 500

Ex Alex Malloy Collection.

1402.

End of Sale

roma numismatics 7 (2014 03 22 23)

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