roma numismatics 8 (28 09 2014)

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ROMA NUMISMATICSLIMITED

Auction VIII

28 September 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 VIII

28 September 10:00 Greek Coins.

14:00 Roman, Byzantine & 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 August 28th - September 26thMonday – Friday, 09:30 – 17:30On Saturday September 27th:

11:00 - 18:00

lots will not be available for viewing during the sale.

Lot pickup will be available from 10:00am on Friday 3th October

Roma Numismatics LimitedRichard Beale – DirectorAlexander Morley-Smith

Leslee Arlington GarfieldJuliet Holland-Rose

Special Thanks to

Italo VecchiSalem Alshdaifat

Deniz GrotjohannFenella Theis

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, or 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 executed 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 bidders 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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ROMA NUMISMATICS AUCTION VI

MAIL BID FORM

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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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COINS OF THE GREEKS

Campania, Neapolis AR Stater. Circa 300 BC. The..., magistrate. Diademed head of nymph right, around which four dolphins swimming / Man-headed bull walking right, head facing; Nike above, flying to right, crowning him with wreath, ΘE below, NEOΠOΛI[TΩN] in exergue. SNG France 717 (same dies); Sambon 457; HN Italy 576. 7.44g, 21mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 4,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Mayflower Collection.

The obverse of this type takes its inspiration from the Arethusa portraits of Syracuse. The reverse is engraved in fine and intricate style, with the graceful outstretched form of Nike being particularly worthy of mention. It is also uncommon to find the head of the man-headed bull so well preserved as seen on this example.

1.

CAMPANIASuperb Stater of Neapolis

Campania, Neapolis AR Didrachm. Circa 300-275 BC. Diademed head of Parthenope right, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind neck, Artemis standing facing, holding two torches; ΑΡΤΕΜΙ below truncation / Man-headed bull, head facing, walking to right, crowned by Nike flying above to right; ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ below. HN Italy 579; Sambon 460; SNG ANS 340; SNG France 778. 7.42g, 22mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. 1,000

Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 17.

2.

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. 7.14g, 22mm, 5h.

Very Fine. Attractive, lustrous metal. Rare. 1,250

3.

Rare and Attractive Didrachm of Nuceria Alfaterna

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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. 7.15g, 19mm, 10h.

Very Fine. Rare. 1,250

4.

Lucania, Herakleia AR Stater. Circa 281-278 BC. Archias, magistrate. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet adorned with olive wreath; monogram behind neck / Young Herakles standing facing, crowning himself with his right hand and resting his left on his club, wearing lion skin over his head and shoulders; cornucopiae to left, monogram between club and leg; APXIAΣ to left, HHPAKΛEIΩN to right. Van Keuren 96; HN Italy 1394. 7.86g, 22mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine; toned. 300

5.

Beautifully Toned Metapontion

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 540-510 BC. Eight-grained ear of barley, MET upwards to right / Eight-grained ear of barley in incuse. Noe 117; HN Italy 1479. 8.07g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Beautiful iridescent toning. 2,000

Ex Heritage 3019, 26 April 2012, lot 23011.

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Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 350 BC. Head of Demeter right, wearing drop earring, hair bound up with diadem / Ear of barley with leaf to left, MET to right. HN Italy 1528; SNG ANS 377; Noe 501. 7.90g, 23mm, 3h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 2,000

Ex Münzhandlung Ritter List 66, 2004, 124;Ex Gorny & Mosch 200, 10 October 2011, lot 1065.

7.

LUCANIA

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Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 340-330 BC. Head of Athena Tharragoras left, wearing Corinthian helmet; ΘAPPAΓOPAΣ before, K behind / Ear of barley with stalk and leaf to left upon which is an uncertain object with solid base and three outwardly curving upright prongs; META to right, ONA to right below. Johnston A6.11 = HN Italy 1561. 7.70g, 21mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Of the Highest Rarity, apparently only the second known example. 10,000

The obverse portrait of this coin is traditionally identified as the unknown hero Tharragoras, following the attribution by Imhoof-Blumer. In studying the available specimens of the type (of which there were then five), he noted two with visible legends, one reading ‘ΘAPPAΓOPAΣ’, which he illustrated in his ‘Monnaies grecques’ (pl. A,2). Noting also that the portrait on this coin was ‘slightly bearded’, Imhoof-Blumer concluded that it therefore was not Athena, but rather an unknown hero whose name was given on the coin, and who must have been a companion or relation of Leukippos, given the contemporary nature of the two issues and the importance of the Leukippos type.

That the name Tharragoras is nowhere else attested, neither in literature, sculpture nor on other coins, makes Imhoof-Blumer’s identification of this portrait as an unknown hero by that name very difficult to support indeed. Strabo, who does acknowledge Leukippos (6.1), makes no mention of a Tharragoras; the ‘slight beard’ seen by Imhoof-Blumer is almost certainly in fact locks of hair that fall from beneath the helmet. No trace of a beard can be discerned meanwhile around the chin or jaw. Where Imhoof-Blumer inferred a connection with Ἄρρα, or Ares, we should perhaps more properly see a connection with a ‘dialectic form of Θάρσω, a more ancient name for the goddess Athena (schol.IL.5.2).’ ‘Θάρρά’ itself has connotations of ‘courage’, ‘boldness’ or ‘confidence’ - the intended meaning here must have been clear to the people of Metapontion and fitting for the circumstances of its issue.

The portrait depicted on this issue is sharper and more clearly defined than the inferior and less rare emission A7. 13-18, and is more easily identifiable as female thanks to the long feminine eyelashes that would certainly be out of place on a male hero!

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Athena Tharragoras

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Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 333-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ before, Δ behind / Ear of barley with leaf to left, upon which Silenos crouches; META to right, [A]Δ below. Johnston class A, 2.1 (same dies); HN Italy 1557; SNG ANS 451 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 373 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG München 988 (same obv. die); SNG Manchester 202 (same dies); Gillet Collection (photofile) 193. 7.86g, 21mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare, far superior to the Gillet specimen, and among the finest specimens known of this issue which is very seldom found in anything but a heavily worn or corroded state. 30,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 4, 27 February 1991, lot 15.

Metapontion was among the first cities of Magna Graecia to issue coinage, and indeed long preceded its later rival Tarentum in this respect. The choice of the barley ear as the civic emblem is unusual in that the other cities all struck coinage displaying types relating to their foundation myths or principal cults. Metapontion’s choice may well reflect a significant economic reliance on its major export, a hypothesis supported by the preponderance of Demeter portraits on its later coinage, a convention seemingly broken only in exceptional circumstances, such as the occasional Hygeia issue that was probably elicited by concern over pestilence, flooding or drought.

The city’s reliance on its agricultural exports made it particularly vulnerable to the increasing barbarian attacks in the fourth century that eventually caused Tarentum to request the assistance of the Epeirote king Alexander in driving the aggressive Lucani and other tribes back into the interior. It was this period of strife that caused the only significant variation in the coinage of Metapontion - the new demands placed on the city by the war aginst the Lucani and its support for Alexander of Epeiros’ campaign are undoubtedly the cause of the sudden rise in output of the mint, as well as the hasty overstriking of Pegasi. It was at this time that militaristic types were introduced, engraved in double relief, depicting the helmeted portraits of the city’s founder Leukippos, along with the deities Zeus, Athena ‘Tharragoras’, Apollo and Herakles - a fitting series of coinage for a Hellenic city threated by barbaric aggressors. Indeed it is not coincidental that the contemporary issues at Tarentum similarly allude to war, depicting Taras armed, the horseman armed, and sometimes accompanied by Nike. It is also probable that the appearance of the same signatures, notably KAL and API, represent a coordination of defence efforts at a federal level, rather than an artist’s signature as is often suggested.

The head of Zeus shown here is remarkably similar in style to that god’s head which adorned the obverse of the issues which Alexander struck to pay his own troops, and also bears considerable similarity to the Zeus heads of Philip II of Macedon in much the same way that the Herakles stater resembles those of Alexander III ‘the Great’ to whom the Epeirote king was uncle through his sister Olympias.

It is not hard to imagine that the notion of Greek civilisation waging a just war against a barbarian foe should have been readily espoused by the cities of Magna Graecia; as Alexander of Macedon campaigned in the East, so thus did Alexander of Epeiros in the West. The Epeirote king did not meet with the same success as his nephew however. At the Battle of Pandosia, the Greek phalanx was separated, surrounded and destroyed. In a famous passage of historical fiction, Livy narrates that as Alexander of Epeiros lay mortally wounded upon the field of battle he compared his fortunes to that of his illustrious nephew and said that the latter “waged war against women”. Certainly, the Lucani were competent and determined fighters, and the Greek defeat at Pandosia marked the end of Greek colonisation and expansion in Italy; the Greek cities would increasingly find themselves under pressure from the Oscan tribes.

9.

A Magnificent Zeus Stater of Metapontion

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Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 290-280 BC. Head of Demeter left, wearing grain wreath, pendant earring and necklace, K behind, A Y below neck / Ear of barley with seven grains and leaf to right, on which a distaff; META to left. Johnston D1.4; SNG ANS 507. 7.72g, 20mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. 750

10.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 290-280 BC. Head of Demeter right wearing grain wreath, triple-drop earring and necklace; ΔI to left / Ear of barley with seven grains and leaf to right, META and ant to left, cornucopiae surmounted by two ears of barley to right, ΦI below leaf. HN Italy 1577; SNG ANS 516; Johnston Class D: 4.8 (same dies). 7.54g, 21mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. 750

11.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 290-280 BC. Head of Demeter right, wearing grain wreath, pendant earring and necklace / Ear of barley with seven grains and leaf to left, above which a wing. HN Italy 1618; Johnston-Noe D 3.7. 7.73g, 24mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 750

12.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Half-Shekel. Hannibalic issue, circa 215-207. Helmeted head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Ear of barley with leaf to right; META to left. HN Italy 1632; SNG Lloyd 403; SNG Lockett 437; E.S.G. Robinson NC 1964, The Coinages of the Second Punic War, p. 50, 1 and pl. VI, 4. 3.51g, 17mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine. 300

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.

13.

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Fine Style Stater of Thourioi

Lucania, Thourioi AR Stater. Circa 443-400 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with laurel wreath; small Γ at point of visor / ΘOYPIΩN, bull standing to left; fish swimming to right in exergue. SNG ANS 878 var. (rev. control marks); SNG Lockett 466 var. (same). 7.90g, 22mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Engraved in wonderful style, the head of Athena is a particularly fine rendering. 5,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, January 2002.

The types presented on this coin allude to the origins of the city in the mid-fifth century BC: the foundation of Thourioi was the outcome of an appeal made by the refugees of Sybaris, recently destroyed by Kroton, to Sparta and Athens for assistance and reinforcement in their attempt to re-establish their city in the face of Krotoniate opposition. Athens answered their plea, dispatching ten ships manned by Athenians and Peloponnesians. Thus Sybaris was refounded, though dissensions between the Sybarites and the new colonists ended in a civil conflict, on account of the former laying claim not only to honorary distinctions, but to the exclusive possession of important political privileges. At length many of the Sybarites were expelled, and Thourioi’s population was swelled by fresh colonists from all parts of Greece. Though the Athenians by now formed a relatively small proportion of the population, Thourioi continued to be regarded as an Athenian colony, maintaining close ties with Athens, and indeed providing assistance to Athens’ ill-fated campaign against Syracuse. It is therefore unsurprising that Athena should feature as the patron deity of the city, prominently displayed on its coinage, while the reverse is an adaptation of the emblem of Sybaris, upon which Thourioi was built.

14.

Lucania, Velia AR Stater. Circa 300-280 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with griffin; Δ above visor, Φ below chin / Lion standing to right, pentagram between Φ-I above; YEΛHTΩN in exergue. Williams 426; HN Italy 1306. 7.30g, 21mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Attractive old tone. 750

15.

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CALABRIA

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 400-390 BC. Nude rider on horse standing to right, holding reins with his left hand and crowning his horse with his right; below, Λ / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding akrostolion in his right hand; below dolphin, Λ and TAPAΣ. HN Italy 868; Vlasto 355. 7.58g, 22mm, 2h.


16.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 302-290 BC. Warrior on horseback to right, holding round shield, two lances, and spear; ΣIM below / Taras seated astride dolphin to left, holding spindle over left shoulder; before, eagle standing right, TAPAΣ behind, ΦI and waves below. Vlasto 573 (same obverse die); SNG France 1839 var. (ΣI not ΣIM); SNG ANS 980 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen -; HN Italy 933. 7.84g, 21mm, 11h.


From the David Freedman Collection;Purchased from Baldwin’s, January 2002.

17.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 320-315 BC. Nude youth on horse pacing to right, wreath in outstretched right hand to crown the horse; ΣΑ to left, mask of Pan below / Taras seated astride dolphin to left, holding kantharos; ΦΙ below, TAPAΣ behind. Vlasto 661 (these dies); HN Italy 945. 7.81g, 23mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 1,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 59, 4 April 2011, lot 488.

18.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 281-270 BC. Rider dismounting from horse left, holding spear and shield; EY in right field, [NIK]ΩΝ below horse / Taras seated astride dolphin left, holding barley ear in right hand and resting left on dolphin’s back; API before, TAPAΣ behind, spearhead below. Vlasto 701; HN Italy 969; SNG ANS 1078. 7.71g, 23mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine. Of beautiful style. 3,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 59, 4 April 2011, lot 493.

19.

Exceptional Nomos of Tarentum

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Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 281-270 BC. Horseman galloping right, holding reins with both hands; ΣY in left field, NIKOΔAMOΣ below horse / Taras astride dolphin left, holding kantharos and distaff; TAPAΣ before, IOP and gazelle below. Vlasto 704 (these dies); SNG ANS 1079; SNG France 1886. 7.84g, 24mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine, spectacular iridescent toning. 2,000

Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 28;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 54, 24 March 2010, lot 14.

20.

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 to left behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 836; HN Italy 1025; SNG ANS 1165. 6.73g, 19mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. 500

21.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Olympis, magistrate. Warrior, brandishing javelin, on horse galloping right; wreath to left, OΛMΠIΣ below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding kantharos and cornucopiae; tripod to right. Vlasto 942; HN Italy 1055. 6.37g, 21mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 350

22.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 215-212 BC. Xenokrathes, magistrate. Bearded strategos on horse walking left, wearing short tunic and chlamys, raising right hand in salutation, parazonium under left arm; ΞΕΝΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ below, monogram and pileos above / Wreathed Taras seated astride dolphin to left, naked but for chlamys raised in left hand, trident over right shoulder; waves below, TAPAΣ to left, monogram and cuttlefish to right. Vlasto 959ff; SNG ANS 1259. 6.49g, 20mm, 8h.

Mint State. 750

23.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 215-212 BC. Xenokrathes, magistrate. Bearded strategos on horse walking left, wearing short tunic and chlamys, raising right hand in salutation, parazonium under left arm; ΞΕΝΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ below, monogram and pileos above / Wreathed Taras seated astride dolphin to left, naked but for chlamys raised in left hand, trident over right shoulder; waves with cuttlefish below, TAPAΣ to left, monogram to right. Vlasto 959; HN Italy 1058; SNG ANS 1256. 6.26g, 19mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine, very well struck obverse. 500

24.

10


Extremely Fine. 350

25.


Extremely Fine. 350

26.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 215-212 BC. Xenokrathes, magistrate. Bearded strategos on horse walking left, wearing short tunic and chlamys, raising right hand in salutation, parazonium under left arm; ΞΕΝΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ below, monogram and pileos above / Wreathed Taras seated astride dolphin to left, naked but for chlamys raised in left hand, trident over right shoulder; waves below, TAPAΣ to left, monogram and cuttlefish to right. Vlasto 959ff; SNG ANS 1259. 6.19g, 20mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 350

27.


Extremely Fine. 350

28.

11

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Warrior, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, on horse rearing right; monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPA-THΣ in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 963; HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1260; SNG Lloyd 230; SNG France 2059-60; Dewing 316. 6.44g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. 1,000

Tarentum, the only Spartan colony ever to be established, was founded in 706 BC by the Partheniae - Spartan children born to unmarried women as a product of Spartan desperation to ensure the survival and continuation of their demographic during the bloody Messenian wars, who were later disowned and expelled by the state - and Perioeci (subjects, but not citizens of Sparta), under the leadership of the Parthenian Phalanthos. According to legend, Phalanthos consulted the oracle at Delphi, and was told that he should found his new city ‘where rain fell from a clear sky’. After much searching, and despairing of finding a suitable location for a city, Phalanthus was consoled by his wife Aethra who laid his head in her lap, and as her tears splashed upon his forehead he understood the oracle’s words for his wife’s name itself meant ‘clear sky’, and thus he determined to make the nearby harbour the site of their new home, which they named after Taras, the son of Poseidon and the nymph Satyrion.

29.

Attractive ‘Kallikrates’ Nomos

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Warrior, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, on horse rearing right; monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPA-THΣ in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 963. 6.29g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 350

30.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Warrior, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, on horse rearing right; monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPA-THΣ in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 964; HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1260; SNG Lloyd 230; SNG France 2059-60; Dewing 316. 6.43g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 500

31.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Warrior, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, on horse rearing right; crescent above monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPA-THΣ in two lines below / Taras riding dolphin left, holding Nike, who crowns him, in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 966; ANS 1261; SNG France 2060; HN Italy 1059. 6.12g, 20mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. 750

32.

12

Tarentum Under Punic Occupation

Calabria, Tarentum AR Half-Shekel. Punic occupation, circa 212-209 BC. Nude youth, crowning horse with laurel wreath in his right hand, left hand holding filleted palm frond over shoulder, riding horse right; KPITOΣ below / Taras, cradling trident in left arm, holding in extended right hand, Nike, who crowns him with wreath held in both hands, astride dolphin left; EK monogram to left, ZΩ monogram to right; TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 978–80; HN Italy 1080; SNG ANS 1269 (same obv. die); SNG Lloyd –; SNG France 2067 = de Luynes 317 (same dies); Dewing –. 3.88g, 19mm, 4h.


Ex Spink 183 (26 September 2006), lot 532.

The climax of the Carthaginian invasion of Italy was reached when Tarentum changed sides in 212 BC. The takeover of the city was a carefully planned coup by Hannibal and members of the city’s democratic faction who opened the gates to Hannibal’s army. The Carthaginians failed to take the citadel, but subsequent fortifications around this enemy stronghold enabled the city to remain under Punic control. Hannibal installed his own magistrates and struck coinage based on the Punic half shekel standard.

33.

Bruttium, Kaulonia AR Diobol. Circa 500-480 BC. Triskeles / KAVΛ around, on raised circle within border of radiating lines. SNG ANS -; SNG Copenhagen -; cf. Noe 206-207; cf. BMC 16; cf. HN Italy 2042. 0.78g, 9mm.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare, and unpublished in the standard references. 500

34.

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; KAVΛ to left / Stag standing right; branch in right field; KAVΛ in retrograde above. HN Italy 2046; SNG ANS 180 (these dies); SNG Fitzwilliam 731 (these dies); Noe, Caulonia 93. 8.31g, 21mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive old tone. 1,000

Ex Rockefeller University / Dr. Alfred E. Mirsky Collection, Gemini V, 9 January 2011, lot 62.

35.

Bruttium, Kroton AR Didrachm. Circa 480-430 BC. Tripod, heron standing to right, QPO to left / Incuse tripod. SNG ANS 273; SNG Copenhagen 1754; HN Italy 2102. 8.00g, 21mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Pleasing old tone. 1,000


36.

Unpublished Diobol of Kaulonia

2x

13

Bruttium, Lokroi Epizephyrioi AR Stater. Circa 350-275 BC. Pegasos flying left; thunderbolt below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; ΛOKPΩN before. Pegasi 13; HN Italy 2342. 8.72g, 22mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. 500

37.

Bruttium, Rhegion AR Tetradrachm. Anaxilas, Tyrant. Circa 475-474 BC. Bearded, seated charioteer (Anaxilas?), holding reins with both hands, driving walking mule biga to right; bay leaf in exergue / Hare springing to right, RECINON (retrograde) around. SNG ANS 628-629. 17.28g, 26mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 500

38.

Bruttium, Rhegion AR Tetradrachm. Circa 450-445 BC. Lion’s head facing / Iokastos seated left on stool, himation over lower limbs, holding sceptre in right hand and resting left on hip; RECINOS around, all within laurel wreath. Herzfelder 1 (D1/R1); SNG ANS 636; cf. SNG Copenhagen 1928; HN Italy 2477; Randazzo 7-10 (same dies); BMC 8 (same dies); Jameson 452 (same dies); Winterthur 525 (same dies). 17.02g, 26mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Late stage die with the usual break on the reverse. Very Rare. 1,000

39.

2x

Bruttium, Rhegion AR Hemilitron. Circa 415-387 BC. Facing lion head / Large H. SNG ANS 675; SNG Copenhagen 1937; HN Italy 2500. 0.23g, 8mm, 4h.

Good Very Fine; well centred. 200

40.

15

Bruttium, Rhegion AR Tetradrachm. Circa 356-351 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left, hair falling loosely behind neck; ΡΗΓΙΝΟΣ before / Lion’s head facing, eyes looking to left. Herzfelder 115 (D71/R97). 17.18g, 24mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine; a few minor marks, but otherwise in excellent condition. Beautifully toned. Very Rare. 25,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 29, 11 May 2005, lot 63;Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXVII, 4 December 1991, lot 7.

Having seized supreme power of Syracuse, concluded peace with Carthage, and captured the cities of Naxos and Katane and enslaved their citizens, Dionysios I of Syracuse was unchallenged in Sicily and sought to extend his power still further afield. The city of Rhegion stood as the gateway to the rest of the Italian peninsula, and so despite repeated peace treaties with that city (the latter of which had in 389 BC included the surrender of its entire navy, 300 talents of indemnities and 100 hostages sent to the tyrant) in 387 Dionysios brought war against Rhegion and laid siege to it. After defending the city for eleven months, the citizens were at the point of starvation and so surrendered. Dionysios razed the city to the ground, put the Rhegian general Phyton to an ignominious death, and sold off as slaves all those inhabitants who could not raise for themselves a ransom of one silver mina.

In 356 Dionysios II resolved to re-establish the city destroyed by his father, and thus refounded it. For a brief time during this period at least part of the refounded city was called Phoibia, and here Dionysios II lived while the work of restoring the ancient city was set about. In 351 however, civil strife at Syracuse required Rhegion to be garrisoned, but Dionysios was expelled from the city by two of his rivals, Leptines and Kallipos of Syracuse, who restored independence to Rhegion. It is from this brief period, after the refoundation and before independence, that this coin dates, having been apparently struck by Dionysios to pay for the reconstruction.

The importance of Apollo at Rhegion is reflected in the foundation myths ascribed to that city, which included the story as related by Strabo (6.1.6) that it was founded by the Chalcidians who in accordance with an oracle, had been dedicated to Apollo, one man out of every ten, because of a dearth of crops, but who later on emigrated from Delphi to found Rhegion. This association was still further reinforced when Dionysios II, who was estranged from his father, gave to the refounded city the name of Phoibia, to honour his ‘true’ father the Olympian Apollo (who had supposedly cuckolded Dionysios the elder).

On this stunning type we also witness the transferral of the lion’s head, the traditional symbol of Rhegion, from the obverse to the reverse, evidently to make way for the portrait of Dionysios’ ‘father’ Apollo, which has been engraved with consummate skill, perhaps by die cutters brought over from Syracuse. The sheer elegance and beauty of this type have ensured that it has long been regarded as one of the masterpieces of Magna Graecian art.

41.

A Masterpiece of Classical Art

16

Bruttium, Terina AR Stater. Signed by ‘Ph’ (Phrygillos?) Circa 430-420 BC. Head of the nymph Terina to left, Φ behind; all within wreath / Nike seated to left on cippus, holding kerykeion in left hand, and with her right supporting hydria on her thigh; set into the wall behind her is a fountain in the shape of a lion’s head from which flows water into the hydria; in the fountain basin at her feet is a swan; on the wall above, TEPINAIΩN (partially retrograde). Holloway/Jenkins 38; Regling 34; ADM Collection, AMB 239; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Munich 1725; HN Italy 2593. 7.66g, 22mm, 4h.

About Very Fine. Very Rare. 2,000

42.

A Very Rare Signed Stater of Terina

Bruttium, Terina AR Tetrobol. Circa 300 BC. Head of the nymph Terina left, TEPINAIΩN before, triskeles behind / Nike seated to left on a cippus, the base shown in perspective, a small bird resting on outstretched right hand, star before. Holloway/Jenkins, Terina 110. 2.48g, 16mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. 1,250

From the David Freedman Collection.

43.

Bruttium, The Brettii AR Drachm. Second Punic War issue, circa 216-214 BC. Veiled head of Hera Lakinia right wearing polos, sceptre over shoulder, symbol behind / Zeus, nude, standing left, right foot on Ionic capital, holding sceptre; crab to left, BPETTIΩN to right, tiny Γ (engraver’s signature) between sceptre and left foot of Zeus. Scheu 72; HN Italy 1969. 4.88g, 20mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 300

44.

Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation AR Half-Shekel. Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 215-211 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right; palm-tree behind. SNG Copenhagen 367-68; HN Italy 2019. 3.57g, 18mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. 750

45.

Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation AR Half-Shekel. Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 215-211 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right; solar disk above, Punic letter ‘ayin’ below. SNG Copenhagen 361-3; HN Italy 2016. 3.73g, 18mm, 4h.


46.

17

47 48

Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation AR Half-Shekel. Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 215-211 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right; solar disk above. SNG Copenhagen 359-60; HN Italy 2016. 3.64g, 19mm, 7h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

47.

Bruttium, Carthaginian Occupation AR Half-Shekel. Punic mint in Bruttium, circa 215-211 BC. Struck during the Second Punic War. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right; solar disk above, Punic letter ‘ayin’ below. SNG Copenhagen 361-3; HN Italy 2016. 3.70g, 17mm, 10h.Good Very Fine. 200

48.

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Lilybaion, circa 330-305 BC. Head of Tanit right, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, two dolphins before, grain behind / Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to left, holding kentron and reins; Nike above, flying right to crown charioteer, [Punic script ‘RShMLQRT’ in exergue]. Jenkins, Punic Sicily, 17; SNG Lockett 739. 16.79g, 26mm, 4h.

Very Fine. 1,000

49.

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Circa 350-315 BC. Head of Tanit-Persephone left wearing grain wreath, triple-pendant earring and necklace / Horse galloping to right, palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic III, pl. 8, 122 (O42/R114); BMFA 488 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1616 (same obv. die); SNG Lockett 1037 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 363 (same obv. die); Jameson 913 (same obv. die). 17.03g, 24mm, 8h.


From a private English collection, purchased in the late 1970s.

50.

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Circa 320-310 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit-Persephone to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; four dolphins around, swimming / Head of horse to right, palm behind; M below. Jenkins, Punic III, pl. 19, 242 (same dies). 16.89g, 26mm, 7h.



Struck from dies of particularly fine workmanship, the style of this coin is closer to the work of the Greek engravers in the east of Sicily than most such issues. The head of Tanit-Persephone is delicate and feminine, reminiscent of the work of Euainetos; no less attention was paid to the head of the horse, which appears noble and vigorous.

51.

Two Siculo-Punic Tetradrachms of Fine Style

SICILY

18

Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. ‘People of the Camp’ mint, circa 320-315 BC. Head of Tanit left, wearing grain wreath, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; four dolphins around / Horse’s head left, palm tree behind; Punic legend ‘MMHNT’ below. Jenkins, Punic Sicily, pl. 11, 171 (these dies). 17.17g, 27mm, 7h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 4,000 Ex Gorny & Mosch 185, 8 March 2010, lot 57.

52.

Sicily, Abakainon AR Litra. Circa 430-420 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Sow standing right; acorn to lower right. SNG ANS 898; SNG München 2. 0.65g, 10mm, 9h.


Abakainon was a city of the native Siculi, and it does not appear to have ever received a Greek colony, though it did adopt the customs and influences of Greek civilization and art. Its territory originally included the site of Tyndaris, which was separated from it by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios when he founded that city in 396 BC. In that time, Abakainon appears to have been a settlement of some considerable size, but it was quickly eclipsed by Tyndaris and declined in size and prosperity.

The boar and acorn must refer to the great oak forests that still cover the neighbouring mountains. Such forests would have provided pasture to large herds of swine, which it is logical to assume was one of the main sources of Abakainon’s wealth.

53.

Sicily, Abakainon AR Litra. Circa 420-400 BC. Facing head of nymph / ABA above sow standing to left; piglet before. SNG ANS 1293. 0.48g, 9mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Well preserved for the issue. 250

54.

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-446 BC. Eagle standing left, AKRACANTOΣ around / Crab within shallow incuse circle. SNG ANS 972. 17.10g, 25mm, 8h.

Very Fine, lightly toned. 1,000

55.

2x

2x

21

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-446 BC. Sea eagle standing left on Ionic capital, AKRACANTOΣ around / Crab; spiralled tendril ornament with floral terminals below; all within shallow incuse circle. SNG ANS 982 var; Lee Group II; cf. SNG Lockett 695 for same obverse die, 696 for reverse type but different die. 17.54g, 25mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. 30,000

From the James Howard Collection.

Published in Roma Numismatics VII was the first of the Howard collection’s two truly spectacular Akragas tetradrachms (lot 85), which bore an inverted dolphin as the reverse adjunct symbol. A comparison between these two exemplars of Akragantine coinage is extremely difficult, for both are of a quality that collectors have seldom, if ever, been offered the chance to acquire. Although this coin’s reverse symbol may be considered somewhat less exotic than that of its abovementioned brother, the eagle’s head is undeniably more detailed, and its plumage sharper - indicative of an overall slightly greater state of preservation. Indeed, the freshness of the metal and the lightly toned, satin finish are quite remarkable; this coin should certainly be considered to be amongst the very finest of its type.

56.

A Spectacular Tetradrachm of Akragas

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-446 BC. Sea eagle standing left on Ionic capital, AKRACANTOΣ around / Crab; spiral floral ornament below; all within shallow incuse circle. SNG ANS 982 var.; Lee Group II; SNG Lockett 696. 17.23g, 24mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. Rare. 3,000

Ex Tkalec Auction, 17 May 2010, lot 3.

57.

22

Sicily, Akragas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-446 BC. Sea eagle standing left on Ionic capital, AKRACANTOΣ around / Crab; flower with spiralled tendril ornaments below; all within shallow incuse circle. SNG ANS 981 (same dies); Randazzo 15; Rizzo pl. I,11-12. 17.41g, 23mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 7,500


This is the last of the Howard Akragas tetradrachms, and although this specimen is not quite the equal of the other two which bore the dolphin and floral spiral symbols, it is nonetheless still an excellent example of this attractive issue.

58.

Sicily, Akragas Æ20. Roman rule, after 210 BC. Laureate head of Persephone right; ACKΛAΠOC to right, CΩCIOC to left / Asklepios standing facing, head left, holding patera in right hand; AKPAΓAN to right, TINΩN to left. SNG Copenhagen 123; SNG München 205; SNG ANS 1143; CNS I, p. 225, 144. 4.80g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very well preserved for the issue. 150

59.

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-470 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga to right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses with open wreath / Forepart of bearded man-headed bull to right, CEΛAΣ around. Jenkins, Gela 129. 17.34g, 24mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. Fine early classical style, and pleasantly toned. 1,000

60.

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 above. Jenkins, Gela 160 (O44/R96). 16.99g, 25mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 500

61.

23

Extremely Rare Tetradrachm of Gela

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. Charioteer driving slow quadriga right, Ionic column behind, wreath before, ear of corn in exergue / Forepart of man-headed bull (river-god Gelas) with long beard to right, Nike above, CELAΣ behind. Jenkins, Gela 218 (O57/R116). 17.58g, 28mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. The Gelan tetradrachms of this series featuring a Nike above Gelas are exceptionally difficult to find, particularly in such excellent condition. 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.

62.

Sicily, Gela AR Tetradrachm. Circa 415-405 BC. Charioteer holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga to left, eagle flying to left above; corn ear in exergue [ΓEΛAIΩN] to left / Forepart of man-headed bull (river-god Gelas) to left, barley grain above, ΓEΛAΣ (retrograde) below. Jenkins, Gela 484 (same dies); SNG Lockett 778 (same dies); Pozzi 446 (same dies); Rizzo 19/1 (same dies); BMC -; SNG ANS -. 16.74g, 24mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Rare. 5,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica, April 2007.

63.

24

Sicily, Gela AR Didrachm. Circa 490-480 BC. Nude horseman galloping right, wearing crested helmet and brandishing spear held high / Man-headed bull to right with long beard, ΓΕΛΑ above. Jenkins, Gela group I, 11. 8.34g, 21mm, 12h.

Some areas of corrosion, otherwise Extremely Fine. 3,000

64.

2x

Sicily, Himera, AR Hexas. Circa 483-472. Astragalos / Two pellets. BMC 30; Jenkins, AIIN suppl. 16-17, 1971, pp. 21-36 pl. 2, 8. 0.10g, 4mm.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 500

65.

Sicily, Himera AR Litra. Circa 470-450 BC. Forepart of a winged and horned, man-headed monster left / Nude youth riding goat prancing left, holding goat’s horn with left hand, and holding whip with right; IMEPAION around. SNG ANS 173; HGC 2, 451. 0.71g, 12mm, 3h. Extremely Fine. 500

66.

Sicily, Himera AR Litra. Circa 450-420 BC. Forepart of a winged and horned, man-headed monster right / Nude youth riding goat prancing left, holding goat’s horn with left hand, and holding whip with right; IMEPAION around. SNG ANS 174; HGC 2, 450; SNG Munich 354; SNG Copenhagen 310. 0.80g, 12mm, 7h. Extremely Fine. 1,000

67.

Very Rare Tetradrachm of Himera

Sicily, Himera AR Tetradrachm. Circa 440-430 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving quadriga to right, Nike above, flying to left to crown charioteer; ΙΜΕΡΑΙΟΝ in exergue / The nymph Himera, wearing chiton and himation, standing facing with outstretched arms, head left, holding a patera over a lighted altar; behind, a naked, bearded and bald Silenos bathing in a rectangular trough fed by a lion’s head spout. Gutmann and Schwabacher, MBNG XLVII (1929), 111, 15 (same dies); SNG ANS 165 (same dies). 17.35g, 28mm, 6h.

Minor spots of corrosion on obv., otherwise Good Very Fine - Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 3,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Hess-Divo 320, 26 October 2011, lot 24.

68.

Two Beautiful Himeran Litrai

6766

Sicily, Kamarina Æ Tetras. Circa 420-405 BC. Gorgoneion with tongue protruding / Owl standing right, grasping lizard; three pellets below ground line. CNS III, 8; SNG ANS 1121-1124. 4.12g, 18mm, 10h.

Good Extremely Fine, exceptional for the type. 500

69.

25

Attractive Tetradrachm of Katane

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right on ground line, floral design in exergue / Nike, wearing long chiton, advancing left, holding tainia in her outstretched right hand, wreath in left; H to left, KATANAION around. SNG ANS 1236; Randazzo pl. 4, 75 (same dies). 17.32g, 29mm, 4h.

Very Fine. Very Rare. 5,000

From a private American Collection.

This coin was struck within a few years of the refoundation of the city, issued in celebration of the return of the Chalkidic inhabitants of Katane to their homeland following the Aitna episode. Hieron, tyrant of Syracuse, had forcibly transferred the populations of Katane and Naxos, Katane’s parent city, to Leontinoi, renamed Katane as Aitna and settled it with 5000 colonists from Syracuse and 5000 Dorians from the Pelopponese. However, after the death of Hieron in 466 and the overthrow of his brother Thrasybulos less than a year later, relations between the newly democratic Syracuse and its former colony soured, leading to war in 461. Allied with the Sikels under Douketios, Syracuse through several battles compelled the newly settled inhabitants to retire to the fortress of Inessa (to which they gave the name of Aitna), while the old Chalkidic citizens were reinstated in the possession of the city. The obverse depicts clear civic types referencing both the life-giving river by which Katane was sited, and other types show the wine-grapes that must have been key to the city’s prosperity through use of the type of Silenos. The taenia borne by Nike on the reverse here almost certainly alludes to the fall of the Deinomenid tyranny that, with the aid of Syracuse and the native Sikels, allowed the displaced people to return to their ancestral home.

70.

Sicily, Katane AR Tetradrachm. Circa 465-450 BC. The river god Amenanos as a bearded, man-headed bull kneeling to right on ground line; 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 left, holding tainia in her outstretched right hand; KATANAION around. SNG ANS -; Jameson -; SNG Copenhagen -; Randazzo pl. 3, 60 (same dies); Rizzo -. 17.07g, 29mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 2,000

71.

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 tainia in her outstretched right hand; KATANE around. Randazzo 55. 16.97g, 26mm, 3h.Very Fine. 1,500

72.

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, advancing left, holding tainia in her outstretched right hand; KATANE around. Randazzo 55. 17.24g, 27mm, 12hVery Fine. 1,500

73.

73.72. 74.

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 advancing left, holding tainia in her outstretched right hand; KATANE around. SNG ANS -; Randazzo pl. 3, 58 (same dies); Rizzo pl. IX, 4 (same dies). 17.30g, 28mm, 9h.Very Fine. Very Rare. 1,500

74.

26

Ex Jameson and A.J. Evans Collections

Sicily, Katane AR Drachm. Circa 405 BC. Reverse die signed by Euainetos. Female charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping quadriga to right; above, Nike flying to left crowning charioteer with wreath held in outstretched arms; KATANAIΩN in exergue / Horned head of the river-god Amenanos to left, wearing tainia, AMENANOΣ behind; two fish and a crayfish around, signature EYAI below. Jameson 551 (this coin); Burlington Exhibition 1904, 166 (this coin) Rizzo, pl. XIV, 7 (same dies); Kraay-Hirmer, pl. 13, 38 (same reverse die); SNG Lloyd 907 (same dies); SNG ANS 1263. 3.93g, 18mm, 5h.


Ex Leu Numismatik 50, 1990, lot 53;Ex Jameson Collection;Ex Burlington Exhibition 1904, pl. 102, no. 166 (lent by Arthur J. Evans, Esq.); Ex A. J. Evans Collection.

75.

Sicily, Katane Æ Tetras. Circa 405-402 BC. AMENANOΣ, head of the river god Amenanos left; ivy leaf behind / K–A, winged thunderbolt; three pellets around. CNS III, 1; SNG ANS 1272. 1.89g, 14mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine, with an attractive green patina. 150

76.

Sicily, Leontinoi AR Tetradrachm. Circa 440-430 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Lion’s head left, with open jaws and tongue protruding, three barley grains and LEONTINON around, leaf behind. SNG ANS 240; BMC 39. 16.94g, 27mm, 11h.Good Extremely Fine. 3,000From the David Freedman Collection.

77.

Sicily, Leontinoi AR Tetradrachm. Circa 440-430 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Lion’s head left, with open jaws and tongue protruding, three barley grains and LEONTINON around, leaf behind. SNG ANS 240; BMC 39. 17.54g, 25mm, 6h.About Extremely Fine. Attractive surfaces and pleasantly toned. 3,000Ex Stack’s, Bowers and Ponterio 164, 6 January 2012, lot 191.

78.

77 78

27

The Harbour of Zankle-Messana

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; ADM Collection, AMB 359; Boston MFA 285; SNG ANS 298-303; Kraay-Hirmer 49; Jenkins 97; Rizzo pl. 25, 4. 5.54g, 21mm, 12h.


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 near 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.

79.

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-470 BC. Seated charioteer, holding reins with both hands, driving mule biga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses with wreath, bay leaf in exergue / Hare springing to right, D above, MESSANION around. SNG ANS 337 (same dies); Caltabiano 330 (same dies). 17.43g, 27mm, 10h.

Very Fine. Slight die shift on reverse. 500

80.

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. Circa 480-470 BC. Seated charioteer, holding reins with both hands, driving mule biga right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses with wreath, bay leaf in exergue / Hare springing to right, D below, MESSANION around. Caltabiano 333 (same dies); Randazzo 215 (same dies); SNG ANS -. 17.45g, 26mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. 500

81.

28

Sicily, Messana AR Tetradrachm. 412-408 BC. The nymph Messana, holding reins in right hand and kentron in left, driving slow biga of mules left; above, Nike flying right, crowning her with wreath / Hare springing right; in background, stalk of grain with four ears; MEΣΣΑΝΙΩΝ within two parallel exergual lines. Caltabiano 601 (D215/R233); SNG ANS 379 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1107 = Rizzo pl. XXVII, 16 = Pozzi 1097 (same dies); Lockett 714 (this coin). 17.30g, 26mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. 5,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Purchased from Spink, December 2005;Ex Lockett Collection.

82.

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). 4.30g, 18mm, 9h.


Though not as rare as its earlier counterpart, this wonderful type is however notoriously difficult to obtain in high grade.

In contrast to the earlier archaic drachm, the god Dionysos has on this type 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.

83.

29

Sicily, Selinos AR Didrachm. Circa 515-470 BC. Selinon leaf / Selinon leaf within incuse square; ΣEΛI around. C. Arnold-Biucchi, Florilegium Numismaticum, p. 17, 12; SNG ANS 685. 8.02g, 21mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. Rare. 500

84.

Extremely Fine Archaic Didrachm of Selinos

Sicily, Selinos AR Didrachm. Circa 480-460 BC. Selinon leaf / Dekapartite incuse punch. C. Arnold-Biucchi, Florilegium Numismaticum, p. 16, 7; SNG ANS 672; SNG Copenhagen 591. 8.92g, 21mm.


Ex Stack’s, Bowers and Ponterio 164, 6 January 2012, lot 96.

85.

Sicily, Solous Æ22. Circa 400-350 BC. Male head left, wearing Attic helmet, Punic letter below / Horse galloping right, caduceus behind. CNS I, 9; SNG ANS -; SNG Copenhagen-; BMC -. 7.82g, 22mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine, and among the finest known. Small area of bronze disease on rev. removed and restored. Extremely Rare. 1,250

Solous was one of the three primary Phoenician colonies in Sicily, and was one of the few settlements they retained as they conceded ground in the face of Greek colonisation, retreating to the northwest corner of the island. The city became a dependency of Carthage and remained so until after the fall of Panormos in the Second Punic War, when it opened its gates to the Romans.

86.

Sicily, Solous Æ14. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing Corinthian helmet / Warrior kneeling right, drawing bow. SNG ANS 742; CNS 1, 5; SNG München 909. 1.93g, 14mm, 8h.

Very Fine. Very Rare. 100

87.

30

Extremely Rare Hemidrachm of Stiela

Sicily, Stiela AR Hemidrachm. Circa 415-400 BC. Laureate, young male head left, branch before / Forepart of man-headed bull left, ΣTIA above. SNG ANS 748; Jameson 733; BMC 2; Rizzo 16, pl. LX, 16. 1.78g, 13mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine, and well struck. Extremely Rare, perhaps only the fifth known. 5,000

88.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. First Democracy, circa 510-490 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; ΣΥΡΑQΟΣΙΟΝ in two lines above / Quadripartite incuse square, with circular incuse in centre containing diademed head of Arethusa to left. Boehringer 4. 16.99g, 26mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. Of the highest rarity. 5,000

Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 95.

The first issue of coinage at Syracuse features an obverse nearly identical to that of the present piece, but with a plain quadripartite incuse square. This design had been inspired by the first issue of Olynthos, whose coinage had come to Sicily along with that of many other cities from Greece and Macedon as trade payments. Indeed, it was the silver from these trade payments that provided Syracuse with the bullion to strike their own coins. The second issue of the Syracusan series, of which the present piece is an example, included a small head of Arethusa within an incuse circle. As the Deinomenids came to power, the coinage of Syracuse diverged much more decisively from that of Olynthos, by making the head of Arethusa the principal element of the reverse design.

89.

31

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Gelon, circa 485-480 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton and holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; Nike above, flying right to crown horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied with pearl band; ΣVRAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 62 (V32/R41); SNG ANS 15 (same dies); SNG Lockett 876 (same dies). 17.22g, 26mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. 500

90.

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 87 (V42/R56). 17.15g, 25mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 300

91.

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 114 (V52/R79). 17.36g, 24mm, 10h.


92.

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 122 (V55/R83); SNG ANS 32 (same dies). 17.32g, 24mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Well centred. 500

93.

32

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 480/78-475 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 144 (V64/R99); SNG ANS 40 (same dies). 17.31g, 25mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. 500

94.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 480/78-475 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 179 (V80/R123); SNG ANS 55 (same rev. die). 17.33g, 24mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. Usual reverse die break. Rare. 500

95.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 480/78-475 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 191 (V87/R131). 17.31g, 25mm, 4h.

Near Extremely Fine. A pleasing obverse die of exceptionally fine style. 500

96.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 480/78-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right, Nike flying above right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, hair bound with fillet, wearing pearl diadem and necklace, ΣVRAKOΣION and four dolphins around. SNG ANS 79 (these dies); Boehringer 230 (V102/R156). 17.36g, 25mm, 7h.Near Extremely Fine. Late stage die flaw on reverse, and scratch across portrait. 500

97.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 480/78-475 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 245 (V110/R166). 17.21g, 24mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 300

98.

97 98

33

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 480/78-475 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 263 (V119/R181). 17.29g, 26mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 500

99.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 475-470 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; Nike above, flying right, crowning horses with wreath / Head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl headband, earrings, and necklace; ΣVRAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 305 (V146/R212); Randazzo Hoard 470 (these dies); H. Troxell, The Norman Davis Collection, ANS 1969, 50 (this coin). 17.43g, 24mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone. 4,000

Ex Norman Davis Collection, Gemini VII, 9 January 2011, lot 158.

100.

Ex Norman Davis Collection

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 475-470 BC. Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike above, flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied with pearl headband; ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins. Boehringer 353 (V175/R246); Randazzo 521 (same dies); SNG ANS 113 (same dies). 17.29g, 24mm, 6h.



101.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 475-470 BC. Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike above, flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied with pearl headband; ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins. Boehringer 353 (V175/R246); Randazzo 521 (same dies); SNG ANS 113 (same dies). 17.11g, 25mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. 500

102.

34

3x

Sicily, Syracuse AR Pentonkion. ‘Demareteion’ style. Deinomenid tyranny, circa 465 BC. Laureate head of Arethusa right / Five pellets. SNG Lloyd 1303; SNG Ashmolean 1944; Boehringer 371. 0.28g, 6mm, 7h.


103.

Extremely Rare ‘Demareteion Style’ Pentonkion

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 470-466 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; Nike above, flying right, crowning horses, ketos swimming to right in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair tied at back with pearl hair band; ΣΥRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 414. 17.08g, 27mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 3,000


104.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 415-405 BC. Unsigned work by Parmenides. Galloping quadriga driven left by charioteer who looks sideways, holding reins and kentron in left hand and raising right arm; Nike above, flying right to crown him, ear of grain in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing double-hook earring and necklace, hair in ampyx and sphendone decorated with stars; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN and four dolphins around. Tudeer 54, 76 (these dies); SNG ANS 290; Rizzo pl. 47, 21 (obv. same die) and 22 (rev., same die). 16.70g, 26mm, 1h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare - Tudeer knew of only one specimen. 4,000 Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 127.

105.

Only One Specimen Known to Tudeer

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 466-460 BC. Charioteer driving slow quadriga to right; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses with wreath; ketos in exergue / Head of Arethusa to right, wearing pearl diadem, earrings and necklace; four dolphins and ΣYRAKOΣION around. Boehringer 477; SNG Copenhagen 208; SNG ANS 148. 17.25g, 29mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. 4,000

106.

35

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; Nike above, flying left to crown charioteer, ketos swimming to right in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair bound with ribbon; ΣΥPΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 499; SNG ANS 158. 17.61g, 26mm, 8h.

Obverse struck from rusted die, but otherwise Mint State. Highly lustrous reverse of beautiful style. Rare. 3,000


107.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 450-440 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right, Nike above, flying to right, crowning horses; ketos in exergue / Head of Arethusa right, wearing headband, pendant earring, and pearl necklace with pendant; ΣΥRAΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer 554; SNG ANS 180 (same obverse die); Rizzo plate 37, 13 (same obverse die). 17.35g, 26mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine; very difficult to find in this grade. Rare. 10,000

Privately purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica, 13 January 2011.

108.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 430-420 BC. Charioteer, wearing a long chiton and holding reins in both hands, driving walking quadriga right, Nike flying to right above, crowning the horses / Head of Arethusa right, her hair tied with a tainia, wearing earring and necklace; ΣYPAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 628 (V319/R432); SNG ANS 200 (these dies); BMC 101 (these dies); Boston 385-6 (these dies). 17.24g, 24mm, 4h.


Ex Stack’s, Bowers and Ponterio 164, 6 January 2012, lot 108.

A coin of arrestingly beautiful style, lightly toned with golden iridescent highlights about the portrait of Arethusa. Arguably a far more attractive specimen than the Prospero example sold in January 2012.

109.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemilitron. Second Democracy, circa 425-420 BC. Young male head left, wearing tainia / Octopus. Cf. Boehringer series XVIII; CNS 11/3 corr.; Favorito type 4 (c. 440-430 BC); SNG ANS 393. 3.68g, 15mm, 5h.


110.

Wonderful Style

37

An Unsigned Masterpiece

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy. Circa 415-405 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both, driving fast quadriga left; Nike flying above right, crowning charioteer with open wreath; grain ear in exergue / Diademed head of Arethusa right, wearing earring and necklace, hair in ampyx and sphendone; ΣYPAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Tudeer 63 (V22/R41); SNG ANS 281; Rizzo pl. XLVII, 10 (same dies); BMC 221 (same dies); Boston MFA 414 = Warren 382 (same dies); Gulbenkian 285 (same dies); Jameson 108 (same dies). 17.43g, 24mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 15,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 108;Ex Lanz 138, November 2007, lot 129.

Sicily in the mid-5th Century BC was riven by continual warfare between cities vying for pre-eminence and power over their neighbours, and such warfare required vast amounts of money to finance, money which the cities of Sicily had in abundance thanks to their favourable position on the Mediterranean trade routes. This constant state of war was contrasted by a climate of state-patronised cultural experimentation and development. Great artists, sculptors and die cutters were hired to imbue their employers’ cities with elegance and grandeur; the need for ready coin to pay mercenaries naturally leant itself to the die cutter’s advantage. The tetradrachms provided the ideal medium on which to explore, refine and hone their art, and while the first masters such as the ‘Maestro della foglia’, and the unknown master who signed his work ‘A’ remained anonymous on their coinage, their students proudly signed their works with their signatures, and thus are passed on to us the names of Exakestidas, Kimon, Euainetos and others.

Yet while the signed dies are often among the most coveted by collectors, many of the finest dies were left unsigned – as was the case with the present piece, which though lacking a signature is nonetheless an excellent example of the very best numismatic art of the period.

111.

38

Signed by Parmenides

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Second Democracy, circa 415-405 BC. Reverse die signed by Parmenides. Galloping quadriga driven left by charioteer who looks sideways, holding reins and kentron in left hand and raising right arm; Nike above, flying right to crown him, ear of grain in exergue / Head of Arethusa left, hair in ornate ampyx, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN above, ΠAPME below; four dolphins around, one emanating from below her neck. Kreutzer Parme I b; Tudeer 77 (V27/R49); SNG ANS 287; Basel 472; BMC 212-3; Boston MFA 416 = Warren 378; SNG Lockett 976; Jameson 836; Ward 297 (all from the same dies). 17.46g, 24mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. An Arethusa portrait of great beauty with a clear signature. Very Rare. 10,000


112.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Hemidrachm. Second Democracy, circa 410-405 BC. Signed by Euainetos. Fast quadriga right, Nike flying above left, wings facing, crowning charioteer with wreath, [in exergue two dolphins nose to nose with die engraver’s initial E between] / Head of Arethusa left, wearing necklace with pendant, hair confined by ampyx and sphendone with wavy locks loose above ear; two dolphins around, [ΣVRAKOΣION before]. SNG ANS 305; Rizzo pl. LIII, 5 and pl. LV, 2; BMC 166-7. 1.63g, 14mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 300

A beautiful example of this extremely rare fraction by Euainetos.

113.

Signed by Euainetos

41

Signed by Euainetos

Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Time of Dionysios I, circa 405-400 BC. Reverse die signed by Euainetos. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; above, Nike flying to left, crowning charioteer with wreath held in outstretched hands; below heavy exergual line: a military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass and Attic helmet all connected by a horizontal spear, [AQLA] below / Wreathed head of Arethusa left, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace, surrounded by four dolphins swimming; EY[AINE] below lower dolphin. Gallatin obv. R.VI / rev. C.XIV; SNG ANS 369 (same dies); Dewing 893-895 (same dies). 43.48g, 36mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine, light golden tone around the devices. 50,000

From the Gutekunst Collection;Ex Gorny & Mosch 199, 10 October 2011, lot 96.

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.

114.

42

Sicily, Syracuse AR Hemidrachm. Time of Dionysios I, circa 405 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping quadriga right; Nike above, crowning him with wreath, two confronted dolphins in exergue / Head of Arethusa left, hair bound in sakkos and sphendone; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN below, dolphins before and behind. SNG ANS 305; SNG München 1093-4. 2.01g, 16mm, 3h.

Very Fine. Rare. 500

115.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemilitron. Time of Dionysios I, circa 405 BC. Head of Arethusa left, barley ear to right / Wheel of four spokes, ΣY-PA in upper quarters, dolphins in lower. CNS II, p. 49, 21; SNG ANS 404ff. 3.53g, 16mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasing green patina. 500

Ex Roma Numismatics IV, 30 September 2012, lot 97.

116.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Stater. Time of Timoleon and the Third Democracy, circa 344-338 BC. Pegasos flying left / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. Pegasi 2; SNG ANS 496-507. 8.61g, 20mm, 2h.


117.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Hemidrachm. Time of Timoleon and the Third Democracy, circa 344-338 BC. Helmeted head of Athena facing slightly left; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩN and three dolphins around / Horseman riding right; star behind. SNG ANS 520–1 (same dies). 2.00g, 13mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 1,200


118.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Hemidrachm. Time of Timoleon and the Third Democracy, circa 344-338 BC. Head of Arethusa left, wearing single pendant earring and necklace; EY below, small lion’s head behind / Forepart of Pegasos left, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. HGC 2, 1406; SNG ANS 1185. 0.98g, 13mm, 8h.


119.

43

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Agathocles, 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. 17.06g, 27mm, 3h.


Ex Comptoir General Financier 47, 19 March 2011, lot 38.

120.

Sicily, Syracuse AV Dekadrachm. Agathokles, circa 317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left, ear of barley behind / Charioteer driving galloping biga to right, holding reins in his left hand and kentron in his right; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around, triskeles below. Jameson 858; Dewing 934; SNG ANS 552; SNG Lockett 1000; SNG München 1190. 4.24g, 14mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine; an attractive portrait. 1,000

121.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ20. Agathokles, 317-289 BC. Diademed head of youthful Herakles left / Lion walking right; club above. CNS II, 150; SNG ANS 733 ff. 7.67g, 20mm, 5h.

Near Extremely Fine. Excellent style. 100

122.

Sicily, Syracuse AV Stater. Agathokles, circa 306-289 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin, single-pendant earring and necklace / AΓAΘOKΛEOΣ BAΣIΛEOΣ, winged thunderbolt, monogram below. BMC 416; SNG Copenhagen -. 5.70g, 17mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Some minor scratches. Rare symbol. 5,000

This piece is from a short-lived issue known from six obverse and seven reverse dies with numerous interlinkings, which suggest a specific occasion for its striking. Three alternatives proposed are the assumption of the royal title by Agathokles in 304 BC, the marriage of his daughter to Pyrrhos of Epeiros in 297, or renewed preparations for war against Carthage - the last of which seems the most plausible; indeed we see here a type familiar to Greek mercenaries that at once recalls the gold staters of Alexander the Great, and the silver staters of Alexander of Epeiros.

123.

An Attractive Gold Stater of Agathokles

44

Sicily, Syracuse AV Stater. Agathokles, circa 305-289 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a griffin, single-pendant earring and necklace / ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ, winged thunderbolt; monogram below. Jameson 867; Bérend, l’or, pl. 9, 8; SNG ANS 704; SNG Lloyd 1510; Jenkins pl. 15, C; SNG Ashmolean 2081 (same rev. die). 5.71g, 17mm, 1h.


124.

Sicily, Syracuse Æ29. Hieron II, circa 275-215 BC. Diademed head of Hieron to left, ram’s head behind / Cavalryman on horseback to right, holding couched lance, AP monogram below; IEPΩNOΣ in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references, for the reverse monogram cf. CND II, p. 360, 193 (Ds15/R1.3). 18.13g, 29mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. Exceptionally well detailed and engraved in fine style, with a beautiful and untouched olive-green patina. 2,000

125.

An Exceptional Bronze of Hieron II

Sicily, Syracuse AR 10 Litrai. Hieronymos, circa 215-214 BC. Diademed head of Hieronymos left; K (retrograde) behind / BAΣIΛEOΣ IEPΩNYMOY, winged thunderbolt; KI above. Holloway 41 (O21/R33); SNG ANS 1029 (these dies). 8.44g, 23mm, 4h.


Ex Classical Numismatic Group 76, 12 September 2007, lot 181.

Hieronymos ascended to the throne of Syracuse at a time of crisis. A Roman Consular army of eight legions and allied troops had been annihilated at Cannae only the year before, and Roman power had been dealt a considerable shock. The repercussions of that defeat had been profoundly felt in Sicily; the former king Hieron II had remained steadfast in his loyalty and support to Rome though a significant party in the city favoured abandoning the Roman alliance and joining the cause of Carthage, despite their traditional enmity to that people. The young Hieronymos, who had already shown signs of weakness and depravity of character, allowed himself to be influenced by his pro-Carthaginian uncles into breaking the alliance with Rome.

126.

ILLYRIA

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, 21mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

127.

45

PAEONIA

Kings of Paeonia, Audoleon AR Tetradrachm. Circa 315-286 BC. Head of Athena facing slightly to right, wearing triple crested Attic helmet, pearl strand earrings and necklace / Horse prancing to right, ΑYΔΩΛEΩN-TOΣ around, monogram below. AMNG III p. 203, 1 var.; SNG ANS 1054 var. 12.54g, 23mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Rare variant. 1,000

128.

Akarnania, Anaktorion AR Stater. Circa 400-330 BC. Pegasos flying left, monogram below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet adorned with laurel wreath; lyre to right. Pegasi 3; SNG Copenhagen 285. 8.48g, 23mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. Lustrous metal with hints of golden toning. 500

129.

AKARNANIA

Ex Hirsch 1905

Akarnania, Akarnanian League AR Stater. Circa 250-200 BC. Lykourgos, magistrate. Head of river god Achelöos right; monogram behind / Apollo seated left, holding bow; AKAPNANON to right, ΘE monogram (reverted) to left. BCD Akarnania 17. SNG Copenhagen 418. 9.81g, 25mm, 8h.

Very Fine. 2,000

Ex Hirsch 14, 1905, lot 349.

130.

Aitolia, Aitolian League AR Stater. Circa 250-225 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Aitolos standing left, right foot on rock, partially draped with chlamys and with kausia hanging behind his back, holding spear in his right hand and with sword under his left arm; Δ to left, AITΩΛΩΝ to right. Scheu 13; BMC 10; McClean 5402. 10.56g, 25mm, 2h.


Ex Münzen & Medaillen 23, 18 October 2007, lot 444.

131.

AITOLIA

46

Among the Finest Known

Aitolia, Aitolian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 205-150 BC. Head of Aitolia to right, wearing petasos; Λ-Y across fields / Boar running to right, ΑΙΤΩΛΩΝ above, K below; A and spearhead in exergue. Tsangari 597; Thompson, Agrinion 611. 2.80g, 16mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare, and among the finest known specimens. 5,000

132.

THESSALY

Thessaly, Kierion AR Trihemiobol. Circa 350-325 BC. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus right / Arne kneeling right, head left, playing with astragaloi, magistrate’s initial Φ in lower left field; ΚΙΕΡΙΕIΩΝ around. BCD Thessaly I 1071 var. (position of magistrate’s initial). 1.21g, 14mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Reverse somewhat double struck. 200

133.

Thessaly, Kierion AR Trihemiobol. Circa 350-325 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Arne kneeling right, head left, playing with astragaloi; Φ to right, ΚΙΕΡΙΕIΩΝ around. BCD Thessaly II 100; SNG Lockett 1549. 1.25g, 13mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 150

134.

135 136

Thessaly, Kierion AR Trihemiobol. Circa 350-325 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Arne kneeling right, head left, playing with astragaloi; Φ to right, ΚΙΕΡΙΕIΩΝ around. BCD Thessaly II 100; SNG Lockett 1549. 1.33g, 14mm, 3h.Very Fine. 150

135.

Thessaly, Kierion AR Trihemiobol. Circa 350-325 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Arne kneeling right, head left, playing with astragaloi; Φ to right, ΚΙΕΡΙΕIΩΝ around. BCD Thessaly II 100; SNG Lockett 1549. 1.31g, 14mm, 7h.Very Fine. 150

136.

47

Thessaly, Kierion AR Obol. Circa 350-325 BC. Horse trotting right, with far foreleg raised / Warrior, nude but for helmet, striding right, holding sword and shield; KIEPIEI to left. BCD Thessaly II 104.3 var. (horse’s near foreleg raised); BCD Thessaly I 1074 var. (same). 0.92g, 12mm, 6h.


137.

Thessaly, Kierion AR Obol. Circa 350-325 BC. Horse trotting right, with far foreleg raised / Warrior, holding sword and wearing shield, advancing right. BCD Thessaly II 104.3. 0.84g, 13mm, 4h.


138.

Thessaly, Krannon AR Obol. Circa 479-465 BC. Head and neck of bull facing, restrained by Thessalos, X-A-N around / Head of bridled horse to left, K-R-A (retrograde) upwards before. BCD Thessaly I 1077. 0.89g, 11mm, 11h.


139.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 500-479 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa left, her hair bound and tied at the back / Jason’s sandal to left, ΛΑΡΙ (inverted) above. BMC 3; Traité, 1415, pl. XLIII, 6. 0.66g, 11mm, 11h.



140.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 500-479 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa left, her hair bound and tied at the back / Jason’s sandal to right, ΛΑ above. BCD Thessaly I 1098. 0.56g, 9mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 100

141.

Rare and Attractive Larissa Hemidrachm

Thessaly, Larissa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 479-460 BC. Head of Jason to left, wearing petasos with strings fastening behind his head and under his chin; border of dots / Sandal of Jason to left, ΛΑ below, ΣΑΕ above, retrograde and upside down; all within shallow incuse square. BCD Thessaly pt. 2, Triton XV, 3 January 2012, 134 (same dies); cf. Herrmann Group I, p. 3 b var. (different legend). 2.04g, 12mm, 11h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 3,000

Jason was the son of Aison, the rightful king of Thessaly, who had been usurped and imprisoned by his half-brother Pelias. Aison sent Jason into the Thessalian countryside to be educated by the great centaur Chiron, under whose guidance he lived and grew to manhood. Meanwhile it had been prophesied to Pelias that he would be overthrown by a man wearing one sandal. When at last Jason returned to Iolchos to claim the throne, having lost one sandal in the river Anauros while helping an aged woman (the goddess Hera in disguise) across it, he was announced as a man wearing one sandal. Pelias, facing his own downfall, agreed to step aside on the condition that Jason seek out and return with the Golden Fleece from the kingdom of Kolchis.

142.

2x

48

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 479-460 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa left / Sandal of Jason right within incuse square. BCD Thessaly I 1098. 0.62g, 10mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 150

143.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 479-460 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa right, her hair bound and tied at the back / Jason’s sandal to right, ΛΑ above. BCD Thessaly II 350. 0.67g, 10mm, 9h.

Good Very Fine. 100

144.

2x

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 479-460 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa right, her hair bound and tied at the back / Jason’s sandal to right, ΛΑ above. BCD Thessaly II 350. 0.56g, 10mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 100

145.

Excellent Archaic Larissa Drachm

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 475-425 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, lotus flower below / Horse prancing left, Λ-Α; below, R-I above, all within incuse square. Herrmann group III B, pl. I, 22 (same obverse die); cf. Triton XIII (5 January 2010) 1127 (same dies). 5.85g, 22mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 5,000

Ex BCD Collection, Triton XV, 3 January 2012, lot 152.

The obverse of this coin depicts the taurokathapsia, a contest in which the athlete passes a band around the bull’s head and pulls it tight in an attempt to bring the animal under control. This would no doubt have been not only a feat of great strength, but also of dexterity and agility to avoid being trampled or gored by the bull.

This particular coin is overstruck on an early sandal-type drachm. The reuse of the earlier coinage in this manner explains why they are so rare today.

146.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. 460-420 BC. The hero Thessalos, nude but for petasos, holding band around the head of a bull charging right; lotus flower below / ΛA–PI, bridled horse prancing left; all within incuse square. Herrmann group III B, pl. I, 22 (same obverse die); Lorber, Thessalian –; BCD Thessaly II 152 var. (bridle falling between the Λ and the A). 5.45g, 22mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 150

147.

49

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 475-450 BC. Head and neck of bull left / Head of bridled horse right, AΛ to right; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly I 1105; BCD Thessaly II 147. 0.75g, 10mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 100

148.

2x

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 460-400 BC. Horse standing right / The nymph Larissa advancing right, bouncing ball; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 358.2 (same rev. die). 1.07g, 12mm, 3h.


149.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Obol. Circa 460-400 BC. Horse walking right / The nymph Larissa standing left, holding ball; ΛAPIΣAION around; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 358.10. 0.96g, 11mm, 3h.


150.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 460-420 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. Nomos 4, 1122 and R. Ratto, 4 April 1927, 998 (both from the same dies). 6.07g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Beautiful old tone. 2,000

Ex Vinchon, 13 November 1986, lot 155.

151.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 450/40-420 BC. Thessalos, petasos and cloak tied at neck, holding band across head of bull leaping right / Horse running right, ΛAP above, IΣA below; all within incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian pl. 43, 53 var. (same obv. die, different legend arrangement on rev.); BCD Thessaly II 372.4 (same dies). 5.95g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 300

152.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 450/40-420 BC. Youthful hero Thessalos, his petasos and chlamys hanging around neck, restraining bull right by band held around its head / ΛAPI above, ΣAIA below, bridled horse prancing right; all within incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian pl. 43, 51 var. (rein not falling between letters); BCD Thessaly II 369.1. 6.00g, 20mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 300

153.

50

Thessaly, Larissa AR Trihemiobol. Circa 440-400 BC. Horseman, his petasos and chlamys hanging around neck, riding left, holding two spears; small O above / The nymph Larissa seated right on chair with back terminating in swan’s head, holding a ball in raised left hand, a hoop in right; all within shallow incuse square. Cf. BCD Thessaly II 157-158. 1.38g, 14mm, 7h.

Near Very Fine. Rare. 100

154.

Beautiful Style Portrait

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 420-400 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa to left, wearing pendant earring and with her hair bound with a tainia / Bridled horse prancing to left, with loose rein trailing below; ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ around. Cf. BCD II 376.6 (same obv. die); cf. BMC 48 and pl. V, 10 (same obv. die), for type cf. Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 66. 6.12g, 19mm, 2h.


155.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 420-400 BC. The hero Thessalos, nude but for chlamys, his petasos flying out behind him, holding band around the head of a bull charging left / Bridled horse prancing right, ΛAPI above, Σ–AIA below; all within shallow incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian pl. 43, 52; BCD Thessaly I 1128. 5.97g, 19mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. 750

156.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 410-405 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa left, hair bound in sphendone / Horse galloping right, reins trailing; ΛΑΡIΣΑ-ΙΑ around. Lorber, Thessalian 64; Herrmann group IV, pl. IV, 12; BCD Thessaly 1134 var. (arrangement of ethnic); SNG Copenhagen -. 6.15g, 18mm, 5h.


157.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-380 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to left, wearing ampyx and necklace; on either side, dolphin swimming downward / Horse standing to right, trailing rein on the exergual line and preparing to lie down, bukranion on haunch; ΛI below horse’s belly, [ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ below]. C. Lorber, Facing Head Drachms of Larissa in FS Westermark Head Type 10; Triton XV, BCD Thessaly, 2012, 203 (same dies). 6.33g, 18mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. An obverse die of wonderful style. 1,500

158.

Bold Portrait

2x

51

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-380 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to right, neckline in the form of an open V with central pellet / Horse grazing right on solid exergual line, ΛΑΡΙ above. Lorber, Early, 71.2 (these dies). 5.89g, 20mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. 750

159.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Thessalos right, petasos flying out behind him, restraining charging bull / Bridled horse galloping right, reins trailing, [Λ]ΑΡΙ above, ΣΑΙΑ below; all within incuse square. De Luynes 1836 (same obv. die); cf. Naville - Ars Classica XVI, 3 July 1933, lot 1109 (same dies). 6.10g, 19mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 500

Privately purchased from Bowers and Ruddy (J. Spier), December 1980.

160.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 380-365 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, with grain ears in her hair, wearing earring and necklace / ΛAPI–ΣAIΩN, mare and her foal standing to right. L-S series 6, type A; BCD Thessaly II 295. 5.93g, 19mm, 5h.

Near Very Fine. 250

161.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 375-350 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to left, wearing pendant earring and plain necklace / Horse crouching left and preparing to lie down on solid ground line; ΛΑΡΙ above, ΣΑΙΩΝ in exergue. Cf. Gorny & Mosch 165, 17 March 2008, 1237 (same dies). 6.16g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Superb style. 2,000

162.

Fine Classical Style

52

An Exceptional Larissa Drachm

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 365-356 BC. Bull running to right, ΛAPIΣAION above / Thessalos, wearing a petasos, cloak and tunic, galloping on horseback to right. F. Hermann ‘Die Silbermünzen von Larissa in Thessalien’ ZfN XXXV, 1925, pl. IV, 17; C. Lorber, ‘Thessalian Hoards and the Coinage of Larissa’, AJN 20, 2008, pl. 46, 101; SNG Copenhagen 118; BCD 1136. 6.03g, 21mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. An exceptional example of the type. 5,000

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex BCD Collection, Triton XVI, 8 January 2013, lot 340.

This type of Larissan drachm is almost aways found in no more than very fine condition (see following lot), and appears to have remained in circulation for many years. The present specimen is therefore exceptional for its exceptionally good state of preservation, and is comparable in quality to the specimen sold in part one of the BCD Thessaly collection (lot 1136).

163.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 365-356 BC. Bull running to right, ΛAPIΣAION above / Thessalos, wearing a petasos, cloak and tunic, galloping on horseback to right. F. Hermann ‘Die Silbermünzen von Larissa in Thessalien’ ZfN XXXV, 1925, pl. IV, 17; C. Lorber, ‘Thessalian Hoards and the Coinage of Larissa’, AJN 20, 2008, pl. 46, 101; SNG Copenhagen 118; BCD 1136. 6.28g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Fine - Very Fine. 300

164.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 365-356 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx / Horse standing left, preparing to lie down; plant below. Lorber, Hoard, Group L-I, 17-21; BCD Thessaly -; SNG Copenhagen 123. 6.04g, 18mm, 6h.



165.

53

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing necklace / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down. Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-III, 38–60; BCD Thessaly 317–9. 6.14g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, marvellously sharp reverse. 750

166.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 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. BCD Thessaly II 318; SNG Copenhagen 121; BMC 57-60. 6.04g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. 750

167.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 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. BCD Thessaly II 325; SNG Copenhagen 121; BMC 57-60. 6.04g, 20mm, 5h.

Near Extremely Fine, and attractively toned. Some die shift on reverse. 750

168.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down. Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-III, 38-60; BCD Thessaly II 315. 6.06g, 19mm, 6h.

About Very Fine. 300

169.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing single-pendant earring and plain necklace / Horse standing right, about to roll, plant below; ΛAPIΣ above, AIΩN in exergue. Lorber, Hoard phase L-III; BCD Thessaly II 320. 6.06g, 20mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine; reverse somewhat double struck. 150

170.

54

Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 356-342 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx, wearing single-pendant earring and plain necklace / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down; ΛAPIΣ above, AIΩN in exergue. Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-III; BCD Thessaly II 319. 6.08g, 20mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine; an attractive portrait. 150

171.

Thessaly, Larissa AR Trihemiobol. Circa 325-275 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarters facing left, wearing pendant earring, necklace and ampyx / Thessalian cavalryman riding right on prancing horse; ΛAPI upwards to left, [Σ downwards to right, AIΩN below]. BCD Thessaly II 385.5. 1.13g, 11mm, 5h.


172.

Thessaly, Meliboia AR Obol. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of the nymph Meliboia facing slightly left, grape bunches in hair / Two grape bunches and leaves hanging from vine; MEΛIBO around lower periphery. Helly, Quelques 12; BCD Thessaly II 447; Traité IV 749, pl. CCC, 22. 1.16g, 13mm, 5h.

Good Fine. Extremely Rare. Only 3 other examples have passed through auction since online records began. 500

173.

Extremely Rare Obol of Meliboia

Unique Tetartemorion of Methylion

Thessaly, Methylion AR Tetartemorion. Circa 475-425 BC. Head of horse to right / Club and bow within shallow incuse. Unpublished in the standard references. 0.18g, 7mm, 4h.

Apparently unique and unpublished. 100

Tetartemoria are extremely rare for all cities in Thessaly, and hitherto only tetartemoria for the cities of Larissa, Pharkadon, and Pharsalos have been found. This remarkable coin may be tentatively attributed to Methylion based on similarity of the reverse composition with an extremely rare issue that features just such a reverse - see BCD Thessaly II, 469.

174.

Thessaly, Methylion AR Obol. Circa 465-460 BC. Horse’s head to left / Barley grain in opening pod, ΜΕ-ΘV around, all within shallow incuse diamond. Nomos 4 (BCD) 1201 and Triton XV (BCD) 463.2 (same dies); otherwise, unpublished. 0.87g, 10mm, 3h.

About Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one of only three or four known examples. 1,250

Ex ‘European collection, formed before 2005’, Nomos 7, 15 May 2013, lot 72.

175.

One of Only Three or Four Known Examples

55

Thessaly, Metropolis AR Trihemiobol. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of Aphrodite Kastnia facing slightly left, wearing earrings and necklace; to left, dove flying upwards; to right, Eros flying upwards to crown her / MHTPOΠO, Apollo Musegetes, robed and with chlamys over shoulders, advancing right, holding lyre which he is playing. BCD Thessaly II 475; Jameson 2470. 1.22g, 13mm, 3h.

Good Fine - Near Very Fine. Very Rare. 100

176.

Thessaly, Metropolis AR Obol. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of horned and bearded river-god facing / Dionysos, bearded and wearing short chiton, seated left on wine crater, holding thyrsos in right hand, left hand on his seat; vine to right, MHTPOΠO to left. BCD Thessaly II 476. 0.96g, 11mm, 7h.


177.

Thessaly, Pelinna AR Obol. Circa 425-350 BC. Horse walking left, border of dots / Warrior in throwing stance to left, wearing petasos and short chiton, holding shield decorated with star and two javelins in left hand, preparing to throw javelin with right hand, ΠEΛIN... downwards to left (Λ retrograde). Unpublished in the standard references. Cf. BCD Thessaly II 515 for obverse type; cf. BCD Thessaly II 511-512 for reverse type with different arrangement of ethnic. 0.86g, 11mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 75

178.

Thessaly, Perrhaiboi AR Hemidrachm. Circa 450-400 BC. Hero to right, with chlamys draped over his shoulders, holding with both his hands a band passing around the head of a bull’s forepart leaping to right / Forepart of bridled horse to right; Π above, E to right, all within incuse square. SNG Fitzwilliam 2429 (same dies); BCD Thessaly pt. 2, 542 (this coin). 2.96g, 17mm, 6h.



179.

Thessaly, Perrhaiboi AR Obol. Circa 450-400 BC. Horse galloping to right / Athena Itonia running to right, holding spear and shield, within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 551.1 (same rev. die). 0.84g, 12mm, 10h.

Near Very Fine. 100

180.

Thessaly, Perrhaiboi AR Obol. Circa 450-400 BC. Horse prancing left, reins trailing / Π-E-P(horizontal)-A, Athena Itonia right, wearing crested helmet, kneeling in fighting attitude, holding spear in right hand, shield on left arm; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 550/552.2 (obv. die of 550/rev. die of 552.2). 0.89g, 13mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 100

181.

56

Thessaly, Perrhaiboi AR Obol. Circa 425-375 BC. Bridled horse prancing to left, its rein trailing / Π-E above to left and right, P-A below to left and right (the P horizontal); Athena Itonia right, half kneeling in fighting attitude, wearing crested helmet and long robes, holding spear in right hand and shield in left. SNG Copenhagen 159; BCD Thessaly -, cf. II 552.1 for reverse. 0.56g, 12mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 100

182.

Thessaly, Pharkadon AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440-400 BC. Thessalos, with cloak and petasos over shoulder, restraining bull rushing right / Forepart of horse to right, Φ-A-P-K around. SNG Copenhagen 211; BCD Thessaly 1269 var. (orientation of P in ethnic). 2.74g, 15mm, 7h.


183.

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. 2.71g, 15mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 100

184.

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. 2.70g, 16mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 100

185.

Thessaly, Pharkadon AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440-400 BC. Thessalos, nude but for petasos and chlamys, holding band around the head of a forepart of bull charging right / Forepart of horse right, ΦAPKAΔONI around; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly I 1267. 2.92g, 16mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 100

186.

Thessaly, Pharkadon AR Obol. Circa 425-375 BC. Horse advancing right / Athena standing left, holding spear; shield to right, leaning on tree; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 618.4 var. (orientation of legend); BCD Thessaly I 1272. 0.84g, 13mm, 11h.

Very Fine. 100

187.

57

Thessaly, Pharkadon AR Hemiobol. Circa 425-375 BC. Head and neck of bull facing slightly right / Ram standing left within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 611. 0.48g, 9mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 100

188.

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Hemiobol. Circa 440-400 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Φ-A-P around horses head and neck right. Lavva 22 (V15/R6); CNG Auction 90, 23 May 2012, lot 164; cf. BCD Thessaly II 633 (obol). 0.48g, 8mm, 5h.


189.

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440-400 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Head and neck of horse to right, ΦAP before. BCD Thessaly II 647. 2.86g, 10mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 100

190.

2x

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Hemiobol. Circa 440-400 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Head and neck of horse right; Φ to upper right. Cf. Lavva 37-40; BCD Thessaly II 648. 0.49, 8mm, 7h.

Very Fine. Unusual style. 100

191.

Thessaly, Pharsalos AR Obol. Circa 425-375 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with raised cheek-guard / Φ–A–P–Σ (partially retrograde), head and neck of horse right. BCD Thessaly II 657. 0.82g, 10mm, 11h.


192.

Thessaly, Pherai AR Obol. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Head and neck of bull left, head facing; above, dolphin left / Head and neck of bridled horse left, ΦEPA around, all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 676. 0.89g, 10mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 100

193.

Thessaly, Pherai AR Obol. Alexander, Tyrant. Circa 369-359 BC. Wheel with four spokes / Double-axe, AΛE across fields. BCD Thessaly II 702. 0.81g, 11mm.


194.

Alexander the Tyrant

58

Thessaly, Pherai AR Hemidrachm. Circa 302-286 BC. Laureate head of Ennodia; [torch over shoulder] / ΦEPAIOYN, the nymph Hypereia standing left, placing hand on lion-headed fountain from which water pours; to left, AΣ/TO in two lines in wreath. BCD Thessaly II 714 = Jameson 2474. 2.66g, 15mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 150

195.

196 197

Thessaly, Pherai AR Hemidrachm. Circa 302-286 BC. Laureate head of Ennodia; torch over shoulder / ΦEPAIOYN, the nymph Hypereia standing left, placing hand on lion-headed fountain from which water pours; to left, AΣ/TO in two lines in wreath. BCD Thessaly II 714 = Jameson 2474. 2.66g, 10mm, 1h. Near Very Fine. 150

196.

Thessaly, Pherai AR Hemidrachm. Circa 302-286 BC. Laureate head of Ennodia; torch over shoulder / ΦEPAIOYN, the nymph Hypereia standing left, placing hand on lion-headed fountain from which water pours; to left, AΣ/TO in two lines in wreath. BCD Thessaly II 714 = Jameson 2474. 2.46g, 10mm, 1h. Near Very Fine. 100

197.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 465-460 BC. Forepart of horse to right, with, below, a barely visible (retrograde) Ν / ΣΚΟ around grain, all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 731 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 251. 2.89g, 14mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 300

200.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Drachm. Circa 465-460 BC. Forepart of horse to left / ΣKO around grain, all within incuse diamond. BCD Thessaly II 729. 5.66g, 17mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 200

198.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Drachm. Circa 465-460 BC. Forepart of horse to left / ΣKO around grain, all within incuse diamond. BCD Thessaly II 729. 5.89g, 18mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 200

199.

59

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 465-460 BC. Forepart of horse to right / ΣKO around grain, all within incuse diamond. BCD Thessaly II 731. 2.80g, 14mm, 8h.

Very Fine. 150

201.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 394-367 BC. Head of bearded Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Forepart of bridled horse to right, his head slightly lowered, ΣΚΟ below; all within shallow circular incuse. BMC 2; Jameson 1108 = Traité IV, 627, pl. CCXCV, 7; SNG Lockett 1616 (all same dies). 2.72g, 17mm, 6h.


202.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Trihemiobol. Circa 375-350 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Σ-KO below, forepart of bridled horse walking right, being led by its rein. BCD Thessaly II 741; SNG Copenhagen 252; SNG Soutzos 395. 1.45g, 12mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine; slight die shift on reverse. Rare. 100

204.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 375-350 BC. Archaizing head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / S-KO below, forepart of bridled horse walking right, being led by its rein. BCD Thessaly II 735 (same dies). 2.99g, 16mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 200

203.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Trihemiobol. Circa 375-350 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Σ-KO below, forepart of bridled horse walking right, being led by its rein. BCD Thessaly II 741; SNG Copenhagen 252; SNG Soutzos 395. 1.32g, 11mm, 8h.


205.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemiobol. Circa 375-350 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / S-KO below, forepart of bridled horse walking right, being led by its rein. BCD Thessaly II 742. 0.44g, 8mm, 12h.


206.

60

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of Artemis facing slightly left, her hair pulled back / Poseidon seated left on rock, holding dolphin in left hand, trident in right; ΣKOTOYΣAIΩN around. BCD Thessaly II 755. 2.25g, 14mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 150

207.

209208

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of Artemis facing slightly left, her hair pulled back / Poseidon seated left on rock, holding dolphin in left hand, trident in right; ΣKOTOYΣAIΩN around. BCD Thessaly II 755. 2.30g, 15mm, 11h. Very Fine. 100

208.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of Artemis facing slightly left, her hair pulled back / Poseidon seated left on rock, holding dolphin in left hand, trident in right; ΣKOTOYΣAIΩN around. BCD Thessaly II 755. 2.24g, 14mm, 11h. Very Fine. 100

209.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Trihemiobol. Circa 220 BC. Wreathed head of young Herakles right, wearing lion skin around neck / ΣKOTOY downwards to right, ΣAIΩN downwards on right, Hekate standing left, dressed in long robes, holding long torch in her right hand and with left on her waist with drapery folded over it. BCD Thessaly 756; Traité IV, 629, pl. CCXCV, 8; BMC -. 1.10g, 10mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 200

BCD notes that the late silver fractions are remarkably rare, and missing from most public collections.

210.

Thessaly, Skotussa AR Trihemiobol. Circa 220 BC. Wreathed head of young Herakles right, wearing lion skin around neck / ΣKOTOY downwards to right, ΣAIΩN downwards on right, Hekate standing left, dressed in long robes, holding long torch in her right hand and with left on her waist with drapery folded over it. BCD Thessaly 756; Traité IV, 629, pl. CCXCV, 8; BMC -. 0.98g, 13mm, 12h.


211.

Thessaly, Trikka AR Hemiobol. Circa 475-425 BC. Bull’s hoof in a circle of dots / T-PIK-K-A-IOИ around forepart of horse to right, all within shallow incuse square. Liampi, Corpus, p. 112, K 1 a (V1/R1), pl. 5, 50; BCD Thessaly pt. 2, 765. 0.49, 8mm, 3h.

Very Fine. Of the greatest rarity, only the second known example. 500

The BCD specimen, described as a coin ‘of the highest importance’ sold at Triton XV for $3,750.

212.

Second Known Example

Thessaly, Trikka AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440-400 BC. The hero Thessalos, bearded, nude but for chlamys and petasos, holding band around the head of forepart of a bull right / Forepart of bridled horse right, TPIKKAIΩИ around. BCD Thessaly II 782/781.2 (for obv./rev. dies). 2.56g, 17mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. 200

213.

61

Thessaly, Trikka AR Hemidrachm. Circa 440-400 BC. Thessalos, nude but for petasos and cloak tied at neck, holding band across horns of forepart of bull right / Forepart of horse right; TPI-KKAI-ON clockwise around from left. BCD Thessaly II 769 var. (different arrangement of ethnic). 2.70g, 16mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 150

214.

216215

Thessaly, Trikka AR Obol. Circa 440-400 BC. Horse prancing right / TPIK upwards to left, KAION downwards to right; Athena, brandishing spear and carrying shield, advancing left within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 778.2 (same dies). 0.82g, 12mm, 7h. Very Fine. 100

215.

Thessaly, Trikka AR Obol. Circa 440-400 BC. Horse prancing right / TPIK upwards to left, KAION downwards to right; Athena, brandishing spear and carrying shield, advancing left within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 778.2 (same dies). 0.87g, 12mm, 12h. Near Very Fine. 100

216.

Thessaly, Trikka AR Hemidrachm. Circa 425-400 BC. Youthful hero Thessalos, nude but for cloak and petasos, restraining forepart of bull right by band held around its head, both his and the bull’s heads are turned to face the viewer / TP-IK-KA-I-ΩN, forepart of bridled horse right; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 782 var. (distribution of ethnic); BCD Thessaly I 1353 var. (same); Weber 2935 (same obv. die). 2.82g, 16mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. 200

217.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-460 BC. Forepart of horse right / ΘΕ-ΤΑ, wheat grain upwards, all in incuse square. BCD Thessaly II, 9 (this coin). 2.91g, 15mm, 2h.



219.

Superb Ex-BCD Hemidrachm

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-460 BC. Forepart of prancing horse to right, emerging from rock / Wheat grain, ΦΕΘΑ around; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 8 (same dies). 3.01g, 15mm, 8h.


218.

62

221220

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-460 BC. Forepart of horse right / ΘΕ-ΤΑ, wheat grain upwards, all in incuse square. BCD Thessaly II, 9. 2.88g, 14mm, 6h. Very Fine. 150

220.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-460 BC. Forepart of horse right, emerging from rock / Grain ear, ΦETA around; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 10; SNG Copenhagen 236. 2.91g, 15mm, 8h. Good Very Fine. 100

221.

223222

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-460 BC. Forepart of horse left, emerging from rock / Grain ear, ΦETA around; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 14; SNG Copenhagen 236 var. (direction of horse). 3.05g, 14mm, 10h. Good Very Fine. 100

222.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemidrachm. Circa 470-460 BC. Forepart of horse left, emerging from rock / Grain ear, ΦETA around; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 14; SNG Copenhagen 236 var. (direction of horse). 2.79g, 14mm, 11h. Very Fine. 50

223.

225224

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse left / Grain ear within incuse square, Θ-Ε across fields. BCD Thessaly II 5; Franke, Geschicte, 13 var. and plate on p. 87, 13 var. [Ε retrograde]. 0.92g, 9mm, 3h. Very Fine. 100

224.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse right / Grain ear within incuse square; Θ-E across fields. Franke, Geschicte 9; CNG E-Auction 244, 10 November 2010, lot 98 (same dies). 0.96g, 9mm, 3h. Very Fine. 100

225.

227226

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse right / Wheat grain in incuse square, ΦE-ΘA around. BCD Thessaly II 15. 1.01g, 9mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine. 100

226.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse right / Wheat grain within incuse square, ΦETA around. Franke, Geschichte 9; BCD Thessaly I 1005. 0.89g, 11mm, 11h. Very Fine. Toned. 100

227.

230228 229

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse left / Grain ear in incuse square. Franke, Geschichte 13 var. (orientation of legend); BCD Thessaly II 5. 1.02g, 10mm, 5h. Very Fine. 75

228.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse right / Grain ear in incuse square, ΦE-TA around. BCD Thessaly II 16 var. (no Γ). 0.91g, 9mm, 4h. Good Very Fine. 50

229.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Obol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of bridled horse right / Wheat grain in incuse square, ΦE-ΘA around. BCD Thessaly II 15. 0.98g, 9mm, 9h. Very Fine. 50

230.

63

232231

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemiobol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head of bridled horse to right / Club, ΦΕ-ΘΑ around; all within incuse square. Franke, Geschicte 10; BCD Thessaly II 18. 0.39g, 8mm, 10h. Near Very Fine. Rare. 100

231.


232.

235233 234


233.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemiobol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of horse right / Grain ear in incuse square, ΦE-TA around. Franke, Geschicte 10; BCD Thessaly II 18. 0.36g, 7mm, 9h. Very Fine. 50

234.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Hemiobol. Circa 470-460 BC. Head and neck of horse right / Grain ear in incuse square, ΦE-TA around. Franke, Geschicte 10; BCD Thessaly II 18. 0.35g, 8mm, 11h. Very Fine. 50

235.

Thessaly, Thessalian League AR Stater. Philippos and Themistogenes magistrates, circa 75-25 BC. Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath / Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and holding shield in her left; ΘΕΣΣΑ-ΛΩΝ across fields, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ above, ΘΕΜΙΣΤΟΓΕΝHΣ below. SNG Copenhagen 296 var. 6.01g, 22mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. 500

Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, lot 154;Ex European private collection, acquired in the 1980s.

236.

Lokris, Lokris Opuntii AR Obol. Circa 375-350 BC. Amphora, entwined with vine and grapes, and from which a bunch of grapes hangs from each handle; OΠ-ON around / Sunburst of sixteen rays. BMC 36; SNG Copenhagen 57. 0.78g, 10mm.


237.

LOKRIS

64

Pedigreed Lokris Stater

Lokris, Lokris Opuntii AR Stater. Circa 369 BC. Head of Demeter left, wearing barley-wreath, pearl necklace and elaborate ‘boat’ earring with crescent and five pendants / Ajax the Lokrian, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, advancing right on rocky ground, holding short sword and round shield decorated on its interior with griffin, transverse spear behind hero’s legs; OΠΟΝTΙΩΝ to left. SNG Berry 570 (same dies); Gulbenkian 495–496 (same obverse die); SNG Lockett 1693 (same obverse die). 12.14g, 24mm, 1h. Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 6,000 Ex Roma Numismatics Auction II, 2 October 2011, lot 178;Ex Peter Guber Collection, Manhattan Sale II, 4 January 2011, lot 50;Ex Freeman & Sear Fixed Price List 9, Spring 2004, 29;Ex Viscount Wimbourne Collection, Leu 81, 16 May 2001, lot 198;Ex Sotheby’s, 4 April 1991, lot 52;Ex Leu 28, 5 May 1981, lot 102. This exceptional portrait, with its right-facing orientation and elaborate earring, has been proposed to be the inaugural type of the Lokrian series. It is in any case certainly one of the most beautiful, and the reverse too is of an exceptionally fine style.

Ajax of Lokris (or Ajax ‘the Lesser’), who is depicted on the reverse of this attractive type, led a fleet of forty ships from Lokris Opuntii against Troy in the Greeks’ great war on that city. At Troy’s fall, he was alleged by Odysseus to have violated a sanctuary of Athena by ravishing Cassandra, who had sought refuge there. He thus brought down the wrath of Athena upon himself and his countrymen: Ajax himself was wrecked and killed in a storm as he made his way home from the war, and the rest of the Opuntians reached home only with great difficulty. Nevertheless, they annually honoured their former leader by launching a ship fitted with black sails and laden with gifts, which they then set alight, and whenever the Lokrian army drew up for battle, one place was always left open for Ajax, whose spirit they believed would stand and fight with them.

238.

The Omphalos of Delphi

Phokis, Delphi AR Obol. Circa 480 BC. Short tripod / Pellet within circle (omphalos or phiale); all within incuse square. Svoronos, Delphi 21; SNG Copenhagen 143; BMC 5; ACGC 412. 0.74g, 11mm.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare, one of very few known examples. 1,000

The unique Berlin hemiobol illustrated in Svoronos pl. XXV, 6 provides the link between the tripod obols and the ram’s head trihemiobols and confirms the Delphic identity of this type. The reverse of this coin has been variously said to depict a phiale (Svoronos), an omphalos (BMC), and also a wheel, however its significance must be closely connected to the Delphic tripod on the obverse, making its attribution as the omphalos of Delphi the most likely.

According to Greek mythology, Zeus sent out two eagles to fly across the world to meet at its centre, the “navel” of the world. Omphalos stones used to denote this point were erected in several places, but the most famous of those was at the oracular temple of Apollo in Delphi; most accounts place it in the adyton of the temple near the Pythia.

The Omphalos at Delphi came to be identified as the stone which Rhea wrapped in swaddling clothes, pretending it was Zeus. This was to deceive Kronos, his father, who swallowed his children so they could not grow up and depose him as he had deposed his own father, Ouranos. The omphalos was thus important in establishing a ‘proof of creation’ for the Greeks, giving them something to identify with as a race.

239.

PHOKIS

2x

66

Phokis, Federal Coinage AR Triobol. Circa 478-460 BC. Bull’s head facing / Head of Artemis left, ΦOKI around; all within incuse square. Williams 138g (O.99/R.82). 2.94g, 15mm, 11h.

Very Fine. 150

240.

Phokis, Federal Coinage AR Triobol. Time of the Third Sacred War, circa 354-352 BC. Struck under Onymarchos. Bull’s head facing / Laureate head of Apollo right, lyre behind, Φ-Ω below. Williams 351 (O.245/R.213); BCD Phokis, lot 294; BMC 81, pl. III, 19. 2.77g, 15mm, 12h.


241.

ELISAttractive Stater of Olympia

Elis, Olympia AR Stater. ‘Hera’ mint, 90th Olympiad, 420 BC. Signed by ‘L...’ Head of Hera right, wearing stephane decorated with palmettes connected by tendrils, HPA above, Λ below chin / Fulminating upright thunderbolt, F-A across fields, all within olive wreath. Delepierre 2130 (same obverse die); Boston 1207 (same obverse die); Seltman 244 (this reverse die missing); BCD 64 (same obverse die). 12.05g, 22mm, 6h.


Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 814.

Of the four major sanctuaries that hosted games, only Olympia struck a regular coinage that was directly associated with the festival. This coinage served as the only legal tender acceptable during the games, and all visitors to Olympia had to exchange their foreign currency, which were of many varying weight standards, for Olympian coins. This conversion facilitated commerce at the games, and indeed an enormous market was pitched near the sanctuary which drew together buyers and sellers from far and wide. An exchange fee levied for this conversion by the sanctuary authorities also helped to pay for the festivities and the maintenance of the sanctuary itself.

242.

Elis, Olympia AR Stater. ‘Zeus’ mint, 93rd Olympiad, 408 BC. Eagle’s head left; poplar leaf below / Winged thunderbolt within olive wreath, F-A across fields. Seltman, Temple Series XVII, 160; BCD Olympia 77. 11.85g, 22mm, 9h.

Good Fine. 1,500

From the P. Gérard Collection.

243.

67

Elis, Olympia AR Hemiobol. Circa 395-380 BC. Head of eagle to right / Incuse A. SNG Delepierre 2119; BCD Olympia 99. 0.44g, 8mm, 6h.

Extremely Rare. This coin, and the BCD specimen sold in 2004 are in all likelihood the only two available to collectors. 200


244.

Elis, Olympia AR Stater. ‘Hera’ mint, 102nd Olympiad, 372 BC. Head of Hera right, wearing pendant earring and stephane ornamented with wreath; F-A across fields / Eagle with closed wings standing to right, head reverted, olive wreath around. Seltman 299 (ES/ϑν); BCD Olympia –. 11.96g, 23mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – only one other stater of the 102nd Olympiad has been offered at auction since online records began. 2,500


Presiding at the Olympic games were the Hellanodikes, literally the ‘judges of the Greeks’. They enforced the rules, imposed penalties, excluded rule-breakers, and proclaimed the winners of the events. In the 102nd Olympiad Troilos of Elis won two equestrian victories while serving as Hellanodikes, causing the Eleans to pass a law that no one who was serving as Hellanodikes could enter the equestrian events.

245.

Extremely Rare Olympia Obol

Extremely Rare Stater of the 102nd Olympiad

Elis, Olympia AR Stater. ‘Hera’ mint, 105th Olympiad, 360 BC. Head of Hera left, wearing pendant earring and low stephane ornamented with F-A between palmettes / Eagle with closed wings standing to left, thunderbolt behind, olive wreath around. Seltman 334 (FE/ιρ). 12.05g, 24mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 4,000


A substantial coinage was struck for the 105th Olympiad in celebration of the sanctuary of Olympia having been liberated from Arkadian occupation in 363 BC. Master engravers were employed to create dies for both workshops, one of which had been closed since 380 BC. An extremely rare stater struck at the Zeus workshop (see Roma Numismatics IV, 30 September 2012, lot 141) formalises the celebratory nature of the coinage by depicting the nymph Olympia for the first time along with the legend FAΛEIΩN OΛYMΠIA - ‘Olympia belongs to the Eleians’.

246.

The 105th Olympiad

Elis, Olympia AR Hemidrachm. 107th-108th Olympiad, circa 352/48 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Eagle standing right; olive leaf before, F-A across fields. BCD Olympia 144 (same obv. die). 2.65g, 15mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. 100

247.

69

A Spectacular and Extremely Rare 109th Olympiad Stater

Elis, Olympia AR Stater. ‘Hera’ mint, 109th Olympiad, 344 BC. Head of Hera right, wearing stephane, F-A across fields / Eagle, with spread wings, standing left, head right, on head of stag right; all within wreath. Seltman, Temple 332 (dies FC/ιο); BCD Olympia 152; BMC 97; McClean 6654; Pozzi 4132 (all from the same dies); HGC 5, 386. 12.20g, 24mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 20,000 From the P. Gérard Collection.

The obverse of this coin displays the subtly placed letters F-A before and behind the neck of Hera, an abbreviation of FAΛΕΙΩΝ, i.e. [coin] of the Eleans. Yet Olympia had not always belonged to Elis; though it had been theirs since the beginning of the eighth century BC and they had organized the first of the Olympic festivals, their power diminished and it fell into the dominion of the nearby city of Pisa. It was during this time that the first temple of Zeus was constructed at Olympia by the Sikoudians, allies of the Pisatans, which was built of limestone, brick and wooden columns. With Spartan assistance, the Eleans reconquered Pisatis in 580 BC and destroyed the city of Pisa, thus also bringing the sanctuary of Olympia back under their control. Yet The Eleans, much as they might have wished it, could not destroy all traces of the former inhabitants. The sacred temple of Zeus at Olympia could not be pulled down and so remained as a reminder of the occupation of Olympia which had lasted for nearly a whole century.

In 476 the Greeks convened an arbitration court in Olympia to act as a mediator between the cities of the Greeks in cases of disputes to try to end the inter-city warfare that kept the Greeks divided and fractious. In commemoration of this newly found place at the heart of Greek politics the Eleans erected a massive new temple to Zeus built of marble (which would later house the gold and ivory statue by Phideas). The humble old temple of the Pisatans was rededicated to Hera, who had no important cult at Olympia until then. It was in this rededicated temple that the ‘Hera mint’ coins were supposedly struck.

The obverse is engraved in beautifully fine style; Hera wears a stephane modestly ornamented with palmettes, and triangular earrings with inset gems. This contrasts with the proud and elaborate depiction of the eagle on the reverse, which stands with wings spread atop a stag’s head. This image appears infrequently on Greek coinage - the only other notable occurrences are on the coins of Kroton (HN Italy 2146) and an uncertain mint in Cilicia (SNG France 472).

248.

Elis, Olympia AR Obol. ‘Hera’ mint, 111th-114th Olympiad, 336-324 BC. Head of the nymph Olympia right / Eagle standing left, head right, wings folded; leaf to right. BCD Olympia 200. 0.73g, 12mm, 5h.


249.

A Very Rare Obol of Olympia

70

The 112th Olympiad

Elis, Olympia AR Stater. ‘Hera’ mint, 112th Olympiad, 332 BC. Head of Hera to right, wearing triple-pendant earring, necklace of pearls and stephane inscribed FAΛΕΙΩΝ / Eagle, with open wings and head turned back to right, standing left on uncertain oval object; all within olive wreath. Seltman 347; BCD Olympia (Leu 90, 10 May 2004) 162 (same dies). 12.21g, 22mm, 3h.



332 BC was a year of widespread warfare. In Italy, Alexander of Epirus won a great victory over the Samnites and Lucanians near Poseidonia, and afterwards concluded a treaty with the Romans. His campaign still seemed likely to succeed. At Tyre, Alexander of Macedon reduced the city after a protracted seven month siege and proceeded to brutally sack the city with great carnage and sold the women and children into slavery. He then advanced into Egypt, where he was welcomed as a liberator and deliverer. Still further east in India, Chandragupta Maurya captured Magadha and established the Mauryan empire.

At the Olympics this year, the Athenian athlete Kallipos who had entered the pentathlon, bought off his fellow competitors with bribes. When the Eleans had imposed the fines on Kallipos and his fellow competitors, the Athenians sent Hyperides to persuade the Eleans to cancel the fine. When they declined this favour, the Athenians treated them with great scorn, not paying the money and boycotting the Olympic Games, until the God at Delphi declared that he would deliver no oracle on any matter to the Athenians before they had paid the fine to the Eleans. So when it was paid, six bronze statues were made in honour of Zeus, inscribed with elegiac couplets (Pausanias, 5.21.5-7).

250.

Arkadia, Arkadian League AR Hemidrachm. Kleitor, circa 480-470 BC. Zeus Lykaios seated left on low throne, holding long sceptre with his left hand and with eagle flying off his right / A-R, head of Kallisto to left, wearing tainia and necklace and with her hair in a queue; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1393-1395 var. (position of reverse ethnic); BMC 170.6-12 var. (same); HD Rauch Auction 85, 26 November 2009, lot 200. 3.02g, 14mm, 10h.


251.

Arkadia, Arkadian League AR Hemidrachm. Kleitor, circa 460-450 BC. Zeus Lykaios seated right, holding sceptre and thunderbolt; eagle flying right from his arm / Head of Kallisto right, wearing tainia, ARKAΔ-IKON around, all within incuse square. Williams, Confederate, period III, 163; BCD Peloponnesos -; SNG Copenhagen 173; Boston MFA 1251. 2.93g, 14mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine, and of fine style. Very Rare. 300

252.

ARKADIA

71

Arkadia, Arkadian League AR Hemidrachm. Mantineia, circa 460-450 BC. Zeus Lykaios seated left, holding sceptre; to left, eagle flying left / Head of Kallisto left, wearing tainia; all within incuse square. Williams, Confederate, period III, 238 (O159/R146); BCD Peloponnesos (Mantinea) 1457 (same dies); BCD Peloponnesos II 2581 (this coin); HGC 5, 913. 2.92g, 14mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Very pleasant style. 500

253.

A Beautiful Arkadian League Hemidrachm

ACHAIA

Achaia, Pellene AR Hemidrachm. Circa 370-350 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left; monogram behind / ΠEΛ within laurel wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 581.1-3. 2.11g, 14mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine. 150

254.

CORINTHIA

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Quadripartite incuse square with swastika pattern. Ravel 26; BCD Corinth 3; Pegasi 14. 7.94g, 21mm.

Good Fine. 300

255.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Obol. Circa 550-500 BC. Pegasos flying to right; Q below / Quadripartite incuse square with swastika pattern. Weber 3652; cf. BCD Corinth 11 (Pegasos left). 0.44g, 7mm.


256.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Trihemiobol. Circa 450-400 BC. Pegasos flying right / Gorgoneion, TPHI around; all within incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references cf. BCD Corinth 47–48; SNG Copenhagen 25; Weber 3675-3678 (all with Pegasos to left). 0.56g, 11mm, 12h.


257.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying right; Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; aphlaston before. Pegasi 163; Ravel 652 (same rev. die); BCD Corinth –; SNG Copenhagen –. 8.69g, 22mm, 11h.

Minor spots of encrustation, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. 2,000

258.

Unpublished Corinthian Trihemiobol

72

Corinthia, Corinth AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Pegasos flying to left, Q below / Head of Aphrodite left, wearing sakkos, pendant earrings and necklace, I to left. BMC 355, pl. X, 24; SNG Copenhagen 114. 2.45g, 16mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine, with an attractive and expressive portrait. Rare. 300

259.

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. 8.61g, 22mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned with golden iridescent highlights. 1,000

260.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet; to right, N within wreath. Ravel 1069; Pegasi 386; BCD Corinth 128; SNG Copenhagen 119. 8.56g, 22mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. 250

261.

Superb Corinthian Stater

Corinthia, Corinth AR Diobol. Circa 375-345 BC. Pegasos flying left / Pegasos standing right, A-P below. BCD Corinth 195; SNG Fitzwilliam 3451. 0.86g, 11mm, 11h.


262.

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. 8.54g, 21mm, 6h.

Some deposits on reverse and light porosity on obverse, otherwise Extremely Fine. 750

263.

73

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-300 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 -. 8.57g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 750

264.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with laurel wreath; cornucopiae to left. Ravel 1012; Pegasi 430; BCD Corinth 103. 8.56g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

265.

Corinthia, Corinth AR Drachm. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying left; Q below / Head of Aphrodite left; Λ and monogram flanking neck. BCD Corinth -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; SNG Lockett 2127. 2.34g, 14mm, 1h.


266.

SIKYONIA

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Drachm. Circa 500-450 BC. Dove alighting left / Large letter san oriented vertically within an incuse rectangle. BMC 1; SNG Copenhagen 18; Traité 1184, pl. XXXVII, 2; Weber 3891; BCD Peloponnesos 154. 6.24g, 17mm, 5h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 2,000

This, the earliest issue of Sikyon appears without the floral ornamentation of the subsequent issue which is more frequently encountered. BCD possessed only two such coins, and noted that it “is almost never seen in the trade.” The BCD specimen hammered for 6750 CHF.

The cataloguer of LHS 96 (8 May 2006) commented of the type: “Some have suggested that it may go back to the very late 6th century in date but it is, more probably, best placed in the early years of the 5th. The high relief, chunky fabric and prominent incuse reverse is reminiscent of the earliest coinage of Argos, which ought to be of the end of the 6th century (or at the very beginning of the 5th; see below, lot 1003), but the Sicyonian coin is rather more developed and thus, once again, ought to be later in date. In addition, the san on the reverse is a letter-form that was apparently replaced at Sicyon by the more familiar sigma in the early 5th century (Warren 2000, p. 202). Presumably this did not occur too soon after minting began, because the city decided to retain this archaic reverse type unchanged so as not to impair the acceptability of a by now well accepted coinage. One of the latest drachms of this early phase, in fact, has a san reverse paired with an obverse bearing a sigma; even later the san reverse was taken over on Sicyon’s second bronze coinage in the mid-4th century; later still this archaic reverse is alluded to, as an archaistic reminiscence, on the reverses of Sicyon’s late Hellenistic triobols.”

267.

Earliest Coin of Sikyon

74

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Drachm. Circa 500-450 BC. Dove with spread wings standing left / Large letter san, Θ above and palmette below, oriented vertically within an incuse rectangle. Unpublished in the standard references. Cf. BCD Peloponnesos 158; HGC 5, 203; Traité pl. 219, 13-14 (all without Θ). 6.03g, 15mm, 3h.

Very Fine. Unique and unpublished. 2,000

This coin and the following lot are part of a previously unrecorded archaic series of Sikyon with the letter theta prominently displayed on the reverse.

268.

Unrecorded Drachm of Sikyon

3x

Unpublished Obol of Sikyon

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Obol. Circa 500-450 BC. Dove with spread wings standing left / Large letters san, Θ below, oriented vertically within an incuse rectangle. Unpublished in the standard references. For general type cf. BCD Peloponnesos 173; HGC 5, 210 (both drachms). 0.98g, 9mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 350

This obol is obviously related to the preceding drachm, and is part of a previously unrecorded series of Sikyon with Θ on the reverse field.

269.

271270

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Hemiobol. Circa 500/490-450 BC. Dove with closed wings standing left / Large san displayed vertically within rectangular incuse. BCD Peloponnesos 156. 0.43g, 7mm, 7h. Good Very Fine. 75

270.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Hemiobol. Circa 500/490-450 BC. Dove with closed wings standing left / Large san displayed vertically within rectangular incuse. BCD Peloponnesos 156. 0.39g, 8mm, 12h. Very Fine. 50

271.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Drachm. Circa 450-425 BC. Chimaera advancing to left, M below / Dove flying to right, W above, Δ below; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 162; SNG Copenhagen 20 = Traité 738 and pl. CCXIX, 14. 6.08g, 16mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, and perhaps the finest known. 2,000

Ex ‘European collection, formed before 2005’, Nomos 7, 15 May 2013, lot 99.

For a short period, probably just before the start of the Peloponnesian War in 431, Sikyon produced a denominationally marked series of drachms (Δ), triobols (T), obols (O) and hemiobols (H) of which the drachms and triobols are today extremely rare. Virtually all of the known specimens are in lamentable condition, indicating that most of the coins continued in circulation for a very long time. The present piece is better than any that BCD possessed, which gives some indication as to its rarity.

272.

The Finest Known (Drachm)

75

The Finest Known (Triobol)

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Triobol. Circa 450-425 BC. Chimaera prowling to left, san below / Dove flying to right, inverted san above, inverted Τ (= triobolon) below; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 163; CNG 81 (2009), 2048 (ex BCD, same dies); SNG Copenhagen 21 = Traité 739, pl. CCXIX, 16. 3.05g, 14mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, and the finest known. 2,000

273.


Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 1,500 Ex ‘European collection, formed before 2005’, Nomos 7, 15 May 2013, lot 100.

274.


Very Fine. 500

275.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Stater. Circa 431-400 BC. Chimaera standing left, raising forepaw; ΣE below / Dove flying left within wreath with ties to right. BCD Peloponnesos 186; HGC 5, 181. 12.18g, 22mm, 6h.


276.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Stater. Circa 431-400 BC. Chimaera standing left, raising forepaw; ΣE below / Dove flying left within wreath with ties to right. Cf. BCD Peloponnesos 198; cf. CNG 91, 19 September 2012, lot 199. 12.24g, 23mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 750

277.

76

279278

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Hemiobol. Circa 431-400 BC. Lion at bay left, Σ below / Dove flying left within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 207 var. (position of Σ); BMC 38-40. 0.34g, 7mm, 4h. Very Fine. Porous. 100

278.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Hemiobol. Circa 431-400 BC. Lion at bay right / Dove flying right, palm below. BCD Peloponnesos -; BMC -; SNG Copenhagen 46. 0.40g, 9mm, 6h. Very Fine. Very Rare. 100

279.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Tritetartemorion or Three-Quarter Obol. Circa 400-350 BC. Apollo seated right, holding chelys / ΣE within wreath with ties to left. BCD Peloponnesos 267; HGC 5, 230. 0.52g, 11mm, 2h.


280.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Obol. Circa 370-330 BC. Dove alighting left; Σ above tail / Dove flying left; Σ (retrograde) above tail. BCD Peloponnesos 253.4; HGC 5, 219. 0.93g, 14mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 100

281.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Obol. Circa 370-330 BC. Dove flying left / Dove flying right; Σ behind. BCD Peloponnesos 255.6. 0.94g, 17mm, 12h. Very Fine. 75

282.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Obol. 350-330/20 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Dove flying right; ΣΙ above tail feathers. BCD Peloponnesos 257-60; HGC 5, 226. 0.88g, 11mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 50

283.

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Drachm. Circa 340-335 BC. Dove alighting left; Σ before, I behind / Dove flying left; E above tail; all within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 224 (these dies). 5.65g, 19mm, 3h.


Ex ‘Dove’ Collection, Morton and Eden, 9 June 2011, lot 216; Privately purchased from Tradart.

284.

282281

Sikyonia, Sikyon AR Hemidrachm. Circa 330-320 BC. Chimaera advancing left, right paw raised; ΣΙ below / Dove flying left, Σ behind. BMC 119. 2.82g, 16mm, 11h.


Ex ‘Dove’ Collection, Morton and Eden, 9 June 2011, lot 217; Privately purchased from Tradart.

285.

77

Argolis, Argos AR Tritetartemorion. Circa 370-350 BC. Head of Hera right, wearing ornamented stephane / T T T around temple key bound with fillet to right. BCD Peloponnesos 1069 var. (rev. type left). 0.67g, 8mm, 1h.

Near Very Fine. Very Rare. 100

286.

Argolis, Argos AR Obol. Circa 330-270 BC. Head of wolf left; retrograde Σ above / Large A; Π-P across upper field; below, club left; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1090-1. 0.76g, 11mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 100

287.

Argolis, Argos AR Triobol. Circa 90-50 BC. Philokles, magistrate. Forepart of wolf at bay left / Large A, vase below crossbar, ΦIΛO-KΛ-HΣ in three lines across fields; all within incuse square. BMC 123; Cf. BCD Peloponnesos 1167 (type l.) & 1175-6 (NE on vase). 2.33g, 14mm, 12h.

Finely toned, Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

288.

290289

Argolis, Argos AR Triobol. Circa 90-50 BC. Hieron, magistrate. Forepart of wolf at bay left / Large A, below crossbar, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, IE-PΩ-NOΣ in three lines across fieds; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1177-8; HGC 5. 692. 2.56g, 16mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 100

289.

Argolis, Argos AR Triobol. Circa 90-50 BC. Xenophilos, magistrate. Forepart of wolf at bay right / Large A, facing head of Helios below crossbar, ΞENO-ΦI-ΛOY around; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1179-81; SNG Copenhagen 50-1. 2.26g, 16mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine. 100

290.

Uncertain Peloponnesos, Argos or Psophis (?) AR Aeginetic Hemiobol. 5th century BC. Ψ / A within incuse field. Unpublished in the standard references. 0.45g, 8mm 11h.

Very Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 200

The tentative attribution to Peloponnesian Argos or Psophis is based on the fact that very few Greek cities begin with the initial Ψ (psi) and that the reverse A is a common reverse type for Argos. The Aeginetic obol also fits in with the prevailing weight standard of the region.

291.

ARGOLIS

Unpublished Aeginetic Hemiobol of Argos or Psophis

Argolis, Kleonai AR 1/12 Stater. Circa 500-490 BC. Forepart of roaring lion left / Incuse square divided into raised and sunken triangles. BCD Peloponnesos 1310. 1.09g, 9mm.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 300

292.

78

2x

Argolis, Kleonai AR Hemiobol. Circa 470-420 BC. Lion’s head left / K with curved arms in the right half of an incuse square, the left part of which is divided by a raised triangle. BCD Peloponnesos 1319. 0.44g, 8mm, 2h.


293.

Argolis, Kleonai AR Obol. Circa 470-420 BC. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Large K within incuse square, the left part of which is divided by a raised triangle. BCD Peloponnesos 1314-6; HGC 5, 763. 0.83g, 12mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 100

294.

Phliasia, Phlious AR Obol. Circa 400-350 BC. Forepart of bull butting left / Large Φ surrounded by four pellets. BCD Peloponnesos 102-3; HGC 5, 156. 0.79g, 11mm, 11h.

Very Fine. 100

295.

PHLIASIA

Superb Archaic Athenian Tetradrachm

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; cf. Asyut pl. XVIII. 17.15g, 23mm, 11h.


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.

296.

ATTICA

79


Very Fine. 4,000

297.



298.



299.


Very Fine. 2,000

300.

80


Very Fine. 1,500

302.


Very Fine. 1,500

303.


Very Fine. 1,500

304.


Very Fine. 1,000

305.


Good Very Fine. Attractive head of Athena. 2,000

301.

81

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. 17.14g, 23mm, 9h.


A superb example with a perfectly struck head of Athena that shows the full crest of her helmet, a most uncommon feature. Rarely encountered this well struck, and truly exceptional.

Ex Q. David Bowers Collection;Ex Stacks Auction, 10 January 2011, lot 71.

306.

Exceptional Athena With Full Crest



307.



308.

82

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, 24mm, 10h. Good Extremely Fine. 1,500

309.

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. 17.21g, 28mm, 7h.Good Extremely Fine. 1,500

310.

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. 17.17g, 25mm, 2h. Extremely Fine. 1,000

311.


312.

83


313.


314.


315.

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. 17.20g, 24mm, 11h. Extremely Fine, graffito mark on obverse. 1,000

316.

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. 17.00g, 25mm, 12h. Very Fine. 750

317.

84


Extremely Fine. 750

319.


Extremely Fine. 750

320.

Attica, Athens AR Drachm. 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. SNG Copenhagen 41-3; Kroll 10. 4.15g, 15mm, 3h.

Near Very Fine. 300

321.

2x

Attica, Athens AR Obol. Circa 454-404 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig behind, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Kroll 13; SNG Copenhagen 53-6. 0.68g, 10mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 150

322.

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. 17.19g, 25mm, 2h. Extremely Fine. 750

318.

85

Superb New Style Tetradrachm

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. ‘New Style’ issue. 132/1 BC. Dorothe..., Dioph..., and Demeoul..., magistrates. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with vine tendril and Pegasos / AΘE, owl standing right on overturned amphora, head facing, forepart of lion in right field, Z on amphora, ME below; magistrates ΔOP-OΘE, ΔIOΦ, and ΔHMH-OYΛ; all within laurel wreath. Cf. Thompson 387b. 16.92g, 30mm, 12h.


Ex Spink America, 3 May 1995, lot 441.

323.

325324Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Obol. Circa 525-475 BC. Turtle with heavy collar and three large pellets on shield / Incuse square with skew device. Weber 3610; Milbank pl. 1, 8; cf. HGC 6, 450. 0.92g, 8mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 100

324.

Islands off Attica, Aegina AR Obol. Circa 480-457 BC. Sea turtle / Incuse square with large skew pattern. Milbank pl. I, 7; HGC 6, 450. 0.46g, 9mm.Good Fine. 100

325.

EUBOIA

Euboia, Histiaia AR Hemiobol. Circa 350-300 BC. Head of Maenad right, with hair in sphendone / Forepart of bull right, bunch of grapes above, IΣTI below. Unpublished in the standard references, not in BCD collection [Lanz 111, 2002]. For type cf. BCD 465. 0.50g, 5mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 100

326.2x

Euboia, Karystos AR Drachm. Mid 6th century BC. Bull standing right on ground line, uncertain object above / KA in dotted border within incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references. 2.99g, 12mm, 2h.

Very Fine. Unique and unpublished. 500

The attribution to Karystos is based on the archaic form of the initials of the ethnic KA, similar to BCD Euboia 548, and similarity of the cow’s or bull’s head to the unique obol of the same early period, BCD Euboia 546.

327.2x

Unique Drachm of Karystos

86

Boiotia, Federal Coinage AR Stater. Circa 395-387 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora, club to right and grape bunch above; BO-IΩ across field; all within incuse concave circle. Head, Boiotia p. 77; Myron Hoard pl. ST, 1; Pozzi 1449 = Pozzi (Boutin) 3302 (same obv. die). 12.26g, 25mm, 4h.


328.

Boiotia, Federal Coinage AR Stater. Circa 395-387 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora, dolphin above, BO-IΩ across field; all within incuse concave circle. BCD Boiotia 12; SNG Copenhagen 167. 11.99g, 25mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 200

329.

Boiotia, Haliartos AR Stater. Circa 475-450 BC. Boiotian shield, rim divided into eight sections / Square incuse with anticlockwise mill-sail pattern; large aspirate in centre. Traité I 1335, pl. XLI, 18; SNG Lewis 643. 12.15g, 16mm.


330.

Very Rare Stater of Haliartos

Boiotia, Orchomenos AR Obol. Circa 500-480 BC. Wheat grain / Aeginetan-style skew pattern incuse with thick lines; R-E (retrograde) across bottom two sections. BCD Boiotia 196. 0.90g, 7mm.


331.

2x

2x

Boiotia, Pharai AR Obol. Circa 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; Φ–Α across fields. BCD Boiotia 234-5. 0.62g, 11mm, 2h.

Very Fine. Toned. Scarce. 100

332.

Very Rare Obol of Orchomenos

BOIOTIA

87

Boiotia, Tanagra AR Drachm. Circa 500-480 BC. Boiotian shield, horizontal T facing inward in each opening / Large square incuse with anticlockwise mill-sail pattern. Head, Boiotia p. 12; BMC 2-3; Dewing 1495-1497. 5.64g, 15mm.


333.

Boiotia, Tanagra AR Drachm. Circa 479-457 BC. Boiotian shield, horizontal T facing inward in one opening, A outward in the other / Wheel of four spokes, T and A in two quadrants. BCD Boiotia -; BMC -; cf. Traité I 1366 (stater) and 1371 (triobol) for type. 5.82g, 14mm, 2h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare. Only two of the wheel type coins (both staters) of Tanagra have been sold since online records began, both of which were from the BCD Collection. 500

334.

Extremely Rare ‘Wheel’ Drachm of Tanagra

Boiotia, Tanagra AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / Forepart of horse with short trunk to right within incuse circle, T-A across fields. BCD Boiotia 300a. 0.76g, 11mm, 4h.

Very Fine. 100

335.

337336

Boiotia, Tanagra AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / Forepart of horse right; TA below, Ξ before; all within incuse circle. BCD Boiotia 286. 0.89g, 10mm, 2h. Very Fine. 75

336.

Boiotia, Tanagra AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / Forepart of horse right, bunch of grapes below; T-A across fields. BCD Boiotia 297. 0.74g, 8mm, 5h. Good Fine. 50

337.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Drachm. Circa 525-480 BC. Boiotian shield, rim divided into eight segments / Square incuse with Maltese cross pattern in relief (similar to late archaic Tanagra). BCD Boiotia 339; SNG Copenhagen 187 corr. (Haliartos). 5.78g, 13mm.

Very Fine. Very Rare early issue with segmented shield. 300

338.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 450-440 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; E-(archaic Θ) (retrograde) across field; all within square incuse. BCD Boiotia 374; Head, Boiotia p. 29, pl. II, 6 = BMC p. 70, 24; Myron Hoard pl. A, 22-23; SNG Copenhagen 267-268; Pozzi 1412 = Pozzi (Boutin) 3246. 11.93g, 21mm, 4h.

Good Fine - Very Fine. Very Rare. 350

The obverse of this coin shows what is probably the earliest concept of the “larger” shield which features on all subsequent Theban staters.

339.

88

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 425-400 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; Θ-Ε across lower field; all within incuse square. BCD Boiotia 386-7. 12.10g, 18mm, 4h.

Very Fine. 400

340.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 425-400 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora, Θ-E across lower field; all within incuse square. BCD Boiotia 386–7; SNG Copenhagen 285; BMC 69. 12.07g, 20mm, 3h.

Very Fine. 250

341.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 425-400 BC. Boiotian shield; club across lower half / Amphora, Θ-E across lower field; all within incuse square. BCD Boiotia 388. 11.92g, 20mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 200

342.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 425-400 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora, to left, club downward; Θ-E across lower field; all within circular incuse. BCD Boiotia 400. 12.06g, 21mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

343.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 390-382 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; above, barley grain left, FA-ΣT across central field; all within concave circle. Hepworth 36; BCD Boiotia 494. 12.06g, 22mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. 350

344.

89

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 368-364 BC. Klio(n)-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora, KΛ-IΩ across field; all within incuse concave circle. BCD Boiotia 531. 11.97g, 23mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 300

345.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 368-364 BC. Klion-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora; KΛI-ΩN across field; all within incuse concave circle. BCD Boiotia 532; Hepworth 70. 12.26g, 21mm, 5h.


346.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 368-364 BC. Klion-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora; KΛI-ΩN across field; all within incuse concave circle. BCD Boiotia 532; Hepworth 70. 12.20g, 22mm, 5h.


347.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 368-364 BC. Klion-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora, KΛI-ΩN across field; all within incuse concave circle. BCD Boiotia 532; Hepworth 70. 12.05g, 21mm, 5h.

Very Fine. 250

348.

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 368-364 BC. Kabi–, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora, KA-BI across field; all within concave circle. Hepworth 61; BCD Boiotia 539; SNG Copenhagen 339. 12.18g, 22mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. 350

349.

90

Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 363-338 BC. Agla-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora; AΓ-ΛA across field; all within incuse concave circle. BCD Boiotia 551; Hepworth 1; Head, Boiotia p. 63; BMC p. 80, 111; SNG Copenhagen 314. 12.31g, 21mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. 300

350.

352351

Boiotia, Thespiai AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / Θ-Ε-Σ-ΠΙ around two crescents, back to back. BCD Boiotia 594; SNG Lockett 1764. 0.80g, 10mm. Very Fine. Rare. 100

351.

Boiotia, Thespiai AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / ΘΕS above crescent with points upwards. BCD Boiotia 598 ff. 0.63g, 10mm. Good Very Fine. 100

352.

354353Boiotia, Thespiai AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / ΘΕS above crescent with points upwards. BCD Boiotia 598 ff. 0.74g, 10mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 100

353.

Boiotia, Thespiai AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century BC. Boiotian shield / ΘΕS above crescent with points upwards. BCD Boiotia 598 ff. 0.84g, 10mm, 3h. Very Fine. 100

The crescent on the reverse of this coin refers to Aphrodite Melainis, who was worshipped at Thespiai as a moon goddess.

354.

Macedon, Akanthos AR Obol. Circa 480 BC. Head and neck of lioness seen from above / Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 16; SNG ANS 27-29; Rosen 87; Klein 29. 0.50g, 9mm.

Extremely Fine. 200

355.

Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 430-390 BC. Lion right, biting into the hindquarter of a bull standing left; ΠO in exergue / Quadripartite design, AKANΘION around, all within incuse square. Desneux 121; SNG ANS -. 14.39g, 25mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine. A very rare variety. 4,000


356.

2x

Attractive Tetradrachm of Akanthos

MACEDON

91

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. 2.37g, 15mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful lustre. 500

357.

Macedon, Skione AR Tetrobol. Circa 480-450 BC. Male head to right / Eye within incuse square, ΣKI around. SNG ANS 708. 2.27g, 11mm, 4h.

Near Extremely Fine, and beautifully toned. Very Rare. 300

358.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander I AR Tetrobol. Circa 476/5-460 BC. Horse standing right / Crested helmet to right within linear border within incuse square. Raymond 86; SNG ANS 29. 1.98g, 14mm, 7h.

Near Very Fine. 100

359.

Kingdom of Macedon, Amyntas III AR Stater. Aigai, circa 394/3-370/69 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Horse standing to right, AMYNTA around, all within linear border within shallow incuse square. Westermark, Remarks, pl. LXX, 32; AMNG III/2, 1; SNG ANS 87–93; SNG Alpha Bank 189–96; SNG München 41–4. 8.79g, 22mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. Rare, and in exceptional condition for the type. 4,000

Historically considered to be the founder of the unified Macedonian state, Amyntas III inherited a weak and precarious state from his predecessor. In the previous six years, the murder of Archelaos I had led to a period of confusion and infighting, as he had been succeeded by Crateuas, his murderer, who reigned for four days. Crateuas was followed by Orestes, son of the murdered Archelaos, who reigned for three years with his guardian Aeropos II. He in turn was followed by his brother Archelaos II and Pausanias (son of Aeropos), who reigned for six years before dying (by accident or design) while hunting. The death of Archelaos and the assasination of Pausanias ended the line of Perdikkas II, and led to the accession of Amyntas III, heir through the line of Alexander I’s youngest son.

A skilled diplomat, Amyntas first established an alliance against the Illyrians with the Chalkidian League based at Olynthos, granting them Macedonian timber rights which made the League very wealthy. The League reneged on their agreement however, leading to war. Too weak militarily to fight them alone, Amyntas appealed to Sparta who readily came to his assistance. Sparta subdued the league, but then sought to dominate the region for themselves. Following a reversal in the Spartan fortunes, Amyntas assiduously cultivated the friendship of Athens, but this alliance came at the price of Amphipolis. Thus, though Amyntas preserved his kingdom, it was too often by disadvantageous terms. Yet by establishing good relations with Athens and having recovered the dense Macedonian forests previously ceded to Olynthos, Amyntas was able to keep this highly lucrative trade for himself, which dramatically improved the state of his treasury. Amyntas was succeeded by his three sons in turn, the youngest being Philip II, father of Alexander III ‘the Great’.

360.

Exceptional Stater of AmyntasGrandfather of Alexander the Great

93

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Lifetime issue. Amphipolis, circa 356-355 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / The king, wearing kausia and chlamys, raising his right hand in salute and riding a horse walking to the left; ΦIΛIΠΠOY above, thunderbolt below horse, ΔH in exergue. Le Rider 5-7. 14.37g, 26mm, 11h.


361.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Lifetime issue. Amphipolis, circa 355-348 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / The king, wearing kausia and chlamys, raising his right hand in salute and riding a horse walking to the left; ΦIΛIΠΠOY above, M below horse’s foreleg, trident left below horse. Le Rider 32 (O18/R27). 14.41g, 25mm, 8h.


362.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Drachm. Amphipolis, circa 355-349/8 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Philip on horseback to left, raising hand; crescent to left, ΦIΛIΠΠOY above. Le Rider 110 (D51/R93); SNG ANS 471. 3.48g, 15mm, 6h.


363.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 342-328 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, prow below horse. Le Rider 377 (O194/R331); SNG ANS 541. 14.51g, 26mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. An attractively bold, stern portrait. 1,500

364.

Very Rare Drachm of Philip II

Pleasing Tetradrachm of Philip II

94

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Lifetime issue. 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 222-306. 14.44g, 25mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

366.

Fine Style Zeus Portrait

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-318/7 BC. Struck under Philip III. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth, holding palm frond, on horseback right; thunderbolt below, I below raised foreleg. Le Rider 472 (D246/R389); SNG ANS -; SNG Saroglos -; SNG München -; SNG Alpha Bank -. 14.36g, 25mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine, a majestic portrait of exceptionally fine style. Extremely Rare, Le Rider noted only two examples, both in Sofia. 5,000


365.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 340-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga to right, thunderbolt below; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ in exergue. Le Rider 123A. 8.61g, 18mm, 2h.


367.

Lustrous Gold Stater of Philip II

95

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 340-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga to right, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; kantharos below, ΦIΛIΠΠOY in exergue. Le Rider 181 (D89/R133); SNG ANS 141; SNG München 76; SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Saroglos -. 8.63g, 18mm, 6h.


368.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 340-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga to right, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; trident below; ΦIΛIΠΠOY in exergue. SNG ANS 144-54. 8.51g, 18mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 1,250

369.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 336-328 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Nude youth on horseback right, holding palm in right hand and reins in left; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, spear head below. Le Rider 389 (O204/R313). 14.49g, 24mm, 4h.


370.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga to right, trident below; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ in exergue. Le Rider 179. 8.57g, 19mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive lustre. 3,500

371.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Magnesia, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga to right, bee at right, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ and spear head below. Le Rider pl. 90, 15. 8.56g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Fine style and lustrous. 3,500

372.

Fine Style and Lustrous

96

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Teos, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga to right, ΣΩ monogram under horses’ forelegs, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ and spearhead in exergue. SNG ANS 323; cf. Thompson, Studia Naster, 17 (same obverse die, but no spearhead). 8.58g, 18mm, 6h.


373.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Struck under Philip III. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, thunderbolt over I below, dolphin before. Le Rider pl. 48, 4; SNG ANS 812. 14.38g, 26mm, 10h.

Fleur De Coin. Beautiful style, and attractively toned. 3,000

374.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Nude rider on horseback to right, holding palm; branch below horse, Π beneath horse’s raised left foreleg, ΦIΛIΠΠOY around. Le Rider pl. 46, 5; SNG ANS 683-7. 14.36g, 25mm, 10h.


375.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; crescent below, Π to right, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ around. Le Rider pl. 45, 11-2; SNG ANS 638-42. 14.24g, 25mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Vivid toning around the devices and struck on a broad flan. 1,500

376.

97

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; grain ear below, Π below horse’s foreleg, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ around. Le Rider pl. 46, 3; Troxell, Studies, group 8, 314; SNG ANS 667-72. 13.34g, 25mm, 11h.


377.

379378Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving biga to right; ΦIΛIΠΠOY and kantharos below. Le Rider 451. 8.59g, 19mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine. 1,500

378.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving biga to right; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, trident head and monogram below. Le Rider 579. 8.56g, 20mm, 10h. Good Very Fine. 1,500

379.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, monogram below horse, Λ below raised foreleg. Le Rider pl. 45, 6; SNG ANS 633. 14.30g, 26mm, 12h.


380.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding reins and long palm branch; ΦIΛIΠΠOY around, Λ in circle below horse, Λ below raised foreleg. Cf. Le Rider pl. 45, 11-12. 14.37g, 24mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. A particularly attractive portrait. 1,000

381.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Nude rider on horseback to right, holding palm; crescent below, Π below raised foreleg, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ around. Le Rider pl. 46, 4. 14.33g, 26mm, 4h.

Very minor spots of porosity, otherwise Mint State. 750

382.

98

Excellent Left-Facing Philip Tetradrachm

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-315 BC. Laureate head of Zeus to left / Nude rider on horseback to right, holding long palm branch in his right hand, ΦΙΛΙΠΠOΥ above, bee to right below horse’s foreleg. Le Rider 435; SNG ABC 275 var.; SNG ANS 429. 14.39g, 23mm, 4h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractive, lustrous metal with a light tone. Very Rare, and the finest left facing tetradrachm of Philip that has appeared at auction in many years. 15,000

The left-facing Zeus head tetradrachms struck in the name of Philip II are very rare, particularly so in good condition. They were struck from just two obverse dies, only at Pella, and belong to the beginning of the late group III. The head of Zeus on both dies is of wonderful and striking style. It has been suggested that they were intended to be part a larger series for Philip III, which would be thus differentiated from the coins of his father Philip II by the left-facing Zeus portrait.

383.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-315 BC. Struck under Philip III. Laureate head of Zeus to left / Nude youth on horseback to right, holding palm branch, Θ below horse’s foreleg; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ around. Le Rider 438; SNG ANS 430. 14.39g, 24mm, 10h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. Boldly struck on both sides; a superb example of this rare and desirable type. 5,000

384.

99

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AR Hemidrachm. Amphipolis, circa 323-318 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Rider on horseback right; ΦIΛIΠΠOY above, monogram below. Le Rider pl. 45, 7. 2.61g, 14mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 250

385.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 317-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving biga right; ΦIΛIΠΠOY, kantharos and M below. Le Rider 569; SNG ANS 190. 8.59g, 19mm, 10h.


386.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 332-326 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre; amphora in left field, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 13; Troxell, Studies, group B2; SNG Alpha Bank 471; SNG München 239. 17.19g, 25mm, 10h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very attractive obverse portrait style. 750

387.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, cockerel standing to left in left field. Price 79; Troxell, Studies, Issue E3. 17.22g, 25mm, 12h.


388.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, Palladion to left in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY around. Price 105; Troxell, Studies, Issue F4. 17.23g, 26mm, 3h.


389.

100

391390

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, Palladion to left in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY around. Price 105; Troxell, Studies, Issue F4. 17.27g, 25mm, 1h. Extremely Fine. 750

390.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre, Palladion to left in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY around. Price 105; Troxell, Studies, Issue F4. 17.23g, 26mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. 750

391.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre, Palladion to left in left field, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY around. Price 105; Troxell, Studies, Issue F4. 17.30g, 26mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 750

392.

394393


393.


394.

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 holding sceptre; cornucopia in left field, AΛEΞANΔPOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ around. Price 108. 17.25g, 27mm, 9h.


395.

101

397396

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, holding eagle and sceptre; bow and quiver in left field, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 110; Müller 592. 17.14g, 28mm, 8h. Extremely Fine. 350

396.

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, holding eagle and sceptre; bow and quiver in left field, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 110; Müller 592. 17.25g, 28mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine. 350

397.

399398

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, holding eagle and sceptre; monogram in left field, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 121; Müller 860. 17.15g, 27mm, 9h. Extremely Fine. Well struck. 500

398.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 320-317 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, laurel branch before, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; Π below throne. Price 124. 17.27g, 26mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. 500

399.

401400

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 317-305 BC. Struck under Kassander, as regent. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; aphlaston in left field, Π with pellet below throne, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 129. 17.30g, 24mm, 1h.Extremely Fine. 1,000

400.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 317-305 BC. Struck under Kassander, as regent. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; dolphin in left field, AΛEΞANΔPOY on right. Price 134 var. (direction of dolphin). 17.28g, 25mm, 11h.Extremely Fine. 1,000

401.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 325-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left holding wreath and stylis, kantharos in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 168. 8.59g, 18mm, 2h.

Very Fine. 2,000

402.

102

Delicate Style

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 325-319 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing triple crested Corinthian helmet, decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, trident head downward in left field; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ to right. Price 172b-d; SNG Saroglos 103. 8.62g, 18mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Exceptionally well detailed and of wonderfully delicate style. 3,500

403.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 320-320 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, Boiotian shield to left; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ to right. Price 176. 8.60g, 18mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 2,500

404.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Amphipolis, circa 330-320 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, downward trident in left field, Λ and pellet below left wing; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ to right. Price 179; Müller 112. 8.62g, 18mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Brilliant mint lustre. 3,000

405.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 336-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; head of goat in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 200. 17.24g, 25mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Rare. 750

406.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Pella, circa 325-315 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left holding wreath and stylis, bee in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 201. 8.62g, 19mm, 12h.


407.

103

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Pella, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, bee in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 202; SNG Saroglos 107; Müller 505. 8.60g, 18mm, 6h.


408.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre, rose surmounted by bee to right in left field; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 206; Moore 23-43; SNG Alpha Bank –; SNG München 343; SNG Saroglos 259. 17.24g, 26mm, 7h.

Mint State. 1,500

409.

Mint State Tetradrachm with Interesting Symbol

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre; monogram in left field. Price 211; Moore 65-75. 17.24g, 29mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Well centred on a broad flan. 500

410.

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; Θ below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 214. 17.26g, 27mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Toned. 500

411.

104

Rare Left-Facing Alexander Tetradrachm

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on throne, holding sceptre; Θ below seat, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 213; Moore 10–17; Demanhur 1601-3. 17.24g, 26mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. A superb example of a left facing Alexander tetradrachm. 5,000

412.

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; Boiotian shield in left field, coiled serpent under throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 249; SNG Copenhagen 728; Muller 754. 17.30g, 27mm, 3h.

Virtually Mint State, beautifully toned with vivid iridescent flashes. An exceptional example. 3,000


413.

A Magnificently Toned Alexander Tetradrachm

105

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; Boiotian shield in left field, coiled serpent under throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 249; SNG Copenhagen 728; Muller 754. 17.21g, 28mm, 5h.


414.

416415

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; Boiotian shield in left field, coiled serpent under throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 249; SNG Copenhagen 728; Muller 754. 17.19g, 27mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 350

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; Boiotian shield in left field, coiled serpent under throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 249; SNG Copenhagen 728; Muller 754. 16.88g, 23mm, 7h.Very Fine. 300

416.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Lampsakos, circa 328-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, Demeter standing facing in left field, holding two torches; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, monogram below throne. Price 1355; ADM II Series V. 17.22g, 25mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, ancient graffito in reverse field. Rare. 500

417.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Lampsakos, circa 328-323 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, conjoined foreparts of two horses in left field, monogram below left wing; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 1358; Müller 394. 8.55g, 18mm, 4h.


418.

106


Very Fine. 2,500

419.



420.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Lampsakos, circa 328-323 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented 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; Müller 394. 8.57g, 19mm, 5h.


421.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Drachm. Lampsakos, circa 310-301 BC. Struck under Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; in left field, forepart of Pegasos left; monogram below throne; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 1393 var. (monogram); cf. Price 1441/1442 for monogram. 4.24g, 18mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Slight scrape across portrait. 100

422.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Abydos, circa 328-323 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, AΛEΞANΔPOY to left, corn ear to right, monogram under left wing. Price 1518; Müller 573. 8.55g, 17mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Brilliant mint lustre. 5,000

423.

Fine Style Nike

107

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram above pentagram and cornucopiae to left; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 1524. 8.56g, 19mm, 5h.


424.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Miletos, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, grain ear before; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2099; Müller -. 17.21g, 26mm, 7h.

Near Mint State; attractive surfaces. 750

425.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Miletos, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram to left, double-headed axe below right wing; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2114. 8.51g, 18mm, 12h.


426.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Miletos, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram to left, double-headed axe below right wing; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2114. 8.51g, 18mm, 12h.


427.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Miletos, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, double headed axe below right wing, monogram in left field; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 2115. 8.58g, 18mm, 12h.


428.

108

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; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram above grapes in left field. Price 2318 corr.; Müller 1531. 4.11g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Significant die shift on the reverse; attractive iridescent toning. 250

429.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Uncertain mint of Asia Minor, circa 323-280 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, bunch of grapes in left field. Price 2697; Müller 305. 8.58g, 16mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractive lustre. 2,500

430.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ Æ20. Uncertain Western Asia Minor mint, circa 323-310 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / BAΣIΛEΩΣ between club and bow in bowcase, race torch below. Price 2800. 6.08g, 20mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 200

431.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Side, circa 325-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre; wreath in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, ΔI beneath throne, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue. Price 2949. 17.16g, 28mm, 3h.


432.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Side, circa 325-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion’s skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre; wreath in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, ΔI beneath throne, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue. Price 2949. 17.07g, 27mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 350

433.

109

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 333-327 BC. Struck under Balakros. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre; B below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3000; Newell, Tarsos 4. 17.45g, 25mm, 1h.


This coin was part of the first issue of Alexander’s coinage, and was struck at Tarsos very shortly after that city’s liberation from Achaemenid domination. The first series of Tarsos thus had not only the distinction of being the very first issue of what we now call the Alexandrine coinage, but was also the first of what would soon be many liberated Achaemenid cities to strike coinage in the name of Alexander. As one of the primary minting cities of Persia, Tarsos was accustomed to producing great quantities of coin; the stylistic similarities between the last issue under the Persian satraps which featured a seated Baal, and the seated Zeus tetradrachms of Alexander, demonstrate that there was an immediate shift without interruption in production from Persian coin to the new Alexandrine pattern. This first series was issued under Balakros, who had been one of the somatophylakes of Alexander and promoted to the satrapy of Cilicia after the Battle of Issos.

434.

First Issue of Alexandrine Tetradrachms

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 327-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre; plough in left field, two pellets and grape bunch below throne, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3025. 17.13g, 25mm, 10h.

Minor marks, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. 750

435.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 327-313 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; plough in left field, bunch of grapes below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3025. 17.22g, 23mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine. Obverse somewhat double struck. 500

436.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 327-313 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; plough right in left field, Θ below throne, pellet in upper right field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3032. 17.22g, 23mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine. 300

437.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Heracles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, Nike flying to right in left field carrying wreath; BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY around, monogram under throne. Price 3038. 17.18g, 28mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine. 350

438.

438437

110

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, 323-317 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left holding sceptre, Nike flying to right in left field, holding wreath; monogram below throne, [Σ in exergue]. Price 3042. 17.18g, 24mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. Well struck from dies of fine style. 2,000

439.

Struck from Dies of Fine Style

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Tarsos, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent; Θ behind / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram above Θ to left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3045. 8.58g, 17mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Very Rare bearing the Θ initial on the obverse. Fine Style. 3,000

440.

Very Rare ‘Initialled’ Alexander Stater

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Soli, circa 325-318 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, prow in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3091 (Amathus). See Troxell, “Alexanders from Soli on Cyprus,” Essays Price for the re-attribution of this series from Amathus to Cyprus. 17.25g, 26mm, 6h.


441.

443442

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Soli, circa 325-318 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, prow in left field; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3091 (Amathus). See Troxell, “Alexanders from Soli on Cyprus,” Essays Price for the re-attribution of this series from Amathus to Cyprus. 17.24g, 23mm, 5h. Very Fine. Rare. 350

442.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Arados, circa 328-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; Λ in left field, monogram below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue. Price 3320. 17.21g, 23mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Well centred on a broad flan. 350

443.

111

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Arados, circa 323-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left holding sceptre, kerykeion in left field, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue; AP monogram below throne. Price 3332; Duyrat 550-862. 17.18g, 25mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, lustrous and highly attractive surfaces. 1,000

444.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Arados, circa 323-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; BAΣIΛEΩΣ and monogram below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, kerykeion in left field. Price 3332. 17.21g, 29mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 500

445.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Arados, circa 323-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre; kerykeion in left field, AP monogram below throne, BAΣIΛEΩΣ in exergue, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3332; Duyrat 550-862. 17.12g, 27mm, 4h.

Good Very Fine. 500

446.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Byblos mint, circa 330-320 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left holding wreath and stylis, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, monogram in left field. Price 3423; Müller 1374. 8.61g, 17mm, 6h.


447.

112

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Sidon, circa 333-305 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; AΛEΞANΔPOY to left, caduceus below right wing. Price 3458; Müller 205. 8.57g, 17mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive lustre. 3,000

448.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Sidon, circa 333-305 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin / Nike standing left holding wreath and stylis, ivy-leaf below right wing; AΛEΞANΔPOY to left. Price 3465. 8.60g, 17mm, 6h.


449.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Sidon, circa 323-317 BC. In the name of Alexander III. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm, N below left wing; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3500. 8.57g, 17mm, 12h.


450.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Babylon, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; monogram and M below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3599. 17.19g, 26mm, 7h.


451.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Babylon, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; M in left field, monogram below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3602. 17.19g, 25mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 500

452.

113

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Babylon, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; bee in left field, monogram and M below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3618A. 17.14g, 26mm, 9h.


453.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Babylon, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; club [above M] in left field, monogram below throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3640. 17.13g, 23mm, 4h.


454.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Babylon, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, holding sceptre, coiled serpent in left field, monogram and M beneath throne, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3665. 17.23g, 24mm, 7h.


455.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram below left wing, monogram inside wreath under right wing; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3724. 8.52g, 18mm, 12h.


456.

Bold Portrait

114

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram below left wing, monogram inside wreath under right wing; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3724. 8.57g, 19mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Brilliant mint lustre. 3,000

457.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram below left wing, monogram inside wreath under right wing, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3724. 8.53g, 18mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. 3,000

458.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram below left wing, monogram inside wreath under right wing; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price 3724. 8.54g, 18mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. 2,500

459.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing triple crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, XA ligate to left, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right. Price –, cf. 3724; Müller 825. 8.55g, 19mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. A fine style obverse. 2,500

460.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, head of satyr in left field, monogram in wreath in right field; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3735. 8.56g, 17mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. 3,000

461.

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Babylon, circa 317-311 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing to left, holding wreath and stylis, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; dot and head of satyr in left field, monogram within wreath to right. Price 3736; Müller 730. 8.60g, 18mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine. 3,500

462.

115

Exceedingly Rare and Beautiful Alexander Stater

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Susa, circa 325-320 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with eagle, pendant earring and necklace / Nike standing to left, holding wreath in right hand and cradling stylis with left, monograms below left and right wings; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOΥ to right. Price 3826A; SNG Berry 184. 8.59g, 19mm, 4h.

Mint State. Exceedingly Rare. 7,500

The gold staters in the name of Alexander struck at Susa are today comparatively rare, but even among this scarce series this issue stands out prominently both in rarity and on account of the symbol found on the helmet of Athena. Rather than the commonly seen griffin, coiled serpent or sphinx, instead here we are presented with an eagle (or dove) in flight. The reason for this departure from normal form may hold some significance, or be nothing more than the whim of the engraver - we shall never know.

The highly artistic engraving of Nike deserves special mention also, as it is rich with intricate and delicate features - Nike’s face is exceptionally well detailed, her wings likewise, and she clasps the laurel wreath delicately between thumb and index finger as she gazes reverentially at it.

463.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Lampsakos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, buckle over A in crescent in left field; ΦΙΛΙΠΠOY to right. Price P13A. 8.61g, 19mm, 5h.

Fleur De Coin. Superb, sharp strike and brilliant mint lustre. 5,000

464.

Fleur De Coin Philip III Stater

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram above serpent in right field; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right. Price P31. 8.52g, 18mm, 12h.


465.

116

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right; monogram above serpent in right field. Price P31. 8.64g, 18mm, 12h.


466.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, monogram in left field, serpent below left wing; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right. Price P33; Müller P67. 8.65g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Engraved in fine style and stuck on a broad flan. An exceptionally bold reverse. 5,000

467.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with coiled serpent / Nike standing right, holding wreath and stylis, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right; monogram in left field, coiled serpent at feet to left. Price P34; Müller P66. 8.61g, 17mm, 12h.


468.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-316 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right; monogram, pentagram and cornucopiae to left. Price P36; Müller P63. 8.59g, 18mm, 6h.


469.

Beautiful Nike

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Sardes, 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; TI in left field, rose below left wing; ΦIΛIΠΠOY to right. Price P90. 8.60g, 18mm, 7h.


470.

117

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Sardes, 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, TI in left field, rose below left wing; ΦIΛIΠΠOY to right. Price P90. 8.55g, 20mm, 12h.


471.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Sardes, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, TI above eagle in left field; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right. Price -; Müller -; Pecunem 16, 4 May 2014, lot 111 (same dies). 8.59g, 18mm, 12h.


472.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Babylon, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, M below right wing, ΛΥ below left wing; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right. Price 178. 8.57g, 19mm, 3h.


473.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Babylon, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, M in left field, ΛΥ below left wing; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right. Price P180; Müller P97. 8.59g, 19mm, 4h.


474.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Babylon, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, M in left field, ΛΥ below left wing; ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right. Price P180; Müller P97. 8.63g, 17mm, 9h.


475.

Not in Price

118

Exceptional Philip III Stater

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Babylon, circa 323-31 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 left, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right; below left wing, facing head of Helios, KY below right wing. Price P203; Müller P116. 8.62g, 19mm, 4h.


476.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III AV Stater. Abydos, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding stylis and wreath, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ to right; monogram over pentagram to left, serpent under left wing. Price 1523; Müller 383. 8.62g, 18mm, 7h.


477.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip V Æ17. Uncertain Macedonian Mint, circa 221-179 BC. Head of Perseus right, wearing winged Phrygian helmet / Harpa, BA above, Φ below, oak-wreath around. Mamroth 28; SNG Alpha Bank 1129. 3.31g, 17mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Dark patina. Very Rare. 500

478.

Kingdom of Macedon, Time of Philip V - Perseus AR Tetrobol. Pella or Amphipolis, circa 187-168 BC. Macedonian shield with MA-KE and club on boss / Macedonian helmet, two monograms to left, monogram and thunderbolt to right. SNG Ashmolean 3278 var.; SNG Copenhagen 1282 var.; SNG Alpha Bank -. 2.17g, 15mm, 12h.


479.

Kingdom of Macedon, Time of Philip V - Perseus AR Tetrobol. Uncertain Macedonian mint, circa 187-168 BC. Macedonian shield with four crescents in boss / Prow of a galley right; star above. SNG Copenhagen 1289; SNG Ashmolean 3282. 2.12g, 15mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 100

480.

119

Kingdom of Macedon, Time of Philip V - Perseus AR Obol. Bottiaia, circa 187-168 BC. Macedonian shield with pentaskles in central boss / Galley prow to right, on which BOTTEATΩN; kerykeion above. BMC - ; ANS - ; AMNG -. 0.87g, 9mm, 12h.


481.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip V AR Drachm. Zoilos, mintmaster. Pella or Amphipolis, struck circa 184-179 BC. Diademed head right / Club, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ around; 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.


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

482.

Kingdom of Macedon, Perseus AR Tetradrachm. Pella or Amphipolis, circa 173-171 BC. Diademed head of Perseus right / Eagle standing to right on thunderbolt, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠEPΣEΩΣ around; TE monogram above, AY monogram to right, AN monogram below; all within oak wreath, below which plough to right. Mamroth, Perseus 19b; SNG Berry 382. 15.56g, 33mm, 12h.

Lightly toned, Extremely Fine. 1,000

483.

Haunting Portrait of Helios

Kingdom of Macedon, Perseus AR Drachm. Uncertain mint in Thessaly, circa 171-170 BC. Third Macedonian War issue, Rhodian standard. Gorgos, magistrate. Facing head of Helios turned slightly to right / Rose with bud to right; ΓOP[ΓOΣ] above, grape bunch to lower left. Ashton, Pseudo 24-5 var. (A16/ - [unlisted rev. die]); SNG Delepierre 2769. 2.65g, 17mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 750

It is now generally accepted that this issue was struck by the Macedonian king Perseus to pay the Cretan mercenaries serving in his army. The Cretans, in whose native country the Rhodian currency circulated widely, would have found this payment to be familiar and acceptable. This example, wonderfully preserved without any wear even to the nose of Helios, is struck from dies of fine style. Yet, the visage of Helios is not here one of nobility or radiant power as we are accustomed to seeing. Rather, the god’s expression seems almost as one concealing a deep sadness: his eyes are empty and haunting.

484.

120

Attractive First Meris Tetradrachm

Macedon under Roman rule, First Meris AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 167-149 BC. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver at shoulder; all within tondo of Macedonian shield / ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ ΠΡΩΤΗΣ, horizontal club, monograms above and below, all within oak wreath tied at left; thunderbolt in outer left field. SNG Copenhagen 1313 (this obverse die). 17.13g, 32mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine. A splendid example of the type; beautifully centred and struck. 1,000

485.

487486

Macedon under Roman rule, First Meris AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 167-149 BC. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder, in the centre of a Macedonian shield / Club; monogram and MAKEΔONΩN above, ΠPΩTHΣ and two monograms below; all within oak wreath, thunderbolt to left. Prokopov, Silver 213–229; SNG Copenhagen 1315; AMNG III 40. 15.80g, 30mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 200

486.

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. 16.42g, 28mm, 12h. Very Fine. 200

487.

2x

Thraco-Macedonian Tribes, uncertain mint AR Hemiobol. Circa 5th-4th Century BC. Head of Apollo facing left / Quadripartite incuse, X design in the four quarters surrounded by four pellets in each quarter. SNG ANS 1007; SNG Oxford 2405. 0.35g, 7mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 100

488.

THRACO-MACEDONIANTRIBES

121

Thrace, Ainos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-455 BC. Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos / Goat standing right; AINI above, ivy leaf in crescent to right, all within incuse square. May, Ainos 51; AMNG II 272; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 2; Traité IV 1498, pl. CCCXLIV, 8; Pozzi 1016; Boston 774. 16.09g, 24mm, 12h.


489.

491490Thrace, Ainos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-455 BC. Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos / Goat standing right, AINI above; boar’s head in lower right field; all within incuse square. May, Ainos 20 (A9/P16); Traité pl. 344, 10 (same dies). 16.19g, 23mm, 3h. Near Very Fine. 750

490.

Thrace, Ainos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 460-455. Head of Hermes to right, wearing petasos / Goat standing to right, AINI above; facing head of Silenos to right. May 39; SNG Lockett 1153. 16.25g, 23mm, 3h. About Very Fine. Rare. 750

491.

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. 16.22g, 25mm, 6h.


492.

494493Thrace, Maroneia AR Tetradrachm. Circa 386-347 BC. Philonikos, magistrate. Horse prancing right / Vine with four bunches of grapes within linear square border; EΠI-ΦΙΛ-ΟΝΙ-KOY around; all within shallow incuse square. Schönert-Geiss 486 (V32/R56); Traité II/4, 1477 and pl. CCCXLII, 13 (same dies). 10.86g, 22mm, 3h.Very Fine. Very Rare, only two examples known to Schönert-Geiss. 1,000

493.

Thrace, Maroneia AR Tetradrachm. Circa 386-347 BC. Choregos, magistrate. Horse prancing left, rein trailing / Vine with four bunches of grapes within linear square border; EΠI-XOP-HΓ-O around; cicada to upper left; all within shallow incuse square. Schönert-Geiss 439 (V16/R25); BMC 26 (these dies). 10.96g, 23mm, 5h.Very Fine.

494.

Thrace, Mesembria Æ22. Circa 300-250 BC. Crested Thracian helmet left / MEΣAM-BΡIANΩN around shield. SNG BMC Black Sea Area 276; SNG Copenhagen 658 var. (helmet right); SNG Stancomb -. 5.64g, 22mm, 1h.


495.

THRACE

122

Ex Lockett Collection

Islands off Thrace, Samothrace AR Hemidrachm. Circa 500-475 BC. Sphinx seated to left, raising right foreleg / Quadripartite incuse square. SNG Ashmolean 3638; W. Schwabacher, Ein Fund archaischer Münzen von Samothrake, Transactions of the International Numismatic Congress London 1936 (1938), 110; SNG Lockett 1125 (this coin). 1.94g, 18mm.


From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Lockett Collection.

Samothrace issued a relatively limited coinage in late archaic times: very rare didrachms, hemidrachms and fractions, most bearing a sphinx, others a head of Athena. The sphinx may have served as a city badge, a symbol of the famous sanctuary of the Great Mother on the island. The coins of Smothrace today are all very rare indeed, with only 14 of all denominations in silver recorded on CoinArchives. A comparable specimen, catalogued as a triobol sold at auction in London in June 2011 for £6,400 (DNW, 22 June 2011, lot 1011).

496.

Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 480-463 BC. Satyr advancing right, carrying off protesting nymph / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 5; SNG Copenhagen 1010; HGC 6, 331 (Thasos). 8.54g, 21mm.


497.

Thrace, Thasos AR Tetradrachm. After 146 BC. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / HPAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ ΘAΣIΩN, Herakles standing left, holding club and lion’s skin, monogram to inner left. SNG Copenhagen 1046ff. 16.80g, 28mm, 7h.

About Extremely Fine. 200

498.

123

Kings of Thrace, Seuthes III Æ21. Circa 323-316 BC. Laureate head of Seuthes right / Horseman riding right, ΣEYΘOY above, star below. Peter p. 182; Topalov 116; Dimitrov group B; SNG Copenhagen 1073; CNG 76, 12 September 2007, 236 (same obverse die). 6.85g, 21mm, 12h.

Fine-style portrait; Good Very Fine. Rare. 750

The portraits on the bronze issues of Seuthes III vary considerably in quality of style, and range from crude, hook-nosed caricatures, to the present specimen that was clearly engraved by an artist of significantly greater talent than those others who also produced dies for the Odrysian kingdom of Thrace.

This portrait bears considerable resemblance to the incredible bronze head of Seuthes III found during the excavation of his tomb.

499.

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AV Stater. Uncertain mint, circa 305-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, resting left elbow on shield, transverse spear behind; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛYΣΙΜΑΧΟY to left, monogram in exergue. Cf. Müller 467. 8.49g, 18mm, 6h.


500.

Attractive Stater of Lysimachos

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Lampsakos, circa 297-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander the Great right, wearing horn of Ammon / Athena enthroned left, holding Nike, resting left elbow on shield, spear behind, torch to inner left, star on throne; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ to left. Thompson 43; Müller 381; SNG France 2538-9. 17.07g, 29mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful, vivid iridescent tones. 3,000

501.

Beautifully Toned Lysimachos Tetradrachm

124

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Lampsakos, circa 297-282 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; torch in inner left field, crescent below throne. Thompson 171; SNG Ashmolean 3724. 16.86g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Rare variant with crescent below seat of throne rather than in exergue. 1,000

502.

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Lampsakos, circa 297-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; herm to outer left, monogram to inner left. Thompson 55; Müller 89. 17.12g, 30mm, 7h.

About Good Very Fine. 500

503.

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Drachm. Ephesos, circa 294-287 BC. Head of the deified Alexander right, wearing diadem and horn of Ammon / Athena seated left, holding Nike in her extended right hand, left arm leaning on her shield; kithara behind leg, A on throne; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΛYΣIMAXOY to left. Thompson 174; Müller 355. 4.27g, 19mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. 100

504.

506505

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, 305-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; monograms in inner left field. Thompson -; Müller -; cf. Meydancikkale 2595-2596, SNG Berry 403 and SNG Copenhagen 1116. 16.98g, 30mm, 11h.Good Very Fine. 750

505.

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Lampsakos, circa 297-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander with horn of Ammon right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena enthroned left, holding Nike, resting left elbow on shield, spear behind; torch to inner left, star on throne. Thompson 43; Müller 381; SNG France 2538-9. 16.77g, 30mm, 11h. Finely toned, Good Very Fine. 750

506.

125

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain Propontis mint, after 281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; bow in bowcase to inner left. Thompson –; Müller 460; Mektepini 230. 16.73g, 29mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare symbol. 600

507.

Rare Stater of Phalasarna, Crete

Crete, Phalasarna AR Stater. Circa 300 BC. Head of Britomartis to right, her hair tightly bound / Trident head. Le Rider pl. X, 12-13 (same dies); SNG Lockett 2596; Svoronos 2, pl. XXV, 5 (same dies). 11.25g, 26mm, 12h.


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.

508.

Troas, Lamponeia Æ12. Circa 4th century BC. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Facing bull’s head; kantharos above, ΛA-M across fields. SNG Copenhagen 445. 2.11g, 12mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Exceptional for the issue. Extremely Rare. 300

509.

Troas, Ophrynion Æ13. Circa 350-300 BC. Bearded, three-quarter facing head of Hector, turned slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet / OΦΡΥ, the infant Dionysos kneeling right, holding grape cluster in right hand. SNG Copenhagen 456ff; BMC Troas pg. 75, 4-7; SNG von Aulock 1559; Laffaille 457. 1.72g, 13mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Exceptional for this issue, that is nearly uniformly found corroded or worn. Very Rare. 500

Ophrynion was the reputed burial place of the Trojan hero Hector. Strabo reports that the grove of Hector occupied a prominent place, and it is possible that a lost play of Sophocles referred to this tradition, which is also alluded to on an early 6th century vase by Onesimos that depicts the sack of Troy. The final lines of the Iliad are devoted to the funeral of Hector:

“Nine days long did they bring in great heaps of wood, and on the morning of the tenth day, with many tears they took brave Hector forth, laid his dead body upon the summit of the pile, and set the fire thereto. Then when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared on the eleventh day, the people again assembled, round the pyre of mighty Hector. When they were got together, they first quenched the fire with wine wherever it was burning, and then his brothers and comrades with many a bitter tear gathered his white bones, wrapped them in soft robes of purple, and laid them in a golden urn, which they placed in a grave and covered over with large stones set close together. Then they built a barrow hurriedly over it keeping guard on every side lest the Achaeans should attack them before they had finished. When they had heaped up the barrow they went backagain into the city, and being well assembled they held high feast in the house of Priam their king. Thus, then, did they celebrate the funeral of Hector, tamer of horses.”

510.

The Burial Place of Hector

CRETE

TROAS

126

Aeolis, Kyme AR Tetradrachm. Circa 165/55-145/0 BC. Stephanophoric type. Seuthes, magistrate. Head of the Amazon Kyme right, wearing tainia / 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). 16.70g, 34mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 750

511.

513512

Aeolis, Myrina AR Stephanophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΜΥPΙΝΑΙΩΝ, Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 18; BMC 11; SNG von Aulock 1664; SNG Copenhagen 221. 16.42g, 32mm, 7h.Near Extremely Fine. 500

512.

Aeolis, Myrina AR Stephanophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΜΥPΙΝΑΙΩΝ, Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 20; SNG Copenhagen 223. 17.25g, 35mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 750

513.

515514

Aeolis, Myrina AR Stephanophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΜΥPΙΝΑΙΩΝ, Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 20; SNG Copenhagen 223. 15.83g, 33mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. 500

514.

Aeolis, Myrina AR Stephanophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΜΥPΙΝΑΙΩΝ, Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monograms to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 30; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; de Luynes 2530; McClean 7946. 15.89g, 34mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 500

515.

Aeolis, Myrina AR Stephanophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΜΥPΙΝΑΙΩΝ, Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 31. 16.17g, 31mm, 5h.Good Very Fine. 500

516.

Aeolis, Myrina AR Stephanophoric Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / ΜΥPΙΝΑΙΩΝ, Apollo Grynios standing right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 31. 15.77g, 35mm, 5h.Good Very Fine. 350

517.

517516

AEOLIS

127

Earliest Appearance of Pegasos on a Coin

Ionia, uncertain mint EL Trite. Circa 620-550 BC. Pegasos, with curved wing, walking to left / Two square punches side-by-side, with irregular surfaces, one slightly larger than the other. Weidauer 148; Babelon, Traité I, pl. 2, 25; W. Greenwell, ‘On Some Rare Greek Coins’, NC 1890, p. 28, pl. 3, 17; Boston 1761. 4.75g, 13mm.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare, and among the finest of very few known examples. 7,500 Though the myth of Pegasos is very ancient indeed, the earliest reference we may find of the winged horse is in Hesiod’s Theogeny, thought to have been composed in the late eighth or early seventh century, and the earliest portrayals are to be found on Corinthian pottery dating from the seventh century. This electrum trite bears what is perhaps the very earliest depiction of Pegasos on a coin, who otherwise starts to appear on electrum fractions of uncertain mints struck both the Milesian and Phokaic standards towards the beginning of the sixth century (see in particular Rosen 318 and Weidauer 143), and on the coinage of Kyzikos from about 600-550 (von Fritze 59).

Pegasos is here shown with the characteristic curved wings of his depictions in the archaic period. In mainland Greece, the transition from curved to straight wings on earthenware appears to have started around the middle of the sixth century, and on coinage from the start of the fourth century, though curved wing depictions persisted in deliberately archaized forms until much later. In the east, the curved wing depiction of Pegasos as it is seen here remained the standard until at least the second century, due in part at least to the strong influence of Persian (and earlier) art forms wherein curved wing animals and gods were particularly prevalent.

518.

Unpublished Boar Obol

Ionia (?) or Greece, uncertain mint AR Obol. Milesian standard. Circa 525-475 BC. Forepart of boar right / Incuse square, of ‘mill-sail’ pattern. Unpublished in the standard references. 0.93g, 8mm.

Apparently unique and unpublished. 300

519.2x

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. 2.62g, 10mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Excellent style. 1,500

520.

2x

IONIA

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. 2.59g, 10mm.


521.

128

Sharply Struck Lebedos Tetradrachm

Ionia, Lebedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-140 BC. Stephanophoric type. Apollodotos, magistrate. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet with laurel branch above visor / Owl standing right, head facing, on club between two filleted cornucopiae; ΛEBEΔIΩN above, AΠOΛΛ-OΔOTOΣ below; all within wreath. Amandry, Tétradrachmes, Group IV, 17f (D2/R13); Kinns 30; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 1; Boston MFA Sup. 170. 33mm, 16.31g, 1h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 4,000

Ex Coin Galleries, 19 August 1987, lot 71.

522.

Ionia, Leukai Æ17. Circa 350-300 BC. Myrmias, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo left / Swan standing left with open wings, head right; MΥΡMIAΣ below. SNG Copenhagen 801 var. (magistrate); BMC 5 var. (same). 2.97g, 17mm, 12h.


The coinage of Leukai bears a swan reverse that is directly borrowed from that found on the coinage of Klazomenai in this period. In 383 BC Klazomenai consulted the Delphic oracle about their dispute with neighbouring Kyme over the city of Leukai. Both wished to gain control of Leukai and its cult centre of Apollo, and thus the oracle responded that the city that first managed to make a sacrifice at Leukai on a specified date should be the winner of the dispute. It was stipulated that representatives from the two cities should depart from their respective territories at dawn on the day specified for the sacrifice; the Klazomenians went to significant effort to gain the advantage by founding a colony close to Leukai, thus dramatically cutting the distance from their borders to Leukai, and so won the contest and possession of the city. A series of commemorative coinage was thereafter produced at Leukai bearing the emblem of Klazomenai, the swan of Apollo.

523.

Very Rare Bronze of Leukai

Ionia, Magnesia ad Maeandrum AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Herognetos, son of Zopyrionos, magistrate. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Apollo standing to left, left arm resting on tall tripod behind, holding branch tied with fillet in right hand, HPOΓNHTOΣ ZOΠYPIΩNOΣ to left, MAΓNHTΩN to right, meander pattern below; all within laurel wreath. Jones 27a; SNG von Aulock 7921. 16.73g, 32mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. 750

524.

129

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 500-480 BC. Head of a griffin with open jaws to left; behind head, seal swimming upwards / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 12. 2.57g, 10mm.


525.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Forepart of griffin left; to right, seal downward / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 42; Boston MFA –; SNG von Aulock –. 2.55g, 10mm.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare - Bodenstedt knew of only the Berlin specimen. 1,500

526.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Forepart of griffin left; to right, seal downward / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 42; Boston MFA –; SNG von Aulock –. 2.57g, 9mm.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare - Bodenstedt knew of only the Berlin specimen. 750

527.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 450-400 BC. Head of young satyr with ivy wreath left, seal below / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 87 (c/β). 2.54g, 10mm.


528.

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

Rare Early Phokaian Hekte

Very Rare Winged Griffin Hekte

530529

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of nymph left, hair in band; seal below / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 90; SNG von Aulock 2126. 2.54g, 10mm.Very Fine. 300

529.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos; [below, seal to right] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 93. 2.56g, 10mm.Very Fine. 300

530.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 478-387 BC. Head of Io to left; below, small seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 96; SNG von Aulock 1710; Boston MFA 1730–1. 2.55g, 10mm.

Extremely Fine. 400

531.

130

533532Ionia, 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. 2.54g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 400

532.

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. 2.55g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 300

533.


535534

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. 2.56g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 300

534.

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. 2.58g, 10mm.Good Very Fine. 300

535.

537536


536.


537.

539538

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Artemis to left, seal below / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 99. 2.54g, 10mm.Near Extremely Fine. 300

538.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Laureate female head left, hair in sakkos; below, seal right / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 102. 2.55g, 10mm. Near Extremely Fine. 300

539.

541540

Ionia, Phokaia. EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Female head left, [seal below] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 104. 2.55g, 9mm.Very Fine. 300

540.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Queen Omphale left, wearing Herakles’ lion skin headdress and ear pendant, club over shoulder; beneath, seal / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 107; SNG Copenhagen 1029. 2.51g, 10mm.Very Fine. 300

541.

131


543542Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Queen Omphale left, wearing Herakles’ lion skin headdress and ear pendant, club over shoulder; beneath, seal / Irregular quadripartite incuse square punch. Bodenstedt 107; SNG Copenhagen 1029. 2.50g, 10mm.Very Fine. 300

542.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of nymph to left, hair tightly bound and wearing earring / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 110. 2.57g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 350

543.

546545

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent; below, seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen 1030; Boston MFA 1913. 2.52g, 9mm.Good Very Fine. 300

545.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent; below, seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen 1030; Boston MFA 1913. 2.55g, 9mm.Near Extremely Fine. 300

546.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent; below, seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen 1030; Boston MFA 1913. 2.58g, 10mm.


547.

549548Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; below, seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen 1030; Boston MFA 1913. 2.53g, 10mm. Extremely Fine. 300

548.

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; below, seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen 1030; Boston MFA 1913. 2.54g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 300

549.

Beautiful Head of Athena

Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 387-326 BC. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; below, seal to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 111; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen 1030; Boston MFA 1913. 2.53g, 10mm.Extremely Fine. 300

544.

3x

132

Ionia, Smyrna AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Eut..(?), magistrate. Turreted head of Tyche right / ΣMYP-NAIΩN over monogram, all within laurel wreath. SNG von Aulock 2161; SNG Berry 1088; Weber 6117. 16.62g, 32mm, 6h.


550.

Beautiful Smyrna Tetradrachm

Ionia, Teos AR Stater. Circa 500-480 BC. Griffin seated to right, raising foreleg; below, NV / Quadripartite incuse square. Balcer group II, 8; BMFA 1936; Traité 502. 12.09g, 19mm.


551.

The following images on this page are all 2x enlargements

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 500-480 BC. Lion’s head right / Incuse calf’s head right. Bodenstedt 13; SNG Copenhagen 301. 2.46g, 10mm.

Very Fine. 300

552.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin; small incuse square behind, incuse club below. Bodenstedt 19.1; HGC 6, 944. 2.46g, 10mm, 2h.

Very Fine. 300

553.

555554

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 478-455 BC. Head of roaring lion right / Incuse head of calf right. Bodenstedt 24; HGC 6, 950. 2.52g, 10mm, 9h.About Very Fine. Eight examples listed in Bodestedt. 300

554.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 440-400 BC. Head of an aged satyr facing right, wearing a tainia / Two confronted heads of rams, palmette above, all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 37. 2.50g, 10mm, 9h.Very Fine. 300

555.

LESBOS

133


557556Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-427 BC. Forepart of boar right / Head of lion right within linear square. Bodenstedt 41; Traité pl. CLIX, 30; Boston MFA 1684; BMC Lesbos pg. 159, 31; SNG Copenhagen 309; SNG von Aulock 1694. 2.94g, 11mm, 5h.Extremely Fine. 750

556.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 454-427 BC. Forepart of boar right / Head of lion right within linear square. Bodenstedt 41; Traité pl. CLIX, 30; Boston MFA 1684; BMC Lesbos pg. 159, 31; SNG Copenhagen 309; SNG von Aulock 1694. 2.94g, 11mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 300

557.

559558Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Female head to right, wearing pendant earring and necklace, hair tied up behind / Head of Pan to right within a thin linear frame; all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 69. 2.53g, 11m, 3h.Scrape on rev., otherwise Good Very Fine. 300

558.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 412-378 BC. Head of Artemis-Kybele right, wearing stephane decorated with palmettes / Comic mask right within linear square. Bodenstedt 74; SNG von Aulock 7734; HGC 6, 1000. 2.43g, 10mm, 11h.Very Fine. 250

559.

561560Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 412-378 BC. Wreathed and bearded head of Dionysos right, of archaizing style / Head of Kalathiskos-dance performer in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt 76 (dies a/α); SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 7729 (same dies); BMC 59 (same dies). 2.52g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. Rare. 500

560.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 412-378 BC. Head of Io right, wearing tainia / Wreathed head of Dionysos right within linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt 77; HGC 6, 1003. 2.52g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 300

561.

563562Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 412-378 BC. Head of Muse right, hair in sakkos / Lyre. Bodenstedt 79; SNG von Aulock 1731. 2.55g, 10mm, 12h.Off-centre, otherwise near Extremely Fine. 300

562.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-325 BC. Diademed head of youthful river-god right, small horn over forehead / Head of nymph right, hair bound in sakkos. Bodenstedt 85 (a/α). 2.54g, 11mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 500

563.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-325 BC. Head of Athena three-quarters facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, earring, and pearl necklace / Head of Hermes right, chlamys around shoulders and petasos behind neck, within linear frame. Bodenstedt 86 (g/ι). 2.55g, 11mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Highly lustrous metal. 2,000

564.3x

134

566565Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-325 BC. Head of Athena three-quarters facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, earring, and pearl necklace / Head of Hermes right, chlamys around shoulders and petasos behind neck, within linear frame. Bodenstedt 86; HGC 6, 1012. 2.53g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 500

565.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-325 BC. Head of Athena three-quarters facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, earring, and pearl necklace / Head of Hermes right, chlamys around shoulders and petasos behind neck, within linear frame. Bodenstedt 86; HGC 6, 1012. 2.49g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 300

566.


568567Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Wreathed head of young Dionysos right / Wreathed and draped bust of satyr right within linear square. Bodenstedt 87. 2.56g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

567.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Wreathed head of Persephone right, wearing pendant earring, within linear square border. Bodenstedt 89. 2.55g, 11mm, 5h.Near Extremely Fine. 350

568.

570569Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Wreathed head of Persephone right, wearing pendant earring, within linear square border. Bodenstedt 89. 2.55g, 10mm, 5h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

569.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Wreathed head of Persephone right, wearing pendant earring, within linear square border. Bodenstedt 89. 2.55g, 10mm, 4h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

570.

3x

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-325 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. 2.56g, 11mm, 1h.


571.

573572Lesbos, 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. 2.54g, 10mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 750

572.

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; cf. Traité II 2, col. 2200, pl. 161, 1; cf. BMC 77; cf. SNG Copenhagen 324. 2.53g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. Extremely rare variant with star in reverse field. 500

573.

135

The Panathenaic Games


Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Female head to right, her hair bound up with ribbons / Panathenaic amphora with pointed lid, filleted palm branch to left; all within linear frame. Bodenstedt -; HGC 6, 1032 = Nomos 1, 6 May 2009, lot 99. 2.56g, 10mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, the fourth and finest known example. 5,000

This type, which was unknown until 2009, and of which this is the most complete and finest example, bears a Panathenaic amphora upon the reverse. The amphora is so named on account of its being given as a prize to victors at the Panathenaic Games held every four years at Athens; the amphora would have been filled with oil from the sacred olive groves in Attica, and its design is perhaps the best example of a vase shape made to serve an official function. The presence of a palm branch with a fillet tied around it to the left of the amphora further confirms that this is indeed a victor’s prize amphora. Each Panathenaic amphora was made according to a standardized shape and capacity of one metretes (approximately 42 quarts), and was decorated in black-figure technique. The principle decoration is always found in the panels of the body of the amphora, with an armed Athena typically on the front and an illustration of the featured competition on the back.

The cataloguer of Nomos 1 supposed that logically the personage on the obverse should be Nike, based also on stylistic similarities with the coinage of Terina, Olympia, Kyzikos and Lampsakos - this is certainly a likely possibility, though it should be noted that other depictions of Nike on the coinage of Mytilene are more definite (see Bodenstedt 101).

574.

578577Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of female right within linear square. Bodenstedt 95; HGC 6, 1021. 2.55g, 10mm, 7h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

577.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of female right within linear square. Bodenstedt 95; HGC 6, 1021. 2.53g, 10mm, 6h.Near Extremely Fine. 300

578.

576575Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Veiled head of Demeter right, wearing barley wreath / Tripod decorated with two fillets hanging at sides; all within square frame. Bodenstedt 91; Gulbenkian 885; SNG Von Aulock 1726. 2.53g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

575.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Ivy-wreathed head of Dionysos right / Head of youthful Pan to right within linear square. Bodenstedt 93. 3.57g, 10mm, 8h.Very Fine. 300

576.

3x

136

3x

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Forepart of serpent right in linear square, all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 96; HGC 6, 1022. 2.53g, 11mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500

579.

581580Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Forepart of serpent right in linear square, all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 96; HGC 6, 1022. 2.57g, 10mm, 7h.Extremely Fine. 500

580.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Forepart of serpent right in linear square, all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 96; HGC 6, 1022. 2.66g, 11mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 500

581.

583582Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Forepart of serpent right in linear square, all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 96; HGC 6, 1022. 2.56g, 11mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. 400

582.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Forepart of serpent right in linear square, all within incuse square. Bodenstedt 96; HGC 6, 1022. 2.55g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

583.

3x

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Veiled and wreathed head of Demeter right / Kithara with fillet to right within linear square. Bodenstedt 97; HGC 6, 1023. 2.56g, 10mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one of three known examples, of which one other is in a public collection in Karlsruhe. 2,000

584.

3x

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Wreathed head of Poseidon right / Trident within linear border. Bodenstedt 98; HGC 6, 1024. 2.55g, 9mm, 8h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare - Bodenstedt records only eight examples. 750

585.

Beautiful Demeter Hekte


137


587586

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 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. 2.55g, 10mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 500

586.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 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. 2.58g, 11mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. 300

587.

589588

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of female right, hair in sakkos, small coiled serpent behind; all within linear square. Bodenstedt 100A; SNG Von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.56g, 10mm, 5h.Very Fine. 300

588.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of female right, hair in sakkos, small coiled serpent behind; all within linear square. Bodenstedt 100A; SNG Von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.54g, 10mm, 5h.Very Fine. 300

589.

591590

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; small coiled serpent behind / Head of female right, hair in sakkos, within linear square. Bodenstedt 100B; SNG Von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.54g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

590.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; small coiled serpent behind / Head of female right, hair in sakkos, within linear square. Bodenstedt 100B; SNG Von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.54g, 10mm, 6h.Very Fine. 300

591.

594593

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, within linear square. Bodenstedt 105; HGC 6, 1031. 2.55g, 11mm, 3h.Very Fine. 300

593.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, within linear square. Bodenstedt 105; HGC 6, 1031. 2.49g, 10mm, 12h.Very Fine. 300

594.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 375-326 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; small coiled serpent behind / Head of female right, hair in sakkos, within linear square. Bodenstedt 100B; SNG Von Aulock 1715; SNG Copenhagen 317. 2.55g, 10mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

592.

139

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 75; SNG France 205; Boston MFA 1448 = Warren 1519. 16.20g, 23mm.


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.

595.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12th Stater. Circa 600-550 BC. Bird standing to right on a tunny fish, a second tunny above / Quadripartite incuse punch. Von Fritze 21; Boston MFA 1397. 1.06g, 8mm.

Extremely Fine, exceptional for the issue. Very Rare. 750

596.

Extremely Rare Kyzikos Hemihekte

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. 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. 1.36g, 8mm.

Very Fine. Extremely rare denomination. 750

597.2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of boar to left; tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze -; SNG France -; Boston -; Hurter/Liewald SNR 81, 2002, pl. 4, 44a = Sternberg 25, 1991, 118; cf. CNG eAuction 191, 9 July 2008, lot 13. 6.14g, 19mm.

Good Very Fine. The third known example. 7,500

Aside from the above cited CNG specimen, this stater is the only surviving example of an otherwise unpublished type that depicts a plain boar protome, rather than one with wings. This coin is remarkable therefore for its extreme rarity, being one of only two extant coins from a series which no doubt would have also included other denominations as did most of the types of Kyzikos. It is yet more remarkable as this type would subsequently be used as the obverse design of a massive issue of silver diobols which feature the head of a roaring lion on the reverse. That this type has been discovered only so very recently is both surprising and marvellous - one may well wonder what other novelties still lie unknown.

598.

One of Only Three Known Examples

2x

2x

2x

MYSIA

140

2x

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.


599.

Extremely Rare Monkey of Kyzikos

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Monkey seated to right, holding tunny fish by the tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze -; Hurter-Liewald 2002 p. 31, 30b. 1.33g, 8mm.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare, one of perhaps as few as three or four known examples. 2,000

600.

2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of roaring lioness left, tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 39; Boston 1414; SNG France 178. 16.08g, 19mm.


601.

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 39; SNG France 178. 2.72g, 10mm.


602.

2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Ram kneeling left, head reverted; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 47; SNG France -; BMC 48. 16.04g, 20mm.


603.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of a goat with long beard to left; behind truncation, tunny fish swimming upwards / Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1421; Rosen 438; SNG France 186; Von Fritze 48. 16.11g, 19mm.

Near Very Fine. Very Rare. 3,000

604.

141

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Cockerel with curved wing to left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 51; Greenwell 155. 16.12g, 20mm.

Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 4,000

605.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of wolf left, head reverted, tunny fish swimming upward behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze -; SNG France -; Boston 1481. 2.66g, 10mm.


606.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Forepart of winged boar left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 61, pl. II, 12; Boston 1440. 16.12g, 18mm.


607.

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. 16.05g, 22mm.


608.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Head of Perseus left, wearing winged cap; tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 65; SNG France -; SNG von Aulock 1186; Boston MFA -; Rosen -. 2.66g, 10mm.

Very Fine. 1,000

609.

2x

2x

Pleasant Athena Stater

142

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Bearded male head left, tunny fish to left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Greenwell pl. III, 31; Boston –; von Aulock –; SNG France –, cf. 194 (hekte); von Fritze 66. 16.10g, 22mm.


610.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Winged sphinx crouching to left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 72, pl. II, 25; Boston 1450; SNG France 200. 16.03g, 20mm.

Very Fine. 5,000

611.

Attractive Kyzikene Sphinx

Very Rare Siren Stater

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-475 BC. Siren, with two spiralled plumes on crown of head, standing to left, holding tunny fish by the tail in right hand, left hand outstretched / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 74, pl. II, 29; Boston 1441; cf. SNG France 203 (hekte). 16.11g, 20mm.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare, and among the finest known specimens. 10,000

The mythical Sirens are best known to us from two ancient epics: the ‘Argonautica’ by Apollonios in which Jason and the Argonauts have to travel past them on their quest for the Golden Fleece, and Homer’s ‘Odyssey’, where they are portrayed as a pair of dangerous creatures that lure passing sailors to their deaths with their sweet music (Odyssey XII, 40).

612.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte. Circa 550-500 BC. Facing head of Silenos; two tunny fish at left and right / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 77; SNG France 208; SNG von Aulock 7269; Rosen Coll. 455 (all hektes). 1.39g, 9mm.

Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 750

613.2x

143

615614Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-400 BC. Forepart of galley with wolf’s head prow left, beneath, tunny fish left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 80 (staters); Hurter-Liewald, SNR 83 (2004), p. 33, 80, pl. 6. 2.68g, 11mm.Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 750

614.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-400 BC. Forepart of galley with wolf’s head prow left, beneath, tunny fish left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 80 (staters); Hurter-Liewald, SNR 83 (2004), p. 33, 80, pl. 6. 2.66g, 10mm.Very Fine. Very Rare. 500

615.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 550-500 BC. Panther crouching left, tunny fish to left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 86; Traité pl.176, 29; Rosen Coll. 463. 16.11g, 19mm.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 7,500

616.

Rare Panther Stater

Unpublished Sphinx Hekte of Kyzikos

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 525-500 BC. Sphinx seated left, wearing close fitting bonnet and with looped tail behind; in left field, tunny fish of classical style with head down; beneath, head of tunny of archaic form to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references including: Von Fritze -; S. Hurter, Nueue Münztypen der Kyziker Elektronprägung in SNR 81, 2002, -; SNR 33, 2004, -; SNR 85, 2006, -. 2.69g, 10mm.

Good Very Fine. Unique and unpublished. 2,000

The style of this previously unpublished piece with curved wing is clearly inspired by the early and very accomplished late archaic electrum staters of Chios, cf. Kraay, ACGC 72, dated to around 550 BC. A very interesting aspect of this coin is the depiction as a symbol of the head of a tunny fish in the primitive style of the earliest coins of Kyzikos, dating from the early 6th century BC (cf. von Fritze 1-13). The new and old symbols of Kyzikos unequivocally inform the observer that this very unusual coin is indeed a product of this mint.

617.

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. 16.08g, 20mm.

Extremely Fine, lustrous metal. Rare. 7,500

618.

Superb Dog Stater of Kyzikos

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Dog crouching to left, tail raised; tunny fish left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 93; BMFA 1471. 1.33g, 8mm.

Very Rare. Good Extremely Fine. 1,500

619.

2x 2x

2x

2x

144

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Forepart of winged stag left, tunny fish swimming upward behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 50; SNG France 189. 2.69g, 11mm.


621.

2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Forepart of winged lioness to left; tunny fish behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 96; SNG France 237; Boston –. 16.28g, 19mm.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare, and among the finest specimens known of the type. Superior to the example sold at Heritage 3030, 6 January 2014, lot 23767 ($28,000). 15,000

620.

Exceptional Lioness Stater

2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 500-475 BC. Forepart of winged stag to left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 102; Greenwell 128; cf. Rosen 482 (hekte). 1.36g, 8mm.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare denomination for this type. 1,500

622.

Extremely Rare Denomination

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Winged dog seated to left, head reverted; tunny fish below to left / Quadripartitite incuse square. Von Fritze 104; Boston 1433. 16.07g, 19mm.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare, one of only two specimens offered for sale in the past fifteen years. 7,500

623.

One of Only Two Offered in 15 Years

145

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Nude youth kneeling left, holding tunny by its tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 112; cf. SNG France 253 (stater); cf. SNG von Aulock 1202 (hemihekte). 2.69g, 10mm.Good Extremely Fine. 3,000

624.

Beautiful Hekte Depicting a Youth

3x

2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. 500-450 BC. Nude youth kneeling left, holding tunny by its tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 112; cf. SNG France 253 (stater); cf. SNG von Aulock 1202 (hemihekte). 2.61g, 10mm. Good Very Fine. 1,000

625.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Nude youth kneeling left, holding tunny by its tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 112; SNG von Aulock 1202; cf. SNG France 253 (stater). 1.30g, 9mm. Extremely Fine. 1,500

626.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Satyr in kneeling-running stance to left, holding in his extended right hand a tunny fish by the tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 122; Boston 1461; SNG France -. 16.20g, 19mm.Very Fine. Extremely Rare; although around six or so hektes of this series have been offered at auction over the last fifteen years, there have been no staters or hemihektes (see following lot) of this type. 4,000

627.

Extremely Rare Satyr Stater

2x

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Satyr in kneeling-running stance to left, holding in his extended right hand a tunny fish by the tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 122; cf. Boston MFA 1461 (stater); SNG von Aulock 7289 (hekte); SNG France 270 (hekte). 1.33g, 9mm. Very Fine. Banker’s mark on obverse. 500

628.

625 626

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Facing gorgoneion with mouth open and tongue protruding, six serpents on top of head, another below each ear; below, tunny fish to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 129, pl. IV, 15; Boston 1445 = Warren 1492; cf. SNG von Aulock 7295 (hemihekte); SNG France –. 16.15g, 20mm. Small punch on obverse, otherwise Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 7,500

629.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Facing gorgoneion; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 129; SNG France –; Boston MFA –; SNG von Aulock –; Rosen –. 2.70g, 10mm. Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 1,500

630.

147

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Double-bodied winged sphinx standing with head facing atop tunny fish to right, wearing ouraios, hair falling in plaited locks behind / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze -, cf. 128 (hekte); Greenwell -, cf. 101 (hekte); SNG France -, cf. 280 (hekte); CNG inventory 925160. 16.16g, 20mm.

Of the highest rarity, only the second known specimen. 30,000

The sphinx as a type recurs frequently on the coinage of Kyzikos and new types are still being discovered today (see lot 617), yet the double-bodied sphinx is certainly the most curious depiction of this mythological monster, and the reason for it being so is not easy to divine. Greenwell (p. 102), who was citing Cousinéry, proposed that it was simply an artistic device for showing the sphinx as seated facing, “arising from the difficulty of depicting a figure in that position”.

This proposition appears plausible, until one considers that double-bodied owls are also engraved on coins at various cities including Athens, where they certainly had no problem with engraving a front-facing owl. More damning still for this simplistic view, the double-bodied sphinx appears also in statuary where again there is no logical reason to sculpt it so unless it possesses some significance - see in particular the limestone Tarentine column capital of the Corinthian order at the Metropolitan Museum, New York, and also the marble gravestone decorated with a loutrophoros supported by a double-bodied sphinx at the British Museum (both 4th century).

The concept of double-bodied monsters was an ancient one, and probably originated in ancient Sumeria, as they are seen on cylinder seals from this culture, and are repeated later on ancient Iranian goldwork. Here, the double-bodied monsters probably signified a dualistic nature that is easily adaptable and can be one thing or another, or a span between two distinct yet connected elements such as sunrise and sunset. Tom Rasmussen (Corinth and the Orientalising Phenomenon) proposes that the artistic portrayal of the sphinx as a double-bodied monster was first devised at Corinth, where it can be found on a Protocorinthian olpe vase, circa 640 BC, known as the Chigi olpe which is now in the Villa Giulia in Rome. This was likely the product of a blending of Greek and Eastern imagery, yet the result is wholly original; indeed Rasmussen points out that ‘Greek Orientalising is rarely straight copying of Oriental’.

It has often been suggested that the electrum staters of Kyzikos take their types from a wide range of artistic sources across a broad geographical range, as might be expected for a city-state that relied almost entirely for its prosperity on being a commerce hub where east and west would meet and exchange wares and ideas. Whether or not Corinth was the origin of the double-bodied Sphinx, it is not surprising that such an intriguing motif should be adopted at Kyzikos.

631.

The Second Known Specimen

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Double-bodied sphinx with one head facing, tunny fish swimming left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 128; SNG France 280. 2.54g, 10mm.


632.

149

Rare and Beautiful Stater of Pergamon

Mysia, Pergamon AV Stater. Mid-late 330s BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Archaistic Palladion: statue of Pallas Athena standing facing, holding spear aloft in right hand, preparing to strike, on left arm, a shield adorned with a four-point star and fillet hanging below; to lower left, a crested Corinthian helmet right; all within concave circular incuse. Callataÿ, Statères 2o (D2/R3 – this coin); Von Fritze, Pergamon 7 = Saida 36 var. (rev. not incuse); SNG France 1557 = De Luynes 2493 = Saida 37; Gulbenkian 699 var. (same); Jameson 2580 var. (same); PCG pl. 28, 25 var. (same). 17mm, 8.62g, 1h

Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful, lustrous metal. Very Rare. 60,000

Ex Nomos 3, 10 May 2011, lot 112;Ex SF Collection, USA.

This remarkable coin is unusual in many regards, not least on account of the fact that it bears no legend at all. It can nonetheless be attributed to Pergamon thanks to the similar silver fractions which bear the city ethnic (see SNG France 1558-66). The presence of two examples of this type in the Saida hoard along with a gold stater of Philippi in Macedon and ten of the twelve known gold staters of Kios indicates that it was struck sometime between 356-345 BC and 323-320 BC; the close stylistic affinity with the coinage of Alexander III suggests a more specific minting date at some point during his reign. Indeed, F. de Callataÿ’s study of the small group of specimens that have come to the market in the past decade confirmed that they were struck at a date earlier than 323-320 BC, but more importantly that they were struck on the Attic standard used by Alexander, a fact that previously had not been provable due to the worn state of the then known examples.

De Callataÿ’s study also established a population of a total of five obverse and seven reverse dies by two engravers used to coin the issue, all of which are die-linked. On the surface then, this would seem to indicate a substantial issue, yet the very small number of surviving coins today suggests otherwise. Its extreme rarity today must be due to a very limited striking; it has been estimated that no more than five talents were coined (enough for 3000 staters), which would certainly explain the paucity of surviving examples.

The apparently brief but intense minting of these Pergamene staters is suggestive of their having been struck from immediately available bullion for an extraordinary and immediate requirement. In the time of Alexander, Pergamon was little more than a hill-top fortress with a small settlement attached, and a population of no more than a few thousands, yet its strategic position commanding the Kaikos valley which provided access from the Aegean coast and the port town of Elaea in the west to the Persian royal road in the east made it a significant military asset. Because of their clear link to the Macedonian Herakles type, it has been suggested that this coin may have been autonomously struck at Pergamon during the period of 334-332 while the Persian navy and remaining land forces made counter-offensives against the Macedonian gains, and the situation (and the outcome of the war) remained confused and uncertain.

That the reverse depicts an archaistic Palladion or cult statue of Pallas Athena is certain - the silver fractions clearly display a base upon which the statue of Athena stands. Its use on this coin is perhaps best explained as an invocation of Athena, whose cult at Pergamon was ancient (the city’s mythical founder was Telephos, the son of Herakles and Auge, who was a priestess of Athena) for the protection of the city.

This particular coin, in this cataloguer’s opinion, is the very best of all of those that have come to the market in the past decade, being perfectly centred on both obverse and reverse, having a broad field before the head of Herakles, and completely encompassing every element of the design on the reverse, as well as showing fewer surface marks than the other specimens. Evidently others have been of the same opinion, as in Nomos 3 it hammered for CHF 130,000 - equivalent to just under US $150,000, only slightly less than a not so attractive and off-centre example sold at NAC 52 in 2009.

633.

150

A Bold Portrait of Eumenes I

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. Westermark group IVa (Attalos I); SNG France 1612. 16.96g, 30mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. High relief, pleasing metal and tone. 3,000

The second of the Attalid rulers of Pergamon, Eumenes had been adopted by his childless uncle Philetairos. In the reign of his predecessor Pergamon had been a largely autonomous but apparently loyal client state of the Seleukid empire, and as such Philetairos’ coins bore the head of Seleukos I on the obverse. Upon his succession Eumenes, perhaps with the encouragement of Ptolemy II, who was at war with the Seleukids, revolted and defeated Antiochos I near the Lydian capital of Sardes in 261 BC. In so doing he obtained independence for Pergamon and greatly increased the territory under his dominion.

Eumenes honoured his forebears by establishing garrison posts in the north near the foot of Mount Ida which he called Philetaireia after his uncle and adoptive father, and an eastern region, northeast of Thyateira near the sources of the river Lykos, he called Attaleia after his grandfather. Eumenes struck coins bearing now the portrait not of the founder of the Seleukid dynasty, but that of his own - Philetairos. Though possessing all the powers of one, Eumenes never assumed the title of BAΣIΛEΩΣ - king. He did however imitate other Hellenistic rulers, for example by instituting a festival in his own honour at Pergamon - the Eumeneia.

634.

635 636

Mysia, Pergamon AR Tetradrachm. Cistophoric type. Circa 95-92 BC. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Bow case between two serpents; monogram to left, BA above, thyrsos to right. Kleiner, Hoard 30. 12.66g, 27mm, 12h. Extremely Fine, some scratches. Extremely Rare, Kleiner records only one example. 300

635.

Mysia, Pergamon AR Tetradrachm. Cistophoric type. Circa 92-88 BC. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Bow case between two serpents; AΣ and monogram above, city monogram to left, thyrsos to right. Kleiner, Hoard 29; Pinder -; SNG France -. 12.60g, 28mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 200

636.

152

Only Known Coin Bearing the Name of Alyattes

Kings of Lydia, Alyattes EL Trite - 1/3 Stater. Sardes, circa 610 BC. Lion’s head right with open jaws and protruding tongue, solar-disk above forehead, confronting open jaws of lion’s head left; between the two, upwards Lydian legend ALYA; granular field / Two square punch-marks. For similar issues with Lydian legends cf. Weidauer groups XVII (‘VALVEL’) and XVIII (‘..KALIL..’); ATEC pp. 215-216, groups a and b; Kraay ACGC p. 24, 63 (WELVES) or (WELVET). 4.71g, 13mm.

Extremely Fine. Unpublished, and of the highest rarity and importance. 75,000

From a private German Collection.

The Lydians were commercial people, who, according to Herodotus, had customs like the Greeks and were the first people to introduce the use of gold and silver coins, and the first to establish retail shops in permanent locations (Herodotus I, 94). The kingdom reached its zenith during the reign of Alyattes, the fourth Lydian king of the house of Gyges, son of Sadyattes and father of Kroisos. He is seen as the founder of the Lydian Empire and continued the war begun by his father against powerful Miletos, though he was soon obliged to turn his attention towards the Medes and Babylonians. On 28 May 585 BC, during the Battle of Halys fought against Kyaxares, king of Media, a solar eclipse took place; hostilities were suspended, peace concluded, and the Halys fixed as the boundary between the two kingdoms. He proceeded to drive the Kimmerians out of Phrygia, thus securing the trade route with the east. In the west he to was able subdue the Karians, and took several important Ionian cities including Smyrna and Kolophon, enabling him to consolidate a Mediterranean trading outlet.

The earliest electrum coinage of Lydia has been the subject of much scholarly debate and variously attributed to the reigns of Gyges, Sadyattes and Alyattes. In a well thought out article ‘KUKALIṂ, WALWET, and the Artemision deposit’, in Agoranomia, Studies in Money and Exchange Presented to John H. Kroll, ANS New York 2006, R.W. Wallace not only corrects the reading of the two previously known legends, ‘VALVEL’ and ‘..KALIL..’, but convincingly demonstrates that the two series, with their several die links, belong to the same period during the reign of Alyattes, datable to about 600 BC. However, Wallace’s interpretation of WALWET as the Lydian name of Alyattes is put seriously in doubt by the appearance of the above ALYA issue, a legend much closer to the Hellenized form of Alyattes. WALWET may be connected to the Luwian word ‘walwi’ (lion) and ‘KUKALIṂ’ may be translated as ‘I am of Kukas’. These legends are probably the names of moneyers, mint-officials or regal titles appertaining to Alyattes.

The ALYA issue was struck at 1/3 of a stater on the so-called Lydo-Milesian weight standard of 14.1 grams in alluvial electrum, a naturally occurring gold-silver alloy found in abundance in the washings of the Pactolos river which runs from the slopes of Mount Tmolos, through Sardis and empties into the Hermos. According to legend, King Midas divested himself of the golden touch by washing himself in the river (Ovid, Met. 11.140-144). The variable composition of electrum rendered it a difficult commodity to trade without a seal of guarantee of value, unlike pure gold or silver which had been merely weighed throughout the middle east for millennia.

The seal of guarantee initially chosen was the image of a lion’s head, the personification of royal authority, strength, courage, wisdom, justice, protection, fire and gold (‘subterranean sun’), all attributes that the ambitious kings of Lydia would have been keen to emphasise. The lion, with its golden-brown coat and radiate mane was principally the personification of the sun itself, and hence it is found as a symbol of eastern sun-gods such as Mithras. The zodiac sign Leo was occupied by the Sun in the hottest part of the year, July 22 to August 22, and it was probably on account of this that it was believed that the lion was able to gaze directly at the sun without blinking. In Egypt the male lions were the guardians of the eastern and western horizons, and hence sun-rise and sun-set.

It is not by chance that the head of the lion of this coin has a disk on the forehead, which can only be the solar disk, later replaced by a radiate setting or rising sun on the anonymous 1/3-staters (trites), usually attributed to Alyattes, hardly a wart ‘Warz’ as suggested by Weidauer for group XV. Indeed the very name of Anatolia (from the Greek Ἀνατολή, Anatolḗ) means the ‘east’ or [land of] ‘sunrise’.

637.

LYDIA

2x

153

Extraordinarily Complete WALWET Legend

Kings of Lydia, time of Alyattes EL Trite - 1/3 Stater. Sardes, circa 610-560 BC. Lion’s head right with open jaws and protruding tongue, solar-disk above forehead, confronting open jaws of lion’s head left; WALWET (in Lydian retrograde script) between / Two incuse square punches. Weidauer Group XVII; SNG von Aulock 8204. 4.72g, 13mm.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare, particularly so with all six letters present. 20,000


This issue was struck with an obverse die that featured two lions, but without exception, one lion is always missing or only partially visible. Due to the incompatibility in size of the die and flan, it is also almost always the case that the legend WALWET is only partially visible, with one or (usually) more letters completely missing. On this exceptional example though, we have the complete legend, with all six letters present on the flan.

638.

Exceptional for the Type

Kings of Lydia, time of Alyattes EL Hekte - 1/6 Stater. Sardes, circa 610-560 BC. Lion’s head left with open jaws, solar-disk above forehead, confronting open jaws of lion’s head right; WALWET (in Lydian retrograde script) between / Two incuse square punches. Weidauer 99. 2.37g, 10mm.

Very Fine; exceptional for the type. Rare. 10,000


As with the trites (see above), the hektes bear two lions’ heads, though like their larger counterparts they normally suffer from being struck on flans too small for the dies, and consequently it is usual to only find one lion and a partial legend. On this example however, we see a significant portion of the second lion’s head, and five out of six letters of the legend.

639.

Kings of Lydia, time of Alyattes EL Hemihekte - 1/12 Stater. Sardes, circa 610-560 BC. Lion’s head left with open jaws, solar-disk above forehead, confronting open jaws of lion’s head right; WALWET (in Lydian retrograde script) between / Incuse square punch. Weidauer 111 var; cf. Weidauer 99. 1.17g, 7mm.

Extremely Rare. Clear and with a legible inscription, with parts of both lions. The most complete example known. 5,000


It has traditionally been assumed that the hemihektes of Alyattes bore only one lion. However, as this incredible example clearly shows, the types are the same as those of its larger cousins, with two confronting lions and a legend between. With all six letters of the legend clearly displayed on the coin, this example possibly bears the most complete legend of any known Alyattes hemihekte, and is almost certainly the only specimen to show parts of both lions.

640.

The Most Complete Example Known

Kings of Lydia, time of Alyattes-Kroisos EL Trite. Sardes, circa 600-540 BC. Head of roaring lion right, sun with four rays on forehead / Two incuse square punches. Weidauer Group XV, 63-65; SNG Kayhan –; SNG von Aulock –; BMC 2. 4.75g, 13mm.

Very Fine. 500

641.

2x

-2x-

2x

154

Kings of Lydia, Kroisos AR Stater. Sardes, circa 560–546 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion to right and bull to left / Two incuse punches of unequal size. Traité II/1, 407, pl. X, 7; BMC Lydia 7, 37; SNG von Aulock 2874; SNG Copenhagen 455. 9.21g, 18mm.


642.

Kings of Lydia, Kroisos AR Siglos. Sardes, 550-546 BC. Confronted foreparts of lion right and bull left / Two square punches. ATEC 1914-1925; Berk 23; SNG Kayhan 1024; SNG Copenhagen 456. 5.24g, 16mm.

Good Very Fine. 300

643.

KARIA

Satraps of Karia, Maussolos AR Tetradrachm. Halikarnassos, circa 377-353 BC. Laureate head of Apollo facing three-quarters right / Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding double-axe (labrys) and lotus-tipped sceptre; ΠIΞΩΔAPOY to right. Traité II, 91; SNG Kayhan 872 var. (small letter on rev.); SNG von Aulock 2359 var. (same); SNG Copenhagen 590. 15.06g, 24mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. 2,000

644.

Satraps of Karia, Pixodaros AR Didrachm. Halikarnassos, circa 340-334 BC. Laureate head of Apollo, three quarters facing, drapery at neck / Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding double-axe (labrys) and lotus-tipped sceptre; ΠIΞΩΔAPOY to right. Pixodaros 28; SNG von Aulock 2376; SNG München 15. 7.00g, 21mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful iridescent toning. 3,000

Ex Künker 193, 26 September 2011, lot 248.

645.

A Beautiful Didrachm of Pixodaros

Satraps of Karia, Pixodaros AR Didrachm. Halikarnassos, circa 341-334 BC. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery at neck / Zeus standing right, holding labrys over shoulder and spear, ΠIΞΩΔAPOY to right. SNG von Aulock 2376. 6.98g, 19mm, 12h.


646.

155

Karia, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 449-411 BC. Forepart of a roaring lion to right, jaw open and tongue protruding, extended forepaw below / Head of Aphrodite to right, wearing tainia, within incuse square. Cahn 90 (V43/R61); SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Traité -. 6.28g, 17mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, Cahn recorded only one issue from this rare Period V die pair. 2,000

Ex Münzen & Medaillen 61, 1982, lot 144.

647.

Extremely Rare Cahn Period V

Karia, Knidos AR Didrachm. Circa 189-167 BC. Euboulos, magistrate. Head of Helios, facing slightly to left / Head of roaring lion to right, forepaw below, bee behind; KNI above, ΕΥΒΟΥΛΟΣ below. SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 2614. 4.88g, 20mm, 12h.


Ex Ponterio 151, 12 November 2009, lot 8090.

648.

Islands off Karia, Kos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 285-258 BC. Nikagoras, magistrate. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Crab, NIKAΓOPAΣ and bowcase below, KΩION above; all within beaded square. Requier 19; SNG Copenhagen –; SNG Keckman –; SNG Kayhan –. 14.97g, 27mm, 6h.


649.

Islands off Karia, Rhodes AR Didrachm. Circa 250-229 BC. Mnasimachos, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose with single bud to right, MNAΣIMAXOΣ above, P-O flanking stem, Athena Nikephoros standing left. BMC 143; SNG Copenhagen 765; Ashton 208; SNG Keckman 537. 6.73g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Vibrant golden iridescent tone. 1,500

650.

Striking Facing Portrait of Helios

156

Dynasts of Lykia, Kherei AR Stater. Circa 440/30-410 BC. [Lion right, attacking bull standing left] / Bull standing left; triskeles above; all in dotted square within incuse square. S. Hurter, “A New Lycian Coin Type: Kherêi, Not Kuperlis,” INJ 14 (2000-2), pp. 15-8, pl. 2, 1/6 (obv. type/rev. die); Mørkholm & Zahle II -; Falghera -; SNG Copenhagen Supp. -; CNG 69, lot 472 (same dies). 8.84g, 18mm.

Very Fine. 200

651.

LYKIA

Pamphylia, Aspendos AR Stater. Circa 330-250 BC. Two wrestlers grappling; E between / Slinger standing right; triskeles and club before, O between his legs; EΣTFΔIY to left. SNG von Aulock 4575 var.; SNG France 122 var.; SNG Copenhagen 240 var.; CNG 60, May 2002, lot 855 (these dies). 10.43g, 25mm, 11h. Good Very Fine. Attractively toned. 750

652.

Pamphylia, Side AR Stater. Circa 445-425 BC. Pomegranate / Head of Athena to right wearing Corinthian helmet, laurel branch before; all within incuse square. Atlan 37 (same dies). 10.77g, 23mm, 12h.


Ex Aufhäuser 11, 1995, lot 140.

653.

Cilicia, Satraps AR Stater. Datames, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Tarsos, circa 378-372 BC. Facing head of Arethusa turned slightly left (in imitation of the famous facing head of Arethusa on Kimon’s Syracusan Tetradrachm) / Bearded male head (Ares?) right, wearing crested helmet, Aramaic ‘Datames’ before. SNG Levante 79; SNG France 260. 10.75g, 23mm, 2h.


So great was the admiration throughout the ancient world for Kimon’s famous facing-head tetradrachm, that many contemporary engravers attempted, with varying degrees of success, to emulate his work. The most numerous of these Kimon-inspired coins were struck at Larissa, though other cities such as Tarsos also experimented with the concept. This beautiful stater of Tarsos goes some way to capturing the nuances of Kimon’s style, while retaining a distincly eastern flavour. Iridescent tones in and around the full bordered-design highlight the portrait beautifully.

654.

PAMPHYLIA

CILICIA

Superb Eastern Arethusa

157

Cilicia, Satraps AR Stater. Pharnabazos, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Tarsos, circa 380-379 BC. Head of Arethusa facing slightly left; dolphin to lower left / Helmeted and bearded male head left. Casabonne series 3; Moysey Issue 3, 4a = McClean 5917 (same obv. die); SNG France –; SNG Levante 70 = SNG von Aulock 5917. 10.73g, 22mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Mint lustre. 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.

655.

Cilicia, Satraps AR Stater. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Myriandros, circa 361-334 BC. Baaltars, wearing a himation over his lower limbs, seated to left, holding a lotus-tipped sceptre, a thymiaterion surmounted by an eagle on left, Aramaic legend to right / Lion standing to left on ground, Aramaic legend above. SNG Levante 188; SNG France 431; SNG von Aulock 5463; BMC 64. 10.31g, 21mm, 9h.

Very Fine; porous. Scarce. 500

656.

Cilicia, Satraps AR Stater. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Tarsos, 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. 11.00g, 25mm, 6h.

Near Mint State. Attractive lustre and golden toning around the devices. 4,000 Ex Gorny & Mosch 203, 5 March 2012, lot 249.

657.

Magnificent Mazaios Stater

Cilicia, Satraps AR Stater. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Tarsos, circa 361-334 BC. Similar to previous lot. 10.83g, 25mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine. Bold reverse. 1,000

658.

158

Cilicia, Satraps AR Stater. Mazaios, satrap of Cilicia and Cappadocia. Tarsos, 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 / Lion attacking a bull to left, Aramaic legend above ‘MZDI’ = Mazaios; letters below. Casabonne series 2, group F; SNG Levante 101. 11.14g, 26mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Reverse double struck. 750

Ex Ponterio 151, 12 November 2009, lot 8112.

659.

Bithynia, Kios AR Hemidrachm. Circa 350-300 BC. Proxenos, magistrate. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; KIA below / Prow of galley left, decorated with star; ΠPOΞENOΣ around. RG 2; HGC 7, 553; SNG von Aulock 504; SNG Copenhagen 373. 2.40g, 15mm, 12h.


660.

BITHYNIA

Pisidia, Selge AR Stater. Circa 325-250 BC. Two wrestlers grappling, AΛ between / Slinger standing right; triskeles and club in right field, ΣEΛΓEΩN to left. SNG France -; SNG Von Aulock -; Weber 7424. 10.82g, 25mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine, attractive iridescent toning. 1,500

From the David Freedman Collection;Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 326.

661.

PISIDIA

PHRYGIA

Phrygia, Kibyra AR Drachm. Circa 166-84 BC. Young male head right, wearing crested helmet / Helmeted and cuirassed horseman galloping right, wielding spear and shield; M and ΚΙΒΥΡΤΩΝ below. SNG von Aulock 3709; SNG Copenhagen 267. 2.89g, 17mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Struck in fine style and remarkably well preserved. One of the finest known. Very Rare. 750

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 46, 30 October 1989, lot 303.

662.

Very Rare and Among the Finest Known

159

PAPHLAGONIA

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 / ΣΙΝΩ, sea eagle with spread wings on dolphin swimming to left; above the eagle’s body, IKE... above. SNG Stancomb 774; SNG BM Black Sea 1487. 6.00g, 18mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. 300

663.

Kings of Cappadocia, Ariarathes V AR Drachm. Circa 135-130 BC. Diademed head of Ariarathes V to right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΡΙΑΡΑΘΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ, Athena standing left, holding Nike in her right hand and spear and shield in her left; monogram to inner left. BMC –; Simonetta –; SNG Copenhagen Suppl. –; LHS 95, 25 October 2005, 704. 4.15g, 22mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Engraved in fine style and struck on a broad flan. Extremely Rare. 250

664.

CAPPADOCIAExtremely Rare and Beautiful Drachm of Ariarathes V

Pontos, Amisos Æ28. Circa 120-95 BC. Time of Mithradates VI Eupator. Head right, wearing bashlyk / Quiver and unstrung bow, AMIΣOY across fields. Callataÿ p. 248, n. 19, pl. 48, A-B; HGC 7, 236; SNG BM Black Sea 1135-8; SNG von Aulock 57-8; SNG Copenhagen 131. 21.29g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine, dark brown patina. 100

665.

PONTOS

Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI AV Stater. Byzantion, circa 88-86 BC. First Mithradatic War issue, in the name and types of Lysimachos. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon; Σ below truncation / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΛYΣIMAXOY to left; KΦ monogram to inner left, BY below throne, ornate trident in exergue. Müller 171; Callataÿ Group 2B, p. 142 and pl. 38, O; Seyrig, Monnaies pl. 24, 14; SNG Berry 414. 8.32g, 19mm, 11h.


666.

Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI AV Stater. Byzantion, circa 88-66 BC. First Mithradatic War issue, in the name and types of Lysimachos. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΛYΣIMAXOY to left; KΦ monogram to inner left, BY below throne, ornate trident in exergue. Müller 171; Callataÿ Group 2B, p. 142 and pl. 38, O; Seyrig, Monnaies pl. 24, 14. 8.32g, 18mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractive portrait style. 1,250

667.

160



668.


Very Fine. 750

669.

Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI AV Stater. Byzantion, circa 88-66 BC. First Mithradatic War issue, in the name and types of Lysimachos. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΛYΣIMAXOY to left; Θ below right hand, BY on throne, trident in exergue. Müller 152. 8.36g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Reverse somewhat double struck. 1,000

670.

PHOENICIA

672 673

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 87 = 40/39 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, ΠZ (date) above club; monogram to right, beth between legs. Rouvier 2066; BMC 174-5 var. (monogram); RPC I 4626. 13.89g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 150

671.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 96 = 31/30 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; date above club to left, monogram to right, Phoenician “B” between legs. Rouvier 2073-5 var. (control to right); BMC 180. 13.94g, 27mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 150

672.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 96 = 31/30 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; date above club to left, monogram to right, Phoenician “B” between legs. Rouvier 2073; BMC 179 var. (monogram). 14.04g, 27mm, 12h. Very Fine. 100

673.

161

674 675

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 101 = 26/25 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow, palm frond behind; to left, date above club; Δ to right, Phoenician letter between legs. Rouvier -; BMC -; RPC I & Supplement 4635A; cf. CNG 327, 28 May 2014, lot 806 for similar year; cf. CNG 328, 11 June 2014, for similar monogram. 14.04g, 24mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 150

674.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 105 = 22/21 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PE (date) above club; monogram to right; Phoenician letter between legs. Rouvier -, cf. 2080 for monogram; BMC 182 var. (monogram); RPC I 4638. 14.05g, 26mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. 200

675.

676 677

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 107 = 20/19 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PZ (date) above club; ΗΣ to right, beth between legs. Rouvier 2078 var. (control to right); BMC 185; DCA 919; HGC 10, 357. 13.82g, 25mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 150

676.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 110 = 17/16 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PI (date) above club; monogram to right, beth between legs. Rouvier 2081; BMC 187; HGC 10, 357; DCA 920. 14.07g, 26mm, 1h. Extremely Fine. 250

677.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 110 = 17/16 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PI (date) above club; KAP monogram to right, beth between legs. Rouvier 2082 var. or corr. (KP to right); BMC 186 var. (aleph between legs); DCA 920; HGC 10, 357. 14.05g, 25mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. 150

678.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 113 = 14/13 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIΓ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; beth between legs. Rouvier 2085; BMC –; DCA 920 (R2); HGC 10, 357; RPC I 4643. 14.19g, 27mm, 12h.Near Extremely Fine. 200

679.

678 679

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 113 = 14/13 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIΓ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram, beth between legs. Rouvier 2084; BMC –; DCA 920 (R2); HGC 10, 357; RPC I 4643. 14.17g, 26mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. 150

680.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 114 = 13/12 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIΔ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; beth between legs. Rouvier 2086; BMC 189; DCA 920 (R3); HGC 10, 357 (but unlisted year); RPC I 4644. 14.11g, 26mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Toned. 250

681.

680 681

162

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 114 = 13/12 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIΔ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; beth between legs. Rouvier 2086; BMC 189; DCA 920 (R3). 14.14g, 27mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Rare date. 200

682.

683 684Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 115 = 12/11 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIE (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; aleph between legs. Rouvier 2088 var. (BN below KP); BMC 193; HGC 10, 357; DCA 920. RPC I 4645. 14.22g, 25mm, 1h. Extremely Fine. 250

683.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 115 = 12/11 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIE (date) above club; to right, KP above BN; aleph between legs. Rouvier 2088; BMC 192; DCA 920; HGC 10, 357; RPC I 4645. 14.05g, 24mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. 200

684.

685 686Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 116 = 11/10 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIς (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; aleph between legs. Rouvier 2089; BMC 194; DCA 920 (R2); HGC 10, 357; RPC I 4646. 14.05g, 28mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Pleasantly toned. 250

685.

Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 116 = 11/10 BC. Laureate bust of Melkart right / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond behind; to left, PIZ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; aleph between legs. Rouvier 2090 var. (monogram); BMC -; RPC I 4647. 14.14g, 25mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 150

686.

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Ptolemy I, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. Arados, circa 320-315 BC. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre; AP monogram in left field, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔPOY to right. Price 3426 (Byblos). 17.16g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 300

687.

EGYPT

Ptolemaic Kings 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. Svoronos 162; SNG Copenhagen 29. 15.69g, 26mm, 12h.


688.

163

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II AV Mnaieon (Oktadrachm). Alexandria, circa 253-246 BC. Head right, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped sceptre in background; K to left / Double cornucopiae, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet; APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY around. Svoronos 475. 27.74g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Beautiful deep red toning. 5,000

689.

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II AV Mnaieon (Oktadrachm). Alexandria, circa 253-246 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, 28mm, 12h.

Light brush marks on reverse, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. 7,500

690.

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy V Epiphanes AR Tetradrachm. Alexandria, circa 204-180 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis knotted round neck / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ around. Svoronos 1231; SNG Copenhagen 244. 14.25g, 28mm, 11h. Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful old cabinet tone. 1,500

691.

PERSIA

Persia, Achaemenid Kings AV Daric. Time of Darios 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 / Rectangular incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb A/B (pl. XIII, 27); BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26; Sunrise 24. 8.38g, 16mm.

About Extremely Fine. Unusually fines style and quality. 3,000

692.

164

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. 8.40g, 15mm.

Good Very Fine. Well centred. 2,000

693.

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, 16mm.


694.

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 / Rectangular incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb A/B (pl. XIII, 27); BMC pl. XXIV, 25. 8.34g, 16mm.


695.

Syria, Laodikeia ad Mare AR Tetradrachm. 54/3 BC. Veiled, draped, and turreted bust of Tyche right / ΛAOΔIKEΩN THΣ IEPAΣ KAI AYTONOMOY, Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre; date HK (year 28) in inner left field, Θ above monogram below throne, ΣE in exergue; all within wreath. Mørkholm -; SNG Copenhagen -; Cf. Hoover 1398. 15.16g, 28mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare - an unrecorded date for this series. 1,000

In his article on this coinage, Mørkholm records no examples of year 28. The date in the reverse field of this coin is clearly cut over year 25, which he does publish (see O. Mørkholm, “The Autonomous Tetradrachms of Laodikeia ad Mare,” MN 28 [1983], 15b.)

696.

SYRIA

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. In the name of Alexander. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; H below left wing, monogram in wreath below right wing; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3707. 8.57g, 17mm, 1h.


697.

165

Exceptional Seleukos Stater

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-305 BC. In the name of Alexander. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; MI under right wing, monogram within wreath under left wing. Price 3745. 8.57g, 19mm, 9h.


Struck from a particularly beautiful pair of dies engraved in the finest style, this coin is one of the finest of the staters struck in the name of Alexander by Seleukos that we have ever handled. Nike stands on the reverse spreading her beautifully detailed wings with a grace and poise rarely seen in this series.

698.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. In the name of Alexander. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; H below left wing, monogram in wreath below right wing. Price 3707. 8.55g, 19mm, 4h.


699.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. In the name of Alexander. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right; MI at feet to left, monogram in wreath to right. Price 3748; Müller 731. 8.55g, 18mm, 9h.


700.

166

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, MI at feet to left, monogram in wreath to right; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3748; Müller 731. 8.56g, 17mm, 5h.


701.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis, MI at feet to left, monogram in wreath to right; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 3748; Müller 731. 8.58g, 18mm, 10h.


702.

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 crested 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. Price 3749; Müller 732. 8.57g, 18mm, 6h.


703.

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 crested 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. Price 3749; Müller 732. 8.56g, 16mm, 4h.


704.

167

A Victory Over Fellow Macedonians

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AR Tetradrachm. Susa, circa 305-295 BC. Head of Seleukos I right, wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with bull’s ears and horns, panther skin tied around neck / Nike standing right, wearing peplos, crowning trophy of Macedonian arms set on sapling tree, from which branch sprouts near base; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ around, monogram in lower middle field. SC 173.4; HGC 9, 20. 17.44g, 29mm, 8h.


The trophy series of Seleukos was issued over an extended period, and used 67 obverse dies and at least 93 reverses that we are aware of. The type is generally assumed to commemorate the victories of Seleukos as he pushed eastwards into India, occupying territory as far as the Indus, and eventually waging war against the Mauryan Empire. This campaign against Chandragupta Maurya was however a failure. While there is no record of what transpired to prevent Seleukos achieving his aims, the two leaders eventually reached an accord whereby Seleukos ceded some of his easternmost territory in exchange for a gift of 500 war elephants. The massive beasts were to play a significant role in the coming wars of the Diadochi, in particular at the Battle of Ipsos in 301 BC.

The assertion that the trophy reverse commemorates a victory by Seleukos in the east or in the Upper Satrapies, and his subsequent assumption of a the royal title in 305/4 BC is problematic. The dating of the issue was proposed by Kritt (The Early Seleukid Mint of Susa, 1997) and subsequently accepted by the numismatic community seemingly without question. Moreover, the important detail of the trophy’s composition is ignored. The trophy is unquestionably built from Macedonian arms, as evidenced by the Vergina Sun (or Argead Star) clearly emblazoned on the shield. That this should therefore represent an eastern victory is impossible, particularly given the inconclusive nature of Seleukos’ campaign against Chandragupta, and its stale conclusion. The issue bears far more significance when viewed in the context of a victory over other Macedonians - for which we should look to the battle of Ipsos, in which Seleukos’ elephants played a decisive role in the victory over Antigonos.

705.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Seleukos I Nikator AR Hemidrachm. Susa, circa 305/4-295 BC. Head of Seleukos I right, wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with the ear and horns of a bull / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣEΛEYKOY, Nike standing right erecting trophy; H below left wing, AX in field between Nike and trophy. SC 175.3; ESMS p. 36, S-32; ESM 419; SNG Spaer -; Houghton -. 1.90g, 14mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

706.

Very Rare Hemidrachm

168

707 708Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos Hierax AR Tetradrachm. Alexandria Troas, circa 242-227 BC. Head of Antiochos I right, wearing winged diadem / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Apollo seated left on omphalos, testing arrow in his right hand and holding bow in his left; two monograms to outer right, horse grazing left in exergue. SC 882.3; Mektepini 211. 16.87g, 31mm, 7h.Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare. 500

707.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos IV Epiphanes AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 167-164 BC. Diademed head right, monogram behind / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines to right, ΘEOY EΠIΦANOYΣ NIKHΦOPOY in three lines to left; Zeus enthroned left, holding sceptre and holding Nike who crowns him; palm branch in outer left field, monograms in exergue. SC 1476.2. 16.96g, 30mm, 7h.Good Very Fine. 200Ex Gorny & Mosch Auction 208, 16 October 2012, lot 1646.

708.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Alexander I Balas AR Drachm. Antioch on the Orontes, SE 163 = 150/49 BC. Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOV in two lines to right, ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY in two lines to left; Apollo seated left on omphalos, testing arrow and resting hand on grounded bow; cornucopiae in outer left field, ΓΞP and monogram in exergue. SC 1785.4. 3.95g, 17mm, 7h.


709.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Alexander I Balas AR Tetradrachm. Tyre, SE 163 = 150/49 BC. Diademed and draped bust right / Eagle standing left on prow left; palm frond behind; to left, club surmounted by Tyre monogram; to right, ΓΞP above monogram. SC 1835.2b; HGC 9, 883. 14.31g, 26mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine; scrape to cheek. 300

710.

Exceedingly Rare Demetrios II Tetradrachm

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Demetrios II AR Tetradrachm. Mallos, 145-143 BC. Diademed head of Demetrios to right, M behind / BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY NIKATOPOΣ, Athena Magarsia standing facing, holding spear, flanked by two rosettes. Cf. Babelon 929; Houghton -; SNG Spaer -; BMC 17; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Levante -; c.f. SC 1897 (this variety not recorded). 16.74g, 31mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. Of the highest rarity; an unrecorded variety of an exceedingly rare type. 5,000

Note from SC: ‘Mallus struck limited tetradrachms under Demetrius I and Alexander I. The mint’s coinage for Demetrius II exhibits the obverse mintmark and local reverse type introduced by his father, Demetrius I. Mallus contributed significantly to the general increase of silver currency production in Cilicia: its five tetradrachm obverse dies make it apparently the most important of Demetrius’ Cilician mints. Like Seleucia on the Calycadnus and Soli, it supplemented its tetradrachms with a small drachm coinage, but Mallus differed from the west Cilician mints in employing its local reverse type for its drachms as well as for its tetradrachms... Within a few years Mallus was taken by Tryphon and continued its production for Antiochus VI.’

711.

169

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Demetrios II Nikator AR Drachm. Seleukeia in Pieria, circa 146-138 BC. Diademed head right / [BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY in two lines on right], NIKATOPOΣ to left; anchor, with flukes upward, PO in inner left field. SC 1926. 4.00g, 17mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. Sharply struck on good metal. 500

712.

713

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. 16.39g, 29mm, 6h.Good Extremely Fine; minor scrape at six o’clock on reverse. 200

713.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Alexander II Zabinas AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 128-122 BC. Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, AΛEΞANΔPOV to left; Zeus enthroned left, resting left hand on sceptre, extending right hand beyond legend and holding Nike facing left, extending wreath left; IΣI in outer left field, star and Δ below throne. SC 2217.3. 16.63g, 32mm, 7h.Near Extremely Fine. 600

714.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Alexander II Zabinas AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 128-122 BC. Diademed head right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, AΛEΞANΔPOV to left; Zeus enthroned left, resting left hand on sceptre, extending right hand beyond legend and holding Nike facing left, extending wreath left; monogram in outer left field, Δ below throne. SC 2220.2c; HGC 9, 1149d. 16.49g, 31mm, 7h.Extremely Fine. Scarce. 500

715.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Kleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 122-121 BC. Jugate heads right of Kleopatra Thea, draped and wearing diadem and stephane, and Antiochos VIII wearing diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ KΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY Zeus Nikephoros seated left; IE to outer left, A below throne. SC 2262.1d; SMA 359; HGC 9, 1182c. 16.69g, 31mm, 7h.Extremely Fine. 1,000

716.

715 716

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Kleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 125-121 BC. Jugate heads right of Kleopatra Thea, draped and wearing diadem and stephane, and Antiochos VIII wearing diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ KΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre; ΣY monogram to outer left. SC 2271.1; HGC 9, 1182g; DCA 252. 16.79g, 31mm, 5h.Extremely Fine. 2,000

717.

714

170

718 719Seleukid Kings of Syria, Kleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 125-121 BC. Jugate heads right of Kleopatra Thea, draped and wearing diadem and stephane, and Antiochos VIII wearing diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ KΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre; ΣY monogram to outer left. SC 2271.1; HGC 9, 1182g; DCA 252. 16.61g, 30mm, 6h.Near Extremely Fine. 1,000

718.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Kleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 125-121 BC. Jugate heads right of Kleopatra Thea, draped and wearing diadem and stephane, and Antiochos VIII wearing diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ KΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre; in outer left field, monogram. Newell, Ake & Damascus 8; SC 2271.1. 16.86g, 28mm, 5h.Near Extremely Fine. 1,000

719.

720 721Seleukid Kings of Syria, Kleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 125-121 BC. Jugate heads right of Kleopatra Thea, draped and wearing diadem and stephane, and Antiochos VIII wearing diadem / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ KΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY, Zeus seated left, holding Nike and sceptre; in outer left field, monogram. Newell, Ake & Damascus 8; SC 2271.1. 16.55g, 29mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. 750

720.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 121-114 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, IE over A in left field, P to right; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.1; SMA 376. 16.50g, 31mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 350

721.

722 723Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 121-114 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, IE over A in left field, P to right; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.2; SMA 369. 16.56g, 31mm, 7h.Extremely Fine. 350

722.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 112-110 BC. Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ in two lines to right, ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ to left; Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above; IE above A in left field, N in inner right field; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.2. 16.67g, 30mm, 6h.Reverse somewhat double struck. Extremely Fine. 750

723.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 112-110 BC. Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ in two lines to right, ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ to left; Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above; IE above A in left field, N in inner right field; all within laurel border. SC 2298.2. 16.37g, 28mm, 6h.Near Extremely Fine. 500

724.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 121-114 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, IE over A in left field, Φ to right and on wreath tie; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.3; SMA 377; SNG Spaer 2497-2500 var. (letter on wreath). 16.74g, 30mm, 7h.Good Extremely Fine. 350

725.

724 725

171

726 727Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 121-114 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, IE over A in left field, P to right and on wreath tie; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.3; SMA 375. 16.73g, 28mm, 6h.Good Extremely Fine. 350

726.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 121-114 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, IE over A in left field, P to right and on wreath tie; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.3; SMA 375. 16.61g, 29mm, 7h.Good Extremely Fine. 350

727.

728 729Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Damascus, dated SE 195 = 118/7 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, two monograms to outer left; EQP (date) in exergue; all within wreath. SC 2323.1; LSM 97. 16.47g, 30mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 350

728.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Damascus, dated SE 196 = 117/6 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, two monograms to outer left; CQP (date) in exergue; all within wreath. SC 2323.3; HGC 9, 1197f; DCA 266. 16.25g, 30mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 350

729.

730 731Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 121-114 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, IE over AI in left field, A to right and k on wreath tie; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2298.4; SMA 371. 16.49g, 29mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 350

730.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 112-110 BC. Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ in two lines to right, ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ to left; Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above; monograms in left field, K in inner right field; all within laurel border. SC 2302.1h. 16.65g, 29mm, 6h.Well struck on a good flan. Extremely Fine. 600

731.

732 733Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, circa 112-110 BC. Diademed head right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ in two lines to right, ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟVΣ to left; Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above; monograms in left field, K in inner right field; all within laurel border. SC 2302.1h. 16.55g, 29mm, 6h.Near Extremely Fine. 600

732.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Sidon, 116/5 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ in two lines to right, ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ to left, ΣΙΔΩ ΙΕΡΑ monogram in three lines in outer left field, second monogram below, date in exergue; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2330.2. 16.68g, 30mm, 12h.Very Fine. 500

733.

172

734 735Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 121-113 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, M in field; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2335. 16.55g, 30mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 350

734.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 121-113 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, M in field; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2335. 16.67g, 31mm, 7h.Extremely Fine. 350

735.


736.


737.


738.


739.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 121-113 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, monogram in field; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2336.2. 16.59g, 31mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 350

740.


741.

740 741

173

742 743Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos VIII Epiphanes Grypos AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemaïs, circa 121-113 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border / ΒAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΑNTIOXOY EΠIΦANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios, draped, standing facing, head to left, holding star in outstretched hand and long sceptre, crescent above, monogram in field; all within laurel wreath border. SC 2336.2. 16.57g, 33mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 350

742.


743.

744 745Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos IX AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, 113-112 BC. Diademed head right, with short curly beard / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines to right, ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ on left; Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting left hand on shield, spear behind; monograms in outer left field, O in inner right field. SC 2363d. 16.74g, 27mm, 5h.Good Extremely Fine - Fleur De Coin. 750

744.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos IX AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, 113-112 BC. Diademed head right, with short curly beard / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines to right, ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ on left; Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting left hand on shield, spear behind; monograms in outer left field, O in inner right field. SC 2363d. 16.54g, 31mm, 6h.Good Extremely Fine. 750

745.

746 747Seleukid Kings of Syria, Antiochos IX AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, 113-112 BC. Diademed head right, with short curly beard / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY in two lines to right, ΦIΛOΠATOPOΣ on left; Athena standing left, holding Nike and resting left hand on shield, spear behind; monograms in outer left field, N in inner right field. SC 2363b. 16.46g, 30mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. 600

746.

Seleukid Kings of Syria, Philip I Philadelphos AR Tetradrachm. Posthumous Proconsular issue under Sextus Julius Caesar. Antioch, 47/6 BC. Diademed head of Philip right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left, monograms to inner left and below throne; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY to right, EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛƗOY to left, date in exergue. SC 2491.1. 15.51g, 27mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. Rare. 100

747.

ELYMAIS

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. 16.51g, 27mm, 6h. Extremely Fine, struck on sound metal and exceptionally well preserved and detailed for the issue. Very Rare. 2,500

748.

Kings of Elymais, Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 82-75 BC. Similar to previous lot. 15.58g, 29mm, 6h.


749.

748 749

175

PERSIS

Kings of Persis, Bagadat (Bayadad) AR Tetradrachm. Early-mid 3rd century BC. Head right, with short beard, moustache, and earring, wearing satrapal cap (kyrbasia) with flaps tied behind / Fire temple of Ahura-Mazda; Bagadat standing left, standard to right. Alram 515; BMC p. 196, 2; Sear GC 6186. 16.44g, 29mm, 4h.


750.

Splendid Portrait of Bagadat

Kings of Persis, Bagadat (Bayadad) AR Tetradrachm. Early-mid 3rd century BC. Head right, with short beard, moustache, and earring, wearing satrapal cap (kyrbasia) with flaps tied behind / Fire temple of Ahura-Mazda; Bagadat standing left, standard to right. Alram 515; BMC p. 196, 2; Sear GC 6186. 16.08g, 30mm, 4h.


751.

Baktria, 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 16E; SNG ANS 868-73; HGC 12, 193. 2.48g, 17mm, 5h.

Fleur De Coin. 250

752.

BAKTRIA

Baktria, 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 6X; SNG ANS 472. 17.01g, 33mm, 6h.

Mint State. 1,500

753.

Kings of Parthia. Mithradates II AR Drachm. 119-109 BC. Diademed bust left, neck torque ends in sea horse / Arsakes I seated right on omphalos, holding bow. Sellwood 24.10; Shore 70. 4.19g, 21mm, 1h.

Attractively toned, sharp details, Good Extremely Fine. 250

754.

1.5x

PARTHIA

176

A Spectacular Gold Dinar of Shapur I

Sasanian Kings, Shapur I AV Dinar. Ctesiphon, AD 260-272. Draped bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown surmounted by a korymbos; one pellet above and two below diadem ties / Fire-altar flanked by two regal attendants wearing mural crowns, symbol to left of flames. SNS type IIc/1b, style P, group d/1 (pl. 31, 143); Göbl type I/1; Saeedi AV5; Sunrise 740. 7.40g, 21mm, 9h.

Fleur De Coin. Extremely Rare. 10,000

Shapur was the second shahanshah (king of kings) of the Sasanian empire, apparently joining his father Ardashir I as king in joint rule in AD 240, and then succeeding in around 242 as sole ruler. Shapur had accompanied his father on campaign against the Parthians who then still controlled much of the Iranian plateau, and already before his accession was praised for his intelligence and learning, as well as for boldness and kind-heartedness.

Continuing his father’s war with the Roman empire, Shapur conquered the Mesopotamian fortresses of Nisibis and Carrhae, advancing into Syria, which required the young emperor Gordian III to set out with a vast army to counter the Sasanian threat. Gordian’s army won battle after battle, at last routing the Sasanian army at Resaena, forcing Shapur to hand back all of his gains. Gordian’s death and the succession of Philip ‘the Arab’ ended the Roman campaign against Shapur, who was able to extract considerable advantages from Philip including an enormous indemnity in gold.

Shapur soon resumed his attacks on Rome, and in 253 met and annihilated a Roman army of 60,000 at the Battle of Barbalissos, and proceeded then to burn and ravage the Roman province of Syria. Armenia was conquered, and Georgia submitted to Sasanian control. With his northern borders secure, Shapur then led an army which penetrated deep into Syria, plundering all the way to Antioch which quickly fell to his forces. The Roman counter-offensive under emperor Valerian was slow, but by 257 Antioch had been recovered and the province of Syria returned to Roman control. Shapur’s speedy retreat caused the Romans to launch a hasty pursuit of the Sasanians all the way to Edessa, where they were severely defeated by the Persians, and Valerian along with the survivors of his army were led away into captivity.

The defeat and capture of Valerian surely marks the greatest achievement in the reign of Shapur, who is also called ‘the Great’, and the submission of Valerian is commemorated in a mural at Naqsh-e Rustam, which shows the emperor bending the knee before Shapur on horseback. Valerian’s army was sent to Bishapur, and the soldiers were used in engineering and development works, such as the Band-e Kaisar (Caesar’s dam) near the ancient city of Susa.

755.

177

Sasanian Kings, Vahrām (Bahram) II AV Dinar. AD 276-293. Draped bust right, wearing winged crown surmounted by a korymbos; three pellets behind crown / Fire-altar flanked by two regal attendants, the one to left wearing winged crown with korymbos, the one to right wearing mural crown; pellets flanking uncertain letter or symbol on tier of altar. SNS type I/1; Göbl type I/1; Saeedi -; Sunrise 764. 7.40g, 21mm, 8h.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 10,000

756.

First Jewish War, Year 2 AR Shekel. Dated 67/68 CE. ‘Shekel of Israel’, ritual chalice with pearled rim, base raised by projections on ends; date above / ‘Jerusalem the Holy’, staff with three pomegranate buds, round base. Hendin 1358; TJC 193; AJC II 260, 8. 13.22g, 22mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. Very attractively toned. 4,000

757.

Extremely Rare Dinar of Vahram II

First Jewish War, Year 3 AR Shekel. Dated 68/69 CE. ‘Shekel of Israel’, ritual chalice with pearled rim, base raised by projections on ends; date above / ‘Jerusalem the Holy’, staff with three pomegranate buds, round base. Hendin 1361; TJC 202; AJC 18. 13.72g, 22mm, 12h.


758.

Beautifully Toned Year 2 Shekel

JUDAEAN COINS

179

ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINS

Tiberius and Divus Augustus BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 7, AD 20/21. TIBEPIOΣ KAICAP ΣEBAΣTOΣ, laureate head right; date below chin / ΣEBAΣTOΣ ΘEOΣ, radiate head of Divus Augustus right. Köln 48; Dattari (Savio) 78; K&G 5.10; RPC 5089; Emmett 60. 13.49g, 26mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Two bold portraits. 1,000

759.

Claudius and Antonia BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 2, AD 41-42. ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡ, laureate head right / ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, bust of Antonia right. Emmett 73; Dattari 114; BMC 65; Milne 61-64. 12.13g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 200

760.

Very Attractive Tetradrachm of Tiberius

Nero and Poppaea Æ16 of Smyrna, Ionia. AD 54-68. NEPΩN A CEBACTON, laureate head right / NEIKH ΠOΠΠAIA ZMYP, Nike, as Poppaea, advancing left, holding wreath and palm. Klose 27; RPC 2486. 3.53g, 16mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 400

761.

Nero with Agrippina Junior BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. AD 54-68. Year 5, AD 58/9. [N... KAIΣ ΣEBAΓEPAYTO, laureate head of Nero right / AΓPIΠΠINA, draped bust of Agrippina Junior right. RPC I 5231; Köln -; Milne 167; Emmett 107. 13.91g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Fine. 100

762.

Nero and Poppaea BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 10, AD 63-64. NEPΩ ΚΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP, radiate bust of Nero right, / ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, bust of Poppaea right, L I in right field. Emmett 128; Köln 157; Dattari 196; BMC 122-123; Milne 217-221. 13.60g, 25mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 100

763.

762 763

180

Nero and Tiberius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 13, AD 66-67. NEPΩ ΚΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AV, radiate bust of Nero left, L IΔ in left field / TIBEPIOΣ KAIΣAP, laureate head of Tiberius right. Emmett 134; Köln 187; Dattari 185; BMC 114-115; Milne 256-260. 12.86g, 23mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 100

764.

764 765

Nero BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 14, AD 67-68. NEPΩ ΚΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AV, radiate bust of Nero left, L IΔ in left field / ZEYΣ NEMIOΣ, laureate bust of Zeus right, star in right field. Emmett 136; Köln 207; Dattari 257; BMC 127; Milne 292-294. 12.78g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 200

765.

Two Excellent Tetradrachms of Nero

Nero BI Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 59-66. NEPΩN KAIΣAP ΣEBAΣTOY, laureate bust right wearing aegis / ETOYΣ AIP.Θ, eagle standing facing on thunderbolt, head right, palm and pellet in right field. Prieur 84. 14.72g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; the finest example offered for sale in recent years. Very Rare. 1,500

766.

Nero BI Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 63. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / ΕΤΟΥΣ ΒΙΡ.Ι, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, wings spread, palm to right. Prieur 89; RPC 4189. 15.10g, 25mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasing iridescent toning. 2,000

Ex Sierra Collection;Ex Ponterio 117, 18 January 2002, lot 326.

767.

Domitian, as Caesar, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. Dated RY 2 = AD 69-70. ΑVΤΟΚΡΑΤ ΚΑΙΣΑ ΟVΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝΟΥ, laureate head right, wearing archaic aegis / ΕΤΟΥΣ ΝΕΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΥ, eagle right on thunderbolt, palm in right field, B (date) in right field. Prieur 104. 15.08g, 24mm, 12h.

About Extremely Fine. 1,250

768.

181

Domitian, as Caesar, Æ21 of Antioch, Syria. AD 69-81. CAESAR DOMIT COS II, laureate head left / SC within laurel wreath. BMC 253; Wruck 112. 6.36g, 21mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Desert Patina. Rare. 100

769.

Nerva BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 1, AD 96-97. AVT NEPOVA KAIΣ ΣEB, laureate head right / Eagle standing right, L A in field left and right. Emmett 361; Dattari 639; BMC 352: Milne 540-541. 13.08g, 25mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. 150

770.

Trajan AR Drachm of Lycia. AD 98-99. ΑVT KAIC NЄP TRAIANOC CЄB ΓЄPM, laureate head right / ΔHM ЄΞ ΥΠAT B, two lyres, with owl above. SNG Copenhagen 45; SNG von Aulock 4267; BMC 10. 3.24g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Attractively toned. 100

771.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 10, AD 125/6. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Agathodaemon serpent coiled about caduceus erect right facing Uraeus erect left; LΔ (date), ΕΚΑΤΟV around. Köln 894; Milne 1164; Emmett 804. 12.40g, 23mm, 12h.


772.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 10, AD 125/6. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Canopic jar right; LΔ (date) EKATOV around. Köln 903; Dattari (Savio) 1325-6; K&G 32.351. 13.28g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 150

773.

182

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 12, AD 127/8. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Osiris mummy standing right, holding sceptre tipped with jackal-head; date in legend. Köln 982; Dattari (Savio) 1445; K&G 32.458. Emmett 883. 12.84g, 25mm, 12h.


774.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 12, 127/8 AD. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟC, clasped hands; L above, IB (date) below. Köln 979; Dattari 1524; Milne 1263; Emmett 848. 13.59g, 26mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 200

775.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 12, 127/8 AD. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟC, clasped hands; L above, IB (date) below. Köln 979; Dattari 1524; Milne 1263; Emmett 848. 13.73g, 24mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. 150

776.

Hadrian Æ Drachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 15, AD 130/131. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / The emperor, holding sceptre, standing in quadriga and being hailed by Alexandria; date below. Köln 1037; Milne 1314; Emmett 966. 23.84g, 35mm, 10h.

Very Fine. 100

777.

Hadrian and Sabina BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 16, AD 131/2. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian right, seen from behind / Draped bust of Sabina right; LIC (date) behind. Köln 1039; Dattari (Savio) 1250; K&G 32.515; Emmett 886. 11.54g, 25mm, 12h.


778.

183

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 16, AD 131/2. AΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CΕΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right / Draped figure of Serapis, seated on high backed throne to left, holding long sceptre in his left hand and extending his right to touch Kerberos seated facing at left, Nike standing right atop the throne to left and crowning Serapis; LΙ-C (date) across. Dattari 1477; Geissen 1044; Milne 1324. 13.17g, 23mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, with traces of lustre. 200

779.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 18, AD 133/4. AΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CΕΒ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right / Draped figure of Serapis, seated on high backed throne to left, holding long sceptre in his left hand and extending his right to touch Kerberos seated facing at left, Nike standing right atop the throne to left and crowning Serapis; LΙ-H (date) across. Köln 1094; Dattari (Savio) 1479; K&G 32.571 var. (position of date); Emmett 892. 13.85g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, exceptional condition for the type and displaying still lustrous metal. 500

780.

Hadrian Æ Drachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 18, AD 133/134 Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / L I-H, Sphinx seated left, right paw on wheel. Köln 1134; Dattari 1996; Milne 1427; Emmett 1053. 25.04g, 32mm, 1h.

Very Fine. 100

781.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 21, AD 136/7. Laureate head right / Demeter standing facing, head left, holding grain ears and long torch; LK–A (date) in fields. Köln 1209; Dattari (Savio) 1335; K&G 32.720; Emmet 832. 12.21g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Good metal for the issue. 200

782.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 21, AD 136/7. AVT KAIC TPA • AΔPIANOC CЄB, laureate head left / Demeter standing left, wreathed and wearing chiton, holding grain ears and poppies in right hand, long torch in left; LK–A (date) across field. Köln 1210; Dattari (Savio) 1336; K&G 32.721; Milne 1525; Emmet 832; BMC 581. 12.16g, 24mm, 12h.


783.

184

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 22, AD 137/8. Laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder / Nilus reclining to left on back of crocodile, holding reed and cornucopiae; LKB (date) to left. Geissen 1241; Dattari (Savio) 1438; BMC 651; Milne 1571. 12.73g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine - Extremely Fine. Rare. 200

784.

Hadrian BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 22, AD 138/9. Laureate head right / Phoenix standing right; ΔIΩN above, L-B (date) across fields. Köln 1290-1; cf. Dattari (Savio) 2430; K&G 35.2. 12.49g, 24mm, 12h.

About Very Fine. Rare. 150

AD 139 marked the renewal of the Great Sothic Cycle, a cycle of 1461 years beginning when the star Sothis (Sirius) rises on the same point on the horizon as the sun.

785.

Hadrian AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 118. AYT KAI ΘE TPA ΠAP YI ΘE NEP YI TPAI AΔPIANOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / ΔHMAPX EΞYΠAT B, eagle standing facing on thigh of sacrificial animal, head and tail left, with wings displayed. McAlee 533; Prieur 156. 14.35g, 26mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Excellent Metal. Toned. 500

786.

Antinous Æ34 of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 19, AD 134-5. ΑΝΤΙΝΟΟΥ ΗΡωΟC, draped bust right, wearing hem-hem crown / Antinous on horseback prancing right, holding caduceus; ΙΘ (date) below horse’s front leg. Emmett 1346. 23.50g, 34mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Attractive ‘desert’ patina. 2,000


In AD 130 the emperor Hadrian travelled up the River Nile with the imperial entourage, including his companion Antinous, whilst on a tour of the provinces. It was during this trip that the young Antinous tragically drowned. The ancient sources are rife with speculation as to whether this occurance was an accident, a suicide on the part of Antinous or a sacrifice to aid the health of the emperor, but what is clear is the strong bond between the two men (Scriptores Historiae Augustae Hadrian, 14, 5-7), which led to Hadrian’s encouragement of a cult in honour of a deified Antinous and his appearance on the coinage, especially in Egypt as with this piece.

787.

Antinous, the Favourite of Hadrian

185

Exceptional Tetradrachm of Sabina

Sabina BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 15, AD 130/131. CABEINA CEBACTH, diademed, draped bust right / CABEINA CEBACTH, Sabina seated left, holding corn-ears and sceptre; LIE (date) above. Milne 1306; Emmett 1334; Curtis 558-559, 561; BMC 917 var. 13.68g, 25mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine, attractive and still partially lustrous metal. Extremely Rare, and likely the finest known example. 1,000

Sabina is here depicted wearing an intricately detailed headdress and diadem, but underlying this proud representation was a dark secret: the empress is known to have had an affair with Suetonius, her husband Hadrian’s personal secretary, an affair recorded in the Historia Augusta, Life of Hadrian (1.11.3). However, it is also known that Hadrian was not left in the position of the cuckold, as he had a famously passionate relationship of his own with his favourite, Antinous. This interesting coin is a good exemplar of the power of propaganda and the representation of the Imperial family as a united front. It highlights the importance given to the portrayal of the emperor and his family, ensuring that they be seen, from the outside at least, as models of dignity and virtue. The charming portrayal of Sabina on this issue, which was struck in the same year as Suetonius died, may have coincided with a renewal and strengthening of the ties between the emperor and his empress.

788.

Antoninus Pius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 2, AD 138-139. AVT K T AVTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / Bust of Isis right, B-L in right field. Unpublished in the standard references, for type cf. Emmett 1401; Köln 1371; Dattari 2252; BMC 987 (all year 5). 13.39g, 25mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 300

789.

Antoninus Pius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 2, AD 138-139. AVT K T AVTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / Bust of Serapis with kalathos, taenia and himation right, ETOVC B around. Emmett 1425; Köln 1296; Dattari 2337; Milne 401. 12.90g, 24mm, 12h.


790.

Unpublished Date for Type

Extremely Rare

186

Antoninus Pius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 2, AD 138/9. Bare head right, slight drapery on far shoulder / Canopic jar of Osiris right; ЄTOVC B (date) around. Köln 1285 corr. (draped and cuirassed); Dattari (Savio) 8117; K&G 35.6. 12.80g, 23mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 150

791.

Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 5, AD 141-142. ANTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius left / M AVPH KAICAP, bare head of Aurelius left, L B below. Cf. Emmett 1407; Köln 1372-1374; Dattari 2110/2111. 11.17g, 23mm, 12h.Very Fine. 150

792.

792 793

Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 6, AD 142-143. ANTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / M AVPH KAICAP, bare head of Aurelius right, S in lower right field. Emmett 1406; Köln 1422; Dattari 2227; Milne 1730. 11.85g, 23mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. 200

793.

Antoninus Pius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 20, AD 156-157. ANTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / Togate and laureate Pius seated on dais to left with extended arm, between two figures hailing him from below, L K in upper field. Emmett 1384; Köln 1770; Dattari 2120; BMC 1007. 11.23g, 22mm, 12h.Very Fine. 200

794.

Antoninus Pius BI Tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt. Year 22, AD 158-159. ANTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / Bust of Isis right, sistrum and L K B in field. Emmett 1401; Köln 1813; Dattari 2255; BMC 988. 12.94g, 23mm, 12h.Very Fine. 150

795.

796 797

Antoninus Pius and Thea Faustina I BI Tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt. Year 22, AD 158-159. AVT K T ANTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / ΦΑVSTINA ΘEA, veiled bust of Thea Faustina I right, L B/K in field left and right. Cf. Emmett 1391; Köln 1815; Dattari 2099; BMC 1214. 12.07g, 24mm, 12h.Good Fine. 100

796.

Antoninus Pius and Thea Faustina I BI Tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt. Year 22, AD 158-159. AVT K T ANTWNINOC CEB EVCEB, laureate and draped bust of Pius right / ΦΑVSTINA ΘEA, veiled bust of Thea Faustina I right, L B/K in field left and right. Cf. Emmett 1391; Köln 1815; Dattari 2099; BMC 1214. 12.31g, 23mm, 12h.Good Fine. 100

797.

794 795

Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 1, AD 161. ANTWNINOC KAI OVHPOC CEBACTOI, confronted busts of Marcus right and Lucius left, both laureate, draped, and cuirassed / EIPHNH, Eirene seated left, holding patera in extended right hand, resting left arm on back of seat; cornucopia below seat, L-A (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3325; K&G 37.418; Milne –; Emmett 2041; BMC 1310. 13.19g, 24mm, 12h.


798.

187

Marcus Aurelius BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 4, AD 163-164. M AVPHΛI ANTONINOC CEB, laureate and draped bust of Marcus Aurelius left / Tyche enthroned left, holding rudder and cornucopiae, LΔ in left field. Emmett 2085; Köln 2027; Dattari 3393; BMC 1268; Milne 2486. 12.85g, 25mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 300

799.

Septimius Severus AR Tetradrachm of Laodicea ad Mare, Syria. AD 205-7. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ CΕΟΥΗΡΟC, laureate and cuirassed bust right / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC Γ, eagle standing facing, head right, holding wreath in beak, star between legs. Prieur 1118. 14.19g, 27mm, 1h.


800.

Caracalla Æ16 of Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior. AD 196-198. Draped bust right / Eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak. Varbanov 2939; BMC -. 2.93g, 16mm, 1h.


Ex Freeman and Sear Mailbid Sale 12, 2005.

801.

Gordian III Æ23 of Seleucia ad Calycadnum, Cilicia. AD 238-244. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΣ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΣΕΛΕΥΚΕΩΝ ΤΩ ΠΡΟ ΠΟ [...], Europa, with veil billowing over her head, seated facing on bull charging to right, dolphin swimming right on waves below. SNG Levante -; SNG France -; SNG von Aulock 5843. 6.26g, 23mm, 12h.

Fine patina, Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 500

802.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Akko Ptolemais, Phoenicia. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ Κ MA ΑΝΤΩΝEΙΝΟC CΕB, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC TO Δ, eagle standing facing, head left with wreath in beak, wings spread, and caps of the Dioscuri surmounted by stars between legs. Prieur 1222. 13.52g, 25mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine; small metal flaw on obverse. 100

803.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 213-217. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤWΝΙΝΟC CΕ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕX ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing on club facing, head left with wreath in beak, murex shell between legs. Prieur 1551. 12.81g, 27mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine; some die shift during striking. Scarce. 100

804.

803 804

188

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Syria. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ Κ Μ Α ΑΝΤΩΝEΙΝΟC CΕΒ, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing, head right with wreath in beak, star between legs, small club below. Prieur 233. 15.87g, 27mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 100

805.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Laodicea ad Mare, Syria. AD 212-213. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC CE, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟC ΤΟ Γ, eagle standing facing, head left with wreath in beak, star between legs. Prieur 1173A. 11.30g, 26mm, 6h.


806.

805 806

807 808

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Laodicea ad Mare, Syria. AD 215-217. AYT K MA ANTΩNEINOC CEB, laureate head right / ΔHMAPX EΞ YΠATOC TO Δ, eagle standing facing, head left with wreath in beak, wings spread, and star between legs. Prieur 1179. 13.43g, 27mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Small die flaw on reverse. 100

807.

Caracalla AR Tetradrachm of Seleucia, Seleucia Pieria. AD 215-217. ΑΥΤ Κ M A ΑΝΤΩΝEΙΝΟC CΕB, laureate head right / ΔΗΜΑΡX ΕΞ ΥΠΑΤΟ Δ, eagle standing facing on thunderbolt, head right with wreath in beak, and wings spread. Prieur 1188. 13.80g, 27mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 100

808.

Macrinus AR Tetradrachm of Edessa, Mesopotamia. AD 217-218. AYK M OΠEΛ CE MAKPEINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, viewed from the front / ΔHMAP X EΞ YΠATOC, eagle standing facing, head to right, holding wreath in beak; shrine between legs. Prieur 852. 12.70g, 28mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Superb style and metal quality. Very Rare. 1,000

809.

Elagabalus Æ25 of Philippopolis, Thrace. AD 218-222. AVT K M AVPH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛEITΩN NEΩKOPΩN, Prize urn inscribed ΠYΘIA, containing palm branches. Varbanov 1798; Mouchmov 512. 7.90g, 25mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 500

810.

189

Elagabalus Æ29 of Tyre, Phoenicia. AD 218-222. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / Dido building Carthage; she stands to front before the arched gate of the city, looking left, holding a rule and transverse sceptre; above the gate, a mason at work, [below, a man digging with pick]; murex shell in upper right field, palm tree to right. Rouvier 2375; BMC 409; AUB 245; Price & Trell 748. 13.30g, 29mm, 6h.


811.

Dido Building Carthage

Severus Alexander Æ34 of Amasia, Pontus. Dated CY 234=AD 231/2. AVT K CEOVHPOC AΛEΞANΔPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / AΔ CEY AΛEΞ AMACIAC MH, eagle with wings spread standing atop altar; above, Helios in facing quadriga; tree to left of altar, ЄT CΛΔ (date) flanking eagle. SNG von Aulock 43 SNG Copenhagen 118. 22.56g, 34mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. An attractive, fine style portrait. 150

812.

Trebonianus Gallus Æ22 of Alexandria Troas, Troas. AD 251-253. IMP VIB TRIB GALLVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / COL AVG TROA, Apollo, holding lyre and reclining upon the back of a griffin which leaps to right. Bellinger, Troy A 403. 6.88g, 22mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 750

813.

Cornelia Supera Æ21 of Parium, Mysia. AD 253. Draped bust right, wearing stephane / She-wolf standing right, head left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. Cf. SNG France 1518 (capricorn; same obv. die); cf. SNG von Aulock 7448 (same; same obv. die); Helios 5, 406 (same dies). 4.33g, 21mm, 12h.


814.

Claudius II Æ33 of Sagalassus, Pisidia. AD 268-70. ΑΥΚ Μ ΑΥΡ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΝ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / The Dioscuri standing beside horses, star above each and crescent between, I in left field, CΑΓΑΛΑCCΕΩΝ in exergue. SNG von Aulock 5205; BMC -. 21.38g, 33mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 400

815.

191

COINS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLICWell Preserved Didrachm

Anonymous AR Didrachm. Rome, circa 264-255 BC. Diademed head of Hercules right, wearing lion skin around neck; club on shoulder / She-wolf standing right, head left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; ROMANO in exergue. Crawford 20/1; Sydenham 6; RSC 8. 6.86g, 22mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine. Excellent style and well preserved for the issue. 3,000

816.

Anonymous AR Didrachm. Rome, circa 264-255 BC. Diademed head of Hercules right, wearing lion skin around neck; club on shoulder / She-wolf standing right, head left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; ROMANO in exergue. Crawford 20/1; Sydenham 6; RSC 8. 6.90g, 23mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 1,000

817.

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, P in right field. Crawford 22/1; Sydenham 21; RSC 7; HN Italy 295. 6.49g, 18mm, 12h.

Good Fine. 500

818.

Anonymous AR Didrachm. Rome, circa 240 BC. Head of Mars right, wearing Corinthian helmet adorned with griffin / Horse’s head right, wearing bridle; falx behind, ROMA below. Crawford 25/1; Sydenham 24; RSC 34. 6.50g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. 750

819.

Anonymous Æ Semilitra. Rome, circa 234-231 BC. Head of Roma right wearing Phyrgian helmet / Dog standing right, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 26/4; Sydenham 22. 1.90g, 12mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500

820.

192

Anonymous AR Didrachm. Rome, circa 225-214 BC. Laureate head of Janus / Jupiter, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, in quadriga to right, driven by Victory; ROMA incuse on tablet below. Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64; RSC 23. 6.61g, 24mm, 6h.


821.


Toned. Extremely Fine. 1,000

Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXII, 7 December 1994, lot 33;Ex Moreira Sale, Pt. 1, 31 May-1 June 1988, lot 1654.

822.


Extremely Fine. Attractive old toning. 1,000

823.

Anonymous AR Drachm or Half-Quadrigatus. Rome, circa 225-212 BC. Laureate, youthful head of Janus / Jupiter, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, in quadriga to left, driven by Victory; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 28/4; Sydenham 67. 3.24g, 18mm, 12h.


824.

Anonymous AR Didrachm. Circa 225-214 BC. Laureate head of Janus, the line of neck indented / Jupiter, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, in quadriga to right, driven by Victory; ROMA in relief on raised tablet in exergue. Crawford 29/3; Sydenham 64e; Kestner 104; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 105; RSC 23/24. 6.47g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old tone. 2,000

825.

193

Anonymous AR Quinarius. Rome, from 211 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; V behind / The Dioscuri on horseback to right, ROMA in linear frame in exergue. Crawford 44/6; Sydenham 141; RSC 3. 1.94g, 16mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. 250

826.

Anonymous AR Quinarius. Rome, after 211 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / The Dioscuri on horseback to right, ROMA in exergue. RSC 3; Crawford 48/1. 2.19g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 350

827.

Anonymous Æ Sextans. Rome, after 211 BC. Head of Mercury right, two pellets above / Prow right, ROMA above, two pellets below. Crawford 56/6; Sydenham 143d. 8.48g, 27mm, 9h.


828.

Anonymous AR Quinarius. Luceria, 211-210 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; V (mark of value) behind, L below / The Dioscuri on horseback riding right. Crawford 98A/3; King 21; Sydenham 176a; RSC 33e. 1.92g, 16mm, 9h.

Good Fine. 100

829.

Anonymous AR Quinarius. Apulia, circa 211-210 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / The Dioscuri on horseback to right, MT ligate below horse on right, ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 103/2a; Sydenham 183. 2.32g, 17mm, 8h. Extremely Fine. Scarce. 500

830.

Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 194-190 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, each holding a couched lance, stars and crescent above; ROMA within linear frame below. Crawford 137/1. 4.01g, 20mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine. 500

831.

194

C. Junius C. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 149 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri on horseback to right, C•IVNI•C•F beneath; ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 210/1; Sydenham 392; Junia 1. 3.70g, 18mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Beautiful old cabinet tone. 300

832.

M. Atilius Saranus AR Denarius. Rome, 148 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, SARAN ligate behind, X below chin / The Dioscuri on horseback to right, M. ATILI below horses, ROMA in exergue. Atilia 8; Crawford 214/1c; Sydenham 398d. 3.87g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 300

833.

Q. Marcius Libo AR Denarius. Rome, 148 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X below chin, LIBO behind / The Dioscuri on horseback to right, Q. MARC below horses, ROMA in linear frame below. Marcia 1; Crawford 215/1; Sydenham 395. 3.88g, 21mm, 5h.

Fleur De Coin. Struck on a broad flan and with a beautiful golden tone. 2,000

Ex Roma Numismatics III, 31 March 2012, lot 371.

834.

Fleur De Coin

Ti. Veturius AR Denarius. Rome, 137 BC. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars right; behind, denomination mark X and T.I. VET (ligate) downwards / Two soldiers face each other, one bearded and without armour, one bearded and in armour; each holds a spear in left hand and with sword in right hand touches pig held by figure kneeling between them; above, ROMA. Crawford 234/1; Sydenham 527; Veturia 1. 3.91g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 300

835.

Sextus Pompeius Faustulus AR Denarius. Rome, 137 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, jug behind, X below chin / SEX PO FOSTLVS, she-wolf standing right, suckling Romulus and Remus; the shepherd Faustulus to left, fig tree in the background on which a woodpecker is seated. Crawford 235/1; Sydenham 461; Pompeia 1. 3.98g, 20mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. 300

836.

195

C. Aburius Geminus AR Denarius. Rome, 134 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, GEM behind, XVI monogram below chin / Mars in quadriga right, C. ABVRI below horses, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 244/1; Sydenham 490. 3.87g, 19mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractively toned; lustrous. 300

838.

839. M. Marcius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 134 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, XVI monogram below chin, modius behind / Victory in biga right, M MARC ROMA in two lines below horses, divided by two ears of corn. Marcia 8; Crawford 245/1; Sydenham 500. 3.99g, 18mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 300

840. P. Maenius Antiaticus M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 132 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, XVI monogram behind / Victory driving quadriga right, P•MAE ANT (ligate) below; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 249/1; Sydenham 492. 3.91g, 17mm, 6h.


841. M. Aburius M. f. Geminus AR Denarius. Rome, 132 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; GEM behind; XVI monogram below chin / Sol driving galloping quadriga right, M ABVRI below horses; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 250/1; Sydenham 487. 3.93g, 19mm, 4h.

Fleur De Coin. Beautiful surfaces and attractively toned. 500

842.

C. Servilius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 136 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, wreath [and XVI monogram] behind, ROMA below / The Dioscuri galloping apart, with spears reverted, C SERVEILI M F in exergue. Sydenham 525; Crawford 239/1; Servilia 1. 3.90g, 21mm, 7h.



837.

M. Aburius M. f. Geminus AR Denarius. Rome, 132 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; GEM behind; XVI monogram below chin / Sol driving galloping quadriga right, M ABVRI below horses; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 250/1; Sydenham 487. 3.97g, 18mm, 5h.


196

M. Acilius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 130 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, M. ACILIVS M. F around within two dotted lines / Hercules, holding trophy and club, in slow quadriga right, ROMA in exergue. Acilia 4; Crawford 255/1; Sydenham 511. 3.95g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Highly lustrous and beautifully toned. Exceptional for the type. 1,000

843.

M. Acilius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 130 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, M. ACILIVS M. F around within two dotted lines / Hercules, holding trophy and club, in slow quadriga right, ROMA in exergue. Acilia 4; Crawford 255/1; Sydenham 511. 3.92g, 20mm, 4h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful iridescent toning. 300

844.

L. Pomponius Cn. f., L. Licinius and Cn. Domitius AR Serrate Denarius. Narbo, circa 118 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, L. POMPONI. CNF. around / Gallic warrior (Bituitus?) driving galloping biga right, hurling spear and holding shield and carnyx; L. LIC. CN DOM in exergue. Crawford 282/4; RSC Pomponia 7a. 3.99g, 20mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous metal. 500

845.

Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 115-114 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing winged and crested helmet, hair falling in two locks down neck, 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. 3.77g, 21mm, 10h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasantly toned; an exceptional example. 1,500

A notoriously difficult issue to find in good condition, this iconic reverse design portrays the Roman foundation myth in a new manner – showing the goddess Roma watching over the twins Romulus and Remus as they are suckled by the she-wolf, waiting for the day that Rome will be built. The contemporary popularity of the type is evidenced by its subsequent reproduction on the later coinage of Titus.

847.

M. Aurelius Scaurus AR Serrate Denarius. Narbo, 118 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet; M AVRELI before, ROMA and mark of value behind / Gallic warrior (Bituitus?) driving galloping biga right, hurling spear and holding shield and carnyx; SCAVRI below, L LIC CN DOM in exergue. Crawford 282/1; Sydenham 523; Aurelia 20. 3.94g, 20mm, 9h.

Very minor corrosion spots on reverse, otherwise Extremely Fine. 300

846.

197

C. Claudius Pulcher AR Denarius. Rome, 110-109 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right / Victory in biga right, C. PVLCHER in exergue. RSC 1; Sydenham 569; Crawford 300/1. 3.93g, 18mm, 6h.


848.

Man. Aquillius AR Denarius. Rome, 109-108 BC. Radiate head of Sol right, X (mark of value) below chin / Luna driving galloping biga right, holding reins in both hands; crescent moon and three stars above, one star and MN • AQVIL below; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 303/1; Sydenham 557; Kestner 2532-3; BMC 645-6; Aquillia 1. 3.83g, 20mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractive iridescent toning. 750

849.

L. Memmius Galeria AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 106 BC. Laureate bust of Saturn left; •F before; ROMA and harpa behind / Venus driving biga right; Cupid flying above with laurel wreath; L•MEMMI GAL in two lines in exergue. Crawford 313/1b; Sydenham 574. 3.92g, 19mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. 300

850.

L. Sentius C. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 101 BC. ARG PVB, helmeted head of Roma right / L SENTI C F, Jupiter driving galloping quadriga right, holding sceptre, reins, and thunderbolt; H below horses. Crawford 325/1b; Sydenham 600; Sentia 1. 3.98g, 22mm, 6h.


851.

A. Albinus Sp. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 96 BC. Bust of Diana right, bow and quiver at shoulder, ROMA below / Three soldiers on horseback galloping left, each holding spear and one holding standard, fallen warrior before; A. ALBINVS S. F. in exergue. Crawford 335/9; Sydenham 613; Postumia 4. 3.80g, 19mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. 200

852.

198

D. Junius Silanus L. f. Æ As. Rome, 91 BC. Laureate head of Janus, mark of value above / Prow right, D SILANVS L F above. Sydenham 649; Crawford 337/5. 13.46g, 29mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Dark green patina. 1,000

Privately purchased from Freeman & Sear in January 2006.

853.

D Junius L. f. Silanus AR Denarius. Rome, 91 BC. Diademed bust of Salus right, SALVS below, C before, all within torque / Victory in biga right; ROMA beneath; D SILANVS in exergue. Crawford 337/2c; Sydenham 645. 3.84g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasant old tone. Rare. 500

Ex Sternberg XXXII, 28-29 October 1996, lot 228.

854.

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi AR Denarius. Rome, 90 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; anchor behind, T before / L PISO FRVGI below horseman galloping right, holding palm, staff below, P above. Crawford 340/1; Sydenham 669b; Calpurnia 8ff. 4.15g, 20mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. Attractive iridescent tones on lustrous metal. 300

855.

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi AR Denarius. Rome, 90 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; H to left, F to right / Horseman galloping right, holding palm frond and reins, G above, L. PISO FRVGI below; H in exergue. Crawford 340/1; Calpurnia 11. 3.96g, 18mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine. 300

856.

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi AR Denarius. Rome, 90 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; T to left, F to right / Horseman galloping right, holding palm frond and reins, caduceus above, L. PISO FRVGI below; E in exergue. Crawford 340/1; Calpurnia 11. 3.62g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 250

857.

199

C. Vibius C. f. Pansa AR Denarius. Rome, circa 90 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, A below chin, PANSA behind / Minerva driving galloping quadriga right, holding trophy, reins and spear; C. VIBIVS C. F. in exergue. Crawford 342/5b; Vibia 1. 4.02g, 20mm, 12h.


Ex Hirsch 255, 14 February 2008, lot 1695.

858.

Cn. Lentulus Clodianus AR Denarius. Rome, 88 BC. Helmeted bust of Mars right, seen from behind / Victory in biga right, holding wreath and reins, CN LENTVL in exergue. Crawford 345/1; Sydenham 702; Cornelia 50. 3.83g, 21mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. 300

Ex Triton VI, 14 January 2003, lot 663.

859.

C. Norbanus AR Denarius. Rome, 83 BC. Diademed bust of Venus right; CLXXIIII behind; C NORBANVS below / Corn ear, fasces and caduceus. Sydenham 739; Crawford 357/1b. 3.94g, 20mm, 3h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasant golden toning. 500

860.

C. Mamilius Limetanus AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 82 BC. Bust of Mercury right, draped and wearing winged petasos, caduceus and M behind / Ulysses standing right, holding staff in left hand and extending right hand to Argus, C. MAMIL LIMETAN around. Crawford 362/1; Sydenham 471. 4.11g, 21mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. 500

861.

C. Valerius Flaccus AR Denarius. Massalia, 82 BC. Bust of Victory right, tripod behind / Legionary eagle between two standards inscribed H and P, C. VAL. FLA behind, IMPERAT before, EX S.C below. Valeria 12; Crawford 365/1a; Sydenham 747a. 3.66g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Pleasing iridescent toning. 300

862.

200

Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius AR Denarius. Spain, 81 BC. Diademed bust of Pietas right, stork before / IMPER below jug and lituus, all within wreath. Crawford 374/2; Sydenham 751. 4.00g, 20mm, 4h.


863.

Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius AR Denarius. Spanish mint, 77-76 BC. Diademed bust of Pietas right; stork before / Elephant left; Q•C•M•P•I• in exergue. Crawford 374/1; BMC Spain 43; Caecilia 43; Sydenham 750; Catalli 535. 3.76g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

864.

L. Cornelius Sulla Felix AR Denarius. Rome, 81 BC. Head of Venus right, wearing diadem / Double cornucopiae, Q below. Crawford 375/2; Sydenham 755. 4.23g, 21mm, 1h.

Good Very Fine. 500

865.

L. Volteius L. f. Strabo AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 81 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter right; A behind / Europa seated on bull charging left, holding veil which billows overhead; thunderbolt behind, vine leaf below; L·VL·O·L·F·STRAB in exergue. Crawford 377/1; Sydenham 743; Volteia 6. 3.86g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine, with old cabinet toning. Very Rare. 750

866.

C. Poblicius Q. f. AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 80 BC. Draped bust of Roma right, helmet decorated with corn ears and control mark above head, ROMA behind / Hercules strangling the Nemean lion, club at his feet, bow and arrow on left, C. POBLICI. Q. F on right. Poblicia 9; Crawford 380/1; Sydenham 768. 3.82g, 20mm, 1h.


867.

C. Naevius Balbus AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 79 BC. Diademed bust of Venus right; S•C behind / Victory in triga right, control number above; C•NAE•BALB in exergue. Crawford 382/1a; Sydenham 769. 3.93g, 20mm, 7h.


868.

201

M. Volteius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 75 BC. Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion’s skin headdress / Erymanthian Boar charging right, VOLTEI·M·F in exergue. Crawford 385/2; Sydenham 775; Volteia 2. 4.17g, 18mm, 6h.


869.

L. Lucretius Trio AR Denarius. Rome, 74 BC. Radiate head of Sol right / Crescent moon surrounded by seven stars, TRIO above, L. LVCRETI below. Crawford 390/1; Sydenham 783; Lucretia 2. 3.90g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 500

870.

M. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus AR Denarius. Rome, 69 BC. Draped bust of Fortuna right, symbol behind / Half-length bust of Sors facing, head slightly right; tablet inscribed SORS below, M. PLAETORI. CEST. S.C. around. Crawford 405/2; Sydenham 801. 4.11g, 18mm, 8h.

Near Extremely Fine. Very well centred and preserved, with good detail on reverse, including the facial area which is usually worn. Attractively toned. Rare. 1,000

871.

Well Preserved Sors Denarius

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. 4.13g, 17mm, 6h.


872.

202

Q. Pomponius Musa AR Denarius. Rome, 66 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, scroll behind / Clio left, holding scroll in right hand and resting left elbow on column; Q. POMPONI downwards to right, MVSA downwards to left. Crawford 410/3. 4.27g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. 750

873.

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. 3.86g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful iridescent toning. 300

874.

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. 3.93g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

875.

M. Aemilius Lepidus AR Denarius. Rome, 61 BC. Laureate and diademed female bust right / Horseman right, carrying trophy over shoulder, M LEPIDVS in exergue. Aemilia 21; Sydenham 827; Crawford 419/1a. 3.71g, 18mm, 5h.

Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. Rare. 500

876.

P. Plautius Hypsaeus AR Denarius. Rome, 60 BC. Draped bust of Leuconoë right; dolphin behind; P•YPSAE•S•C• before / Jupiter in rearing quadriga left; CEPIT to right; C•YPSAE•COS PRIV in exergue. Crawford 420/2a. 3.75g, 18mm, 2h.

Good Extremely Fine. Slightly off-centre, but lustrous and far more beautiful in hand. 500

877.

203

M. Aemilius Scaurus and P. Plautius Hypsaeus AR Denarius. Rome, 58 BC. M•SCAVR AED CVR, kneeling figure right (King Aretas of Nabataea), holding olive branch and reins of camel beside him; EX on left; S•C on right; REX ARETAS in exergue / P•HVPSAE AED CVR, Jupiter in quadriga left, holding reins in left hand and hurling thunderbolt with right; scorpion below horses; CAPTV on right; C HVPSAE COS PREIVE in exergue. Babelon Aemilia 8 and Plautia 8; Sydenham 913; Crawford 422/1b. 4.10g, 20mm, 9h.


878.

Faustus Cornelius Sulla AR Denarius. Rome, 56 BC. Bust of Hercules right, wearing lion skin headdress; SC and monogram behind / Globe surrounded by four wreaths; aplustre below left, corn below right. Crawford 426/4a; Sydenham 882. 3.60g, 20mm, 10h.

Very Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. 400

879.

P. Fonteius P. f. Capito AR Denarius. Rome, 55 BC. P FONTEIVS CAPITO III VIR CONCORDIA, diademed, veiled and draped head of Concordia right / Villa Publica on the Campus Martius, T DIDI on left, VIL PVB on right, IMP below. Crawford 429/2a; Sydenham 901. 4.36g, 18mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. Pleasing old cabinet tone. 300

880.

L. Vinicius AR Denarius. Rome, 52 BC. Laureate head of Concordia right, CONCORDIA before / Victory flying to right, holding palm branch decorated with four wreaths, L. VINICI before. Sear 402; Vinicia 1a; Crawford 436/1; Sydenham 930. 3.68g, 19mm, 12h.


881.

Q. Sicinius AR Denarius. Rome, 49 BC. Diademed head of Fortuna right, P. R behind, FORT before / Palm-branch and caduceus crossed, laurel wreath above, III VIR across fields, Q. SICINIVS below. Sicinia 5; Crawford 440/1; Sydenham 938. 3.89g, 18mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasant blue tone on reverse. 500

882.

204

Cn. Nerius AR Denarius. Rome, Spring 49 BC. Head of Saturn right, harpa over shoulder; NERI. Q. VRB downwards before / Aquila right between two signa inscribed H (for Hastati) and P (for Principes), respectively; L.LENT upwards to left, C MARC upwards to right. Crawford 441/1; CRI 2; Sydenham 937; Neria 1. 3.98g, 18mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. 600

883.

Q. Sicinius and C. Coponius AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Pompey, 49 BC. Diademed head of Apollo right, XVI monogram below, III VIR behind, Q. SICINIVS before / Club of Hercules surmounted by lion’s skin between arrow and bow, PR. S. C on left, C. COPONIVS on right. Sicinia 2; Crawford 444/1b; Sydenham 939b. 3.92g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractive iridescent toning. 500

Ex Künker 143, 6-7 October 2008, lot 422.

884.

L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus AR Denarius. Apollonia in Illyricum, April-June 49 BC. L•LENT•C•MARC COS, head of Apollo right, with long hair / Jupiter, naked, standing facing, head right, holding thunderbolt in extended right hand and in extended left, eagle right, head left, with wings displayed; star of eight rays above Q to left, garlanded altar to right. Crawford 445/2; CRI 5; Sydenham 1030; Kestner 3530-1; BMCRR East 21-2; Cornelia 65. 3.98g, 18mm, 2h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous and attractively toned. Rare. 1,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 40, 16 May 2007, lot 526.

This coin was struck for the two consuls of 49 BC, both of whom supported the party of Pompey and were violently opposed to Caesar, upon whose approach to Rome they fled to Sicily. They then travelled to Asia Minor where this coin was struck. The reverse is claimed to be a copy of the famous statue of Zeus Eleutherios, by Myron, which was set up by the Syracusans as a memorial to their freedom in 460 BC.

885.

Pleasing Lentulus and Marcellus Denarius

L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus AR Denarius. Apollonia in Illyricum, April-June 49 BC. L•LENT•C•MARC COS, head of Apollo right, with long hair / Jupiter, naked, standing facing, head right, holding thunderbolt in extended right hand and in extended left, eagle right, head left, with wings displayed; star of eight rays above Q to left, garlanded altar to right. Crawford 445/2; CRI 5; Sydenham 1030; Kestner 3530-1; BMCRR East 21-2; Cornelia 65. 4.02g, 17mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. 1,000

Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.12962.

886.

205

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 448/1a; Sydenham 951; Hostilia 5. 3.99g, 19mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Beautifully toned. 500

887.

Decimus Junius Brutus AR Denarius. Rome, 48 BC. Bust of Pietas right; PIETAS behind / Two joined hands holding a caduceus; ALBINVS BRVTI•F• below. Crawford 450/2; Sydenham 942. 3.97g, 18mm, 10h.


Decimus Junius Brutus, who was later to become one of the assassins of Julius Caesar, was adopted by A. Postumius Albinus and he joined to his own name that of his adopted father. He must not be confused with the more celebrated M. Junius (or Q. Caepio) Brutus. This moneyer served under Caesar in Gaul and received many marks of favour from him. This type denotes the good relationship between Caesar and the citizens of Rome.

888.

Cn. Lucretius Trio AR Denarius. Rome, 136 BC. Helmeted bust of Roma right; X before; TRIO behind / The Dioscuri riding right, each holding a couched lance, stars above; CN•LVCR below; ROMA in exergue. Sydenham 450; Crawford 237/1. 3.95g, 17mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine. 250

889.

C. Antius C. f. Restio AR Denarius. Rome, 47 BC. Jugate heads of Dei Penates right, DEI PENATES below / Hercules walking right, holding trophy and club, C ANTIVS C F before. Sydenham 971; Crawford 455/2b. 3.78g, 19mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Light iridescent tone. Rare. 500

Privately purchased from NFA in November 1992.

890.

Q. Metellus Pius Scipio AR Denarius. African mint, 47-46 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter right, beard and hair in ringlets / Elephant walking right, SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue. Crawford 459/1; Caecilia 47. 4.12g, 17mm, 4h.


891.

Q. Metellus Pius Scipio AR Denarius. African mint, 47-46 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter right, beard and hair in ringlets / Elephant walking right, SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue. Crawford 459/1; Caecilia 47. 3.54g, 18mm, 12h.


892.

206

L. Valerius Acisculus AR Denarius. Rome, 45 BC. ACISCVLVS, diademed head of Apollo Soranus right, acisculus behind, star above / Valeria Luperca riding a heifer right, holding a veil above; L VALERIVS in exergue. Crawford 474/1a. 3.99g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. 500

893.

L. Valerius Acisculus AR Denarius. Rome, 45 BC. ACISCVLVS, diademed head of Apollo Soranus right, acisculus behind, star above, all in wreath border / Valeria Luperca riding a heifer right, holding a veil above; L VALERIVS in exergue. Crawford 474/1b. 4.29g, 18mm, 9h.

Very Fine. 500

894.

L. Valerius Acisculus AR Denarius. Rome, 45 BC. ACISCVLVS, radiate head of Sol right; acisculus behind / Luna Lucifera, holding whip and reins, driving galloping biga right; L. VALERIVS in exergue. Crawford 474/5; CRI 94; Sydenham 1002; Valeria 20a. 3.73g, 20mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. 500

895.

C. Vibius Varus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Bust of Minerva right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis / Hercules standing facing, holding club in right hand and with lion’s skin over left arm; C. VIBIVS downwards to right, VARVS downwards to left. Crawford 494/38, Sydenham 1140. 4.07g, 20mm, 1h.


896.

P. Clodius M. f. Turrinus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Laureate bust of Apollo right; lyre behind / Diana standing facing, with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lighted torch in each hand; P•CLODIVS M•F• across fields. Sydenham 1117; Crawford 494/23. 3.92g, 21mm, 1h.

Fleur De Coin. 300

897.

207

COINS OF THE IMPERATORS

Pompey Magnus AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Pompey, 49 BC. Diademed terminal bust of Jupiter right, VARRO PRO Q / Sceptre between dolphin and eagle, MAGN PRO COS in two lines in exergue. Sydenham 1033; Crawford 447/1a; Sear 8. 3.83g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. Rare. 2,000

898.

Rare and Attractive Pompey Magnus Denarius

Julius Caesar AV Aureus. Lifetime issue. Rome, 46 BC. C CAESAR COS TER, veiled head of a female figure, possibly Vesta, right / A HIRTIVS PR, capis between lituus to left, axe to right. Sear 56; Calicó 37b. 8.10g, 20mm, 9h.

Near Very Fine. 2,000

899.

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. 3.80g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

900.

M. Junius Brutus AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Brutus in Asia Minor, 42 BC. Veiled, draped bust of Libertas right; L SESTI PRO Q around; P in left field / Tripod between sacrificial axe and simpulum, all within beaded border; Q CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS around. Junia 37; Sydenham 1290; Crawford 502/2. 3.84g, 17mm, 12h.


901.

208

Q. Caepio Brutus and C. Flavius Hemicillus AR Denarius. Mint moving with Brutus, 43-42 BC. C FLAV HEMIC LEG PRO PR, draped bust of Apollo right, lyre before / Q CAEP BRVT IMP, Victory standing to left, holding branch and crowning trophy. Junia 49 and Flavia 1; Sydenham 1294; Sear Imperators 205; Crawford 504/1. 3.92g, 18mm, 12h.


902.

M. Junius Brutus AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius in Western Asia Minor or Northern Greece, 43-42 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right; COSTA LEG around / Trophy of arms; IMP BRVTVS around. Junia 42; Sydenham 1296; Crawford 506/2. 3.90g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; old cabinet tone. Rare. 750

903.

M. Junius Brutus with P. Servilius Casca Longus AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with the army (western Asia Minor or northern Greece). Summer-Autumn 42 BC. CASCA LONGVS, laureate bust of Neptune right, trident below / BRVTVS IMP, Victory in long tunic walking to right, palm branch over left shoulder and breaking diadem with both hands, broken sceptre on ground. Junia 44; Crawford 507/2; Sydenham 1298. 3.92g, 22mm, 12h.

About Good Very Fine. Attractive colourful toning. 2,000

904.

Brutus and Casca Longus

Exceptional Lepidus-Octavian Denarius

M. Aemilius Lepidus and Octavian AR Denarius. November-December 43 BC. Military mint travelling with Lepidus in Italy. Bare head of Lepidus right; LEPIDVS • PONT • MAX • III • V • R • P • C • around / Bare head of Octavian right, wearing slight beard; C • CAESAR • IMP • III • VIR • R • P • C • around. Crawford 495/2a; CRI 140; RSC 2a; Sydenham 1323; Kestner 3760; BMCRR Africa 30. 3.78g, 19mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasantly toned, and in exceptional condition for the type. 7,500

Ex Spink 206, 2 December 2010, lot 1287 (sold for £7,000); Numismatica Ars Classica 8, 3 April 1995, lot 622.

905.

209

Beautiful Denarius of Antony and Octavian

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, right. Sear 243; Crawford 517/2; Sydenham 1181. 3.91g, 20mm, 12h.


906.

Marc Antony AR Denarius. Athens, 38-37 BC. III VIR R P C COS DESIG ITER ET TERT, radiate bust of Sol right / M ANTONIVS M F M N AVGVR IMP TER, Antony standing right, dressed as priest, veiled, wearing toga and holding a lituus. Crawford 533/2; Sydenham 1199. 3.97g, 20mm, 9h.

Very Fine. Somewhat worn and with a bankers mark on obverse chin, but still a highly attractive example of this sought after type, displaying magnificent iridescent hues around the devices. 500

907.

Marc Antony and Octavia AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Ephesus, 39 BC. ·M·ANTONIVS·IMP·COS·DESIG·ITERET·TERT, head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath, lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers / Head of Octavia atop cista mystica, flanked by snakes; III·VIR downwards to left, R·P·C upwards to right. RPC I 2201; CRI 262; Sydenham 1197; RSC 2; Sear 1512. 12.16g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 750

908.

Marc Antony and Octavia AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Ephesus, 39 BC. ·M·ANTONIVS·IMP·COS·DESIG·ITERET·TERT, head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath, lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers / Head of Octavia atop cista mystica, flanked by snakes; III·VIR downwards to left, R·P·C upwards to right. RPC I 2201; CRI 262; Sydenham 1197; RSC 2; Sear 1512. 10.65g, 27mm, 12h.


909.

211

Marc Antony and Cleopatra AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain Phoenician mint, 36 BC. BACIΛICCA KΛEOΠATPA ΘEA NEWTEPA, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, her dress embroidered with pearls / ANTWNIOC AYTOKPATWP TPITON TPIWN ANDPWN, bare head of Antony right. RPC 4094; McAlee 174; Prieur 27; BMC 53. 15.08g, 27mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Good metal for the issue, and aesthetically very pleasing. Rare. 30,000

This tetradrachm, struck after the return of Antony to the East, proclaims the new political alliance between the triumvir and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Antony’s choice to leave the sister of his rival Octavian was a bold move which completely separated him from his homeland, though the many titles and honours he received when he made this transition are symptomatic of the irresistible allure of the luxurious Eastern world.

Despite Antony having been away for four years, during which time he had married another woman and fathered two daughters (see lot 926 for the younger daughter, Antonia Minor), Cleopatra eagerly accepted Antony’s invitation to join him in Antioch, where the two were married and made ostentatious display of their partnership. Her acquiescence is understandable considering that she had already borne twins for Antony, and no doubt considered herself equal to the task of beguiling him once more and manipulating him to her will. The difficulty of maintaining the Ptolemaic Kingdom intact while Rome greedily ogled her rich and bountiful, but weak, country was no doubt the prime motivating factor. Though this coin confirms their political union, the individual sovereignty of both Cleopatra and Antony is distinctly maintained by their placement on obverse and reverse respectively rather than displaying them in a conjoined bust format.

This issue has been traditionally assigned to Antioch, however R. McAlee points out that the letter forms (C for Σ and ω for Ω) are inconsistent with those on contemporary Antiochene issues. Moreover, Antioch remained in Roman rule despite Antony granting vast tracts of territory to Cleopatra. The placement of Cleopatra, not Antony, on the obverse also points to a mint within Egyptian territory, perhaps in Phoenicia. For this same reason, a military mint moving with Antony appears unlikely. Nonetheless, the dating of the coin suggests that it may well have been issued in support of Antony, and in particular of his Parthian campaign, a great undertaking involving more than 100,000 Roman and allied troops which ultimately proved to be a complete failure that cost the lives of about 25,000 men.

This joint issue coinage (along with the similar denarius type) no doubt contributed to the increasingly prevalent view in Rome that Antony had deserted his Roman values and indeed the Roman people; a view that was shortly thereafter firmly cemented by the Donations of Alexandria, in which ceremony Antony paraded himself dressed as Dionysus and proceeded to distribute Rome’s eastern territories to the children of Cleopatra and grant them many titles. When Octavian obtained Marc Antony’s from the temple of Vesta, distaste turned to outrage as it was read out in the Senate that Antony wished to be buried with Cleopatra in Alexandria. When the Third Triumvirate expired on the last day of 33 BC the Roman world again found itself at war.

910.

Antony and Cleopatra

212

Marc Antony AR Denarius. Patrae(?), autumn 32-spring 31 BC. ANT AVG III VIR R P C, praetorian galley to right / Aquila between two signa; LEG XI across lower field. Crawford 544/25; CRI 362; Sydenham 1229; RSC 39. 3.44g, 17mm, 6h.


911.

Octavian AR Denarius. Uncertain Italian mint (Brundisium or Rome?), 30-29 BC. Bare head right / Military trophy facing, composed of helmet, cuirass, shield and crossed spears, set on prow of galley right; crossed rudder and anchor at base; IMP CAESAR across fields. CRI 419; RIC 265a; RSC 119; BMC 625 = BMCRR Rome 4352; BN 57-63. 3.63g, 20mm, 2h.

Toned, scrape on neck and before truncation, Very Fine. 400

912.

COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

Augustus AR Denarius. Pergamum, 27 BC. CAESAR, bare head right / AVGVSTVS, heifer standing to right. RIC 475; RSC 28; BMCRR East 284-5 = BMCRE 662-3; BN 941-3. 4.08g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, lightly toned. 2,000

Among the first coins to be struck bearing the new title Augustus, this denarius is of exceptional style and engraved with beautiful craftsmanship. Struck in Pergamum, the reverse type of the charging bull or heifer may be a reference to the famous type of Thurium, a city to which Octavian’s family had a connection: Suetonius relates that Gaius Octavius, Augustus’ father, defeated a Spartacist army near the town. Due to the high regard in which the family was held in the town Augustus was granted the surname Thurinus, and thus the type has a primarily personal illusion to him. An alternative theory is that it is based on Myron’s famous bronze heifer, much admired in antiquity. Augustus was personally aware of the sculptor’s work as he is known to have restored Myron’s Apollo to Ephesos, which Marc Antony had taken.

913.

Beautiful Pergamene Denarius of Augustus

213

Augustus AR Denarius. Pergamum, 27 BC. CAESAR, bare head right / AVGVSTVS, heifer standing to right. RIC 475; RSC 28; BMCRR East 284-5 = BMCRE 662-3; BN 941-3. 3.87g, 20mm, 1h.


Ex Prideaux Collection;Ex Triton XI, 8 January 2008, lot 671.

914.

Ex Prideaux Collection

Augustus AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Pergamum, 27-26 BC. IMP CAESAR, bare head right, lituus before / AVGVSTVS, capricorn right, head left, with cornucopiae on its back, all within wreath. RIC 488. 11.67g, 27mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Attractive toning around the devices. Rare. 500

915.

Augustus AR Denarius. Rome, 19 BC. Q. Rustius, moneyer. Q • RVSTIVS FORTVNÆ, Jugate, draped busts right of Fortuna Victrix, wearing round helmet, holding patera in right hand, and Fortuna Felix, wearing stephane; both busts rest on bar terminating at each end in a ram’s head; ANTIAT in exergue / CAESARI AVGVSTO, ornamented rectangular altar inscribed FOR • RE set on base; EX S C in exergue. RIC 322; RSC 513; BMCRE 2-4 = BMCRR Rome 4580-2; BN 221-8. 3.79g, 19mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine. Pleasant old tone with hints of iridescent blue. Well preserved for the type. 1,000

Ex Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.22517.

916.

Augustus AR Denarius. P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Rome, 19 BC. TVRPILIANVS III•VIR•FERON, diademed and draped bust of Feronia right / CAESAR AVGVSTVS SIGN RECE, bare-headed Parthian kneeling right, extending standard with vexillum marked X attached, held out low. RIC 288; BMC 14. 3.91g, 21mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. 1,000

917.

214

Augustus AR Denarius. Uncertain Spanish mint, 18 BC. CAESARI AVGVSTO, laureate head right, ‘AI’ graffito on neck / Domed hexastyle temple, aquila within, MART-VLTO across fields. RIC 105a var. (reverse legend). 3.86g, 18mm, 8h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. 500

920.

Augustus AR Denarius. P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Rome, 19-18 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / P • PETRON • TVRPILIAN • III • VIR, Pegasus walking right. RIC 297; RSC 491; BMCRE 23-6 = BMCRR Rome 4536-9; BN 147-52. 4.00g, 19mm, 6h.


From the Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.10547.

918.

Rare Pegasus Denarius of Augustus

Augustus AR Denarius. Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta?), 19-18 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head left / Clipeus Virtutis inscribed S•P•Q•R CL•V in two lines. RIC 42b; RSC 293; BMCRE 335 = BMCRR Gaul 130; BN 1316-9. 3.74g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. A very beautiful example of the type with vivid iridescent turquoise, violet and gold tones over an even steel-grey. Well centred and struck on a broad flan. Exceptional. 2,500

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 75, 23 May 2007, lot 964.

919.

Vividly Toned Denarius of Augustus

Augustus AR Denarius. P. Licinius Stolo, moneyer. Rome, 17 BC. AVGVSTVS TR POT, bare head of Augustus right / Apex between two studded ancilia; P STOLO above; III VIR below. C. 438; BMC 74; RIC 343; CBN 296. 3.65g, 18mm, 8h.


921.

Rare Augustan Denarius

215

Augustus AR Denarius. Lugdunum, 15-13 BC. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head right / Bull butting right, IMP X in exergue. RIC 167a; BMC 451. 3.76g, 20mm, 6h.


922.

Augustus AR Denarius. Lugdunum, 7-6 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head right / AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT, Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, each togate and resting hand on shield, spear behind each shield, simpulum and lituus above, C L CAESARES in exergue. RIC 207. 3.76g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractive portrait style. 1,000

923.

Livia Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 22-23. Veiled, draped and diademed bust of Livia as Pietas right, PIETAS below / DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVGVSTI F TR POT ITER around large SC. RIC 43; C. 1. 14.81g, 28mm, 12h.

Very Fine. Pleasant ‘Tiber’ patina. 1,500

Ex Leo Benz Collection.

924.

Attractive Livia Dupondius

Gaius Caesar

Gaius Caesar AR Denarius. Uncertain mint, 17 BC. CAESAR, bare youthful head of Gaius Caesar right, within laurel wreath / AVGVSTVS, candelabrum in wreath, patera to right. RIC 540; BN 1013. 3.73g, 19mm, 2h.


925.

217

Antonia Minor AV Aureus. Rome, AD 41-45. Struck under Claudius. ANTONIA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Antonia to right, wearing wreath of grain ears / CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Antonia standing facing, holding long torch in right hand, cornucopiae in left. RIC 65 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 16, 316 (V253/R261); Lyon 108 (unlisted dies); Calicó 318a; BMCRE 109 (Claudius); BN 9 (Claudius); C. 1. 7.77g, 19mm, 12h.

A couple of light marks, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Rare, and one of the finest known of this important issue. 20,000

Ex Triton IX, 10 January 2006, lot 1386.

This coin bears the posthumous representation of Antonia Minor, and was struck in memory of her by Claudius her son upon his ascension to the throne. This well liked and respected Roman woman who was celebrated for her virtue and beauty was the younger of the two daughters of Marc Antony and Octavia, who after Antony’s death was allowed by Augustus to benefit from her father’s estate. She thus became wealthy and influential, and married Nero Claudius Drusus, general and consul, bearing him several children. Three survived into adulthood: the popular Germanicus, the future emperor Claudius, and a daughter Livilla. Following the death of her husband in AD 9 whilst on campaign in Germania, the rest of Antonia’s life was plagued by ill fortune as she outlived her oldest son, her daughter and several of her grandchildren.

The legend of this pleasing reverse type refers to perseverance in the face of adversity, which indeed Antonia displayed continually throughout her life, not to a god ‘Constantia’ to whom no other references may be found besides three coin types issued under Claudius. After first the death of her husband, her eldest son Germanicus died in AD 19 in mysterious circumstances in Asia, where he had successfully defeated the kingdoms of Commagene and Cappadocia and turned them into Roman provinces. It is thought that he was perhaps poisoned by his adoptive father Tiberius as his influence and popularity with his troops was becoming too great. Her younger son Claudius, who was born with severe disabilities, was ostracised by his family and excluded from public office until his consulship in AD 37 which he shared with his nephew Caligula. Ironically, this action by his family may have actually saved his life as he was not perceived as a threat to power and therefore survived the purges of Tiberius and Caligula’s reigns, going on to prove himself a worthy emperor.

Antonia’s woes did not stop with her sons, as her daughter Livilla is supposed to have poisoned her husband Drusus the Younger, son of Tiberius. According to Cassius Dio, Tiberius handed Livilla over to her mother, who locked her up in a room and starved her to death. After the death of Tiberius, her grandson Caligula became emperor, and though Antonia would often offer him advice, he once told her, ‘I can treat anyone exactly as I please!’ Caligula was rumoured to have had his young cousin Gemellus beheaded, to remove him as a rival to the throne. This act was said to have outraged Antonia, who was grandmother to Gemellus as well as to Caligula. Able to stand no more of Caligula’s tyranny, Antonia committed suicide, though Suetonius’s ‘Caligula’, clause 23, suggests she might also have been poisoned by her grandson.

‘When his grandmother Antonia asked for a private interview, he refused it except in the presence of the prefect Macro, and by such indignities and annoyances he caused her death; although some think that he also gave her poison. After she was dead, he paid her no honour, but viewed her burning pyre from his dining-room.’

This reverse design also makes reference to Antonia’s abilities and long service as a mother and grandmother. Ceres, whose attributes of the torch and cornucopiae she is shown holding, was the Roman goddess of agriculture, fertility and motherly relationships. As well as her own children, after the death of Germanicus Antonia became the de facto mother for his children, including Caligula, and later Claudius’ daughter Claudia Antonia after her mother had been divorced and removed from the Imperial family. With this reverse type Claudius celebrates Antonia’s devotion to her family and dedication in ensuring the survival of the Julio-Claudian dynastic line.

The figure on the reverse is most likely a magnificent statue of Ceres which may have had a head with the features of Antonia known to have been commissioned by Claudius when he became emperor after his nephew’s assassination in AD 41. This identification is supported by the portrayal of Antonia on the obverse wearing a wreath of grain ears, a typical attribute of Ceres. Claudius gave his mother the title of Augusta and her birthday became a public holiday, which had yearly games and public sacrifices held and her image was paraded in a carriage.

926.

Exceptional Aureus of Antonia

218

Tiberius AV Aureus. Lugdunum (Lyon), 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; Calicò 305d. 7.78g, 21mm, 4h.


927.

Tiberius AV Aureus. Lugdunum (Lyon), 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. 6.99g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Fine. 1,000

928.

Tiberius AR Denarius. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 36-37. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as Pax, seated left, holding long vertical sceptre and branch, on chair with ornamented legs above one exergual line. RIC 30; RSC 16a; BMC 48; Lyon 154. 3.88g, 20mm, 7h.


929.

Tiberius AR Denarius. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 36-37. T CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as Pax, seated left, holding long vertical sceptre and branch, on chair with ornamented legs above one exergual line. RIC 30; BMC 48; Lyon 154; RSC 16a. 3.78g, 18mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractively toned. 500

930.

Time of Tiberius Æ Tessera. Head of Augustus to left / V within wreath and pearl border. Buttrey p. 61, 7. 3.11g, 20mm, 9h.

Lightly smoothed, otherwise Very Fine. 400

931.

219

Caligula AR Denarius. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 37-8. C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, laureate head right / DIVVS AVG PATER PATRIAE, radiate head of Augustus right. RIC 10. 3.65g, 19mm, 9h.


932.

Claudius Æ As. Rome, circa AD 41-50. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head left / CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Minerva standing left, in military dress, leaning on sceptre held in left hand; S-C across fields. RIC 95; BMC 140. 11.57g, 27mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine; attractive green patina. 100

934.

Claudius Æ Sestertius. Tarraco, AD 41-42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, laureate head right / SPES AVGVSTA, Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt; SC in exergue. BMC 124; C. 85; RIC 99; Von Kaenel 1397, pl. 22 (same rev. die). 24.62g, 35mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, well struck and engraved in fine style; exceptional for the type. Original earthen encrustations. 5,000

933.

Superb Sestertius of Claudius

220

Claudius Æ As. Rome, AD 42-43. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, bare head left / CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Minerva standing left, in military dress, leaning on sceptre held in left hand; S-C across fields. RIC 111; C. 14; BMC 199. 11.59g, 29mm, 7h.


935.

Claudius Æ As. Rome, AD 50-4. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, bare head left / LIBERTAS AVGVSTA, Libertas, draped, standing facing, head right, holding pileus in right hand and with left outstretched, S-C across fields. RIC 113; BMC 204. 9.14g, 29mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Struck in high relief; very well preserved. 750

936.

Nero AV Aureus. Rome, AD 64-65. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Nero right / IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC 52; Calicó 412. 7.13g, 17mm, 5h.

Good Fine. 1,000

937.

Nero AR Denarius. Rome, AD 66-67. IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right / IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter seated left with thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC 64; RSC 121. 2.39g, 19mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. 500

938.

221

Nero Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head right / Roma, helmeted and in military dress, seated left on cuirass, holding Victory in right hand and with left hand resting on parazonium, various shields around and behind, S-C across fields, ROMA in exergue. RIC 273 var. (no aegis); BMC 173. 27.77g, 36mm, 6h.


939.

Attractive Nero Sestertius

Nero Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER TR P IMP P P, radiate head right / Roma seated left holding wreath and parazonium, ROMA in exergue, S-C across fields. RIC 298. 14.48g, 28mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Scarce. 500

940.

Nero Æ Sestertius. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 66. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR POT P P, laureate head right, globe at point of bust / Nero standing left on platform, accompanied by praetorian prefect, addressing three soldiers, praetorian lamp in background, S-C across fields, ADLOCVT COH in exergue. RIC 491; BMC 304. 23.93g, 34mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 300

941.

Nero Æ As. Lugdunum, AD 66. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P, bare head left, with globe at point of bust / S–C, Victory flying left, holding shield inscribed SPQR. RIC 544; C. 303. 11.15g, 30mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 750

942.

222

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head of youthful Augustus (Octavian) to left / OB CIVES SERVAT in three lines within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Nicolas A17RH (same dies); Hess-Leu 1962, 442; BMC 52. 3.29g, 15mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, the fifth known specimen. 5,000

From the Durand Collection.

The 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.

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 inaugurated by Augustus following his defeat of Marc Antony. 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.

943.

Fifth Known Example

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; Roma Numismatics VII, 22 March 2014, lot 1010 (same dies). 3.29g, 16mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. Unpublished in the standard references and of the highest rarity. 5,000


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.”

944.

Of the Highest Rarity

223

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI, Victory standing to right on globe, holding palm branch and wreath / SPQR within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Martin 78; RIC 73a; C. 421; Nicolas 70, pl. III, 70NIG (same dies). 3.59g, 16mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare – one of as few as a dozen examples. 5,000


945.

Beautiful Vindex Denarius

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. 3.62g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare – one of only five known examples. 4,000


946.

One of Five Known

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. HERCVLES ADSERTOR, laureate head of Hercules right / FELIX FORTVN PR, Fortuna standing left, holding wreath in right hand and cornucopiae in left. RIC -, cf. 49; cf. RSC 365; Martin -; Nicolas 9FZ var. 3.20g, 18mm, 5h.

Unique and unpublished. Found near Great Dunmow, Essex. 3,500

This remarkable denarius is an apparently unique and unrecorded variant of RIC 49 which bears the reverse legend FLORENTE FORTVNA PR, of which type only four examples are known to exist and all of those appear to be plated. Of that type only one is in private hands. This coin represents a unique opportunity for collectors of the civil war period to add this type to their collection.

947.

Unique Civil War Denarius

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head of the deified Augustus to right / SPQR within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Nicolas A22BR (same dies); BMC 55; RIC 106; Martin 29. 3.90g, 17mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. The fourth known example. 3,000


948.

Fourth Known Example

224

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI, Victory standing to left on globe, holding palm branch and wreath / SPQR within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Nicolas 77; RIC 72; Martin 77. 3.53g, 17mm, 4h.



949.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI, Victory standing to right on globe, holding palm branch and wreath / SPQR within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Nicolas 71; Martin 78; C. 421; RIC 73b. 3.48g, 19mm, 10h.



950.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI, Victory standing to left on globe, holding palm branch and wreath / SPQR within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Nicolas 77TRE (same rev. die); RIC 72; Martin 77. 3.27g, 17mm, 11h.



951.

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. AVGVSTVS CAESAR, laureate head of Augustus to right / DIVVS IVLIVS, comet of eight rays with tail upward. Nicolas A8; BMC p.301, 49-50; RIC 92; Martin A10; Classical Numismatic Group 90, 23 May 2012, 1479 (same dies). 2.81g, 16mm, 12h.



952.

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 / SPQR within corona civica. Nicolas 79B; RIC -; BMC -. 3.28g, 20mm, 3h.

Very Fine. Extremely Rare - the second known example. 1,000


953.

Second Known Example

225

Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain mint in Gaul, AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI, Victory standing to left on globe, holding palm branch and wreath / SPQR within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. Nicolas 77; RIC 72; Martin 77. 2.73g, 16mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 750


954.

Civil War, Vindex Fourrée Denarius. Gaul, AD 68-69. FIDES EXERCITVVM, clasped hands / FIDES PRAETORIANORVM, clasped hands. RIC I 121; BMCRE 65; Martin 7; RSC 363. 2.70g, 18mm, 4h.

Good Very Fine. 750

955.

Otho AR Denarius. Rome, AD 69. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right / SECVRITAS P R, Securitas draped, standing left, holding wreath and sceptre. RIC 8. 3.38g, 17mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Pleasant old cabinet tone. Rare. 1,000

956.

Otho AR Denarius. Rome, AD 69. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right / SECVRITAS P R, Securitas draped, standing left, holding wreath and sceptre. RIC 8. 3.32g, 19mm, 6h.


957.

Vitellius AV Aureus. Rome, late April - 20 December AD 69. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right / LIBERI IMP GERM AVG, confronted draped busts of Vitellius’ son on the left, and daughter on the right. BMC 27; RIC 100; C. 3; Calicó 557a. 7.16g, 19mm, 5h.


958. Vitellius AR Denarius. Rome, AD 69. A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P, laureate bust right / CONCORDIA P R, Concordia seated left with patera and cornucopiae. RIC 73; BMC 7; RSC 20. 3.54g, 18mm, 7h.


959.

Attractive Denarius of Vitellius

227

Vespasian Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head right / IVDEA CAPTA, Jewess seated to right in attitude of mourning at foot of palm tree; behind, captive Jewish warrior standing to right with hands bound behind his back; weapons, shields and helmets to left. RIC 161; BMC 534; CBN 489-491 var. (IVDAEA); C. 232 var. (same). 27.02g, 34mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 35,000

Among the finest of all known Roman sestertii referencing the conquest of Judaea. Superb, untouched surfaces with a rich, dark green patina.

Ex Freeman & Sear FPL 10, Spring 2010, 91; Ex Triton V, 16 January 2002, lot 1914;Ex Robert Schonwalter Collection; Privately purchased from Edward Gans, 23 April 1951. Also see Wikipedia articles for ‘Vespasian’, ‘First Jewish-Roman War’ and ‘Judaea Capta coinage’ (this coin displayed).

Struck for 25 years by Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian, the Judaea Capta coins were issued in bronze, silver and gold by mints in Rome, throughout the Roman Empire, and in Judaea itself. They were issued in every denomination, and at least 48 different types are known. The present piece is certainly among the finest known of these commemorative issues, and proudly displays imagery of this significant Roman victory, after which Vespasian boldly closed the gates of the Temple of Janus to signify that all of Rome’s wars were ended, and that the Pax Romana again prevailed.

The obverse portrait of Vespasian shows him as strong, robust and in the prime of life; the reverse celebrates Rome and Vespasian’s triumph over the Jewish revolt in Judaea, which Titus had brought to a close the previous year with the capture of Jerusalem after a seven month siege and the destruction of the Second Temple. It had been a costly and devastating war which had cost the lives of twenty five thousand Roman soldiers and somewhere between two hundred and fifty thousand and one million Jewish civilians. The design incorporates a vanquished Jewish warrior who stands with his hands bound behind his back before a pile of captured arms, while a Jewish woman is seated in an attitude of mourning. It has been occasionally suggested that the figures represent Judah (Judaea) and Jerusalem respectively, and it is sometimes noted that the reverse of this coin can be interpreted to reflect the prophecy of Isaiah 3:8, 25-26: “For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen ... Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn, and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground”.

It is also possible that the reverse shows two of the captives especially chosen for Vespasian and Titus’ triumph - Josephus reports that one of Titus’ freedmen “…selected the tallest and most handsome of the youth and reserved each of them for the triumph; of the rest, those over seventeen years of age he sent in chains to the mines in Egypt, while multitudes were presented by Titus to the various provinces, to be destroyed in the theatres by the sword or by wild beasts; those under seventeen were sold”.

The Arch of Titus in Rome, built by his brother Domitian shortly after his death and in commemoration of this victory, depicts the Roman army carrying off the treasures from the Temple of Jerusalem, including the Menorah, after the siege of the city had ended. The spoils were used to fund the building of the Flavian Amphitheatre, more commonly known as the Colosseum, the great lasting monument of the Flavian dynasty.

960.

Spectacular Judaea Capta Sestertius

228

Vespasian Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head right / IVDEA CAPTA, Palm tree; to left, Vespasian standing right, with spear and parazonium, foot on helmet; to right, Judaea seated right on cuirass; S C in exergue. RIC 168; BMC 545; CBN 499. 25.64g, 34mm, 7h.

Good Very Fine, with an attractive desert patina. Rare. 2,000

961.

Vespasian AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head right / PACI AVGVSTI, Nemesis advancing right, holding caduceus over snake. RIC 1130; Calicó 655; BMC 401. 7.17g, 20mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 1,000

962.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Ephesos, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P, laureate head right / CONCORDIA AVG, Ceres seated left, on ornate backed chair, with corn-ears and poppy in left hand, cornucopiae in right; EPHE (ligate) in exergue. RIC 1428; RPC II 830. 3.16g, 17mm, 11h.


963.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 72-73. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS III, laureate head right / AVGVR TRI POT, simpulum, aspergillum, jug and lituus. RIC 42; RSC 45. 3.51g, 18mm, 7h.

Very Fine. 150

964.

Vespasian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 73. IMP CAES VESP AVG CEN, laureate head right / PONTIF MAXIM, Vespasian seated facing right, on a curule chair, with sceptre in right hand and branch in left. RIC 545. 3.45g, 19mm, 11h.


965.

229

Titus, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 73. T CAES IMP VESP CENS, laureate head right / PONTIF TRI POT, Titus seated right on curule chair, holding sceptre in right hand, branch in extended left hand. RIC II 555 (Vespasian); Calicó 753; BMCRE 114-5 (Vespasian); BN 95-6 (Vespasian). 6.74g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Fine - near Very Fine. 1,500

966.

Titus, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 76. T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN, laureate head right / COS V, bull standing right. RIC 857 (Vespasian); Calico 733. 7.08g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Fine. 1,000

967.

Titus, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 77-8. T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS, laureate bust right / Roma, helmeted, seated right on two shields, left foot on helmet, holding spear before her; wolf standing right at her feet, head turned back, suckling Romulus and Remus, in left and right fields, two eagles flying towards her; COS VI in ex. RIC 954; BMC 223; Calicό 738a. 6.69g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Fine. 1,000

968.

Titus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 79-80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, throne with back in form of a diadem. RIC 24a; RSC 313; BMC 58. 3.44g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 300

969.

Titus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, dolphin coiled around anchor. RIC 112; BMC 72; RSC 309. 3.62g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Lustrous and lightly toned. 500

970.

230

Titus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head right / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, dolphin coiled around anchor. RIC 112; BMC 72; RSC 309. 3.48g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Toned. 500

971.

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, winged thunderbolt on draped throne. RIC 119; BMCRE 51-4; RSC 316. 3.46g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

972.

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, winged thunderbolt on draped throne. RIC 119; BMCRE 51-4; RSC 316. 3.49g, 19mm, 5h.


973.

Domitian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, January - June AD 79. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS, clasped hands before legionary eagle, set on prow. RIC 1081; RSC 393; BMC 269. 3.29g, 20mm, 6h.


974.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, 82 AD. IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M, head laureate right / TR POT COS VIII P P, throne draped with tasselled cloth, on which lies winged thunderbolt. RIC 101; BMCRE 26; C. 597. 3.50g, 17mm, 5h.


975.

231

Domitian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 85. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII, laureate bust right, wearing aegis over left shoulder / IMP VIIII COS XI CENSORIA POTESTAT P P, Germania, nude to waist, seated to right in attitude of mourning upon a Germanic shield, a broken spear beneath her. RIC 325; Calicó 865; BMC 81; C 182. 7.71g, 20mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine, a few minor marks but nonetheless an excellent example of this magnificent and beautifully conceived type. Very Rare. 25,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 40, 16 May 2007, lot 688; Ex Collection of a European Nobleman, Numismatica Ars Classica 24, 5 December 2002, lot 63.

This beautiful issue was struck in commemoration of Domitian’s campaigns against the Chatti in Germany in AD 83. For his victories there, Domitian celebrated a triumph and was hailed Germanicus, an honour which he had been craving. Much of Domitian’s career was spent maintaining rule in the provinces, and his lust for glory following his father and brother’s impressive military victories was noted by Suetonius, as he explains he “…planned a quite unnecessary expedition into Gaul and Germany, from which his father’s friends managed to dissuade him” before his Chatti triumph. One can see here his desperation to prove himself and understand his joy and pride at achieving a successful campaign against the German tribes at last. Struck two years after the defeat of the Chatti, it could be suggested that this aureus owes much to the ‘Judaea Capta’ series of coinage begun by his father Vespasian. One cannot deny the parallel between this display of military success and the celebration of the successful First Jewish War, as seen on lot 960.

However, doubt is cast on the truth of Domitian’s success against the Chatti by Tacitus in his ‘Agricola’. Though perhaps somewhat biased as he was writing about the life of his father-in-law, when discussing his successes in Britain he mentions that “Domitian heard, as was his wont, with joy in his face but anxiety in his heart. He felt conscious that all men laughed at his late mock triumph over Germany, for which there had been purchased from traders people whose dress and hair might be made to resemble those of captives, whereas now a real and splendid victory, with the destruction of thousands of the enemy, was being celebrated with just applause.” That his victory over the Chatti might have been exaggerated is also suggested by the involvement of the tribe in quelling the Revolt of Saturninus in AD 89, an act that would seem surprising had the Chatti been decimated in battle by Domitian as supposed.

976.

Domitian’s German Triumph

232

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 87. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VII, laureate head right / IMP XIIII COS XIII CENS P P P, Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column, with spear in left hand and shield in right, owl at feet to right. RIC 507. 3.43g, 20mm, 6h.


977.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, Jan.-Sept. AD 88. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VII, laureate head right / IMP XIIII COS XIIII CENS P P P, Minerva standing left, holding spear. RIC 584; RSC 233. 3.24g, 19mm, 6h.


978.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 91. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI, laureate head right / IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P, Minerva advancing right with shield in left hand and spear held aloft in right. RIC 724. 2.98g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 250

979.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 91. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI, laureate head right / IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P, Minerva advancing right with shield in left hand and spear held aloft in right. RIC 724. 3.65g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 150

980.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 92-93. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TR P XII, laureate bust right / IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P, Minerva advancing right with spear and shield. RIC 739; RSC 280. 3.32g, 20mm, 7h.

Good Extremely Fine. Pleasing old cabinet tone with iridescent highlights. 300

981.

233

Domitian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 92-94. DOMITIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / GERMANICVS COS XVI, Germania, bare-chested but wearing drapery from the waist, seated to right in attitude of mourning upon Germanic hexagonal shield, a bent spear below her. C. 163; BMC 211; RIC 747; Calicó 854. 6.98g, 19mm, 3h.


982.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 95-96. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, laureate head right / IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva, holding shield and hurling spear, standing left on prow, owl at her feet. RIC 788. 3.38g, 20mm, 5h.


983.

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 96. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, laureate head right / IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva standing left with thunderbolt and spear, shield at her left side. RIC 789; C. 291. 3.12g, 18mm, 6h.


984.

Rare and Beautiful Denarius of Julia Titi

Julia Titi AR Denarius. Rome, AD 80-81. IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F, draped bust right / VENVS AVGVST, Venus standing right, seen from behind, half nude with drapery hanging low beneath her posterior, holding sceptre in her left hand and helmet in her right and leaning with her left elbow on a column to her left. RIC 388 (Titus); RSC 14. 3.45g, 19mm, 5h.

Good Extremely Fine. Attractively Toned. Very Rare. 3,000

Despite the nobility and quality of her father Titus, Julia was no model of womanly virtue. Although a married woman, she and her uncle Domitian carried on an affair that gained public notoriety and was thoroughly condemned by contemporary Roman writers.

985.

234

Nerva AR Denarius. Rome, AD 96. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head right / AEQVITAS AVGVST, Aequitas standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left. RIC 1. 3.44g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 250

986.

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. 3.72g, 19mm, 5h.


987.

Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 101-102. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate bust right / P M TR P COS IIII P P, Vesta, veiled, seated left, holding patera and torch. Woytek 112a; RIC 53; RSC 229. 3.45g, 19mm, 2h.

Fleur De Coin. 600

988.

Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 107-108. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, eagle, standing facing on thunderbolt with open wings, head to left. Woytek 261f; RIC 144var; BMC 351; Calicó 1009. 7.09g, 19mm, 1h.


989.

Very Rare Aureus of Trajan

Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI in three lines within oak wreath. RIC II 150 var. (bust type); Strack 99 (unrecorded bust type); Woytek 224c; Calicó 1122; BMCRE 253-6 var. (bust type); BN 367-9 var. (bust type); Biaggi 545 var. (bust type). 7.11g, 19mm, 2h.

About Extremely Fine. Rare; Woytek records only five examples. 10,000

990.

Rare and Attractive Aureus of Trajan

986 987

Trajan Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 109-10. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P P COS V P P, laureate bust right with slight drapery on left shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Spes walking left holding flower, S-C across fields. RIC 519; Woytek 338. 27.99g, 34mm, 6h.

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

991.

235

Dacia in Mourning

Trajan Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 109-10. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P P COS V P P, laureate bust right with slight drapery on left shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Dacia seated left on shield and arms in attitude of mourning, trophy before her, SC in exergue. RIC 564; Woytek 326. 26.89g, 34mm, 6h.


992.

Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 112-113. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI PP, laureate bust right / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, personification of via Traiana reclining left on rocks with wheel and branch; VIA TRAIANA in exergue. Woytek 398; RIC 266; RSC 648. 3.40g, 19mm, 7h.

About Extremely Fine. An interesting historical reverse; attractively toned. 200

Built by Trajan at his own expense and commemorated with an arch at its beginning in Beneventum, as well as on his coinage, the Via Traiana was a quicker route for travellers from Rome to Brundisium on the coast.

At 205 miles, despite being two miles longer than the Via Appia, the Via Traiana was a much less arduous and therefore faster option than the original Republican road because it traversed a significantly flatter route to the north. Strabo, in his Geography (6.3.7), indicates that the route of the Via Traiana, even though in his day little more than a mule track, saved the traveller a whole day’s journeying.

993.

Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 112-113. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, equestrian statue of Trajan (equus Traiani of Traian’s forum) depicting the emperor on horseback left carrying spear and Victory. Woytek 394; RIC 291; RSC 497a; BMC 445. 3.31g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Scarce. 300

Although several reverse variants show Trajan on horseback, those dating to his sixth consulship in AD 112 are likely to depict the equestrian statue of the Emperor that once stood in his forum in Rome, which was dedicated in this year. The monument itself was likely modelled on that of Domitian that stood in the Forum Romanum, and may well have influenced the design of the surviving statue of Marcus Aurelius that can be seen in the Capitoline Museums.

994.

Equestrian Statue of Trajan

Trajan Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 116-7. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate and draped bust right / PROVIDENTIA AVGVSTI SPQR, Providentia standing left, resting elbow on column and pointing to globe at her feet, S-Cacross fields. RIC 663; Woytek 591. 25.03g, 35mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Pleasant dark tone. 1,000

995.

237

Ex M&M Basel 1953

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 117. IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO AVG DIVI TRA PARTH F, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / DIVI NER NEP P M TR P COS, radiate head of Sol to right, ORIENS below. RIC 16; Calicó 1293; BMC 35, pl. 46, 16 (same obverse die); C 1003. 7.24g, 19mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Superbly struck from dies engraved in the finest style, and among the finest known specimens of the type. 45,000 Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 38, 21 March 2007, lot 56; Ex Leu Numismatik 10, 29 May 1974, lot 140; Ex Hess-Leu, 2 April 1958, lot 329;Ex M&M Basel XII, 11-13 June 1953, lot 811.

Struck in AD 117 at the beginning of Hadrian’s reign and shortly after the death of Trajan on his return journey from the campaign against Parthia, this stunning aureus contains layers of symbolism hidden within its splendour.

The murky circumstances surrounding Hadrian’s accession needed to be legitimised. He had, officially, been adopted by Trajan on his deathbed. Yet whether this was actually the case, and whether it was Trajan’s uninfluenced will, were subjects of whispered debate. It was rumoured that Plotina might have compelled the dying emperor to adopt her favourite, Hadrian, or even perhaps that Trajan had died leaving no successor and that Plotina had afterwards forged Trajan’s will herself. Hadrian was therefore required to cement his own position as well as to consolidate the vast territorial gains of his predecessor, tasks that he undertook quickly and decisively.

Realising the untenable position that the annexation of Mesopotamia had created, Hadrian withdrew the legions stationed there and effectively abandoned this province, also later giving up Armenia to a local king, who was soon defeated by Parthia. Unpopular as Hadrian’s abandonment of his predecessor’s conquests in Mesopotamia would have been, it did help to stabilise the empire. These tactical withdrawals also left him able to concentrate on quelling the last pockets of resistance left over from the Kitos War, the second great Jewish-Roman war which had begun under Trajan and which was estimated by contemporaries to have cost the lives of many hundreds of thousands of Greeks and Roman citizens. As a result of the insurrection, the Legio VI Ferrata was also moved to a new permanent station at Caesarea Maritima in Judaea.

The rumour of a falsified adoption carried little weight, but in any case Hadrian was keen to emphasise the legitimacy of his position, and therefore we see on his coinage legends proudly proclaiming the deified Trajan and Nerva as his father and grandfather.

The reverse type of Oriens may be understood to have several meanings. At the time it was struck, Hadrian remained in the East consolidating the frontiers of the empire and assisting in the restoration of Egypt, Cyprus, Cyrene and Judaea. Thus it may refer to the new emperor who had arisen in the East, yet it might also be viewed as a celebration of the end to the Jewish rebellion that had so ravaged the eastern provinces. One may also see in this type a melancholic marking of the conclusion to Trajan’s glorious conquests on that most distant border of the Roman empire, a demanding campaign that had ultimately claimed the life of this great and wise emperor.

996.

238

Hadrian, with Divus Trajan, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 117-118. IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO OPT AVG G D PART, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian right / DIVO TRAIANO PATRI AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Trajan right. C. 2; BMC 44; RIC 24a; Calicó 1412 (same dies); Biaggi 563 (same dies). 7.16g, 19mm, 6h.


The new emperor Hadrian sought to legitimise his rule by creating direct links with the previous emperor Trajan, who had supposedly declared him his heir and adopted him on his deathbed. Whether this was actually the case or a fabrication by Trajan’s wife Plotina, who had long been a supporter of Hadrian, Hadrian’s position was in any case secured by the approval of the Senate and his command of the Eastern armies. Featuring a portrait on both the obverse and reverse, on this rare aureus Hadrian advertises his adoption by Trajan who he calls father, simultaneously honouring him with deification and cementing his place as the legitimate ruler of Rome.

997.

Very Rare Aureus of Hadrian

Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 119-122. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P COS III, Roma as Amazon standing left, holding Victory and spear. RIC 76; BMC 149. 3.35g, 20mm, 6h.

Fleur De Coin. Struck on a very broad flan. 500

Ex Spink Auction 1012, 2 December 2010, lot 1325;Ex Spink America, 3 May 1995, lot 510.

999.

Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 119-138. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P COS III, Salus seated to left, altar before, around which is entwined a serpent which she feeds from patera; SAL AVG in exergue. RIC 98; BMC 279, 314. 3.41g, 19mm, 6h.


1000.

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

998.

Hadrian AR Denarius, Rome, AD 119-125. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P COS III, Libertas seated left, holding branch and sceptre; LIB PVB in exergue. RIC 127; BMC 286; RSC 904. 2.98g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous metal. 250

1001.

239

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.

Good Very Fine. Scarce. 4,000

1002.

Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 134-138. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding baton over a globe and sceptre. BMC 694; RSC 1204; RIC 261. 3.38g, 19mm, 6h.

Near Mint State. 300

1003.

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 134-138. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / VENERIS FELICIS, Venus seated to left on ornate throne, holding reversed sceptre in left hand and Cupid in outstretched right hand. RIC 280a; C. 1447; Calicó 1391. 7.18g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Extremely rare variety of an already very rare type. 15,000

1004.

Extremely Rare Aureus of Hadrian

Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 134-138. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare-headed bust right, drapery on far shoulder / AEGYPTOS, Egypt reclining left, left elbow on snake wrapped basket and sistrum in right hand, ibis at feet. RIC 296; RSC 97. 3.44g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 200

1005.

Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 136. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / AFRICA, Africa reclining left holding scorpion and cornucopiae, basket of grain at feet. RIC 299. 3.28g, 19mm, 6h.


1006.

240

Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 134-138. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate head right, with drapery on far shoulder / COS III, Roma seated right on cuirass and shield, holding spear and parazonium. RIC 332 var. (drapery); RSC 338a. 3.19g, 18mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 200

1007.

Hadrian Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 119-20. IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III, laureate and draped bust right / MONETA AVGVSTI, Moneta standing left with scales and cornucopiae, S-C across fields. RIC 586c; C. 974; BMC 1196. 27.10g, 35mm, 6h.


1008.

Sabina AV Aureus. Rome, AD 128-136. SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P, diademed and draped bust right wearing stephane / CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding a patera and resting her left arm on a small statue of Spes. RIC 398 note; BMC 894; Calicó 1429 (these dies); C. 11 var. 7.36g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Light reddish tone. Rare. 10,000

1009.

Rare and Attractive Aureus of Sabina

Aelius, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 137. L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right / TR POT COS II, Concordia seated left, holding patera, resting left elbow on cornucopiae set on base, CONCORD in exergue. RIC 436. 3.45g, 18mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Beautiful toning; a strong portrait. 300

1010.

Aelius, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 137. L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right / TR POT COS II, Pietas standing right, before altar, right hand raised, left hand holding box of incense, PIE-TAS across fields. RIC 439; BMC 989. 3.42g, 19mm, 7h.


1011.

241

Aelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 137. L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right / TRIB POT COS II, Concordia enthroned to left, holding patera in outstretched right hand, resting left on cornucopiae; CONCORD in exergue. RIC 443; Calicó 1444; Sear 3962. 7.14g, 19mm, 12h.


Suffering from ill health, in AD 136 Hadrian looked to the question of succession and settled upon Lucius Ceionius Commodus, consul for that year, to succeed him. Lucius Aelius Caesar, as was his new official name, was lacking in military and administrative experience and so was granted tribunician power and sent to the Danube Frontier to govern Pannonia. However, he was destined never to succeed Hadrian, dying in AD 138 and leaving the ailing emperor heirless once more. Following the scandal created in AD 130 when Hadrian was moved to establish a cult and mint coins (see lot 787) in honour of his favourite Antinoüs, who had drowned in the Nile whilst touring the province with the emperor, swirling rumours emerged that Hadrian had chosen Aelius as a successor against the wishes of everyone simply on account of his good looks. Earlier historians favoured the view that Aelius was Hadrian’s illegitimate son, as suggested by the historian Carcopino, but this theory has been largely discredited. More likely, Aelius won the approval of Hadrian on account of his being a learned and cultured man with refined tastes, who would have naturally shared many of Hadrian’s own artistic and cultural interests. After the death of Aelius, Hadrian adopted Aurelius Antoninus, the future emperor Antoninus Pius, but required him in turn to adopt Aelius’ son and Hadrian’s great-nephew by marriage, Marcus Aurelius, to succeed him.

1012.

Attractive Aureus of Aelius

Antoninus Pius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, 25 February – 10 July AD 138. IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS, bare head right / TRIB POT COS, Pietas, veiled, standing to right before garlanded altar, holding box of incense and raising right hand; PIE-TAS across fields. Kent-Hirmer pl. 87, 302 (same dies); Calicó 1596 (same dies); C. 597; BMC 1017a; RIC Hadrian 454a. 7.11g, 18mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine, with bright, lustrous metal. Very Rare and in excellent condition for the issue. A bold portrait of excellent style. 10,000

1013.

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 145-161. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS IIII, laureate head left / LIB IIII, Antoninus Pius, togate, seated to left on curule chair on dais, extending right hand and holding roll in left; before him on the platform, Liberalitas standing left holding coin counter and cornucopiae; on ground before platform, citizen standing right, holding out fold of toga to receive coins. C. 494 var. (head r.); BMC 544; RIC 140; Calicó 1569. 6.69g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Very Fine. 1,500

1014.

243

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 145. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS IIII, laureate bust right, drapery on far shoulder / LIB IIII, Antoninus Pius, togate, seated to left on curule chair on dais, extending right hand and holding roll in left; before him on the platform, Liberalitas standing left holding coin counter and cornucopiae; on ground before platform, citizen standing right, holding out fold of toga to receive coins. Calicó 1572; Strack 149; BMC 546; C. 496 var. (bust); RIC 141 var. (same). 6.59g, 18mm, 12h.


The reverse of this attractive and historical type depicts Antoninus Pius presiding at his fourth liberalitas or largesse, on which occasion the emperor doled out sums of money to worthy citizens. The Ostian Fasti record that this gift to the Roman people was of 90 denarii per citizen, and that it took place in the spring of AD 145, soon after the wedding of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior. The Historia Augusta records that Antoninus’ celebrations of his daughter and adopted son’s wedding included a donative to the army, and although it does not specifically mention the emperor’s fourth liberalitas, this happy event was no doubt also the motivation for his generosity to the citizens.

1015.

Antoninus Pius’ Fourth Liberalitas

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 151-152. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XV, laureate head left / COS IIII, Antoninus, togate, standing left, holding globe in right hand and scroll in left. RIC 206; BMCRE 771; Cohen 305; Calicó 1518. 7.08g, 19mm, 12h.


1016.

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 155-156. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II, laureate head right / TR POT XIX COS IIII, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC 255; Calicó 1670. 6.94g, 18mm, 12h.


1017.

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 157-158. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II, bare head right / TR POT XXI COS IIII, Salus standing right, holding snake in her arms which she feeds from a patera held in her left hand. RIC 279b; Calicó 1683. 7.19g, 18mm, 12h.


1018.

244

Antoninus Pius AV Aureus. Rome, AD 158-159. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII, laureate head right / VOTA SVSCEPTA DEC III, Antoninus, veiled, standing facing, head left, sacrificing with patera over tripod, left arm at side, COS IIII in exergue. RIC 294a (d); Calicó 1714. 7.36g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, hairline scratches. 3,000

1019.

Antoninus Pius Æ As. Rome, AD 140. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG P P, laureate head right / TR POT COS III, Mars right, holding spear and shield, descending through the air towards Rhea Silvia, reclining left. RIC III 694a. 11.47g, 27mm, 12h.

Slight chip on reverse, otherwise about Extremely Fine. Rare. 750

Livy, in his ‘Ad Urbe Condita’, gives an account of the myth of Rhea Silvia’s encounter with the god Mars, which led to the birth of Romulus and Remus and the founding of Rome. Although Livy’s account was somewhat euhemerist in its approach to the subject matter, the myth persisted and can be found depicted on various famous artworks from the ancient world, such as the Casali Altar in the Vatican Museums.

1020.

Diva Faustina Senior AV Aureus. Rome, AD 150. DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust of Faustina to right, her hair bound with pearls and piled up on top of her head / AVGVSTA, Ceres standing to left, holding two torches. Biaggi 808; BMC 403; Calicó 1758; C. 75; RIC 357a; Strack 471; Beckmann, Diva Faustina df 30 / CB 5. 7.31g, 20mm, 12h.


1021.

Mars Descending to Rhea Silvia

Diva Faustina Senior AV Aureus, Rome, AD 150. DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust of Faustina to right, her hair bound with pearls and piled on top of her head / AVGVSTA, Fortuna standing to left, holding patera in her right hand and rudder on globe with her left. Biaggi -; BMC 447; C. -; Calicó 1761a; RIC 372; Strack 473; Beckmann, Diva Faustina df 117 / AF 24. 7.21g, 18mm, 12h.


1022.

245

Diva Faustina Senior AV Aureus. Circa AD 146-161. DIVA FAVSTINA Draped bust of Faustina to right, her hair bound with pearls and piled up on top of her head / AVGVSTA, Ceres standing to left, holding two torches. Calicó - (cf. Calicó 1758); RIC 357a; C. 75; Beckmann, Diva Faustina df 18 / CB 7. 7.21g, 18mm, 7h.

Beautiful reddish old tone, Good Very Fine. 4,000

1023.

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 145-147. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F, youthful bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / COS II, Minerva standing to right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield at her side. RIC 427b, Calicó 1836. 6.99g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; lustrous metal. Extremely Rare. 10,000

1024.

Extremely Rare Aureus of Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 158-159. AVRELIVS CAES AVG PII F, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / TR POT XIII COS II, Virtus standing to right in military attire, foot resting on helmet, holding reversed spear and parazonium. Biaggi 892; RIC 480b; C. 747; BMCRE 962; Strack 354; Calicó 1969 (this obverse die). 7.34g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, surface scratches. 5,000

1025.

Faustina Junior Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 147-150. FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right, wearing stephane / VENERI GENETRICI, Venus standing left, holding apple in her raised right hand and cradling swaddled infant in her left arm, S-C across fields. RIC 1386b. 27.00g, 32mm, 11h.

Good Very Fine. Attractive patina. 1,500

1026.

Pleasant Sestertius of Faustina Junior

246

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. 7,000

Ex Numismatics Ars Classica Auction R, 17 May 2007, lot 1553.

1027.

Lucius Verus Æ Sestertius. Rome, March-December AD 161. IMP CAES L AVREL VERVS AVG, laureate head right / CONCORD AVGVSTOR TR P II, Marcus Aurelius standing facing, head to left and holding scroll, clasping hands with Lucius Verus; S-C across fields, COS II in exergue. RIC 1284; C. 161; BMC 1023 var. (draped and cuirassed). 23.65g, 33mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine. Light surface roughness, but otherwise a very well detailed example of the type, and possessing a splendid portrait of Lucius Verus. 2,000

1028.

Splendid Portrait of Lucius Verus

Divus Lucius Verus AR Denarius. Struck under Marcus Aurelius. Rome, AD 169. DIVVS VERVS, bare head right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing right, head left. RIC 596a; C. 55. 3.37g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Scarce. 500

1029.

Commodus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 183-184. M COMMODVS ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate head right / TR P VIIII IMP VI COS IIII P P, Fides standing right, holding bowl of fruit and corn, S-C across fields. RIC 413; C. 936. 21.95g, 30mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 500

1030.

247

Commodus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 184-185. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right / P M TR P X IMP VII COS IIII P P, Commodus standing left on platform, holding sceptre, right hand raised, addressing three soldiers standing right, FID EXERC in exergue. RIC 110d; C. 141. 2.69g, 18mm, 12h.


1031.

Commodus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 185-186. M COMMODVS ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P X IMP VII COS IIII P P, Victory seated right on shields, inscribing shield set on knee, S-C across fields, VICT BRIT in exergue. RIC 452 var. (draped bust); BMC 560 var. (draped bust). 24.13g, 31mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. A very well preserved example of the type. Very Rare. 2,500

Cassius Dio relates in his Historiae Romanae (LXXII.viii.1-6) that in the last months of Marcus Aurelius’ life there was a serious incursion by the northern tribes into the province of Britannia; the wall was overrun and possibly even the governor himself was lost in battle. The wall in question is likely to have been the Hadrianic frontier, the Antonine wall having been already abandoned. Ulpius Marcellus was therefore dispatched to Britain and by AD 184 had secured a victory against the tribes. This type was struck in commemoration of that victory.

1032.

VICT BRIT

Commodus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 186-187. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT, laureate head right / HILAR AVG P M TR P XII IMP VIII COS V P P, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm and branch. RIC 150a. 3.01g, 18mm, 12h.


1033.

Commodus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 190-191. M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT P P, laureate head right / APOL PAL P M TR P XVI COS VI, Apollo standing front, head right, holding plectrum and lyre resting on column. RIC 218. 2.75g, 18mm, 12h.


1034.

Commodus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 191-192. L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, bust right in lion’s skin headdress / HERCVL ROMAN AVGV in four lines across club within wreath. RIC 251. 2.52g, 17mm, 6h.

Near Very Fine. Rare. 200

1035.

249

Magnificent 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, draped, standing left, holding up both hands toward large star. RIC 10b; Calicó 2388; BMC -, pg. 3, note 10. 7.33g, 21mm, 12h.


Pertinax was the first emperor in the tumultuous ‘Year of Five Emperors’. His early life and career is well documented in the Historia Augustus, and confirmed in many places by existing inscriptions. Born into a humble family and the son of a freedman, Pertinax had originally tried to make his way in life as a teacher of grammar, but at some point decided to try to attain a greater station, and with the help of a patron he was commissioned an officer in the Roman army.

Pertinax distinguished himself in a campaign against Parthia, and after postings in Britain and on the Danube he served as procurator in Dacia. His career suffered a serious setback during the reign of Marcus Aurelius on account of court intrigues, however he was recalled to assist Claudius Pompeianus during the Marcomannic Wars. In 175 he was made suffect consul, and he then served as governor of a string of provinces including Syria and Britain.

In the 180s he was recalled to Britain where the army was in a state of mutiny. His attempt to calm the restive soldiers resulted in his bodyguard being attacked, and Pertinax was left for dead. After his recovery he severely punished the mutinous legion, adding to his reputation as a disciplinarian. In 187 he was forced to resign due to the legions having grown hostile to his strict command style. His career culminated when he was given the proconsulship of Africa, the urban prefecture of Rome, and a second consulship with the emperor as his colleague.

When Commodus was murdered on the last day of AD 192, Pertinax was still serving as urban prefect, and hurried to the Praetorian camp where he was proclaimed emperor the following morning. His attempts at reform and restraint, along with attempts to impose discipline on the unruly Praetorians, did not endear him to the Guard who had expected a large donative. After a reign of only three months, during which time he refused imperial titles for his wife and son, a contingent of several hundred Praetorian Guardsmen rushed the palace and Pertinax, although he almost succeeded in reasoning with them, was struck down. Yet by his understanding of the danger of his station and his wise decision not to associate his family with the purple, they were spared from violence.

The obverse of this magnificent aureus shows the weathered face of a man who has attained high position through hard work and discipline, now burdened by the cares of state. It is an appropriate depiction for an emperor who tried hard to bring the unravelling Roman system back onto the correct path but was ultimately slain for his efforts. The reverse of this coin bears a legend which translates as ‘To the Foresight of the Gods’, and may well be intended to represent the recovery of imperial fortunes under the tutelage and favour of divine providence. The celestial object should probably be seen to represent the beneficent favour of the gods, who had brought Pertinax to power.

1036.

250

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 in lowered right hand above globe at feet to left, and cornucopiae in left hand. RIC 2; BMC 4; C. 8. 2.59g, 18mm, 6h.


1037.

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 202. SEVER P AVG P M TR P X COS III, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / FVNDATOR PACIS, Severus, veiled, standing left, holding branch and book. RIC - (cf. 177 for obv., 160 for rev.); Calicó -; Hill -, cf. 492 (TR P VIIII). 7.20g, 21mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine. Unpublished in the standard references. 6,000

1038.

Unpublished Septimius Severus Aureus

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 205. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P XIII COS III P P, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, eagle standing to left at his feet. RIC 196; Calicó 2508; Biaggi 1090; BMC 469; C 468; Hill 719. 7.29g, 19mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Highly lustrous surfaces. 20,000

1039.

Extremely Sharp Details

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 210. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P XVIII COS III P P, Victory advancing right, head left, carrying trophy and leading captive by hand. RIC 237; C. 544; BMC 23; Calicó 2517; Hill 1107. 7.14g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine - struck on a broad flan; lustrous. Very Rare. 15,000

1040.

251

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 207. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Roma seated left on shield, holding palladium and sceptre. RIC 288; Calicó 2529; BMC 358; Hill 840. 7.19g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous metal. Rare. 20,000 Septimius Severus was credited with restoring stability to the Roman Empire after the turbulent reign of Commodus and the civil wars that erupted in the wake of his murder, and by the time this coin was struck he had enlarged the empire in the East and strengthened the southern borders through the expansion of the Limes Tripolitanus, a frontier zone of defensive forts in north Africa. The improved security of the empire enabled Severus to undertake restorative works in Rome itself, the theme of this reverse type. Roma, personification of Rome, is portrayed here as a direct reference to Severus’ having restored peace and prosperity to the city.

1041.

Restoring Peace and Prosperity to Rome

Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 202-210. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / RESTITVTOR VRBIS, Roma seated left on shield, holding palladium and sceptre. RIC 288; Calicó 2529; BMC 358; Hill 840. 7.00g, 20mm, 6h.


1042.

252

Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 204. ANTON P AVG PON TR P VII, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA PARTHICA MAXIMA, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC 79; Calicó 2844 corr. (this coin); Hill 680. 7.42g, 20mm, 6h.


1043.

Calicó Plate Coin

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 208. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / PONTIF TR P XI COS III, Caracalla on horseback right, holding spear, PROF in exergue. RIC 107; RSC 510; BMC 572; Hill 963. 3.31g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Beautiful light tone with golden highlights. 750

1044.

Caracalla AR Denarius. Rome, AD 215. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate bust right / PM TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Pax standing left holding branch and sceptre. RIC 268; C. 314; Hill 1443. 3.02g, 20mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine. 200

1045.

253

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 208-18. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing facing, head right, holding standard and sceptre, two more standards to right. RIC 102; RSC 3. 3.11g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, and struck on a large flan. Scarce. 500

1046.

Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right / SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising her skirt. RIC 116. 2.98g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

1047.

Rare Aureus of Severus Alexander

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.

About Extremely Fine. Rare. 6,000

1048.

Divus Severus Alexander AR Antoninianus. Struck under Trajan Decius. Rome, AD 250-251. DIVO ALEXANDRO, radiate bust right, with slight drapery on far shoulder / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing facing, head left. RIC 97. 3.01g, 24mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Pleasing tone. Rare. 500

1049.

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. 3.33g, 19mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Scarce. 350

1050.

254

Orbiana AR Denarius. Rome, AD 225-227. 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. 2.97g, 19mm, 6h.

Very Fine. Scarce. A bold and attractive portrait. 300

1051.

Gordian I Africanus AR Denarius. Rome, March-April AD 238. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / P M TR P COS P P, Gordian standing facing, head left, holding branch in right hand and short sceptre in left. RIC 2. 2.94g, 19mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Hint of copper deposit on reverse; lustrous and bright metal. Rare. 1,500

1052.

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. 3.38g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Lightly toned. A well-detailed portrait. 750

1053.

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. 4.85g, 23mm, 12h.


1054.

Pupienus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES PVPIEN MAXIMVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / AMOR MVTVVS AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 9b; RSC 2; BMCRE 82. 4.46g, 24mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 300

1055.

255

Gordian III, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 238. M ANT GORDIANVS CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right / PIETAS AVGG, jug between lituus and knife on left, simpulum and sprinkler on right. RIC 1. 2.52g, 21mm, 6h.


1056.

Gordian III, Barbaric Imitation AR Antoninianus. AD 238-244. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P III COS II P P, Apollo seated left, holding branch and resting elbow on lyre. Cf. RIC 87; C. 237. 4.18g, 22mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous, with an attractive tone. 200

Ex Gutekunst Collection, Roma Numismatics E-Auction 4, 28 December 2013, lot 772; Ex Gorny and Mosch 200, 10 October 2011, lot 1021.

1057.

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. 4.57g, 21mm, 11h.

Fleur De Coin. Rare. 5,000

1058.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 240. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVG, Virtus standing left, holding branch and spear, shield resting on ground behind. RIC 44; Calicó 3241. 5.05g, 22mm, 6h.


1059.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, late AD 240-early AD 243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVTI AVGVSTI, the ‘Farnese’ Hercules standing facing, head right, resting right hand on hip and placing left on club set on rock; lion skin beside club. RIC 108; Calicó 3242; Biaggi 1373-4. 4.79g, 20mm, 6h.


1060.

256



Depicting Hercules standing resting after the end of his labours, this reverse type is clearly modelled on the Farnese Hercules, the famed marble statue that was discovered during excavation of the Baths of Caracalla in 1546. Thought to have been copied and enlarged in the third century AD by Glycon from a lost original by Lysippus from the fourth century BC, the sculpture shows Hercules leaning heavily on his club, on which is draped the skin of the Nemean lion. That he has completed his labours is shown in the original scuplture by the Apples of the Hesperides, which he holds behind his back in his right hand. Gaining its name from the Palazzo Farnese in Rome in which it was housed for two hundred years, the statue is now housed in the Museo Archeologico Nazional in Naples.

1061.

The Farnese Hercules


Good Extremely Fine. Attractive red-purple colouration. 5,000

1062.

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. 4.91g, 20mm, 6h.


1063.

257

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. 4.82g, 21mm, 12h.

Mint State. Rare. 5,000

1064.



1065.



1066.

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. 4.78g, 21mm, 6h.

Mint State. Rare. 5,000

1067.

258

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. 4.76g, 21mm, 12h.


1068.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P IIII COS II P P, Apollo, bare to waist, seated left, holding branch and resting left elbow on lyre. RIC 102; Calicó 3221a. 5.22g, 21mm, 12h.


1069.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P IIII COS II P P, Apollo seated left, bare to waist, holding branch and resting left elbow on lyre. RIC 102; Calicó 3221a. 4.78g, 21mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 5,000

1070.

Gordian III AV Aureus. Rome, AD 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate and draped bust right / P M TR P VI COS II P P, Apollo, bare to waist, seated left, holding branch and resting left elbow on lyre. RIC 104; Calicó 3227. 4.86g, 21mm, 12h.

Very light mark on obverse, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 5,000

1071.

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. 5.11g, 20mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Rare. 5,000

1072.

259

Gordian III Æ Medallic ‘Sestertius’. Rome, circa AD 242. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over right shoulder / FELICITATI AVG across sail, COS III PP in exergue; imperial galley in full sail over waves to right; vexillum, signum and acrostolium above and rudder below steering house within which sits the emperor who addresses 18 soldiers in waist of vessel; S C below. Unpublished in the standard references. For general reverse type cf.: TRAIECTVS AVG AV medallion (Jameson 511, found in Palestine), Æ medallion (Gnecchi 39, pl. 105, 8) and As (RIC 323). For provincial issues with the same theme cf.: Gadara in Decapolis (SNG ANS 1332), Phaselis in Lykia (SNG Copenhagen 128) and Perinthos in Thrace (Schönert 809-812). 25.05g, 35mm, 6h.

Very Fine, of medallic aspect with a pleasing green-red patina. Apparently unique and unpublished. 5,000

Early in the year 242 Gordian opened the doors of the Temple of Janus for the last time in Roman history, and with his trusted father-in-law the Praetorian Prefect Timisitheus set out with a great army for Syria to confront an invasion of the Roman province of Mesopotamia by the Sasanian king Shapur I (see lot 755). This event was marked by several military issues with types such as Adlocvtio Avgvsti, Traiectus Avg, Victoriae Avgvsti and Pax Aeterna. This medallic ‘sestertius’, previously tinned in antiquity, was probably struck as a presentational piece marking the start of the emperor’s expedition to the East.

Shapur had conquered the Mesopotamian fortresses of Nisibis and Carrhae and advanced into Syria. Gordian fought and won several pitched battles against the Sasanians, recapturing Carrhae and Nisibis, and at last routing a Sasanian army at Resaena, forcing Shapur to restore all occupied cities unharmed to their citizens. “We have penetrated as far as Nisibis, and shall even get to Ctesiphon,” he wrote to the Senate.

The campaign was a success, and Gordian was planning a counter invasion of Sasanian territory when his father-in-law died in unclear circumstances, thus putting the campaign and the young emperor in danger. Philip the Arab was promoted to Praetorian Prefect, and the campaign proceeded. The Romans met increasing resistance as they advanced into eastern Mesopotamia; Sasanian sources claim that a battle was fought (the Battle of Misiche) near modern Fallujah in Iraq which resulted in a Roman defeat and the death in battle of Gordian III. Roman sources disagree, making no mention of the battle, but suggest that Gordian was murdered by Philip. The truth of the events surrounding the death of Gordian III will likely forever be a mystery, though the young emperor may well have been eager to prove himself in combat; his portrait on this coin shows him as a vigorous youth arrayed in gear of war with a spear in his hand.

1073.

Unique Medallic ‘Sestertius’ of Gordian III

261

Unpublished Aureus of Gallienus

Gallienus AV Aureus. Siscia, AD 262-268. GALLIENVS AVG, laureate head right / MARTI PROPVGNATORI, Mars advancing right wearing crested helmet, cuirass, pteruges and high caligae with ties. RIC V -; Calicó -; Göbl -; MIR -: unpublished in the standard references. 3.37g, 17mm, 6h.

Minor marks, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished. 20,000


For reverse legend and type cf. Göbl MIR 36, 1439h i and ff (radiate bust left) and 1439h and1440h (head left, wearing crown of reeds). For an in depth discussion on the mint of Siscia under Gallienus cf. R. Göbl. MIR 36, pp. 118-122; R.A.G Carson, Coins of the Roman Empire, p. 103 and Besly-Bland, The Cunetio Treasure, p. 38.

There is no doubt that the mint at Siscia was first opened by Gallienus in AD 262 with personnel transferred from the mint of Rome. However, the issues of the two mints may generally be distinguished by their different reverse types and the distinctive extended laurel ties of Siscia. Gallienus encouraged a new style of sculpture in Rome, which harked back to the classicism of the 1st century, so that the early expressive bust styles of Siscia are very similar to those at Rome (cf. MIR 36, Rome series 9, pls. 54 and 55) with a forceful expression, aquiline nose and pronounced furrow in the upper lip. This portraiture is clearly intended to present him as an authoritarian and resolute leader capable of restoring order and prosperity in a time of imminent threat to the empire from all around, both barbaric and in the form of pretenders including Ingenuus, Regalianus, Macrianus, Quietus, Aemilianus, Aureolus and Postumus.

Gallienus saw himself during his sole rule as a soldier and poet, who was personally steeped in Greek culture, a philhellenist, like Hadrian, interested in the neo-Platonist philosophy of Plotinus, the last great pagan philosopher.

1074.

262

Gallienus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 253. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right / CONCORDIA AVGG, clasped hands. RIC 131; MIR 13. 3.05g, 24mm, 12h.

Very Fine. 200

1075.

Aurelian AV Aureus. Mediolanum (Milan), AD 270-275. IMP C L DOM AVRELIANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVG, Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy; at foot to right, captive seated right. RIC 15; Calicó 4048; CBN 430-435. 4.36g, 21mm, 6h.


1076.

Pleasing Aureus of Aurelian

Tacitus Æ Silvered Antoninianus. Siscia, AD 275-276. IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, Victory flying left, wearing long dress and holding open diadem with both her hands; at her feet two small, oval shields; P in exergue. RIC 170. 4.37g, 23mm, 12h.


1077.

Probus Æ Antoninianus. Serdica, AD 276-282. IMP C PROBVS P AVG, radiate, helmeted, and cuirassed bust left holding spear and shield / SOLI INVICTO, Sol in spread quadriga, holding whip, KAB in exergue. RIC 862 var. (obverse legend). 3.77g, 23mm, 6h.


1078.

Probus Æ Antoninianus. Serdica, AD 276-282. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P AVG, radiate and draped bust right / SOLI INVICTO, Sol in spread quadriga, holding whip; KAB in exergue. RIC 864 var. (mintmark). 3.39g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. 150

1079.

263

Diocletian AV Aureus. Nicomedia, AD 284. DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing to left, naked but for cloak, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; SMN in exergue. Calicó 4494 (this coin); C. 251; Depeyrot 2/4; Lukanc Nicomedia 2; RIC 5a. 5.56g, 17mm, 12h.


Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 33, 6 April 2006, lot 584; Ex Hirsch sale XXIX, 1910, lot 1312.

1080.

Ex Hirsch 1910

Diocletian AV Aureus. Cyzicus, AD 284-285. IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / MARTI VLTORI, Mars advancing to right, holding spear and shield. Calicó 4547; C. 319; Depeyrot 2/4; RIC 300b. 4.48g, 20mm, 6h.

Minor marks, otherwise about Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 10,000

1081.

Very Rare Aureus of Diocletian

264

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Ticinum, circa AD 295. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right, brow furrowed / VICTORIA SARMAT, tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before six-turreted enclosure, the two nearest with paterae, small dot in archway above. RIC 16a; RSC 488d. 2.81g, 19mm, 5h.


1082.

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Nicomedia, circa AD 295. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIAE SARMATICAE, Four-turreted camp-gate, with open doors, and each turret surmounted by a facing eagle; SMNΓ in exergue. RIC 22a; RSC 492a. 3.36g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 750

1083.

Diocletian AR Argenteus. Serdica, AD 303-305. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, camp gate with three turrets and no door; •SM•SDΓ• in exergue. RIC 1a var. (unlisted officina); RSC 520b. 3.37g, 19mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine, and attractively toned. Rare. 750

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Mail Bid Sale 72, 14 June 2006, lot 1737; Ex Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Gorny & Mosch 142, 10-11 October 2005, lot 2927.

1084.

Domitius Domitianus Æ Nummus. 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. 11.53g, 25mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare. 1,250 Stationed in an Egypt that was overtaxed and burdened with considerable administrative corruption, Domitius 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.

1085.

Maximianus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 287. MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / HERCVLI VICTORI, Hercules standing facing, head left, holding branch in right hand and club and lion-skin in left; PR in exergue. RIC -; C. 300; Depeyrot 5A/3; Calicó 4673 (same dies). 5.44g, 20mm, 6h.

Minor marks and light abrasion on rev., otherwise Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare. 10,000

1086.

265

Maximianus AR Argenteus. Ticinum, circa AD 295. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VICTORIA SARMAT, the four tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure with six turrets. RIC 16b; Sisak Hoard 39; RSC 548b. 2.75g, 18mm, 12h.


1087.

Maximianus AR Argenteus. Serdica, AD 305-306. MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate with no doors; •SM•SDЄ• in exergue. RIC 11b; Gautier 26 var. (officina); RSC 228†a. 3.30g, 21mm, 7h.


1088.

Constantius I AR Argenteus. Serdica, AD 305-307. CONSTANTIVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate with no doors; •SM•SDB• in exergue. RIC 11a; Gautier -. 3.53g, 20mm, 12h.

Fleur De Coin. Wonderfully lustrous. 1,000

1089.

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. 3.40g, 20mm, 7h.


1090.

Severus II Æ Nummus. Trier, AD 307. FL VAL SEVERVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing facing, head left wearing towered crown, left shoulder and loins draped, holding patera in right hand and cornucopiae in left. RIC 660. 10.55g, 28mm, 6h.


1091.

267

Maximinus II Daia, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Trier, AD 305-306. MAXIMINVS NOB C, laureate head right / HERCVLI CONSER AVGG ET CAESS NN, Hercules, standing nude to right, his head turned to left, wearing lion’s skin over his left shoulder and quiver over his right shoulder; in his left hand he holds a bow, his right rests on his club, set on the ground; TR in exergue. RIC 621; Depeyrot 52, 11B/3P; Bastien and C. Metzger, Le trésor de Beaurains (1977), 144, 420 (this coin); Calicó 5012. 5.32g, 17mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one of only two examples known, both of which come from the Beaurains/Arras Hoard. 60,000

Ex Collection of a Perfectionist, Leu Numismatik 87, 6 May 2003, lot 110; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 7, 1 March 1994, lot 805; From the Beaurains (Arras) Hoard of 1922.

This coin was struck to commemorate the foundation of the Second Tetrarchy on 1 May AD 305. Born of Dacian peasant stock to the sister of Galerius, Maximinus rose to high distinction in the army thanks to his uncle’s influence as Caesar under Diocletian. In 305, according to Lactantius, Galerius forced Diocletian to abdicate, and through coercion and threats convinced Diocletian to fill the two vacated positions of Caesar with men compliant to his will. Thus, with the abdication of Diocletian and Maximianus, Galerius was raised to Augustus and immediately appointed his nephew Maximinus to the rank of Caesar along with an old friend, Severus. Portrayed by contemporary writers as vulgar, cruel and ignorant, Maximinus II gained eternal notoriety for his persecution of Christians in open defiance of the Edict of Toleration issued by Galerius.

In 313, having imprudently allied himself to Maxentius, the enemy of Constantine and Licinius, Maximinus found himself at war with Licinius, who marched against him and defeated him in a decisive battle at Tirizallum, despite Maximinus’ army being a veteran force that outnumbered Licinius by more than two to one. Pursued and besieged by Licinius, he poisoned himself at Tarsus in Cilicia in AD 313, eight years after being named Caesar, and five and a half after assuming the purple. His children were put to death and his wife was thrown into the Orontes at Antioch where by her orders a great number of Christian women had been drowned.

This extremely rare coin shows Maximinus before he had revealed his cruel and tyrannical nature, and gives him the stern countenance of one of the tried military emperors into whose company he was being elevated. The finely engraved, muscular figure of Hercules on the reverse is a further allusion to the militaristic responsibilities of the tetrarchic emperors, being employed here as Hercules ‘the Defender’, thus both emphasising Maximinus’ purpose as a guardian of Rome, and at the same time ennobling him by appointing Hercules to watch over him.

1092.

From the Beaurains Hoard of 1922

269

Licinius I AV Aureus. Thessalonica, circa AD 310. LICINIVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG, Jupiter standing left, chlamys hanging from left shoulder, holding thunderbolt in right hand and vertical sceptre in left; to left, eagle standing left, holding wreath in beak; A in right field, •SM•TS• in exergue. RIC 44a var. (control letter); Calicó 5121a (this coin); Depeyrot 5/2. 5.37g, 21mm, 6h.


1093.

Calicó Plate Coin

Martinian Æ Nummus. Nicomedia, AD 324. D N M MARTINIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand and eagle-tipped sceptre in left, captive on ground to right, X-IIΓ above, eagle to left holding wreath in beak; SMNΓ in exergue. RIC 45; C 3. 3.06g, 21mm, 6h.


Struck from dies of exceptionally fine style for Martinian and extraordinarily well preserved, this extremely rare nummus represents one of the very finest issues of this short-lived deputy to Licinius that is available to collectors.

1094.

Extremely Rare Nummus of Martinian

Constantine I AV Solidus. Ticinum, AD 324-325. CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, laureate bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Constantine standing to left, holding sceptre and legionary aquila, another aquila and standard behind; SMT in exergue. RIC 180; Depeyrot 18/2. 4.61g, 19mm, 6h.


Ex Baldwin’s 44, 2 May 2006, lot 289;Ex Peus 382, 26 April 2005, lot 578.

1095.

Rare Solidus of Constantine I

270

Constantine I Æ Nummus. Sirmium, AD 324-325. CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate head right / SARMATIA DEVICTA, Victory advancing right, carrying trophy and palm branch, spurning captive seated to right. RIC 48. 3.41g, 19mm, 12h.

As Struck. Toned, with some silvering remaining. 100

1096.

City Commemorative AR Third Siliqua. Struck under Constantine I, AD 330. Pearl-diademed and draped bust right, wearing pearl necklace / Large K. RIC -; Bendall, Anonymous Type 4; RSC -; Mazzini 287; Göbl, Antike Numismatik (1978), pl. 10, 144. 1.13g, 12mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Toned. Very Rare. 300Ex Gorny & Mosch 152, 10 October 2006, lot 2441.

1097.

Constantine I AV Solidus. Nicomedia, AD 335. Rosette diademed head right with uplifted gaze / VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVGVSTI, Victory, wearing long dress, seated to right on cuirass inscribing VOT XXX on shield held by Genius; SMNM in exergue. RIC 176; Depeyrot 44/1; Bastien, Donativa 81, g) and note 8. 4.40g, 22mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; lustrous metal. Rare. 10,000

Ex New York Sale XIV, 10 January 2007, lot 448.

1098.

Superb Hellenistic Portrait of Constantine

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 facing 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 reverse, otherwise Good Extremely Fine. Highly lustrous surfaces. 4,000

1099.

Beautiful Constantius II Solidus

271

Constantius II AV Solidus. Sirmium, 351-355 AD. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, Roma seated facing and Constantinopolis seated left, holding shield between them inscribed VOT XX MVLT XXX; SIRM in exergue. RIC 1; Depeyrot 1. 4.38g, 22mm, 7h.


1100.

Constantius II AR Reduced Siliqua. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 360-363. D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA DD NN AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm; LVG in exergue. RIC 214; RSC 259a. 1.99g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Attractive old collection toning. 2,000

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 2739.

1101.

Magnentius Æ Centenionalis. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 350-353. D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG, bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right, A behind / VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE, two Victories standing facing each other, holding between them wreath inscribed VOT V MVLT X; pellet between wreath ties, SV below, RPLG in exergue. RIC 130. 3.05g, 21mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. 100

1102.

Magnentius Æ Centenionalis. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 350-353. D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG, bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right, A behind / VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE, two Victories standing facing each other, holding between them wreath inscribed VOT V MVLT X; star between wreath ties, SV below, RPLG in exergue. RIC 133. 4.85g, 22mm, 12h.

Near Extremely Fine; some silvering remaining. 100

1103.

1102 1103

Magnentius Æ Centenionalis. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 350-353. D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG, bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right, A behind / VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE, two Victories standing facing each other, holding between them wreath inscribed VOT V MVLT X; SP below wreath, RPLG in exergue. RIC 136. 4.67g, 20mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Much silvering remaining. 100

1104.

Decentius, as Caesar, Æ Centenionalis. Lugdunum (Lyon), AD 350-353. D N DECENTIVS NOB CAES, bareheaded and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE, two Victories standing facing each other, holding between them wreath inscribed VOT V MVLT X; star between wreath ties, SV below, RPLG in exergue. RIC 134. 5.12g, 22mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; much silvering remaining. 200

1105.

1104 1105

273

Vetranio AR Heavy Miliarense. Siscia, March-December AD 350. D N VETRANIO P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / GAVDIVM POPVLI ROMANI, laurel wreath with a jewel at the apex, containing VOT V MVL X in four lines between two palm branches; SIS in exergue. RIC 261; C. -; Gnecchi -. 5.13g, 26mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine, some areas of lustre remaining. Extremely Rare, apparently only the fifth known example, and one of just two in private hands. 30,000

An experienced soldier and officer who had originally served under Constantine I and had risen to become the Master of the Infantry (magister peditum) in Pannonia, Vetranio was raised to the purple for a ten month period in AD 350 in circumstances that remain unclear. After the murder of Constans in the west by the usurper Magnentius, Constantius II was left as the last remaining heir of Constantine I and was occupied on the Persian front at the time of his brother’s death. Philostorgius (3.22) tells us that his sister Constantina asked Vetranio to proclaim himself Caesar in March 350 to counter the threat from the army of Magnentius that was marching eastward. Vetranio readily accepted, and struck coins in his own name, but showing the full title of Augustus, rather than the lesser rank of Caesar. Vetranio’s may well have been motivated by his own desire to assume the purple, however in what seems to have been a carefully considered and shrewd political manoeuvre, Constantius apepared to have accepted Vetranio’s elevation by sending imperial regalia and money to Vetranio – this was almost certainly done to upset the possibility of an alliance between Magnentius and the old magiser peditum. Vetranio, in return, sent letters to Constantius professing his loyalty.

Though he reigned for ten months and frequently asked Constantius for money and military aid to fight Magnentius, he appears to have taken no active measures to assail the usurper’s position, and indeed participated in a joint embassy to Constantius with Magnentius wherein he and the rebel tried to convince the emperor to form a triarchy, with Constantius as senior Augustus. He moreover engraged Constantius by putting his garrison at the Succi pass, the entrance to the high-road across the Balkans, on a war footing and closing it to Constantius. That Vetranio was not a scrupulous loyalist of Constantius is also supported by the numismatic evidence, as he here vows to rule for five years, and hopes for ten. This is incongruous with the theory that we was simply ‘keeping the throne warm’ for Constantius until the latter could return.

In the autumn of 350 Constantius II was able to reach Vetranio with his own forces unlooked for, and Vetranio, faced with the sudden an inexplicable arrival of his imperial colleague, was forced first to agree to a joint campaign against Magnentius, and then to abdicate. Vetranio saved himself by at last cooperating with Constantius. In a well orchestrated ceremony on the 25th December at Naissus, both men mounted a platform as imperial brothers and equals, and spoke to their assembled armies. Important parts of Vetranio’s force had been bribed to desert him, and Vetranio himself was a willing participant in the ceremony, since his voluntary abdication provided the means of reward for him and his officers, and Constantius’ authority was enhanced by the submission of his colleague. Constantius formally relieved Vetranio of the purple, called him father, and led him to the dinner table. Vetranio, who was already an elderly man, was gifted an estate in Prusa, Bithynia, to which he retired and was where he died some five years later.

1106.

One of Only Two in Private Hands

274

Valens AR Siliqua. Rome, AD 364-367. D N VALENS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VOT V•MVLT X in four lines within wreath; RB in exergue. RIC 10c.; RSC 91h. 1.84g, 18mm, 6h.Good Very Fine. Attractively toned. 150From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1107.

1107 1108

Procopius Æ17. Constantinople, 365-366. D N PROCOPIVS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left / REPARATIO FEL TEMP, Procopius standing facing, head left, holding labarum in right hand, left hand on shield set on ground. RIC 17b. 2.72g, 19mm, 6h.Extremely Fine. 500

1108.

Gratian AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 367-375. D N GRATIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VRBS ROMA, Roma seated left holding spear and Victory on globe; TRPS• in exergue. RIC 27f.; RSC86b. 2.19g, 18mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Attractively toned and well struck on a full flan. A very pleasing coin. 150

From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1109.

Valentinian II AV Solidus. Mediolanum (Milan), AD 379. D N VALENTINIANVS IVN P F AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, two emperors seated facing, nimbate, jointly holding globus; Victory above, wings spread; palm branch below; MDOB in exergue. RIC 5c.; Depeyrot 6/3. 5.43g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Struck on a broad flan; lustrous surfaces. Extremely Rare. 2,500

1110.

Valentinian II AV Solidus. Mediolanum (Milan), AD 382. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust right / VICTORIA AVGG, two emperors seated facing, jointly holding globus; Victory above, wings spread; palm branch below; COM in exergue. RIC 5e.; Depeyrot Uncertain north Italian mint p. 182, 2. 4.44g, 21mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lustrous surfaces. 2,500

1111.

Theodosius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 383-388. D N THEODOSIVS PF AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Concordia AVGGG A, Constantinopolis, turreted and with head right, seated facing on high backed throne with ornamented with lion’s heads, right foot on prow, holding sceptre and shield inscribed VOT V MVL X in four lines; CONOB in exergue. RIC 70b; Depeyrot 45/1; DOC 269. 4.45g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine, with attractive lustre. Very Rare. 1,000

1112.

275

1115 1116

Theodosius I AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 383-388. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA AVGGG, Constantinopolis, turreted, seated facing, head right, right foot on prow, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; TRPS in exergue. RIC 83a. RSC 4a. 2.05g, 19mm, 7h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 200From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1113.

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. 1.94g, 19mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; pleasantly toned. 150From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1114.

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. 1.91g, 18mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; attractive dark toning. 150From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1115.

Magnus Maximus AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 383-388. D N MAG MAXIMVS 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 84b; RSC 20a. 1.86g, 18mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Beautiful iridescent tones. 300

1116.

1113 1114

Eugenius AR Siliqua. Mediolanum (Milan), 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; MDPS in exergue. RIC 32c. 1.53g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine, reverse die worn. Rare. 300

1117.

The Usurper Eugenius

Eugenius AR Siliqua. Treveri (Trier), AD 392-395. 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. 2.00g, 18mm, 12h.


1118.

Arcadius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 388-392. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIA AVGGG Z, Constantinopolis, turreted, seated facing, head right, holding sceptre and shield inscribed VOT V MVL X; CONOB in exergue. RIC 70c.; Depeyrot 46/3. 4.41g, 21mm, 6h. Very Fine. Scarce. 500

1119.

276

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 on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 106c.; RSC 27e. 1.61g, 16mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. Scarce. 150From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1120.

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 on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear; TRPS in exergue. RIC 106c.; RSC 27e. 1.87g, 16mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Attractive old cabinet tone. Scarce. 150 From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1121.

Arcadius AV Solidus. Rome, AD 404-408. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing right, holding Victory on globe and standard; at his feet, captive; R-M acorss field, COMOB in exergue. RIC 1251; Depeyrot 34/1. 4.48g, 21mm, 12h.Extremely Fine. 750

1122.

1121

Honorius AV Solidus. Mediolanum (Milan), AD 395-402. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Emperor standing right, holding standard and Victory on globe; with his left foot he spurns a seated bound captive; M-D across fields, COMOB in exergue. Ulrich-Bansa pl. 61, a; LRC 712; Depeyrot 16/2; RIC 35b. 4.33g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 67, 17 October 2012, lot 393; Ex HSA 7886.

1123.

Honorius AV Tremissis. Ravenna, AD 402-406. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory standing facing, holding wreath in right hand and globus cruciger in left; R-V across fields, COM in exergue. RIC 1289 (misdescribed); Depeyrot 10/1; LRC 737; C. 47. 1.48g, 14mm, 11h. Good Very Fine. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 67, 17 October 2012, lot 395; Ex HSA 22168.

1124.

1120

277

Sharp Miliarense of Theodosius

Theodosius II AR Miliarense. Constantinople, AD 408-423. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust left / GLORIA ROMANORVM, Theodosius, nimbate, standing facing, head left, raising hand and holding globe, star to left; CON in exergue. RIC 370; RSC 20a. 4.31g, 24mm, 11h.

Good Extremely Fine. Lightly toned and lustrous. 3,000

1125.

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 Θ, Constantinopolis seated facing with sceptre and Victory on globe, CONOB in exergue. RIC 202.; Depeyrot 73/2. 4.25g, 20mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. 500

1126

Theodosius II AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 416. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing to front, head left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIRB 45; LRC 319; Depeyrot 70/1; RIC 213 (this coin cited). 1.48g, 14mm, 12h.Good Very Fine. Scarce. 250From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 67, 17 October 202, lot 399; Ex HSA 30159.

1127.

Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 430-440. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over right shoulder and shield decorated with horseman and enemy motif / VOT XXX MVLT XXXX B, Constantinopolis enthroned left, holding globus cruciger and sceptre, resting foot on prow, round shield behind throne, star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 257; Depeyrot 81/1. 4.50g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Beautifully lustrous, and well struck on a broad flan. Scarce. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 2758.

1128.

Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 430-440. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear over right shoulder and behind head, and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VOT XXX MVLT XXXX S, Constantinopolis enthroned to left, holding globus cruciger and sceptre; shield behind throne, star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 257; Depeyrot 81/1. 4.47g, 21mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Scarce. 500

1129.

278

Valentinian III AV Tremissis. Rome or Ravenna, AD 455. D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Cross within wreath, COMOB in exergue. RIC 2070; LRC 851; Depeyrot 47/7. 1.49g, 13mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Rare. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 67, 17 October 2012, lot 404; Ex HSA 30149.

1131.

Aelia Eudocia AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 444. AEL EVDOCIA AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust right / Cross within wreath. RIC 335; MIRB 50; LRC 461; Depeyrot 72/2. 1.48g, 14mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Scarce. 500

1130.1130 1131

Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 465/466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield, decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Δ, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. LRC 527; Depeyrot 93/1; RIC 605. 4.56g, 21mm, 6h. As struck. Scarce. 400

1132.

Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 465/466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield, decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. LRC 527; Depeyrot 93/1; RIC 605. 4.49g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Scarce. 300

1133.

1132 1133

Leo I AR Siliqua. Constantinople, AD 474. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / SAL REI PYI within wreath; CONS* in exergue. RIC 646; RSC 12a. 1.20g, 16mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. Toned. Rare. 300

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64, 17 May 2012, lot 2771; Ex Gorny & Mosch 156, 5 March 2007, lot 2379.

1134.

Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust facing holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG S, Victory standing left, supporting long jewelled cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 905; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h. As Struck. 500

1135.

Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing left, holding long cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 910; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.48g, 20mm, 6h. Almost As Struck. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex iNumis Mail Bid Sale 23, 22 October 2013, lot 202.

1136.

1135 1136

Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG TЄ, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC 927; MIRB 8; Depeyrot 112/1. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 500

From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 75, 18 November 2013, lot 402;Ex Sotheby’s, 3-4 October 1991, lot 128.

1137.

279

Justin I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 522-527. D N IVSTINVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG I, angel standing facing, holding jewelled cross and globus cruciger; star to right; CONOB in exergue. DOC 2i; MIBE 3; Sear 56. 4.48g, 21mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 300

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction 286, 5 September 2012, lot 414.

1138.

COINS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

Justinian I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 537-542. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG A, angel standing facing, holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. Sear 137; MIBE 108, 5; DOC 67, 3a. 4.49g, 20mm, 6h.


From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Hess-Divo Auction 321, 25 October 2012, lot 336.

1139.

Justinian I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 537-542. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG Є, angel standing facing, holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 8d; MIBE 6; Sear 139. 4.45g, 21mm, 6h. Near Mint State. 750From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 64, 17 May 2012, lot 2792.

1140.

Justinian I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 537-542. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG Є, angel standing facing, holding long cross and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 8d; MIBE 6; Sear 139. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 250From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Bramhall Collection, Classical Numismatic Group 93, 22 May 2013, lot 1304; Ex Robert Bridge Collection.

1141.

Justinian I AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 537-542. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust three quarters facing to right, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG, angel standing facing, holding long cross; stars in left and right fields, CONOB in exergue. DOC -; MIBE 20; Sear 173A. 4.44g, 22mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare. 1,000From the Marc Poncin Collection.

1142.

Justinian I AV Solidus. Rome, AD 537-542. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, angel standing facing, holding long cross and globus cruciger; six-rayed star in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOC 318 var.; MIBE 32.2 var.; Sear 288. 4.35g, 21mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; traces of edge filing. 300From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 75, 18 November 2013, lot 481.

1143.

11411140

11431142

280

An Important Byzantine Enkolpion

281

Gold Medallion or Enkolpion (ἐγκόλπιον, enkólpion, “on the chest”), attributed to Maurice Tiberius. Constantinople, circa AD 582-583. 90.52g, or with loop 103.10g.

Ex Gemini VII, New York, 9 January 2011, lot 928. 1,000,000

This magnificent and unique medallion has been attributed to AD 582-583, the first year of the reign of the Byzantine emperor Maurice Tiberius (Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus). It appears to have been struck as part of the grand imperial celebrations for the wedding of Charito, the daughter of the previous emperor Tiberius II Constantine (Flavius Tiberius Constantinus Augustus) to Germanus, the Magister Utriusque Militae (supreme commander of the army; master of both infantry and cavalry). As a gold medallion equivalent in weight to twenty solidi (plus the loop) it represents what would have been a valuable presentation to an important or worthy recipient.

Of tremendous importance as an example of early Byzantine medallic art, this is one of only three large struck gold Byzantine medallions to have survived antiquity, and one of just two to have survived to the present day. The renowned 36-solidus medallion of Justinian I (BN 1) that was housed in the Bibliotèque Nationale in Paris was taken in the great robbery of 1831 and apparently melted down for its gold - a mere fraction of its great historical value.

The only other extant large struck gold medallion today is the famous Dumbarton Oaks specimen, which was found in Cyprus circa 1906 and then purchased by the distinguished scholar Josef Strzygowski, from whom it was acquired in 1955 by the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. Prior to the discovery of the presently offered piece, the Dumbarton Oaks specimen was considered to be the finest surviving example of medallic art from the sixth century, and the only true Byzantine medallion of any importance with a religious subject.

This medallion presents us with a remarkable set of illustrations wrought in gold of key moments in the story of the life of Christ as related in early Christian texts, of which some have no peer or parallel in surviving Byzantine precious metal art. On this medallion survive what are among the earliest of all depictions of the Annunciation and of the Ascension, and almost certainly the earliest of both to survive in gold.

The Obverse

The obverse of this medallion is divided into two distinct sections and portrays the events surrounding the birth of Christ as related in chapters one and two of the Gospel of Luke. The principal scene is that of the Annunciation, and occupies the greater part of the medallion’s surface area. In this scene the angel Gabriel, nimbate and holding a shouldered double orb-tipped sceptre in his left hand, hails and addresses the Virgin Mary. He is clad in a chiton, a mantle and wears sandals upon his feet. He announces to Mary that she will conceive the son of God through the grace of the Holy Spirit, and that he shall be called Jesus (“Saviour”). His hand is raised, though not as an act of salutation but in the manner of traditional oratory, as one who is beginning an important proclamation. Thus we see, as related to us in the legend XAIPE KEXAPITOMENH O K[YPIO]C META COV (Hail, o favored one! The Lord is with thee.) that this is the very moment of the delivery of his message. The Chi-Rho symbol set prominently between the two figures further emphasises the divine nature of this moment.

Mary is seated facing, her head turned slightly to face the angel Gabriel; she too is nimbate and similarly dressed in a chiton and a palla or maphorion which is drawn up to cover her head and shoulders. She sits upon an ornate and richly decorated throne whose back is rendered in the shape of a lyre. Her posture is defensive: her upper body recoils and her head leans backwards away from the angel, while her right hand is raised, palm outwards. Thus does the artist give definition to the shock and fear that Mary must be feeling as Gabriel addresses her.

The significance of the lyre-backed throne is uncertain. No such images of the Virgin enthroned thus are known with a Constantinopolitan provenance except this medallion (and the Schmidt medallion discussed below), though it is similar in style to that on a layer of plaster on the famous ‘palimpsest wall’ at S. Maria Antiqua in Rome (fig. 1) which should also be dated to the 6th century. It has been suggested that the shape is derived from pre-Christian images of Orpheus taming the beasts with his music, implying a theme of universal harmony.

1144.

282

James D. Breckenridge1 however produced a compelling argument that the lyre-backed throne was based on a real throne in the Byzantine Palace, of which type successive examples had “a particular use in the imperial ceremony of enthronement, in both the political and theological senses”. The use of the lyre-backed throne for the Virgin should therefore be taken to signify a temporal as well as spiritual authority.

In Mary’s hand is a spun purple skein; its end falls into the basket set beside her. This thread which she has been spinning is a highly significant element of the Annunciation: it appears in such images from around the fifth century onwards, and in the form we see it here it is a standard iconographical element present in Annunciation icons up until about the ninth century. The attribute of the purple thread is drawn from the Protoevangelion of James, X.1: “Now there was a council of the priests, and they said: Let us make a veil for the temple of the Lord. And the priest said: Call unto me pure virgins of the tribe of David. And the officers departed and sought and found seven virgins. And the priests called to mind the child Mary, that she was of the tribe of David and was undefiled before God: and the officers went and fetched her. And they brought them into the temple of the Lord, and the priest said: Cast me lots, which of you shall weave the gold and the undefiled (the white) and the fine linen and the silk and the hyacinthine, and the scarlet and the true purple. And the lot of the true purple and the scarlet fell unto Mary, and she took them and went unto her house.” According to the Protoevangelion, when Gabriel appears to Mary and announces to her the news that she will bear the son of God, she was sitting and spinning the purple thread.

This purple thread is therefore the symbolic ‘proof’ of Mary’s virginity and her decent from the house of David, and it may hold further meaning as a representation of the body of Christ. An analogy is inferred here: as Mary weaves the temple veil in the dark colours of flesh and blood, so shall she dress the Logos in the veil of mortal flesh and give substance to the incorporeal in the form of the son of God. Maria Evangelatou2 writes: “Patristic exegeses on the Temple veil as a type of Christ’s body offer a strong argument in support of the hypothesis that the purple thread was a symbol of the Incarnation in all Byzantine Annunciation images. The veil (καταπέτασμα) for which the Theotokos (God-bearer) was spinning the purple thread at the time of her Annunciation can be identified, according to the description in the Protoevangelion, with the veil that in the Jewish Temple closed the entrance to the Holy of Holies. This curtain was also made of purple in Solomon’s Temple (II Chronicles 3:14) and in Moses’ Tabernacle (Exodus 37:3-5), where it concealed the most holy space of Jewish religion. Only the high priest could enter that place once a year to offer a propitiatory sacrifice of blood, so that the sins of his people could be forgiven (Leviticus 16:29-34, cf. Hebrews 9:6-7). In the New Testament, the veil of the Temple is used as a type of Christ’s body. This exegesis originates in Christ’s description of his Passion and Resurrection as a destruction and three-day rebuilding of the Temple (Mark 14:58, 15:29; John 2:19-22). The veil of the Temple enters the picture when the gospels report that it was torn asunder at the time of Christ’s death on the Cross (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). In Paul’s epistle to Hebrews, the exegesis of the Temple veil as a type of Christ’s body is fully developed, and it becomes a key element in the Pauline concept of the transition from the Old to the New Covenant and the identity of the Christian religion. According to Paul, Christ is the new high priest who, through the sacrificial offering of his own blood on the Cross, washes away the sins of mankind, and lifts the veil of the Temple so that everyone can enter in the true Holy of Holies and see God (esp. Hebrews 6:19-20 and Hebrews 9-10). Paul specifically mentions that the way to the Holy of Holies was opened to all Christians ‘through the veil (καταπέτασμα), that is, Christ’s body’ (Hebrews 10:20).”

The space below the Annunciation scene is occupied by two smaller scenes. On the left, we see the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56): Mary, nimbate, and her cousin Elizabeth, both heavily pregnant, embrace before a grand building with a tiled roof and a distyle entrance, part of which is covered by pulled back drapery. Elizabeth’s son was to be John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-56), and the scene of Christ’s baptism by John appears on the reverse of the Dumbarton Oaks medallion. The building in this scene has been suggested to be either the Temple of Jerusalem, where both Mary and Elizabeth had served as attendants, or the house of Zachariah and Elizabeth.

In favour of the temple attribution is a contemporary 6th century mosaic: ‘The Pharisee and Publican before the Temple’ (fig. 2) in the Byzantine church of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo of Ravenna does in fact display an identically styled temple facade – distyle, supporting a Greco-Roman architrave, within which is a circular object in the pediment. Interestingly though, another contemporary mosaic, this time in the Euphrasian Basilica of Poreč in Croatia, depicts the Visitation in near identical fashion to this medallion (fig. 3). Despite the apparent unlikelihood that Elizabeth’s home would be portrayed so magnificently, and her apparent separation from the building on account of her relative position to it (we might expect Elizabeth to stand before it as though having come from it, but instead it is Mary who stands here), the tendency of Byzantine artists to ‘gild’ Biblical scenes with rich details must be taken into account. So in this fashion we also see in the Euphrasian Basilica a mosaic of the Annunciation that too shows a magnificent temple-like dwelling, which is this time beyond doubt intended to be the home of Mary (fig. 4). We must therefore associate this building with the house of Elizabeth.

1Christ on the Lyre-Backed Throne, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 34/35, (1980/1981), pp. 247-260.2The purple thread of the flesh: the theological connotations of a narrative iconographic element in Byzantine images of the Annunciation”, ed. Antony Eastmond and Liz James, Icon and Word: the power of images in Byzantium. Studies presented to Robin Cormack (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2003), 261-79.

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In the right hand scene we see the Nativity (Luke 2:1-21), wherein Mary reclines on a palliasse and the midwife Salome, who appears in several apocryphal gospels, stands beside her. According to the Protoevangelion, Salome doubted the miraculous birth and received a withered hand as reward, but repented and was restored (Protoevangelion of James 19:3-20:4). Set to Mary’s left is the basin in which Jesus was purified, as is portrayed in the 11th century mosaic from the Dark Church at Göreme in Cappadocia (fig. 5). Further to the right is the swaddled baby Jesus lying in a manger over which stand a donkey and an ox. Joseph, seated to the right, watches over him, resting his head on his hand. Below, a shepherd boy and a lamb gaze at the child; above, set between Joseph and the animals, is the Star of Bethlehem. This formula of the nativity scene seems to have originated in the 6th century, and set the essential form of all Eastern Orthodox images down to the present day. The style in which this image of the Nativity is rendered also bears clear resemblance to that found on the Dumbarton Oaks specimen.

The Reverse

The reverse of the medallion, like the Dumbarton Oaks piece, contains just one image – in this case the Ascension of Christ into Heaven (Mark 16:19). Christ is shown long-haired and bearded with a crossed nimbus, enthroned upon the firmament (the domed vault separating the heavens from the earth) within a mandorla which is borne aloft by four angels. The mandorla is a common feature in 6th century Ascension depictions, symbolising the divine aura surrounding a holy figure, and is used to accentuate sacred moments that transcend space and time. In Christ’s left hand he holds a scroll, and his right is raised in benediction – this gesture is directed at the earthly figures. Below Christ stand the eleven disciples, many of whom have their hands raised towards heaven. The presence of Mary in the centre of the group (who Eastern Orthodox tradition holds was present at the Ascension) and the addition of Paul bearing a cross (who was not yet a convert) are meant to represent the Church, and Christ’s benediction is therefore understood to be a blessing of the entire Church. The upwards looking depiction of the earthly group matches the Eastern liturgy on the Feast of the Ascension: “Come, let us rise and turn our eyes and thoughts high...”

Beneath the exergual line is the inscription: H XAPIC TOY K[YPIO]V HMWN / I[HCO]V X[PICTO]Y META PANT / WN VMWN (“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”).

The very earliest surviving image of the Ascension is thought to be an ivory plaque made around AD 400 in Milan or Rome, and now housed in Munich (fig. 6). That plaque utilises the earlier Roman imagery of apotheosis, with Christ reaching his hand upward to the

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hand of God. The Rabbula gospels (circa AD 586) contain another of the earliest depictions of the Ascension, and in this image the Virgin Mary occupies a central position among the apostles, while Christ is enthroned within a mandorla above. This depiction established an accepted iconography which became the standard Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox depiction of the Ascension. This medallion therefore, which may predate the Rabbula gospels by several years, is among the earliest depictions of the Ascension in the standard Byzantine mode.

Condition

Some minor restoration was effected to this medallion prior to its being offered in the Gemini catalogue. It was stated therein that “two parts of the original frame had become separated and the medallion itself had a slightly wavy surface. These have been resolved as were two very minor scrapes.”

Tiberius II Constantine, Germanus and Maurice Tiberius

In June AD 582 the emperor Tiberius II Constantine was dying, apparently having consumed some poorly prepared or deliberately poisoned food. In this state on August 5, Tiberius initially named two heirs, each of whom were betrothed to one of his daughters – the general Maurice was engaged to Constantina, while Germanus, the cousin once removed to the great emperor Justinian and great nephew of Justin I, was engaged to Charito. It appears that Tiberius’ plan was to divide the empire in two, with Maurice receiving the eastern provinces and Germanus the western provinces. However this plan was never implemented, apparently because Germanus refused the imperial throne. On August 13, 582, the emperor elevated Maurice to the rank of Augustus (who then took the name Tiberius), and died the following day.

The Dumbarton Oaks Medallion

The obverse of the Dumbarton Oaks specimen depicts the Virgin and Child enthroned between two angels, with small scenes showing the Nativity and the Adoration below in the same triptych style division as that of the presently offered specimen. The reverse portrays the Baptism of Christ, with John placing his hand upon Christ’s head as the dove representing the Holy Spirit descends and two angels approach bearing towels. God’s hand appears above. Again, as with the present medallion, one image occupies the entire reverse surface.

Despite the clear importance of the medallion its true significance was underestimated for over half a century, as its owner Josef Strzygowski himself thought that the medallion was of Syrian origin and ‘one of the objects sold to pilgrims in the Holy Land, and brought back by them’. It was convincingly demonstrated by Marvin C. Ross3 in 1957 that the medallion must have originated in Constantinople. It had been found in Cyprus in 1902 with a multitude of precious silver vessels that bore control marks which we now know indicate that they were manufactured in the imperial city, and with smaller gold medallions of Tiberius II that had been set into a belt. Michael Metlich4 notes that such ‘pompous’ girdles were worn at weddings.

Ross’ study shed significant light on the origin of the Dumbarton Oaks medallion (and therefore the Schmidt medallion discussed below, as well as the presently offered specimen), as he points out in particular the same characteristic method of indicating facial details present both on the Dumbarton Oaks piece as on the imperial consular medallions of Maurice Tiberius which were undoubtedly produced at Constantinople. Furthermore, given what is known about coinage in the sixth century, and in particular about the carefully controlled usage of gold, he suggests this stuck medallion may only have been produced at the mint of Ravenna, Constantinople or possibly Carthage. Both Ravenna and Carthage may be excluded on the basis of style (for which see both Ross and also Deckers & Witt5). Ross excludes Carthage on account of the beaded border, which was not used at Carthage. Deckers & Witt note the Schmidt medallion as being distinctly Eastern Mediterranean in style; indeed, details such as the rendering of the Ascension are also Eastern in character and would have been out of place at Ravenna. 3A Byzantine Gold Medallion at Dumbarton Oaks, Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 11, (1957), pp. 247-261.4Religious Byzantine medallions and plaques struck in gold, in Israel Numismatic Journal 2003-6, pp. 107-111.5Medallion. Christus mit Brautpaar und Marienszene’, in Byzanz, Das Licht aus dem Osten, Kult und Alltag im Byzantiniscem Reich vom 4. Bis 15. Jahrhundert, Mainz, 2001, p. 292, IV.12.

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It has been proposed, on the basis of the reverse design, that the Dumbarton Oaks medallion was a presentation piece given by the emperor Maurice Tiberius to an official of high rank and standing in celebration of an imperial baptism, perhaps that of Maurice’s firstborn son and heir Theodosius in AD 583/584, who was named for the last emperor born into the purple, Theodosius II (born 401). It is conceivable that the baptism was deliberately set to coincide with the Feast of the Theophany, which in the Eastern tradition placed emphasis on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Second Person of the Trinity at the time of his baptism.

The Christian Schmidt Medallion

A medallion of lesser weight weighing 40.90g, now housed in the Christian Schmidt Collection in Munich (inv. # 378) was also clearly produced at the same workshop – that piece, rather than being struck, was fashioned by hammering gold foil into two dies, and then the two foil halves were placed into a bezel for presentation. Doubtless this technique was employed in order to reduce the weight of gold intended for the recipient of that piece (the greater the weight of the medallion, the more important was its recipient, and vice-versa). The Schmidt medallion utilised the same obverse die as that used to strike the presently offered piece; it is highly remarkable therefore that it has a ‘little brother’ that must have been produced at the same time, and which has also survived intact for one and a half millennia. Unlike the presently offered piece however the Schmidt medallion was paired with a reverse which, rather than bearing a scene from scripture, presents a high status marriage scene wherein a couple is blessed by Christ, who stands behind and between them, his hands placed on their shoulders. The beardless groom wears a chlamys over a military uniform; Deckers & Witt note that the bride wears the garb and headdress of an empress or princess. Deckers asserts that she cannot be a reigning empress and that the groom’s attire marks him out as a military official of high rank, but not an emperor. To their left and right respectively are a sunburst and crescent moon.

Significance of the Medallions

Professor A. Grabar’s studies6 viewed the Dumbarton Oaks medallion in a religious context, and argued that it was intended to celebrate the Epiphany (or more correctly, the Theophany); this interpretation is supported by P. Grierson7 who also associates the presence of torches in the Baptism scene with the Feast of Epiphany. While this medallion (and the others) may have celebrated a religious festival at least in part, it certainly does not necessarily and absolutely follow, since the Schmidt medallion is clearly intended to celebrate a marriage.

Scholars now are generally agreed that these medallions were produced for celebrations of close importance to the imperial family. Metlich believes that these are nuptial medallions probably made by court jewellers for the imperial family, and suggests that the original owner of the Dumbarton Oaks medallion and the other objects found with it was a member of the court who fled from Constantinople amid the turmoil of the rebellion that overthrew Maurice in 602. Deckers8 suggests that the Byzantine princess portrayed on the Schmidt medallion is a daughter of Tiberius II Constantine, betrothed to a ranking state official in 582. If we follow this reasoning, then surely as the cataloguer of the Gemini VII auction catalogue did, we must conclude that the princess in question is Charito, daughter of Tiberius Constantine, betrothed to the general Germanus in a double engagement on August 5 along with her sister Constantina, who was to wed Maurice.

At the wedding of Constantina and Tiberius’ successor Maurice, the new emperor is known to have organised a splendid festival for the occasion. Theophylact9 records: “The royal bridal chamber had been magnificently arrayed within the circuit of the first great precinct of the palace, adorned with gold and princely stones, and furthermore empurpled with crimson hangings of priceless deep-tinged Tyrian dye. The daughter of Tiberius, the virgin bride, preceded the emperor to the bridal throne, as though in hiding, shortly to be seen by the people when the fine curtains were suddenly thrown apart as if at an agreed signal. At once the emperor arrived at the bridal chamber, magnificently escorted by many white-robed men. And so he entered within the lofty curtains to escort the queen to the presence of the onlookers and to embrace her. In full view of the people the bride’s attendant saluted the bridal pair with a cup... The wedding celebrations lasted for seven days and the citizens were entertained with displays of wealth and the music of flutes, lyres and pipes, conjurors, mimes, and chariot-races.” Certainly such a grand occasion would indeed warrant the production of such diverse and princely medallions. While it is extremely difficult to speculate as to the identity of the particular recipients of these medallions, we 6Martyrium, II, Paris 1946, p.1767The Date of the Dumbarton Oaks Epiphany Medallion , in “Dumbarton Oaks Papers,” 15 (1961), p. 221-2248Medallion (enkolpion), in Rom und Byzanz : Archäologische Kostbarkeiten aus Bayern; [Katalog zur Ausstellung der Prähistorischen Staatssammlung München, 20. Oktober 1998 - 14. Februar 1999], München 1998, pp. 207-211.9Theoph. Sim. 1.10.6-12

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may on the other hand look to the giver at such an occasion as being in all probability the emperor himself, for largesse and the giving of gold at state occasions was by law strictly restricted.

If then both the Schmidt medallion and the presently offered specimen are to be attributed and dated to the marriage of Charito and Ger-manus, then ours is thus the greater of the two extant presentation medallions to come down to us from that event. It may now be either simply coincidental or by deliberate and thoughtful execution that the obverse inscription of the Schmidt and presently offered medal-lions contains the name of Charito (XAPITO) within the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary.

The date of Charito and Germanus’ wedding is not recorded, but it is however likely that as the two daughters of Tiberius were betrothed on the same day, so were they wed on either the same day, or two days close to each other. A state wedding is and was no small thing, and it is therefore only logical to assume that the preparations for both would by necessity have been made together. Metlich relates the day of Maurice and Constantina’s wedding as being held on Christmas day, which we should understand refers to the Byzantine celebration of Christmas on January 6, held in connection with the Epiphany which for them had greater importance. Thus, suddenly the purpose of the overwhelming Christian iconography becomes clear, as the medallions fulfil a dual functionality of celebrating both a secular occasion of great importance to the future of the Empire and also the religious festivals of Epiphany and Christmas.

The highly similar design and manufacture of the Dumbarton Oaks medallion and the presently offered specimen strongly suggest that the dies were the work of the same hand, produced only shortly one after the other. If we accept that the one celebrates a marriage and the other a baptism, then logically the presently offered specimen was created first for presentation on or around Jan 6 AD 583, along with the Schmidt medallion, and then the Dumbarton Oaks piece was manufactured for the baptism in 585 of Theodosius.

The Fate of Charito, Constantina, Germanus and Maurice

Charito and Germanus seem to disappear from the historical record. It is possible though, plausible even, that Germanus is the the same person as the patricius Germanus mentioned in the 600s, whose daughter married Maurice’s eldest son Theodosius. Theophylact records Germanus as saving the life of Theodosius in 602 from a riotous mob, but Maurice came to suspect his involvement in the rebellion of the army in Thrace which demanded the removal of Maurice and the elevation of Theodosius or Germanus. Maurice attempted to arrest Germanus, but was forced to flee the advancing rebel army of Phocas before he could do so.

Germanus now took his chance to claim the throne. He counted on the support of the Green faction in the Hippodrome of Constantino-ple. He had miscalculated as the Greens firmly rejected him. The would-be-emperor immediately turned to support Phocas, the leader of the rebels. According to Theophylact, Phocas had briefly considered elevating Germanus to the throne, but instead seized the throne for himself while his troops captured and executed Maurice and his sons, though his wife and daughters were spared.

Exiled and forced to join the priesthood, Theophanes records that Germanus nonetheless maintained contact with the former empress Constantina, and that both were conspiring against Phocas. Their messages were entrusted to Petronia, a maidservant under Constantina, who proved disloyal and reported the conspiracy to Phocas. Constantina was arrested, interrogated and tortured until she was forced to give the name of her fellow conspirators. She and all three of her daughters were executed at Chalcedon. Germanus and his unnamed daughter, who was the widow of Theodosius, were also executed on the island of Prote. Theophanes places the deaths in 605/606.

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Fig 1

Fig 2

288

Fig 4

Fig 3

289

Fig 5

Fig 6

290

1149.

Maurice Tiberius AR Half Siliqua. Carthage, AD 582-584. D N TIB MAVRIC P P A, draped and cuirassed bust facing, wearing helmet surmounted by cross / *SALVS MVNDI around circle of dots containing cross potent. DOC 239; MIBE 57; Sear 551. 1.04g, 15mm, 3h.

Good Very Fine. Attractively toned. Rare. 100


Maurice Tiberius AV Solidus. Carthage, AD 590-591. D N mAVRIT b PP AV AN Θ, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger in right hand / VICTORIA AV AGG N Θ, angel standing facing, holding christogram in right hand, and globus cruciger in left hand, CONOB in exergue. DOC 223; MIBE 25a; Sear 548. 4.45g, 19mm, 6h.

Virtually Mint State. A remarkably well struck and preserved example. Struck on a broad flan, and well framed. 1,500

Ex Argenor Numismatique, 23 April 1999, lot 169.

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 AVGV Є, angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by chi-rho and globus cruciger; CONOB in exergue. MIBE 9; Sear 620. 4.40g, 21mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 200

Heraclius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 640-641. Heraclius, with long beard and moustache, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas, both beardless, standing facing, each crowned and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV Є, cross potent on three steps, monogram in left field, CONOB in exergue. Sear 769; MIBE 50. 4.46g, 19mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 200

Heraclius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 641. Heraclius, with long beard and moustache, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas, both beardless, standing facing, each crowned and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV Є, cross potent on three steps, monogram in left field, K in right field, CONOB in exergue. Sear 771; MIB 52. 4.51g, 20mm, 6h. . Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 300

Heraclius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 641. Heraclius, with long beard and moustache, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas, both beardless, standing facing, each crowned and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV Γ, cross potent on three steps, monogram in left field, Є in right field, CONOB in exergue. Sear 770; MIBE 53. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 300

1145.

1148.

1150.

1147.

1146.

An Exceptional Example

1149 1150

1147 1148

291

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 651-654. dN CONSƮANƮINVS PP AV, bust facing, with long beard and moustache, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV Δ, cross potent on three steps, CONOB+ in exergue. Sear 958; MIB 24. 4.46g, 20mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine. Graffito on reverse. 200

Constans II Lightweight AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 651-654. dN CONSƮANƮINVS PP AV, crowned and draped facing bust, holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGV I, cross potent set on three steps; star to right; CONOB in exergue. DOC 23; MIB 47; Sear 978. 4.25g, 20mm, 7h. Good Very Fine. Rare. 300

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. dN CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSƮANƮINVS, 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 Δ, cross potent on three steps, CONOBI in exergue. Sear 960; MIB 28. 4.36g, 19mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Some minor marks on reverse. 200

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. dN CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSƮANƮINVS, 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 Є, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. Sear 959; MIB 26. 4.42g, 19mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Some minor marks on reverse. 200

1151.

1152.

1153.

1154.

1151 1152

1153 1154

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 654-659. dN CONSƮANƮINVS C CONSƮANƮINVS, facing busts of Constans, on left with long beard, and Constantine IV, beardless, each wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, a cross / Cross potent on three steps; officina A, CONOB+ in exergue. Sear 961; MIB 27. 4.38g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. 200

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 662-667. Facing busts of Constans, on left with long beard, plumed helmet and chlamys, and Constantine IV, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, a cross / Cross potent on three steps between facing, standing figures of Heraclius, on left, and Tiberius, on right, both beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. Sear 964; MIB 31. 4.31g, 18mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 200

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 662-667. Facing busts of Constans, on left with long beard, plumed helmet and chlamys, and Constantine IV, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, a cross / Cross potent on three steps between facing, standing figures of Heraclius, on left, and Tiberius, on right, both beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. Sear 964; MIB 31. 4.44g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 200

Constans II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 662-667. Facing busts of Constans, on left with long beard, plumed helmet and chlamys, and Constantine IV, beardless, wearing crown and chlamys; between their heads, a cross / Cross potent on three steps between facing, standing figures of Heraclius, on left, and Tiberius, on right, both beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. Sear 964; MIB 31. 4.46g, 20mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine. 200

1155.

1156.

1157.

1158.

1157 1158

1155 1156

292

Near Mint State

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 668-685. CONSTANYS PP, three-quarter facing bust, wearing plumed helmet and cuirass, holding spear and shield with horseman device / VICTORA A AVςu H, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. Sear 1157; MIB 10; DOC 12. 4.39g, 18mm, 6h.

Near Mint State. A well-detailed portrait of fine style. 2,000

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. d N CONSTANVS P P, beardless bust three quarters facing, wearing helmet and cuirass and holding spear / ViCTORIA AVGV Γ, cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, both beardless and wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. Sear 1153; DOC 6; MIB 4. 4.48g, 20mm, 6h.


Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. Fragmentary legend, d N CΛNVS P, 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, CONOB in exergue. DOC 8; MIB 7a; Sear 1154. 4.34g, 18mm, 7h.


Rare Italian Solidus of Constantine IV

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Uncertain Italian mint, AD 668-685. P CONSTAN YS PP A, helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust of Constantine IV facing, turned slightly to right, holding spear in his right hand and with shield over his left shoulder / VICTORX-AVGY Θ, cross potent on base and three steps, in exergue, COHO[B]. Unpublished in the standard reference for type cf. MIB III, pl. 34, X2; Ricotti Prina 31 (Pentapoli); Sear 1230A (Naples). 4.29g, 19mm, 6h.

About Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 1,000

1159.

1160.

1161.

1162.

293

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. Fragmentary legend, d N CONVS P, bust facing, wearing helmet with crest and frontal plume, and cuirass, holding spear and shield with horseman motif / VICTOA AVGV H, cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, both beardless and wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. DOC 10; MIB 8a; Sear 1156. 4.43g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 300

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. Fragmentary legend, d N COSAVNS P, bust facing, wearing helmet with crest and 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, CONOB in exergue. DOC 10; MIB 8a; Sear 1156. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine 300

Leo III AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 717-720. DNO LEON P A MVL, facing bust of Leo III wearing cuirass and crown with cross atop, holding globus cruciger and akakia / VICTORIA AVGV B, cross potent on three steps, CONOB in exergue. Berk 214; DOC 1c2; MIB 1; Sear 1502. 4.47g, 20mm, 6h.

Good Extremely Fine; Sharp portrait of Leo. 750

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. Fragmentary legend, d N CONVS P, bust facing, wearing helmet with crest and frontal plume, and cuirass, holding spear and shield with horseman motif / VICTOA AVGV Δ, cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, both beardless and wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger; CONOB in exergue. DOC 10; MIB 8a; Sear 1156. 4.48g, 20mm, 6h.


1164.

Constantine IV AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 674-681. Fragmentary legend, d N CΛNVS P, bust facing, wearing helmet with frontal plume and cuirass, holding spear and shield with horseman motif / VICTOA AVGV, cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, both beardless and wearing crown and chlamys, and holding globus cruciger, CONOB in exergue. DOC 8; MIB 7a; Sear 1154. 4.40g, 18mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. 300

1163.

1165.

1166.

1167.

294

Irene AV Solidus. Syracuse, AD 797-802. IREN AΓOVST, bust facing, wearing chlamys and crown with pendilia and cross on semicircle between two pinnacles, holding akakia with right hand; two curved lines of throne behind shoulders / AΓOVST, bust facing, wearing loros and crown as obverse; in right hand, cross potent. DOC 3; Spahr 340; Anastasi 452; Sear 1601. 3.86g, 18mm, 12h.

Mint State. Sharply struck and lustrous. Extremely Rare. 7,500

Struck for the sole reign of Irene, after her supporters had captured, imprisoned and blinded her son and once co-regent Constantine VI in 792, this interesting issue depicts the Empress on both the obverse and reverse. A new style and a precedent that was occasionally followed by later rulers, Irene decided against reviving the cross-on-steps type, or the reverse figures representing the deceased members of the ruling family that had characterised the gold coinage of the Isaurian Dynasty, thus leaving us with coins that often have almost identical obverse and reverse designs. Her decision to simply strike herself on both sides is an excellent example of her desire to have ultimate power, strength and independence, making this an interesting coin which wonderfully relates the character of an incredibly spirited woman.

Two distinct types of solidi for Irene have been identified as being struck at Syracuse. Both have the empress wearing loros and holding cross potent on one side; on the other there is always a facing bust, but while on the one type she wears a loros and holds a globus cruciger, on the second she wears a chlamys, holds an akakia and is enthroned, as we see on this example. The seated figure, coupled with the inclusion of the name of the empress in the legend, make this likely to be the obverse of this type.

Extremely Rare Irene Solidus of Syracuse

1168.

295

Nicephorus II AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 963-969. + IhS XΓS REX REGNANTInm, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus crown and holding codex / + ΘЄOTOC’b’HΘ’hICHF,dЄSP’ , Virgin wearing nimbus crown and Nicephorus wearing loros, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 4; Sear 1778. 4.44g, 23mm, 6h.


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. 4.35g, 25mm, 6h.


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.

Good Very Fine. 750

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; Sear 1847. 4.35g, 26mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 200

1169.

1170.

1171.

1172.

296

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. 4.46g, 29mm, 6h.

As Struck. Graffito on obverse edge. 400

Isaac II EL Aspron Trachy. Constantinople, first reign, 12 September AD 1185-8 April 1195. The Virgin enthroned facing, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium; she holds nimbate head of the infant Christ facing; MP-OV across upper fields / ICAAKIOC ΔЄC, Archangel Michael, beardless and nimbate to right, crowns Isaac on left, wearing divitsion and chlamys and holding cruciform sceptre and akakia; Θ between their heads, X/M in lower right field. Sear 2002; DOC 2a. 3.94g, 28mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 200

Germanic Migration Period. Uncertain king AV Tremissis. Late 4th century AD. OOOO-OO +O.., diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / XXOO-OO+++, cross potent within wreath; below beaded exergue line, OOOO; all within small v-shaped beaded border. Unpublished in the standard references. 1.49g, 13mm, 3h.

Portrait heavily scratched, otherwise Very Fine. 250


Germanic Migration Period. Uncertain king AV Solidus. Uncertain mint (Moesia or Thrace), after AD 383. In the name of Arcadius. PN ABCADIVSDAVC, rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Arcadius right, clasped with prominent three teardrop fibula / ONCOBOI-ΛΛVCCCI, Constantinopolis, helmeted, seated to front on lion throne, holding long cross and shield inscribed IOI/IV/…; in exergue, OHO… Unpublished in the standard references, for the prototype issue cf. RIC IX, 70c,. 4.32g, 20mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine. 500

The prototype issue RIC IX, 70c is dated to AD 383 and celebrates the quinquennalia of Theodosius I and the accession of his son Arcadius to the rank of Augustus. This issue should be seen in the context of the aftermath the momentous event in AD 382 when Theodosius was able to make peace with the Goths in the Balkans, by keeping them quiet with a heavy subsidy in gold and letting them release their energy by employing them as soldiers.

1173.

1174.

1175.

1176.

COINS OF THE MIGRATION PERIOD

297

Germanic Migration Period. Odovacar AR Half Siliqua. Mediolanum (Milan), AD 476-493. Struck in the name of Zeno. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Turreted female figure standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae, M-D across fields. MEC 62. 0.91g, 13mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Rare. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Varesi Auction 60, 3 May 2012, lot 343.

Germanic Migration Period. Vandals in the name of Honorius AR Siliqua. Carthage, circa AD 440-490. DN HONORIVS PP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VRBS ROMA, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and spear, in exergue, RVPS. MEC I, 2-3; BMC Vandals 6-9. 1.43g, 14mm, 2h. Very Fine. 250From the Marc Poncin Collection.

Germanic Migration Period. Odovacar AV Tremissis. Rome, AD 476-493. In the name of Zeno. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Cross within wreath, COMOB in exergue. Kraus 15; BMCV5. 1.46g, 15mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Pierced. 250From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Sincona 6, 23-25 May 2012, lot 225; Ex Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, Price List 447, No. 55.

Germanic Migration Period. Odovacar AR Half Siliqua. Ravenna, AD 476-493. Struck in the name of Zeno. D N ZENO PERP F AV, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Eagle standing left on branch, head to right, cross to left. RIC 3648; Ranieri 230. 0.78g, 12mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Varesi Auction 60, 3 May 2012, lot 342.

Germanic Migration Period. Uncertain king AV Tremissis. Uncertain mint (Ravenna?), late 5th to 6th centuries AD. In the name of Anastasius I. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIΛ ΛVGSTORΛ, Victory standing facing, head left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star to right, ONOR in exergue. Cf. COI 14; cf. MIB 10; cf. MEC 1, 141-2. 1.48g, 15mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine; minor traces of die rust. 150

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group 90, 23 May 2012, lot 1985; Ex Superior Sale, 7 June 1987, lot 251.

Germanic Migration Period. Uncertain king AV Tremissis. Uncertain mint, AD 491-518. In the name of Anastasius I. DN ANAST.. IAS YP AVC, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / MINCTMIAVCV TONVM, Victory standing to front holding wreath and cross between two stars; in exergue, garbled CONOB. Unpublished in the standard references, for the Ostrogothic prototype cf. Metlich, Ostrogothic Italy 13; MIB I, 11; Demo 8-11. BMC Vandals 68. 1.47g, 13mm, 6h. Very Fine. 250

Germanic Migration Period. Hilderic AR Siliqua. Carthage, AD 523-530. D N HILDIRIX REX, diademed and draped bust right / FELIX KARTG, Carthage standing facing, holding grain ears in each hand. MEC I, 21-2; BMC Vandals 3; MIB 8. 0.99g, 15mm, 6h. Very Fine. Rare. 100

1177.

1178.

1179.

1180.

1181.

1183.

1182.1182 1183

1177 1178

1179 1180

298

Ostrogoths, Italy. Theoderic AV Solidus. North Italian mint, AD 474-491. In the name of Zeno. D N ZENO PERP ΛVC, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing three-quarters right, holding spear and shield with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORI AAVGGG Γ, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; in right field, star and in exergue, CONOB. Metlich, Ostrogothic Italy -; cf. Lacam II pls. 209-213. 4.45g, 20mm, 6h.

About Extremely Fine, scratch in obverse field. Extremely Rare. 500


Ostrogoths, Italy. Theoderic AV Solidus. Bononia, AD 491-518. In the name of Anastasius I. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, with spear over right shoulder and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, COMOB in exergue. MIB, pl. 36, 9. Arslan 9. MEC 112. 4.50g, 20mm, 6h.


From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Heritage Long Beach Signature Sale 3020, 6 September 2012, lot 25292.

1185.

1184.

Ostrogoths, Italy. Theoderic AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 491-518. In the name of Anastasius I. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, with spear and shield decorated with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, COMOB in exergue. MIB, pl. 36, 9. 4.43g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare. 750From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Varesi Auction 60, 3 May 2012, lot 344.

Ostrogoths, Italy. Theoderic AV Tremissis. Rome, AD 493-526. In the name of Anastasius I. D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, looking backwards, holding wreath and globus cruciger, COMOB in exergue. MEC 114-115, Metlich 14. 1.48g, 15mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Lustrous. 300From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex H.D. Rauch Summer Auction 2012, 20 September 2012, lot 1790.

Ostrogoths, Italy. Theoderic AV Solidus. Uncertain mint in Italy, AD 493-526. In the name of Anastasius I. D N ΛNΛSTΛSIVS PERP ΛVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield with horseman and enemy motif / VICTORIΛ ΛVGGG I, Victory standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. Metlich –. Lacam pl. 58, cf. 82 (Bononia?). MEC 1, –. 4.45g, 20mm, 5h.

Good Very Fine. Graffito on reverse. Very Rare. 1,000

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 75, 18 November 2013, lot 415; Ex Sotheby’s, 3-4 October 1991, lot 135.

1186.

1187.

1188.

1186 1187

299

Ostrogoths, Italy. Athalaric AV Tremissis. Rome, AD 527-530. In the name of Justinian I. D N IVSTINIΛNVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIΛ ΛVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, looking backwards, holding wreath and globus cruciger, COMOΠ in exergue. MIB I, 29a; Metlich 35; Demo 140; MEC 1, 123. 1.48g, 15mm, 6h.

Good Very Fine. 250 From the Marc Poncin Collection;Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 75, 18 November 2013, lot 421.

1189.

Ostrogoths, Italy. Witiges AV Solidus. Uncertain mint in Italy, AD 536-540. In the name of Justinian I. D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three quarters facing, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG A, angel standing left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. Apparently unpublished, but cf. MEC 112 for earlier type in the name of Anastasius I, and MEC 122 in the name of Justinian I. 4.48g, 21mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. 750From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Triton VI, 14 January 2003, lot 1188; Ex Vecchi Auction 15, 15 June 1999, lot 1675.

Visigoths, Gaul. Uncertain king AV Solidus. Uncertain mint, circa AD 461-470. In the name of Libius Severus. D N LIBIVS SEVERVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Emperor standing facing, holding long cross and Victory on globe, with right foot on man-headed serpent; R – A across fields, COMOB in exergue. MEC 1, 174; RIC 3754. 4.35g, 20mm, 5h.

Traces of mounting, otherwise Good Very Fine. Very Rare. 1,000

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 75, 18 November 2013, lot 436.

Visigoths, Gaul. Uncertain king AV Solidus. Uncertain mint, circa AD 439-455. In the name of Valentinian III. D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Emperor standing facing, right foot on man-headed serpent, holding long cross and Victory on globe; R – V across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC 3727; Depeyrot pl. 7, 7. 4.23g, 21mm, 3h. Very Fine; slight flaw and scratch on obverse. Very Rare. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 75, 18 November 2013, lot 434.

Visigoths, Gaul. Theodoric I AV Solidus. Gallic mint, AD 439-455. In the name of Valentinian III. D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; small wreath above / VICTORI•A AVGGG, Emperor standing facing, holding long cross and Victory on globe, with right foot on head of man-headed serpent; R-V across fields, •COMOB• in exergue. RIC 3719; MEC 168-169. 4.38g, 19mm, 6h.


From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex H.D. Rauch Summer Auction, 20 September 2012, lot 1788.

1190.

1191.

1192.

1193.

1190 1191

300

Visigoths, Gaul. Euric AV Tremissis. Uncertain mint, AD 466-484. In the name of Libius Severus. D N SEVERVS P I AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA ΑVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long cross; COMOB in exergue. RIC 3763 var; Reinhart, Münzen, –; Mateu, Monedas, pl. 37, 3; cf. MEC 1, 173 (Valentinian III). 1.44g, 15mm, 6h.

Very Fine. 500

From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction 94, 18 September 2013, lot 1560.

Visigoths, Gaul. AV Tremissis. Time of Gesalec - Theodoric the Great, struck in the name of Anastasius I. Toulouse or Narbonne, AD 507-518. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm, CONOB in exergue. Tomasini Group AI; MEC 1, 178 var. (slightly different rev. legend). 1.42g, 13mm, 6h. Very Fine. 500From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 281, 20 June 2012, lot 515.

Visigoths, Gaul. Uncertain king AV Tremissis. Uncertain (Narbonne?) mint, circa 507-518. In the name of Anastasius I. D N ANASTIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm, CONOB in exergue. Tomasini, Group A7; cf. MEC 1, 178. 1.51g, 13mm, 3h. Very Fine, with some light deposits. 300From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Auction 91, 19 September 2012. lot 1134.

Merovingian Kingdom. AV Solidus in the name of Anastasius I. Time of Clovis I - Clothaire I, AD 481-561. D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield / VICTORIA AVGGG II, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, COMOB in exergue. Cf. MEC 343-344. 4.43g, 20mm, 6h.


From the Marc Poncin Collection; Ex Künker Auction 216, 8 October 2012, lot 1427; Ex Classical Numismatic Group Mail Bid Sale 60, 22 May 2002, lot 1963.

Kingdom of Sicily. Charles I of Anjou AV Saluto d’oro. Naples, struck after AD 1278. + KAROL’ • DЄI • GRA • IЄRL’m • SICILIЄ • RЄX, coat-of-arms of Jerusalem and Anjou; rosette flanked by stars on either side; above, upturned crescent flanked by stars / + AVЄ • GRACIA • PLЄnA • DOmInuS TЄCUm, The Annunciation: Archangel Gabriel standing right, holding lily in left hand and pointing with outstretched right at Virgin standing facing slightly left, raising hands in adoration; between them, lily in vase. CNI XIX 1-4; Spahr -; MEC 14, 675-676; Friedberg 808; MIR 18; Pannuti-Riccio 1. 4.35g, 22mm, 12h.


1194.

1195 1196

1196.

1195.

1197.

1198.

301

End of Sale

Highly Important Armenian Coin

Greater Armenia, Kiurike II Æ Follis. Tashir-Lori, circa AD 1048-1089. Bust of Christ facing, bearded, with nimbus, wearing tunic and himation and holding Book of Gospels with ornate cover; in field IS–KS, ‘Jesus Christ’ in Armenian letters / Armenian inscription in five lines: “May the Lord help Kiurike the Kouropalates”. Nercessian 514. 6.76g, 28mm, 5h.

Green-brown patina, Fine. Extremely Rare. 5,000

The importance of this unique issue of Armenian medieval coinage was eloquently summarised by D.M. Lang in ANS NM 6, 1954: “... this is the earliest monetary issue to bear an inscription in Armenian, as well as being the only such type struck within Great Armenia in Transcaucasia before the transference of the kingdom to Little Armenia in Cilicia.” The obverse and reverse types imitate that of the anonymous folles of the Byzantine Emperor John I (AD 969-76) and his successors, issues that would have been abundantly familiar in the Lori region of northern Armenia where the coins of Kiurike were issued, due to direct contact with Byzantium. According to Lang, the title Kouropalates was bestowed upon “the most prominent local dynasts on the fringes of the Byzantine empire [who] vied eagerly for the dignity of Kourpalates, the granting of which signified favour and recognition by the Byzantine court.” Lang believes this to have been an issue early in the reign of Kiurike II, between 1048 and 1064. In response to Lang’s argument for attribution to Kiurike II, Philip Grierson makes a strong argument in favour of Kiurike I (979-989), grandfather of Kiurike II. Margo-Lena Garabedian’s article “Coins of King Kiurke” in the December 2005 issue of the Armenian Numismatic Journal, documents 20 specimens, including 1 in silver; of these 20, the whereabouts of only 15 were then known to her, the other 5 she listed from mentions of specimens in various older texts. Only 8 specimens are known in private hands, including this present specimen, 2 not listed in her census, plus 4 that have traded at public auction in recent times. Of these auctioned specimens, the most recent was the piece sold by Stack’s in New York on 10 January 2014, lot 80, which sold for $16,000.

Artuqids of Hisn Kayfa and Amid Æ Dirhem. Fakhr al-Din Qara Arslan, circa AH 539-570 (AD 1144-1174). Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator / Arabic legend in four lines. Spengler and Sayles I, pp. 3-6, Type 1; Album 1820.1. 3.94g, 23mm, 1h.


1199.

1200.

roma numismatics 8 (28 09 2014)

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