Welcome to our current edition of the Classical Numismatic Review (CNR) specially prepared for the New York International Numismatic Convention. We are pleased to continue our strong presence at this show with this wonderful, fixed price list. As usual, these coins will be on offer to the attendees of the convention exclusively for the entire first day of the show. We think there is something here to interest every level of collector in most of the fields we handle.
On the news front, CNG is pleased to announce a new expanded location for our London office. This new space, just a few blocks from our previous location, offers private meeting rooms and an auction venue for our Islamic and other future planned auctions. It is also just a couple blocks’ walk from several tube stations. If you are in London, we would welcome your visit!
Our growth in London is not the only news we have to offer. CNG is also looking for staff members in all three locations: Lancaster, PA; London; and The Hague. We are seeking consignment team (all locations), cataloging team (Lancaster), and shipping department team (Lancaster & The Hague) members to help us on our continued growth pattern as we prepare for the future. If you, or someone you may know, is interested please contact me personally to get an interview process started. I would be happy to meet anyone interested in learning more about these employment opportunities at the NYINC as well.
Finally, I will add that we have completed a rather unique auction venue for our spring and fall auctions held in Lancaster each year. Starting with CNG 129 (May 13 & 14, 2025) we will welcome invited bidders to this new location just a few blocks from our office. There will be future announcements and videos released on this space. Suffice to say, should you choose to attend, you will be bidding in a very unique “museum type setting.”
As always, we thank you for your continued support of CNG. We hope to see many of you at the show.
Happy collecting!
Mike Gasvoda Managing Director CNG, LLC
Terms of Sale
1. General Information. The point of sale for all items online is Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All orders are sent from Pennsylvania.
2. Guaranty and Return Privilege. All items are guaranteed genuine. Any coin order may be returned within fourteen days of receipt for any reason. Coins that have been encapsulated (“slabbed”) by a grading and/or authentication service may not be returned for any reason, including authenticity, if they have been removed from the encapsulation (“slab”). The customer shall bear the cost of returning all items and shall insure them for their full value. Books are not sent on approval and are not subject to return.
3. Sales Tax. Several states require us to collect and remit sales tax. Where applicable the appropriate tax will be charged to the customer invoice.
4. Postage. All orders are charged for postage, insurance, and handling.
5. Payment. Orders may be paid by US$ check, credit card or wire transfer. US$ checks must be written on a US bank and may be sent to either office. We accept VISA and MasterCard; payment by credit card must be made within 14 days of the invoice date. Payment by credit card will be charged a 2.5% handling fee. Credit card payment may be arranged by phone, fax or mail. United States address and phone number: CNG, LLC, P.O. Box 479, Lancaster, PA, 17608., phone: 717-390-9194, fax: 717390-9978. United Kingdom address and phone number: CNG, LLC, 20 Bloomsbury St, London WC1B 3QA, phone +44 (20) 7495-1888, fax: +44 (20) 7499-5916. Office hours are 10AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. US$ bank account for wire transfers will be provided by phone, fax or mail.
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A Note on How to Order
As with our normal monthly uploads, these coins are available for purchase on our website, www.cngcoins.com. If you are viewing the virtual catalog, you may click on an image, which will bring you to the online lot description, where you can add the coin to your cart as usual.
Digital Publications Archive
Major Show Schedule
Additional Shows Listed on Our Online Calendar
53rd New York International January 16-19, 2025
InterContinental New York Barclay 111 East 48th Street, New York
January 16, Noon-7PM Preview January 17-19, 10AM-7PM (3PM on the 19th)
Feature Auction Schedule
CNG 129 - 13-14 May 2025
A Live Online Auction to be conducted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
CNG 130 - 23-24 September 2025
A Live Online Auction to be conducted in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Triton XXIX - 13-14 January 2026
A Public Auction to be held in New York City
Consignment Deadlines
Feature Auction Consignment Deadlines CNG 129 - 15 February 2025
CNG 130 - 15 June 2025
Triton XXIX - 15 September 2025
Deadlines for Electronic Auction Consignments Ongoing - About 90 days before scheduled sale
Contact us early, as sales do fill up in a hurry.
We may be contacted by email, fax, phone, or mail.
Classical
Numismatic Group, LLC
Email: cng@cngcoins.com
Mailing addresses & Phone numbers:
Attention: Mike Gasvoda P.O. Box 479 Lancaster PA 17608
Phone: 717-390-9194 Fax: 717-390-9978 or
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Phone: +44-20-7495-1888 Fax: +44-20-7499-5916. or
Attention: Max Tursi Noordeinde 64a
2514GK The Hague, NL
Phone: +31 851 301 541
Hercules, Muscle Man of Numismatics
By David S. Michaels
Hercules, hero of song and story
Hercules, winner of ancient glory!
Fighting for the right, Fighting with his might! With the strength of ten Ordinary men!
So sang Johnny Nash every Saturday morning to open the cartoon series “The Mighty Hercules,” which I used to watch as an enthralled kid on our 22” black-and-white TV set growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was my introduction to the world of ancient Greece, and, in a way, a foretaste of my future as a classical numismatist.
It turns out Hercules – or Herakles, as he was known in his homeland of Greece (for simplicity’s sake we’ll continue to use Hercules in this article to mean both Greek and Roman versions) – is today arguably the most well-known figure of the ancient world, excepting perhaps Jesus of Nazareth. Show an average person a picture of a heavily muscled, bearded man wielding a club, and chances are he or she will think “Hercules.” He is even as popular today as a symbol of manly strength, virtue and virility as he was in early centuries BC and AD, when his legend was in its prime.
Moreover, Hercules appears on more ancient Greek and Roman coins than any other human (OK, semi-human) being, legendary or not. Only two Olympian deities – the king of the gods Zeus/Jupiter and his daughter Athena/Minerva – exceed him. If you search CNG’s research archives, which lists more than a half-million coins sold at auction over the past two and a half decades, it tallies up the following numismatic depictions on ancient coins: Zeus/Jupiter: 33,194; Athena/Minerva: 29,523; Herakles/Hercules, 23,180.
In fact, CNG’s Triton XXVIII auction, held January 14-15, 2025 in New York City, includes no less than 57 ancient coins that depict Hercules (and his Phoenician alter-ego, Melqart) in one fashion or another, with a particularly rich selection to be found in the Roman Provincial section, where the Greek and Roman versions of this hero’s tale converge.
Historians are divided as to whether Hercules was ever a real person, but there is a loose consensus that his exploits are based on those of one or more real-life heroes who traveled the byways of ancient Greece and Italy, and whose enormous physical strength and nearly superhuman deeds left a lasting impression (that is the premise of the surprisingly entertaining 2014 movie “Hercules,” starring Dwayne Johnson as the great muscle man).
To recount all of the tales of the mighty Hercules would take an article or book many times the length of this one. But here’s a brief, bullet-point account of his legendary life:
• He was the son of Zeus by the mortal woman Alcmene, whom he seduced by assuming the likeness of her husband, Amphitryon. She gave birth to a handsome baby boy
Figure 2: Bust of Hercules on a gold aureus of Maximianus (Triton XXVIII, lot 753).
Figure 1: Hercules depicted on a bronze Egyptian bronze drachm of Trajan (Triton XXVIII, lot 532).
originally named Alcaeus (he later took the Greek name Herakles – “glory of Hera” – in an attempt to placate the goddess Hera, jealous wife of Zeus. It did not work, as one will see).
• Hera, seething over her husband’s betrayal, sent two serpents to kill the infant in his crib, but the brawny babe simply strangled them both, a scene depicted on several Greek and Roman Provincial coin types.
• In a weird twist of fate, the baby was carried up to Olympus by Athena and presented to Hera as a homeless and abandoned orphan. Both Hera and Athena ended up suckling the babe, giving him an extra dose of Olympian power. (Hera, of course, was furious when she discovered she had been tricked.)
• The adolescent Hercules grew up in home of his stepfather, Amphitryon of Thebes, but became so unruly he killed his music tutor by bashing him with a lyre. In punishment, he was sent to the hills to tend sheep.
• When the semi-barbaric Minyans attacked Thebes, Hercules sprang to its defense and led a band of Theban warriors to victory. In gratitude, King Creon of Thebes gave Hercules the hand of his daughter, Megara, in marriage. By her he had three children and briefly enjoyed a settled life as a Greek hero.
• Hera, however, intervened once again and drove Hercules into a fit of insane rage, during which he murdered Megara and their children. When he recovered, he was inconsolable over his act and consulted the Oracle of Delphi as to how he could expiate his guilt.
• The Delphic Oracle told him to place himself in the service of Eurystheus, king of Mycenae and a ne’er do well who didn’t want Hercules knocking around his kingdom. Eurystheus devised a list of ten impossible feats for Hercules to perform, any one of which was certain death for a mortal man.
• The first set of deeds were: (1) kill the Nemean Lion, (2) slay the nine-headed Hydra, (3) capture the Ceryneian Hind, (4) snare the Erymanthian Boar, (5) clean out the Augean Stables, (6) drive away the Stymphalian Birds, (7) capture and bring back the Bull of Minos, (8) round up the flesh-eating Mares of Diomedes, (9) steal the girdle of the Amazon Queen Hippolyte, and (10) capture the Cattle of Geryon, King of Cadiz in Spain.
Figure 4: Hercules captures the Ceryneian Hind, aureus of Constantius I (Triton XXVIII, lot 785).
• Once Hercules had completed the first ten labors, Eurystheus complained that he had “cheated” in performing two of these feats, and so tacked on two more: (11) retrieve the Apples of the Hesperides at the furthest ends of the earth, and (12) locate and bring back Cerberus, the ferocious three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Underworld. Eurystheus was so terrified of Cerberus that he pronounced Hercules had completed his tasks and expunged his guilt.
In performing his superhuman Labors, Hercules had to travel the length and breadth of the known world, venture into the Underworld and commiserate with the shades there, and faced death on multiple occasions. Along the way he made and lost many friends and encountered other legendary figures. The Labors are the most famous of his deeds, and are celebrated on countless ancient Greek, Roman Provincial and Roman coins of every size and denomination.
Numerous Greek and Roman cities had legends claiming that Hercules either founded their settlement or had spent time in the city and performed some spectacular feat there; these local legends are also frequently celebrated on ancient coins.
Hercules’ amorous adventures, usually but not always with women, are also frequently depicted on coins, such as his service as a “love slave” to Queen Omphale of Lydia, who forced him to dress as a woman and do female chores in her court. Omphale is often shown on coins wearing Hercules’ lion skin headdress (made from the slain Nemean lion) and carrying his club over her shoulder, having conquered the unconquerable.
It was love that eventually led to Hercules’ agonizing death, at least in the mortal realm. After innumerable adventures, he finally took another bride, Deianira, and settled down to try again at raising a family. Yet he was also fond of a concubine, Iole, and Deianira grew jealous. The trickster Centaur Nessus had told her as he was dying to soak Hercules’ tunic in his blood, poisioned with the toxic blood of the Hydra from Hercules’ fatal arrow, and that it would act to keep Hercules faithful. This she did, but when Hercules put it on, he was seized by agony as the poison burned away his skin. Unable to bear the pain, he built a funeral pyre for himself and climbed upon it, but the fire consumed only his mortal half. Zeus took his divine essence up to Olympus, where even Hera was forced to acknowledge his worthiness to join the immortals.
Both Greek and Roman rulers identified with Hercules and adopted his mode of dress, implements and attributes. Alexander III the Great of Macedon famously employed the head of a young, beardless Hercules, with his own facial features, wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion on innumerable silver coins struck during his lifetime and for hundreds of years after his death. King Mithradates VI of Pontus had himself portrayed in similar fashion in sculpture and on coins, as did the Roman Emperors Commodus (who openly tagged himself “The Roman Hercules”), Maximianus, Constantius I, and Maxentius. Several emperors also struck coins celebrating the Labors of Hercules in both Provincial and Roman issues, including Trajan, Antoninus Pius, the Gallic usurper Postumus, and all of the Tetrarchs (AD 285-310).
Hercules is also one of the few classical figures to survive the conquest of Christianity in the 4th century. Indeed, his story of sin, penitence and redemption, and of always striving to overcome impossible odds, appealed to the Christian consciousness. Thus, Hercules appeared and continues to appear on late Roman coins and those of the successor states even up to modern times. See coin 5697335 on page 66 of this Review for an example from the Albertine line of the Duchy & Electorate of Sachsen, Germany. Collecting coins with his image, including depictions of his adventures and the famous Labors, could well fill a rewarding lifetime pursuit. His muscular appeal is, after all, timeless!
Figure 5: Omphale with attributes of Hercules, Roman contorniate (Triton XXVIII, lot 794).
Figure 6: Tetradrachm in name of Alexander III the Great (Triton XXVIII, lot 182).
Below is a chart depicting some of the coins depicting Hercules performing some of his famous and deeds, Labors, all from Triton XXVIII:
Roman Emperor Septiumius Severus (AD 193-211), bronze Medallion of Thrace, Perinthus.
Triton XXVIII, 757
Postumus, Gallo-Roman Usurper, AD 260-269, silver Denarius.
Triton XXVII, 445
Triton XXVIII, 742
Driving off the Stymphalian Birds
Stealing Girdle of Hippolyte
Finding the Golden Apples of the Hesperides
Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, AD 138161), bronze Drachm of Egypt, struck AD 146/7.
Triton XVIII, 487
Postumus, Gallo-Roman Usurper, AD 260-269, silver Denarius. Triton XXVIII, 743
Postumus, Gallo-Roman Usurper, AD 260-269, silver Denarius.
Triton XXVIII, 744
Slaying of the Centaur Nessus
Roman bronze Contorniate, late 4th Century AD.
Triton XXVIII, 795
Enlargement of Triton XXVIII, Lot 753
GREEK COINAGE
Among the Finest Known
5701484. ETRURIA, Populonia. Circa 300-250 BC. AR 10 Asses (15.5mm, 4.20 g). Head of female right, hair in broad band, wearing triple-pendant earring; c (mark of value) behind neck / Blank. EC Series 75, 1–40 (O1); HN Italy 165. Old cabinet tone, with iridescence around the devices. Near EF. Among the finest known. $7750
Splendid and Well Centered Metapontion Nomos
5696966. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 340-330 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.88 g, 3h). Head of Persephone right, wearing grain ear wreath, triple-pendant earring, and necklace; [d5 to left] / Ear of barley with seven grains and leaf to right; µEtÅ upward and ant to left; to right, above leaf, cornucopia surmounted by two ears of barley, f5 below leaf. Johnston Class D, 4.11–2 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1577; SNG ANS 516 (same obv. die). Toned over lustrous surfaces, traces of find patina. EF. $12,975
Ex Leu 79 (31 October 2000), lot 277.
Metapontion, originally named Sybaris, was an Achaian colony of very early foundation, though the precise details of its origin are shrouded in uncertainty. Following the destruction of its first foundation by the Samnites, it was refounded as Metapontion, early in the 7th century BC by settlers under the leadership of Leukippos, who was thereafter revered as the city founder. The great prosperity of the city — attested by the extent of its archaic silver coinage commencing in the mid 6th century BC — was based on agriculture. Situated on the Gulf of Tarentum, Metapontion occupied a plain of extraordinary fertility watered by the rivers Bradanos and Kasuentos. Its standard coin type is an ear of barley, a tribute to the source of Metapontine wealth.
5701502. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 325-275 BC. AR Diobol (12.5mm, 1.27 g, 12h). Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet / Grain ear with leaf to right; ÂEtÅ upward to left, cornucopia above leaf to right. Johnston F21; HN Italy –. Lightly toned, underlying luster, traces of find patina, a few tiny marks. EF. $1775
5701503. SICILY, Abakainon. Circa 450-440 BC. AR Litra (12mm, 0.63 g, 5h). Bearded head of male right, wearing laurel wreath; Å∫Å˚ to right / Boar standing right; ˜-o-˜5-˜5Å around. Campana 3a; Bertino –; HGC 2, 4. Attractive old cabinet tone over lustrous surfaces, traces of find patina, short hairline crack, light roughness. EF. A rare issue from this city in exceptional condition. $1975
5700557. SICILY, Adranon. 354/3-345/4 BC. Æ Hexas (20.5mm, 9.09 g, 6h). Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath / Kithara. Castrizio Series I, 2.3 (D2/R1) = Virzi 500 (this coin, illustrated in both); Campana 4; CNS p. 334, 4 (Mercenary Series); HGC 2, 44; SNG Morcom 502–3. Dark green patina, light roughness, overstruck on uncertain undertype. Near VF. $1975
Ex John Morcom Collection; Numismatica Ars Classica K (30 March 2000), lot 1110; Thomas Virzi (1881-1974) Collection.
5700559. SICILY, Aitna. 354/3-344 BC. Æ Tetras (23mm, 18.50 g, 9h). Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet with neck guard / Horse prancing right, with trailing rein; Â above. Castrizio Series I, 3 (D1/R3); Campana 4a; CNS 1; HGC 2, 72; SNG Morcom 507. Dark brown patina, minor marks, small flan flaw on reverse. VF. $1375
Ex John Morcom Collection; Numismatic Ars Classica 10 (9 April 1997), lot 98.
Ex Virzi Collection – Castrizio Plate Coin
An Exquisite Akragas Tetradrachm With Excellent Detail
5701485. SICILY, Akragas. Circa 465/0–445/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.24 g, 6h). Sea eagle standing left; Å˚RÅ1-sotNÅ around / Crab within shallow incuse circle. Westermark, Coinage, Period II, Group III, 372 (O12/R50); HGC 2, 77; BMC 28 (same dies); Boston MFA 222 = Warren 189 (same dies). A few minor die breaks, small flan flaw on obverse. Superb EF. Well centered and struck on a broad flan. Excellent detail. $39,750
Akragas, Roman Agrigentum, was situated close to the southern coastline of Sicily midway between Gela and Selinos. Founded by colonists from Gela circa 580 BC, Akragas grew to become the second most important city on the island after Syracuse, deriving much of its wealth from the export of agricultural produce to Carthage, which lay about 200 miles to the west. Its coinage commenced in the closing years of the 6th century and principally consisted of silver didrachms down to about 440 BC, after which the tetradrachm became the principal denomination. The first series of tetradrachms, though, coincided with the last period of didrachms, with all featuring the same types that had persisted since the beginning of the city’s coinage: on the obverse, an eagle, sacred to Olympian Zeus, to whom the city dedicated an immense temple, and a reverse with an overhead view of a crab, harvested from the sea as a delicacy in the region. After 440 BC, as with many of the coinages of the great Sicilian cities, the designs became more complex and artistic, with one or two eagles shown devouring a hare on the obverse, and a galloping quadriga ultimately replacing the crab on the reverse. In the final decade of the 5th century, as the artistry of it coinage reached its zenith, Akragas suffered the same fate as many of the other Greek cities of Sicily when it was stormed and sacked by the invading Carthaginians (406 BC). Though its coinage continued thereafter, the scale and beauty of its 5th century series were never attained again.
Struck for the War Against Carthage
5697188. SICILY, Akragas. Circa 415-406 BC. AV Tetradrachm – 2 Didrachms (10mm, 1.35 g, 11h). Silanos, magistrate. Eagle standing left, snake clasped in its talons, on rock outcropping; Å˚rÅ above, two pellets (mark of value) on rocks / Crab; below, s5¬Å/so˜ in two lines (the lower retrograde). Westermark, Coinage 1011 (O11/R3); HGC 2, 75; SNG Copenhagen 52 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 815 = Weber 1195 (same dies); BMC 2 (same dies); Boston MFA 237 (same dies); Dewing 570 (same dies); McClean 2039 (same dies). Lightly toned, a little die wear. Near EF. $8750
Ex Neale Collection; Palombo 19 (12 December 2020), lot 9; Classical Numismatic Group 108 (16 May 2018), lot 11; Dr. Lawrence A. Adams Collection (Part III, Triton XIX, 6 January 2016), lot 2014; Superior (20 May 1995), lot 7857.
As it does so often, gold coinage indicates anticipation of an emergency, and thus this last issue of the city can be dated to the period before its capitulation to the Carthaginians in 406 BC (see Westermark p. 179, and C. Boehringer, “Die Finanzpolitik und Münzprägung des Dionysios von Syrakus” in Essays Thompson, pp. 15–6). It is thought that this particular gold issue was struck to pay the mercenaries who defended the city against the Punic forces. It is also the only gold issue of Akragas to feature a magistrate’s name. This magistrate, Silanos, was also responsible for a contemporary issue of tetradrachms (Westermark 595–6).
An Exceptional Gela Tetradrachm
5697189. SICILY, Gela. Circa 480/75-475/70 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.31 g, 7h). Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand and reins in left, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning horses with open wreath held in both hands / Forepart of bearded man-headed bull (river god) right; 1Es above; all within shallow incuse circle. Jenkins, Gela, Group II, 172 (O46/R101); HGC 2, 338; SNG ANS 38 (same dies); SNG Lockett 749 (same dies); Nanteuil 279 (same dies). Appealing even gray tone with light golden hues. EF. Well struck on a round flan. One of the finest Gela tetradrachms on the market in recent years. $29,500
Ex Neale Collection; Gasvoda Collection (Triton XXII, 9 January 2019) lot 114 (hammer $20,000); Classical Numismatic Group 87 (18 May 2011), lot 207; Tkalec (8 September 2008), lot 11.
Situated on the Gela river on the southern coast of Sicily, Gela was founded in 688 BC by Cretans and Rhodians. Although the city had a Creto-Rhodian foundation, the name of the river is of local Sikanian origin, meaning very cold, as the water runs from the Heraei mountains to the north. Its coinage is among the earliest in Sicily and began with a prolific series of didrachms. Gela had been known for its adept cavalry, and the obverse type is likely an allusion to that asset of the polis. On the reverse, the rather brutal half-length figure of the man-faced bull swimming right is based on the ‘father of all rivers’, Acheloös, and is clearly identified by the ethnic Gelas as the personification of the river rushing to its mouth, where the city Gela stood. It was defined by Virgil (Aen. 3, 702) as ‘immanisque Gela fluvii cognomina dicta’ (and Gela called by the nickname of its monstrous stream).
5629310. SICILY, Gela. Circa 465-450 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.15 g, 1h). Charioteer, holding kentron in left hand and reins in right, driving slow quadriga right; in background, column with Ionic capital set on plinth of two steps / Forepart of man-headed bull right; 1Es above. Jenkins, Gela, Group III, 235 (O62/R125); HGC 2, 339; BMC 12 (same dies); Hunterian 3 (same obv. die). Attractively toned with some light iridescence, slight die wear, trace horn silver. EF. Well centered. $18,750
Ex Leu 53 (21 October 1991), lot 25.
5701505. SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 420-405 BC. Æ Tetras – Trionkion (15mm, 3.47 g, 3h). Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with wing on the bowl / Owl standing left, head facing, grasping lizard; ˚ÅÂÅ downward to right, three pellets (mark of value) in exergue. Westermark & Jenkins Period 3, 198; CNS 33; HGC 2, 548. Mottled brown patina. Choice EF. Perfectly centered and struck with exceptional detail. Among the finest known for this issue. $1775
Ex Selinus Hoard
5697190. SICILY, Selinos. Circa 540-515 BC. AR Didrachm (24.5mm, 8.73 g). Selinon leaf / Incuse square divided into twelve sections. Arnold-Biucchi Group 1; Selinus Hoard 28 (this coin); HGC 2, 1211. Attractive iridescent tone, underlying luster, a couple of die breaks and light scratch on reverse. EF. Struck on a broad flan. $9500
Ex Neale Collection; Numismatica Genevensis SA 12 (18 November 2019), lot 110; Numismatic Fine Arts XXV (29 November 1990), lot 28; Selinunte, Sicily, 1985 Hoard (CH VIII, 35).
Situated on the southwest coast of Sicily at the mouth of the Selinunte River, Selinos was founded by Dorian colonists from Megara Hyblaia, a town on the eastern coast of the island. Selinos is believed to be the first city on Sicily to strike coins, introducing its didrachms circa 540 BC, less than a decade after Aegina had introduced the concept of coinage to Europe. Based on the Corinthian weight standard, the initial coinage of Selinos regularly featured a tri-lobed wild parsley leaf, since the ancient Greek name for this, selinos, provided an allusive pun on the town’s name.
Ex Lockett and Mathey Collections – Pedigreed to 1906
5697172. SICILY, Syracuse. Hiketas II. 287-278 BC. AV Hemistater – Drachm (16.5mm, 4.27 g, 4h). Struck circa 279/8 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; sUrÅkos5W@ to left, long torch to right / Nike, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast biga right; star above, grain ear below, Eπ5 5˚EtÅ in exergue. Buttrey, Morgantina, dies 3/F, e = SNG Lockett 1007 (this coin); BAR issue 41; HGC 2, 1277; Boston MFA 469 (same dies); Hunterian 186 (same dies); Locker Lampson 106 = Weber 1689 (same dies). Trace deposits, a little die wear, minor doubling on reverse. Near EF. $37,500
Ex Phillips Family Collection; Richard Cyril Lockett Collection (Greek Part I, Glendining, 25 October 1955), lot 911; Glendining (27 May 1936), lot 27; Paul Mathey Collection (Feuardent Frères, 9 June 1913), lot 124; Egger XVIII (10 December 1906), lot 229.
Little is known of Hiketas beyond his coinage, but Buttrey pieces together a history based on the numismatic evidence. Following his defeat of Phintias, tyrant of Akragas, Hiketas set out against the Carthaginians. This campaign ended in disaster at the Terias river, northwest of Syracuse. Buttrey, based on his die analysis, concludes that this gold issue was struck very hurriedly towards the end of the reign of Hiketas, and theorizes that this series was issued to pay for his Carthaginian campaign.
Exceptional for Issue
5701504. SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Litra (13mm, 0.73 g, 9h). Struck circa 466-460 BC. Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia and necklace; s¨‰Å to right / Octopus. Boehringer Series XIIIb, 421 (O220/ R299); HGC 2, 1375. Old cabinet tone, with a hint of iridescence, area of slightly weak strike, a touch off center and a tiny nick on obverse. EF. Exceptional for issue. $2750
Choice Syracuse Tetradrachm
5629323. SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.26 g, 12h). Struck circa 450-440 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning horses with wreath held in both hands; in exergue, ketos right / Head of Arethousa right, hair in band, wearing single-pendant earring and pearl necklace with pendant; s¨∞Å˚os5-o˜ and four dolphins around. Boehringer Series XVIb, 571 (V287/R391); HGC 2, 1311; SNG ANS 184 (same dies); Bement 473 (same dies); Pozzi 581 (same dies); Jameson 769 (same dies). Lovely even gray tone, with golden and iridescent hues and underlying luster, tiny mark. Choice EF. Well centered, and with exceptional details. $27,500
The magnificent artistic flowering in Sicily in the 5th century BC, exemplified by the matchless coinage of Syracuse, originated in times of great strife. When the first colonists from Greece arrived on the fertile island in the 8th century BC, they found competitors in both the aboriginal inhabitants, the Sicels, Sicani, and Elymi, and the Phoenician colonists who established Carthage at about the same time. The social stresses set up by these conflicts prepared the way for the establishment of various tyrannies. Hippokrates of Gela was the first of the well known tyrants, and his son Gelon founded the greatest of the Sicilian courts at Syracuse in 485 BC. By the middle of the century, the situation began to resemble that of Renaissance Italy, where the princes engaged in continual warfare between themselves, while engaging the services of the finest artists and craftsmen of their time. Such fighting required significant amounts of money to hire mercenaries, and the increasing cultural sophistication of the courts encouraged experimentation in all of the arts, including the minor ones – the result was the patronizing of some of the most talented coin engravers in history.
Syracuse commenced its silver coinage at the end of the sixth century BC with an issue of tetradrachms on the Attic standard of about 17.2 grams. These coins are attributed to the Gamoroi, an oligarchic body of aristocrats who battled outsiders, and each other, for control of civic and financial affairs. The obverse features a charioteer driving a walking quadriga while the reverse originally bore an incuse square divided into four compartments, which quickly gave way to a swastika-pattern incuse with a circle at its center bearing a female head to left. This is certainly the nymph Arethousa, sacred to the spring of Ortygia which provided Syracuse its pure water. These designs set the paradigm for a century of Syracusan coinage, although the head of Arethousa would soon outgrow the confines of the small incuse circle to occupy most of the reverse, surrounded by frolicking dolphins as seen in this superb example.
Beautiful Syracuse Tetradrachm – Pedigreed to 1966
5697171. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.40 g, 10h). Unsigned dies in the style of Parmenides. Struck circa 405-400 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; in exergue, grain ear left / Head of Arethousa left, wearing ampyx and sphendone decorated with stars, wearing triple-pendant earring and linear necklace; s-U-rÅ˚os5W@ and four dolphins around, the lowest emanating from her neck truncation. Fischer-Bossert, Coins 72a (V33/R61 – this coin); Tudeer 72; HGC 2, 1342; SNG Copenhagen 672 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1389 = Rizzo pl. XLVII, 18 = Jameson 837 (same dies). Lovely light golden hues around the devices, a hint of die wear on obverse. Near EF. Rare, and among the finest known. $67,500
Ex Phillips Family Collection; Nomos 17 (26 October 2018), lot 53; Numismatica Ars Classica 59 (4 April 2011), lot 533; L. von Hoffmann (Sotheby’s, 5 July 1995), lot 26; Leu 36 (7 May 1985), lot 67; Münzen und Medaillen AG 32 (20 October 1966), lot 58.
The revolution that overtook Greek art in the later fifth century BC is perfectly exemplified in this stunning pair of dies in the style of the Syracusan die master Parmenides. Over the previous 100 years, Syracusan coinage had advanced stylistically from the static and almost Egyptian conventions of archaic art, through the cool idealism of early classical sculpture, to arrive at the lively and expressive composition seen here. On the obverse, a racing four-horse chariot is depicted having just struck the wreckage of another chariot car, whose broken wheel lies beneath the horses’ rear hooves, while their fore-hooves kick at the air as the steeds try to recover their stride. Such catastrophic crashes must have been a common sight at these highly competitive and dangerous races, and the engraver has frozen the moment as on a frame of movie film. Above, the winged goddess Nike swoops down, preparing to crown the charioteer, hinting that this driver will survive the nearsmashup and go on to win the race. In contrast with the frenetic obverse, the serene and lovely head of Arethousa on the reverse is rendered with superb delicacy, her complex coiffeur and triple-pendant earrings no doubt reflecting contemporary styles popular with highborn women. The natural liveliness evident on both sides marks an apogee of engraving that made the coinage of Syracuse the envy the Greek world.
5658697. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. Æ Drachm (30mm, 32.41 g, 2h). Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard and decorated with laurel wreath; sUrÅ to left, dolphin to right / Sea-star between two dolphins. Holloway, Further, Series 4, fig. 8; CNS 62; HGC 2, 1436 (this coin illustrated). Dark brown patina, minor smoothing. Good VF. $2875
Ex Triton XII (6 January 2009), lot 107.
5701486. SICILY, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. 344-317 BC. Æ Dilitron (26.5mm, 20.61 g, 12h). Timoleontic Symmachy coinage. 2nd series, circa 339/8-334 BC. Head of Zeus Eleutherios left, wearing laurel wreath; [zEUs E-¬]-EUQEr5os around / Horse rearing left; [sUrÅ]-˚-os[5W-@] around. Castrizio Series II, 1; CNS 80; HGC 2, 1439. Dark green patina, light deposits. Good VF. Attractive portrait. $1850
In the early 4th century BC, Syracuse had become highly factionalized, and the political turmoil was taken advantage of by the Carthaginians, who supported Hiketas against Dionysios I. Eventually a delegation was sent by the Syracusans to Corinth to appeal to their mother city for help. Timoleon was chosen to take control of Syracuse, drive the Carthaginian-backed government from power, and restore the tranquility and prosperity of the great Sicilian city. In this endeavor Timoleon was successful, and his rule sparked a cultural and political revival. This revival is reflected in the city’s coinage, with the advent of many new types and denominations.
Among the new issues was this large bronze dilitron. The obverse features the head of Zeus Eleutherios (the Liberator), whose prominence in the series, appearing on multiple denominations from gold to bronze, clearly underscored the achievements of Timoleon. The free horse on the reverse, with its trailing rein, also evokes the idea of liberation and freedom from the oppressive rule of Hiketas. What is most unusual and definitive is the quality of the engraving executed on the dies of this issue. Until this time, the most skilled engravers appear to have been reserved solely for the precious metal coinage, but this bronze issue displays a highly refined style that is certainly on par with the finest art found on the silver and gold.
5602911. SICILY, Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai – Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.59 g, 4h). Struck circa 240-218/5 BC. Diademed and veiled head left; torch to right / ∫Å%5¬5%%Å% f5¬5%t5do%, Nike, wearing long chiton, holding reins in both hands, driving fast quadriga right; E below horses. CCO 49 (D12/R31); BAR Issue 65; HGC 2, 1554; SNG ANS 884 (same dies); SNG Ashmolean 2107 (same dies); SNG München 1357 and 1359 (same dies); McClean 1398 (same dies); Ward 337 (same dies); Weber 1707 (same dies). Lightly toned, minor die wear on obverse. Near EF. $6750
Ex Jacquier 49 (17 September 2021), lot 66.
Philistis was the daughter of an influential Syracusan named Leptines. Hieron, a mercenary refugee from the army of Pyrrhos of Epeiros, took control of Syracuse after Pyrrhos’ withdrawal from the city in 275 BC. Hieron immediately sought out and married Philistis to secure his position with the city’s elite. His coinage in her name commenced after he was proclaimed king (and she queen) in 265 BC and reflects the strong influence of Ptolemaic Egypt, depicting her veiled head in a manner reminiscent of Egyptian queens Arsinoe II and Berenike II.
5700585. SICILY, Tyndaris. Circa 276-253 BC. Æ (18mm, 5.66 g, 5h). Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; tU@dÅr5-@Åt / Head of horse left. Campana –; CNS 4 corr. (types); BAR Issue 5; HGC 2, 1642; SNG Morcom –. Green patina, some roughness. VF. Overstruck on an uncertain issue. $995
Ex John Morcom Collection; New York Sale IX (13 January 2005), lot 54.
Rare Early Type
5666535. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 350-310 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.28 g, 11h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying left, crowning charioteer with open wreath held in both hands; [teQ¬M[ße] ([RŠ]MLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Head of female right, wearing sphendone, triple-pendant earring, and linear necklace; three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 5 (O4/R4); CNP 315; HGC 2, 731; Boston MFA Supp. 24 = Jameson 1903 (same dies). Deeply toned, patches of find patina, some light scratches. Good VF. Very rare early type, and one of only two examples known with this die combination. $5750
Ex L.H. Collection.
Lilybaion, modern day Marsala, was a Punic city in Sicily founded in the fourth century BC. The destruction of the chief Punic stronghold Motya in 397 BC by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios I left the denizens of Motya without a home and Carthage without a primary military base on the island. In order to remedy both of these issues, the city of Lilybaion was founded by the survivors from Motya. The new port town would become a thriving trade hub and the most important military base in Sicily. The strong new walls that were built to defend the city were able to fend off both Pyrrhos of Epiros and the Romans. It was the last bastion of Punic rule in Sicily during Pyrrhos’ conquest of the island, beating back his attempts to take the city before his campaign unraveled entirely. The Romans placed the city under a nine year siege with numerous assaults during the First Punic War, but they were never able to capture the city and only gained control of it after Carthage’s surrender at the end of the war.
The issue of tetradrachms that are purportedly from Lilybaion were all struck in the later half of the fourth century BC. While many show strong affinity for Syracusan styles from the same period, Jenkins notes that this series relies heavily on prototypes from the Entella series.
5702102. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 320/15-300 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.25 g, 11h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; shell below chin, four dolphins around / Head of horse left; palm tree to right, †nJMM` (‘MHMḤNT = “People of the Camp” in Punic) below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2d, 162 (O49/R146); CNP 267a; HGC 2, 284; SNG Fitzwilliam 1489 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 2149064-038, graded XF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. $5950
Ex Astarte XVII (8 May 2005), lot 125.
5702591. CARTHAGE. Circa 300 BC. AR Shekel (20mm, 7.49 g, 11h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and necklace with pendants / Horse standing right, head left; palm tree to left in background, star to right. Jenkins & Lewis pl. 26, 15–7; CNP 166; MAA 36 Variante; SNG Copenhagen 141–2; Gulbenkian 383. Toned, light deposits, a little die wear, small delamination on reverse. Good VF. $1850
5668283. ISLANDS off THRACE, Thasos. Circa 412-404 BC. AR Third Stater – Drachm (15mm, 3.66 g). Ithyphallic satyr advancing right, carrying off protesting nymph / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 7; HGC 6, 335. Toned, minor porosity, light scratch on reverse. Good VF. $1475 Ex Freeman & Sear 8 (5 February 2003), lot 128.
5697347. ISLANDS off THRACE, Thasos. Circa 412-404 BC. AR Trihemiobol (12mm, 0.71 g, 12h). Ithyphallic satyr kneeling half-left, holding kylix in right hand / Amphora within incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 27 var. (perspective of satyr); HGC 6, 352. Lightly toned, peripheral porosity. EF. Well centered. $975
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 469 (3 June 2020), lot 37; Gorny & Mosch 265 (14 October 2019), lot 174; Münz Zentrum 174 (2 September 2015), lot 81.
Fine Style
5697191. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.03 g, 11h). Smyrna mint. Struck circa 287/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / ∫Å%5¬EW% 2U%5;ÅcoU, Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; f to outer left; to inner left, turreted head of Tyche right. Thompson 237; Müller 408; HGC 3, 1750d; Wheaton 133 (same obv. die). Attractively toned, tiny spot of find patina on reverse. Near EF. Fine style. Rare. $13,500
Ex Neale Collection; Nomos 15 (22 October 2017), lot 49.
Lysimachos, a Macedonian of great physical strength and fortitude, rose to prominence as a σωματοφύλαξ, or “bodyguard” for Alexander the Great. When Alexander’s territories were parceled out during the settlement at Babylon in 323 BC, Lysimachos was given control of Thrace, the Chersonese, and the intervening Black Sea coast. Unfortunately, much of this territory was no longer under Macedonian control, but was claimed by various Thracian tribes. Although Lysimachos was involved to some extent in the early wars of the Diadochs, most of his early years as satrap were preoccupied with subduing the Thracian tribes, an endeavor that was largely unsuccessful. By the time he assumed the royal title in 306/5 BC, his kingdom consisted of little more than the southern portions of Thrace. While this territory included a few already active mints, such as Ainos and Byzantion, Lysimachos was forced to depend on his ally Kassander, the king of Macedon, for coinage, as the sources of bullion were under the control of his enemies.
This situation changed in 302 BC, when Lysimachos raised an army at the urging of Kassander and invaded Asia Minor, territory which Antigonos I Monophthalmos controlled, and whose son, Demetrios I Poliorketes, was threatening Kassander’s southern flank in Thessaly. Lysimachos quickly captured much of the Hellespont, and he penetrated as far as Lydia. This territory was rich with both bullion and mint cities, including Alexandria Troas, Ephesos, Lampsakos, Magnesia, and Sardis. Lysimachos used these mints to begin striking coinage on his behalf, while at the same time, he apparently sent bullion back to Thrace, where Lysimacheia and Sestos also began to produce coinage for him. These mints initially struck coins of Alexander type for Lysimachos, but later changed to the new Lysimachos type in 297 BC.
After Lysimachos and Seleukos I defeated the Antigonids at Ipsos in 301 BC, most of western Asia Minor passed to Lysimachos. He now held some of the most prosperous cities in the Aegean, and soon most of the well-established mints were striking coinage in his name. Many of these same mints were required to pay large sums of tribute in order to fund further campaigns of expansion. One such object of expansion was Macedon, the ultimate goal of all the Diodochs. Since the death of Kassander in 298 BC, it had fallen into chaos and was eventually captured by Demetrios, who was, in turn, driven out by the joint invasion of Lysimachos and Pyrrhos in 288 BC. Initially, Macedon was split between the two, with Lysimachos taking the eastern half and its mint of Amphipolis. By 285 BC, when Lysimachos also obtained the western half from Pyrrhos, Pella also began producing coinage for Lysimachos. His successes, however, were short-lived. Beginning in 284 BC with the murder of his stepsons, Lysimachos became involved in a treacherous game of political and dynastic intrigue. As a result, revolt broke out among the Asian cities under his control, and Seleukos I launched an invasion against him. At the battle of Korupedion in 281 BC, Lysimachos was killed, and his kingdom was subsumed into the Seleukid empire. Ptolemy Keraunos, however, seized Lysimachos’ European territories after he murdered Seleukos I later that year.
Edward T. Newell’s study of Lysimachos’ lifetime issues arranged them according to the territorial expansion of his kingdom. Unfortunately, Newell died before completing his study, and consequently many issues are missing from Margaret Thompson’s survey of his unfinished work. The many ‘unpublished’ coins that have appeared over the past two decades reveal how little is known about Lysimachos’ coinage. Although most catalogs list these unpublished coins as posthumous issues, this is unlikely, as most of his mint cities were taken over by other kingdoms following Lysimachos’ death. The cities that continued to issue his coins as a regular type, such as Byzantion, were mostly ones that regularly conducted trade with cities to the north of Thrace, whose economies were likely dominated by Lysimachos-type coinage during his lifetime. A few cities, such as Tenedos, struck brief, sporadic issues of Lysimachos type coins long after his death, but these issues were likely struck for some specific purpose that required this type, and are not part of any regular series.
At the beginning of his reign, Lysimachos continued to use Alexander’s coinage types, later modifying them by replacing Alexander’s name with his own. In 297 BC, Lysimachos introduced a new type: the obverse was a portrait of Alexander; the reverse was Athena, Lysimachos’ patron goddess. G.K. Jenkins noted the power of the Alexander portrait in his commentary on the Gulbenkian Collection: “The idealized portrait of Alexander introduced on the coinage of Lysimachos in 297 BC is characterized by the horn of Ammon which appears above the ear. The allusion is to Alexander’s famous visit to the oracle of Ammon at the Siwa Oasis in 331, when the god is supposed to have greeted Alexander as ‘My son’.... [T]he best of the Alexander heads on Lysimachos’ coinage...have a power and brilliance of effect that is irresistible. It [is speculated] that these Alexander heads may have derived from an original gem carved by Pyrgoteles, an engraver prominent among the artists of Alexander’s court....” Regardless of the inspiration for the new design, part of the remarkable attraction of this coinage is its artistic variety: each engraver created his own fresh and distinctive portrayal of the world’s greatest conqueror.
5695092. MACEDON, Amphipolis. 369/8 BC. AR Drachm (15.5mm, 3.55 g, 8h). Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery around neck / ÅÂf-5πo-¬5t-EW@ on raised linear square enclosing race torch; all within shallow incuse square. Lorber 55 (Od3/Rd2); HGC 3, 413; SNG Lockett 1301 = SNG Sweden II 873 = Bement 672 (same dies); McClean 3207 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 4283884-009, graded XF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5, ex-jewelry. $4750
Attractive in Hand
5688598. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 17.17 g, 10h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Pella mint. Struck under Antipater or Polyperchon, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / ŬE$Å@droU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, rose surmounted by bee right. Price 206; Moore 40–3 var. (dies 15/– [unlisted rev. die]); Pozzi 904 (same obv. die). Attractive light toning. Choice EF. A wonderful coin in hand. $7750
Powerful Hellenistic Portrait of Alexander III
5688597. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.59 g, 12h). In the types of Philip II. Kolophon mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319 BC. Head of Apollo right, with the features of Alexander III, wearing laurel wreath / f5¬5ππoU, charioteer, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga right; tripod below. Thompson, Philip 12 = Jameson 978 = Kunstfreund 232 = Gillet 785 (same obv. die); Le Rider pl. 90, 16 and pl. 93, 26; SNG ANS 309; SNG Alpha Bank 260 = Alpha Bank, Hellenic 72 = Alpha Bank, Macedonia 26 = Alpha Bank, Alexander 57 (same dies); SNG Ashmolean 2456; Kraay & Hirmer 565. Lustrous. Superb EF. Well centered and struck from fresh dies. $44,500
This beautiful gold stater belongs to the period following the death of Alexander the Great when his half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaios, was the nominal head of state together with the conqueror’s infant son by Roxane, Alexander IV. The gem-like delicacy of the engraving of these extraordinary dies singles this issue out as belonging to one of the mints of the Ionian coastal region of western Asia Minor, an area which, of course, was not controlled by the Macedonian monarchy in the time of Philip II. Kolophon is the city to which it is tentatively attributed, the tripod symbol linking it to an issue in the name of Philip III (cf. Price P41).
5699609. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.09 g, 12h). In the types of Alexander III. Kolophon mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / f5¬5ππoU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; Z in left field, ∫ below throne. Price P48. Deep old cabinet tone, with faint iridescence. EF. Struck from a pair of finely executed dies. $775
5697210. KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos I Monophthalmos. As Strategos of Asia, 320-306/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.96 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Susa mint. Struck under Aspesias, Satrap of Susiana, circa 316311 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / ŬE$Å@droU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; wreath in left field; below throne, Å5 above strut, Z below. Price 3857. Minor marks. Near EF. High relief. $2475
5674103. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 510-500/490 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.66 g, 7h). Head of Athena right, wearing earring and crested Attic helmet decorated with tiny spiral on the back of the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray to left, [å]QE to right; all within incuse square. Seltman Group L, unlisted dies; Svoronos, Monnaies, pl. 6, 8–9; Asyut Group IVa; HGC 4, 1589. Usual minor flan flaws, some die wear. VF. $4750
Pedigreed to 1973
576412. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 350/45-285 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 8.60 g, 5h). Pegasos flying left; J below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard and laurel wreath on the bowl; Å-r flanking neck truncation, aegis to left. Ravel Period V, 1009; Pegasi 427; BCD Corinth –; HGC 4, 1848. Attractive old collection tone, a few light cleaning marks in fields, trace deposits. Near EF. Lovely style. $3250
Ex Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 344 (April 1973), no. 21.
Wonderful Portrait of Mithradates Eupator
5611720. KINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI Eupator. Circa 120-63 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.72 g, 12h). Pergamon mint. Dated month 9, year 223 BE (June 74 BC). Diademed head right / ∫Å%5¬EW% Â5QrÅdÅtoU EU∏Åtoro%, stag grazing left; to left, star-in-crescent above n; to right, ˝˚s (year) above =; œ (month) in exergue; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. Callataÿ dies O48/R– (unlisted rev. die); HGC 7, 340; DCA 692; SNG Ashmolean 201 (same obv. die); Davis 186 (same obv. die); Pozzi 2100 (same obv. die). Beautiful golden toning, minor marks. Near EF. Well centered and struck, with a wonderful portrait.
$14,500
Mithradates was a fascinating Hellenistic ruler at a time when Roman power was ascendent. His career, driven by megalomaniacal ambitions, led to murderous assaults upon family and followers alike and disastrous foreign adventures against superior forces. His portraiture attempts to mimic the gods with its bold staring gaze and unruly, free-flowing hair, but at its most extreme is a personification of hysteria in its Dionysiac sense.
At the age of 18, Mithradates overthrew his mother’s regency and embarked on a career of conquest, bringing most of the lands around the Black Sea into his domain. His expansionist aims inevitably brought him into conflict with Rome, and in preparation for the coming war he built up the largest army in Asia, unleashing it in 88 BC in what would be the First Mithradatic War. He sought to undermine the Roman power base by ordering the massacre of every Roman citizen in Asia, in which nearly 80,000 people perished.
The Romans were not intimidated, and when Mithradates crossed over to Greece proper as ‘Liberator’, the Roman legions under Sulla smashed his army. Mithradates retreated to Pontus, from where he continued to skirmish with the Romans, suffering more defeats to the general Lucullus. In 63 BC, having suffered a final defeat by Pompey and facing a revolt by his own son Pharnakes, the elderly king tried to commit suicide by taking poison, but he had inured himself to its affects by years of small counterdoses, and so had to be stabbed to death by one of his mercenaries.
5697174. PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. Circa 425-410 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 5.82 g). Head of sea-eagle left; below, dolphin left / Quadripartite incuse square with two opposing quarters filled, one of the others bisected by thin line. RG 14; HGC 7, 388 var. (pellet in quarters); SNG BM Black Sea 1367 = Weber 4808 (same rev. die). Deeply toned, remnants of find patina, faint cleaning marks under tone. VF. $6975
Ex Phillips Family Collection, purchased from Spink, 23 February 1942; Cahn 84 (29 November 1933), lot 337; Cahn 71 (14 October 1931), lot 402; William Harrison Woodward Collection (not in Robinson catalog).
Pedigreed to 1963
5697173. PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. Circa 425-410 BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 6.12 g). Head of sea-eagle left; below, dolphin left / Quadripartite incuse square with two opposing quarters filled, d in one of the others. RG –; HGC 7, 388 var. (pellet in quarters); SNG BM Black Sea 1370 var. (letter on rev.). Attractive light toning, faint mark on reverse. Good VF. Extremely rare variety with this letter on reverse, one of only two in CoinArchives (the other: CNG E-563, lot 162). $28,750
Ex Phillips Family Collection; Nomos 20 (10 July 2020), lot 167; Hess-Divo 329 (17 November 2015), lot 84; Numismatic Fine Arts XVIII (31 March 1987), lot 169; Richard A. Van Every Collection (Leu 15, 4 May 1976), lot 272; Glendining (9 July 1963), lot 97.
5697348. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (12mm, 2.64 g). Hound (or wolf) at bay left on tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 93; cf. Boston MFA 1470 = Warren 1565 (stater); SNG BN 231. Faintly toned, trace deposits, slightly irregular flan, edge splits. VF. $1750
Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection; Naville Numismatics 58 (22 March 2020), lot 164.
Ex Woodward Collection
5697174
5697173
High Relief
5702563. KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 16.98 g, 1h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 263-255/0 BC. Head of Philetairos right, wearing laurel wreath / f5¬EtÅ5roU, Athena enthroned left, right hand resting on shield set at her feet, left elbow resting on small sphinx seated right; transverse spear in background, ivy leaf above knee, v on throne, bow to right. Westermark Group III, obv. die V.XXVIII; SNG BN 1607; Hirsch 1461 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, some minor marks, a little off center on reverse. EF. Exceptionally high relief. $6750
Ex Pegasi Auctions XL (28 May 2019), lot 161.
Pedigreed to 1975
5695046. KINGS of PERGAMON. Attalos I. 241-197 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 16.96 g, 12h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 241-235 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / f5¬EtÅ5roU, Athena enthroned left, left elbow resting on shield to right, crowning dynastic name with wreath held in her extended right hand; spear in background, palm frond to outer left, H to inner left, bow to right. Westermark Group VI:A, dies V.LXXXIX/R.3; F. ImhoofBlumer, Die Münzen der Dynastie von Pergamon (1884), 19 (same obv. die); SNG BN 1621; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 39; Boston MFA 1615 = Warren 1031; Pozzi 2255. Lightly toned, traces of find patina. EF. Powerful portrait. $2250
Ex Father & Son Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 121 (6 October 2022), lot 309, purchased from ArtAncient; Numismatic Fine Arts VI (27 February 1979), lot 264; Leu 13 (29 April 1975), lot 204.
5702096. AEOLIS, Kyme. Circa 151/0-143/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.63 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Kallias, magistrate. Head of the Amazon Kyme right, wearing tainia / Horse prancing right; one-handled cup below raised foreleg, ˚UÂÅ5W@ to right, ˚Ŭ¬5Ås below; all within wreath. E-E&E-Ö, Phase 3; Oakley dies 31/b; SNG Copenhagen 103; SNG Fitzwilliam 4313; Davis 205 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, underlying luster, traces of find patina. Near EF. $2375
5688599. IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Mid 140s BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.76 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Erasippos, son of Aristeas, “magistrate”. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Apollo Delphios standing left, left elbow resting on tall tripod behind, holding in right hand a branch tied with fillet; ErÅ%5∏∏o% År5%tEoU to left, ;Å˝@˙tW@ to right, meander pattern below; all within laurel wreath. Ellis-Evans, Wreathed, dies 36/ EA35, 251 (this coin, illustrated); Jones dies 33/b; SNG München 601 (same dies). Deep old cabinet tone, minor doubling on reverse. Superb EF. Very rare in this condition. $13,975
Ex Hess-Divo 327 (22 October 2014), lot 52; Schweizerischer Bankverein 28 (17 September 1991), lot 204.
With the collapse of Seleukid authority in Asia Minor in 189 BC, many communities of western Asia Minor celebrated their liberation from regal authority by issuing series of large and impressive tetradrachms. All of these coins were struck on the reduced Attic standard, and were struck on broad, thin flans that were influenced by the Athenian New Style coinage. These series also copied a feature on their reverses, a large laurel wreath that formed the border encompassing the entire reverse type. We know from the Delos inventory lists that these coins were referred to as stephanophoroi, attesting to the ubiquity of these series. The types appearing on the coins clearly indicated their civic nature, depicting the city’s patron deity on the obverse and various aspects of the city’s culture on the reverse.
Regardless of the particular city of issue, the stephanophoric coinage is regarded among the more artistic of the Hellenistic period. This is no surprise as nearly all of the issuing cities were located in western Asia Minor, an area whose numismatic artistry is well attested in the preceding Classical period. While the stephanophoroi represent a benchmark in coin design, the reason for their introduction is not certain, and there is little consensus among numismatists. On one extreme, C. Boehringer argued that their appearance and consistency represented an “Aegean Münzunion” (Boehringer, Chron., pp. 38-9), while at the other O. Mørkholm argued that the wreaths were not indicative of any political or economic significance, but merely the result of a design that gained popularity throughout the northern Aegean (“Chronology and Meaning of the Wreath Coinages of the early 2nd. Cent. B.C.,” QT 9 [1980], pp. 145-54).
5697337. IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 650-600 BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (12mm, 4.64 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Globular surface with cluster of pellets / Two incuse squares. Weidauer –; Artemision –; Traité I 3; SNG Kayhan –; SNG von Aulock 7761. Edge split, minor doubling on obverse. As made. $1950
5700596. IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 650-600 BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (12.5mm, 4.63 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Globular surface with cluster of pellets / Incuse rectangle, laterally bisected. Weidauer –; Traité I 3; Elektron –; SNG Kayhan –; SNG von Aulock 7761. Minor edge splits, minor deposits on reverse. As made. $1750
5700538. IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 650-600 BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (11mm, 4.63 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Globular surface with cluster of pellets / Two incuse squares. Weidauer –; Artemision –; Traité I 3; SNG Kayhan –; SNG von Aulock 7761. Edge splits. As made. $1575
5700597. IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 650-600 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9.5mm, 2.33 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Globular surface with cluster of pellets / Two incuse squares. Weidauer –; Traité I –; Elektron II 10; Rosen –; SNG Kayhan –; SNG von Aulock –; CNG 108, lot 207; CNG 106, lot 399; Tkalec (February 2013), lot 81. Trace deposits. As made. $1575
Very Rare
5699620. CARIA, Uncertain. Circa 480-470 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.37 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Head of creature (griffin or lion?) left / Two incuse squares. W. Fischer-Bossert, “Ein karisches Monster“ in Cista Mystica, 58 (V25/R38-39); Linzalone 1108 (seal; Phokaia in Ionia); Naumann 49, lot 240 = Naumann 44, lot 321 = CNG 97, lot 214 (same dies). Good VF. Very rare. $1850
5658646. CARIA, Uncertain. Circa 197 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.11 g, 7h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / ŬE$Å@droU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, √ above grape bunch. Lorber, Pseudo-Chios, Group 6, unlisted dies (but likely from obv. die made by the same hand as A45); cf. Price 2324 for prototype. Lightly toned over lustrous surfaces, minor mark on obverse. Near EF. Perfectly centered. $725
5653538. SATRAPS of CARIA. Pixodaros. Circa 341/0-336/5 BC. AR Didrachm (20mm, 6.91 g, 12h). Halikarnassos mint. Head of Apollo facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath, drapery at neck / Zeus Labraundos standing right, wearing chiton and himation at his waist and wrapped around his left arm, holding labrys and inverted spear; π5$odÅroU to right. Konuk, Identities 30; Babelon, Perses 414–21; HN Online 241; SNG Keckman 280; SNG von Aulock 2375–6. Minor die wear, light scratch and small flan flaw on reverse. Good VF. Well centered on a broad flan. An attractive coin in hand. $1750
5683515. LYCIA, Phaselis. Circa 218/7-186/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.94 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Dated CY 10 (209/8 BC). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / ŬE$Å@droU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, 5 (date) above f. Heipp-Tamer 219 (V19/R59); Price 2848; DCA 315. Lightly toned, underlying luster, slight die shift on obverse, a little die wear on reverse. Good VF. Well centered. $1250
Phaselis was founded in 690 BC by settlers from the island of Rhodes. In the same year, the great Rhodian seafarers also founded Gela, on the island of Sicily, thus extending their influence across the Greek world. The colony of Phaselis was the one purely Greek city in Lycia and differed in language, culture, and alphabet from the adjacent cities of the region.
5702573. PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 400-380 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 10.86 g, 12h). Two wrestlers grappling / Slinger in throwing stance right; EstVEd55Us to left, clockwise triskeles to right; all within dotted square border in shallow incuse square. Tekin Series 3; SNG BN 54; SNG Pfälzer –; SNG von Aulock 5414–5. Lovely iridescent tone over lustrous surfaces, minor die wear. Superb EF. Well struck. $3950
5675387. SELEUKIS and PIERIA, Laodikeia. 78/7-16/5 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.23 g, 12h). Dated CY 17 (65/4 BC). Veiled, draped, and turreted bust of Tyche right; on left turret / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; ¬Åod5˚EW@ t˙% 5ErÅ% ˚Å5 ÅUto@oÂoU at sides; Z5 (date) to inner left, ¯ below throne, %E in exergue; all within wreath. Callataÿ, Production, p. 79, dies D12/R1; Mørkholm, Autonomous 10b, obv. die 16; HGC 9, 1398; DCA2 318. Faintly toned, area of roughness on reverse. Near EF. $1150
5689510. SELEUKIS and PIERIA, Seleukeia Pieria. 105/4-83/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 14.92 g, 12h). Dated CY 19 (91/0 BC). Veiled, draped, and turreted bust of Tyche right / Filleted thunderbolt on throne; %E¬E¨˚EW@ t˙% 5ErÅ% ˚Å5 ÅUto@oÂoU above and in exergue; Q5 (date) below throne, Â to lower right; all within wreath. Callataÿ, Production, p. 77, obv. die D47; HGC 9, 1382; DCA2 347. Toned, remnants of find patina, struck with somewhat worn obverse die. EF. $1250
5700600. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos III ‘the Great’. 222-187 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 16.72 g, 1h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Series 3, circa 204-197 BC. Diademed head (Type Cii) right / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@t5-ocoU, Apollo, nude, testing arrow in his right hand, left hand holding tip of bow set on ground to right, seated left on omphalos; $ to outer left. SC 1044.4a; Le Rider, Antioche, 112–25 (obv. die A8); HGC 9, 447u. Lightly toned, underlying luster, light roughness on reverse. EF. $1975
5666537. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VI Dionysos. 144-142 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 16.91 g, 1h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Dated SE 170 (143/2 BC). Radiate and diademed head right / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@t5ocoU E∏5fÅ@ oU% d5o@U%oU, the Dioskouroi, holding reins in right hand and couched lances in left, on horses rearing left; to right, trU above – above %tÅ; or (date) below; all within wreath of laurel, ivy, roses, and grain ears. SC 2000.3d; SMA 242; HGC 9, 1032; DCA2 118; Babelon, Rois 994 (same obv. die). Attractive iridescent tone, short edge split, minor die wear on obverse. EF. $3950
Ex Gorny & Mosch 151 (9 October 2006), lot 222.
5689509. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Tryphon. Circa 142-138 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.02 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head right / ∫Å%5¬EW% trUfW@o% ÅUto˚rÅtoro%, spiked Macedonian helmet with cheek guards, adorned with wild goat’s horn above visor; cr to inner left. SC 2033c; Seyrig p. 22, 14; SMA –; HGC 9, 1060. Hairline flan crack, roughness, cleaning marks on reverse. Good VF. Rare. $1075
5697212. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes). 138-129 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.62 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head right / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@t5ocoU EUEr-˝EtoU, Athena Nikephoros standing left; to outer left, : above K; all within wreath. SC 2061.1n; Lorber, Die, Phase 1, Group 5, 390 (A47/P2 – this coin [incorrectly marked as a plate coin]); HGC 9, 1067d. Iridescent tone, traces of find patina, minor doubling on reverse. Near EF. Great portrait. $975
Ex Gemini IX (8 January 2012), lot 158.
5660339. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios II Nikator. Second reign, 129-125 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.40 g, 12h). Damaskos mint. Dated SE 184 (129/8 BC). Diademed and bearded head right / ∫Å%5¬EW% d˙µ˙tr5oU QEoU @5˚Å-toro%, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; § below throne, d∏[r] (date) in exergue. SC 2181.2b; Schwei Group 3, 29–31 (A5/P19); HGC 9, 1116d; DCA2 163; SNG Spaer 2266 (same dies). Lightly toned, compact flan, a few minor scratches. Near EF. $4275
5688283. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos X Eusebes Philopator. Circa 94-88 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.92 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Second reign at Antioch, circa 93/2–88 BC. Diademed head right / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@ t5ocoU E¨%E∫o¨% f5¬o∏Åtoro%, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; to outer left, ‡ above Å; @ below throne; all within wreath. SC 2434.1; SMA –; HGC 9, 1288. Good metal quality. EF. $975
5695013. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (28mm, 13.91 g, 12h). Dated CY 30 (97/6 BC). Bust of Melkart right, wearing laurel wreath, [lion skin around neck] / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, l¬ (date) above club; Ê to right; Å (Phoenician A) between legs; tUroU 5Er&% ˚&5 &%U¬oU around. DCA-Tyre 106 (same obv. die as illustration); HGC 10, 357; DCA2 946. In NGC encapsulation 2407216-008, graded AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5, porosity. $3500
Lifetime of Christ
5664824. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (24mm, 14.20 g, 12h). Lifetime of Christ issue. Dated CY 135 (AD 9/10). Head of Melkart right, wearing laurel wreath, lion skin around neck / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, r¬E (date) above club; to right, ˚r above ;; b (Phoenician B) between legs; t¨r[o¨ 5Er`%] ˚`5 `%¨¬o¨ around. DCA-Tyre 484; Rouvier –; HGC 10, 357; DCA2 947. Lightly toned with traces of find patina. A few light hairlines but well centered and complete. VF. $4250
Lifetime of Christ
5664830. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (25mm, 14.20 g, 12h). Lifetime of Christ issue. Dated CY 141 (AD 15/16). Head of Melkart right, wearing laurel wreath, lion skin around neck / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, rÂ` (date) above club; to right, ˚r above :; b (Phoenician B) between legs; t¨ro¨ 5Er`% [˚`5 `%¨¬] o¨ around. DCA-Tyre 500; Rouvier –; HGC 10, 357; DCA2 947. Scattered light marks. VF. Rare and clear date. $5750
Ex Triton XXII (8 January 2019), lot 355 (hammer $6500).
5700601. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes. 246-222 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.24 g, 12h). Tyre mint. Dated RY 2 (246/5 BC). Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck / ∏to¬EÂÅ5oU %Wt˙ro[%], eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; to left, i (Tyre monogram) above club; to right, ∫ (date) above 5; A between legs. CPE 834; Svoronos –; SNG Copenhagen –; DCA2 1085. Attractively toned, traces of find patina, minor marks, a few tiny pits on reverse. EF. $1475
Ex Berk BBS 70 (16 March 1992), lot 258.
Attractive and High Quality Drachm
586891. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes. 246-222 BC. Æ Drachm (42.5mm, 72.03 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Series 5B. Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / ∫Å%5¬EW% ∏to¬EµÅ5oU, eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; filleted cornucopia to left, ^ between legs. CPE B395; Svoronos 964; SNG Copenhagen 171–2; Noeske 117–9; Weiser 71. Even dark brown surfaces. EF. An attractive and impressive coin of unusual quality. $5750
Ex Sternberg XXIX (30 October 1995), lot 143; M. Jungfleisch Collection (Glendining, with Spink, 11 December 1975), lot 109.
ORIENTAL GREEK COINAGE
5612634. KINGS of ELYMAIS. Kamnaskires V. Circa 54/3-33/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 15.21 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Hedyphon mint. Dated 264 SE (49/8 BC). Diademed and draped bust left, wearing long beard and torque; to right, star above anchor symbol / ∫å45GE∑4 above, [˚]Å∏@Å4˚ro5 to right, oU ∫å45GE∑4 to left, ˚Å∏@Å4˚5U in exergue (sic), diademed and draped bust left, wearing beard; d$% (date) in exergue. van’t Haaff Type 9.1.1-3 var. (date); cf. Alram 465 (for type); Sunrise –; DCA2-468. Some toning, light roughness and porosity, traces of underlying luster. EF. An attractive example for the type. $1695
5683504. BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. AR Drachm (20mm, 4.25 g, 12h). Diademed and draped bust right, wearing helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear / ∫Å%5¬EW% ;E˝Å2oU EU˚rÅt5doU, the Dioskouroi on horses rearing right, cradling palm frond in right arms and holding couched lances in left hands; Î to lower left. Bopearachchi 7J; Bopearachchi & Rahman –; SNG ANS 483; MIG Type 178d; Sunrise 232. Underlying luster, traces of deposits, hints of porosity and horn silver. Near EF. $1750
ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINAGE
Julius Caesar Portrait in Bronze – RPC Online Featured Coin
5697213. MYSIA, Lampsacus. Julius Caesar. 45 BC. Æ (22.5mm, 8.50 g, 12h). Quintus Lucretius and Lucius Pontius, duoviri. Struck circa 45 BC. CG IL, laureate head right; c/m: LAE monogram within pentagram / Q • LVCRETIVS/L • PONTIVS above, II VIR in right field, [COL DED PR] in exergue, priest plowing pomerium with yoke of oxen right. RPC I 2269.10 (this coin); FITA p. 246, (2), pl. VIII, 6. For c/m: Howgego –. Dark brown surfaces, slight roughness, die flaw on reverse. Coin: VF; c/m: Good VF. $2475 Ex Agora Auctions 100 (4 May 2021), lot 79.
RPC notes “The reading L PONTIVS is clear only on (specimen number) 7, where LVCRETIVS has been restored by analogy”. Both legends are clear on the reverse of this coin making it one of the better preserved specimens recorded in RPC.
5696123. IONIA, Smyrna. Commodus. As Caesar, AD 166-177. Æ Pentassarion (29mm, 13.38 g, 6h). Publius Aelius Arizelos, strategos. Struck circa AD 175-177. Λ AVP KOM OΔOC KAICAP, bareheaded, draped bust right, seen from behind / CTP ΠO AIΛ APIZ HΛOV CMYPNAIΩN, Cybele enthroned left, wearing turreted crown, holding patera in right hand and transverse long scepter in left, resting left elbow on tympanum; at feet left, lion. Klose LIII, Serie B, 9 (V3/R8); RPC IV.2 262; BMC 358. Green and red patina, slight roughness and reverse deposits, some light smoothing. Near EF. Rare. $875
Octavian’s First Cistophorus Type
5624338. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain. Augustus (as Octavian). 27 BC-AD 14. AR Cistophorus (27mm, 11.96 g, 1h). Ephesus mint(?). Struck 28 BC. IMP • CAESAR • DIVI • F • COS • VI • LIBERTATIS • P • R • VINDEX, laureate head right / PAX, Pax standing left, holding caduceus in right hand; to right, serpent arising from cista mystica; all within laurel wreath. Sutherland Group I, 1-72 (both dies unlisted); RPC I 2203 (Cistophoric mint); RIC I 476; RSC 218. Deep cabinet tone, a few minor marks under tone, die flaw on obverse. Good VF. $2975
Ex Peter Corcoran Collection (Roma XVII, 28 March 2019), lot 628.
5666540. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Cistophorus (25mm, 11.95 g, 12h). Ephesus mint(?). Struck circa 25-20 BC. IMP • CAESAR, bare head right / AVGVSTVS, capricorn right, head left, bearing cornucopia on its back; all within laurel wreath. Sutherland Group IV 124 var. (O5/R– [unrecorded rev. die]); RPC I 2213 (Cistophoric mint); RIC I 480; RSC 16. Lightly toned, a few minor marks. EF. A wonderful portrait. $11,750
Ex Father & Son Collection. Ex Nomos 19 (17 November 2019), lot 248 (hammer CHF 15,000).
One of the Finest Known
5702087. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ “Sestertius” (31mm, 24.15 g, 12h). Struck circa 25 BC. AVGVSTVS, bare head right / Large CA within pelleted border and laurel wreath. Howgego, Coinage, Class 2a; RPC I 2233; SNG von Aulock 6671. Dark green patina, small spots of encrustation, flan adjustment marks. Near EF. One of the finest known specimens. $13,950
Ex Geoffrey Cope Collection; Numismatica Ars Classica 29 (11 May 2005), lot 433.
RPC Online Featured Coin – The Finest Known
5666541. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Galba. AD 68-69. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.94 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 68/9). AYTOKPATωP ΓAΛBAC KAICAP CЄBACTOC, bare head right / Eagle standing left on wreath, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; palm frond to left; between eagle’s legs, crescent; ЄTOYC B (date) in exergue. McAlee 309; RPC I 4198A.2 (this coin); Prieur 100A. Lightly toned, minor die flaws, small scratches on obverse. Good VF. Extremely rare, two recorded in RPC. The finest of three in CoinArchives. $6750
5697333. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.34 g, 1h). Struck AD 208-209. • AYT • KAI • • CЄOVHPOC • CЄ •, laureate and draped bust right / • ΔHMAPX • ЄΞ • YΠATOC • TO • Γ •, eagle standing facing, head left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; star between legs. Prieur & Amandry Group III, 34a; McAlee, Severan, Group 3, 25; Prieur 1149. Toned with golden iridescence, light porosity. EF. $775
5697215. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.87 g, 12h). Struck AD 209-212. • AYT • KAI • • ANTΩNЄINOC • CЄ •, laureate and draped bust right, seen from the front / • ΔHMAPX • ЄΞ • YΠATOC • TO • Γ •, eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; star between legs. Prieur & Amandry Group IV, 49; McAlee, Severan Group 4, 32; Prieur 1173B. Underlying luster, scratches, small die flaw on obverse. EF. $895
5697359. PHOENICIA, Ace-Ptolemais. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (24mm, 13.47 g, 12h). Struck AD 215-217. • AYT • K
M
A • ANTΩNЄINO C • CЄB •, laureate head right / • ΔHMAPX • ЄΞ • YΠATOC • TO • Δ •, eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; between legs, caps of the Dioscuri. Prieur 1222. Toned with iridescence, minor marks, die break on reverse. Choice EF. $1250
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica H (30 April 1998), lot 2081.
An Exceptional Dynastic Drachm
5701891. EGYPT, Alexandria. Vespasian, with Titus as Caesar. AD 69-79. Æ Drachm (34mm, 27.97 g, 12h). Dated RY 8 (AD 75/6). ΑΥΤΟΚ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ • ΟΥΕΣΠΑΣΙΑΝΟΥ, laureate head of Vespasian right; L H (date) below chin / ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ • ΤΙΤΟΣ • ΚΑΙΣΑΡ, laureate head of Titus right. Köln 307; Dattari (Savio) 350-1; K&G 20.54; RPC II 2448; Emmett 209.8 (R3). Brown patina with spots of red, cleaning marks. EF. Well centered and struck, two exceptional portraits. Likely the finest known, superior to those recorded in RPC. $17,500
This dynastic issue with busts of Vespasian and Titus was struck in the drachm denomination for only years 8 and 9 of Vespasian’s reign.
Very Rare and One of The Finest Known – RPC Online Featured Coin
5697360. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Obol (19mm, 5.72 g, 12h). Nesyt nome. Dated RY 11 (AD 126/7). AYT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CЄB, laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / NE CY T, Isis-Hatmehit standing facing, head left, wearing basileion, holding ram and goat in each hand; L IA (date) in legend. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 6322; K&G N34.3; RPC III 6505.9 (this coin); W&G II.1; Emmett 1249.11 (R3). Dark brown patina. Near EF. Very rare. $1250
Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Pharos at Alexandria
5702056. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Hemidrachm (30mm, 14.45 g, 12h). Dated RY 17 (AD 132/3). AYT KAIC TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Pharos of Alexandria surmounted by two Tritons, each blowing a buccinum (trumpet), lantern surmounted by statue holding situla in right hand and scepter in left, entryway at bottom left; L IZ (date) in field. Köln 1082; Dattari (Savio) 1933; K&G 32.557; RPC III 5853.50 (this coin); Emmett 1103.17. Dark brown patina, light porosity, small edge splits. Good VF. A beautiful depiction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the finest known. $7950
The reverse of this bronze hemidrachm celebrates the lighthouse that guided sailors to the safety of Alexandria’s bustling harbor. This impressive building was erected on the island of Pharos at the western edge of the Nile Delta during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphos (280247 BC) and was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Consisting of four stories with a total height of over 350 feet, the lighthouse remained the tallest manmade structure for many centuries. A large mirror was used to create a beacon in the daytime by reflecting the Mediterranean sun while a great fire provided a guiding light at night. In addition, the lighthouse was adorned with decorative statues, including Tritons at its four corners, and a center statue placed at its pinnacle. The Pharos lighthouse stood until earthquake damage over the centuries led to structural collapse during a powerful earthquake in AD 956. What remained standing was destroyed later during earthquakes in the fourteenth century. Its submerged remains were rediscovered by underwater archaeologists in 1968 and additional exploration of the ruins was made in 1994 with plans to develop the site as an underwater museum.
5701506. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 28.46 g, 12h). Dated RY 18 (AD 133/4). AYT KAIC TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Isis Pharia, holding billowing sail and sistrum, standing right before the Pharos of Alexandria, which is surmounted by a statue and two Tritons; L I H (date) across lower field. Köln 1125; Dattari (Savio) 1767; K&G 32.586; RPC III 5895.50 (this coin); Emmett 1000.18. Green and brown patina, light smoothing and cleaning marks. Good VF. Nicely centered and struck with much detail remaining on the Pharos lighthouse. Only one finer in CoinArchives. $3875
Ex Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin 833 (September 1988), no. C480 (reverse illustrated on front cover and obverse on back cover).
Before the lighthouse on this coin, the goddess Isis Pharia is shown sailing to right. She was the Egyptian deity associated with Pharos, but she came to be widely worshipped as a patron of sailors. The ritual launching of the ship of Isis, which seems to be represented here, marked the opening of the sailing season on the Mediterranean Sea and especially the maritime export of Egypt’s grain crops to important urban centers of the empire, most notably to Rome itself.
Zodiac Series – Venus in Taurus
5701510. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 22.30 g, 12h). Zodiac series. Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). [AVT K T AIΛ] AΔP ANTωNINOC CЄB ЄVC, laureate head right / Venus in Taurus – Diademed and draped bust of Aphrodite (Venus) left; star of eight rays before her; below, bull butting left; L H (date) in exergue. Köln 1492; Dattari (Savio) 2960; K&G 35.280 var. (bust); RPC VI.4 863; Emmett 1450.8. Rough red and brown patina, surface cracks. Good Fine. $1175
Ex Rhakotis Collection (Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 13, 15 August 2020), lot 1051.
Zodiac Series – Venus in Taurus
5701507. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 23.64 g, 12h). Zodiac series. Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). AVT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωN[INOC CЄB ЄVC], laureate head right / Venus in Taurus – Diademed and draped bust of Aphrodite (Venus) left; star of eight rays before her; below, bull butting left; L H (date) across field. Köln 1493 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 2959; K&G 35.280 var. (obv. legend, bust); RPC VI.4 863.33 (this coin); Emmett 1450.8. Brown surfaces with green deposits, minor marks and pits. Good Fine. $1595 Ex Künker 326 (7 October 2019), lot 1431.
Zodiac Series – Sun in Leo
5701508. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 24.19 g, 12h). Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). [AVT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωNINOC CЄB ЄVC], laureate head right / Sun in Leo – Lion leaping right; above, radiate and draped bust of Helios (Sun) right and eight-rayed star; L H (date) below. Köln 1495-6; Dattari (Savio) 2968; K&G 35.278; RPC IV.4 858; Emmett 1530.8. Brown patina, minor marks. Good Fine. $1675
Ex Rhakotis Collection (Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 13, 15 August 2020), lot 1052.
ROMAN REPUBLICAN COINAGE
5688591 (This page)
The “Not Horses” Series
5688592 (page 41)
5688591. Anonymous. 143 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.77 g, 10h). Crescent (fourth) series. Rome mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, ornamented with griffin’s head, the visor in three pieces and peaked, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace, hair falling in three locks; x (mark of value) to left / Diana, holding torch in right hand, reins in left, driving biga of stags right; crescent below, rOÂA in linear frame in exergue. Crawford 222/1; Sydenham 438; RSC 101; BMCRR Rome 895; Kestner 2090-3; RBW 946. Flan flaw on obverse, traces of find patina. Superb EF. $1875
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 84 (20 May 2015), lot 776.
This reverse type is part of the “not horses” series of Roman coinage which depict something other than horses pulling a biga, triga or quadriga. With the exception of elephants, these are fictional depictions that never happened in real life. The series includes: elephants; stags; cupids; seahorses; centaurs; snakes; and lions. All are pulling bigas with the exception of the elephant issues which are usually quadrigas with a “Divus” reference. The series is quite collectible in VF grades and below but becomes a challenge above that level.
5697216. M. Aburius M.f. Geminus. 132 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.86 g, 8h). Rome mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, ornamented with griffin’s head, the visor in three pieces and peaked, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace, hair falling in three locks; ge downward to left, • (mark of value) below chin / Sol, radiate, wearing cloak, driving galloping quadriga right, holding whip in right hand and reins in left;  • äœi below, rOÂA in exergue. Crawford 250/1; Sydenham 487; Aburia 6; BMCRR Rome 995-7; Kestner 2260-3; RBW 1027. Deep old cabinet toning with iridescence, some light marks. Good VF. $975
Ex 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan.
5688595. L. Scipio Asiagenus. 106 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (19mm, 3.87 g, 4h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Jupiter left; O• to right / Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt in right hand and holding scepter and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga right; L • ÍCiP • !Íi!g in exergue. Crawford 311/1a; Sydenham 576; Cornelia 24b; BMCRR Rome 1369; Kestner 2555 var. (control letter); RBW –. Attractive light iridescent tone, scratch on obverse under tone. EF. Well centered. Wonderful details. $1975
FFC Plate Coin – Not Horses
5688592. L. Julius L.f. Caesar. 103 BC. AR Denarius (16mm, 3.77 g, 9h). Rome mint. Helmeted head of Mars left; C!eÍ!r upward to right; above, • within œ / Venus Genetrix, holding scepter in right hand and reins in left, driving biga of Cupids left; • within q above, lyre below, L • iuLi • L • F in exergue. Crawford 320/1; Sydenham 593; Julia 4; BMCRR Rome 1428; Kestner 2601 var. (control letter retrograde); RBW 1175 var. (control letter); FFC 764 (this coin). Traces of porosity. EF. $4250
Ex Áureo & Calicó 319 (7 November 2018), lot 403.
5603465. D. Silanus L.f. 91 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.94 g, 3h). Rome mint. Diademed head of Salus right, wearing stephane and pearl necklace; Í!LuÍ below, f below chin; all within torque / Victory, holding whip in extended right hand and palm frond and reins in left, driving galloping biga right; rOÂA below, D • ÍiLANuÍ • L • F in exergue. Crawford 337/2c; Sydenham 645; Junia 18; BMCRR Rome 1842-6 var. (control letter); Kestner 2691; RBW –. Attractive light iridescent cabinet tone. EF. Well struck. A scarce variety. $2450
Ex UBS 45 (15 September 1998), lot 526, reportedly purchased from J. Schulman, Amsterdam, 7 February 1920.
5688596. Mn. Fonteius C.f. 85 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.88 g, 6h). Rome mint. Head of Vejovis (or Apollo) right, wearing laurel wreath; Y • FO¸ei • C • F around, thunderbolt below neck / Infant winged Genius (or Cupid) seated on goat, standing right; pilei of the Dioscuri flanking, thyrsus with fillet right in exergue; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 353/1d; Sydenham 724b; Fonteia 11; BMCRR Rome 2481; Kestner –; RBW 1352. Light iridescent toning, very light roughness. EF. $1375
Ex Roma XV (5 April 2018), lot 373.
5688593. Q. Antonius Balbus. 83-82 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (18.5mm, 3.87 g, 10h). Rome mint. Laureate and bearded head of Jupiter right; Í • C downward to left, L • below chin / Victory, holding wreath in extended right hand, palm frond and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga right; œ • MO • B8B/ Pr in two lines in exergue. Crawford 364/1c; Sydenham 742a; Antonia 1b; BMCRR Rome 2737-49 var. (control letter); Kestner 3156-9 var. (same); RBW –. Superb EF. Wonderful centering and strike. $3750
Ex Gorny & Mosch 236 (7 March 2016), lot 358.
5666544. C. Valerius Flaccus. 82 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.85 g, 6h). Massalia mint. Winged and draped bust of Victory right, wearing single-pendant earring and pendant necklace; winged caduceus to upper left / Aquila between two signa inscribed h (hastati) and p (principes), respectively; C • u8 • FLA upward to left, iÂRerAT upward to right, ex • Í • C across lower field. Crawford 365/1a; Sydenham 747a; Valeria 12; BMCRR Gaul 1 var. (orientation of caduceus); Kestner 3163-4 var. (control); RBW –. Underlying luster, minor marks, slightly off center, a little porosity in field on reverse. EF. Attractive, and among the finest known. $3950
Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 587; Scipio Collection (Roma XXIII, 24 March 2022), lot 580 (hammer £2,400), purchased from Jose A. Herrero, 2002.
5688594. C. Annius T.f. T.n and L. Fabius L.f. Hispaniensis. 82-81 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.84 g, 10h). Mint in northern Italy or Spain. Draped bust of Anna Perenna right, wearing stephane, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; caduceus to left, scales to right, wing below neck, C • ANNi
T
F
T
N
PrO • COÍ
ex
C
around / Victory, holding palm frond in extended right hand and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga right; œ • above, L • FABi • L • F • hiÍp in exergue. Crawford 366/1a; Sydenham 748; Annia 2a; BMCRR Spain 12; Kestner –; RBW 1375 var. (control symbol below neck). Attractive light iridescent toning. Superb EF. Very well struck. $4750
Reportedly purchased from Martì Hervera in 2004.
Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus
5702085. M. Volteius M.f. 75 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.95 g, 2h). Rome mint. Laureate and bearded head of Jupiter right / Tetrastyle Doric Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus with closed doors; the pediment is ornamented with a thunderbolt, and surmounted by a range of ornamented crockets; acroteria at the lower angles and apex; Â • uOLTei • Â • F in exergue. Crawford 385/1; Sydenham 774; Volteia 1; BMCRR Rome 3154–7; Kestner 3249–50; RBW 1414. Deep old cabinet tone with iridescence. In NGC encapsulation 4934036-002, graded AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. A stunningly well defined temple on the reverse. $1275
5650909. C. Hosidius C.f. Geta. 64 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.80 g, 6h). Rome mint. Diademed and draped bust of Diana right, with bow and quiver over shoulder; iii uir downward to left, geTA downward to right / Calydonian boar standing right, pierced by spear and attacked by dog; C hOÍiDi C F in exergue. Crawford 407/2; Sydenham 903; Hosidia 1; BMCRR Rome 3388; Kestner 3317–8; RBW 1456. EF. A superb example, sharply struck from masterly engraved dies. Pretty toning, with golden hues. $925
A Selection of Muses
Calliope – Muse of Epic Poetry
5701488. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.92 g, 1h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath, hair rolled back and in loose locks over forehead; plectrum to left / Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, playing lyre set on column; q • pOÂpONi downward to left, Â’uÍA downward to right. Crawford 410/2b; Sydenham 812; Pomponia 10; BMCRR Rome 3608-9; Kestner 3375; RBW –. Small area of strike flatness, some luster. EF. $3500
The Muses were nine divine maidens, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory), who embodied the human arts and sciences. They were Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (erotic poetry), Euterpe (music, lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (hymns), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy). Knowingly or not, the moneyer Q. Pomponius Musa’s denarius group, surely intended as a canting pun on his cognomen, created a “collector’s set” of coins that challenged the holder of one example to find all of its components.
5701488
5696755
5650911
5701489
Melpomene – Muse of Tragedy
5696755. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 4.04 g, 3h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath, hair rolled back and in loose locks over forehead; scepter to left / Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, wearing sword, holding club in right hand and tragic mask in left; œ • pOÂpONi downward to right, ÂuÍA downward to left. Crawford 410/4; Sydenham 816; Pomponia 14; BMCRR Rome 3615-6; Kestner 3378; RBW 1486. Traces of find patina. Good VF. $3475
Euterpe – Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry
5650911. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.70 g, 5h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath, hair rolled back and in loose locks over forehead; two crossed tibiae to left / Euterpe, the Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, supporting her head with her left hand by resting her elbow on column, and holding two tibiae in right hand; œ • pOÂpONi downward to left, ÂuÍA downward to right. Crawford 410/5; Sydenham 815; Pomponia 13; BMCRR Rome 3613; Kestner 3379-80; RBW 1487. EF. Rare. A superb example, from masterly engraved dies, and brilliant with underlying luster. $2975
The ‘Other’ Erato
5701489. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.75 g, 7h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath, hair rolled back and in loose locks over forehead; flower (or plectrum handle) to left / Erato, the Muse of Erotic Poetry, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, holding plectrum in right hand and flat-bottomed cithara in left; œ • pOÂpONi downward to left, ÂuÍA downward to right. Crawford 410/7d corr. (obv. symbol and rev. type); Sydenham 820a corr. (same); Pomponia 17a corr. (same); BMCRR Rome 3622 corr. (same); Kestner 3384 corr. (same); RBW – [see P. Davis, “Erato or Terpsichore: A Reassessment” in FIDES, for the identification of the muse as Erato]. Some contact marks and edge roughness. Near EF. $2750
This type is called “Terpsichore” by Crawford and most other authors, but Phil Davis has recently identified this coin type as Erato. A complete discussion of this subject can be found in the article Davis wrote for the festschrift created for the late Rick Witschonke (FIDES, pp. 393-401). Davis’ logic is very sound and will make completing a set of Muses much easier as the previously rare, known from a single die, Erato is now shown to be a die variety (Davis identifies the obverse turtle symbol as being for Terpsichore).
5624369. C. Memmius C.f. 56 BC. AR Denarius (20.5mm, 3.97 g, 6h). Rome mint. Head of Quirinus right, wearing laurel wreath; œuiriNuÍ downward to left, C • ÂeÂÂi • C • F downward to right / Ceres seated right, holding torch in left hand and three stalks of grain in right; to right, serpent erect; ÂeÂÂiuÍ • AeD • CeriALiA • preiÂuÍ • FeCiT around. Crawford 427/2; Sydenham 921; Memmia 9; BMCRR Rome 3940-2; Kestner 3463-4; RBW 1532. Toned, some golden iridescence, struck slightly off center, light porosity, shallow scrape on obverse. Near EF. $1575
Ex Vogelberg Collection.
5701490. A. Plautius. 55 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.65 g, 12h). Rome mint. Turreted head of Cybele right, wearing cruciform earring, hair in knot, locks falling down neck; AeD • Cur • Í • C downwards to left, A • pLAuTiuÍ downwards to right / Bacchius kneeling right beside his camel, holding reins in left hand and extending olive branch upward in right; iuDAeuÍ upwards to right, BACChiuÍ in exergue. Crawford 431/1; Sydenham 932; Plautia 13; BMCRR Rome 3916-9; Kestner 3479-80; RBW 1540. Struck slightly off center on reverse. Superb EF. $1295
5701491. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus. 54 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.69 g, 4h). Rome mint. Head of Libertas right, wearing cruciform earring and pendant necklace, no jewels in hair; LiBerTAÍ downward to left / The consul L. Junius Brutus walking left between two lictors, each carrying ax over left shoulder, and preceded by an accensus; BruTuÍ in exergue. Crawford 433/1; Sydenham 906a; Junia 31a; BMCRR Rome 3862; Kestner 3484-6; RBW 1542 corr. (Sydenham reference). Small area of weak strike. Near EF. $2250
5701492. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus. 54 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.87 g, 6h). Rome mint. Bare head of L. Junius Brutus right; BruTuÍ downward to left / Bare head of C. Servilius Ahala right; AhALA downward to left. Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; Junia 30; BMCRR Rome 3864-7; Kestner 3487-9; RBW 1543. Good VF. $2975
A Great Rarity in the Imperatorial Era
5701493. The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. Late spring-early summer 48 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.82 g, 11h). Military mint traveling with Caesar in Spain. Head of female (Clementia?) right, wearing oak wreath; %ii (= 52, Caesar’s age) to left / Gallic trophy, holding oval shield and carnyx surmonted by wolf’s head; at base, bound captive with head left and looking up seated right; [C]Ae ÍAr across field. Crawford 452/5; CRI 13 (same dies as illustration); Sydenham 1011; RSC 19; DCA 938; BMCRR Rome 3960; Kestner –; RBW 1582. Some striking flatness, a few shallow scrapes, scratches, and marks, hairlines. VF. Extremely rare. $8750
Portrait
596855. The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. 42 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.86 g, 10h). Rome mint. L. Livineius Regulus, moneyer. Wreathed head of Caesar right; laurel branch to left, winged caduceus to right / Bull charging right; L • LiuiNeiuÍ above, reguLuÍ below. Crawford 494/24; CRI 115; Sydenham 1106; RSC 27; BMCRR Rome 4274-6; Kestner 3729-30; RBW 1730. Lightly toned. In NGC encapsulation 4936382-001, graded Ch XF★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style. An excellent portrait of fine style. $15,750
Ex Freeman & Sear FPL 7 (Spring 2003), no. 201.
5696967. The Republicans. Brutus. Spring-early summer 42 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.75 g, 7h). Military mint traveling with Brutus in Lycia. Head of Libertas right, wearing hair rolled back and collected into a knot behind; LeiBerTAÍ upwards to right / Lyre; quiver to left, laurel branch tied with fillet to right, CAepiO • BruTuÍ • prO • COÍ around. Crawford 501/1; CRI 199; Sydenham 1287; RSC 5; BMCRR East 38; Kestner 3771; RBW 1767. In NGC encapsulation 6634178-011, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. $4250
Ex MDC Monaco 13 (12 October 2023), lot 1117.
5666545. The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Autumn 32-spring 31 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.72 g, 6h). Legionary type. Patrae(?) mint. Praetorian galley right; ANT • Aug above, iii
uir
C below / Aquila between two signa; Leg uii across field. Crawford 544/20; CRI 357; Sydenham 1224; RSC 34; RBW 1842. Lightly toned with underlying luster, minor marks. Near EF. $2500
Attractive Caesar
Temple of Divus Julius- Pedigreed to 1931
5697217. The Triumvirs. Octavian. Spring-early summer 36 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.83 g, 5h). Southern or central Italian mint. Bare head right, wearing slight beard; iÂp • CAeÍAr • Diui • F • iii • uir • iTer • r • p • C around / Temple of Divus Julius: statue of Julius Caesar, holding lituus, within tetrastyle temple set on podium; DiuO iuL on architrave, star within pediment, figures along roof line; lighted altar to left, COÍ • iTer • eT • Ter • DeÍig around. Crawford 540/2; CRI 315; Sydenham 1338; RSC 90; BMCRR Africa 33; Kestner 3833; RBW 1829. Toned with hints of iridescence, minor marks and scratches. VF. $1975
Ex 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan; Helbing 63 (29 April 1931), lot 341.
Octavian and The Roman Senate House
5696754. The Triumvirs. Octavian. Autumn 30-summer 29 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.80 g, 5h). Uncertain mint in Italy (Rome?). Bare head right / iÂp • CAeÍAr on the architrave of the Roman Senate House (Curia Julia), with porch supported by four short columns, statue of Victory on globe surmounting apex of roof, and statues of standing figures at the extremities of the architrave. CRI 421; RIC I 266; RSC 122; BMCRE 631 = BMCRR Rome 4358; Elkins, Monuments Figure 47. Near EF. Wonderful head of Octavian and an exceptional Curia Julia $4975
ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE
5697218. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (21mm, 3.83 g, 6h). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right / SIGNIS to left, RECEPTIS to right, Mars, helmeted, naked except for chlamys behind, standing left, head right, holding aquila in right hand and signa cradled in left. RIC I 82a; RSC 259; BMCRE 414 = BMCRR Rome 4405; BN 1118-9. Deep iridescent cabinet toning, bankers’ marks on obverse. Good VF. A very handsome coin in hand. $2975
Ex 1930’s collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan; Cahn 75 (30 May 1932), lot 793.
5620511. Tiberius. AD 14-37. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.90 g, 3h). “Tribute Penny” type. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Group 6, AD 36-37. TI CΛESΛR DIVI ΛVG F ΛVGVSTVS, laureate head right; long, parallel ribbons / PONTIF MΛXIM, Livia, as Pax, seated right, holding scepter and olive branch, feet on footstool; ornate chair legs, single line below. RIC I 30; Lyon 154; RSC 16a. Much luster remaining with an impressive portrait. In NGC encapsulation 6158911-003, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. $3750
Ex Benz, Johns Hopkins University, Garrett, and Delbeke Collections
Pedigreed to 1904
5612154. Agrippina Senior. Died AD 33. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 29.68 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Claudius, AD 42-43. AGRIPPINA • M • F • GERMANICI • CAESARIS, draped bust right / TI • CLAVDIVS • CAESAR • AVG • GERM • P • M TR • P • IMP • P • P • around large S • C. RIC I 102 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 78; BMCRE 219-23 (Claudius); BN 236-40 (Claudius). Red-brown and green patina, smoothed and details slightly enhanced. EF. $7750
Ex Triton XVI (8 January 2013), lot 1032; Leo Benz Collection (Lanz 94, 22 November 1999), lot 185; Johns Hopkins University Collection [inv. 44.6.232] (Part I, Numismatic Fine Arts & Leu, 16 May 1984), lot 734; John W. Garrett Collection [inv. 718], purchased from M. Schulman, 1 April 1927; Baron Augustus Carolus Delbeke Collection; J. Hirsch XI (4 May 1904), lot 758.
5697219. Julia Titi. Augusta, AD 79-90/1. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.51 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Titus, AD 80-81. IVLIA AVGVSTA TITI AVGVSTI F, diademed and draped bust right; hair in long plait / VENVS AVGVST, Venus, seen half from behind, naked to the hips, standing right, resting left elbow on column, holding transverse scepter in left hand and crested helmet in right. RIC II.1 388 (Titus); RSC 14; BMCRE 141-3 (Titus); BN 106-7 (Titus). Beautifully toned, some faint hairlines under tone. Near EF. $5750
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 123 (23 May 2023), lot 621; Thomas A. Palmer Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 118, 14 September 2021), lot 1040, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, August 1995; Leu 59 (17 May 1994), lot 264; Leu 45 (26 May 1988), lot 323.
585792. Domitian. As Caesar, AD 69-81. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.51 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Titus, AD 80-81. CAESAR DIVI F DOMITIANVS COS VII, laureate head right / PRINCEPS IVVEVTVTIS, garlanded and lighted altar. RIC II.1 266 (Titus); RSC 397a. In NGC encapsulation 4936337-003, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. $975
5699706. Domitian. AD 81-96. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.42 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 1 January-13 September AD 92. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI, laureate head right / IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P P P, Minerva, helmeted and draped, advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and holding round shield in left. RIC II.1 728; RSC 273; BMCRE 187-8; BN 174. Tiny flan flaw on obverse. Near EF. $825
5656784. Trajan. AD 98-117. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.36 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 104/5-107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Trajan, bareheaded and in military dress, with cloak flying behind him, on horse riding right, thrusting spear with right hand at Dacian falling on left knee, right, looking back left, holding out hands in attitude of alarm. RIC II 209; Allen Series 31, Type VI (dies –/vi.11 [unlisted obv. die]); Woytek 202cB2; Strack 80; Calicó 1109; BMCRE 245 note; BN 365 (photo switched with 364 in plates); Biaggi 538. Lustrous, small flan flaw and flat spot on obverse, tiny flat spot on edge. Near EF. $15,750
Ex Dr. Michael Rogers Collection (Part II, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 14 January 2022), lot 3124; Stack’s (4 December 2001), lot 25; Numismatica Ars Classica 9 (16 April 1996), lot 858; Numismatica Ars Classica 7 (2 March 1994), lot 725; Dr. Bernard Jean Collection (Part 1, Bourgey, 21 June 1992), lot 27.
Lustrous Trajan Aureus
5658571. Trajan. AD 98-117. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.03 g, 8h). Rome mint. Struck circa mid AD 107-108. IMP
TRΛIΛNO AVG GER DΛC P M TR P, laureate bust right, slight drapery / COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC around, DΛNVVIVS in exergue, Danube, naked to waist, but with cloak billowing out behind head, reclining left on rocks, head right, right hand on prow of ship and resting left arm on urn, reeds over left and right arms. RIC II 100; Woytek 277b; Strack 159; RSC 136; BMCRE 395-9; BN 266-7. Variegated toning, underlying luster. EF. $875
Ex Triton V (15 January 2002), lot 1959.
A Rare Diva Marciana
5702086. Diva Marciana. Died AD 112/4. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.28 g, 6h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. Struck under Trajan, September AD 112-117. DIVA • AVGVSTA MARCIANA, draped bust right, wearing stephane upright on head, in front of which her hair is built up in three tiers, the hair is massed at top and back of head in a coil / CONSECRATIO •, Carpentum drawn left by two mules, the top is ornamented with fleurettes, the front with figures, the side with figures and two wreaths. RIC II 746 (Trajan); Woytek 7232/7231 (for obv./rev. dies); Strack 200; RSC 10; BMCRE 654; BN 759. Toned. Good VF. Rare. $6775
Ex Triton XXVI (10 January 2023), lot 757.
Trajan’s sister Marciana and her daughter Matidia moved into the Imperial palace upon his ascension and formed part of a distaff cabal of women relations, led by his wife Plotina, who are widely thought to have influenced the domestic policies of his government. Upon her death on 29 August AD 112, Marciana was formally deified and honored with this attractive denarius issue, the rarest of all her coin types, which is missing in most museum and major private collections.
5697458. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 23.99 g, 11h). British Victory issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 143-144. ANTONINVS AVG PI VS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right / IMPERA TOR II, S C across field, Victory, draped, flying right, holding transverse trophy with both hands. RIC III 717a; Strack 941δ; Banti 178 var. (break in obv. legend); BMCRE 1610. Dark green patina, smoothed. Near EF. $1475
Unlike the restless Hadrian, Antoninus Pius never left Italy and was content to rule from Rome. Only minor flare-ups in northern Britain and north Africa disturbed the general peace. This coin was issued to mark the suppression of the British uprising circa AD 143 by his governor of Britannia, Q. Lollius Urbicus, which led to Antoninus being acclaimed Imperator (victorious general) for the second time (IMPERATOR II). It also occasioned the building of a new wall in turf 80 miles north of Hadrian’s Wall, the so-called Antonine Wall, between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth. This was the only instance of imperial expansion during the reign of Antoninus, and the new frontier was abandoned shortly after his reign ended.
The Finest of Three Known
5666547. Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.42 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 144. AVRELIVS CAE SAR AVG PII F, bareheaded bust right, slight drapery / COS DES II, Hilaritas, draped, standing left, holding long palm frond in right hand and cornucopia in left. RIC III 425 var. (no drapery) (Pius); Calicó 1835 var. (only represented by a line drawing, no drapery); BMCRE p. 73, note † (Pius); Adda –; Biaggi –; Jameson –; Mazzini –. Lustrous, minor hairlines, trace deposits. EF. Unpublished variety of an already extremely rare type. Apparently the third known, all struck with the same obverse die. This example is the finest of the three. $16,750
The bareheaded type is extremely rare (none found in CoinArchives) and is cited in the references above. The type offered here, with slight drapery, is not recorded in any publication, but there are two other specimens in CoinArchives: Vico 155, lot 321 and Künker 133, lot 8896.
5656786. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.29 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 165. L • VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right / TR P V IMP III COS II, Lucius Verus, wearing military attire and paludamentum billowing behind him, on horseback galloping right, trampling and thrusting spear held in right hand at fallen enemy to lower right, who kneels right, head left, right arm outstretched. RIC III 545; MIR 18, 111-12/30; Calicó 2185 (same obv. die); BMCRE 390 var. (obv. legend break); Biaggi 965 (same obv. die). Toned with some luster. Good VF. A wonderful example. $14,500
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 135 (21 November 2022), lot 310.
Legio I Adiutrix
5696752. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.14 g, 6h). Legionary issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 193. IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right / LEG I ADI VT around, TR P COS in exergue, aquila between two signa. RIC IV 2; RSC 256; BMCRE 7 (Wars of Succession). Lightly toned. Near EF. Scarce. $1475 Ex. R. Glynn Collection.
Rare Circus Scene
5702097. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.22 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 202. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / LAETITIA above, TEMPORVM below, ship with mast and sail in center of circus; above, four quadrigae driven left; below, ostrich, lion, zebra, bear and stag right, bull butting left, bear right, head left. RIC 274; RSC 253; BMCRE 343-4. Toned, small areas of encrustation. VF. Rare circus scene. $1775
After the victory over the Parthians, seven-day games were held in the Circus Maximus. A ship was set up in the middle of the arena and a hundred exotic animals were released from its belly every day. The reverse picture shows different sections of the festivities. The chariot races can be seen in the upper area, the ship in the middle, and the wild animals below
5668299. Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.21 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 214. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate and bearded head right / P M TR P XVII COS III P P, Genius of the Senate standing left, holding branch in extended right hand and short scepter (or baton) in left. RIC IV 246 corr. (rev. figure); RSC 247. Attractively toned with light iridescence. In NGC encapsulation 6830026-004, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. $950
Charming Portrait
5701495. Plautilla. Augusta, AD 202-205. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.42 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Septimius Severus and Caracalla, AD 202. PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE, draped bust right / PROPA GO IM PERI, Caracalla, togate, standing left, holding volumen in left hand and clasping right hands with Plautilla, draped, standing right, gathering up folds of drapery. RIC IV 362 (Caracalla); RSC 21; BMCRE 406-8 (Septimius and Caracalla). Attractive light golden toning, small area of weak strike. Superb EF. Charming portrait. $595
5658575. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. AR Denarius (20mm, 2.86 g, 6h). Rome mint. 15th emission, AD 232. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery / PROVIDE NTIA AVG, Providentia (or Annona), draped, standing left, holding cornucopia in left hand and grain ears in right over modius filled with grain ears to left. RIC IV 250; BMCRE 875-8; RSC 501b. Iridescent peach toning over lustrous surfaces, some shallow scratches on reverse. Superb EF. Boldly struck with fresh dies on a broad flan. Very attractive in hand. $975
Ex Leo and Paula Gorelkin Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 547, 4 October 2023), lot 934.
5668301. Julia Mamaea. Augusta, AD 222-235. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.10 g, 12h). Rome mint. 6th emission of Severus Alexander, AD 226. IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane / VESTA, Vesta, veiled and draped, standing left, holding palladium on extended right hand and vertical scepter in left; fold of drapery over left arm. RIC IV 360 (Alexander); BMCRE 381-7 (Alexander); RSC 81. Lustrous, traces of deposits. Superb EF $675
Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII – Session 6, 18 January 2024), lot 6256.
5666548. Trajan Decius. AD 249-251. Æ Double Sestertius (32.5mm, 31.89 g, 12h). Rome mint, 5th officina. 2nd-3rd emissions, late AD 249-mid 250. IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVG, S C across field, Victory, draped, advancing left, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond in left. RIC IV 126a; Banti 29. Brown surfaces with some green at edge, a few light scratches, minor die break on obverse, minor adjustment marks on reverse. Good VF. $5750
Ex Wayne Scheible Collection, purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
5702098. Tacitus. AD 275-276. Antoninianus (22.5mm, 4.84 g, 12h). Ticinum mint, 2nd officina. 1st emission, November-December AD 275. IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / MART I P ACIF, Mars in military dress walking left, holding olive branch in right hand, transverse spear and long oval shield in left hand; –|–//S. RIC V Online 3366; RIC V 145; BN 1651-2. In NGC encapsulation 6647378-007, graded Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, silvering. A wonderful coin in hand. $1275
Lustrous Diocletian Aureus
5697221. Diocletian. AD 284-305. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 5.35 g, 6h). Vicennalia issue. Nicomedia mint. Struck AD 303.
DIOCLETIA NVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / XX/ DIOCL/ETIAN/I AVG in four lines within wreath; SMN. RIC VI 13; Depeyrot 7/2; Calicó 4593; Biaggi 1750. Lustrous, tiny spot of die rust on obverse, scrape at edge. EF. The wreath curiously inverted on the reverse. $13,750
Very Rare Maximianus Aureus
5697222. Maximianus. First reign, AD 286-305. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 5.35 g, 12h). Vicennalia issue. Ticinum mint. Struck AD 303-304. MAXIMIAN VS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / XX/ MAXI/MIAN/I AVG in four lines within wreath; SMT. RIC VI 11b; Depeyrot 7/2; Calicó 4770; Biaggi –. Toned, light scratches. EF. Very rare. $13,250
Ex Ramrodivs Collection; Gemini XI (12 January 2014), lot 526.
Wonderful Strike from Exquisitely Detailed Dies
5697223. Theodosius II. AD 402-450. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 6th officina. Struck AD 420-422. D N THEODO SIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over right shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left shoulder / VOT XX MVLT XXX, Victory, draped, standing left, holding long jeweled cross in right hand and fold of drapery in left; S//CONOB. RIC X 219; Depeyrot 74/2; Biaggi –. Toned and lustrous, slightly clipped, thin die breaks, faint hairlines, minor deposits. Superb EF. A wonderful strike from detailed dies. $2375
Ex Richard J. Sullivan Collection; Triton III (30 November 1999), lot 1259.
5697224. Valentinian III. AD 425-455. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint. Struck AD 430455. D N PLA VALENTI NIANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTORI A AVGGG, Valentinian, wearing military attire, standing facing, right foot on human-headed serpent coiled below, holding long cross in right hand and Victory on globe left in left hand; Victory holding wreath and palm frond; M|D//COMOB. RIC X 2025; Toffanin 514/1; Depeyrot 20/2; Biaggi –. Toned. Near EF. $1775
Ex Wayne Scheible Collection; Marc Poncin Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 72, 14 June 2006), lot 1911.
BYZANTINE COINAGE
5697362. Justinian I. 527-565. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 2nd officina. Struck 542-565. D N IVISTINI ANVS PP AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left shoulder / VICTORI A AVGGG, angel, draped, standing facing, holding long cross in right hand and globus cruciger in left; d to right; B//CONOB. DOC 8a; MIBE 6; SB 139. Lightly toned, lustrous, minor die rust, a couple of minor scratches, thin die break on reverse. EF. $1575
5697363. Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas. 610-641. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 1st officina. Struck circa 639-641. Heraclonas, Heraclius, and Heraclius Constantine standing facing, each wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger in their right hands / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; â to left; Є to right; A//CONOB. DOC 44a; MIB 53; SB 770. Toned and lustrous, slightly wavy flan, minor mark at edge. Superb EF. Great detail, especially evident in each rulers’ facial expressions. $1750
Ex Glenn W. Woods inventory 07639 (ND).
5699625. Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas. 610-641. AV Solidus (19mm, 4.36 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 5th officina. Struck circa 639-641. Heraclonas, Heraclius, and Heraclius Constantine standing facing, each wearing crown and chlamys and holding globus cruciger in their right hands / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; â to left; Є to right; Є//CONOB. DOC 44 var. (unlisted officina); MIB 53; SB 770. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 620961-005, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, clipped, brushed. $1275
Wonderful Portrait of Philippicus
5697225. Philippicus (Bardanes). 711-713. AV Solidus (18.5mm, 4.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 2nd officina. D N FILЄPICЧS MЧL TЧς AN, crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and eagle-tipped scepter in left / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; B//CONOB. DOC 1b; MIB 1; SB 1447. Toned and lustrous, some hairlines. EF. A wonderful portrait. $2675
Ex Glenn W. Woods inventory 03634 (ND).
5658576. Constantine VI & Irene. 780-797. Æ Follis (17.5mm, 2.27 g, 8h). Constantinople mint. Struck 792-797. Crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform scepter in left / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger in right hand, all set on horizontal bar; cross to right; below, large M flanked by X - N; A below. DOC 7; SB 1598. Dark olive green-brown patina, light cleaning scratches. Near EF. $1175
Ex Iconodule Collection; Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 24 (3 December 2022), lot 700.
5697372. Theophilus, with Michael III. 829-842. AR Miliaresion (23mm, 2.13 g, 12h). Constantinople mint. Struck 840842. IҺSЧS XRIS τЧS ҺIC& around, cross potent set on three steps / + ΘЄO/FILOS S mI/X&HL ЄC ΘЄ/ Ь&SILIS RO/ m&IOҺ in five lines. DOC 12; SB 1664. Lightly toned, a couple of thin die breaks on reverse. EF. A bold strike. $650
Ex Richard J. Sullivan Collection; Aegean Numismatics inventory 122059 (ND).
5697370. Basil I the Macedonian, with Constantine. 867-886. AR Miliaresion (23mm, 2.88 g, 12h). Constantinople mint. Struck 868-879. IҺSЧS XRI SτЧS ҺIC& around, cross potent set on three steps on globe / + Ь&SI/LIOS CЄ/ COҺSτ&Һ/ τIҺ PISτV/ Ь&SILIS/ ROmЄOs in six lines. DOC 7; SB 1708. Toned. EF. A wonderful example. $1275
The Theotokos Blachernitissa
5658635. Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AR 2/3 Miliaresion (24mm, 2.05 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. H RΛAXЄP NITICA around, nimbate facing bust of the Theotokos, orans, wearing tunic and maphorion; m ΘV, both with macron above, flanking head / – – –/ Θ KЄR, Θ,/ KωNCTAN/TINω ΔЄC/ΠOTH Tω/ MONOMA/ – X, – in seven lines. DOC 8a; SB 1835. Toned, hairline flan crack, a few light scratches. EF. A wonderfully complete example of this difficult issue. $2250
This miliaresion invokes the Theotokos as Blachernitissa, or, the Theotokos of the Blachernae, which refers to an icon that was kept in the Blachernae section of Constantinople near the palace. To which church specifically it belonged is a matter of some debate. If it is indeed the original icon, it was later discovered to have been moved to Mt. Athos before the fall of Constantinople as it resurfaced there some two hundred years later before being sent to Russia as a gift to the Tsar.
EARLY MEDIEVAL COINAGE
5656807. CAROLINGIANS. Louis ‘le Pieux’ (the Pious). As Emperor Louis I, 814-840. AR Denier (20mm, 1.49 g, 8h). Class 1. Metallum (Melle) mint. Struck 814-819. ƊǮVē⌴VVIæVs I⍵ʖ ±VŶ , laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / แ ȉ⍟˶±ǮǮVȉ , implements of coin minting: pair of dies, flanked on either side by mallet. Coupland, Money 3; Depeyrot 607; M&G 396; Gariel 73; MEC 1, 758. Toned, some deposits in devices, areas of porosity. VF. Very rare. $4850
Ex Triton XXV (11 January 2022), lot 1104.
ISLAMIC COINAGE
5626647. Ottoman Empire. Abdülhamid II. AH 1293-1327 / AD 1876-1909. AV Imtiyaz Medal (37mm, 36.18 g, 12h). Named to Yahya Hamid al-Din (Imam Yahya of the Yemen, died AD 1948). Dated AH 1300 (AD 1883). Pere 1112; Erüreten p. 252. EF, lacking suspension. $18,000
WORLD COINAGE
5697262. AUSTRIA, Holy Roman Empire. Leopold V. Archduke, 1619-1632. AR Doppeltaler (46mm, 57.25 g, 12h). Hall mint. Dated 1626. Crowned and armored half-length bust right / Crowned eagle facing with wings spread, head left; wreath above. Moser & Tursky 459b; Davenport 3336; KM 609.2. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 2158732-001, graded AU 58. $2575
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
Rare Amiens Écu on a Fresh Flan
5697263. FRANCE, Royal. Louis XIV le Roi Soleil (the Sun King). 1643–1715. AR Écu aux huit L (40mm, 27.20 g, 6h). Amiens mint; différent: sun. Dated 1690 X. Draped bust right; pellet below D in LVD / Crowned cruciform opposed Ls; lis in quarters; X at center. Sobin 9; VG 216; Duplessy 1514; Ciani 1889; KM 275.15. Richly toned. In NGC encapsulation 6906700-012, graded AU 53. A very rare variety struck on a fresh flan, rather than the usual overstrike. $1875
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
This wonderful écu is struck on a fresh planchet, rather than being overstruck on an earlier type, as is the case with the vast majority of this issue. In addition, the reverse lacks any différent, depicting neither the heart différent of Michel Mollard nor the trefoil of Claude Hardy. Sobin, in the sale of his collection, notes that the few known 1690 “new planchet” écus of Ameins occur with the trefoil on the reverse and a secret mark: a small pellet below the D in LVD, which is present on this coin.
5697264. FRANCE, Royal. Louis XIV le Roi Soleil (the Sun King). 1643–1715. AR Écu aux huit L (43mm, 27.23 g, 6h). Paris mint; différent: cinquefoil. Dated 1704 A. Cuirassed bust right / Crowned cruciform opposed Ls; lis in quarters; coatof-arms at center; scallop above. Sobin 12; VG 224; Duplessy 1551A; Ciani 1924; KM 362.1. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6898697-008, graded MS 61. Overstruck on a 1702 Écu aux insignes. $2375
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5697340. GERMANY, Bayern (Kingdom). Ludwig I. 1825-1848. AR Taler (37.5mm, 27.97 g, 12h). Royal Family type. München (Munich) mint. Dated 1828. Bare head right / Nine medallions depicting busts of the royal family. Davenport 563; KM 734. Hairlines, staple scratches on reverse. UNC. $575
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5697265. GERMANY, Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Calenberg (Principality). Johann Friedrich. 1665-1679. AR Taler (48mm, 28.68 g, 10h). Zellerfeld mint. Dated 1679 RB. Draped and cuirassed bust right / Palm tree growing from rock. Welter 1707; Davenport 6575; KM 229. Toned, cleaned. VF. $1750
Ex BAC Numismatics Online Auction 32 (7 September 2021), lot 404; Künker 290 (15 March 2017), lot 3503.
5697266. GERMANY, Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Calenberg (Principality). Johann Friedrich. 1665-1679. AR 2/3 Taler – Gulden (36mm, 14.62 g, 12h). Hannover mint. Dated 1677. Draped and cuirassed bust right / Palm tree on rocky outcropping flanked by two ships. Welter 1728; Davenport 377A; KM A224. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 6902290-002, graded MS 63. $1695
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5622759. GERMANY, Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (Duchy). Rudolf August & Anton Ulrich. 1685-1704. AR Taler (46mm, 2h). Zellerfeld mint. Dated 1701 RB. Coat-of-arms surmounted by five ornately crested helmets / Wildman standing left, holding two branches of tree to right. Welter 2070; Davenport 2112; KM A637. Toned. In PCGS encapsulation 45178394, graded AU 55. $1575
5702035. GERMANY, Frankfurt (city). AR Doppeltaler (41mm, 37.11 g, 12h). Dated 1843. Crowned eagle facing with wings spread, head left / Denomination and date within wreath. J&F 1079; Davenport 641; KM 329. Lustrous, scattered marks and scratches. AU. $775
5702036. GERMANY, Frankfurt (city). AR Taler (33mm, 18.49 g, 12h). Commemorating the Frankfurter Fürstentag. Dated August 1863. Crowned eagle facing with wings spread, head left / View of the Frankfurt city hall. J&F 1328; Davenport 654; KM 372. Lustrous, hairlines, scattered light marks. UNC. $450
5697270. GERMANY, Friedburg (Free city). nomine Josef II. Holy Roman Emperor, 1765-1790. AR Taler (42mm, 28.06 g, 12h). Nürnberg mint. Dated 1766 SNR. Crowned double-headed eagle facing, clutching two coats-of-arms in claws; globus cruciger on breast / St. George on horseback, slaying dragon below; two coats-of-arms flanking. Davenport 2251; KM 72. Toned, a few minor hairlines and scratches. UNC. $2950
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5702037. GERMANY, Landau. Besieged by Marshal de Villars, 1713. AR 2 Florin 8 Kreuzer (40x42mm, 21.67 g). War of the Spanish Succession issue. Dated 1713. Stamped with the coat-of-arms of Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, two rectangular stamps reading PRO/ CÆS : & IMP : and BEL : LANDAU/ 2 · FL : 8X, and four crowned monograms / Blank. Korchnak 314; Maillet pl. LXIX, 7; Davenport 2377; KM 13. Hints of luster, hairlines, usual weakness in central punch. EF. $1975
In 1701, the death of the childless Spanish monarch Charles II sparked a succession crisis that rapidly drew the main powers of Europe into a prolonged war. Louis XIV of France moved quickly to place his grandson Philip of Anjou on the throne. Fearing Bourbon control of the huge Spanish holdings in the New World, a Grand Alliance of England, the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire soon formed to back the rival claim of the Habsburg Emperor Charles VI. The war soon developed religious overtones, with Catholic Bavaria breaking away from the Empire to ally itself with France and the Bourbons.
The English King William III, Louis’ chief rival, had died shortly after the war began. His sister-in-law Anne succeeded him. The new queen relied on John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, as her commander. His victories at Blenheim, Ramilies, Oudenaard, and Malplaquet, sealed his reputation as a great general. By 1710, however, the situation was at a standstill. Churchill’s victories in the Low Countries were offset by the Alliance’s defeat in Spain. The war’s cost made it unpopular in Britain. The succession of the Alliance candidate to the throne of Austria made an Austro-Spanish union no better to Britain than the Franco-Spanish one that made them join the Alliance in the first place. Now, with the Tories in power, the administration of Robert Harley initiated peace talks with France and ceased active military participation, much to the consternation of Churchill and the Whigs.
Without British support, the other Allies were forced to make peace. Under the treaties of Utrecht in 1713, and Rastatt and Baden in 1714. Phillip renounced his claim to the French throne and was confirmed as King of Spain. Spain retained is overseas possessions, while their European territories were divided between Austria, Britain, and Savoy. In the long run, Britain emerged as the leading European maritime and commercial power, bringing to an end almost a century of Dutch influence and the end of the Dutch Republic as a major power. The break-up of the Holy Roman Empire continued, paving the way for the creation of more powerful German states, most notably Prussia.
5702038. GERMANY, Landau. Besieged by Marshal de Villars, 1713. AR 2 Florin 8 Kreuzer (40x42mm, 21.47 g). War of the Spanish Succession issue. Dated 1713. Stamped with the coat-of-arms of Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, two rectangular stamps reading PRO/ CÆS : & IMP : and BEL : LANDAU/ 2 · FL : 8X, and four crowned monograms / Blank. Korchnak 314; Maillet pl. LXIX, 7; Davenport 2377; KM 13. Old cabinet toning, usual weakness in central punch, mount marks. Good VF. $1295
Ex Künker 228 (12 March 2013), lot 4649.
5702039. GERMANY, Landau. Besieged by Marshal de Villars, 1713. AR 1 Florin 4 Kreuzer (31x34mm, 10.77 g). Dated 1713. Stamped with the coat-of-arms of Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, two rectangular stamps reading PRO/ CÆS : & IMP : and BEL : LANDAU/ 1 · FL : 4X, and four crowned monograms / Blank. Korchnak 315; Maillet pl. LXIX, 8; KM 12. Bright surfaces, hairlines. EF. $1775
5702040. GERMANY, Nürnberg (city). AV Dukat (19mm, 3.47 g, 12h). Dated 1700 GFN (in chronogram). Three coats-of-arms surmounted by eagle standing left, wings spread, head right / Agnus dei advancing left, holding banner. Kellner 72; KM 258; Friedberg 1886. Slight bend with associated cracks, scratches. EF. $1850
5697271. GERMANY, Sachsen (Duchy & Electorate [Albertine line]). Johann Georg II. Elector, 1656-1680. AR Doppeltaler (65mm, 57.77 g, 7h). Commemorating the laying of the foundation stone in the chapel of Moritzburg Castle. Dresden mint; mm: acorn. Dated 1 November 1661. Crossed sword and palm front surmounted by plumed helmet, alls et on monument; crowned open book to left; to right, crossed swords within wreath surmounted by elector’s cap; radiant Tetragrammaton above / Legend in twelve lines. Clauss & Kahnt 508; Schnee 912; Davenport 401; KM 496. Toned, edge marks. AU. $5775
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5702083. GERMANY, Sachsen (Duchy & Electorate [Albertine line]). Johann Georg II. Elector, 1656-1680. AR Taler Klippe (46x46mm, 28.89 g, 12h). Commemorating the marriage of Erdmuthe Sophie to Christian Ernst. Dresden mint. Dated 1662. Hands emerging from clouds crowning with wreath a monument decorated with two coats-of-arms, joined by hanging garlands to two garlanded pillars on either side, one surmounted by a pair of wings, the other a pair of doves; radiate name of God above; ornate coats-of-arms in corners / Legend in nine lines; ornate coats-of-arms in corners. Clauss & Kahnt 511; Schnee 914; Davenport 7631; KM 500. Toned, traces of mount, a few light scratches. EF. $1495
Hercules and Apples of the Hesperides
5697335. GERMANY, Sachsen (Duchy & Electorate [Albertine line]). Johann Georg II. Elector, 1656-1680. AR Taler Klippe (39x41mm, 23.34 g, 12h). Commemorating the dedication of a new shooting gallery in Dresden. Dresden mint. Dated 1678. Coat-of-arms surmounted by elector’s cap within garter and wreath; coats-of-arms surmounted by elector’s cap in corners / Hercules standing facing, holding club and apples. Clauss & Kahnt 539; Davenport 7636; KM 562. Richly toned. In NGC encapsulation 2157014-004, graded AU Details, obverse spot removed. $1975
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
The golden apples of the Hesperides, which Eurystheus had ordered Hercules to fetch for him, were guarded by the immortal, unsleeping dragon Ladon. Hercules killed Ladon with arrows dipped in the blood of the Hydra, and then, having been warned by Prometheus not to touch the apples himself, convinced Atlas to collect them for him, while he held up the Earth in his place.
5697364. GERMANY, Sachsen (Duchy & Electorate). Friedrich August I der Starke (the Strong). Elector, 16941733. AR Taler Klippe (36x38mm, 20.38 g, 9h). Commemorating the Landstände Shooting Event. Dresden mint. Dated 1708 Crowned monogram with floral ornaments in corners / Shooting range; floral ornaments in corners. Kahnt 258; Davenport 2651; KM 770. Old cabinet toning. In NGC encapsulation 2157019-003, graded XF 45. $2375
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5697272. GERMANY, Würzburg (Bishophric). Franz Ludwig von Erthal. 1779-1795. AR Doppeltaler – ‘Prize Doppeltaler’ (41mm, 56.18 g, 12h). Würzburg mint. Dated 1786 MP. Bust right / Cherub seated right on plinth, head left, holding wreath in raised and hand vessel overflowing with coins; on plinth to right, glove, open book, and map. Davenport 2906; KM 427. Toned, minor delamination, a few hairlines. EF. $2195
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5697273. ITALY, Lucca & Piombino (Principality). Elisa Bonaparte & Felice Baciocchi. 1805-1814. AR 5 Franchi –Scudo (36mm, 25.00 g, 6h). Lucca mint. Dated 1805. Jugate busts of Elisa, crowned and draped, and Felice right / Denomination within wreath. MIR 244; Davenport 203; KM 24.1. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6903643-004, graded MS 62. $2895
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5701967. ITALY, Mantova (Duchy). Federico II Gonzaga. 1530-1540. AV Scudo del sole (24mm, 2.96 g, 1h). Mantova mint. Crowned coat-of-arms / Christ rising from Sepulchre; Cross and instruments of the Passion in background. Bignotti 1; MIR 446; Friedberg 528. Edge marks. Near EF. $5975
5701969. ITALY, Mantova (Duchy). Ferdinando I Gonzaga. 1612–1626. AR Tallero (41mm, 22.23 g, 10h). Casale mint. Crowned and collared coat-of-arms / Cross pattée with crosses in quarters. MIR 325 (Casale); KM 71. Attractively toned, slight double strike. Near EF. Rare. $2975
5701970. ITALY, Mantova (Duchy). Carlo I (II) Gonzaga. 1627–1637. AR Mezzo ducatone – 80 Soldi (38mm, 14.59 g, 9h). Mantova mint. Crowned and collared coat-of-arms / St. Louis standing left, resting foot on globus cruciger; crown in exergue; in glory of rays to upper left, angel right, holding wreath and palm fronds. Bignotti 9; MIR 647/1. Toned, delamination. EF. Rare. $1750
5701971. ITALY, Mantova (Duchy). Ferdinando Carlo IV Gonzaga. 1669-1708. Off-metal strike in bronze of a Scudo (44mm, 32.36 g, 12h). Mantova mint. Dated 1676. Armored bust right, wearing lace collar / Eagle flying left towards aerie; clouds and rising sun over waves in background. Morosini 18; Bignotti –; MIR –; CNI 9; KM –. For similar Scudo in silver: cf. Bignotti 4; cf. MIR 730; cf. Davenport 3970 (all from same dies); cf. KM 228. Brown surfaces, scattered marks. Near EF. Extremely rare. $675
This extremely rare type is considered a pattern for a silver scudo by both CNI and Morosini. Two examples in silver are listed by Morosini, in the Vienna and Hermitage museums, but are illustrated only by line drawing. A third example has appeared on the market recently, last selling in Nomisa S.p.a. 65, lot 758. That full silver specimen was struck from different dies as the present piece. To complicate the matter, MIR erroneously illustrates an example from these die for both the unique 1679 gold 8 Doppie and the 1676 silver Scudo, but it is unclear if that specimen is in gold, silver, or bronze.
In hand, this coin appears to exhibit a slight convexity reminiscent of certain restrikes of Papal medals. As such a feature is not present on the well-circulated Nomisma specimen, it may be that most of the examples in either silver or copper are actually 18th century restrikes produced to supply collectors with an example of an otherwise unattainable issue. Regardless, this type in copper is itself extremely rare, with only two auction appearances recorded by Morosini. For similar 8 Doppie in gold: cf. Bignotti 1; cf. MIR 737; cf. KM 229; cf. Friedberg 590.
5701973. ITALY, Napoli (Kingdom). Filippo II di Spagna. 1554-1598. AR Mezzo ducato (34mm, 14.73 g, 2h). First Period. Napoli (Naples) mint. Struck 1554-1556. Bareheaded, armored, and draped bust right; (IBR) to left / Crowned coatof-arms. MIR 160; Pannuti-Riccio 5. Bright surfaces, hairlines, minor edge marks. Near EF. $750
5701972. ITALY, Toscana (Grand Duchy). Cosimo III de Medici. 1670-1723. AR Piastra (44mm, 5h). Firenze mint. Dated 1676. Armored and draped bust right / Christ standing right, being baptized by St. John standing left, holding long cross. KM (DAV) 4209 = Davenport 4209. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6647133-006, graded AU 58. $1775
5672048. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Antonio Veniero. 1382-1400. AV Ducato (21mm, 3.57 g, 12h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding banner between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing nine stars. Paolucci 1; Friedberg 1229. In PCGS encapsulation 50407674, graded MS 64. $1000
Ex J. Eric Engstrom Collection; Jack A. Frazer Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 455, 30 October 2019), lot 495, purchased from Victor England, Ltd.
5672049. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Michele Steno. 1400-1413. AV Ducato (21mm, 3.57 g, 9h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding banner between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing nine stars. Paolucci 1; Friedberg 1230. In PCGS encapsulation 50407675, graded MS 64. $1000
5701974. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Alvise IV Giovanni Mocenigo. 1763-1779. AR Ducatone – 124 Soldi (44mm, 27.63 g, 11h). Struck 1767. Doge, holding banner, kneeling left before Lion of St. Mark standing right; D G in exergue / San Giustina standing facing, holding palm and Gospels; two ships at sea in background. Paolucci 23; Davenport 1559; KM 664. Richly toned with vivid peripheral iridescence, hairlines, edge marks. Near EF. A stunning piece in hand. Rare. $3500
Very Rare 10 Zecchini
5610465. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Ludovico Manin. 1789-1797. AV 10 Zecchini (50mm, 34.90 g, 12h). St. Mark standing right, presenting long cross to Doge kneeling left on pillow / Christ standing facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, surrounded by mandorla containing sixteen stars. CNI VIII 62; Papadopoli 2; Paolucci 8; KM 791; Friedberg 1439. Evidence of having been placed in a bezel, scattered light scratches. EF. Very rare. An impressive large-format multiple of the iconic Venetian zecchino. $22,750
Ex Gorny & Mosch 277 (20 April 2021), lot 1796 (hammer €17,000).
Ludovico Manin was the 120th and last Doge of Venice. Although born in Venice to a noble family (his father was Doge Ludovico III Alvise), he spent his early life and public career in other Italian cities. Elected Doge in 1789, his term was troubled by the decline of Venice’s finances and navy. Large gold multiples such as this were intended to be sold to wealthy citizens at above gold “face value” in order to raise money for the government. However much was raised, it was not enough to face the threat of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose war against Austria spilled into Italy in 1796. Doge Manin tried to remain neutral, but Napoleon sent troops and ships into Venice and demanded its surrender in April, 1787. Manin abdicated on May 12, ending the line of Doges that stretched back over a thousand years to AD 726.
5701975. ITALY, Kingdom of Italy. Umberto I. 1878-1900. AV 50 Lire (28mm, 6h). Rome mint. Dated 1884 R. Bare head left / Crowned and collared coat-of-arms within wreath; star above. MIR 1097a; KM 25; Friedberg 19. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 6637268-008, graded MS 62. Only one graded higher. An attractive example of the grade and a candidate for upgrading. $7775
The Coinage of Vittorio Emanuele III
5701980. ITALY, Kingdom of Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946. AR 5 Lire (37mm, 6h). Rome mint. Dated 1914 R. Uniformed bust right / Italia standing left in quadriga rearing left, holding olive branch and round shield. MIR 1136a; KM 55. In NGC encapsulation 6647354-012, graded MS 61. Very rare in mint state. A masterpiece of modern engraving, deriving the reverse type from the coinages of ancient Magna Graecia and Sicily. $9950
The coinage of Vittorio Emanuele III reflects the tumultuous changes that Italy underwent in the 46 years of his reign. His earliest issues resemble those of his murdered father, Umberto I: simple, realistic portraiture and conservative eagles and wreaths so common in 19th century European numismatics. These are replaced with a series of classically-inspired designs, rich in symbolism and easily deserving of a place among the finest examples of 20th century numismatic art. The smaller denominations of this period are equally charming, depicting the natural bounty of the country. Finally, after the rise of Mussolini and the fascists, the coinage takes on a stark, totalitarian appearance. The king’s portrait depicts him bare headed and aged, harkening back to portraits of Julius Caesar, and is paired with those reverse types so prominent in the fascist era: sharp, angular eagles and the ancient fasces itself.
5701979. ITALY, Kingdom of Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946. AR 10 Lire (27m, 6h). Rome mint. Dated 1930
R. Bare head left / Italia, holding fasces and reins, driving biga left with horses rearing. MIR 1132i; KM 68.1. Lightly toned. In NGC encapsulation 6641481-008, graded MS 65. The reverse type inspired by the coinage of ancient Magna Graecia and Sicily. $995
Inspired by Metapontion – Top Pop
5701976. ITALY, Kingdom of Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946. Pattern NI 20 Centesimi (20mm, 12h). Rome mint. Dated 1905 R. REGNO D’ITALIA, grain ear / 20 CMI (star) R (star) 1905, grain ear in incuse. Pagani, Prove 291; KM Pn 8. In NGC encapsulation 6643289-016, graded MS 66+. Top Pop. Very rare. Inspired by the coinage of ancient Metapontion. $2975
5701978. ITALY, Kingdom of Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946. Pattern NI 20 Centesimi (20mm, 12h). Rome mint. Dated 1915 R. REGNO D’ITALIA, crowned and collared coat-of-arms within wreath; 1915 (star) R (star) / Grain ear; C. 10 flanking; PROVA to right. Pagani, Prove 340; KM Pn 15 corr. (obverse type duplicated from preceding entry). In NGC encapsulation 6647292-017, graded MS 65. Very rare. $2850
Inspired by the Syracusan Tetradrachm
5701977. ITALY, Kingdom of Italy. Vittorio Emanuele III. 1900-1946. Pattern NI 20 Centesimi (20mm, 12h). Rome mint. Dated 1915 R. REGNO D’ITALIA, head right with hair tied in ribbon, wearing triple-pendant earing and pearl necklace / Grain ear; C. 10/ R 1915 flanking. Scalloped flan shape. Pagani, Prove 333; KM Pn 14. In NGC encapsulation 2829689-006, graded MS 66. Only one example graded higher. A wonderful coin with an obverse inspired by the tetradrachms of ancient Syracuse. $1750
The Siege of Ariën-aan-de-Leie
5702041. LOW COUNTRIES, Ariën-aan-de-Leie (Airé). AR 50 Sols (30x31mm, 15.24 g). War of the Spanish Succession issue. Besieged by the Austrian and English troops under the command of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and François-Eugène de Savoie. Dated 1710. Crowned coat-of-arms / Blank. Korchnak 9; Mailliet pl. I, 5; KM 16.1 (French States). Some faint porosity and double striking, hairlines. Near EF. $1295
Throughout its history, the town of Ariën-aan-de-Leie was besieged numerous times. During the War of the Spanish Succession, the Alliance forces, under the command of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and François-Eugène de Savoie laid siege to the town with Marlborough’s headquarters near the Priory of St. Andrew. After a siege of two months, the Marquis de Goesbriand, governor of the town, surrendered, handing over the city keys to Marlborough.
The Siege of Groningen
5702042. LOW COUNTRIES, Groningen. Besieged by Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen, Bishop of Münster, 1672. AR 50 Stuivers Klippe (32x34mm, 28.89 g). Dated 1672. Crowned coat-of-arms; 50 and ST (mark of value) flanking shield / Blank. Korchnak 241; Maillet 5; P&W Go17.1; CNM 2.20.4; KM 27.2. Toned, a few minor marks. Near EF. $1150
In the Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678), France and its allies invaded the United Netherlands in an attempt to capture land from the weaker Dutch forces. Ever eager to increase his influence and power, Christoph Bernhard von Galen, bishop of Münster, joined the French and besieged the Dutch city of Groningen in 1672. The siege was ultimately unsuccessful, and Bishop von Galen retreated on 28 August of the same year. This coin was struck afterward to commemorate the end of the siege. 28 August is still celebrated as a local holiday in Groningen; it is called “Bomm’n Berend” after the nickname given to Bishop von Galen by the townspeople.
5697274. LOW COUNTRIES, Spanish Netherlands. Filips V. 1700-1712. AR Dukaton (42mm, 32.62 g, 12h). Antwerp in Brabant mint; mm: hand. Dated 1703. Armored and draped bust right / Crowned and collared coat-of-arms with leonine supporters. Vanhoudt 737; G&H 365-1c; Delmonte, Argent 354c; Davenport 1707; KM 131.3. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6896874-005, graded AU 58. $4350
5697365. MEXICO, Colonial. Carlos III. King of Spain, 1759-1788. AR 8 Reales (38mm, 26.97 g, 12h). Mexico City mint. Dated 1776 Mo FM. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Crowned coat-of-arms between garlanded Pillars of Hercules. BW 28.6; KM 106.2. Deeply toned, scratches at date. AU. $2775
5697343. MEXICO, Colonial. Fernando VII. Prisoniero, 1808-1813. AR 8 Reales (38.5mm, 12h). Mexico City mint. Dated 1810 Mo HJ/TH. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Crowned coat-of-arms flanked by pillars ornamented with banners. BW 28.11; KM 110. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6206034-036, graded AU 58. $525
Ex William B. Porter Collection.
5697318. SCANDINAVIA. 11th century AD. AR Penny (20mm, 1.75 g, 10h). Imitating the Long Cross type of Æthelred II of England. Draped bust left; pellet behind neck / Voided long cross, with pellet at center and triple-crescent ends; pellet in fourth quarter. Malmer ‘single’ chain, 263.9118. Toned, porous. VF. Rare. $975
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from Standbergs Mynthandel, 20 June 2007.
5702103. TRANSYLVANIA, Eastern Hungarian Kingdom. János II Zsigmond Szapolyai. 1540-1571. AR Taler (40mm). Necessity issue. Nagyszeben (Hermannstadt / Sibiu) mint. Dated 1565. Coat-of-arms; above, IO · SE · REX ·VN / Blank. Resch 46; MBR 226; Davenport 8796. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6871733-005, graded AU 53. $5475
From the late 16th century onward, Transylvanian history was characterized by the struggle between the rising power of the Habsburgs to the west, and the encroaching Ottoman Empire to the east. The local rulers struggled to retain their autonomy between these two massive empires, beginning with the rebel Eastern Hungarian Kingdom of Szapolyai kings, who contested the Habsburg accession to the Hungarian throne. These monarchs, as well as their princely successors, would generally seek the protection of the Ottoman sultan against the greater threat of the Austrians. Perennial conflicts wracked the region, as Ottoman and Austrian armies raged back and forth, punctuated by brutal civil wars between various foreign-supported claimants. The Habsburgs eventually took the upper hand after their victory over the Ottomans at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, leading to the loss of Ottoman protection for Transylvania and the deposition of the native rulers in 1691. The territory of Transylvania was fully incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire as a Grand Principality in 1745.
The complicated history of the region resulted in the production of an interesting and artistically important coinage. The 16th-18th century issues of Transylvania are among the most impressive issues struck in Europe at the time. In addition to the usual minors, talers, and ducats, the Transylvanian princes produced a number of large gold and silver multiples, both in the usual circular format and in more exotic hexagonal, sun, and moon shapes. During the various conflicts, several interesting necessity pieces were also struck.
WORLD MEDALS
5702067. AUSTRIA, Salzburg (Prince-Archbishophric). Hieronymous Graf Colloredo. 1772-1803. AR Medal (41mm, 24.48 g, 12h). The 1200th Anniversary of the Archbishopric. By Mazenkopf. Dated 1782. HIERONYMVS D
G
A
&
P
S
A
S
L
N
G
PRIM ·, mantled bust right, wearing zuchetto / PRINCEPS POPULUSQ : IUVAVIENS, hexastyle temple with D · O · M · in pediment, rays of light within; below, SEC : IUB : XII ·/ CICICCCLXXXII. Zöttl 3188. Toned, small glue deposit, scattered scratches and marks. Near EF. $475
BRITISH COINAGE
5697277. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Æthelred II. 978-1016. AR Penny (20mm, 1.54 g, 6h). Crux type (BMC iiia, Hild. C). Southwark mint Ælfric, moneyer. Struck circa 991-997. Draped bust left; trefoil-tipped scepter to left / ม
⌦ዟያዢü ዦ!ɭ Ӳ⎍ዝű , voided short cross; ü ʽ ⎍ ҟ in quarter. SCBI 7 (Copenhagen), var. (rev. legend; same obv. die); North 770; SCBC 1148. Slight double strike. Light tone. Good VF. $850
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection; Coin Galleries (5 November 1997), lot 1902.
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 825609 (October 2008); Baldwin’s 57 (23 September 2008), lot 308.
The English pennies with reverse type of the Long Cross were struck in large numbers and were paid out in Danegeld. Reported payments totaled £180,000 (perhaps 43.2 million pennies). These pennies were widely imitated in Scandinavia and Hiberno-Norse Dublin (see lots 1146–56, below).
Aethelred II, nicknamed the Unready, from unræd (poor counsel) failed to check renewed Viking attacks from 991 on and frequently bought off Vikings by the payment of Danegeld. Aethelred, however, provoked a war of conquest by King Svend Forkbeard of Denmark and his son Cnut the Great (Knud) by ordering the St. Brice’s Day Massacre of recent Danish settlers on November 13, 1002.
5697292. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Cnut. 1016-1035. AR Penny (18mm, 1.08 g, 12h). Short Cross type (BMC xvi, Hild. H). Lincoln mint; Vathlauss, moneyer. Struck circa 1029-1035. Diademed and draped bust left; scepter to left / ม ዩ²ዝ⌦ɭ˫ ɭ à ዢ ü ɭ⌦ , voided short cross; annulet at center. Mossop pl. LVI, 15 (dies K/i); SCBI 14 (Copenhagen), 1888 (same dies); North 790; SCBC 1159. Lustrous. Near EF. $1175
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from Mike Vosper, 5 April 2001.
5697303. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Edward the Confessor. 1042-1066. AR Penny (17mm, 1.12 g, 6h). Radiate/Small Cross (BMC i, Hild. A). Canterbury mint; Leofwine, moneyer. Struck circa 1044-1046. Radiate and draped bust left / ม ⌦ዞɭዟዩዢnዞዞ ɭn üዞn , short cross pattée. Freeman 112; SCBI –; North 816; SCBC 1173. Old cabinet toning. VF. $975
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from J. King, 5 May 1976.
5697305. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Edward the Confessor. 1042-1066. AR Penny (19mm, 1.11 g, 1h). Trefoil Quadrilateral type (BMC iii, Hild. C). Winchester mint; Leofing, moneyer. Struck circa 1046-1048. Diademed and draped bust left; scepter pommée to left / ม ⌦ዢዟዢnüü ɭn ዩዢnüዞ , quadrilateral, with pellet in center and trefoils at angles, over voided short cross. Harvey 1553 var. (dies –/c; unlisted obv. die); Freeman 233; cf. SCBI 20 (Mack), 1147 (for type); North 817; SCBC 1174. Toned, wavy flan, peck marks. VF. An interestingly shaped voided cross at center of reverse. $975
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from A.G. & S. Gilles, 20 November 2000.
5697308. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Edward the Confessor. 1042-1066. AR Penny (17mm, 1.10 g, 2h).
Facing Bust/Small Cross type (BMC xiiia, Hild. Ac var.). York mint; Thorr, moneyer. Struck circa 1062-1065. Crowned facing bust / ม T ɭʼʼ ɭn
, small cross pattée; annulet in first quarter. Freeman 389; SCBI 9 (Ashmolean), 1059 (same dies); North 830 var. (annulet on rev.); SCBC 1183 var. (same). Toned, some deposits. Good VF. $1175
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection; Davissons 10 (30 April 1998), lot 180.
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from Charles H. Wolfe, 8 October 1975; R.C. Lockett Collection (Part III, Glendining, 4 November 1958), lot 2841.
Pedigreed to 1910
5697312. NORMAN. William I ‘the Conqueror’. 1066-1087. AR Penny (20mm, 1.31 g, 9h). Two Stars type (BMC v). Norwich mint; Godwine, moneyer. Struck circa 1074-1077. Crowned facing bust; stars flanking, pellet to left / ม gɭዝዩዢnዞ ɭ nɭʼ T ዩ , cross botonnée with central annulet over quadrilateral with incurved sides. SCBI 20 (Mack), 1383 (this coin); BMC –; North 845; SCBC 1254. Holed and skillfully plugged (evident in the 1913 photo). Some perforations. Toned. VF. $1850
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from Spink, 10 December 1976; R.P. Mack Collection (Part I, Glendining, 18 November 1975), lot 232; R.C. Lockett Collection (Part III, Glendining, 4 November 1958), lot 2865 (part of); P.W.P. Carlyon-Britton Collection (Part I, Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 17 November 1913), lot 709; J.E. Brown Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 14 November 1910), lot 82 (part of).
5697314. NORMAN. William II Rufus. 1087-1100. AR Penny (19mm, 1.44 g, 9h). Cross in Quatrefoil type (BMC II). London mint; Godwine, moneyer. Struck circa 1089-1092. Crowned facing bust, holding sword / ม gɭዝዩ [ ዢnዞ ] ɭn ⌦ዢዢn ë, cross pattée within quatrefoil with pellets in angles. SCBI 11 (Stockholm), 703; BMC 113-4; North 852; SCBC 1259. Toned, areas of weak strike. VF. Rare. $3975
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from J. Linzalone, 15 March 2009.
Rare Double Inscription Penny
5697316. NORMAN. Henry I. 1100-1135. AR Penny (21mm, 1.34 g, 10h). Double Inscription type (BMC xi). London mint; Theodric, moneyer. Struck circa 1115. Crowned and draped bust left, holding cross-tipped scepter; two quatrefoils to left / ม T ዞዝ ʼዢ ü⎍ / ม S ɭn ⌦⎍n , small cross pattée; quatrefoils-in-annulets in outer legend. EMC 2022.0334; SCBI –; BMC –; North 867; SCBC 1272. Weak in parts. Some light marks. Official edge snick. Near VF. Rare. $1995
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from J. Linzalone, 23 November 2010.
5696782. TUDOR. Elizabeth I. 1558-1603. AR Shilling (32mm, 5.76 g, 5h). Seventh issue. Tower (London) mint; im: 1. Struck 1601-1602. Crowned bust (6B) left, wearing ruff / Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchée. BCW 1-1/1-a1; North 2014; SCBC 2584. Toned, scratches, hairlines, minor deposits, areas of weak strike. Near EF. $975
5652153. STUART. Charles I. 1625-1649. AR Shilling (31mm, 5.73 g, 6h). Briot’s Second Milled issue. Tower (London) mint under Briot; im: B and anchor. Struck 1638-1639. Crowned bust left; XII (mark of value) to right / Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchée. Brooker 728a (same dies); North 2305; SCBC 2859. Toned, minor adjustment marks, some haymarking. Good VF. $2750
Ex Saunders Collection, purchased from Seaby, 1949.
Rare First Year Commonwealth Unite
5654244. COMMONWEALTH. 1649-1660. AV Unite (9.04 g). Tower (London) mint; im: sun. Dated 1649. Coatof-arms within wreath / Two coats-of-arms. Bull, Gold 1; North 2715; SCBC 3208. Neat round flan, attractively toned and lustrous, short scratch and minor surface flan crack. EF. Rare. $24,000
Exceptional Cromwell Crown
5702084. COMMONWEALTH. Oliver Cromwell. Lord Protector, 1653-1658. AR Crown. Blondeau’s mint, Drury House, London. Dies by Thomas Simon. Dated 1658/7. Lessen E12; Bull 240; ESC 10; SCBC 3226. Beautiful cabinet toning with hints of blue iridescence, a few minor marks and scrathces, usual diagnostic die break. AU. A beautiful coin in hand. $23,750
In the summer 1656, after years of petitioning, Pierre Blondeau was authorised by Parliament to strike coins using his own milling machinery. In response he produced some of the most celebrated coins in the entire English series. Initially a small issue of gold Broads and silver Halfcrowns dated 1656 were struck using dies engraved by Thomas Simon. Bearing an imposing effigy of the Lord Protector, legends in Latin and in case of the Halfcrown, a lettered edge, the 1656 issue represented a radical departure from the puritanical simplicity of the coinage of the Commonwealth, which had been crudely struck by hand. Lessen has suggested that the 1656 Halfcrowns were ‘circulated in the sense that they were distributed on a high social level (Parliament?), possibly as an experiment for general circulation’ (M. Lessen, “A Summary of the Cromwell Coinage” in BNJ XXXV (1966), pp. 163–72). A much larger issue of silver followed dated 1658, the Crown, Halfcrown and Shilling of which are commonly available.
Toned ‘Northumberland’ Shilling
5697320. HANOVER. George III. 1760-1820. AR Shilling. Dated 1763. Young head. ‘Northumberland’ type. Bull 2124; ESC 1214; SCBC 3742. Iridescent toning. In NGC encapsulation 6907997-008, graded MS 63. $3950
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
In 1763, Hugh, the Earl of Northumberland, ordered a special issue of £100 worth of silver shillings to be struck for distribution in Dublin in commemoration of his appointment as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. This personal order led this issue to be called the ‘Northumberland shilling,’ though a significantly greater number than the Earl’s original request were struck for general circulation. Nevertheless, this wonderfully engraved issue is popular with collectors today.
5695212. IRELAND, Hiberno-Norse. Sihtric III Olafsson. Circa 995-1036. AR Penny (19.5mm, 1.65 g). Phase I coinage, Long Cross type. Dublin mint; Faeremin, moneyer. Struck circa 1000-1010. Draped bust left; pellet to right / ม ዟ ®
n ዦ∂
, voided long cross, with triple crescent ends. SCBI 8 (BM), 31-2 (same rev. die); SCBC 6103. Light golden toning, slightly crimped flan, a few short scratches. EF. A neat and compact bust. $2950
DATED COINS OF ANTIQUITY (DCA2)
Dated Coins of Antiquity, Release 2 (DCA2), two-volume set, $195 available from the Classical Numismatic Group
Dated Coins of Antiquity Release 2
By Edward E. Cohen
Volume 1
Dated Coins of Antiquity Release 2
By Edward E. Cohen
Volume 2
Cohen, Edward E. Dated Coins of Antiquity, Release 2. A comprehensive catalogue of the coins and how their numbers came about. 2023. Hardbound. 916 pp., including appendices, drawings, maps, charts, and other illustrations; over 981 cataloged coins illustrated and more than 6,000 individually dated coins listed (GR, RR). (GR366)
DCA2 is a substantially complete and revised catalog of dated coins before the lifetime of Jesus Christ. Where a coin series such as the biblical shekels of Tyre crosses the millennium divide of 1 BC / 1 AD, the catalog continues to its last dated coin in the AD era. The coins of antiquity used various kinds of numbers and more than 50 calendar systems for dating that have no familiarity to most modern readers. Their calendars and notations for numbers varied among cities and even over time in the same city. For each dated coin, DCA2 reproduces the date as written accompanied by its BC or AD equivalent. DCA2 also cross-references each coin to other standard catalogs, including DCA, when previously published or when auctioned in the market-place.
DCA2 is a major expansion from the first release, DCA, and requires a two-volume set. Volume 1 consists of dated coins from Europe, Northern and Central Asia including the Seleukid Kings and Queens, Syrian Cities, Parthian Kings and Queen, kingdoms such Characene and Elymais under Persian Influence, Anatolia and Armenia. Volume 2 has the dated coins for Phoenicia, Mediterranean Islands, Southern Levant, Nabataea, Africa including the Ptolemaic Kingdom, monthly dated coins and exhaustive finder Appendices. At least one enlarged color photo accompanies nearly all coin types. DCA2 assigns new catalogue numbers to each type coin. Adjacent to each DCA2 number is the corresponding catalog number in the first release when appropriate.
Starting with the first dated coin by Zankle Sicily in 494/493 BC, DCA2 lists all coins displaying annual or monthly dates expressed in numerals or words. More than 100 issuing states or authorities are represented. The catalog describes nearly 1200 type coins struck in gold, silver and bronze, exceeding 10,000 different dated coins. DCA2 reports hundreds of dated coins and their sources that appear in no other catalog.
Several areas are especially noteworthy. A new denomination has been added to the first dated coins from Zankle. The Phoenician cities under Persian rule – including Arados, Marathos, Gabala, Sidon, and Tyre – show dozens of unreported dates, denominations and designs. The Tyre section for the Melkart shekels, half shekels and quarter shekels includes more than 15 unreported dates and overdates with photos that were not published in DCA or in the 2017 DCA-Tyre supplement. The rarity of individual dates for these shekels of Tyre is given. Guidelines also help the reader to distinguish the many similar coins of the Egyptian Ptolemaic Empire. For Nabataea, the listing has doubled in size.
The handbook of Greek CoinaGe SerieS by
Oliver D. Hoover
More than three decades have passed since David Sear published Greek Coins & Their Values, his revision of Gilbert Askew’s A Catalogue of Greek Coins published by B. A. Seaby in 1951. Since then, the field of ancient numismatics and the hobby of collecting ancient coins have changed so much that now Greek Coins & Their Values would require a complete revision to include all of the most current numismatic information available, list the many new types and varieties unknown to Sear, and determine an approximate sense of rarity for all of these issues. In order to encompass this new material and create a viable reference for the beginning and specialized collector, such a handbook would have to be more than the two volumes which Sear found necessary. As a result, Classical Numismatic Group is publishing The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, written by Oliver D. Hoover, in a series of 13 volumes, each covering a specified area of Greek coinage with the first being The Handbook of Syrian Coins: Royal and Civic Issues, Fourth to First Centuries BC (Volume 9 in the series). This series is designed to aid the user in the quick, accurate, and relatively painless identification of Greek coins, while providing a cross-reference for each entry to a major work, which will allow the inquirer to pursue more in-depth research on the subject. The subject-matter of each volume is arranged chronologically for royal issues, and regionally for the civic issues; within each region, cities are listed directionally, depending on the region. For those rulers or cities that issued coins concurrently in all three metals, these issues will be arranged in the catalog with gold first, followed by silver, and then bronze; each metal is arranged by denomination, largest to smallest. Known mints for the royal coinage are listed below the appropriate type, making an easy search for a specific mint. Each entry will include a rarity rating based on the frequency with which they appear in publications, public and private collections, the market, and/or are estimated to exist in public or private hands. No valuations are listed, since such values are generally out of date by the time of publication. An online valuation guide will allow interested individuals the opportunity to gauge the market, and reduce the need for repeated updates of this series. Whether one purchases the entire set for their reference library, or the individual volume pertaining to one’s area of specialization, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series should provide a useful staging-point from which collectors and interested scholars can pursue their research and interests.
Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Macedon and Its Neighbors. Part I: Macedon, Illyria, and Epeiros, Sixth to First Centuries BC [The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 3]. 2016. lxxviii and 431 numbered pp. Hardbound. (GR332) $65
Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of of Coins of Northern and Central Greece: Achaia Phthiotis, Ainis, Magnesia, Malis, Oita, Perrhaibia, Thessaly, Akarnania, Aitolia, Lokris, Phokis, Boiotia, Euboia, Attica, Megaris, and Corinthia. [The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 4]. 2014. lxxvii + 563 numbered pages (GR333) $65
Hoover, Oliver D. handbook of CoinS of bakTria and anCienT india Including Sogdiana, Margiana, Areia, and the Indo-Greek, Indo-Skythian, and Native Indian States South of the Hindu Kush. Fifth Century BC to First Century AD. [The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 12]. 2013. lxxxiv + 389 numbered pages. (GR341) $65
Please see our website for additional volumes.
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