nomos
z端rich, switzerland in association with
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania London, England
171 Distinctive Numismatic Items
Winter-Spring 2015
Now that it is December our thoughts turn to the Holiday Season, crackling fires, presents, good cheer, and the Nomos AG Fixed Price List. And here it is! Thanks to all those fine people who did the work of organizing the layout and printing and photography (and also for putting in the occasional typo for me to find!). Once again we have tried to produce a list that has something for everyone: with 171 items this is our biggest selection ever. We have 62 Greek coins ranging from Spain to India, as well as a fine group of Roman (63 lots, including provincial issues); there is also an amazing Roman-related bracelet and 13 lovely Byzantine pieces. Then come a few early Medieval and Crusader coins, 10 European pieces (including some attractive medals) and 15 British. As far as prices go, thanks to Yves, who always has the interests of the smaller collector in mind, they range from only $250, for a terrific antoninianus (111), all the up to $75,000 (for a rare and beautiful Halfcrown of Charles I, 167). While all the coins in the list are rather special – they have all been very carefully selected – there are some that have particularly caught my eye: the drachm from Gadir (2) is really rare and very unusual; the tiny onkia of Leontinoi (11) is not only tiny in size but apparently unpublished; usually unnoticed, the miniature portrait of Patraos as a horseman on the reverse of 25 is of great interest. The extremely rare stater of Alexander the Molossian (26) is not only the highlight of this list, it would be the highlight of whatever collection that contains it. The group of Kolchian gold staters (35-38) is fascinating, and there are quite a few other electrum and gold coins from Asia Minor and beyond. As for Roman, there are pieces in all metals ranging from the Republic through the end of the Empire in the West. There is an exceptional denarius of Plautius Plancus (71), a coin that is almost impossible to find so nice; an equally exception denarius of Claudius (79); a denarius of Vespasian with a reverse copying one of Marc Antony (86); and a fascinating double portrait as of Hadrian from the Magnaguti and Mazzini collections (89). Lot 116 is a truly wonderful portrait antoninianus of Postumus and the small medallion of Probus (118) is a real joy. Also spectacular is the mid 19th century bracelet adorned with six excellent aurei (126). The Byzantine coins are a very nice selection, primarily gold, and the medieval is a very nice group too (the Bezant of Henry I of Cyprus, 142, is exceptional). The remainder consists of medieval and modern coins from Europe and from Britain: once again, there are some wonderful pieces for you to find. Nomos AG will once again be at the New York International Numismatic Convention, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel from the 8th to the 11th of January, 2015. As always, it will be surrounded by auctions and will be a meeting place for collectors from all over the world. From the 13th to the 22nd of March we will be exhibiting at Stand 260 in The European Fine Arts Fair (TEFAF), Maastricht and we would be happy to see you there. Our next auction is planned for May in Zurich – if you have anything you would like to consign, please contact us, we will be happy to help you.
Dr Alan Walker Nomos AG Yves Gunzenreiner Dr. A. Peter Weiss
Victor England Eric J. McFadden
NOMOS AG WWW.NOMOSAG.COM nomos@nomosag.com
CNG, Inc. WWW.CNGCOINS.COM cng@cngcoins.com
Copyright CNG and Nomos
ORDERING INFORMATION 1. The point of sale for all items is Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All orders are sent from Pennsylvania. 2. All items are guaranteed genuine. Attribution, date, condition and other descriptions are the opinion of the cataloguer, and no warranty is expressed or implied. Any coin order may be returned within fourteen days of receipt for any reason. The customer shall bear the cost of returning all items and shall insure them for their full value. 3. Sales tax, postage, handling and insurance are the responsibility of the buyer and are added to all invoices where appropriate. For buyers in the European Union, CNG may import lots into the United Kingdom prior to shipment and charge buyers the import Value Added Tax. On any tax not paid by the purchaser which should have been paid, even if not invoiced by CNG, the purchaser agrees to pay the same on demand together with any interest or penalty that may be assessed. It is the responsibility of the buyer to comply with foreign customs and other regulations. 4. Orders may be paid by US$ check, credit card or wire transfer. US$ checks must be written on a US bank. We accept VISA and MasterCard. Credit card payment may be arranged by phone, fax or mail. Invoices can be provided in Euro, Swiss Francs or Pounds Sterling. Contact the office to arrange details. 5. Please provide a specific shipping address and advise us of any special shipping instructions. Unless other specific shipping instructions are indicated, coins are sent by U.S. Insured or Registered mail. Every effort is made to ship within 24 hours of receipt of payment. Please allow a reasonable time for delivery. For this list all orders are to be placed through CNG. OVER THE WEB Coins may be ordered directly off the website at www.cngcoins.com. To find the coins on this list go to the category Nomos List in the Coin Shop. BY PHONE, FAX, EMAIL, MAIL CNG, Inc. Post Office Box 479 Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17608-0479 +1 717 390 9194 Fax +1 717 390 9978
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Greek Coinage
1. Spain, Carthago Nova. Under the Carthaginians, 220-205 BC. Shekel (Silver, 26mm, 7.32 g 1). Head of Tanit to left, wearing grain wreath and triple pendant earring. Rev. Horse prancing to right; above, star with eight rays. Burgos 380. Robinson, 3a. SNG Copenhagen 291. Very rare. Well struck and nicely centered. Toned but with some deposits as found. About extremely fine. From an American collection.
2. Spain, Gadir. Circa 235-200 BC. Drachm (Silver, 17mm, 4.57 g 12). Head of Melqart to left, wearing lion’s skin headdress and with club behind. Rev. mhlm / ‘gdr Tunny fish to right. Burgos 1307. CNH 1. VillarongaBenages 630. Very rare. Slightly rough surfaces but toned and very well struck. Extremely fine.
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3. Gaul, Massalia. Circa 150-100 BC. Drachm (Silver, 17mm, 2.72 g 3). Diademed and draped bust of Artemis to right, with a quiver over her shoulder. Rev. MAΣΣA/Λ/AZ Lion moving left with upraised forepaw. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Lockett -. SNG Munich -. A most attractive example of this scarce type. With a lovely old cabinet tone. Sharply struck on a full flan. Extremely fine.
4. Campania, Neapolis. Circa 320-300 BC. Didrachm or Nomos (Silver, 19mm, 7.48 g 7). Head of the nymph Parthenope to right, her hair elaborately curled and bound with a wide taenia, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind, bunch of grapes. Rev. NEOΠOΛITΩN Man-faced bull walking to right, head facing; above, Nike flying right, holding a wreath to crown him. HN III 571. Sambon 437 var. SNG ANS 317. SNG Cop. 398. A very nice example with a most attractive old tone. Good very fine. Ex Peus 386, 26 April 2006, 11. This very attractive coin has the toning that comes from having been above ground within a collection for a long time, surely well earlier than its first auction appearance known to us.
5. Calabria, Tarentum. Circa 272-240 BC. Stater (Silver, 19mm, 6.41 g 6), Aristeides. Ephebe, nude, riding horse prancing to right; to left, Nike flying to right to crown the jockey; in field to right, ΦΙ; below, ΑΡΙΣΤΕΙΔ. Rev. ΤΑΡΑΣ Phalanthos, nude, riding dolphin to left, holding branch in the right hand and trident with his left; to right, monogram. HN III 1042. Vlasto 910 (this coin). An attractive, nicely toned example. Obverse very slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine. From the collection of M. P. Vlasto.
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6. Lucania, Velia. Circa 300-280 BC. Stater (Silver, 21mm, 7.52 g 3). Head of Athena to right, wearing a crested helmet decorated with griffin; to left behind neck, A. Rev. YEΛHTΩN Lion standing on exergual line; above, dolphin between I and Φ. HN III 1307. SNG ANS 1376. SNG Cop. 1579. A well-preserved piece with a lovely old cabinet tone and an impressive pedigree. Good very fine. Ex A. Cahn 71, 14 October 1931, 76, Helbing 55, 8 November 1928, 3414, and Ars Classica 12, 18-23 October 1926, 517.
7. Lucania, Velia. Circa 290-280/75 BC. Stater (Silver, 24mm, 7.34 g 11). Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with Pegasus; above visor, A; behind neck, IE in shallow incuse square. Rev. ΥEΛHTΩN Lion attacking stag to left. BMC 111. HN III 1318. SNG ANS 1403 var. SNG Cop. 1591 (same dies). Williams 576 a. A wonderful example with a reverse of exceptional power, well struck on an unusually broad flan, beautifully toned and of magnificent style. Extremely fine. Ex Peus 280, 30 October 1972, 35. This is one of very few pieces that has its entire reverse and legend nicely struck. The type is not particularly rare, but its beautiful style, sharp strike and broad flan make the coin one of exceptional quality and beauty.
8. Bruttium, Kroton. Circa 300-250 BC. Octobol (?) or Half stater (Silver, 16mm, 3.12 g 3). Youthful male head to right, beardless and wearing a taenia. Rev. ΚΡΟ Owl with closed wings standing left; at feet to left, grain ear on stalk. HN III 2195. SNG ANS 421. SNG Cop. 1809. An attractive, toned example, quite scarce in this condition. Minor marks on the obverse, otherwise, about extremely fine. Ex Lanz 20, 13 April 1981, 41. This coin is rather perplexing. It has been described as being a third stater (SNG Copenhagen), a half stater (SNG ANS) or an octobol (HN III) and it is unlikely that they can all be right! It is of the reduced standard that came in around the time of the invasion of Pyrrhus and resulted in staters that range around 6.30-6.60; this ought to make it a half stater. The head is also curious; could it be that of a young Herakles or of a river god (though one who seems to lack the usual horn)? However, his athletic physique might indicate that he represents the famous Olympic wrestling victor, Milo of Kroton, one of the city’s most renowned citizens.
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9. Sicily, Akragas. Circa 460-450/46 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24mm, 17.38 g 12). ΑΚΡΑC - ΑΝΤΟC (partially retrograde) Eagle standing left with closed wings. Rev. Crab; below, lotos flower on double spiral vine; all within a shallow circular incuse. Randazzo 15. Rizzo pl. I,11-12. SNG ANS 981. Lightly toned and most attractive. Extremely fine. From an English collection. A particularly attractive and well struck example.
10. Sicily, Gela. Circa 465-450 BC. Litra (Silver, 12mm, 0.86 g 3). Horse walking right; above, wreath. Rev. ΓΕΛΑΣ Forepart of Acheloos as a man-headed bull to right. Jenkins, Gela 330. Well centered but with a lightly struck obverse. Somewhat rough surfaces. Very fine. From an American collection.
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11. Sicily, Leontinoi. Circa 450-440 BC. Onkia (Silver, 6mm, 0.27 g). Lion’s head to right. Rev. Pellet. Boehringer, Münzgeschichte -. Possibly unpublished. A fascinating and extremely rare coin. Nicely toned and well struck. Nearly extremely fine. From the collection of a European specialist. The lion’s head on this coin, combined with the typically Sicilian pellet denominational mark, makes it quite clear that this coin must have been struck by Leontinoi, even though the denomination itself is, at least until now, apparently unknown for that city.
12. Sicily, Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny, 485-466 BC. Obol (Silver, 10mm, 0.65 g), c. 480-470 BC. Head of Arethusa to right, her hair bound with a diadem of pearls, wearing a drop earring and a pearl necklace. Rev. Wheel of four spokes. Boehringer 286 var. Attractively toned, well centered and with a lovely head of Arethusa. Extremely fine. Ex Münzen und Medaillen FPL 483, November/December 1985, 18.
13. Sicily, Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny, 485-466 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23mm, 17.31 g 7), c. 478475 BC. Bearded charioteer driving quadriga walking to right; above, Nike flying right to crown the horses. Rev. ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟ-Ν Diademed head of Arethusa to right, her hair falling back behind her neck and wearing a pearl diadem and a pearl necklace; around, four dolphins swimming to right. Boehringer 122 (V55/R83). SNG ANS 32. Toned and well centered. Very fine. From an English collection.
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14. Sicily, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy, 344-317 BC. Dilitron (Bronze, 27mm, 20.39 g 8), circa 339/8-334. ΖΕΥΣ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ Laureate head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Free horse prancing to left. Basel 499 (this coin). CNS 80 st 2. SNG ANS 533-541. SNG Lloyd 1456-1457. Very rare and of splendid style. Fine dark green patina. Extremely fine. From the collection of A. Moretti and exhibited in the Basel Museum, Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998, 499. The heads of Zeus on the dilitra of Timoleon have a late Classical feel to them, rather like the heads of Zeus on the coinages of Philip II, Olympia and the Arkadian League. Here we have nobility and power combined in a single head of great beauty; as a series these are among the most attractive of all Greek bronzes. In fact, the obverse die of this piece was surely engraved by the same artist who produced the dies for the extremely rare Zeus/Pegasus silver stater, of which there are two examples known, one in Naples and the other in a private collection (for the Naples piece see Rizzo pl. LVIII, 2; the other is ex Tkalec, 25 October 1996, 15).
15. Sicily, Syracuse. Hieron II, 275-215 BC. AE (Bronze, 29mm, 18.13 g 12). Diademed head of Hieron II to left; behind head, ram’s head to right. Rev. ΙΕΡΩΝΟΣ Helmeted cavalryman riding horse prancing to right, holding couched lance with his right hand; below right, monogram of ΑΡ. CNS 193 (Ds15/R1.3) var. SNG ANS -. Apparently unpublished and very rare. Of exceptionally fine style and with a lovely green patina. Extremely fine. From an English collection. This coin comes from a well-documented and extensive series of bronzes minted by Hieron II. However, the very high quality of the engraving makes it stand out from all the others and suggests that it is one of the prototypes for the entire issue. The ram’s head and neck symbol on the obverse is quite exceptional too.
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16. Kings of Thrace. Lysimachos, 305-281 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 32mm, 17.06 g 1), Amphipolis, c. 288/7-282/1. Diademed head of Alexander III to right, ram’s horn over his ear. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ Athena seated left on throne, resting her left elbow on her shield and holding Nike in her outstretched right hand; in inner left field and in the exergue, monogram. Müller 543. Thompson 201 variant (position of the monograms). A beautiful, bold, toned example with a wonderful portrait in high relief. Good extremely fine. From an American collection.
17. Macedon, Akanthos. Circa 480-470 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27mm, 17.36 g). Lion to right, attacking bull, collapsing to left with head raised; above, O; below, in exergue, floral ornament. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square with granulated surfaces. Desneux 49. A very attractive coin, beautifully toned. Minor old scratches on the reverse, covered by toning, otherwise, extremely fine. Ex The Numismatic Auction 1, 13 December 1982, 52. This very attractive coin has the toning that comes from a long collecting history, surely beginning well before its first known auction appearance.
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18. Kings of Macedon. Philip II, 359-336 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26mm, 14.49 g 5), Amphipolis, 342/1-c. 329/8. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Nude jockey on horse prancing to right, holding long palm branch in his right hand; below horse, galley prow. Le Rider 377 (D-/R 327). A bold and attractive piece with a fine head of Zeus. Extremely fine. From an English collection.
19. Kings of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29mm, 17.08 g 12), Mylasa or Kaunos, c. 250. Head of Herakles in lion skin headdress to right. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle in his right hand and scepter in his left; to left, double ax or labrys. Price 2074. A splendid and attractive example, nicely toned. About extremely fine. From an English collection.
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20. Kings of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30mm, 17.06 g 6), Tarsos, c. 323-317, under Philip III. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle in his right hand and lotos tipped scepter in his left; to left, Nike flying right; below throne, monogram of ΑΝΤΙ. Price 3038. A splendid piece, nicely toned, very well centered and struck on an unusually broad flan. Extremely fine. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 6, 11 March 1993, 124.
21. Kings of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25mm, 17.03 g 2), struck under Demetrios Poliorketes, Tarsos (Newell) or an uncertain mint in southern Asia Minor (Price), c. 298295 BC (Newell); 320-280 BC (Price). Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle in his right hand and lotos tipped scepter in his left; to left, monogram of ΑΝΤΙΦ. Newell DP, p. 48, 32 (XXXV/71, same dies). Price 3083. An attractively toned example struck in high relief. Nearly extremely fine. Ex Monnaies et Médailles 76, 19 September 1991, 696 and from the collection of M. Collignon, Feuardent, 17 December 1919, 198.
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22. Kings of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26mm, 17.15 g 6), Myriandros or Issos, c. 325-323. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟ Zeus seated left on backless throne, holding eagle in his right hand and lotos tipped scepter in his left; to left, monogram; below throne, monogram. Price 3222. A particularly splendid example, beautifully struck in high relief. Good extremely fine. From an American collection, acquired from Spink in London, 1989.
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23. Kings of Macedon. Philip III Arrhidaios, 323-317 BC. Drachm (Silver, 17mm, 4.29 g 12), Magnesia, 323-319. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ Zeus seated to left on throne, holding eagle in his right hand and long scepter in his left; to right, behind scepter, thyrsos. Price P52 (but thyrsos inner left in error). Lightly toned, well centered and attractive. Extremely fine.
24. Kings of Macedon. Demetrios I Poliorketes, 306-283 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28mm, 17.22 g 12), Chalkis, c. 290-287. Diademed head of Demetrios to right, wearing bull’s horn above his forehead. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ Poseidon, nude, standing to left, his right foot on a rock, holding a trident with his left hand and resting his right on his right thigh; in outer field to left, 12-pointed star; in outer field to right, ΔΙ. Newell 152. An attractive toned example struck on a broad flan and with a fine portrait. Extremely fine. From an American collection, ex Hirsch 250, 8 May 2007, 20.
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25. Kings of Paeonia. Patraos, Circa 335-315 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 22mm, 13.07 g 8). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. [ΠΑΤ]-ΡΑΟΥ Paeonian horseman, heavily bearded and wearing crested helmet and full armor, galloping right and spearing fallen Macedonian soldier. Paeonian Hoard 140 (apparently same dies). Very rare with this exceptional reverse. Lightly struck with minor striking faults, otherwise, extremely fine. From the Patraos Hoard of 1968 (IGCH 410). Since the great Patraos Hoard was found in the late 1960s the tetradrachms of Patraos, with the head of Apollo on their obverses and the victorious Paeonian cavalryman on their reverses, have become very well known. However, virtually all of those coins show a more-or-less crude figure of an armored horseman on their reverses, without any individuality save for the fact that he is almost invariably beardless. This piece very clearly shows us a bearded horseman: who can he be? The idea that he could be just an ordinary soldier, shown bearded due to a whim of the die engraver seems unlikely. Rather, this figure must be inspired by the equestrian figure of Philip II who appears on some of his tetradrachms, his hand raised in salute; that type has long been recognized as being miniature portrait of the king himself (most of his tetradrachms show an anonymous young jockey). Thus, this bearded Paeonian must be a portrait of Patraos himself!
26. Kings of Epeiros. Alexander the Molossian, 350-330 BC. Stater (Gold, 17mm, 8.53 g 2), Tarentum, circa 334-332 BC. Bearded head of Zeus Dodonaios right, wearing wreath of oak leaves. Rev. AΛEΞANΔPO[Y] [T] OY NEOΠTOΛEMO[Y] Horizontal thunderbolt; above, spearhead to right. ACGC 686 = BMC 1 = R. R. Holloway, “Alexander the Molossian and the Attic Standard in Magna Graecia,” in La circulazione della moneta ateniese in sicilia e in magna grecia. Atti del I convegno del centro internazionale di studi numismatici, Napoli 5-8 Aprile 1967 (Rome, 1969), pl. XI, 7 = Traité IV 329 = Vlasto, Or, pl. IE, 16. Hunterian 1. Vlasto, Alexander, Group C, Type 4. An extremely rare coin, one of four known, and the only piece not in a public collection. Light field marks and a few edge bumps, otherwise, good very fine. From the collection of the Honorable J. William Middendorf II, Christie’s New York, 30 November 1990, lot 42, ex Classical Numismatic Auctions 1, 1 May 1987, lot 46. This is the only genuine piece to have been offered in the last 75 years–the stater in Leu 52 was withdrawn prior to the sale as a modern forgery.
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27. Thessaly, Rhodian Mercenaries. Circa 172-168 BC. Drachm (Silver, 16mm, 2.68 g 5), struck under Perseus of Macedon, c. 168, Hermias. Head of Helios facing, turned slightly to the right. Rev. ΕΡΜΙΑΣ Rose with bud at the right; to left and right, Ζ Ω. Price, Larissa p. 241. SNG Keckman 795. An attractive, toned example. Uncleaned as found. Extremely fine. This drachm of Rhodian type was virtually unknown prior to 1968 when, as a result of the great Sitochoro/Larissa Hoard, large numbers went both to the Athens Numismatic Museum and to collectors worldwide. While imitations of Rhodes had long been known (coins of Rhodian types without the mint name) they had been a bit of a mystery. It is now certain that they were designed to pay soldiers who were familiar with Rhodian coinage.
28. Boeotia, Federal Coinage. Circa 287 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26mm, 17.14 g 12), Thebes. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΒΟΙΩΤΩΝ Poseidon, seated left on throne with a lion’s leg on the front and a Boeotian shield on the side, holding a dolphin in his right hand and a transverse trident in his left. BCD Boiotia 81 (same reverse die). De Luynes 1980 (same obverse die). Gulbenkian 920=Jameson 2065=Weber 3305 (same reverse die). Extremely rare. Minor area of striking flatness on the beard, otherwise, nearly extremely fine. Ex Nomos 2, 18 May 2010, 71 and Triton XI, 8 January 2008, 147. This is one of the great rarities of Central Greek coinage. These tetradrachms were produced in very small numbers at a time of crisis and only a very few have survived until today.
29. Boeotia, Thebes. Circa 425-395 BC. Stater (Silver, 20mm, 12.24 g). Boeotian shield. Rev. Θ Ε Head of Dionysos to right, bearded and wearing an ivy wreath. BCD Boiotia 442 (same reverse die). Lightly toned and with an attractive head of Dionysos. Some minor scuffs on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine. From an American collection.
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30. Attica, Athens. Circa 500/490-485/0 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23mm, 17.48 g 10). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet and circular earring. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl with closed wings standing right, head facing; behind, olive sprig; all within incuse square. Asyut Pl. XVIII passim. Seltman Group Gi. Svoronos pl. 5 passim. A very well centered and struck example, very rare thus. The usual minor bangs and marks, otherwise, about extremely fine. From an English collection. This is a very nice example of an archaic Athenian tetradrachm, unusually well struck. Vast numbers of these early coins were used in trade and the majority of them, as with all Athenian silver coins, were melted down to produce coins at other mints. The Athenians themselves used their older coins as a resource to make new ones: in fact, in the mid 4th century all earlier pieces were recalled and restruck.
31. Attica, Athens. Circa 430s-420s BC. Drachm (Silver, 14mm, 4.27 g 9). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with olive leaves and palmette. Rev. ΑΘΕ Owl standing right with head facing; to left, olive spray; all within incuse square. Agora 10e ff. SNG Copenhagen 41. Svoronos pl. 11, 20. A lovely toned piece struck on a broad flan. Minor mark on obverse, otherwise, extremely fine. Privately acquired in the 1980s from the Drees Gallery in Brussels.
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32. Islands off Attica, Aegina. Circa 456/45-431 BC. Stater (Silver, 18mm, 12.30 g), bearing a countermark dating to the later 5th century. Tortoise. On the shell, in an rectangular or square indent, large Α. Rev. Linear incuse square divided into five compartments, forming a skew pattern. ACGC 127 and SNG Cop. 516-517 (for the stater). Nicely toned, struck in very high relief, and with an interesting countermark. Relatively inobtrusive flan crack, probably due to the high relief of the obverse type but not affecting it in any way, otherwise, nearly extremely fine. Ex UBS 52, 11 September 2001, 69. This countermark was applied to the coin after Athens ended Aegina’s independence in 431 and these coins no longer were officially legal tender. Thus, the coins only circulated by weight and, often, needed to be officially tested to prove their quality. This testing was done by private individuals (merchants or money changers) or by cities; afterwards tested pieces were countermarked to indicate they had passed. The Α stamped on this piece might well refer to Argos, which certainly was on the Aeginetic standard (Aegina itself used an image of its famous skew reverse), but it might just as well refer to a private individual.
33. Corinthia, Corinth. Circa 350-300 BC. Drachm (Silver, 16mm, 2.50 g 8). Ϙ Pegasus flying right with pointed wing. Rev. Head of Aphrodite to right, wearing a sakkos with a tassel, pendant earring and pearl necklace. BCD Corinth 175. SNG Copenhagen 131. A beautifully toned and lovely example. Extremely fine. From the collection of the late David Sellwood.
34. Sikyonia, Sikyon. Circa 360s-340s/330s BC. Obol (Silver, 11mm, 0.63 g 3). Dove alighting right; above tail, Σ. Rev. Dove flying right. BCD 255.3. A rare variant with no letter on the reverse. Good extremely fine. The obols of Sikyon were struck in very large numbers, understandably so because they were very popular and circulated throughout the Peloponnesos and in many places in Central Greece where the Aeginetic standard was also used. Thus, the vast majority of known Sikyonian obols are in worn condition. Pieces like this one are exceptional.
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35. Kolchis, The Caucasus Area. 1st century BC/1st - 2nd century AD. Stater (Gold, 16mm, 3.68 g 12). Stylized helmeted head with huge eye and crest; around, four pellets and a bucranium. Rev. Facing winged figure; to left and right, two pellets. N. Frolova, Caucasian Imitations of Alexander and Lysimachus’ Golden Stater, Studies Touratsoglou, pp. 127-133, pl. II, 1-8 var. Very rare. Struck from a rusty obverse die. Bold and with high rims. Good very fine. Ex Triton XV, 3 January 2012, 1189. This is one of the late Caucasian imitations of Alexander staters: it still has vaguely recognizable types as compared to the following stater, which is of a style that is disintegrated as to be virtually incomprehensible.
36. Kolchis, The Caucasus Area. 1st century BC/1st - 2nd century AD. Stater (Gold, 15mm, 3.52 g 7). Stylized head with huge eye and crest; around, four pellets. Rev. Facing figure with large ‘wings’ and a bucranium head; above to left and right, three pellets. Lang 4 var. DLT 9377. N. Frolova, Caucasian Imitations of Alexander and Lysimachus’ Golden Stater, Studies Touratsoglou, pp. 127-133, pl. II, 10 var. Very rare. A bold and distinctive example with high rims. Toned. Extremely fine. Ex Triton XV, 3 January 2012, 1188. A highly stylized imitation derived from the Athena/Nike staters of Alexander III. Note how this piece is even more distant from the original prototype than the earlier piece in the preceding lot.
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37. Kolchis, The Caucasus Area. 1st century BC/1st - 2nd century AD. Stater (Gold, 19.7mm, 5.41 g 11). Stylized beardless head to right, wearing what is apparently an Attic helmet with a high crest and ornaments; on the top of the crest at front, four birds. Rev. Crude figure seated to left, holding a small figure on its right arm and a transverse spear in its left; to left and right, vertical line of oblong pellets; below, trident to left. N. Frolova, Caucasian Imitations of Alexander and Lysimachus’ Golden Stater, Studies Touratsoglou, pp. 127-133, pl. II, 13 var. Extremely rare, an extraordinary and very unusual piece. Well centered and well struck. Good extremely fine. Ex Goldberg 65, 6 September 2011, 4030. This piece is an extraordinary example of a particularly bizarre coinage, one that in the past has been identified as coming from a variety of different places. Early scholars in western Europe assumed it was possibly Balkan or from the area of the Black Sea: that last suggestion was the closest to being right. We now know that these pieces seem to have come from the area of modern Georgia. Up to now they have fallen into two basic types: imitations of staters of Alexander bearing a very rude Athena head and an eagle-like Nike, or imitations of Lysimachos staters with a degraded head of Alexander and a very schematic seated Athena. This piece clearly bears a helmeted head on the obverse, which is probably meant to be Athena but wearing an attic helmet rather than the expected Corinthian one. The reverse is basically copied from late Lysimachos staters minted in Byzantion in the earlier 1st century BC.
38. Kolchis, The Caucasus Area. 1st century BC/1st - 2nd century AD. Stater (Gold, 19.7mm, 5.69 g 1). Stylized beardless head to right, around the back and top of the head, above the hair beginning at the bottom left, five birds standing right with, on the forehead another bird standing left. Rev. Crude figure seated to left, wearing a conical hat and holding a small figure on its right arm and a transverse spear in its left; to left and right, vertical line of oblong pellets; below, trident to left. N. Frolova, Caucasian Imitations of Alexander and Lysimachus’ Golden Stater, Studies Touratsoglou, pp. 127-133, pl. II, 16-17 var. Extremely rare and a wonderful, sharp example. Virtually as struck. Ex Goldberg 65, 6 September 2011, 4031.
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39. Bithynia, Herakleia Pontika. 4th century BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 11mm, 1.26 g 2). Head of bearded Herakles in lion’s skin headdress to left. Rev. HPAK / ΛEIA Club to right. SNG BM Black Sea 1576. SNG Lockett 2678 (this coin). SNG Stancomb 812. SNG von Aulock 354. A magnificent, well struck and beautiful example with a most elegant head of Herakles, and an impressive pedigree going back at least to the early 20th century. Good extremely fine. Ex Tradart, 18 November 1993, 88 and from the collections of R. C. Lockett, XII, Glendining & Co. 21 February 1961, 2158 and that of S. Pozzi, Naville I, 14 March 1921, 2137.
40. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 600-550 BC. Stater (Electrum, 19mm, 16.15 g). Head of tunny fish to right, between two tunny fish swimming to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA -. SNG France -. Von Fritze II, 1. Extremely rare and of great interest, apparently the earliest of all the staters of Kyzikos. Very fine. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 78, 26 May 2014, 279. This seems to be the first of all the staters issued by Kyzikos, in series that began in the very early 6th century and lasted until the time of Alexander. Here we see the city’s symbol, the tunny fish, used as the main type, but accompanied by two complete fishes as well.
41. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 10mm, 2.73 g). Head of boar to right with a tunny held upward in its mouth. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 34 (stater). Very rare. Very fine.
42. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 19mm, 2.67 g). Forepart of a lion to left, his head turned back to right; to right, tunny swimming downwards. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. CNG 94, 2013, 418 (same obverse die). Von Fritze 40. Very rare. Toned. Struck from a worn obverse die, otherwise, very fine. 25
43. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 9mm, 2.74 g). Head of Panther (?) facing; to left, tunny swimming downwards. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. SNG France 183 var. Von Fritze 43 and pl. I, 44 var. Rare, an unusual variant. Good very fine. From an American collection. This identity of the animal head on the obverse is not quite certain. The creature is usually termed a panther: that it certainly is on the normal type found with the tunny on the right (as lot 23 of our last year’s fixed price list). All those show us a cat with pointed ears; but this one has rounded ears: might this be an attempt at a bear?
44. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. Stater (Electrum, 19mm, 16.24 g). Sphinx crouching to left on a tunny fish. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1450. SNG France 200. Von Fritze I 72. An attractive, toned piece, but struck on an irregular flan. Good very fine. From a European collection formed in the 1920s, ex Naville X, 15 June 1925, 650.
45. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 9mm, 2.62 g). Triton to left, holding a tunny by the tail and with the head of a tunny below. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. SNG France 209 var. (hemihekte). Sotheby Brand 5, 181 (but misidentified as von Fritze 126). Von Fritze I 78 var. (hemihekte). Very rare. Toned. Very fine.
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46. Mysia, Kyzikos. Circa 500-450 BC. Stater (Electrum, 19mm, 16.09 g). Forepart of winged lioness to left; behind, tunny swimming upwards. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. SNG France 237. Von Fritze I 96. Very rare. A most attractive example, well struck, well centered and finely toned. Extremely fine. From an English collection.
47. Troas, Abydos. Circa 480-450 BC. Drachm (Silver, 18mm, 5.14 g 11). ΑΒΥΔ-[Η]ΝΟΝ Eagle standing left, with folded wings. Rev. Facing head of a fierce gorgon, with snakey hair and a protruding tongue; above the ears to left and right, pellet; all within a shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 3. SNG Munich 3. Very rare. Rough surfaces and with the obverse slightly off center, but beautifully toned and with a wonderful reverse. Very fine / extremely fine. Ex Gorny & Mosch 200, 10 October 2011, 1666. Fierce gorgons very popular types for coins in the 6th and earlier 5th centuries BC: those from Neapolis and Athens are particularly well known. This piece is truly remarkable in its power and hieratic form.
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48. Lesbos, Mytilene. Circa 330 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 10mm, 2.53 g). Head of Karneios to right, with a ram’s horn over his ear. Rev. Eagle standing to right, head turned back to left; all within a linear frame in a shallow incuse square. BMC 111. Bodenstedt 104. SNG von Aulock 1727. An excellent example perfectly struck and with a most attractive old tone. One of the finest known specimens of this type. Extremely fine. From the Velkov Collection, Vinchon 24 November 1994, 141. It has been suggested that the head on the obverse of this coin is that of Alexander the Great.
49. Ionia, Ephesos. Circa 390-325 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25mm, 15.26 g 12), Demokles, magistrate, struck circa 380-360 BC. E-Φ Bee with straight wings. Rev. ΔHMOKΛHΣ Forepart of a stag to right, head reverted; a palm tree to left. Pixodarus class D, obv. die 46. SNG von Aul. -. SNG Cop. 219. SNG Kayhan -. A lovely example well struck on a broad flan. Finely toned and truly exceptional for this type. Extremely fine. Privately acquired in the 1980s from the Drees Gallery in Brussels.
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50. Ionia, Phokaia. Circa 478-387 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 11mm, 2.55 g). Head of youthful Satyr to left with an animal ear, ivy wreath and a bunch of berries. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Babelon pl. 158, 20. BMC 38. Bodenstedt 87. SNG von Aul. 7951. A lovely example with a most attractive old tone. Good very fine. From the Velkov Collection, Vinchon, 24 November 1994, 115.
51. Kings of Lydia. Alyattes II, circa 610-560 BC. Hemihekte (Electrum, 8mm, 1.17 g), Sardes. WALWET (in Lydian and retrograde) Two lions’ heads facing each other (only the jaws of the one on the right are visible) with an inscription between them. Rev. Rectangular incuse punch. Weidauer 111. Extremely rare. A splendid and amazingly clearly struck example, with a full inscription and clear traces of the jaws of the lion on the right. Extremely fine. From an English collection, previously in that of O. L. V. Sanders. This is a truly remarkable piece: it is the best and most complete example of this denomination known for Alyattes. These small coins were struck utilizing dies that were designed for larger coins and, thus, are very rarely truly well struck. This, however, shows traces of both lions and has an exceptionally legible inscription.
52. Pamphylia, Side. Circa 360-333 BC. Stater (Silver, 21mm, 10.52 g 6). Athena standing left. Rev. Apollo sacrificing to left. Atlan 114. SNG France 644 (same dies). Nicely toned and attractive. Good very fine. Ex Hirsch XXXIII, 17 November 1913 (von Schennis), 863. The figures of Athena and Apollo on this coin are made with a great deal of delicacy.
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53. Arabia, Southern area, the Himyarites. Saba’. 2nd–3rd centuries AD. Unit or ‘Denarius’ (Silver, 17mm, 2.99 g 9). Diademed male head; to left, curved symbol of Almaqah; to right, symbol of Athtar; above, diskcrescent of Dhat-Hamin. Rev. Bucranium; monogram to left; curved symbol of Almaqah to right; around, bead and reel border with disk-crescent above. CAF (App. 5), 39. Huth 302. SNG ANS 1503 and 1510. Toned. Extremely fine.
54. Persia, Achaemenid Empire. Time of Darios I to Xerxes II, circa 485-420 BC. Daric (Gold, 16mm, 8.38 g), Sardes. Great King of Persia running to right, wearing kidaris, holding bow in his left hand and spear with his right. Rev. Rectangular incuse. BMC Arabia pl. XXIV, 26. Carradice Type IIIb A/B (pl. XIII, 27). A superb, lustrous example. Good extremely fine. Acquired from Pars Coins in California, 1990. This exceptionally sharp piece clearly shows the ornamental quiver the Great King wears over his shoulder, a detail not often as visible as this.
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55. Egypt. Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, 323-305 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26mm, 17.16 g 12), Attic weight standard, Alexandria, 316-312/0. Head of the deified Alexander III to right, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant skin headdress, with aegis around his neck, and with horn of Ammon on his forehead. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Athena Alkidemos advancing right, hurling spear with her right hand and with shield over her extended left arm; to right, eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt to right with ΕΥ below. SNG Copenhagen 15. Svoronos 42. Zervos XVIII. A beautiful, nicely toned example. Extremely fine. From the Concord collection.
56. Numidia or Mauretania, Uncertain. 2nd - 1st century BC. As (?) (Bronze, 24mm, 5.40 g 2). OVX ?, apparently in punic Bearded male head to right, his hair shown as spikes. Rev. Ear of grain between two bunches of grapes, all within olive wreath. Cf. Mazard 576 (Camarata). SNG Copenhagen 748. A very curious and rare coin. Uncleaned as found with red dirt overlaying a dark green patina. Very fine. From an American collection. Exactly what this coin is is hard to say. It has been ascribed to Camarata by some but there seems little reason to do so, especially since the products of Camarata do not look like this. In any case it is clearly North African and is similar to a number of certainly identified Mauretanian issues.
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57. Kings of Mauretania. Juba II, 25 BC-AD 24. Denarius (Silver, 17mm, 2.65 g 3), Caesarea, c. 20 BC AD 20. REX IVBA Diademed head of Juba to right. Rev. Eagle, with spread wings and head to right, standing facing on thunderbolt; over left wing, transverse scepter. MAA 204. SNG Copenhagen 583. Very rare. Nicely toned. About extremely fine.
58. Kings of Mauretania. Juba II, 25 BC-AD 24. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 2.84 g 1), Caesarea, Regnal year 41 = AD 16. REX IVBA Youthful head of Hercules (Alexander?) wearing lion skin headdress to right and with a club over his shoulder. Rev. CAES / AREA / R XXXXI within oak wreath. MAA 232. SNG Copenhagen 586. A lovely, sharp and toned example. Minor flan crack, otherwise, extremely fine.
59. Kings of Mauretania. Juba II, with Cleopatra Selene, 25 BC-AD 24. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 2.88 g 12), Caesarea, 20 BC- AD 24. REX IVBA Diademed head of Juba to right. Rev. BACIΛICCA KΛEOΠATΡA Star within crescent. MAA 97. SNG Copenhagen 567. Nicely toned but slightly misstruck. About extremely fine. 33
Central Asian Coinage
60. India, Kushan Empire. Kanishka I, circa 127/8-152. Dinar (Gold, 20mm, 7.97 g 12), Mint I (A), 3rd emission. ÞAONANO ÞAO KA NhÞKI KOÞANO Kanishka, diademed and crowned, standing facing, head left, holding goad and scepter, sacrificing over altar to left; flame at shoulder Rev. MANAOBAΓO Manaobago, wearing diadem and helmet, and with lunar horns at shoulders, seated facing on raised stool, cushioned and with curving legs, feet on footstool, head right and with four arms: lower left on hip and holding fillet, upper left holding diadem, upper right holding standard, and lower left holding coins or fruit; tamgha to right. Donum Burns 129 (same rev. die). MK 59 (dies 8/1 – an unlisted obv. die for this series). Very rare. Virtually as struck.
61. Iran, Sasanian Kings. Shahpur I, 240-272. Dinar (Gold, 21mm, 7.44 g 3), Mint I (“Ctesiphon”), Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. mzdysn bgy šhpwhry mrk’n mrk (the Mazda worshipper the divine Shahpur king of kings of Iran who is descended from the gods) (in Pahlavi) Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos. Rev. nwr’ zy (fire of) (in Pahlavi on right), šhpwhry (Shahpur) (in Pahlavi on left) Fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns; fravahr to left of flames. Göbl type I/1. Saeedi AV5. SNS type IIc/1b, style P, group b. Sunrise 739/740 (obv./rev.). Very rare. An elegant and well struck coin of the finest style. Extremely fine.
62. Iran, Sasanian Kings. Narseh, 293-303. Drachm (Silver, 27mm, 4.17 g 3). mzdysn bgy nrshy mrk’n mrk (the Mazda worshipper the divine Narseh king of kings) (in Pahlavi) Bust right, wearing crown with arcades, three foliate branches, and korymbos; hair in single group. Rev. ’y nryy (fire of) (in Pahlavi on right), nrshy (Narseh) (in Pahlavi on left) Fire altar; flanked by two attendants, both wearing mural crowns, the left with korymbos; fravahr and taurus symbol flanking flames. Göbl type II/2 var. (altar with ribbon). Saeedi 177. SNS type Ia/1a. Sunrise 8023. Lightly toned and well struck. Good very fine. From the collection of the late David Sellwood.
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Roman Republican Coinage
63. M. Aburius M.f. Geminus, 132 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.92Â g 4), Rome. GEM Helmeted head of Roma to right; below right, XVI monogram. Rev. M.ABVRI / ROMA Sol driving galloping quadriga to right. Crawford 250/1. Sydenham 487. A beautiful, toned coin, perfectly struck and centered. Good extremely fine. From an English collection.
64. Q. Fufius Calenus and Mucius Cordus, 68 BC. Denarius serratus (Silver, 21mm, 3.79Â g 6), Rome, 70 BC. HO - VIRT / KALENI Jugate heads to right of Honos, laureate, and Virtus, wearing a crested helmet. Rev. ITA - RO / CORDI On the left, Italia, standing to right holding a cornucopiae, and, on the right, Roma, standing to left holding fasces and with her right foot on a globe, clasping their right hands; to left, winged caduceus. Babelon (Fufia and Mucia) 1. Crawford 403/1. Sydenham 797. An exceptionally fine example, beautifully toned and perfectly struck. One of the finest examples of this type known. Virtually as struck. From a private collection in Switzerland. Coins of this type are relatively common but pieces in this quality are virtually unheard of. For example, there were no pieces in the Mesagne hoard, which was buried just a few years after this coin was struck, even near this nice.
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65. Q. Pomponius Musa, 56 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.93 g 6), Rome. Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind, scroll. Rev. Q POMPONI MVSA Clio, the Muse of History, standing left, holding scroll in her right hand and resting her left elbow on a pillar. Babelon (Pomponia) 11. Crawford 410/3. Sydenham 813. Beautifully toned and well struck. Some very minor marks and some uncleaned deposits on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine. From an old English collection, acquired from Spink’s in 1981.
66. Q. Pomponius Musa, 56 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17mm, 3.92 g 6), Rome. Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind, scepter. Rev. Q.POMPONI MVSA Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy, standing facing, head right, wearing sword at her waist, holding a club in her left hand and tragic mask in her right. Babelon (Pomponia) 14. Crawford 410/4. Sydenham 816. Beautifully toned and unusually nice. Good extremely fine.
67. Q. Pomponius Musa, 56 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 4.27 g 2), Rome. Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind, tortoise. Q.POMPONI MVSA Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, standing right, holding a lyre with her left hand and a plectrum in her right. Babelon (Pomponia) 18a. Crawford 410/7a. Sydenham 819a. Nicely toned and attractive. Minor marks on the obverse above Apollo’s head, otherwise, about extremely fine. 36
68. M. Junius Brutus, 54 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 4.05 g 7), Rome. BRVTVS Bearded head of L. Junius Brutus (Cos 509) to right. Rev. AHALA Bearded head of C. Servilius Ahala to right. Babelon (Junia) 31. Crawford 433/2. Sydenham 907. Vagi 82. An attractively toned example with both heads nicely struck. Slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine.
69. L. Hostilius Saserna, 48 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.71 g 4), Rome. Bearded male head to right, his hair straggling out behind him; cloak around neck and Gallic shield behind. Rev. L.HOST[ILIVS] / SASERN Nude Gallic warrior, holding shield with his left hand and hurling spear with his right, standing left in a galloping biga being driven to right by a seated charioteer holding a whip. Babelon (Hostilia) 2. Crawford 448/2a. CRI 18. Sydenham 952. An interesting and historical coin, very well centered. Extremely fine. From the collection of the late David Sellwood. The head on this famous coin has long been identified as that of Vercingetorix, the defeated Gallic leader who graced Caesar’s triumph in Rome. This can not be proven but the head does have remarkably individualistic and natural features, and it must surely represent an actual Gaulish captive seen by the die engraver.
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70. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio with P. Licinius Crassus Junianus, 47-46 BC. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.92Â g 10), Utica. LEG.PRO.PR - CRASS.IVN Turreted head of the city-goddess of Utica to right; to left and right, grain ear and caduceus; above and below, uncertain rectangular object and prow to left. Rev. SCIP.IMP - METEL.PIVS Military trophy between lituus and one-handled jug. Babelon (Caecilia) 52. Crawford 460/3. CRI 42. Sydenham 1049. Very rare, toned and very well centered, one of the finest known examples. Minor mark on the obverse and some flat striking, otherwise, good extremely fine. From the Concord collection.
71. L. Plautius Plancus, 47 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.82Â g 6), Rome. L PLAVTIVS Head of Medusa facing with dishevelled hair. Rev. PLANCVS Victory facing, holding palm branch in her left hand and leading four horses. Babelon (Plautia) 14. Crawford 453/1 c. Sydenham 959 b. A very elegant, beautifully toned example, exceptionally well centered on both sides and with an unusually clear reverse. Extremely fine. From an old English collection. This coin type is notoriously difficult to find really well struck, with the reverse horses clear and distinct and not off center. As such, this piece is actually a very rare example of the coinage.
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72. Mark Antony, autumn 32 - spring 31. Denarius (Silver, 17mm, 3.66 g 7), Patrae (?). ANT.AVG / III. VIR.R.P.C. Galley moving to right. Rev. LEG V Legionary eagle between two standards. BMCRR (East) 196. Crawford 544/18. CRI 354. Sydenham 1221. Nicely toned. Extremely fine. The Vth legion that is commemorated on this coin is probably the V Alaudae (“the Larks”), which was raised in Gaul by Caesar in 52 BC. It seems to have served at Actium with Antony but then went over to Octavian; it was destroyed in 87 AD at the first battle of Tapae in Dacia. There was, however, another Vth legion, the V Macedonica, raised by Octavian in 43 BC; this legion remained as a distinct unit of the Roman army until early in the reign of Anastasius I when it was finally merged into the Byzantine army.
73. Mark Antony, autumn 32 - spring 31. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.59 g 12), Patrae (?). ANT.AVG / III. VIR.R.P.C. Galley moving to right. Rev. LEG VI Legionary eagle between two standards. BMCRR (East) 197. Crawford 544/19. CRI 355. Sydenham 1223. Well struck and attractively toned. Extremely fine. The VIth legion on this coin is the Ferrata (“Ironclad”), which first came to fame as a legion under Caesar; it played a major part in his victory over Pharnaces II at Zela in 47 BC. During the Civil Wars the VIth Ferrata served with Antony, being severely handled by Octavian at Actium. It later formed part of the garrison of Palestine and was headquartered slightly south of Megiddo in a locality, which now has the Arabic name Lajjun (clearly derived from the word legion).
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Roman Imperial Coinage
74. Augustus, with Agrippa, 27 BC-AD 14. As (Copper, 24mm, 12.32 g 12), Nemausus, c. 10 BC-AD 10. IMP DIVI F Heads of Agrippa to left, wearing combined rostral crown and laurel wreath, and of Augustus to right, wearing oak wreath, back to back. Rev. COL NEM Palm tree, top bent to right with a wreath above, with chained crocodile behind. AMC 425. Cohen 10. RIC 158. RPC 524. Attractive dark green patina with some minor sand deposits. Weakly struck reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.
75. Tiberius, 14-37. Aureus (Gold, 19mm, 7.73 g 12), Lugdunum, 14-37. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Tiberius to right. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM Female figure (Livia?) seated right on a throne with decorated legs, holding a long vertical scepter and a branch. BMC 46. Calicó 305a. Cohen 15. RIC 29. An attractive example with original mint luster. Well struck on both sides. Minor die break on the obverse at 3 o’clock, otherwise, extremely fine. The gold coinage of Tiberius must have been enormous. It was struck in the great branch mint of Lyon and was, as a class, one of the most used gold coinages in Roman history. These pieces are found all over the Empire and beyond - they were very popular in India where they were imported as payment for the spices and luxuries the Romans craved. Nevertheless, the fact that these coins were so popular means that they were also extensively used and many lasted in circulation until at least the 2nd century AD. Thus, a lovely piece like this, is not at all common.
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76. Tiberius, 14-37. As (Copper, 28mm, 11.09Â g 1), Rome, 15-16. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST IMP VII Bare head of Tiberius to left. Rev. PONTIF MAXIM TRIBVN POTEST XVII / S - C Draped female figure seated right, her feet on stool, holding a patera in her right hand and a long scepter in her left. BMC 68. BN 41. Cohen 18. RIC 34. A lovely and sharply struck example with an attractive greenish brown patina. Slightly off center, otherwise, good very fine. Purchased from Spink in London, January 2000.
77. Gaius (Caligula), 37-41. Denarius (Silver, 17mm, 3.80Â g 8), Lugdunum, 37. [C CAESAR]AVG GERM P M TR POT Bare head of Caligula to right. Rev. AGRIPPINA MA[T C CAES A]VG GERM Draped bust of Agrippina the Elder to right, her hair bound in a long queue falling down the back of her neck. BMC 8. RIC 8. Rare. Beautifully toned and with very fine portraits. Struck slightly off center with parts of the legend missing, otherwise, good extremely fine. From an old English collection. The emperor Gaius, usually known by his childhood nickname, Caligula, was one of the most notorious of all the Roman emperors. He was one of the few members of the Julio-Claudian family to survive the persecutions of Tiberius (orchestrated by Sejanus) and was, initially, the object of a great deal of good will in Rome. Unfortunately, he was struck down by a mysterious malady, which seriously affected his personality, changing him drastically. He became increasingly erratic and cruel: this led to the conspiracy that ended in his assassination and the ascension of Claudius to the throne. On this coin we see the still sane emperor paired with a portrait of his beloved mother, who had died imprisoned by Tiberius in 33.
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78. Gaius (Caligula), 37-41. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 35mm, 29.14 g 6), Rome, c. 37-38. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Laureate head of Gaius to left. Rev. ADLOCVT / COH Bare-headed and togate Gaius standing left before the sella castrensis on a platform, haranguing five soldiers with shields and parazonia, the two rearmost pairs of soldiers carry an aquila. BMC 33. BN 45. Cohen 1. Kent-Hirmer pl. 49, 168. RIC 32. Rare. A lovely and untouched example with a most attractive Tiber tone and an excellent reverse composition. Slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, good very fine. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 46, 2 April 2008, 500. Gaius is usually known from his nickname, ‘Caligula’, which came from the soldiers’ boots he wore as a child when he was with his father Germanicus on campaign. After Germanicus’ assassination in 19, the family’s relationship with Tiberius became extremely tense: all the rest, including his mother Agrippina, were either murdered or starved to death on the orders of Tiberius. Nevertheless, as the only surviving heir Gaius became Tiberius’ heir, and succeeded him in 37. Caligula’s reign started well but, apparently due to a severe infection, his personality changed and his actions became ever more bizarre and erratic resulting in his own murder in 41. The Sestertii of Gaius vary greatly in their quality and style. This is a particularly elegant reverse that was certainly engraved by a real master engraver. Another example most likely struck by the same artist appeared as NAC 79, 2014, lot 24 (while surely better than the present piece it sold with a hammer price of 600,000 CHF!).
79. Claudius, 41-54. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.76 g 8), Rome, 41-42. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. EX SC / OB CIVES / SERVATOS within oak wreath. BMC 18. RIC 16. A lightly toned, well struck and well centered example with an excellent portrait. Extremely fine. From an American collection.
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80. Claudius, 41-54. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 35mm, 26.92Â g 7), Rome, 41-42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP Laureate head of Claudius to right. Rev. SPES AVGVSTA / S C Spes advancing to left, holding up her robes with her left hand and a flower in her right. BMC 124. Cohen 85. RIC 99. A lovely piece with a fine sand patina and a particularly elegant portrait. Extremely fine. The Sestertius was a quarter denarius and was a major part of the Roman coinage system in Imperial times. The issues of Claudius with the reverse of Spes, a goddess of particular interest to the emperor, were quite large, and usually bear a fine portrait, of pure Julio-Claudian style. They were, in fact, so popular with the troops on the frontier that many local imitations were produced as well, some of very odd style to be sure.
81. Claudius, 41-54. As (Copper, 25mm, 11.39Â g 7), Rome, 41-50. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP Bare head of Claudius to left. Rev. S - C Minerva, helmeted, advancing right, holding a shield with her left hand and brandishing a javelin with her right. BMC 149. Cohen 84 var. (varying obverse legend). RIC 100. An attractive example with a detailed portrait. A few minor deposits but with good surfaces and a lovely green patina. Good very fine. 44
82. Nero, 54-68. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 28mm, 14.48 g 6), Rome, c. 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P Radiate head of Nero to right. Rev. ROMA / S C Roma seated left on cuirass and pile of shields, holding wreath in her extended right hand and parazonium in her left. BMC 205. RIC 296. Nicely centered and with an attractive golden-tan toning. Good very fine. From an English collection.
83. Nero, 54-68. Sestertius (Bronze, 35mm, 25.71 g 6), Rome, 67. IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P XIII P P Laureate head of Nero to right. Rev. S - C Helmeted Roma seated left on cuirass, holding a long scepter in her right hand and resting her left arm on a shield set at her side; in exergue, ROMA. BMC 114. BN 427. Cohen 285. RIC 356. An attractive and well struck coin with a dark green patina and a good portrait. Good very fine. From the Mazzini Collection, I, pl. LIII, 285.
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84. Vespasian, 69-79. Aureus (Gold, 18mm, 7.26 g 7), Lugdunum, 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P Laureate head of Vespasian to right. Rev. COS III FORT RED Fortuna standing left, holding a globe in her outstretched right hand and a caduceus in her left. BMC 382. BN 292. Calicó 613. Cohen 97. RIC² 1111. An impressive coin with a very strong portrait and some of its original mint luster. Reverse slightly off center, otherwise, good very fine. From a Swiss collection.
85. Vespasian, 69-79. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.51 g 6), Rome, 74. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head of Vespasian to right. Rev. PON MAX TR P COS V Winged caduceus. BMC 138. Cohen 362. RIC² 703. A magnificent example, finely toned, with an excellent portrait and with an almost heraldic reverse. Obverse slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine.
86. Vespasian, 69-79. Denarius (Silver, 17mm, 3.60 g 7), Rome, 77-78. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head of Vespasian to left. Rev. COS VIII Prow right; above, eight pointed star. Cohen 137. RIC² 942. Perfect and attractively toned example. Well centered and sharply struck in the finest style of the period. Good extremely fine. The prow that appears on the reverse of this coin directly refers to issues of Antony that had the same type (Crawford 521/1).
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87. Titus, 79-81. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.48 g 6), Rome, 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M Laureate head of Titus to right. Rev. TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P Winged thunderbolt on a draped and backless throne. BMC 51. BN 43. Cohen 316. RIC 23 b. A marvelous example of fine style with a lovely cabinet tone. One almost invisible scratch in the right reverse field, otherwise, extremely fine. Ex Bank Leu 71, 24 October 1997, 341. The reverse of this coin refers to the festivities held to mark the completion of the Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheatre. This piece shows the sacred chair used to represent Jupiter’s presence among the audience at the games held there. For a discussion of this type, see B. L. Damsky, The Throne and Curule Chair Types of Titus and Domitian, SNR 74 (1995).
88. Trajan, 98-117. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.24 g 8), Rome, 112-114. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P Laureate head of Trajan to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI / VIA TRAIANA Female figure, Via Traiana, reclining left, her head turned back to right, holding a wheel with her right hand supported on her right knee and a branch with her left. BMC 487. Cohen 648. RIC 266. Sharply struck and lightly toned. Extremely fine. This coin commemorates Trajan’s construction of the continuation of the route from Beneventum to Brundisium. According to ancient sources it was paid out of the emperor’s personal funds. Strabo tells us that voyagers could save at least a day of travel time by using the new Via Traiana instead of the older Via Appia.
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89. Hadrian, 117-138. As (Bronze, 27-30mm, 11.24 g 12), Rome, 118-122. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind with pteryges visible at his arm truncation. Rev. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right, seen from the front. BMC 1838 var. (different bust types). Cohen 844 var. (different legends). RIC 998 var. (different obverse bust type). Rivista italiana 1892, p. 19. Very rare. A most attractive example with an impressive pedigree. Well centered and with an attractive dark brown patina. Obverse fields somewhat smoothed and reverse lightly corroded, otherwise, very fine. From the Mazzini collection, “dopo 844”, illustrated on pl. XL, and from the collection of Conte A. Magnaguti, III, P. & P. Santamaria, 26 June 1950, 535. These so-called ‘mules’, apparently struck by two different obverse dies are known for several different emperors. Exactly why they were struck is uncertain but they may have served as die trials that were then simply released into circulation. The fact that they were made with regular dies precludes them being any form of counterfeit: they may well have been made by mint workers who simply decided to have a bit of fun! In any case, the fact that this piece was owned by both Mazzini and Magnaguti shows that it was appreciated by two of the great Italian collectors of the 20th century.
90. Hadrian, 117-138. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 33mm, 27.47 g 6), Rome, 125-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his far shoulder. Rev. COS III / S - C Virtus standing left, holding a parazonium in his right hand and a downward pointing spear in his left, and resting his right foot on a helmet. BMC 1307. Cohen 356. RIC 638. A very nice example with a dark green tone and an excellent portrait. Fields very slightly and carefully smoothed and with a flan crack at 7 o’clock, otherwise, very fine. Ex Ars Classica XIII, 27-29 June 1928, 1259 (described as having a “superbe pat. vert foncé. De toute beauté”).
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91. Aelius, Caesar, 136-138. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.34 g 7), Rome, 137. L AELIVS CAESAR Bare head of Aelius to right. Rev. TR POT COS II / CONCORD Concordia seated left, holding patera in her right hand and resting her left elbow on cornucopiae set on the ground. BMC 981 (Hadrian). Cohen 1. Hill 837. RIC 436 (Hadrian). An attractive, toned example. Some minor edge splits from striking, otherwise, extremely fine.
92. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Aureus (Gold, 7.26 g 6), Rome, 153-154. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVII Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to left. Rev. COS IIII Antoninus Pius, standing left, holding a globe in his right hand. BMC 815. Calico 1530. Cohen 314. RIC 233. A pleasant piece with an excellent left facing portrait. Nearly extremely fine. From the collection of Archer Huntington, long on loan to the American Numismatic Society.
93. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Drachm (Bronze, 33mm, 24.48 g 12), Alexandria, year 8 = 144-145. AVT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωNEINOC CEB EYC Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. The Signs of the Zodiac: within which, circle of the eponymous gods of the days of the week; busts of Saturn, Helios and Selene on the right with the busts of Ares, Hermes, Zeus and Aphrodite on the left; in the inmost circle, jugate busts left of Sarapis, wearing a modius, and Isis, wearing globe and horns; undated. BMC 1079 var. (seven gods on the reverse). Very rare and of great interest. Dark patina with some areas of roughness. Good fine. From a Swiss collection since the 1990s. Alexandria saw an immense output of coinage during the eighth year of Antoninus Pius. The Zodiac drachms, mythological types, and a host of issues for the nomes appeared that year. One explanation for this activity centers on the celebration of the renewal of the Great Sothic cycle, the point when the star Sothis (Sirius) rises on the same point on the horizon as the sun. This cycle of 1461 years began again in AD 139, and apparently prompted a renewal in the ancient Egyptian religion, and its connections within the Greco-Roman Pantheon.
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94. Diva Faustina Senior, died 140/1. As (Bronze, 27mm, 11.98 g 12), Rome, struck under Antoninus Pius, c. 147-157. DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA Draped bust of Faustina I to right, her hair piled on top of her head and bound with pearls. Rev. S C Crescent upwards with seven stars. BMC 1476 var. (different obverse legend). Cohen 275 var. (same). Mazzini 275* var. (same). RIC 1199 var. (same). Apparently an unpublished variety. Of very fine style, well centered and with a beautifully natural dark green patina. Good very fine. From the collection of Daniel Féret, ex Jean Vinchon 1994, lot 448 and the former Eton College Collection, Sotheby’s 1976, lot 711, which had been donated to the college as a duplicate from the British Museum in 1873. The Diva issues of Faustina Senior continued to be struck long after her death and deification in 141 AD. Mattingly arranged this large series chronologically, based on the obverse legend. As the elder Faustina’s synonymous daughter had been proclaimed Augusta in 147 AD after the birth of her first child, Mattingly concluded that the subsequent Diva issues dropped the AVGVSTA from the legend. The crescent and stars reverse type is known from her initial issue of 141 AD and is clearly a reference to her heavenly translation. The completion of the Temple of Faustina about 150 AD as well as the impending ten-year anniversary of her deification would have provided an ample opportunity for reissuing the type as a reaffirming allusion to her divinity in connection with her temple’s completion.
95. Septimius Severus, 193-211. 4 Assaria (Bronze, 29mm, 13.32 g 7), Isauria. ΑΥ Κ Λ CΕΠ CΕΟΥΗΡΟC ΠΕΡΤ Laureate head of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩC ΙCΑΥΡΩΝ Severus, crowned by two Victories, on galloping horse to right, hurling spear with his right hand; below, two fallen Parthian enemies. SNG Levante Supplement I, 29 (same dies). SNG von Aulock 5409 (same dies). Rare. Of splendid style, with dies cut by a master engraver. Dark brownish green patina. Some very light traces of corrosion, otherwise, about extremely fine. From the M Collection, ex LHS 102, 29 April 2008, 409.
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96. Julia Domna, Augusta, AD 193-217. Denarius (Silver, 20mm, 3.26 g 12), Rome, 211-217. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG Draped bust of Julia Domna to right, her hair in seven waves and bound up at the back. Rev. PVDICITIA Pudicitia, veiled, seated left, facing front, with her right hand at her breast and holding a scepter with her left. Cohen 172. RIC 385. A perfect coin sharply struck on a broad flan. Of elegant style and with a very expressive portrait. Virtually as struck.
97. Caracalla, 198-217. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 3.18 g 12), Rome, 199-200. ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS Laureate and draped bust of Caracalla to right. Rev. VICT AETERN Victory advancing left, holding a wreath in both hands over a shield set on a base to the left. BMC 188. Cohen 169. RIC 47. A magnificent, sharply struck piece struck in high relief. Extremely fine.
98. Caracalla, 198-217. Denarius (Silver, 20mm, 3.25 g 1), Rome, 201-206. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Laureate and draped bust of Caracalla to right. Rev. ADVENT AVGG Galley left, with five rowers, signum, and aquila at stern. Cohen 3. RIC 120. A beautiful example sharply struck and nicely centered. Extremely fine.
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99. Geta, as Caesar, 198-209. Denarius (Silver, 18mm, 3.37 g 7), Rome, 200-202. P SEPT GETA CAES PONT Bare-headed and draped bust of Geta to right. Rev. PRINC IVVENTVTIS Geta as Princeps Iuventutis standing left, holding a branch and a spear; behind, trophy. BMC 236. Cohen 157. RIC 18. A splendid example with a lovely portrait. Good extremely fine.
100. Geta, as Caesar, 198-209. Diassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 8.26 g 6), Tripolis. Λ CΕΠ ΓΕΤΑC ΚΑΙC Bareheaded and draped bust of Geta to right. Rev. ΤΡΙΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ Demeter, veiled and draped, standing left, holding grain ears in her right hand and grain stalk in her left. BMC -. SNG von Aulock -. SNG Copenhagen -. Rare. A beautiful example with an expressive portrait of the young Geta, and an attractive patina as found with some sandy deposits. Extremely fine. From a Swiss private collection.
101. Diadumenian, as Caesar, 217-218. Denarius (Silver, 20mm, 2.81 g 6), Rome, 218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES Bare-headed and draped bust of Diadumenian to right. Rev. SPES PVBLICA Spes, diademed and draped, walking left, holding flower in her right hand and raising her skirt with her left. Cohen 21. RIC 116. An excellent example with a remarkably attractive and expressive portrait in high relief. Well centered and lustrous. Virtually as struck. 53
102. Julia Paula, Augusta, 219-220. Denarius (Silver, 20mm, 3.66 g 7), Rome. IVLIA PAVLA AVG Draped bust of Julia Paula to right, her hair bound up in a queue at the back. Rev. CONCORDIA Concordia seated left on throne, holding a patera in her right hand; in the field to left, star. BMC 172. Cohen 6. RIC 211. Lustrous and with a lovely portrait of the young empress. Virtually as struck. Ex A. Tkalec, 24 October 2003, 344. Julia Cornelia Paula came from a distinguished Romano-Syrian family and seems to have been both attractive and intelligent; she was picked to be the wife of Elagabalus by Julia Maesa, probably in hopes that she might be able to stabilize him. In the end she was unable to control him and was divorced in 220.
103. Maximinus I, 235-238. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 25mm, 11.07 g 6), Rome, 235-236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I to right. Rev. VOTIS / DECENNA / LIBVS / S C in four lines, within wreath. Cohen 120. RIC 76. Very rare. A nice example with clear surfaces. Well centered and attractively toned. Some striking flatness and a flan crack at 7 o’clock, otherwise, good very fine.
104. Maximinus I, 235-238. Triassarion (Bronze, 30mm, 13.66 g 7), Anchialus. AVT MAΞIMEINOC EVCEBHC AVΓ Laureate and draped bust of Maximinus to right. Rev. OVΛΠIANΩN AΓXIAΛEΩN City gate flanked by two towers with conical roofs. BMC -. SNG Cop. 450. Sharply struck on a broad flan, with an impressive reverse type and an attractive brown-greenish patina. Slightly double struck, otherwise, good very fine. 54
105. Balbinus, 238. Denarius (Silver, 19mm, 2.77Â g 12), Rome. IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Balbinus to right. Rev. PROVIDENTIA DEORVM Providentia standing facing, her head turned to left, holding a wand in her right hand above globe and a cornucopiae in her left. BMC 33. Cohen 23. RIC 7. A perfect coin with clear surfaces and a lovely portrait. Well centered and with original mint luster. Good extremely fine.
106. Pupienus, 238. Denarius (Silver, 20mm, 2.91Â g 11), Rome. IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Pupienus to right. Rev. PAX PVBLICA Pax seated left on throne, holding an olive branch in her right hand and a scepter in her left. BMC 46. Cohen 22. RIC 4. A spectacular piece with a most elegant portrait. Well centered and lustrous. A few minor die flaws on the reverse, otherwise, virtually as struck.
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107. Gordian III, as Caesar, 238. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 30mm, 21.48 g 1), Rome. M ANT GORDIANVS CAES Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right. Rev. PIETAS AVGG / S C Priestly emblems: augur’s wand, sacrificial knife, patera, sacrificial jug, simpulum, and sprinkler. Banti 59. BMC 64. Cohen 183. RIC 3. Rare. A lovely example with a most elegant and expressive portrait and a very fine dark brown patina. A piece of great style struck on a large and massive flan. Surely one of the finest known examples. Extremely fine. Ex Rasmussen 367, 6 October 1977, 316.
108. Gordian III, 238-244. Aureus (Gold, 21mm, 4.86 g 12), 241-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right. Rev. P M TR P VI COS II P P Apollo seated left, holding an olive branch in his right hand and resting his left elbow on a lyre that serves as a back for the stool. Calicó 3227. Cohen 271. RIC 104. Attractive and very well struck. Two minor scratches on the obverse, otherwise, good extremely fine. From an English collection.
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109. Gordian III, 238-244. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 37mm, 20.52 g 7), Tarsus. ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC CΕΒ / Π-Π Radiate and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right, seen from the front. Rev. ΤΑΡCΟV ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕωC / Α-Μ-Κ / Γ-Β Herakles standing right, wrestling with the Nemean Lion; in exergue, club. SNG Levante 1127. SNG Paris 1692. An attractive piece with a reverse illustrating one of the Labors of Herakles. Basically uncleaned as found with reddish earth overlaying a fine green patina, good very fine or better.
110. Philip I, 244-249. Sestertius (Bronze, 28mm, 18.97 g 12), Rome, 246. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Philip I to right. Rev. P M TR P III COS P P / S - C Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. Cohen 125. RIC 149a. A beautiful example with an untouched patina. Extremely fine. From the Collection of ’a Friend of the Romans’, Münzen und Medaillen 92, 22 November 2002, 195, and ex Triton II, 1-2 December 1998, 994. Sestertii of Philip I are easy to find in good condition, but very rarely are they so well struck.
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111. Otacilia Severa, Augusta, 244-249. Antoninianus (Silver, 25mm, 3.98 g 6), Rome, 247. M OTACIL SEVERA AVG Diademed and draped bust of Otacilia Severa set on a crescent to right, her hair in five waves and bound up at the back. Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG Concordia seated left on throne, holding a patera in her right hand and double cornucopiae in her left. Cohen 4. RIC 125 c. A sharp and well centered piece with a very elegant portrait. Virtually as struck. Antoniniani of Otacilia Severa are easy to find in good condition, but very rarely are they so well struck. The portrait on the obverse is quite a masterpiece of die engraving.
112. Trajan Decius, 249-251. Antoninianus (Silver, 21mm, 3.72 g 7), Mediolanum, 250-251. IMP CAE TRA DECIVS AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust of Trajan Decius to right. Rev. VICTORIA GERMANICA Trajan Decius, riding horse pacing to left, raising his right hand and holding a scepter in his left; before them to left, Victory leading the horse and holding a wreath and a palm branch. Cohen 122 (different bust type). RIC 43 var. (different obverse legend). Very rare and with a particularly attractive reverse. Struck slightly flat on the high points. About extremely fine. From the collection of a specialist in antoniniani.
113. Herennius Etruscus, as Caesar, 249-251. Antoninianus (Silver, 22mm, 3.63 g 1), Rome, 250-251. Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Herennius Etruscus to right. Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG Two clasped right hands. Cohen 4. RIC 138. Sharply struck and well centered. Slightly porous, otherwise, extremely fine. 58
114. Gallienus, 253-268. Antoninianus (Silver, 23mm, 3.02 g 7), Cologne, 256. IMP GALLIENVS PIVS AVG Radiate, draped and curiassed bust of Gallienus to right. Rev. FIDES MILITVM Eagle with spread wings and with its head turned to right, holding a wreath in its beak and standing left on a globe between two standards. Cohen 253. Göbl/MIR 871b. RIC 11. A beautiful coin, perfectly struck on a broad flan and in relatively good silver for the period, with an elegant portrait and with a most artistically designed reverse. Extremely fine. From a Swiss private collection.
115. Postumus, usurper in Gaul, 260-269. Sestertius (Bronze, 31mm, 21.50 g 5), Cologne, 261. IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Postumus to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVG Victory, holding a wreath in her right hand and a palm-branch in her left, advancing left and treading down a bound captive seated left. Bastien 100. Biaggi 734 (this coin). Cohen 383. De Witte -. Elmer 247. RIC 170. A lovely and pristine example with a portrait of extraordinarily fine style. Fully centered and struck on a particularly broad flan with a natural greenish brown patina. Good very fine. Ex Kunst und Münzen AG XXIII, 4-6 February 1982, 634. This beautiful and untouched coin certainly deserved to have been published by Biaggi: not only is the lovely and natural patina of this coin outstanding, but it also has a wonderful portrait and a large and massive flan. The quality of the die cutting for the portrait is far and away higher than Postumus’ normal issues, which are characterized by workmanship that often verges on the caricature. This piece is very desirable for collectors both of the Gallic Empire and of Roman bronze coinage in general.
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116. Postumus, usurper in Gaul, 260-269. Antoninianus (Silver, 20mm, 3.93 g 7), Cologne, 268. POSTVMVS AVG Radiate bust of Postumus to left, in the guise of Hercules, holding a club over his right shoulder and with a lion skin over his left. Rev. IOVI STATORI Jupiter, nude, standing facing, his head turned to left, holding a thunderbolt in his left hand and a long scepter bound with ribbons with his right. AGK (corr.) 38 b. Cunetio -. Elmer 562. H. Gilljam “Seltene Antoniniani des Postumus” 42-45. RIC 310. Very rare. An excellent example in particularly good silver; of the finest style, with a beautifully centered and perfectly struck obverse. Good extremely fine. From the collection of a specialist in antoniniani. Coins of Postumus showing the emperor’s portrait with the attributes of Hercules are very rarely found, and as such are much in demand; they are lacking from many major collections. Out of the more than 33,000 antoniniani of Postumus that were found in the hoards from Douvres, Etaples, Evreux and Cunetio, as well as those catalogued in Coin Hoards from Roman Britain (CHRB) II-V, there were only 6 examples with this portrait type in combination with the IOVI STATORI reverse. Thus, the rarity and the excellent state of preservation of this piece makes it a prize for both advanced collectors and connoisseurs of Roman portraits.
117. Claudius II Gothicus, 268-270. Antoninianus (Bronze, 20mm, 3.71 g 12), Cyzicus. IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Claudius II Gothicus to right. Rev. VICTORIAE GOTHIC Military trophy with two bound captives seated at its base. Cohen 308 var. RIC 252 var. RIC Online 977. Well struck and well centered. Extremely fine. A fascinating piece, which bears the first mention of the Goths to appear on coinage.
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118. Probus, 276-282. As or small Medallion (Bronze, 25mm, 9.16 g 1), Rome, 281-282. PROBVS P F AVG Laureate and cuirassed bust of Probus to right. Rev. FIDES MILITVM Fides standing left, holding a standard in each hand. Cohen 251. Gnecchi 69 and pl. 157, 8 (same dies). Pink VI/1 20. RIC 295. Very rare, only three specimens cited in Gnecchi. A splendid example struck on a broad flan, with lovely old toning and a very elegant portrait. Good very fine. From the Collection of ’a Friend of the Romans’, Münzen und Medaillen 92, 22 November 2002, 262, ex Münzen und Medaillen FPL 540, February 1991, 61, Numismatic Fine Arts XXV, 29 November 1990, 463, Tkalec & Rauch, 25 April 1989, 425, Ars Classica, XVI, 3 July 1933, 2008 (there described as “Superbe patine foncé. Extrèmement rare. De toute beauté”), and from the collection of C. S. Bement, Naville VIII, 25 June 1924, 1420. An exceptional coin with an extensive pedigree.
119. Maximianus, first reign, 286-305. Antoninianus (Bronze, 21mm, 3.67 g 6), Ticinum, 294. MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust of Maximian to right. Rev. VIRTVS AVGG / XXIT Hercules standing right, holding a club in his left hand and apple in his right; to right, apple tree entwined with a serpent. Cohen 585. RIC V 569. A very rare and interesting piece, beautifully preserved. Extremely fine. From the J. Cain collection, Triton XI, 8 January 2008, 990. This coin shows Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides. This type is actually better known from Maximian’s gold coinage; not only is it very rare as an antoninianus but this is about the finest known example.
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120. Constantius I, as Caesar, 293-305. Follis (Bronze, 29mm, 8.99 g 12), Trier, 298-299. FL VAL CONSTANTIVS N C Laureate bust of Constantius to right, wearing helmet and cuirass and holding a spear over his right shoulder and a shield over his left. Rev. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI / B-* / TR Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae. RIC VI, p. 188, 342. Rare with this exceptional bust. Attractive brown toning. About extremely fine.
121. Constantine I, 307/310-337. Follis (Bronze, 19mm, 2.98 g 11), Constantinople, 327. CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG Laureate head of Constantine I to right. Rev. SPES PVBLIC / A / CONS Labarum, topped by a christogram and with three medallions on the banner, transfixing a serpent to right. Cohen 55. RIC VII, 19. Extremely rare and of great historic interest. Well struck and with a dark green patina. Extremely fine. From an American collection. This coin is apparently Constantine’s only explicitly Christian coin type, showing a labarum with the Chi-Rho monogram transfixing a serpent, the symbol of evil. The three medallions on the labarum are also unusual: perhaps they are meant to refer to Constantine and his two eldest sons?
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122. Magnentius, 350-353. Heavy Siliqua (Silver, 21mm, 3.43 g 6), Trier. IM CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Magnentius to right. Rev. VIRTVS EXERCITI / TR Soldier, helmeted and wearing military dress, standing facing with head to right, holding reversed spear with his right hand and resting his left on a shield by his side. Cohen 82. RIC VIII, p. 157, 258 (’heavy bust’). Very rare. Beautifully toned and perfectly struck. Good extremely fine. From the Concord collection, ex Tkalec, 7 May 2009, 209 and from a distinguished European collection formed before c. 1964, UBS AG 78, 9 September 2008, 1969. This coin comes from a famously mysterious collection that had been kept in a Swiss vault since its owner stopped collecting after the death of his friend and, apparently, major supplier, Hubert Herzfelder in March 1963 (quite a number of the coins within this collection could be traced directly to his hands). It seems likely that this coin goes back to a pre-World War II collection, very probably in France.
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123. Honorius, 393-423. Solidus (Gold, 21mm, 4.39 g 6), Mediolanum, 395-402. D N HONORIVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Honorius to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG / M - D / COMOB Honorius standing right, his foot set on a captive, holding a labarum and Victory on globe. Cohen 44. Depeyrot 16/2. RIC 1206. Ulrich-Bansa, Moneta 61. A clear and sharp example. Good very fine. Honorius was the younger son of the great Theodosius I and was a passive, ineffective ruler who only survived because he still had a few good generals and an able bureaucracy. Out of fear he withdrew his capital from Milan and Rome to the better defended and more inaccessible Ravenna, doing virtually nothing to prevent the Visigothic sack of Rome in 410.
124. Valentinian III, 425-455. Solidus (Gold, 21mm, 4.47 g 6), Ravenna, 430-445. D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG Rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Valentinian III to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG / R - V / COMOB Valentinian III standing facing, his right foot set on a man-headed serpent, holding a long cross in his right hand and Victory on globe in his left. Cohen 19. RIC 2019. A lovely and well centered piece. Extremely fine.
125. Basiliscus, 475-476. Solidus (Gold, 21mm, 4.48 g 6), Constantinople, early-mid 475. D N bASILISCUS P P AVG Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Basiliscus facing, holding spear in his right hand and with shield ornamented with rider over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG Є / CONOB Victory standing left, holding a long jeweled cross; to right, star. Depeyrot 101/1. MIRB 1b. RIC 1003. Vagi 3825. Very rare. Minor die flaw in the right obverse field, otherwise, extremely fine. Ex Leu 91, 10-11 May 2004, 767.
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Photo reduced by 30% 126. European, Italian. A gold (21 carat, as per stamp) bracelet in the antique style, by Castellani or a follower such as E. Pierret. Circa 1860s-1880s. A gold bracelet formed out of two thick chains of enlaced gold wire in cable form, each finished with a curved solid gold hook at one end and circular ring at the other. The two chains are held together by six circular gold mounts, each containing a Roman gold aureus. While open at both sides they were clearly designed to show the portrait sides of the coins, rather than their figural reverses; as made the reverses are much more difficult to view. These circular mounts are each flanked by gold cylinders, adorned with wiredecoration, that have been slid over the chain and then fixed. The entire bracelet is c. 20 cm long. From left to right the six coins are: 1) Marcus Aurelius, c. 162 (Rev: two Emperors, BMC 187); 2) Deified Faustina I, wife of Antoninus Pius, c. 140-145 (Rev: Pietas, BMC 334); 3) Antoninus Pius, c. 148-149 (Rev: Aequitas, BMC 646); 4) Hadrian, c. 134-138 (Rev: Roma, RIC 265); 5) Trajan, c. 116 (Rev: Genius, BMC 545); 6) Nero, c. 65-66 (Rev: Salus, BMC 87). The two outer mounts, with Marcus Aurelius and Nero, are fixed while the other four can move with the motions of the wearer. For a similar bracelet by Castellani see Sotheby’s New York, 20 October 1999 “Magnificent Jewels”, lot 155. Minor use marks on the bracelet, but the coins are of unusually high quality for use in jewelry (ranging from good very fine to extremely fine). A lovely piece, a perfect example of the antique revival style of the 19th century. Among the most famous jewelers who produced designs in antique style in Rome were Fortunato Pio Castellani (1794-1865) and Ernesto Pierret (1824-1870). This bracelet is of such high quality, and mounted with such fine coins, that it must have been produced by a firm of equally great importance. For the Castellani family, see S. Soros and S. Walker, Castellani and Italian Archaeological Jewelry, New Haven, 2004; for Castellani and Pierret, see Geoffrey C. Munn, Castellani and Giuliano, Revivalist Jewellers of the Nineteenth Century, London, 1984
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Byzantine Coinage
127. Justin II, 565-578. Solidus (Gold, 22mm, 4.39 g 6), Ravenna, c. 567-570. D N IVSTINVS PP AVI Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Justin facing, holding Victory on globe in his upraised right hand and with a shield bearing a horseman over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVCCCZ: / CONOB Constantinopolis seated facing, head turned to right, holding spear in her right hand and globus cruciger in her left. DOC 210. MIB 20d. SB 407. Rare. Toned and attractive. Extremely fine. Ex Spink, NCirc 110, 2 (February 2002), 450.
128. Heraclius Constantine. 641. Solidus (Gold, 4.51 g 6), Constantinople, 10th officiina (I), 11 March - July 641. Three standing emperors, all crowned, wearing chlamys and holding a globus cruciger; from left to right, Heraclonas, Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine. Rev. VICTORIA AVႺЧ I / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps; to left, Heraclian monogram; to right, Κ. DOC 45. MIB 52. SB 770. Very rare, especially in this condition. A superb example. Virtually as struck. From an important collection of Byzantine coins, Sincona 3, 25 October 2011, 3268, ex UBS 63, 6 September 2005, 498 and HessDivo 283, 10 May 2000, 187.
129. Constans II, with Constantine IV, Heraclius, and Tiberius, 641-668. Solidus (Gold, 20mm, 4.36 g 6), Syracuse, 662-667. d N CONSTANTINЧS...Ч Facing busts of Constans II, large and with long beard, and Constantine IV, smaller and beardless, both wearing crowns with cross and Constans with a plume above. Rev. VICTORIA AVЧ C KΓ. / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps between standing facing figures of Heraclius and Tiberius, each holding globus cruciger. DOC 162b. MIB 95. SB 1086. Rare. Well struck, toned and attractive. Extremely fine. From the collection of Christo Michaelides, Sotheby’s 2 November 1998, 280.
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130. Constantine IV Pogonatus, 668-685. Solidus (Gold, 20mm, 4.48 g 6), Constantinople. P CONSTANUS P P A Helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust of Constantine IV facing, turned slightly to right, holding spear in his right hand and with shield over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORA AVGV Δ / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps. DOC 12. MIB 10. SB 1157. An elegant, toned coin of fine style. Extremely fine. From an American collection, purchased from Spink, March 1985.
131. Constantine IV Pogonatus, 668-685. Solidus (Gold, 20mm, 4.13 g 6), Syracuse, 681-685. d NCONSTANႺЧ Helmeted, diademed and cuirassed bust of Constantine IV facing, holding spear in his right hand and with shield over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVVg Θ. / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps. DOC 59a var. MIB 37 var. SB 1204 var. Very rare. Clearly and attractively struck. Extremely fine. From an important collection of Byzantine coins, Sincona 3, 25 October 2011, 3357, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 21, 17 May 2001, 617.
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132. Constantine IV Pogonatus, with Heraclius and Tiberius, 668-685. Solidus (Gold, 20mm, 4.42 g 6), Uncertain Italian mint, 674-681. dN CONTANTIN Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Constantine IV facing, holding spear with his right hand and with a shield over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVÇЧI ⸫ / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps between standing figures of Heraclius on left and Tiberius on right. Both crowned, wearing chlamys and holding globe cruciger in right hand. DOC -. MIB 54 (Ravenna). S. 1221 var. Very rare and exceptionally nice. Good extremely fine. Ex Triton IV, 5 December 2000, 771.
133. Justinian II, First reign, 685-695. Solidus (Gold, 20mm, 4.25 g 6), Uncertain Italian mint, 687-690. IЧST-INIANЧI Crowned bust of Justinian II facing, wearing chlamys and holding a globus cruciger in his right hand. Rev. VICTORA AVgЧ+ / CONOB Cross potent on base and three steps. DOC 78. MIB 28 var. SB 1315. Extremely rare. Toned. Good very fine. From the collection of Christo Michaelides, Sotheby’s 2 November 1998, 334, ex Bonham-Vecchi 3, 3 December 1980, 219 and Bonham-Vecchi 1, 21 May 1980, 626.
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134. Philippicus (Bardanes), 711-713. Solidus (Gold, 18mm, 3.99 g 6), Syracuse. d N FILEPICO PP AV Crowned bust of Philippicus facing, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger in his right hand and eagle tipped scepter in his left. Rev. VICTORIA AVgu* / P / [CONOB] Cross potent on base and three steps. DOC 16. MIB 10. SB 1458. Extremely rare. Minor marks on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine. From an important collection of Byzantine coins, Sincona 3, 25 October 2011, 3409 and ex Triton III, 1 December 1999, 1312. While the gold minted by Philippicus in Constantinople is rare, that from the provincial mint of Syracuse is almost never found.
135. Basil I the Macedonian, with Constantine, 867-886. Miliaresion (Silver, 26mm, 2.91 g 12), Constantinople, 868-879. IhSuS XRI-SτuS nICA Cross potent on base an three steps, with globe below; all within triple circle of pellets Rev. +bASI / LIOSCЄ / CONSτAn / τInS PISτV / bASILIS / ROmЄOS within triple circle of pellets. DOC 7. SB 1708. Attractive, sharply struck and nicely toned. Extremely fine. From the collection of W. H. Hunt, Sotheby’s New York, 21 June 1991, 133 (part).
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136. Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus II, 913-959. Solidus (Gold, 21mm, 4.40 g 6), Constantinople, c. 943-944. +IhS XPS REX REႺ NANTIЧM Bearded and nimbate Christ seating facing on a lyrebacked throne, raising his right hand in benediction and holding Gospel book in his left. Rev. +CONSTANTINOS CЄ ROMAN ЄN XWb’R’ Two figures standing facing: on the left, Constantine VII, beardless, wearing crown with cross, chlamys and holding globus cruciger in his right hand; on the right, Romanus I, bearded, wearing crown with cross, loros and holding globus cruciger in his left hand; holding between them, with their left (C VII) and right (R I) hands, long patriarchal cross resting on a globe. DOC 10. Fueg 10.2. S. 1749. Rare. Toned and struck on a broad flan. Extremely fine. Ex Münzen und Medaillen FPL 583, February 1995, 77. A very nice clear coin. It should be noted that this coin has been ascribed to Constantine VII and Romanus II, but the problem with that idea is that at that point (c. 945 and later) Constantine VII was very definitely the senior emperor, so that having him as the bearded figure on the right, as he is here, would be against all protocol. Rather, he appears as the beardless emperor on the left, clearly still under the tutelege of Romanus I.
137. Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII, 976-1025. Tetarteron nomisma (Gold, 20mm, 4.23 g 6), Constantinople. +IhS XPS REX REႺNANTIhM Facing bust of Christ Pantocrator, wearing tunic, himation and a cross nimbus, raising right hand in benediction and holding Gospel book in his left. Rev. +bASIL C CONSTANT Ib R Crowned facing busts of Basil II, on the left in loros, and Constantine VIII, on the right in chlamys, both holding a long patriarchal cross between them with their right hands; on the shaft, X. DOC 15b. SB 1806. An attractive coin with a particularly elegant portrait of Christ. Extremely fine. From the collection of Christo Michaelides, Sotheby’s 2 November 1998, 505.
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138. Michael VI Stratiotikos, 1056-1057. Histamenon (Gold, 25mm, 4.34 g 6), Constantinople. IhS XIX REX REgNANTIhM Draped bust of Christ Pantocrator facing, wearing cross nimbus, raising right hand in blessing and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. MIXAHL AUTOCRAT On the left, half-length figure of Michael facing, wearing crown with cross and pendilia and jeweled chlamys, holding his right hand at his breast and a globus cruciger in his left; on the right, draped and nimbate half-length figure of the Virgin, raising right hand to crown Michael; between them, M Θ. DOC 1a. SB 1840. Extremely rare. A clear and attractive coin, nicely toned. Some minor flan faults, otherwise, extremely fine. Acquired from Spink in December 1992. Michael Bringas was an elderly member of the court nobility, though had served as finance minister for the army (Military Logothete): thus his nickname Stratiotikos. He was nominated emperor by the elderly Theodora shortly before her death, yet another one of her bad choices. He managed to offend all military nobility and was deposed by Isaac I. His coinage was very limited, and much of what there was must have been withdrawn after his deposition; thus their very great rarity today.
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139. Isaac I Comnenus, 1057-1059. Histamenon (Gold, 27mm, 4.43 g 6), Constantinople. +IhS XISnC X RCNANTIhM Christ, nimbate, seated facing on backless throne; raising right hand in benediction and holding book with left. Rev. +ICAAKIOC RACIΛEVC ΡωM’ Emperor standing facing, crowned, wearing armor and cloak, and holding his scabbard with his left hand and his drawn sword with his right. DOC 2. SB 1843. An attractive, toned example. Good extremely fine. From the collection of A. Fund, Sotheby’s New York, 9 December 1993, 630 (part).
Early Medieval Coinage
140. Ostrogoths. Theoderic, 493-526. 1/4 Siliqua (Silver, 10mm, 0.70 g 6), Ravenna, 493-518. D N ANASTASIVS AVG Diademed and cuirassed bust of Anastasius to right. Rev. Monogram of Theoderic between cross and pellet; all within wreath. MEC 118 (Rome). Metlich 45 c. Rare. Nicely toned and well struck. Extremely fine.
141. Visigoths, Spain. Uncertain king, in the name of Justin I, circa 518-527 and later. Tremissis (Gold, 13mm, 1.51 g 6). D N IVSTINVS P P AVG Diademed and draped bust to right, with cross on chest. Rev. VICTORAI AVC SV / CONOP Victory walking to right holding wreath and palm. MEC 189 var. Tomasini 188. A very nice, clear example. About extremely fine. Ex UBS 52, 11 September 2001, 349.
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142. Crusaders, Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus. Henry I, 1218-1253. Bezant (Electrum, 27mm, 3.84 g 6), scyphate issue, Type 3A, Nicosia, 1218 - c. 1232. Christ Pantocrator enthroned facing flanked by IC XC; annulets on throne back and knee of Christ. Rev. hЄNRICI : RЄX CУPRI Henry standing facing, holding long cross and globus cruciger; crossbar at lower end of shaft; pellet at base. CCS 19. M&P pl. 7, 4/2 (obv./rev.). cf. Metcalf, Crusades, 636 (for type). Unusually full strike, and thus rare. Extremely fine.
143. Crusaders, Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus. Amaury, prince of Tyre, usurper, 1306-1310. Gros (Silver, 28mm, 4.39 g 7), Famagusta. + AmALRIC’ TIRЄnSIS DOmInuS/: CIPRI GuB’nATO’ Є RЄTOR lion rampant left. Rev. + IRL’m ЄT CIPRI : REGIS︙FILIuS︙coat-of-arms with Cross of Jerusalem on the dexter side and arms of Cyprus on the sinister; tendrils above and flanking shield. M&P –; cf. Metcalf, Crusades, 672 (for type); cf. CCS 47 (same). Rare. toned, about extremely fine. 76
144. Crusaders, Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus. Peter I, 1359-1369. Gros (Silver, 26mm, 4.64 g 9), Type Δ-E, Nicosia. + PIЄRЄ PAR LA GRACЄ DЄ DIЄu ROI Peter enthroned facing, holding sword and globus cruciger; coat-of-arms to right. Rev. + DЄ IЄRuSALЄm Є DЄ ChIPRЄ • Cross of Jerusalem. Cf. CCS 77 (for type). M&P pl. 33, variety b (dies L/– [rev. die unlisted]). cf. Metcalf, Crusades, 771 (for type). Iridescent toning, some striking weakness on high point of face and in legends, extremely fine.
145. Crusaders, Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus. Peter II, 1369-1382. Gros (Silver, 25mm, 4.56 g 3), Uncertain mint. + PIЄRЄ PAR LA GRACЄ D DIЄ R Peter enthroned facing, holding sword and globus cruciger; coat-of-arms to right; R to left. Rev. + DЄ IЄRuSALЄm Є D ChIPRЄ : Cross of Jerusalem. CCS 95 var. (rev. legend). M&P pl. 46, 7 (dies D/a). Metcalf, Crusades, –. Rare. Toned, good very fine.
146. Crusaders, Knights of Rhodes (Knights Hospitallers). Hélion of Villeneuve, 1319-1346. Gigliato (Silver, 26mm, 3.78 g 3). + · FR : ЄLIOn’ · D’ · VIL(AN)OVA · D[’]I · GR · A · mR · Grand Master kneeling left before patriarchal cross set on three steps. Rev. + · OSPT(AL) · S’ · IO(hAn)IS · IRLnI · QT · RODI · Cross fleurée; each bar ending in shield of the Knights of Rhodes. Cf. CCS 4 (type). Cf. Metcalf, Crusades 1175-82 (for type). Choice for issue. Toned. Extremely fine. 77
World Coinage
147. Germany, Electoral Saxony, Sachsen-Albertinische Linie. August, 1553-1586. Vierteltaler (Silver, 28mm, 7.30 g 10), Freiberg, 1554. AVGVSTVS · D : G · DVX · SAX · SA · RO IM Half-length facing bust of August, wearing electoral regalia and holding a sword. Rev. (star) ARCHIMARS(CH)AL (annulet) ETT • ELE (annulet) FRI Coats-of-arms; 15 54 across field. Kohl 39; K&K 90. Nicely toned. Good very fine.
148. Italy, Aquileia. Bertholdo di Andechs Merania, Patriarch, 1218-1251. Denaro (Silver, 20mm, 1.19 g 6). BЄRTO LDVS · P · Bertholdo seated facing, holding long, cross-tipped staff and ornamented Gospels. Rev. + • CIVITAS • AQVILЄGIA • Facing bust of the Virgin orans. CNI VI 4; Bernardi 16a; Biaggi 141. Toned. Extremely fine.
149. Italy, Arezzo. Republic, 13th-14th centuries. Grosso (Silver, 20mm, 1.76 g 2). + • DE ARITIO • Cross pattée; wedge with pelleted end in second quarter. Rev. + • SA • DONATVS • Half-length facing bust of S. Donato d’Arezzo, in episcopal regalia, raising hand in benediction and holding crozier. CNI XI 6-7; MIR 2; Biaggi 197 corr. (descriptions for this coin and 196 transposed). Very attractive iridescent toning. Virtually as struck. 78
150. Italy, Brescia. Medal (Silver, 63mm, 58.73 g 12), Commemorating the Storming of the French-occupied Palazzo Broletto by the people of Brescia, by Joseph Salwirck, dated 18 Marzo 1797. PRESA DEL PALAZZO BROLETTO (Taking of the Palazzo Broletto) Scene of the storming of the Palazzo Broletto: military and civilian forces attack the entrance, in the foreground insurgents prepare to fire a cannon; below, I · S · F ·; in exergue of border, tendril. Rev. EPOCA DELLA LIBERTÀ BRESCIANA (Period of Brescian Freedom) Liberty Cap and upright dagger; below, 18 MARZO/1797 in two lines; all within laurel wreath; in exergue of border, tendril. Essling 2466. Forrer 321. Julius 542. Very rare in silver. With a deep cabinet toning. Extremely fine. 79
151. Italy, Modena (Duchy). Cesare d’Este, 1597-1628. Lira (Silver, 30mm, 6.64 g 11), Dated 1611. • CAESAR • DVX • MVT • REG • C Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Cesare d’Este to left; • L • S • below bust. Rev. • ADDIT • SE • • SOCIAM • Female figure, wearing classical attire and stephane, standing right, head left, leaning on ornate column, raising hand and holding flowers; • 1611 • in exergue. CNI IX 53. MIR 686/4. RM 18. Well struck and toned; thus difficult to find. Very fine.
Enlargemet of Lot 152
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“Paduans” of Giovanni da Cavino
152. Italy, Padua. Antinoos, Died AD 131. Bimetallic Medal (Bimetallic (copper and orichalcum), 39mm, 47.88 g 6), An original struck example, by Giovanni da Cavino (1500-1570), c. 1550. ΟCΤΙΛΙΟC ΜΑΡΚεΛΛΟC Ο ΙεΡεΥCΤΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΝΟΟΥ Bare-headed and draped bust of Antinoos to right. Rev. ΑΝεΘΗΚε ΤΟΙC ΑΚΑΙΟΙC Mercury (Hermes) standing facing, his body turned slightly to right and his head to left, holding winged caduceus in left hand and with his cloak over his left arm, and, in his right hand, holding the bridle of Pegasos, rearing to left. Johnson & Martini 1695-1696; Klawans 85, 2. Kress 405 = Pollard 461. Very rare, an original struck example beautifully preserved and with a fine reddish brown patina. Very minor edge crack as made, thus, good extremely fine. Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA 6, 30 November 2010, 599. What are generally termed Paduans are medals and coin-like medals that were primarily produced by Giovanni da Cavino (15001570); those of interest here are pieces made in imitation of ancient originals. There seems no doubt that these medals were greatly acclaimed in the 16th century as being wonderful imitations of the antique - Cavino was thought to have caught the spirit and artistry of Roman coins in ways that were actually ‘better’ than the originals! His medals were all made as struck pieces (sometimes bimetallic, as with the Antinoos here), but their great popularity soon resulted in casts being made as well (such pieces continued to be made over the next two hundred years). After Cavino’s death the original dies passed to his son and grandson; they ultimately ended up in Paris and were retouched and remade over the centuries (these later strikes are easily recognizable). Original Cavinos are a testimony to the Renaissance passion for the past and are a monument to the antiquarianism that marked that period in European intellectual history. This particular Cavino is a true tour de force of 16th century workmanship. Not only are the dies beautifully engraved, but the artist has created a bi-metallic planchet in the style of the great medallions made in Rome during the second century. Originally it would have had a red outer ring enclosing a golden brass center.
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153. Italy, Padua. Galba, 68-69. “Sestertius” (Bronze, 35mm, 23.78 g 6), a “commemorative” by Giovanni da Cavino, c. 1555. • IMP • SER • SVLP • GALBA • CAES • AVG • TR POT • Laureate and draped bust right. Rev. ADLOCVT in exergue, S C ascross field Galba standing left on daïs, extending right hand in gesture of address; behind him a sella castrensis (camp stool); in front of him stand five soldiers right, all helmeted, holding shields; two holding signa over shoulders; behind, two signa and two aquilae. Johnson & Martini 1448-1452. Klawans 3/4 (obv./rev.). Lawrence 13-2/13-3 (obv./rev.). A rare contemporary struck example, the obverse with remains of contemporary gilding, the reverse with attractive brown surfaces. Small hairline striking crack. Good very fine.
154. Italy, Padua. Titus, 79-81. “Sestertius” (Bronze, 36mm, 20.23 g 6), “Judaea Capta” Commemorative by Giovanni da Cavino, c. 1555. IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII Laureate head left. Rev. IVDAEA CAPTA / S C Palm tree; to left, bound male captive standing right; to right, Judaea seated right on cuirass in attitude of mourning; both figures surrounded by arms. Johnson & Martini 1582. Klawans 3. Lawrence 37. A rare contemporary struck example with attractive brown surfaces, but with a small hairline striking crack. Nearly extremely fine. 83
155. Italy, Padua. Marcantonio Contarini, 1485-1546/8. Medal (Bronze, 41mm, 32.38 g 6), by Giovani da Cavino, 1540. M.ANTONIVS CONTARENVS Bare headed and draped bust of Contarini to right. Rev. PATAVIVM /.M.D.X.L. Female figure (the personification of Padua) seated to left on a cuirass, with shields behind her and her right foot on a helmet, wearing helmet and robes that leave her right breast bare, holding scales in her right hand and a cornucopiae with her left. Armand I, p. 180, 11. Attwood 270. Toderi & Vannel 939. Rare. A splendid contemporary struck example with a fine brown patina. Extremely fine. From the collection of A. Roth (1943-1992). Marcantonio Contarini was a distinguished statesman of Padua who was related to a number of important Venetian families. He was podestà of Padua in 1540, an appointment that this medal commemorates. He served as an ambassador to both Charles V and Pope Paul III - at the time of his death he had been made Duke of Candia in Crete.
156. Spain, Aragon. Alfonso III el Liberal (the Generous), 1285-1291. Croat (24mm, 3.16 g 3), Barcelona. + : ALFOSVS DЄI • GRACIA RЄX : Crowned bust left. Rev. CIVI TAS BACK nOnA Long cross pattée; annulets and triple pellets in opposite quarters. Cf. CGME 331 (for type). Cf. Crusafont 175 (for type). ME 1842. Toned. Good very fine. 84
British Coinage
157. Ancient British, Trinovantes & Catuvellauni. Cunobelin, c. 10-43. Unit (Bronze, 13.5mm, 2.29 g 1), Cunobelin Jupiter Lion (Trinovantian W) type, Camulodunum. Head of Jupiter Ammon right; CVNO upwards to right. Rev. Lion reclining right on plinth inscribed CΛM; above, branch. ABC 2984. SCBC 347. Van Arsdell 2107-1. Beautiful hard green patina. Nearly extremely fine.
158. Ancient British, Dobunni. Eisv, c. 15-30. Stater (Gold, 17.5mm, 5.61 g 1), Eisu Tree (Dobunnic F) type. Stylized tree with pellet at base. Rev. EISV Celticized horse right; below, wheel. ABC 2078. SCBC 381. Van Arsdell 1105-1. Rare. Good extremely fine.
159. Anglo-Saxon, Kings of Mercia. Offa, 757-796. Penny (Silver, 17mm, 1.30 g 3), Light coinage, Lundene (London); moneyer: Pendræd, c. 785-792/3. Draped bust right; above, serpent left; ◊FFA REX in linear frames to either side Rev. +P ЄN DR ЄD in circles in the angles of a voided lozenge cross fleury, plain cross with pellets in quarters at center. BMC –. Chick 68d = SCBI 2 (Glasgow), 316 (same dies). North 302. SCBC 905. Attractive deep cabinet toning. Very fine. Rare.
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160. Anglo-Saxon, Kings of Mercia. Offa, 757-796. Penny (Silver, 16mm, 1.10 g 12), Light coinage, Lundene (London); moneyer:Winenoth, c. 785-792/3. OFFA/ REX in two lines divided by beaded bar with fleur at each end; cross above. Rev. ЧЧ IN ◊ ð in the angles of a lozenge cross fleury with plain cross and saltire in center. BMC –. Chick 76b = SCBI 9 (Ashmolean), 13. North 288. SCBC 904. Toned and of good metal. Good very fine.
161. Anglo-Saxon, Kings of East Anglia. Eadwald, Circa 796-800. Penny (Silver, 19.5mm, 1.29 g 6), mint in East Anglia, perhaps Gipeswix [Ipswich]; moneyer: Eadnoth, c. 796-800. EADV between two pelleted lines; AΓD above, REX below; all within border of pellets. Rev. Long beaded cross with E AD И ◊Ð in quarters; all within quatrefoil. BMC 3. Naismith E2.1d = SCBI 20 (Mack), 673 (same dies). North 432. SCBC 947. Very rare. Toned with some porosity. Good very fine. Like several East Anglian kings, the only historical records known for Eadwald are his coins. Based on the weight and style of the coins and the names of the moneyers which struck them, it would appear that Eadwald seized the East Anglian throne during the chaotic period which followed Offa’s death in 796. Eadwald ruled until Mercian supremacy was re-established under Coenwulf a few years later, circa 800.
162. Anglo-Saxon, Kings of All England. Aethelred II, 978-1016. Penny (Silver, 20mm, 1.67 g 12), Long Cross type (BMC iva, Hild. D), Dofer (Dover); moneyer, Godwine, circa 997-1003. + ÆÐELRÆD REX Λ(NG) L(ΘR) Draped bust of Aethelred to left; pellet behind neck. Rev. + G•Θ DPIN E M´Θ DOFE Voided long cross with pellet in center and triple crescent ends. BMC 41. Hild. 412-413. North 774. SCBC 1151. SCBI 9 (Ashmolean), 518 (same dies). Toned. Extremely fine.
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163. Tudor. Elizabeth I, 1558-1603. Halfcrown (Silver, 35mm, 14.91 g 8), Seventh Issue, Tower (London) mint; initial mark: 1, Struck 1601-1602. : ELIZABETH : D’ · G’ · ANG’ · FRA’ · ET : HIBER’ · REGINA : Crowned bust of Elizabeth to right (Brown bust 9B), holding orb and scepter. Rev. : POSVI : DEVM : ADIVTORE M : MEVM : Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchée. BCW 1-1/1-a1. North 2013. SCBC 2583. Well struck on a round flan. Includes old collector’s ticket. Toned, nearly extremely fine.
164. Stuart. James I, 1603-1625. Half-laurel (Gold, 29mm, 4.53 g 2), Third coinage, Tower (London) mint; initial mark: spur rowel, Struck 1619-1620. · IACOBVS D : G : MAG : BR : FR : ET HIB : REX · Laureate, draped, and armored bust of James I to left (first bust); to right, X. Rev. HENRIC VS · ROSAS REGNA IACOBVS Crowned coat-of-arms over long cross fourchée. North 2116. SCBC 2640. Schneider 89. Portrait of fine style. Lightly toned. Extremely fine.
87
165. Stuart. Charles I, 1625-1649. Halfcrown (Silver, 35mm, 14.17Â g 12), Type 6, York; initial mark: lion passant, 1643-1644. CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRAN ET HIB REX Charles on horseback riding left, holding sword and reins; EBOR below; diamond and double diamondstops in legend. Rev. CHRISTO (branches) AVSPICE (branches) REGNO Crowned coat-of-arms; shield in ornate oval frame; crowned C R across field; diamond stops in legend. Bull 571. Brooker 1082 (same dies). North 2314. SCBC 2868. An attractive, deeply toned example. Extremely fine. From the collection of the late David Sellwood.
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166. Stuart. Charles I, 1625-1649. Halfpound (Silver, 47mm, 59.98 g 6), Oxford; initial mark: Oxford plume, 1643. CAROLVS : D : G : MAGN : BRIT : FRAN : ET : HIB : REX · Charles I left on horseback, holding reins with left hand and sword in right hand, pile of arms below; Oxford plume to right. Rev. ·:· EXVRGAT : DEVS : DISSIPENTVR : INIMICI RELIG : PROT : LEG/ANG : LIBER : PAR in two lines between parallel lines; above, three Oxford plumes above ·X·. Brooker –. Morrieson, Oxford, dies A-1. North 2404. SCBC 2945A. Minor metal stress. Nicely toned. Extremely fine. Ex Paul Karon Collection (Spink 129, 17 November 1998), lot 96. The cataloguer of the celebrated Karon collection described this piece as “practically as struck, extremely fine and unusually full, rare thus.”
89
167. Stuart. Charles I, 1625-1649. Halfcrown (Silver, 39mm, 13.91 g 6), Exeter mint; initial mark: rose, 1642. CAROLVS · D · G · MAG · BR · FR · ET · HI · REX Charles on horseback riding left, holding baton and reins; arms below. Rev. · CHRISTO · AVSPICE · REGNO · Coat-of-arms; shield in ornate oval frame; I642 within scroll below. Brooker 1013 (Truro; this coin). Bull 663/22. North 2534. SCBC 3071. Toned. Very rare. Good very fine. Ex St. James’s 7 (8 February 2008), lot 163; Spink Numismatic Circular XC/3 (April 1982), no. 2892; John G. Brooker Collection, 1013; H.H. Snelleburg Collection (purchased by Spink in 1965); George Hamilton-Smith Collection (Glendining, 23 May 1927), lot 332; British Museum Duplicates (not in the 1961 Liddell and Rayner list). The design of this coin displays far greater signs of artistic merit than most English coins of the period. Although it bears the date 1642, studies of the letter punches and punches for elements in the reverse shield have shown that the type was struck on two occasions during 1644 at Exeter. The obverse design has some similarities to the Scottish Rebellion Medal of 1639 by Thomas Simon and it may be significant that the King raised his standard in both 1639 and 1642. The issue of the type in 1644 perhaps relates either to the King’s own visit to Exeter late in July, or to his victory over the earl of Essex at Lostwithiel. From recent research it would appear that 22 of these coins are known, 14 from this ‘early’ reverse die and 8 from another. Of these 22 coins, 7 are in museum collections leaving just 15 available for commerce out of which this is the third finest example. Although the finer details surrounding the date and reason for issue remain uncertain, it is one of the most important and impressive of the English Civil War.
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168. Stuart, Siege money. Newark, 1645-1646. Halfcrown (Silver, 32mm, 15.25 g 12), 1646. Crown, flanked by C R, above XXX. Rev. OBS:/NEWARK/1646 in three lines. Brooker 1222. Hird 246. North 2638. SCBC 3140A. Attractively toned. Very fine. From the D.F. Alder Collection. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular LXIV/3 (June 1956), no. 5411.
169. Stuart, Siege money. Pontefract, 1648-1649. Shilling (Silver, 32mm, 5.12 g 12), 1648. DVM : SPIRO : SPERO Crown above C R. Rev. two-towered castle façade with arched gate and portcullis; third tower behind; OBS upward to left; to right XII with horizontal P and C flanking; 1648 in exergue. Hird 278 (this coin); Brooker 1232-1233 (same dies); North 2647; SCBC 3149. Toned. Slight weakness of strike on the obverse. Nearly extremely fine. Ex Horace Hird Collection (Glendining/Spink, 6 March 1974), lot 278.
91
170. Commonwealth. 1649-1660. Shilling (Silver, 32mm, 5.97 g 9), Tower (London) mint; initial mark: sun/-. , 1651. · THE · COMMONWEALTH · OF · ENGLAND · Coat-of-arms of England within wreath. Rev. · GOD · WITH · VS · I65I · Coat-of-arms of England and Ireland within wreath; • XII • above. ESC 983. North 2724. SCBC 3217. Attractively toned with traces of underlying luster; light flan crease. Nearly extremely fine. Ex Magnus Collection (Spink 212, 28 March 2012), lot 968.
171. Scotland. James III, 1460-1488. Rider (Gold, 25mm, 5.04 g 11), Type I, circa 1475-1483. IACOBVS DЄI GRA RЄX SCOTOR (saltire) James, in armor, holding sword in right hand, left on rein, on horseback right; double saltire stops in legend. Rev. SALVVm FAC POP VLVm TV VM DnЄ Crowned coat-of-arms over long cross pattée. Burns 1 (fig. 599). Dundee 74. SCBC 5256. SCBI 35 (Ash. & Hunt.), 78-729. Better than very fine with attractive cabinet toning. Rare, especially with this reverse die. Ex. R. D. Beresford-Jones, Spink 108 (7 March 1995), lot 479; W. Sinkler, Glendining (24 February 1960), lot 722.
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Price List
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Production Credits Cataloging / Editing Victor England Eric J. McFadden Dr. Alan Walker Yves Gunzenreiner Dr. A. Peter Weiss Bradley R. Nelson D. Scott VanHorn
Photography Travis A. Markel 93
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NOMOS AG
Auction 10
Zürich, May 2015
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