Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. “The Art & Science of Numismatics” 31 N. Clark Street • Chicago, Illinois 60602
Tel: (312) 609-0018
169 BUY OR BID SALE
Internet: www.hjbltd.com
th
Fax: (312) 609-1309 Email: info@hjbltd.com
The Closing Date is June 1, 2010 ALL COINS AND ANTIQUITIES GUARANTEED GENUINE WE STILL CHARGE NO BUYERS FEES
VISA
DISCOVER
MASTERCARD
AMERICAN EXPRESS
Experts Harlan J. Berk, Ancients • Aaron Berk, Ancients • Shanna Berk Schmidt, Ancients • Curtis Clay, Roman • Jennifer Saban, Antiquities Anna Hardaloupas, Ancients • Phil Davis, Ancients • Dr. Wolfgang Fischer-Bossert, Greek Coins, European Representive of HJB, Ltd & Gemini Pablo Saban, Webmaster • Photos by Holly Matthews Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. has presented an innovation in antiquities and numismatics for some time now. The system is simple. When you want an antiquity or coin in the sale, just bid the estimated price by phone, fax, web site, email or post. We will send you the antiquity or coin immediately. No waiting for the closing of the sale. Any and all antiquities or coins not sold before the closing date will be sent to the highest bidder on June 1, 2010. EXAMPLE—You bid estimate on an item valued at $100.00 and if your bid is the 1st to reach us, you will receive the item immediately. If on the other hand, you bid $75.00 on the same item and are still the high bidder at the end of the sale, the item will be mailed to you after the closing date, June 1, 2010. If you are ever in the area, stop in to see us! Of course, it’s best to call first. Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. reserves the right to refuse any bids. GOLD First Coin 1. Pre-coinage, Uncertain Ionia; Hekte, c. 700 BC, 2.63g. Typeless; both sides flattened, but there is no incuse punch. This coin is the correct weight for a hekte. It was probably produced with a cast planchet then flattened with some type of implement resulting in the edge crack. Since this hekte has no obverse and reverse it is possible to make the assumption that this is the first coin, although we certainly don’t know for sure. Further supporting that this is a coin and the first, is the fact that it was found some years ago with lots 2 and 3. EF........ 3000 2. Dawn of Coinage, Uncertain Ionia; Light hekte, 7th Century BC, 2.01g., Weidauer-7. Obv: Roughened surface. Rx: Small incuse square. EF........ 1750 3. Dawn of Coinage, Uncertain Ionia; Hemihekte, 7th Century BC, 1.12g., Weidauer-9. Obv: Roughened surface. Rx: Iincuse. EF............................. 1500 4. Uncertain Ionia; 1/48 stater, 6th century BC, 0.31g., Weidauer-170. Obv: Facing head of lion r. Rx: Scorpion in incuse square. Obverse struck from a very worn die. Fine/Good VF.................................................................................. 750 5. Lydia, pre-Croesus; 1/48 Stater, 6th century BC, 0.28g., SNG Kayhan-1017, cf. Rosen-283 (1/24). Obv: Lion’s paw. Rx: Incuse. VF................................. 750 6. Uncertain Ionia; 1/96 stater, 6th century BC, 0.16g., cf. Weidauer-168 (1/48). Obv: Lion’s paw. Rx: Scorpion in incuse square. Good VF............... 750 7. Ionia, Uncertain Mint; 1/96 Stater, 6th century BC, 0.14g., Perhaps unpublished; cf. Rosen-275 for identical reverse on 1/24; cf. SNG Kayhan 740 for these types in silver. Obv: Rosette on raised disk. Rx: Cross formed of central pellet and pellet at end of each arm, within four-armed incuse. EF............. 1250 Smallest Electrum Coin Recorded 8. Ionia, Uncertain Mint; 1/192 Stater, 6th century BC, 0.05., SNG Kayhan-691 (= Rosen-356). Obv: Uncertain type. Rx: Bird within incuse. A very rare example of the smallest electrum denomination. Apparently the third known; the others are the Kayhan/Rosen coin and lot 190 in Triton XIII. VF........... 4500 9. Uncertain Ionia; Hemihekte, Late 7th-early 6th century BC, 1.18g., Weidauer-121. Obv: Linear head of lion r. Rx: Four-part incuse. Very well-centered. One of the better examples we have seen of this scarce type. EF............... 3500 Phanes Electrum Stater 10. Ephesus, Phanes; Stater, 625-600 BC, 14.14g., Weidauer-39; 100 Greatest Ancient Coins by Harlan J. Berk-p. 10 (this coin) and p. 120. Obv: Stag grazing right; above, retrograde, FANOS EMI SEIMA (“I am the badge of Phanes). Rx: Thee punch marks. Ex Gorney & Mosch 159, 10/8/07, #188. This is one of the most famous coins of the ancient world and is published on p. 10 of 100 Greatest coins. The Greek legend means “I am the badge of Phanes”. This is one of the most important coins in the Greek series and the most important coin amongst Greek electrum. Fewer than five of these magnificent staters exist. VF with some flatness from striking.................................................................. SOLD 11. Mysia, Cyzicus; Stater, c. 460-400 BC, 16.01., Von Fritze-157, Greenwell-31, BM-65, Boston-1500. Obv: Gaia, emerging from the earth, presenting Erichthonios to Athena; below, tunny. Rx: Four-part incuse square. Rare and interesting mythological scene. On over half of the known specimens of this
12.
13.
14. 15.
16.
17.
18.
issue, part of the head of Gaia is off flan. Within the electrum series there aren’t very many coins with such specific mythological scenes, especially showing more than one individual. Very rare. Good VF/EF...................................... 12000 Ex Jameson and Ex Grand-Duke Michaïlovitch Mysia, Cyzicus; Stater, c. 360-330 BC, 15.97g., Jameson Collection-1414b, pl. XCV (this coin); Naville Auction 4, 1922, lot 724 (this coin); H. Von Fritze, Nomisma 7, 1912-199 and pl. 6,11 (same obverse die); Kunstfreund Sale, Bank Leu, 1974-lot 212 (same obverse die); G.F. Hill, NC 1925, plate I,37. Obv: Bearded, laureate portrait left (presumed to be Philip II of Macedonia); tunny fish at truncation of neck; Rx: Four-part incuse square. The identity of the bearded man on the obverse of the coin has been a matter of discussion for more than a century. The theories of who this individual is range from Timotheos, the son of Konon, an Athenian General who in 373 BC took the command in the fight against the Spartans and in 363 BC was feared by the Persians who occupied Cyzicus during that time (J.P. Six, in an 1898 article quoting Diod. XV, 81), to an important Cyzicene citizen who was being honored for an unknown reason. G.F. Hill, in a 1925 Numismatic Chronicle article, felt that the person could have been an important figure of international reputation, thus not necessarily Cyzicene. Finally, in a persuasive argument set forth by Maria Regina KaiserRaiss in SNR 63 (1984), the person was identified as likely to be Philip II of Macedonia, reflecting his influence and power during that time in Cyzicus and the Greek world. In any case it is among the first portraits of a Greek personage exhibited on a coin (and the first portrait in electrum) and is remarkable for that reason. Ex Feuardent Coll. before 1939, Ex Naville Auction 4, 1922, lot 724, Ex Grand-Duke Alexandre Michailovitch Collection, Ex Jameson Collection, Paris, 1913, #1414b. This coin has an impressive pedigree and most scholars agree it is a portrait of Philip II of Macedonia. This is probably the only instance in the electrum series where a recognizable portrait of a real person exists. It thus could be argued to mark the beginning of Hellenistic coinage. VF....................... 22500 Lesbos, Mytilene; Hekte, c. 440-400 BC, 2.51g., Bodenstedt-37, Boston-1685, SNG von Aulock-1700 and 7726. Obv: Head of aged satyr r., wearing taenia. Rx: Two confronted heads of rams, in upper field, palmette; all within framed incuse square. aEF................................................................ 3000 Lesbos, Mytilene; El Hekte, c. 454-427 BC, 2.48g., Bodensted-44. Obv: Facing helmeted head of Ares. Rx: Head of steer l. aEF............................. 3000 Lesbos, Mytilene; Hekte, c. 400-380 BC, 2.53g., Bodenstedt-52, BM58. Obv: Head of male youth r., wearing knotted taenia with lotus-like ornament above the forehead. Rx: Male head with long beard r., within incuse square. aEF/VF.......................................................................................... 2000 Lesbos, Mytilene; Hekte, c. 478-455 BC, 2.52g., Bodenstedt-54 f (same rusty obv. die state). Obv: Head of Actaion r. Rx: Gorgoneion. Struck with a rusty die. EF.................................................................................................. 2000 Lesbos, Mytilene; Hekte, c. 377-326 BC, 2.51g., Bodenstedt-87. Obv: Head of young Dionysos r., wearing ivy wreath. Rx: Head of satyr r. in linear square. Exquisite portrait of satyr on reverse. Obverse off center. EF......... 3500 Lesbos, Mytilene; Hekte, c. 377-326 BC, 2.53g., Bodenstedt-100. Obv: