Auction XXIX by Roma Numismatics Ltd

ROMA NUMISMATICS LIMITED

Auction XXIX 9 November 2023

Roma Numismatics Limited 40 Villiers Street London WC2N 6NJ United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7846 7115 www.romanumismatics.com email: info@romanumismatics.com

Auction XXIX 9 November

13:00

The Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins Celtic and Greek coins Roman Provincial Coins Selections from The Andrew McCabe Collection Roman Coins: Republican, Imperatorial and Imperial The Campostella Collection Migrationary and Byzantine coins Islamic, Medieval and World coins

LOCATION Please note this is a purely internet and telephone based event and the auction will not be held at a public venue. To find out more about participating please see page iv & v. No live bidding fees will apply.

Viewing At the office of Roma Numismatics: 40 Villiers Street London, WC2N 6NJ United Kingdom From 9 October - 8 November 2023 Monday - friday, 09.30 - 17.30 by appointment To assist you with making informed bidding decisions, high resolution images of our auction lots are available upon request. LOT PICKUP WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 13.00 ON Monday 13 November

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The Team

Richard E Beale Managing Director & Senior Numismatist

Simon Parkin Associate Director & Numismatist

Clementine Bowring Senior Manager & Numismatist

Alice Prince Client Manager

Omar Ali Finance Manager

Svetlana Egorova Associate Client Manager

George Kitchen Senior Auction Photographer

Lara Drew Associate Numismatist

Francesca Bailey Auction Cataloguer

Periklis Mastrangelis Numismatist

Olga Beketova Dispatch Administrator

Ellis Meade Auction Photographer

Chris Rumney UK/EU Representative, World Coinage

Deniz Grotjohann European Representative

How to Bid Commission Bidding BID ONLINE PRIOR TO THE AUCTION, SEE BIDS UPDATED IN REAL-TIME ON THE ROMA SITE. Commission bids may be submitted prior to the auction at www.RomaNumismatics.com - these bids will be automatically executed on the website, and will then be carried over into the live auction and executed by the auctioneer on the day. Commission bids can be placed up until 12pm on the day of the sale.

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

Absentee bids You may submit an absentee bid that will be executed on your behalf by Roma Numismatics. Roma Numismatics will attempt to obtain the lot for you at the lowest possible price, and will not purchase the lot for you at a price higher than the maximum you specify. This service is free and confidential. Absentee bids must be sent and received in good time. To place absentee bids please submit your list of lots, together with your maximum bids by email, or online at www.romanumismatics.com. You may participate live online during the sale at www.RomaNumismatics.com. NO LIVE BIDDING FEES WILL APPLY FOR THIS SALE iv

Live Internet Bidding

The Auc�on Pla�orm

www.biddr.com

BID ONLINE DURING THE AUCTION, WATCH THE AUCTION LIVE ON YOUR COMPUTER Real-time bids may be placed on the Roma Numismatics’ website at www.RomaNumismatics.com/live-bidding and at www.biddr.ch on the day of the sale. These bids will be executed live on the floor. Roma Numismatics is not responsible for any missed lots or bids due to network speed or down-time. It is advisable to register as early as possible for these services. NO LIVE BIDDING FEES WILL APPLY FOR THIS SALE.

Successful Bids Successful bidders will be notified and invoiced normally within 24 hours of the auction. Prices realised will be published around the same time.

new service: eu deliveries via the netherlands

We are now able to offer shipment to EU clients with qualifying invoices via our partner office in the Netherlands. NL import VAT of 9% and a service charge of £200 will be payable in addition to normal shipping charges. This service is upon request only and available to clients with invoices over £5,000 - please inform us at the point of bidding if you would like to make use of this option.

Conditions of Sale 1. The following Terms and Conditions apply to Bidders of all Auctions held by Roma Numismatics Ltd. By making a Bid, the Bidder agrees to these Terms and Conditions and accepts to be bound by them. ESTIMATES 2. All estimates for Lots are in pounds sterling (£). Any other currency displayed against a Lot is indicative only for the convenience of the Bidder and does not constitute an offer by Roma Numismatics Ltd to pay in any other currency. DESCRIPTIONS 3. The details of any Lot(s), including a description of each item is contained in the Catalogue and/or on Roma Numismatics Ltd’s website. 4. All grades, descriptions and rarity information are the opinion of the cataloguer. Conditions of all Lot(s) are as they appear in the photographs displayed in the Catalogue and/or on the Roma Numismatics Ltd website. Condition reports are available upon request. 5. Bidders are encouraged to carefully examine in person any Lot(s) for which they intend or do Bid for as it is not possible to note all marks or defects or colours. Roma Numismatics Ltd makes no guarantee as to the physical quality or condition of any Lot(s). 6. Any prospective Bidders who exercise the opportunity to physically inspect and examine any Lot(s) in hand shall assume all responsibility and liability for any damage they cause in the course of such examination. Roma Numismatics Ltd shall have sole discretion in determining the value of any damage caused, which shall be promptly paid to Roma Numismatics Ltd by the prospective Bidder. AUTHENTICITY 7. Roma Numismatics Ltd guarantees the absolute authenticity of all Lots Sold. There is no expiration to this guarantee. BIDDING 8. Unless otherwise determined at the discretion of the auctioneer, opening Bids will be 60% of the estimate unless there are existing higher Bids. 9. A Bid, once placed, is final. A Bid cannot be revoked. 10. A Bid is placed: 10.1. In the case of a Live (Printed) Auction when the auctioneer acknowledges a Bid and communicates to the other Bidders participating in the Auction that the Bid price has been altered accordingly; or 10.2. In the case of an Absentee (mail or other written) Bid, when a Bid is received by Roma Numismatics Ltd no later than one hour before the commencement of an Auction at which the Lot is due to be auctioned. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to ensure that Absentee Bid(s), whether submitted via the Roma Numismatics Ltd website or by other acceptable means, are accurate and placed in accordance with this sub-clause. Bids received after this point are not guaranteed to be accepted, but when accepted and executed the Bidder is subject to the same terms above. 11. If your Bid is successful You will become the Buyer of that particular Lot and be liable to pay the Hammer Price, plus those applicable charges and fees set out in the “Charges & Payment” section in these Terms and Conditions. 12. Roma Numismatics Ltd shall have absolute discretion to accept or decline any Bid, withdraw Lots from sale or re-open Bidding for any Lot at any time, whether before or after a Lot is Sold, until such time as the Buyer takes physical possession of the Lot, in circumstances which may include, but are not limited to (1) a bidding error has occurred (2) Roma Numismatics Ltd becomes aware of a dispute in relation to the Lot, Sale or Auction (3) Roma Numismatics Ltd has not received payment for the Lot. 13. For the protection of Absentee Bids, no ‘unlimited’ or ‘buy’ Bids will be accepted by Roma Numismatics Ltd. 14. When identical Bids are received for the same Lot, preference will be given to the Bid received first. Absentee Bids will take preference over a floor Bid. 15. Some Lots may carry a Reserve. Roma Numismatics Ltd reserves the right not to sell a Lot below the Reserve, or will repurchase the item on behalf of the consignor or for the account of Roma Numismatics Ltd. If a Reserve exists Roma Numismatics Ltd reserves the right to Bid on any Lot on behalf of the consignor up to the amount of the Reserve against any other Bidders. CHARGES & PAYMENT 16. A Buyer’s Fee equivalent to 22.5% of the Hammer Price will be added to the Hammer Price and payable by the Buyer to Roma Numismatics Ltd in accordance with these Terms and Conditions: 17. VAT at the applicable rate (applicable to customers within the UK) is due on the Buyer’s Fee only, not the Hammer Price. Roma Numismatics Ltd registered VAT number is 901478828. 18. A 2% surcharge of the Hammer Price will be applied to Bids submitted via post or email, rather than being placed on the Roma Numismatics Ltd website. 19. Invoices are due immediately upon receipt by the Buyer. Roma Numismatics Ltd reserves the right to charge interest on invoices that remain unpaid for 1 calendar month after the date they become due at the rate of 2% per calendar month, except where prior agreement has been made with regards to payment. 20. The Buyer is responsible for paying all bank charges and any shipping and insurance costs. 21. Invoices are sent to Buyers by email. They can also be found listed under ‘Pending Invoices’ in the ‘My Account’ section of the Roma Numismatics Ltd’ website, and can be paid via the website by selecting the preferred payment option of BACS, PayPal or Credit/Debit card. Cash payments are no longer accepted. PayPal and Credit/Debit card payments are accepted only for invoices of £2,500 total value or less. DELIVERY, COLLECTION & STORAGE 22. The Buyer will be required to satisfy the requirements of Roma Numismatics Ltd AML Policy before the Lot will be released. Buyers may, subject to payment of any fees or charges for delivery, either: 22.1. Collect Lots Sold to them from Roma Numismatics Ltd in person from the main office at 40 Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NJ by prior appointment, or 22.2. Arrange with Roma Numismatics Ltd to send or deliver the Lot to the Buyer’s nominated address by post, courier or such other method as agreed with Roma Numismatics Ltd. 23. Buyers shall at all times be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by Roma Numismatics Ltd associated with the Buyer’s nominated delivery method. Roma Numismatics Ltd standard delivery costs are set out in the Catalogue and on the Roma Numismatics Ltd website. Any additional costs will be as displayed in the Catalogue and /or the Roma Numismatics Ltd website. 24. Roma Numismatics Ltd shall store any Lot following Sale until shipment to the Buyer without charge. RISK & TITLE 25. Risk in the Lot passes to the Buyer when the Buyer takes physical possession of the Lot. 26. Title remains with the owner until such time as all sums owed to Roma Numismatics Ltd, by the Buyer, have been received by Roma Numismatics Ltd as cleared funds into Roma Numismatics Ltd’s bank account. IMPORT/EXPORT RESTRICTIONS 27. Any Lot that is Sold that is subject to United States of America (US) or German import restrictions must be legally imported into the US or Germany (unless otherwise explicitly stated in the Lot description). Any such Lot will be accompanied by documentation proving that the Lot was outside of the source country prior to the Effective Date, or a valid export certificate issued by the country of origin. Any Lot subject to US or German import restrictions that may not lawfully

Conditions of Sale (Continued) be imported into these countries will be clearly indicated as such in the Catalogue with a notice stating ‘not suitable for US/German market’. 28. Our commitment to ethical and responsible provenance ensures that the Seller affirms each Lot is Their lawful property to sell, and where cultural property restrictions may exist, that it meets the requirements to be legally imported into the US and/or Germany. 29. Roma Numismatics Ltd will endeavour to carry out importations on behalf of the Buyer to enable shipment of that Lot to the Buyer’s nominated location but the Buyer is ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with import regulations and procedures. However, any Buyer, whether based in the US, Germany or elsewhere, who purchases a Lot that cannot be lawfully imported into either the US or Germany, with the intention that the Lot is sent to either of those jurisdictions, shall be deemed to purchase the Lot and will be liable to pay all fees, charges and cost that become due when Knocked Down. 30. Roma Numismatics Ltd will not, and will not be compelled to, under any circumstances accept instructions from any person, make arrangements or be required to forward or send any Lot that cannot be lawfully imported to any jurisdiction to that jurisdiction. 31. Roma Numismatics Ltd undertakes to obtain export licences for those Lots that require them. RETURNS 32. If a Buyer suspects a Lot is not authentic they must notify Roma Numismatics Ltd as soon as possible. Rejection by any third party grading service for any reason will not by itself constitute grounds for return of the Lot(s). The Buyer must support any claim of non-authenticity by valid technical evidence provided by at least 2 (two) separate qualified firms or individuals. A Lot may only be returned to Roma Numismatics Ltd if it is agreed to be not authentic by Roma Numismatics Ltd. 33. A Lot may be returned to Roma Numismatics Ltd within 21 (twenty one) days of the Sale Date if it is materially different from its description. 34. In circumstances where a Lot is returned by a Buyer pursuant to clause 32 or 33 and Roma Numismatics Ltd agrees to a refund, the amount to be refunded to the Buyer shall be (1) the Hammer Price (2) the Buyer’s Fee (3) the surcharge paid under clause 18 (if any). In all other cases, Roma Numismatics Ltd is not liable to refund or pay a Buyer for any fees or costs associated with returning a Lot to Roma Numismatics Ltd or the refund of any shipping charges or external or 3rd party costs. 35. All refunds will be made in Pounds Sterling unless otherwise agreed. Roma Numismatics Ltd is not liable for any exchange rate differences. FALIURE TO PAY 36. Roma Numismatics Ltd is under no obligation to release a Lot to a Buyer until such time as the Buyer has paid Roma Numismatics Ltd. All sums that are due or which may become due as set out in these Terms and Conditions. 37. Lots will be held by Roma Numismatics Ltd for a period of 3 calendar months from the date the Lot is Knocked Down unless otherwise agreed. After 3 (three) calendar months Roma Numismatics Ltd shall be entitled to cancel the Sale and re-auction the Lot in accordance with clause 12. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY 38. Roma Numismatics Ltd shall not be liable to You for any loss of profits, loss of sales or business, loss of agreement or contracts, loss of anticipated savings, loss of or damage to goodwill or indirect or consequential loss. 39. Our liability to You is capped at the amount You have paid to Us in respect of a Lot. 40. Roma Numismatics Ltd does not exclude or limit in any way its liability to You where it would be unlawful. GENERAL 41. Roma Numismatics Ltd shall not be in breach of these Terms and Conditions nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under these Terms and Conditions if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control. 42. Any notice or other communication given to a party under or in connection with these Terms and Conditions shall be in writing, addressed to that party at its registered office (if it is a company) or such other address as that party may have specified to the other party in writing, and shall be delivered personally, sent by pre-paid first class post or other next working day delivery service, commercial courier or email. 43. A notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been received if delivered personally, when left at the address referred to in clause 42w: if sent by pre-paid first class post or other next working day delivery service, at 9.00 am on the second business day after posting; if delivered by commercial courier, on the date and at the time that the courier’s delivery receipt is signed; or, if sent by email, one business day after transmission. 44. These Terms and Conditions and any document produced by Roma Numismatics Ltd or otherwise mentioned herein constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and extinguishes all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter. 45. Roma Numismatics Ltd will only use Your personal information as set out in Our privacy policy, a copy of which can be viewed at: https://www.romanumismatics.com/privacy-policy. We may amend this policy from time to time. 46. Roma Numismatics Ltd’s Anti-Money Laundering Policy (AML Policy) sets out Roma Numismatics Ltd’s policy for ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering legislation that applies to some of its activities. 47. We may amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. 48. No failure or delay by Roma Numismatics Ltd to exercise any right or remedy provided under these Terms and Conditions or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. 49. Nobody else has any rights under these Terms and Conditions. 50. If any provision or part-provision of these Terms and Conditions is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these Terms and Conditions. 51. These Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales. 52. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or its subject matter or formation. PAYMENT METHODS: Invoices can found listed under ‘Pending Invoices’ in the ‘My Account’ section of the Roma Numismatics’ website, and can be paid directly through the site by selecting the preferred payment option of BACS or Credit/Debit card. Credit/Debit Card: For invoices with a total value of £2,500 or less. Bank Transfer: VIRGIN MONEY, 30 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2HL, UK | Account Name: Roma Numismatics IBAN: GB90 CLYD 8211 0780 5786 60 | BIC: CLYD GB21943 | SORT CODE: 82-11-07 | ACC #: 80578660

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AUCTION REWARDS TERMS AND CONDITIONS MEMBERSHIP 1. We reserve the right not to enrol individuals with resident addresses in certain countries and/or regions or restrict transfers and changes of registered address. Such countries and/or regions are subject to change however reasonable advance notice will be given in circumstances where the removal of a country and/or region will affect the Membership of existing Members. 2. Membership is offered at our discretion and we may refuse Membership to any applicant or revoke said Membership at any time. 3. Membership applicants must state their full name, date of birth, preferred mailing address, email address and telephone number for correspondence. 4. Risk (for example, theft or unauthorised or fraudulent redemption) associated with Points passes to the Member as soon as Points are recorded on the Member’s account, or otherwise awarded to the Member. We are not liable for unauthorised or fraudulent redemptions. You are the holder of Points and are responsible for their security. We are the owner of all Points and they remain our property at all times. 5. Membership will terminate automatically in the event of the expiry of all Points when a Member has not earned or redeemed or bought for 24 consecutive months; or upon the death of a Member, Points accumulated but unused at the time of death shall be cancelled together with Membership of the Scheme; or if we reasonably believe that you have committed an act of Fraud or Misconduct against us. The Member shall be liable to us for the full price of any goods or services obtained wholly or partly as a result of such Fraud and/or Misconduct and any legal fees incurred by us. 6. Members may terminate their Membership by contacting us stating that they no longer wish to be a Member. Any such termination will result in a loss of all Points and does not relieve the Member of any continuing obligations under these Terms and Conditions. 7. In the case of Fraud and/or Misconduct, we may cancel all accrued and accruing Points of the Member and any Rewards. EARNING POINTS 8. We will record Points in the Member’s personal account. Points cannot be redeemed until we have recorded it in the Member’s personal account. It will take up to 48 hours for points to be credited to the Member’s account. 9. Further details of how Points are earned and the applicable earn rates are contained on the Website. 10. Points may not be earned under the Scheme if any form of discount or preferential treatment is also received for the same activity. In the event we grant any Points in such circumstances we reserve the right to cancel the Points without notice to you. 11. Points can only be earned on the cash value of the hammer price of lots purchased at auction. Buyers’ Premiums, Vendors’ Commissions, shipping charges, external fees and any other cost or charge is not eligible. The award of Points will be calculated in accordance with the information published on our Website. REDEEMING POINTS 12. Points are redeemable for products and service as described on the Website, and at the redemption values stated. In the case of auction lots, Points are redeemable only against the Hammer Value in blocks of 2000 points. Members are responsible for paying Buyers’ Premiums, taxes, fees, charges and surcharges. 13. Points may be redeemed online at the Website or via the Office in accordance with such procedures that may be in force from time to time for the issue of Rewards, as set out on the Website. Redemptions can only be requested by the Member. REFUNDS 14. When Points have been used as part payment, the Points will be refundable only where the base product is refundable. Partial refunds will be credited to the Member’s Points account up to the value of the original part payment, with any remainder credited to the original method of payment together. TRANSFERRING POINTS 15. Except as otherwise provided by us and communicated to the Member and subject to any stated limitations, Points are not transferable in any way (whether from person to person, account to account, statement to statement, Scheme to any other loyalty type scheme or otherwise. 16. Any purported purchase, sale, transfer, unauthorised use (including bartering), procurement or redemption of Points issued or awarded to another person or any other use of Points contrary to these Terms and Conditions will, unless explicitly authorised, constitute a fundamental breach by the Member of these Terms and Conditions and therefore the contract between us. 17. Other than as provided for herein Points are not redeemable for cash, refundable or exchangeable for anything else. At no time may Points be purchased by, sold to, bartered or otherwise transferred to other persons. BUYING POINTS FOR YOURSELF 18. The Buyer can buy a maximum of 1,000,000 Points in any one calendar year. 19. In normal circumstances Points will be available to use immediately but it could take up to 3 working days for Points to appear on your account. 20. Points can only be bought online at the Website. The Buyer must be a member of the Scheme, members whose accounts have expired will not be able to buy Points. 21. Buying Points will be considered as collecting Points and will reset the 24 month expiry rule. 22. You have the right to cancel contracts for the buying of Points within 14 days without giving any reason provided the Points have not been used. The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you purchase the Points. To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g letter sent by post or email). If you cancel, we will reimburse to you all payment received from you. We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we were informed about your decision to cancel this contract. 23. Points which are subsequently refunded will not constitute activity for the purposes of the 24 month expiry rule. BUYING POINTS AS A GIFT 24. The Buyer of a Gift can buy a maximum of 1,000,000 Points as a gift for any number of Members, in any one calendar year. Members may not buy Points as a Gift to their own account. The Buyer can only buy Points for one Recipient per transaction. 25. A Gift Recipient of bought Points can only receive a maximum of 1,000,000 Points in any one calendar year in aggregate, irrespective of the number of Buyers. 26. In order to buy Points as a gift, the Buyer will need to know the Recipient’s full name, email address and client number. The Buyer should ensure that the Recipient has not received more than 1,000,000 Points, including the proposed Points transaction, in that calendar year. Points may not be bought for a Member whose account has expired. Buying Points will reset the 24 month Points expiry rule for the recipient. The Buyer must not demand and the Recipient must not offer any value or value in kind for Points. Such activity or any other use of Points contrary to these Terms and Conditions will constitute a fundamental breach by the member of these Terms and Conditions and therefore the contract between us and the Member. In the event of such a breach, we reserve the right at any time in our absolute discretion to terminate the Membership of any member.

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AUCTION REWARDS TERMS AND CONDITIONS (Continued) POINTS EXPIRY 27. If a Member has not earned or redeemed Points or bought or transferred Points for 24 consecutive months, all Points that have accrued to that date will expire. TIER STATUS 28. Roma Numismatics Ltd reserves the right to alter the rules for earning Tier status at any time. 29. Seasonal gifts will be sent to qualifying buyer Members with a paid invoice during their tier year. 30. Seasonal gifts will be sent to qualifying seller Members who have consigned to auction during their tier year. 31. Reimbursement requests for travel and accommodation to auctions held by Roma Numismatics Ltd. will be granted to Members who have consigned a minimum of value of £100,000 to the auction they wish to attend. Reimbursements will be limited to £1,500 per Member. VARIATION OF CURRENCY 32. We may, from time to time, change the base currency or the name of the currency used by us either in whole or in relation to any country or region. We will provide reasonable notice to Members of any such change. CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONS BY YOU 33. Rewards, once selected and confirmed, are considered final. No changes or amendments are permitted. CHANGES OR CANCELLATIONS BY US 34. We reserve the right to amend or cancel any redemption of points subject to the terms and conditions set out in our Terms and Conditions. LIABILITY 35. We will not be liable for any Loss resulting from alteration to, or termination of, the Scheme or the right to earn or redeem Points, except for Loss caused by our own negligence or wilful misconduct. We do not accept liability where any failure to provide any services in accordance with the contract or any other form of loss or damage is due to your own fault, or is the result of our compliance with any instruction, request or direction given by you. In no event will we be liable for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, exemplary or consequential losses or damages of whatsoever kind arising out of access to, or the use of this website or any information contained in it, including loss of profit and the like whether or not in the contemplation of the parties, whether based on breach of contract, tort (including negligence), product liability or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. 36. We will not be liable for any loss if, by reason of local legal or regulatory prohibitions or restrictions, the Scheme or the whole or any part of the Services cannot be made available in certain countries or to certain Members. 37. We make no representations as to any income, use, excise or other tax liability of Members as a result of their Membership. Such a tax liability may arise, for example, if a Member obtains Points and/or Rewards as a result of business expenditure. Members are advised to check with their accountant or tax adviser for further information. The Member is solely responsible for any tax liability incurred as a result of Membership. GOVERNING LAW 38. To the extent permissible by local law or regulation these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Any provision of these Terms and Conditions declared void or unenforceable by any competent authority or court shall, to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability, be deemed severable and shall not affect the other provisions remaining which shall continue unaffected. If there is any conflict in meaning between the English language version of these Terms and Conditions and any version or translation of these Terms and Conditions in any other language, the English language version shall prevail. DATA PROTECTION 39. We will process your Data in accordance with the Privacy Policy which can be found at the Website under the heading “Privacy Policy”, USE OF WEBSITE 40. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. PROPRIETARY RIGHTS 41. All Materials on this website, the appearance, organisation and layout of this website, the underlying software code and the underlying data are subject to trade marks, copyright, database rights and other registered and unregistered intellectual property rights which are owned either directly by Roma Numismatics Ltd. Unless otherwise authorised within these Terms and Conditions, You must not copy, modify, alter, publish, broadcast, distribute, sell or transfer (whether in whole or in part) any Material on this website or the underlying software code or underlying data. CHANGES TO OR TERMINATION OF THE SCHEME 42. We may terminate a Member’s right to earn or redeem Points or terminate the Scheme. 43. We will give reasonable notice of such termination of the Scheme or a Member’s right to earn or redeem Points issued by us. 44. We can change the Scheme, the Points, and the Rewards we provide. We will give you reasonable notice but this could depend on the nature of the change and the notice that we may receive from our Partners. Examples of the action, which we might take, include modifying or withdrawing the right to earn Points or amending the number of Points required to purchase a particular Reward. Members shall be deemed to have agreed to any modifications, withdrawal, amendment or addition to Rewards or the Scheme if, after we have notified you of the changes, you continue to participate in the Scheme. Members who do not wish to accept changes to the Scheme may terminate their Membership. 45. We may, at any time, amend the time limit on how long you have to spend any Points. We will give you reasonable notice. 46. We have the right to change these Terms and Conditions. Bank Transfer: VIRGIN MONEY, 30 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2HL, UK | Account Name: Roma Numismatics IBAN: GB90 CLYD 8211 0780 5786 60 | BIC: CLYD GB21943 | SORT CODE: 82-11-07 | ACC #: 80578660

THE PEAKER COLLECTION OF ANCIENT BRITISH COINS Lot

Starting Price

BRITANNIA

1. Britannia, the Atrebates. Tincomarus AV 1/4 Stater. Calleva, circa 25 BC-7 AD. ‘Medusa’ type. TINC on rectangular tablet; C above, A below / Winged head of Medusa facing, a pair of snakes knotted below the chin, two large snakes descending on either side of the face. ABC 1076; Van Arsdell 378-1; BMC 811ff; SCBC II 77. 1.18g, 11mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare.

1,200

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Londinium Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXII, 8 January 2019, lot 1341. These coins were long thought to have been issued by one ‘Tincommius’, an error resulting from the combination of the two separate abbreviated legends TINC and the patronymic COM. The Medusa head is suggested by Van Arsdell to have been inspired by that on the extremely rare aurei of L. Aquillius Florus (RIC 302), which was itself a later incarnation of the design used on the denarii of L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus (Crawford 445/1), that others have also cited as possible inspiration. However, there is no reason why the type should have been copied from another coin at all, since the winged medusa was a common motif on various artifices since the late seventh century BC, and Roman pottery and other imports had been appearing at Tincomarus’ capital of Calleva for some years before the start of his reign. The son and heir of Commius, Tincomarus succeeded his father around 25-20 BC. Based on coin distribution it is possible that Tincomarus ruled in collaboration with his father for the last few years of Commius’s life. Little is known of his reign although the numismatic evidence does suggest that he was sympathetic to Rome.

From the Chawton Hoard

2. Britannia, the Atrebates. Verica AV Stater. Circa AD 10-40. ‘Warrior Rex’ type. COM•F on incuse rectangular tablet / Warrior riding to right, holding spear; VIR behind, REX below. ABC 1190; Van Arsdell 500; BMC 1155-8; SCBC II 120; Celtic Coin Index 11.1334 (this coin). 5.29g, 17mm, 10h. Extremely Fine.

750

This coin published by University of Oxford, Celtic Coin Index: https://cci.arch.ox.ac.uk/id/CCI-11.1334; From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Chris Rudd, Auction 152, 10 April 2017, lot 13; Ex George Wentworth Collection, bought directly from the original finder; Ex Chawton ‘Vine Leaf’ Hoard, found in Hampshire, 2011-12. Submitted for consideration as Treasure and returned to the finders. PAS ID: HAMP6DFB33, Coin No. 13. Between 22 October 2011 and 7 January 2012, 105 gold coins were discovered by metal detectorists near Chawton in Hampshire. All are types produced AD 10-45, the majority struck for Verica, a local Celtic king and Roman ally who ruled in central southern England. His appeal to Emperor Claudius instigated the Roman invasion of Britannia in AD 43.

3. Britannia, the Atrebates & Regni. Verica AV Stater. Southern mint either in or near Chichester or Silchester, AD 10-40. ‘Vine leaf’ type. Vine leaf; [V] I-RI across fields / Warrior on horseback to right on latticed pedestal, spear and shield strapped on back; C-O-F around. ABC 1193 var. (pedestal); Van Arsdell 520-1 var. (same); BMC 1159-67 var. (same); SCBC II 121 var. (same); Celtic Coin Index 11.1366 (this coin); Allen & Haselgrove series D, 63-75 (dies F/g). 5.30g, 19mm, 10h. Good Extremely Fine. An interesting variant with a latticed pedestal to reverse. This coin published by University of Oxford, Celtic Coin Index: https://cci.arch.ox.ac.uk/id/CCI-11.1366; From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 97, 17 September 2014, lot 963; Ex Chawton ‘Vine Leaf’ Hoard, found in Hampshire, 2011-12. Submitted for consideration as Treasure and returned to the finders. PAS ID: HAMP6DFB33, Coin No. 45.

900

From the Westerham III Hoard

4. Britannia, the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes. Cunobelin AV Stater. Camulodunum, circa AD 10-20. ‘Plastic’ type. Grain ear; CA-MV across fields / Stylised horse bucking to right; branch and pellet above, pellet-in-annulet and CVNO below. ABC 2786; Van Arsdell 2010; BMC 1809; SCBC II 286; Celtic Coin Index 04.0539 (this coin). 5.53g, 18mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

This coin published by University of Oxford, Celtic Coin Index: https://cci.arch.ox.ac.uk/id/CCI-04.0539; From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Chris Rudd, Auction 151, 19 March 2017, lot 41; Ex Sean Hegarty Collection; Ex John Follows Collection; From the Westerham III hoard, found near Westerham, Kent, 2002. PAS ID: IARCH-DCDDAF, Coin No. 6. (cf. P. de Jersey, 2014, Coin Hoards in Iron Age Britain, p.249).

5. Britannia, the Dobunni AV 1/4 Stater. Circa 60-20 BC. ‘Sunburst Little Horse’ type. Traces of wreath patten / Stylised horse to right; cogwheel sun motifs above; crescent before, stylised foal(?) below. ABC 2009; Van Arsdell 1010-3; BMC 29437-46; SCBC II 375. 1.28g, 15mm. Extremely Fine.

420

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 112, 11 September 2019, lot 790.

6. Britannia, the Dobunni. Corio AV Stater. Circa 30-15 BC. ‘Corio Tree Tiny V’ type. Dobunnic emblem of tree with pellet at base / Stylised horse to right; CORIO and crescent above, V behind, wheel below. ABC 2048; Van Arsdell 1035-1; BMC 3064-133; SCBC II 386. 5.47g, 19mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

600

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 112, 11 September 2019, lot 792; Ex Chris Rudd, Auction 139, 15 March 2015, lot 31.

7. Britannia, the Dobunni. Corio AV 1/4 Stater. Circa 30-15 BC. ‘Corio’ type. [COR] / Stylised horse to right; sun within beaded circle above, foal(?) below, pellets around. ABC 2051; Van Arsdell 1039-1; BMC 4134; SCBC II 387. 1.24g, 14mm. Near Extremely Fine; no evidence of COR on obv. Extremely Rare.

450

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Noonans (formerly Dix Noonan Webb), Auction 260, 28 September 2022, lot 1008; Reportedly found in Repton, Derbyshire.

Ex CNG 46, 1998

8. Britannia, the Dobunni. Bodvoc AV Stater. Circa 15-10 BC. ‘Boduoc Bold’ type. BODVOC / Stylised horse to right; wheel below, crescent and pellets above. ABC 2039; Van Arsdell 1052; BMC 3135-42; SCBC II 388; Celtic Coin Index 00.0433 (this coin). 5.59g, 18mm, 2h. Extremely Fine; previously NGC graded AU 5/5 - 3/5, marks. Very Rare.

3,000

This coin published by University of Oxford, Celtic Coin Index: https://cci.arch.ox.ac.uk/id/CCI-00.0433; From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Acquired from Goldberg Auction; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 46, 24 June 1998, lot 1834 (hammer 3,400 USD).

Ex Chris Rudd 1997

9. Britannia, the Dobunni. Catti AV Stater. AD 1-20(?). ‘Catti tree’ type. Dobunnic emblem of tree with pellet at base / Stylised horse to right; CATTI and sun within beaded circle above, wheel below, pellets around. ABC 2057; Van Arsdell 1130; BMC 3057-60; SCBC II 384; Celtic Coin Index 96.3306 (this coin). 5.36g, 19mm, 10h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

This coin published by University of Oxford, Celtic Coin Index: https://cci.arch.ox.ac.uk/id/CCI-96.3306; From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Chris Rudd, Fixed Price List 116, March 2011, no. 28; Ex Matthew Rich Collection; Ex Walter Sartori Collection; Ex Chris Rudd, Private Sale, June 2003; Ex Chris Rudd, Fixed Price List 26, March 1997, no. 53; Found near Chepstow or Ross-on-Wye in 1995.

10. Britannia, the Dobunni. Anted AV Stater. Circa AD 20-43. ‘Anted tree’ type. Dobunnic emblem of tree with pellet at base / Stylised horse to right; ANTED and crescent above, wheel below, crosses around. ABC 2066; Van Arsdell 1066-1; BMC 3023-27; SCBC II 397. 5.51g, 19mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

2,400

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex L. Shea Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XX, 10 January 2017, lot 1459; Ex Chris Rudd, Fixed Price List 117, May 2011, no. 40; Found near Chepstow, Wales in September 2008.

11. Britannia, the Dobunni. Eisu AV Stater. Circa AD 20-43. ‘Eisu Tree. Flat Branch’ type. Dobunnic emblem of tree with pellet at base / Stylised horse to right; EISV above, wheel below, crosses around. ABC 2078; Van Arsdell 1105; BMC 3039-42; SCBC II 381; Celtic Coin Index 86.0184 (same dies); Rudd List 142, 22 (same dies). 5.38g, 18mm, 10h. Extremely Fine. Rare.

900

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Wayne Boyd (Fenland Coins), 16 February 2020; Ex A. Smith Collection, Hansons Auctioneers, 25 November 2019; Found near Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire, November 2019.

12. Britannia, Eastern North Thames AV Stater. Circa 60-20 BC. ‘SS’ type. Two reversed ‘S’ motifs in field, banding beneath / Stylised horse to right; wing motif above, wheel below, sun before, dispersed symbols in field. ABC 2237; Van Arsdell 1509-1; BMC 350; SCBC II 34; Spink 15049, 238 (hammer: 9,000 GBP). 5.58g, 18mm. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XI, 7 April 2016, lot 1; Found near Sporle, Norfolk, 2013-14. PAS: NMS-FAB0B5.

13. Britannia, the Trinovantes AV Stater. Circa 60-20 BC. ‘Late Whaddon Chase Anglian’ type. Traces of crossed wreaths / Stylised horse to right; wing motif above, cog wheel(?) before, annulet below, pellets around. ABC 2344; Van Arsdell 1502; BMC 346; SCBC II 33; Sills British Lc1, class 3b, Double Circle. 5.58g, 17mm. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

600

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Chris Rudd, Auction 161, 18 November 2018, lot 32.

14. Britannia, the Trinovantes AV Stater. Circa 50-40 BC. ‘Climping L’ type. Abstract wreathed head of Apollo to right / Styilsed horse to left; remains of charioteer above, reverse S design with bird head terminals to left; crescents, pellets, and pellet-in-annulets around. ABC 524; Van Arsdell -; BMC -; SCBC II 33A; Celtic Coin Index 00.1844. 5.55g, 20mm, 4h. Extremely Fine.

900

From the Peaker Collection of Ancient British Coins; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 52, 10 January 2019, lot 36; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 312, 8 October 2018, lot 1679; Ex Pecunem | Gitbud Numismatik GmbH, Gitbud Numismatik Auction 2, 9 April 2017, lot 1; Possibly an unrecorded coin from the Climping Hoard, West Sussex, 2000.

COINS OF IBERIA AND THE CELTS IBERIA

Only 3 Cited by ACIP

15. Iberia, uncertain mint AR Tetartemorion. Circa 3rd century BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Dolphin and crescent. ACIP 530; CNH 7. 0.22g, 8mm, 2h. Extremely Fine; minor porosity, attractively toned. Extremely Rare; just three examples cited by ACIP.

180

Ex Numismatics Ars Classica, Auction 123, 9 May 2021, lot 16; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 87, 18 May 2011, lot 2 (hammer: USD 1,500).

BRITANNIA

16. Britannia, the Trinovantes & Catuvellauni AV Stater. Cunobelin, circa AD 20-43. Grain ear with central stalk and tendrils at base; [C]A-M[V] flanking / Horse rearing to right; branch above, pellet and CVNO below on exergual line. ABC 2798; Van Arsdell 2027-1; SCBC 288. 5.49g, 16mm, 9h. Extremely Fine. Rare.

1,200

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 186; Ex Trausnitz Collection, Nomos AG, Auction 19, 17 November 2019, lot 4; Purchased from Münzhandlung Athena, 23 March 1993.

GAUL

17. Northwest Gaul, Aulerci Cenomani AV Stater. ‘Personnage aptère aux deux armes’ type. 2nd century BC. Celticized head to left with large locks of hair / Chariot drawn by androcephalous horse to left, [box with X] before, below the horse, fallen human form, holding curved dagger(?) and spear. LT 6870; D&T 2153. 7.07g, 20mm, 10h. Good Very Fine. Very rare in this condition.

600

Acquired from cgb.fr.

Very Rare

18. Northwest Gaul, the Andecavi EL Stater. ‘à l’aigrette au décor cloisonné’ type. 2nd-1st century BC. Head to right, hair in two parts within beaded cord, stylised ‘egret’ atop / Chariot drawn by androcephalous horse to right, stylised charioteer above, figure beneath horse’s legs. LT 6527; D&T 2178. 6.84g, 19mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

450

19. Northwest Gaul, the Carnutes AV Stater. Lyre type. 1st century BC. Stylised head to right / Biga to right surmounted by charioteer, inverted lyre below, ornamented border. LT 5951; D&T 2530. 7.27g, 19mm, 9h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

450

Acquired from cgb.fr.

20. Northwest Gaul, the Carnutes AV Hemistater. Circa 50-30 BC. Head to left / Eagle flying to right, wings spread, holding beaded wheel; crescent and besant behind. LT 6074; D&T 2564; Scheers, Lyon 763. 3.62g, 15mm, 2h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare; in excellent condition for the type.

600

Ex Phidias (Paris), vente numismatique, 9 June 2021, lot 462.

21. Northeast Gaul, the Remi AV Stater. Circa late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Devolved and disjointed laureate male head to right; three stars before / Stylised horse to left; V within pelleted border above, pellet-in-annulet within pelleted border below. LT 8799 (Treveri); D&T 174. 6.16g, 18mm, 12h. Good Very Fine.

450

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 13, 15 August 2020, lot 4; Ex Auctiones GmbH, E-Auction 38, 21 June 2015, lot 1.

22. Northeast Gaul, the Ambiani AV Stater. Gallic War uniface type. Circa 56-55 BC. Plain / Devolved horse to right; pellet triad, crescent and ‘charioteer’s arms’ above, crescent and pellet flanked by S to left and right below, shield to right. LT 8704 var. (direction of letter S’s), cf. 8707 (single S); D&T 242 var. (same), cf. 243 (Æ); ABC 16. 5.81g, 17mm. Extremely Fine.

300

Acquired from cgb.fr. These staters were issued by the coalition of Gallic tribes to fund the war against Julius Caesar in Gaul. The blank obverse is likely an indication of the vast quantity that were struck and the haste in which they were made. The Ambiani themselves, to whom these issues are attributed, occupied the Somme valley area and were said to have fielded ten thousand warriors against Caesar. Their chief town Samarobriva, afterwards called Ambiani and Civitas Ambianensium, is thought to have been on the site of modern-day Amiens.

23. Central Gaul, Lingones Potin Cast Unit. Circa 1st century BC. ‘aux trois poissons’ type. Three comma-shaped ornaments around central pellet / Three s-shaped ornaments around central pellet. D&T 3261; LT 8389. 3.59g, 21mm. Near Extremely Fine; a well-preserved example of this rare issue.

150

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Hestia Collection.

CENTRAL EUROPE

A Very Rare Nonnos Hexadrachm

24. Central Europe, the Boii AR Hexadrachm. Nonnos type, mid to late 1st century BC. Youthful male bust to right, wearing wreath; all within linear-arch border / Horseman, holding sword in right hand and branch in left, riding to right; NONNOS between two lines below; all within linear-arch border. Göbl, Hexadrachmen pl. 5, XIV/1C, 1-2; Paulsen pl. 33, 771-773; Lanz 81. 16.93g, 26mm, 9h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

900

CELTS IN EASTERN EUROPE

25. Celts in Eastern Europe AR Tetradrachm. Audoleon/Vogelreiter type. Circa 3rd century BC. Stylised, laureate and bearded head of Zeus to right / Rider on horseback to right, holding palm branch; rosette of pellets before, bird flying to right behind. Göbl, OTA pl. 29, 336/2; Ziegaus, Slg. Schörghuber 672; Castelin 1333; Lanz 673. 12.61g, 25mm, 1h. Extremely Fine.

600

26. Celts in Eastern Europe AR Tetradrachm. Baumreiter type. Circa 3rd century BC. Stylised, bearded head wearing reversed laurel wreath to right / Rider on horseback to left, wearing helmet with large crest terminating in annulet, holding leafless branch or small tree; animalistic symbol before, pellet and [floral ornament below]. Göbl, OTA pl. 12, 129/2-5; BMC I pl. 5, 65 & 67; Lanz 416-420; Pink 129-30. 13.20g, 24mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine.

600

27. Celts in Eastern Europe AR Tetradrachm. W-Reiter type. Struck in the southern Carpathian region, circa 3rd century BC. Stylised laureate head of Zeus to right / Stylised horseman riding to left; three pellets in triangle and W above, thick = before. Lanz 671 var. (no pellets); Pink 333. 14.07g, 25mm, 12h. 450 Extremely Fine; slight die shift to rev.; attractive old cabinet tone.

28. Celts in Eastern Europe AR Tetradrachm. Triskeles type. Circa 3rd - 2nd century BC. Stylised, laureate and bearded head of Zeus to right / Stylised rider on horseback to right; meander pattern above, V in front, Π beneath foreleg, triskeles below. Göbl, OTA pl. 35, 434/4; Lanz 724. 13.33g, 24mm, 9h. Extremely Fine; attractive old cabinet tone with underlying golden iridescence.

450

Apparently Unpublished

29. Celts in Eastern Europe(?) AR Drachm. Circa 3rd-2nd century BC. Stylised and diademed head to left, with frontal ornament and rays around head / Eagle standing facing, head to right, pellets to either side. Lanz - ; Manching -; Sergeev -; apparently unpublished in the standard references. 3.17g, 15mm, 3h. Good Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Apparently unpublished.

120

30. Celts in Eastern Europe AR Tetradrachm. Imitating Philip II of Macedon. Circa 2nd century BC. Laureate head of Zeus to right / ΦIΛIΠ, rider on horseback to right, holding palm; serpent below. Göbl, OTA 14; LT -; Pink -; Sergeev -. 13.44g, 27mm, 9h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

480

Ex VIA GmbH, Auction 1, 23 November 2021, lot 20.

31. Celts in Eastern Europe AR Tetradrachm. Zickzackgruppe type. Circa 2nd century BC. Stylised head of Zeus to left / Stylised horseman riding to left; ΠΛΛΛΛ and annulet above, annulet between two lines above and below, wavy line to right above. Pink 459; Lanz 736-7 var. (head to right), 738 var. (reverse details). 11.95g, 24mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

600

This type is often mis-attributed to Lanz 738 with no adjustments, however the additional Λ on the reverse legend and the lack of pellet in annulet above the horse means that this variety is more accurately attributed to Lanz 736-7 although the direction of the head of Zeus on the obverse means that this is also a variant.

COINS OF THE GREEKS ETRURIA

Extremely Rare and Unpublished

32. Etruria, Populonia AR Unit. 4th - 3rd century BC. Eagle with closed wings standing to right / I (mark of value). Unpublished in the standard references, cf. Roma E-108, 24; Roma XXI, 9; Roma E-77, 108; Roma X, 16 and 17. 1.19g, 13mm. Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

360

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 125.

33. Etruria, Populonia AR 20 Asses. 3rd century BC. Facing head of Metus, hair bound with diadem; OX.:.XO (mark of value) below / Blank. EC I, 54.1943 (O24); SNG ANS 83-4; HN Italy 152. 8.44g, 24mm. Extremely Fine.

900

Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l., Auction LVII, 30 April 2022, lot 6.

Published in Vecchi, Etruscan Coinage

34. Etruria, Populonia AR 10 Asses. Circa 300-250 BC. Laureate male head to left, slightly bearded; X (mark of value) behind / Blank. EC I, 70.237 (O3 this coin listed and illustrated); SNG ANS 26 (same dies); HN Italy 168; HGC 1, 120. 4.18g, 18mm. NGC graded Ch XF★, 5/5 - 5/5 (#4529603-013).

900

This coin published in I. Vecchi, Etruscan Coinage Part 1 (Milan, 2012); Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 84, 21 May 2015, lot 551; Ex Gemini LLC, Auction III, 9 January 2007, lot 25.

SAMNIUM

Extremely Rare

35. Samnium, Meles Cast Æ Sextans. Time of Hannibal, 216-210 BC. Bearded head of Hercules-Baal to right, club over shoulder; •• (mark of value) behind / African elephant with mahout advancing to left. ICC 325; Campana, PN 83, 1995, pp. 283-8, 2 A/a; Haeberlin p. 175, 9 pl. 69, 40; HN Italy 442; HGC 1, 343. 20.65g, 28mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare with elephant to left.

1,200

Meles was a Samnite oppidum which Hannibal occupied as a base for his supply train; the precise location of which is unknown. The town was retaken by Rome in 210 BC. The coin types are derived from Barcid issues from Spain (cf. ACIP 553 and for discussion see: E.S.G Robinson, Essays Mattingly, p. 40).

36. Samnium, Meles Cast Æ Semuncia. Time of Hannibal, 216-210 BC. Beardless male head to right / Barley grain. Unpublished in the standard references. 6.16g, 18mm, 12h. Good Fine. Extremely Rare; the second recorded example.

300

LUCANIA

37. Lucania, Herakleia Æ 14mm. Circa 3rd-2nd century BC. Helmeted head of Athena to right / Marine deity (Glaukos?) to right, holding spear and shield; |-HPAKΛEIΩN below. Van Keuren 144; HN Italy 1437; SNG ANS 118-21; SNG Copenhagen 1141; HGC 1, 1015 (R2); Roma 90, 17 (hammer: £420). 2.55g, 14mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine. Scarce.

180

Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd., Auction 66, 27 June 2021, lot 11. In Greek mythology, Glaukos was a Greek prophetic sea-god, born mortal and turned immortal upon eating a magical herb. It was believed that he commonly came to the rescue of sailors and fishermen in storms, having earlier earned a living from the sea himself.

38. Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 540-510 BC. Ear of barley with seven grains on each side; META upwards to left / Incuse ear of barley with seven grains. Noe 133 (same dies); SNG ANS 217 (same dies); HN Italy 1479; HGC 1, 1027. 7.87g, 27mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; ancient graffito to rev. underneath light cabinet tone.

360

Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), Sale 177 - ANA Auction Sess. B, 13 August 2013, lot 11010.

39. Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 510-470 BC. Ear of barley with seven grains on each side; META upwards to right / Incuse ear of barley with seven grains. Noe Class IX, 185; HN Italy 1482; HGC 1, 1028. NGC graded Ch XF 5/5 - 3/5 (#4936366-002).

600

Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group; Accompanied by old envelope from Coin Galleries (New York).

40. Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 470-440 BC. Ear of barley with seven grains on each side; META (retrograde) upwards to left, grasshopper downwards to right; dotted border around / Incuse barley ear. Noe, Class XII, 258 (same dies); Luynes 453 (same dies); HN Italy 1486. 7.52g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1,800

Ex A Lady’s Winged Horse Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 13; Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, Dallas Signature Sale 3088, 5 November 2020, lot 34004. The most desirable of all the incuse types of Metapontion, this remarkable and brief series comprising only four known obverse dies for the staters and one for a third stater marks the first usage of adjunct symbols on the coinage of Metapontion. A series of great fascination, the meaning of the grasshopper and the dolphin (which is present on the staters) has been a subject of debate for many years. Noe advocated the symbols as representing the badges of the moneyers’ houses, an argument not dissimilar to that which led the early archaic Athenian coins to be called ‘wappenmünzen’. Lenormant’s view that the insect has a propitiatory significance is rejected with the derisory rhetorical question ‘there may have been a plague of locusts but could there have been a plague of dolphins?’, while avoiding trying to explain its significance. Babelon (Traité, 1395-1396) proposed a punning reference to the hero Alybas, father of Metabos, and legendary founder of the city, however the Greek word he proposes to mean locust is incorrect, and the argument founders, still failing to explain the dolphin. It is most logical to follow Lenormant and view the appearance of the grasshopper-locust on the coins as being a propitiatory emblem or commemorating the deliverance of the city from a plague of locusts through the intervention of Apollo. Indeed, the god is closely associated with afflictions (and the relief of), and had as one of his epithets ‘Parnopios’, from πάρνοψ, “locust” - the expeller of locusts. Given that the dolphin was both a form he had taken and one of his sacred animals, as well as being a punning allusion to him as Apollo Delphinios, it seems eminently reasonable to determine the link between the two symbols as being in reference to a plague of locusts whose abatement was attributed to the intervention of Apollo. That the grasshopper-locust symbol recurs several times more throughout the extensive coinage of Metapontion and at appreciable intervals is hardly suggestive of descendants of a particular family holding office, as Noe suggested, but rather more likely indicative of recurrent swarms threatening the principle source of the city’s wealth and food.

41. Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 340-330 BC. Laureate head of Zeus to right, ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΣ before, Δ behind / Ear of barley with leaf to left, upon which Silenos crouches; ΔA below, META downwards to right. Johnston class A, 2.1; HN Italy 1557 corr. (Δ on obv.); SNG ANS 451; HGC 1, 1057 (R2). 7.76g, 21mm, 10h. About Good Very Fine; wonderful old cabinet tone.

450

Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 199, 10 October 2011, lot 31.

42. Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 340-330 BC. Phi-, magistrate. Wreathed head of Demeter to right, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace and veil / Ear of barley with leaf to left; mouse to left on leaf, Φ below, META downwards in right field. Johnston Class A, 8.8 (same dies); HN Italy 1570; SNG Lockett 412 (same dies); BMC 122 = Weber 775 (same dies); SNG ANS 419 (same obv. die) and 421 (same rev. die); HGC 1, 1061. 7.64g, 23mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine; pleasant dark cabinet tone.

1,200

43. Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Dai-, and Mach-, magistrates. Wreathed head of Demeter to right, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace; Δ[AI] under chin / Ear of barley with leaf to right; META upwards in left field, plough above leaf, M[AX] below. Johnston Class C, 1.66 (same dies); HN Italy 1581; HGC 1, 1063. 7.80g, 20mm, 9h. Extremely Fine; attractively toned with subtle hints of rainbow iridescence to both sides.

600

44. Lucania, Metapontion AR Diobol. Circa 325-275 BC. Laureate head of Zeus Ammon to right / Ear of barley with leaf to right; to right, tripod above leaf, [ME] to left. Johnston F6; HN Italy 1603; SNG ANS 520; SNG Lloyd 397. 1.44g, 11mm, 2h. Near Extremely Fine; traces of overstrike(?) on obverse.

180

Ex collection in Ticino formed prior to 2000, Nomos AG, Auction 20, 10 July 2020, lot 35.

45. Lucania, Metapontion AR Diobol. Circa 325-275 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet / Ear of barley with leaf to right; META upwards in left field, cornucopiae above leaf. Johnston F21; SNG ANS 533-9; SNG Lockett 430; HN Italy -; HGC 1, -. 0.88g, 13mm, 8h. Extremely Fine; light cleaning marks to fields. Rare.

150

Ex Sir Gerard Clauson Collection, Noonans, Auction 263, 13 October 2022, lot 274.

46. Lucania, Metapontion Æ 17mm. Circa 300-250 BC. Draped bust of Athena facing slightly to right, wearing triple-crested helmet / Barley ear with leaf to right; META to left, cross-torch above leaf to right. Johnston, Bronze 46; HN Italy 1682; HGC 1, 1111. 4.34g, 17mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; in excellent condition, comparable to the specimen sold for £1,200 in 2016 (Roma E-28, lot 5). Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 24, 22 June 2016, lot 94.

120

Alliance Coinage

47. Lucania, Sirinos (Siris) in alliance with Pyxoes (Pixos) AR Stater. Circa 540-510 BC. Bull standing to left, head reverted; ΣIΡIN-OΣ retrograde in archaic characters below and above / Incuse bull standing to right, head reverted; archaic characters PVX retrograde in exergue. G. Mangieri, ‘Sibari Sirino e Pissunte’, in RIN 1981, A1 (same dies); Traité 2083, pl. LXVII, 1 (same dies); Perret I (same dies); BMC 2; HN Italy 1723; HGC 1, 1228. 6.83g, 30mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; dark cabinet tone with traces of original mineral adhesions. Very Rare; an intriguing and historically interesting issue of which very few extant examples are known, with only two specimens recorded from this pair of dies. 12,000 Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXV, 22 September 2022, lot 38. This stater is testament to the alliance of two cities, Sirinos and Pyxoes. The word ‘Sirinos’, known only from the numismatic record, was at one point considered an adjective referring to the wealthy city of Siris on the Ionian coast, which was destroyed by the alliance of Sybaris, Metapontion and Kroton in the early sixth century BC. However, partly because of the great distance between Siris and Pyxoes it is now thought possible that ‘Sirinos’ is in fact the name of a city in its own right, likely that of the ‘Sirini’ people of whom Pliny the Elder writes in his description of southern Italy (NH 3.15). Ruins attributed to Sirinos have been identified on a rocky peak in the valley of Lauria near Rivello, which are still referred to as ‘the city’, and which geographically would make considerably more sense, being only approximately 30km away from Pyxoes. Pyxoes itself was an ancient Lucanian city situated on the Tyrrhenian coast, today Policastro Bussentino, and reported by Diodoros Siculus (11.59.4) as having been founded by Mikythos the tyrant of Rhegion and Zankle-Messana in 471/0 BC, possibly as a military outpost, though the numismatic evidence suggests that Pyxoes existed prior to this event; what is not clear is whether it was a Hellenic community prior to Mikythos’ refoundation, or whether it was an Italic one. The extent of Pyxoes’ territory is uncertain, but it is hard to conceive of it as being autonomous. Both cities must inevitably have come under the influence of Sybaris, an important city which amassed proverbially great wealth and power due to its fertile land and advantageously positioned port. Indeed, this type of a bull with head reverted and an incuse reverse is directly derived from the contemporary Sybaritic coinage (e.g. HN Italy 1729-1742), the similarities extending as far as the details of the dotted ground line and reverse ray border (S. R. Olsen, ‘An incuse stater from the series ‘Sirinos/ Pyxoes’’, Journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia 26 (2015), p.37.). The incuse design and Achaean weight standard is typical of coinage from the sixth century BC in southern Italy and was also employed in nearby Metapontion and Croton.

48. Lucania, Paestum (Poseidonia) Æ 19mm. Circa 350-290 BC. Bull butting to right; dolphin swimming to right above / Poseidon advancing to right, wielding trident overhead. Grunauer, Bronzeprägung XXV; HN Italy 1174 corr. (obv./rev.); cf. SNG ANS 712; HGC 1, 1188 var. (legend). 5.86g, 19mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; the first to come to auction since 2014.

180

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction IV, 30 September 2012, lot 1021; Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 87, 8 December 2010, lot 45 (hammer: EUR 400).

49. Lucania, Velia AR Stater. IE Group, circa 280 BC. Helmeted head of Athena to left, helmet decorated with griffin, palmette on neck guard; [A] before crest, IE within shallow incuse square behind neck guard, Φ below chin / Lion attacking stag to left; [YEΛHTΩN] to right. Williams 551 (O277/R386); HN Italy 1318. 6.96g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; attractive cabinet tone.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 21.

ARPI

50. Apulia, Arpi AR Diobol. Circa 325-275 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp / Herakles kneeling to right, strangling lion; ΑΡΠ CΕΡ above, Δ below, [club] to left. HN Italy 637 var. (arrangement of legends); SNG ANS 632 var. (rev. legend); Siciliano D.1 var. (arrangement of legends); BMC 24 (Herakleia) var. (same); R. Garrucci, Le monete dell ‘Italia antica, 9-12 var. (same); HGC 1, 527 var. (same). 1.09g, 12mm, 7h. Extremely Fine.

300

The name on this series of diobols is uncertain and is possibly related to the Roman name Septimius as suggested by HN Italy.

CALABRIA

51. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 490-480 BC. Taras astride dolphin to right, holding octopus; TAPAΣ below / Hippocamp swimming to right; scallop shell below. Fischer-Bossert 32 (V13/R25) = Vlasto 129 (same dies); HN Italy 827; HGC 1, 753. 8.00g, 20mm, 3h. Extremely Fine; dark old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

3,750

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 431, 27 April 2022, lot 3004; Acquired from Münzhandlung Ritter, Düsseldorf, List 79, June 2007, lot 356.

52. Calabria, Tarentum AR Didrachm. Circa 480-470 BC. Taras seated on dolphin to right, shell below, TAPAΣ (retrograde) behind / Wheel with four spokes. Vlasto 73; HN Italy 833; SNG ANS 827. 8.06g, 20mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. Rare.

750

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction IV, 30 September 2012, lot 27; Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 5, 14 May 2012, lot 23.

53. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 315-302 BC. Ari- and Kl-, magistrates. Nude warrior on horseback to right, brandishing with spear held in his right hand and holding two other spears and shield in his left; to upper left, Ξ; beneath horse, API / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding kantharos and rudder; TA-PAΣ to right; ΚΛ below. Fischer-Bossert 923; Vlasto 636; HN Italy 939. 8.02g, 21mm, 4h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

360

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 24, 3 December 2022, lot 17.

54. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 315-300 BC. Sa-, magistrate. Nude rider on horseback to right, holding lance in right hand and shield with two javelins in left; ΣA below / Phalanthos riding dolphin to left, holding trident and kantharos; TAPAΣ behind, small dolphin to left, below. Fischer-Bossert 831; Vlasto 622-623. 7.89g, 21mm, 9h. Extremely Fine.

360

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique.

55. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Zopyrion, magistrate. Reduced standard. Nude youth on horseback to right; ΖΩΠΥΡΙΩΝ and ΣΩ above bukranion below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding hippocamp and trident; monogram and head of bearded Pan to right, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 941 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1054; SNG ANS 1248 (same dies); SNG BnF 2053; SNG Lloyd 225; HGC 1, 900. 6.53g, 21mm, 9h. Good Extremely Fine; a highly attractive example of a rare type.

750

56. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Xenokrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Bearded strategos on horse walking to left, wearing short tunic and chlamys, raising hand in salutation, with parazonium under left arm; monogram and pileus to upper right, ΞΕΝΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, with torso turned to right, naked but for chlamys raised in left hand, with trident over right shoulder; TAPAΣ to left, monogram to right, cuttlefish and waves below. Vlasto 955-958; HN Italy 1058; SNG ANS 1259; HGC 1, 904. 6.52g, 21mm, 7h. Near Mint State.

450

57. Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Strategos, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, on horse rearing to right; monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPATHΣ in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 968 (same dies); HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1262; SNG Lloyd 230; SNG BnF 2059-60; Dewing 316; HGC 1, 905. 6.46g, 21mm, 9h. Mint State; attractive cabinet tone.

750

BRUTTIUM

58. Bruttium, Kaulonia AR Stater. Circa 525-500 BC. Nude Apollo advancing to right, holding laurel branch in upright right hand, small daimon running to right on extended left arm, holding branches; to right, stag standing to right, head reverted; KAVΛ to left; all within dot and cable border / Incuse of obverse, but no ethnic. Noe, Caulonia, Group A, 5 (same dies); Morgan 91 (same dies); SNG ANS 142 (same dies); Gulbenkian 119 (same dies); McClean 1589-90 (same dies); HN Italy 2035; HGC 1, 1416. 7.84g, 30mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

3,600

Ex A Lady’s Winged Horse Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 26; Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, NYINC Signature Sale 3081, 12 January 2020, lot 30005.

59. Bruttium, Kroton AR Stater. Circa 530-500 BC. Tripod-lebes, legs terminating in lion’s paws, with ornaments on and serpents rising from the bowl; ϘPO to left / Incuse of obverse, ornaments and serpents in relief. SNG ANS 227-234; SNG Lockett 597; HN Italy 2075. 7.21g, 29mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; well struck.

600

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

Ex Garrett, Benson and Bunbury Collections

60. Bruttium, Kroton AR Stater. Circa 350-300 BC. Eagle standing to right, wings displayed and head raised / Tripod, legs terminating in lion’s feet; bay leaf to left, QPO to right. Gulbenkian I 128 (same obverse die); SNG ANS 344-5 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 1784; HN Italy 2148; HGC 1, 1460. 7.93g, 24mm, 8h. Good Extremely Fine; previously NGC graded Choice XF★ 4/5 - 5/5, wonderful old cabinet tone. Very Rare; among the finest such staters of Kroton. 7,500 Ex Johns Hopkins University Collection, Bank Leu AG - Numismatic Fine Arts Inc., 16-18 October 1984, lot 112; Ex John Work Garrett (1872-1942) Collection, privately purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., June 1926; Ex Frank Sherman Benson (1854-1907) Collection, Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, 3 February 1909, lot 112; Ex Sir Edward Herbert Bunbury (1811-1895) Collection, Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, 15 June 1896, lot 204. Despite later myths ascribing the founding of Kroton to Herakles, the city’s historical oikist is recorded as Myskellos of Rhypai who, on consulting the Delphic oracle about his lack of children was given the response that Apollo would grant children, but that first Myskellos should found the city of Kroton ‘among fair fields’. After being given directions on how to locate the site, Myskellos travelled to southern Italy to explore the land that he had been assigned, but seeing the territory of the Sybarites and thinking it superior, he returned once more to the oracle to ask whether he would be allowed to change. The answer came back that he should accept the gifts that the god gave him. A further element of the story is that Myskellos was accompanied on his expedition by Archias of Corinth; the Delphic oracle gave the pair the choice between health and wealth. Archias elected wealth, and was assigned the site of Syracuse, while Myskellos chose health: the favourable climate of Kroton, the eminent skill of its physicians and the prowess of its athletes later earned its citizens this reputation for good health. The importance of the Delphic oracle to the founding of Kroton is thus celebrated on its coinage from the earliest days, though on this coin the tripod is relegated to the reverse of the coin apparently in favour of the eagle - an aspect of Zeus - that likely represents this coinage’s striking for the purpose of an agonistic festival in honour of that god.

Ex Triton XI, 2008

61. Bruttium, Lokroi Epizephyrioi AV 1/10 Stater. Time of Pyrrhos of Epeiros, circa 280 BC. Attic standard. Head of eagle to left, with serpent in its beak, ΟΛ above; all within circular pelleted border / Upright winged thunderbolt. SNG ANS 498; SNG Copenhagen 1857; Pozzi 795; Jameson 447; HN Italy 2346. 0.91g, 10mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; usual area of flat strike, die break to rev. Very Rare.

1,800

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XI, 8 January 2008, lot 29. Like most of the gold issues of Magna Graecia, this coin can be associated with a time of emergency that required the striking of extraordinary currency. This type most likely hails from the time of Pyrrhos of Epeiros’ campaign in Italy, as the weight standard adheres more closely to that present during the third century, as argued by Colin Kraay. This view is given credence by the existence of a parallel issue struck at Tarentum that has been definitively dated to this time.

NUMIDIA

One of Only 3 in the Past 20 Years

62. Numidia, Macomades Ӕ 22mm. After 46 BC(?). Bearded head to right, wearing local headdress; star behind, uncertain Neo-Punic script around / Boar standing to left; MKMA in Neo-Punic above. Mazard 521; Müller, Afrique 78; cf. MAA 136; Künker 341, 5371 (hammer: EUR 500); CNG 99, 397 (hammer: USD 800). 6.10g, 22mm, 9h. Near Very Fine; smoothed and tooled. Extremely Rare; seemingly just the third example to come to auction in the past twenty years.

180

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Live Auction 5, 27 September 2022, lot 122.

NORTH AFRICA

63. North Africa, Carthage BI Shekel. Libyan Revolt, uncertain mint, circa 241-238 BC. Head of Herakles to left, wearing lion skin headdress / Lion prowling to right; Punic ‘M’ below. CNP 433c; SNG Copenhagen 240. 7.25g, 21mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Rare; seemingly the only example of this variant on CoinArchives.

450

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger.

64. North Africa, Carthage AR Quarter Shekel. Carthage or uncertain Punic mint in Bruttium. Second Punic War, circa 220-205 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit to left, wearing pendant earring / Horse standing to right. CNP 27 (uncertain mint, Lokris?); MAA 78 (Carthage); SNG Copenhagen 335 (Carthage or Italian mint); HN Italy 2015 (Carthage); HGC 1, 1386 (Carthage?). 1.66g, 14mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

180

SICILY

65. Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. ‘People of the Camp’ mint (Entella?), circa 350-300 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit-Persephone to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; pellet before, four dolphins swimming around / Head of horse to left; date palm behind, Punic ‘M’ below. Jenkins, Punic 230 (O72/R197); de Luynes 1466; SNG Lockett 1054; HGC 2, 289. 17.25g, 23mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; a graceful portrait.

1,200

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 18, 18 December 2021, lot 594.

Graded AU★ and Extremely Rare

66. Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. ‘People of the Camp’ mint (Entella?), circa 320-315 BC. Female head (Artemis-Tanit or Elissa-Dido?) to right, wearing Phrygian tiara / Lion walking to right; palm tree with three date clusters behind, s’mmhnt (‘People of the Camp’) in Punic in exergue. Jenkins, Punic, series 4, 272 (O85-R226, these dies); De Luynes 1472 (these dies); Rizzo pl. 68, 8 (these dies); Boston MFA 36 (these dies). NGC graded AU★ 5/5 - 5/5 (#6674505-002). Extremely Rare.

60,000

Ex ‘Exceptional Collection’ assembled between the early 70’s-late 90’s, Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 132, 30 May 2022, lot 233 (hammer: 130,000 CHF). Carthage, at the head of considerable commercial empire in the western Mediterranean, like Etruria and Phoenicia, did not adopt the Greek practice of coining until the last decade of the 5th century BC when she came into direct contact with the Greek city states of Sicily such as Naxos, Syracuse and Messana, which had started to produce coins of the highest technical quality in the artistic style of the late archaic Greek school in the last quarter of the 6th century BC. The origin of the so-called Siculo-Punic coinage, often of rather crude style mostly imitating contemporary Syracusan tetradrachms produced at Rash Melkarth (= ‘Promontory of Herakles’, possibly Kephaloidion), Panormos (Ziz, ‘the splendid’), Motya (the ‘spinning factory’) and the ‘people of the camp’ and ‘pay master’ military mint (generally considered that of Entella) for the payment of the army including many Italian and Greek mercenaries, is dated to about 410 BC and the Carthaginian military operations in Sicily. Hannibal, grandson of Hamilcar, taking the opportunity presented by the quarrels of the Greek cities in Sicily and of the mutual exhaustion of Athens and Syracuse, invaded western Sicily with a strong military force and defeated the Greeks at Himera in 409. The obverse female figure is wearing an oriental tiara in the form of a Phrygian cap, which in Greek iconography generally denotes personages of oriental origin, including Amazons, Trojans, Phrygians, Persians and the great Anatolian mother goddess Kybele and her youthful lover Attis, as seen on the coinage of Amastris (cf. SNG BM Black Sea 1304). 19th and 20th century numismatists poetically described this head as that of Dido (Virgil) or historically, Elissa (Timaeus), the sister of Pymalion, king of Tyre, who fled Phoenicia to found Carthage in 814 BC (cf. Pierre Straus in Münzen und Medaillon sale 43, 1970, 33-4). However, a realistically more convincing interpretation is that it is the portrait of a goddess also represented in certain terracotta figurines of the latter 4th century found at the archaeological sites of Selinous and Gela, both within the Punic sphere of influence by this time. These terracottas depict a female in a Phrygian cap, sometimes accompanied by a lion and a palm tree. This goddess has been called Artemis-Astarte by some authorities and Kybele by others, but the only certainty is that she was one of the great Asian nature-deities, who were subject to syncretic amalgamation in the Hellenistic period (cf. P. Orlandini, ‘Typologia e cronologia del Materiale archeologico di Gela della nuova fondazione di Timoleonte all’atà di Ierone II,’ in Archeologia Classica 9, 1957, pl. 14, 2). The reverse type combines two of her symbolic attributes. The palm tree is an ancient Semitic fertility symbol, recalling the Carthaginian homeland in Phoenicia. The lion is associated with the Asian mother goddess in her aspect as mistress of wild beasts. The lion is also a solar symbol as is the horse, which appears regularly on Punic coinage. The die engraving of both sides of this coin is of exceptional and restrained classical Greek workmanship. The obverse is graced with a portrait of serene divinity, realistic curly hair below a pleated headdress, reminiscent of the finest 5th century sculpture. The reverse is no less of a masterpiece, depicting a majestic lion with a muscular body, protruding veins, luxuriant mane and emphasis on the power of the animal reminiscent of 4th century funerary lions found in the Kerameikos cemetery in Athens.

Ex Triton X, 2007

67. Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. ‘Quaestors’ issue. Entella(?), circa 300-289 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Head of horse to left; club to left, date palm tree to right, ‘MḤSBM (Paymaster, or Quaestor) in Punic script below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 5b, 339 (O109/R278), see pp. 7-8 for interpretation of legend; CNP 272a; HGC 2, 295. 16.46g, 25mm, 9h. Extremely Fine; pleasant iridescent highlights.

1,500

Ex North River Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton X, 9 January 2007, lot 69.

Extremely Rare

68. Sicily, Abakainon Æ 13mm. Circa 339-317 BC. Large A / Eight-rayed star. CNS 1; Campana 33; SNG ANS -; HGC 2, -. 1.49g, 13mm. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly one of only five examples offered at auction in the past 20 years.

120

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 77, 1 December 2019, lot 20 (hammer: GBP 265).

Apparently Unique and Unpublished

69. Sicily, Adranon Æ 14mm. Circa 339-307 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Barleycorn within wreath. CNS 8 var. (head of Demeter); cf. Campana p. 44 (uncertain head, to left); HGC 2, 41 var. (head of Demeter). 2.40g, 14mm, 7h. Near Very Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

Possibly the Fifth Known

70. Sicily, Aitna AR Litra. Circa 460 BC. Nike advancing to right, holding lowered kerykeion and wreath / Winged thunderbolt flanked by two shields; A-I-T around. Münzzentrum 74, 1992, 135 = Sternberg 31, 1996, 542 = NAC 25, 2003, 57 = Peus 392, 2007, 4003 = HGC 2, 66 (same dies); Hirsch 272, 2011, 70 (same dies); Nomos obolos 6, 2016, 78; Bertolami E-38, 2016, 163. 0.68g, 13mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare, possibly only the fifth known example of the type.

450

71. Sicily, Enna Æ 22mm. Circa 204-186/0 BC. Triptolemos standing facing, holding sceptre; ENNAI-ΩN across fields / Plough drawn by two serpents; barley grain below. CNS 5; HGC 2, 395. 8.53g, 22mm, 9h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only six other examples on CoinArchives, none finer. Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 92, 2 October 2020, lot 256 (hammer: GBP 270); Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 229, 10 March 2015, lot 1056.

120

72. Sicily, Enna Æ 22mm. Struck under Roman Rule, 44-36 BC. L. Cestius and L. Munatius, duoviri. MVN HENNAE, female (Proserpina?) head to right / M CESTIVS L MVNATIVS II VIR, naked male figure, wearing a cloak, standing to left with outstretched hand. RPC I 662; BMC 11; CNS 13; SNG ANS 1338; HGC 2, 405. 8.66g, 22mm, 12h. Near Very Fine. Rare.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

Extremely Rare

73. Sicily, Halykiai(?) Æ Hexas or Dionkion. Circa 420-409/8 BC. Dionysos (or poet Stesichoros?) standing to right, holding thyrsos / Boar leaping to left, two pellets (mark of value) above. Lazzarini, Monetazione, Series II (unlisted type); HGC 2, 494 (Himeraia?); Bertolami 77, 172; Bertolami 12, 118. 2.97g, 16mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

74. Sicily, Himera AR Didrachm. Circa 483/2-472/1 BC. Cockerel standing to left; [HIMERA] before / Crab within shallow incuse circle. Westermark, Himera, Group II, 40 (O9/R33); SNG ANS 157 (same obv. die); HGC 2, 438. 8.43g, 23mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; deep cabinet tone.

1,500

Ex Hess-Divo AG, Auction 340, 1 June 2022, lot 5; there reported as having been “three generations in the possession of a Swiss family”.

75. Sicily, Himera AR Litra. Circa 430 BC. Bearded head to right, wearing tainia / Corinthian helmet to right, decorated with spiral ornament, IMEPAION (retrograde and partially ligate) around; all within circular incuse. SNG Lloyd 1028 (same dies); HGC 2, 447. 0.68g, 11mm, 6h. Good Very Fine.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

76. Sicily, Himera AR Litra. Circa 420 BC. Forepart of winged sphinx to left, with bearded male head and goat horns / IM-E-R-[AI]-ON, nude Pan riding goat capering to left, holding goat’s horn and lagobolon. SNG ANS 172/173; SNG Copenhagen 309; Jameson 615; SNG Lockett 788; HGC 2, 451. 0.25g, 13mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; heavy original ‘find’ patina.

180

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction L, 18 May 2001, lot 1163; Ex Classical Numismatic Group - Numismatica Ars Classica - Freeman & Sear, Triton III, 30 November 1999, lot 192.

Very Rare

77. Sicily, Himera Æ Hemilitron. Circa 415-409 BC. Female head to left, wearing sphendone; six pellets (mark of value) to left / Six pellets (mark of value) arranged in a rosette pattern in and around central star; all within wreath. CNS Addenda 35A; SNG ANS -; HGC 2, 480. 3.76g, 18mm, 3h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 77, 1-2 December 2019, lot 209; Sold with various old collector’s tickets, including one dated 25 January 1986.

Extremely Rare

78. Sicily, Kalakte Æ 12mm. Late 2nd century BC. Bearded head of Herakles to right / Club; KAΛAKTINΩN around. Campana 5; CNS 5; SNG ANS -; HGC 2, 516. 1.30g, 12mm, 6h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other authentic example on CoinArchives.

120

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 77, 1 December 2019, lot 239 (hammer: GBP 380).

One of the Best Preserved Examples

79. Sicily, Katane Æ Dichalkon. Circa 216/5-206 BC. Wreathed head of Poseidon to right; trident to left / Dolphin to right; XII (mark of value) above; ΚΑΤΑΝΑΙΩΝ below. CNS 4; HGC 2, 611. 4.38g, 19mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare; one of the best preserved examples of the type.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 77, 1 December 2019, lot 275.

Very Rare

80. Sicily, Kentoripai Æ Hemilitron. Circa 344-336 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / KENTO-ΡIΠINΩN; kithara, three pellets (mark of value) to left and right. SNG ANS 1316; Calciati III p. 173, 5; BMC 7; SNG Copenhagen 213; SNG Morcom 567; Laffaille 165; Virzi 898; HGC 2, 635. 12.30g, 23mm, 9h. Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

180

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 67, 11 July 2019, lot 92; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 64, 17-18 May 2012, lot 2110.

Extremely Rare with Crescent on Obverse

81. Sicily, the Mamertinoi Æ Pentonkion. Messana, circa 220-200 BC. Laureate head of Zeus to right; crescent behind / Warrior advancing to right, holding shield and spear; MAMEPTINΩN behind, Π (mark of value) before. CNS 41; HGC 2, 853. 11.41g, 27mm, 3h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare with crescent on obverse.

120

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 69, 16 April 2020, lot 307 (hammer: GBP 220); Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd., Auction 5, 3 November 2019, lot 43.

Extremely Rare

82. Sicily, Nakona Æ 16mm. Circa 316-290 BC. Head of Persephone to right, wearing grain wreath, necklace and pendant earring; [KAMΠANΩN] downwards before / Horse galloping to left; NAKONAION in two lines above, Corinthian helmet below. CNS -, cf. 4 (Pegasos); SNG Morcom 648; HGC 2, 961; Roma 8, 50 (hammer: £950). 3.57g, 16mm, 8h. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare; just five other examples have come to auction in the past two decades.

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 29, 22 March 2017, lot 121.

Only 2 Other Examples on CoinArchives

83. Sicily, Panormos Æ 15mm. After 241 BC. Naso-, quaestor. Veiled head of Demeter to left / NASO within laurel wreath; star pattern of pellets at apex. CNS 82; HGC 2, -. 1.61g, 15mm, 6h. Very Fine. Very Rare; only two other examples on CoinArchives.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

Extremely Rare

84. Sicily, Panormos Æ 17mm. After 241 BC. P. F. Silva, praetor, and Salasi(us) Luci(us), duovir. Olive-branch; P • F SILVA • P R • around / Triskeles with facing head in center; SALASI LVCI(retrograde) II • around. CNS 166; RPC I 669. 4.59g, 17mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; one of only 6 examples on CoinArchives.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

Ex Sternberg 1986

85. Sicily, Selinos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 440-420 BC. Artemis, holding bow and reins, driving biga to right with Apollo standing beside her, drawing bow; barley corn in exergue / River god Selinos standing to left, sacrificing from phiale over lighted altar to left and holding branch; cockerel on altar, selinon leaf and bull on base to right, ΣEΛINONTINON around. Schwabacher 16 (Q5/S14); SNG ANS 696 (same obv. die); SNG München 881 (same rev. die); HGC 2, 1221. 17.08g, 29mm, 5h. Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone, some light scratches to obv.

4,500

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 403, 27 April 2011, lot 40 (hammer: 10,000 EUR); Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 54, 24 March 2010, lot 47; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 29, 11 May 2005, lot 103; Ex Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 46, 30 October 1989, lot 35; Ex A. D. M. Collection, Sternberg, Auction 17, 9 May 1986, lot 61.

Unsigned Dies by the Master ‘A’

86. Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Time of the Second Democracy, circa 440-430 BC. Unsigned dies by the master ‘A’. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga to right; Nike above, flying to right, crowning horses with wreath / Head of Arethusa to right, wearing double-hook earrings and necklace; ΣYPAKOΣION and four dolphins around. Boehringer 642 (V326/R442); BMC 112 (same dies); SNG ANS 207 (same dies); HGC 2, 1319. 17.68g, 25mm, 1h. Extremely Fine.

3,600

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 109, 4 May 2022, lot 92. The talented engraver who signed some of his dies simply with an ‘A’ was the very first master engraver to sign his dies at Syracuse, around 15 years before other masters such as Eumenos, Kimon and Euainetos began signing theirs.

87. Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Time of the Second Democracy, circa 420 BC. Unsigned dies by the unknown master ‘A’. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga to right; Nike above, flying to right, crowning charioteer with wreath / Head of Arethusa to right, wearing hook earring, hair enveloped in sakkos drawn together at top and decorated with a maeander pattern above chevrons; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙ[ΟΝ] and four dolphins around. Boehringer 692 (V342/R471); HGC 2, 1322. 17.08g, 25mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

1,200

Signed by Two of the Most Accomplished Master-Engravers

88. Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Time of the Second democracy, circa 415-405 BC. Obverse die signed by Euainetos. Reverse die signed by Eukleidas. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga to right; above, Nike flying to left, crowning charioteer with wreath held in both hands; EYAINETO in small letters on exergual line, wheel below / Head of the nymph Arethusa to left, wearing ampyx and sphendone; ampyx decorated with swan, sphendone with two eight-pointed stars and EVKΛEI in small letters below, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ and four swimming dolphins around. Fischer-Bossert, Coins 37 (O12/R23); Tudeer 37; SNG ANS 266 (these dies); Gulbenkian 276 (these dies); HGC 2, 1331. NGC graded Ch AU★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style (#6674506-001). Very Rare; the finest known example.

60,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 132, 30 May 2022, lot 209 (hammer: 150,000 CHF); Previously privately purchased from A. Tkalec AG on 16th May 1995 and notarized as being in Switzerland prior to 2004. Described by Cicero as ‘the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all’ (Against Verres, 2.4.52), Syracuse became the major power in Sicily during the late fifth century BC. Its political and cultural power is borne out in its enormous issues of undoubtedly some of the finest coinage in all of antiquity, with its influence attracting eminent artists, including some celebrated die-engravers from across the Mediterranean. These masters brought about a stylistic revolution, breathing life into the static, rigid forms of Archaic art and developing new ways of depicting motion and life on a miniature scale. These artists were responsible for tetradrachms of beautifully realistic style which were minted in vast quantities and widely disseminated and are now highly sought after by collectors. Among these master engravers were Eumenes and Eukleidas, who worked contemporaneously and whose status as artists rather than mere craftsmen is symbolised by the act of signing their dies, just as painters would later sign their masterpieces. Eumenes of course produced a sublime series of Arethusa-head tetradrachms best exemplified by Kraay-Hirmer 103, while the pinnacle of Eukleidas work is undoubtedly the three-quarters facing head Athena tetradrachm issue (Kraay-Hirmer 111). Whether or not Eumenes and Eukleidas worked together in the design and execution of die production for specific commissions, the fruits of their combined labours resulted in several issues of which this is undoubtedly the most refined and dynamic. The obverse of the present work shows a dramatic depiction of a chariot race, an iconic motif which had evolved from sober, canonical renderings inspired by Attic vase paintings. We are afforded a wonderful view of the charioteer straining forwards, but while Eumenes’ style powerfully engages the viewer in the race, the outcome is never in doubt: the presence of Nike, soaring in from above to crown the charioteer, shows victory is assured. This victorious representation is particularly pertinent within the context of the events of the decade in which this specific type was produced, during which Syracuse saw off the great Sicilian Expedition of Athens and battled with Carthage in the Second Sicilian War. When the Athenians besieged Syracuse in 415-413 BC the Syracusans were able to successfully overcome the onslaught, however a more formidable in the form of Hannibal Mago would soon test Syracusan resolve when in 410 BC the Carthaginians renewed hostilities in Sicily. Having captured Selinos and Himera, Hannibal Mago turned his sights to the greatest prize, Syracuse. Dionysios I was forced to accept an uneasy peace treaty in 405 BC with Himilco, Hannibal Mago’s successor, which marked an end to Syracusan influence in much of the rest of the island.

A Spectacular Example

89. Sicily, Syracuse AV 100 Litrai - Double Dekadrachm. Dionysios I, circa 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies in the style of Kimon. Head of Arethusa to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, hair in sphendone ornamented with two stars; ΣYPAKO[ΣIΩN] before, A behind / Herakles kneeling to right, strangling the Nemean Lion. Bérend 30; Gulbenkian 324 (same dies); Rizzo pl. L, 12 (same rev. die); SNG ANS 332-333 (same dies); Pozzi 606 (A rather than AK behind); Jameson 1917 var. (A behind); HGC 2, 1275 var. (same). 5.78g, 15mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine; small edge mark, otherwise a spectacular example with a crisp portrait in high relief. Extremely Rare; a very rare denomination in itself, and furthermore a variety unpublished in a number of the major collections. 24,000 Ex Jean Vinchon Numismatique, June 2022 Auction, 29 June 2022, lot 24. This particular issue dates to circa 405 BC, following the election of Dionysios as supreme military commander of Syracuse in recognition of his achievements in the war against Carthage and his subsequent seizure of total power. Syracuse had only recently repelled an Athenian invasion of Sicily that resulted in the complete destruction of Athens’ expeditionary force and ultimately contributed significantly to Athens’ defeat at the hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Then under Dionysios in 405 BC, despite the ruin of great cities such as Akragas and Gela, Syracuse overcame a Carthaginian invasion that might have resulted in a comprehensive conquest of the island. Such glory was short-lived, however, as the rule of Dionysios’ son and successor was to bring civil strife that would weaken the power of Syracuse. Never again would the city issue coinage on such a grand scale, and this coin represents part of the last great flourishing of classical numismatic art at Syracuse before two centuries of steady decline and eventual conquest at the hands of the Romans. The wonderful Syracusan 100 litrai or double dekadrachms are considered amongst some of the finest gold coinage of the Greek world, and are associated with the magnificent dekadrachms of Euainetos, whose signature also appears on the earlier dies of the gold denomination issue. The serenely graceful head of the sea-nymph Arethusa, rendered in very similar style to the great die-engraver Euainetos, is presented in delightful contrast to the dynamic rendering of the first labour of Hercules, the slaying of the Nemean lion, on the reverse. The die-engraver’s masterful composition within the bounds of a circular constraint produces a scene of great power and climax, both Herakles’ and the lion’s backs arched as the hero bends to tighten his grip around the lion’s neck and it strains desperately against him to escape. As a great Doric hero and ancestor of the Doric city of Syracuse, Herakles’ defeat of the lion, the symbol of Africa, has powerful connotations for Syracuse’s own conflict with the African city of Carthage.

90. Sicily, Syracuse Æ 19mm. Time of Dionysios I, circa 405-367 BC. Head of Athena to left, wearing laureate Corinthian helmet; ΣΥΡΑ inverted above / Bridled hippocamp to left. CNS 41; SNG ANS 434-46; HGC 2, 1456. 5.60g, 19mm, 5h. Extremely Fine; excellent detail for the issue and featuring an attractive, green patina.

450

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 44, 20 April 2018, lot 96 (hammer: £440).

91. Sicily, Syracuse AV Dekadrachm - 50 Litrai. Time of Agathokles, circa 317-311 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to left, Σ behind / Charioteer driving fast biga to right; triskeles below horses, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN around. Gulbenkian I, 327 (same dies); SNG ANS 551 (same dies); Bérend, ‘De l’or d’Agothocle’ in Studies Price, pl. 9, 1 for type. 4.27g, 15mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; from dies of pleasing style. Rare.

3,000

Ex Hess-Divo AG, Auction 332, 31 May 2017, lot 17.

92. Sicily, Syracuse EL 25 Litrai - Quarter Stater. Agathokles, circa 310-305 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to left / Kithara; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ around. Jenkins, Electrum, Group A; BAR Issue 11; SNG ANS 617-8; HGC 2, 1295 (R1). 1.83g, 12mm, 4h. Near Extremely Fine; a lustrous, well-detailed example, undoubtedly one of the finest to come to auction in the last decade. Scarce.

750

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

Ex SKA-Monetarium, 1989

93. Sicily, Syracuse AR 5 Litrai. Time of Hieronymos, circa 215-214 BC. Diademed head to left / Winged thunderbolt; BAΣIΛEOΣ and ΞA above, IEPΩNYMOY below. Holloway 60; SNG ANS -; SNG Lloyd 1566; HGC 2, 1568 (R2). 3.99g, 18mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine; beautifully centred on the flan with hints of iridescence. Extremely rare with these letters on rev.

750

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 44, 20 April 2018, lot 112; Ex The Coin Cabinet Ltd., Auction 4, 4 June 2017, lot 2; Ex private Swiss collection, Nomos AG, obolos 6, 20 November 2016, lot 239; Ex SKA-Monetarium, FPL 52, Autumn 1989, no. 36. Hieronymos ascended to the throne of Syracuse at a time of crisis, for a Roman Consular army of eight legions and allied troops had been annihilated at Cannae only the year before, and Roman power had been dealt a considerable shock. The repercussions of that defeat had been profoundly felt in Sicily; the aged Hieron II had remained steadfast in his loyalty and support to Rome, though a significant party in the city favoured abandoning the Roman alliance and joining the cause of Carthage despite their traditional enmity to that people. After his death the young Hieronymos, who had already shown signs of weakness and depravity of character, allowed himself to be influenced by his pro-Carthaginian uncles into breaking the alliance and raising an army against Rome. This course of action resulted in revolution within the city; Hieronymos and his family were slain and democratic government was restored, but the following year a Roman army arrived to lay siege to the city. Though the defenders held out for three years, in part thanks to the engineering genius of Archimedes, the Romans finally stormed the city under cover of darkness. Much of the population fell back to the citadel, but this too fell after an eight month siege. As retribution for the city having changed its allegiance to Carthage at the height of the Second Punic War, and for having forced the Romans into a lengthy and costly siege while Italy and Rome herself remained in peril, the city was thoroughly sacked and the inhabitants put to the sword or enslaved. Though the Roman general, Marcus Claudius Marcellus, gave instruction that Archimedes was to be spared, he too was slain in the sack.

Extremely Rare

94. Sicily, Tyndaris Æ 19mm. After 241 BC. Pilei of Dioskouroi surmounted by stars / Rudder; D-D across fields. CNS 26; HGC 2, 1656. 2.98g, 19mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

120

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included.

95. Sicily, uncertain mint under Roman Rule Æ 16mm. Late 2nd century BC. Veiled head of Ceres to right / She-wolf to right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; P • [T]E (quaestor’s name) above. Cf. CNS 111 (Panormos); cf. HGC 2, 1687 & 1696 (for rev. type). 2.21g, 16mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 77, 26 November 2020, lot 173.

Apparently Unpublished

96. Sicily, uncertain mint under Roman Rule Æ 16mm. Late 2nd century BC. Head of Saturn to left / CRASSIPES (name of quaestor) around central pellet, all within wreath; star pattern of pellets at apex. Cf. CNS 95 (Panormos); cf. HGC 2, 1697 (unlisted quaestor’s name). 2.91g, 16mm, 1h. Very Fine. Apparently unpublished.

Ex Anders Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 77, 26 November 2020, lot 171.

EPEIROS

Ex Gorny & Mosch 2005

97. Epeiros, Epeirote Republic AR Drachm. Circa 198-168 BC. Head of Zeus Dodonaeus to right, wearing oak wreath; monogram behind / Eagle with closed wings standing to right on thunderbolt; ΑΠΕΙ-ΡΩΤΑΝ around; all within oak wreath. Franke, Epeiros 69 (V28/R47); BMC 24; SNG Copenhagen 114; HGC 3.1, 171. 4.92g, 21mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; minor flan crack at 4h, superb old cabinet tone with attractive iridescence. Very Rare. Ex collection of Sheik Saud al Thani, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 126, 17 November 2021, lot 155; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction II, 2 October 2011, lot 156 (hammer: GBP 4,800); Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 138, 7 March 2005, lot 64.

1,500

AKARNANIA

98. Akarnania, Anaktorion AR Stater. 320-280 BC. Pegasos flying to left; AN monogram below / Helmeted head of Athena to left; AN monogram and omphalos to right. Pegasi 36; BCD Akarnania 105; Imhoof-Blumer, Akarnanien 76. 8.49g, 21mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; attractive light cabinet tone.

450

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Hestia Collection.

99. Akarnania, Argos Amphilochikon AR Stater. Circa 340-300 BC. Pegasos flying to left, A below / Head of Athena to left, wearing Corinthian helmet; APΓEI above to left, crested Corinthian helmet to left behind. Pegasi 11; Imhoof-Blumer, Akarnaniens 12; BCD Akarnania 132-3; HGC 4, 783. 8.53g, 20mm, 10h. Extremely Fine.

450

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

THESSALY

100. Thessaly, Larissa AR Stater. Circa 356-342 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly to left, hair in ampyx, wearing necklace / Bridled horse prancing to right; ΛAPI-ΣAIΩN above and below. L-S Type 2, Series B, dies O8/R1; BCD Thessaly II 303 (same obv. die); Dewing 1397 (same dies); Cahn 80, 186 (same obv. die). 12.27g, 25mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; minor die-shift to rev., bright, lustrous metal.

4,500

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XVIII, 6 January 2015, lot 499; Previously purchased from the stock of Tradart S.A., old dealer’s ticket included.

Very Rare

101. Thessaly, Mopsion Æ 22mm. Late 4th - early 3rd century BC. Laureate head of Zeus facing slightly to right; thunderbolt to right / The Lapith Mopsos standing facing, head to right, brandishing club at centaur rearing to left; MOΨEI-ΩN around. Rogers 412; BCD Thessaly II 484; HGC 4, 537. 8.24g, 22mm, 9h. Good Very Fine; cleaning marks, some mineral adhesions. Very Rare.

300

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 83.

LOKRIS

Very Rare

102. Lokris, Lokris Opuntii Æ 13mm. Circa 330-300 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet; AN (magistrate’s name) above / Bunch of grapes on vine tendril, ΛOKPON around. Humphris & Delbridge, The Coinage of the Opountian Lokrians, RNS SP 50, London 2014, Series 6a; BCD Lokris 111.1; BMC 61; HGC 4, 983. 1.74g, 13mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 96.

CORINTHIA

103. Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 405-345 BC. Pegasos flying to left; Ϙ below / Head of Athena to left, wearing Corinthian helmet; bucranium behind. BCD Corinth 59; Pegasi 209; Ravel 490. 8.74g, 21mm, 9h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,500

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 829.

104. Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying to right, Ϙ below / Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet; [EY] - MA above, tripod behind. BCD Corinth -; Pegasi 257; Ravel 679. 8.46g, 22mm, 4h. Good Very Fine; light cabinet tone over lustrous metal.

300

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

105. Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-300 BC. Pegasos flying to left, Ϙ below / Head of Athena to left, wearing laureate Corinthian helmet; I on helmet, A-P flanking neck, cornucopiae with grain ears to right. BCD Corinth 103; Pegasi 430; Ravel 1012. 8.60g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

Acquired from Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH.

Fleur De Coin

106. Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying to left; Ϙ below / Head of Athena to left, wearing laureate Corinthian helmet; A-P flanking neck truncation, aegis behind. Pegasi 427; BCD Corinth -; Ravel 1009; SNG Copenhagen 71; HGC 4, 1848. 8.58g, 23mm, 2h. Fleur De Coin.

1,500

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

107. Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 345-307 BC. Pegasos flying to left; Ϙ below / Head of Athena to left, wearing Corinthian helmet; Ι below chin, owl standing to right behind. Pegasi 421; Ravel 1031; BCD Corinth 112; HGC 4, 1848. 8.55g, 23mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; minor marks to rev.

450

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 843.

ATTICA

Full Helmet Crest

108. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 546-527 BC. Archaic head of Athena to right, wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern, and round earring / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Svoronos pl. 4, 31-2; Seltman Group M, unlisted dies; Asyut Group IVe; HGC 4, 1590. 16.11g, 21mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone, full helmet crest.

3,000

Acquired from the inventory of Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung.

109. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 500-480 BC. Archaic head of Athena to right, wearing crested helmet decorated with chevron and dot pattern, and round earring / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Svoronos pl. 4, 29 ff.; Seltman Group Gi-ii, unlisted dies; Asyut Group IVb; HGC 4, 1590. 16.70g, 23mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine.

1,200

Ex Nomos AG, Auction 23, 30 November 2021, lot 99.

Near Full Helmet Crest

110. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.20g. 600

NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 5/5 (#6672356-027).

111. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.18g. 450

NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 5/5 (#6672356-032).

112. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.20g. NGC graded MS 5/5 - 4/5 (#6672356-033).

450

113. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.22g. NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 5/5 (#6672356-034).

450

114. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.22g. NGC graded MS 5/5 - 4/5 (#6672356-035).

450

115. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.22g. NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 5/5 (#6672356-036).

450

116. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.21g. NGC graded MS 5/5 - 5/5 (#6672356-037).

450

117. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.22g. NGC graded MS 5/5 - 4/5 (#6672356-028).

450

118. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. 17.21g. NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 5/5 (#6672356-029).

450

119. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace / Owl standing to right with head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597. NGC Graded Ch AU 5/5 - 4/5 (#4883344-027).

360

BOIOTIA

120. Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 395-387 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; club to left above, BO-IΩ across central field; all within concave circle. BCD Boiotia 17; SNG Fitzwilliam 2960; SNG Lockett 1770. 12.19g, 22mm, 5h. Good Very Fine.

300

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex WAG Online oHG, Auction 127, 13 February 2022, lot 9.

121. Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 379-368 BC. Klees-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora; incense burner to right, KV-EES across fields. Hepworth 65-66; BCD Boiotia 504-505; Myron Hoard pl. E, 4-5; HGC 4, 1331. 12.10g, 24mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone, well-centered.

300

Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 229, 10 March 2015, lot 1247.

Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection

122. Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 379-368 BC. Klee(s?)-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora; incense burner to right, KV-E[…] across fields. Hepworth 65-66; BCD Boiotia 504-505; Myron Hoard pl. E, 4-5; HGC 4, 1331. NGC graded AU 4/5-3/5 (#6290606-014). Attractive old cabinet tone with iridescent highlights.

300

Acquired from Vilmar Numismatics; Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection, likely acquired during the 1950s-1960s when Mr. Salton owned a numismatic dealership in New York, Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), January 2022 NYINC Auction, 14 January 2022, lot 4241.

123. Boiotia, Thebes AR Stater. Circa 379-368 BC. Klee-, magistrate. Boiotian shield / Amphora; incense burner to right, [K]V-EE across fields. Hepworth 65; BCD Boiotia 504; Myron Hoard pl. E, 4; HGC 4, 1331. NGC graded Ch AU 4/5-4/5 (#6290606-017). Attractive old cabinet tone.

300

MACEDON Possibly the Fourth Known

124. Macedon, Akanthos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 500-480 BC. Bull collapsing to left, head raised, attacked and mauled by lion upon his back to right; reverted lotus flower on exergual line / Quadripartite incuse square. Apparently unpublished in the standard references; NGSA 9, 34; CNG 84, 204; G&M 138, 1200. 16.36g, 24mm. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; possibly only the fourth known example.

1,500

This exceedingly rare coin is one of the earliest tetradrachms from Akanthos, recognisable by the thick flan. This particular variety with the lotus flower on the exergual line is notable not only for its rarity, not being published in any of the standard reference works, but also for demonstrating the difference between these early coins and the later more common types. The lotus here is naturalistic and encroaches onto the field of the main design, the style then develops into the highly stylised floral element which is firmly within the boundaries of the exergue seen on later coins.

125. Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 345-336 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving racing biga to right; cicada to right above, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟ[Υ] in exergue. Le Rider 45 (D23/R36); SNG ANS 128. 8.62g, 18mm, 1h. Near Mint State.

2,400

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

126. Kingdom of Macedon, Philip II AV Stater. Pella, circa 340/36-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping biga to right; trident head to right below horses, ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ in exergue. Le Rider 310 (D143/R237); HGC 3.1, 846. 8.61g, 19mm, 11h. Good Extremely Fine.

3,000

Ex Chrysos Collection (acquired in Geneva in 1980), Nomos AG, Auction 13, 7 October 2016, lot 160.

127. Kingdom of Macedon, temp. Philip II - Alexander III AV Stater. In the name and types of Philip II. Pella, circa 340-328 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving racing biga to right; kantharos below, ΦIΛIΠΠOY in exergue. Le Rider pl. 59, - (D98/[unlisted rev. die]); SNG ANS 138-143; HGC 3.1, 846. 8.61g, 18mm, 2h. Mint State.

2,100

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

128. Kingdom of Macedon, temp. Alexander III - Philip III AV Stater. Struck under Antipater in the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis, circa 325-319 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet decorated with serpent on the bowl / Nike standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and stylis; trident head pointing downwards in left field, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right. Price 172; Müller 105. 8.59g, 18mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; a well centred strike. Rare.

1,500

Ex Rauch 90, 2012

129. Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 323-317 BC. Head of Herakles to left, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, Θ in left field. Price 213A; Gemini IX, 63; cf. SNG Lockett 1439. 17.23g, 25mm, 5h. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of only two examples offered at auction in the past twenty years.

2,400

Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 90, 4 June 2012, lot 90 (hammer: EUR 11,000).

130. Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Lampsakos, circa 336-297 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing triple-crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing to left, holding wreath in extended right hand and stylis over left shoulder; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, buckle to left, monogram under left wing. Price 1374; Müller 621; Naville 55, 78 (same dies). 8.57g, 19mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; ex-jewellery, thus scattered marks and evidence of polishing. Rare.

1,500

Ex Baron Ribeyre & Associés, Bijoux & Décoration Intérieure, 19 February 2019, lot 201 (since removed from mount).

131. Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Abydos(?), circa 301-297 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing necklace and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and stylis; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right; monogram in left field, cornucopia beneath left wing. Price 1568; Thompson and Bellinger 17 (Abydus). 8.56g, 18mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,650

Ex A. Tkalec AG, 22 April 2007, lot 37.

132. Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Drachm. Struck under Philoxenos. Miletos, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, monogram in left field. Price 2090; Müller 763. 4.25g, 17mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone.

180

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger.

133. Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AV Stater. Miletos, circa 323-319 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing necklace and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing to left, holding wreath and stylis; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟ[Υ] to right, monogram to left, doubleheaded axe below right wing. Price 2114; ADM I Series VII. 8.56g, 18mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; sharply struck.

2,100

Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 250, 8 May 2007, lot 596.

The Fourth Known Example

134. Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 323 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, dolphin swimming upward in left field, Θ below throne. Price 3035 corr. = Akçakale 47 corr. (same obv. die; symbol); Newell, Tarsos -; CNG MBS 78, 404 (same dies); Rauch E-11, 71 (same dies). 17.24g, 27mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare issue, perhaps only the fourth known example.

450

135. Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III Arrhidaios AV Stater. Struck under Antipater or Polyperchon in the name and types of Philip II. Pella, circa 323-318/7 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping biga to right; kantharos below horses, ΦIΛIΠΠOY in exergue. Le Rider Group IIIA, 474 (D196/R347); SNG ANS 172-6; SNG Copenhagen 529 (same obv. die). 8.54g, 20mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; lightly lustrous.

3,000

Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 219, 10 March 2014, lot 110; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction N, 26 June 2003, lot 1220.

136. Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III Arrhidaios AV Stater. Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I. Babylon, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and stylis; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΦΙΛΙΠΠOY to left, wheel in outer left field, monogram below left wing. Price P193. 8.58g, 18mm, 10h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,800

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

137. Kingdom of Macedon, Kassander AR Tetradrachm. Struck as regent, in the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis, circa 316-315 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, aplustre in left field, pelletin-Π beneath throne. Price 129; Müller 280. 17.33g, 25mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine; light cabinet tone.

300

Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, List 174, 2005, no. 27.

138. Kingdom of Macedon, Kassander AR Tetradrachm. Struck as regent or king, in the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis, circa 307-297 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, Λ above torch in left field, wreath below throne. Price 488; Müller 64; Ehrhardt 51. 17.16g, 27mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine; a highly attractive example with a light cabinet tone.

750

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

Apparently Unpublished

139. Kingdom of Macedon, Antigonos II Gonatas AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III ‘The Great’. Amphipolis, 275-271 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left; monograms in left field and below throne; AΛEΞANΔPOY downwards on right. Price 607 var. (monogram below throne). 17.00g, 29mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine; well-struck in high relief from dies of fine style. Very Rare; an apparently unpublished variety with this monogram combination. 1,200 Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Hestia Collection.

140. Kingdom of Macedon, Antigonos III Doson AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis, circa 227-225 BC. Head of Poseidon to right, wearing wreath of marine plants / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIΓONOY, Apollo, nude, testing bow in extended right hand, seated to left on prow; monogram below. TEA Period III, Group 47, 252 (O40/R241); EHC 436; Touratsoglou 52-3; SNG München 1121. 17.00g, 33mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; beautifully toned.

900

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, Dallas Signature Sale 3102, 2 November 2022, lot 32042.

THRACE

141. Thrace, Byzantion AR Tetradrachm. Civic issue in the name and types of Lysimachos. Circa 90-81 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander to right, with horn of Ammon / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ] ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena Nikephoros seated to left, elbow resting on shield, transverse spear in background; monogram to inner left, BY below throne, ornate trident to left in exergue. De Callataÿ Group 3, p. 124; Marinescu 124; Müller -. 16.28g, 31mm, 11h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

142. Thrace, Mesembria AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Circa 150-125 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to outer left, helmet above ΔA in inner left field, monogram below throne. Topalov, Messambria 18; Price 1062; Müller 466; HGC 3, 1568. 16.56g, 30mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; pleasant light cabinet tone with attractive iridescence. Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 543.

450

143. Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 500-480 BC. Nude satyr in kneeling-running stance to right, carrying off protesting nymph / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 5; HPM pl. X, 14-17; SNG Copenhagen 1008-9; HGC 6, 331. 9.25g, 21mm. Extremely Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone.

600

Very Rare

144. Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 412-404 BC. Bald-headed and nude satyr in kneeling-running stance to right, carrying off protesting nymph; Σ to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 6; McClean 4199 corr. (letter not noted in text); HPM pl. X, 27-28 var. (letter); SNG Copenhagen 1013 var. (letter); HGC 6, 334; CNG Triton XXVI, 87. 9.12g, 21mm. Good Extremely Fine. Very rare with sigma on obverse.

4,500

Thasos, a large island off the western coastal region of Thrace, gained its enormous wealth by virtue of its local silver mines as well as mines it controlled on the Thracian mainland opposite the island city-state. According to Herodotos (VI, 46), the city derived 200-300 talents annually from her exploitation of this mineral wealth. Additionally, Thasos gained much material wealth as a producer and exporter of high quality wines, which was tightly regulated by the government, and it was perhaps due to this trade in wine that her coinage spread throughout the Aegean making it a widely recognized and accepted currency in distant lands. The artistry of this coin is exceptional, and belongs to the very end of the 5th century BC before the end of the Peloponnesian War. Earlier didrachm staters struck to a local Thracian standard (originally of 9.8g and subsequently 8.7g) are quite crude in style, portraying a vigorous and beastly satyr forcibly abducting an unwilling nymph. By contrast the satyr on this coin is imbued with almost wholly human qualities. The engraving is by a superior artist and is in a very lovely style, the head of the satyr reminding us of the miniature masterpieces from Katane in Sicily depicting a satyr’s head facing, while the head of the nymph here is strongly reminiscent of the head of the nymph found on the coins of nearby Neapolis in Macedon. There is no explanation in the relevant literature of the letters A, Σ, or Φ which sometimes appear in the obverse field of these later staters (they never appear on the earlier staters). They cannot be the signatures of the artists as the staters with the same letter often show a markedly different hand at work, so they most probably simply identify the magistrate responsible for the issue, a commonplace feature on other coinages from a number of mints during this and subsequent times.

Excellent High Classical Style

145. Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Stater. Circa 412-404 BC. Bald-headed and nude satyr in kneeling-running stance to right, carrying off protesting nymph; Α in right field / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes, 6; Kraay-Hirmer 437; Gulbenkian 464; SNG Copenhagen supp. 103; HGC 6, 334. 8.95g, 21mm. Extremely Fine; exhibiting a charming light cabinet tone, excellent high classical style.

3,000

146. Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Tetradrachm. ‘Imitative’ series. Circa 2nd - 1st centuries BC. Head of Dionysos to right, wearing diadem and ivy wreath / Herakles standing to left, holding club and lion skin; HPAKΛEOVΣ to right, ΣΩTHPOΣ to left, MH monogram to inner left, ΘAΣIΩN below. Cf. Prokopov, Silberprägung, Group XVI, unlisted dies; Le Rider, Thasiennes 51; SNG Copenhagen 1040. 16.94g, 34mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine; a few old marks, well centred on a broad flan.

300

Ex Auctiones GmbH, eAuction 78, 18 December 2022, lot 8.

Reportedly Ex Credit Suisse 1985

147. Islands off Thrace, Thasos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 148-80 BC. Head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath / HPAKΛEOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ, Herakles standing to left, holding club and lion skin; monogram to inner left, ΘAΣIΩN below. Le Rider, Thasiennes 52; Prokopov Group XIV (V CB4); SNG Copenhagen 1046-8; BMC 72; HGC 6, 359. 16.84g, 33mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

450

Ex J.M.A.L. Collection; Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich SA, Auction 13, 16 May 2021, lot 105 (with collector’s ticket); Reportedly ex Credit Suisse Bern FPL, Auction 45, April 1985, lot 43.

148. Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Lampsakos, circa 297-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander to right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated to left, resting left arm on shield, transverse spear in background; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ crowned by Nike to left; HP monogram to inner left, [crescent] in exergue. Thompson 47; Müller 401; SNG BnF 2540-2542. 17.00g, 27mm, 11h. Good Extremely Fine; struck in high relief from dies of fine style.

1,800

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton X, 9 January 2007, lot 125.

149. Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Tetradrachm. Amphipolis(?), circa 288-281 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander to right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated to left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; monogram to inner left. iNumis MBS 17, 2012, 28 (same dies); cf. Thompson 200-210 for similar monograms; otherwise unpublished. 17.09g, 29mm, 2h. Near Extremely Fine.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 357.

SKYTHIA

150. Skythia, Olbia AR Stater. Circa 320-315 BC. Head of Demeter to left, wearing wreath of grain ears / Sea eagle standing to left on dolphin to left, with wings spread and head reverted to right; OΛBIO below. SNG Stancomb 360; SNG BM Black Sea 434 var. (monograms on rev.); SNG SHM Moskau 917 var. (monograms on rev.); HGC 3.2, 1856. 12.58g, 22mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; struck from worn dies, rev. somewhat off centre. Extremely Rare.

2,700

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 13, 27 May 2023, lot 37.

KIMMERIAN BOSPOROS A Superb Diobol of the Sindoi

151. Kimmerian Bosporos, Gorgippia as Sindikos Limen (or the Sindoi) AR Diobol. Circa 400 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Head of horse to right, ΣΙΝΔΩ[Ν] above; all within shallow incuse square. Frolova, Kimmerischen Bosporos, Type II, 5; SNG Stancomb 632; SNG BM Black Sea 1008; MacDonald 80; HGC 7, 2. 1.42g, 15mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; well-centered. Very Rare, and a superb example of the type. Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 11, 14 May 2022, lot 105; Ex Pontos Euxeinos Collection, formed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

900

ARMENIA

Ex Gorny & Mosch 2011

152. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, monograms to inner right and on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 71.2 (same obv. die); SCADA Group 3; CAA 20; ACV 34. 15.89g, 26mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone, with excellent surface conditions.

2,400

Ex J.T.B. Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XI, 7 April 2016, lot 472; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 200, 10 March 2011, lot 2017.

153. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, AP monogram to inner right, ΔΗ monogram on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 74.1; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 17. 16.09g, 27mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

154. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, AP monogram to inner right, ΔΗ monogram on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 74.1; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 17. 16.12g, 27mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

155. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, AP monogram to inner right, ΔΗ monogram on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 74.1; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 17. 15.89g, 27mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

156. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, AP monogram to inner right, ΔΗ monogram on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 74.1; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 17. 15.88g, 27mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

157. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, AP monogram to inner right, ΔΗ monogram on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 74.1; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 17. 16.10g, 26mm, 1h. Extremely Fine.

450

158. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, AP monogram to inner right, ΔΗ monogram on rock; all within wreath. Kovacs 74.1; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 17. 16.00g, 26mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

159. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, Θ to inner right, ΔH monogram to lower left, all within wreath. Kovacs 74.2; SCADA, Group 1; CAA 19; ACV 31. 15.90g, 26mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; an excellent portrait.

600

160. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, Θ to inner right, ΔH monogram to lower left, all within wreath. Kovacs 74.2; SCADA Group 1; CAA 19; ACV 31. 15.88g, 27mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

600

161. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with star between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, Θ to inner right, ΔH monogram to lower left, all within wreath. Kovacs 74.2; SCADA Group 1; CAA 19; ACV 31. 15.97g, 26mm, 12h. Near Mint State.

600

Seemingly Unique and Unpublished

162. Kings of Armenia, Tigranes II ‘the Great’ AR Tetradrachm. Tigranokerta, circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing Armenian tiara with five peaks and emblazoned with comet between two eagles; bead and reel border around / Tyche of Artaxata seated to right on rock pile, holding palm branch, river god Araxes swimming to right below; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, TIΓPANOY to left, ΔΗMO in exergue; all within wreath. Kovacs 152 var. (no secondary controls); CAA -; Nercessian -. 16.15g, 27mm, 12h. Very Fine. Seemingly unique and unpublished with no secondary controls.

1,500

Rare Oktachalkon of Queen Erato of Armenia

163. Kings of Armenia, Erato Æ Oktachalkon. Second reign. Artaxata(?), dated RY 3, circa AD 13-15. Diademed and draped bust of Erato to right; [BA EPAT] around / Aerial view of the city walls of Artaxata, in the shape of an hexagon with six towers and [two gateways]; [E Γ (date)] in fields. Kovacs 187. 10.83g, 23mm. Good Fine. Extremely Rare; only three other examples on CoinArchives and one of very few known. 164. NO LOT

900

PONTOS

165. Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Dated Bithyno Pontic Era 212, month 12 = September 86/5 BC. Diademed head to right / Stag grazing on ground line to left, BAΣΙΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ below; to left, star-in-crescent above monogram; BIΣ (year) and monogram to right, IB (month) below; all within ivy wreath. De Callataÿ pl. VII, D4/R2; BMC -; SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; DCA 692; HGC 7, 340. 16.89g, 32mm, 12h. NGC graded MS 5/5 - 4/5, lt. scratches (#6674261-002). A fine late Hellenistic portrait. Extremely Rare; the fifth known example.

3,600

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 258.

166. Kings of Pontos, Mithradates VI Eupator AR Tetradrachm. Pergamon, dated Bithyno-Pontic Era 224, month 3 = December 74/3 BC. Diademed head to right / Stag grazing to left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ above, MIΘPAΔATOY EYΠATOPOΣ in two lines below, star-in-crescent above ΔKΣ (date) to left, two monograms to right, Γ (month) below; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. Callataÿ D61/R5; SNG Copenhagen 236; DCA 692; HGC 7, 340. 16.78g, 34mm, 10h. Extremely Fine; rev. die evidently re-engraved where the date and upper monogram are located.

3,000

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique; Ex Roger Peyreffitte Collection, Jean Vinchon Numismatique, 29 April 1974. There are traces of a monogram behind the date on this reverse die, as well as traces of a date or monogram behind the upper monogram in the right field. As the date and upper monogram on reverse dies of the previous year were in reversed positions (see Callataÿ D41/R1, year 223), it is possible that this reverse die was repurposed.

PAPHLAGONIA

167. Paphlagonia, Sinope AR Drachm. Circa 330-300 BC. Persic standard. Heroni-, magistrate. Head of nymph to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, hair in sphendone / Sea-eagle on dolphin to left; behind sea-eagle, ΗΡ[ΩNI] in right field; ΣΙΝΩ beneath dolphin. SNG BM Black Sea 1486; SNG Stancomb -; HGC 7, 399. 5.00g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 1019.

BITHYNIA

2x 2x 168. Bithynia, Herakleia Pontika AR Trihemiobol. Circa 394-352 BC. Head of Herakles to left, wearing lion skin headdress / Club to right; HPAK-ΛEIA above and below. SNG BM Black Sea 1578; SNG Stancomb 812; RG 12; HGC 7, 462. 1.26g, 12mm, 11h. Good Extremely Fine; minor deposits, attractive cabinet tone.

900

Ex European collection, Nomos AG, Auction 24, 22 May 2022, lot 161; Acquired in Germany in the 1980s.

A Masterpiece of Greek Numismatic Art

169. Bithynia, Herakleia Pontika AR Stater. Time of Satyros, tyrant, circa 352-345 BC. Head of Herakles, facing slightly to right, wearing lion skin headdress tied at neck / HPAKΛEIA, Nike, nude to the waist, wearing necklace with circular pendant, kneeling to left on club, raising right hand to inscribe city’s name; below club, ΣΙ (retrograde). M.J.P. Six, Sinope, in NC 5 (1885), p. 62, 65; Imhoof-Blumer, Griechische Münzen in der Grossherzoglichen Badischen Sammlung in Karlsruhe, in ZfN VII (1880), p. 23, 5 / pl. I, 13; Kraay - Hirmer 726 var. (no ΣΙ). 7.17g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; old cabinet tone, sharply struck and of incomparable artistic style. Very Rare.

16,500

Ex Nomos AG, Auction 25, 20 November 2022, lot 157. The Bithynian coastal city of Herakleia was founded in circa 550 BC by Megaraian and Boiotian colonists, who quickly developed two artificial harbours, a fortification wall and a large navy to make it a significant naval power. Klearchos I was established as the city’s first tyrant in circa 364 BC: upon his assassination in 353/2 BC, his brother Satyros assumed control, and acted as guardian to his sons, Timotheos and Dionysios, until they began to rule as joint tyrants in circa 345 BC. The famous hero Herakles, the city’s namesake, and attributes such as his club featured on the civic silver coinage of Herakleia Pontika from as early as the fifth century BC, and such types continued to be struck after a change in weight standard after the establishment of the tyranny. It is believed that Herakles entered the underworld through a cave supposedly situated nearby to carry out his twelfth and final labour to capture Cerberus, the threeheaded dog who guards the gates of the underworld. The hero is rendered in powerful detail, the three-quarters facing perspective, furrowed brow and wide staring eyes lending a uniquely emotional charge to the portrait. It is the reverse that is particularly interesting; poised atop Herakles’ club is the elegant figure of Nike, carved in beautiful classical style. Her pose and act of inscribing are incredibly reminiscent of the roughly contemporaneous staters of Mallos (cf. SNG BnF 405) on which Nike inscribes her own name. This conscious reference to the craftsman’s own act of die-engraving transcends the boundaries of the canvas as Nike inscribes the ethnic of the city. This very rare issue, of which this is the finest example on CoinArchives, was apparently struck from only two pairs of dies, with only three other examples known. The reverse of this particular coin bears the letters ‘ΣΙ’ retrograde below the club which perhaps refer to Satyros, or to an uncertain magistrate, making it quite probably unique.

170. Bithynia, Kalchedon AV Stater. In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Circa 230-220 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander to right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated to left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛΥΣΙMΑXOY to left, Φ beneath right arm, bull butting to left in exergue. Müller 358; Marinescu Issue 38, 84 (O35/R38); H. Seyrig, Monnaies hellénistiques de Byzance et de Calcédoine, FS Robinson, 196. 8.48g, 18mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

2,400

Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 129, 8 March 2004, lot 78.

IONIA Possibly the Second Known Example

171. Islands off Ionia, Chios AR Tetradrachm. Circa 380-350 BC. Herodotos, magistrate. Sphinx seated to left, standing amphora surmounted by [grapebunch?] before; all on raised circular disc / Quadripartite incuse square with vertical striations within each quarter; HPOΔOTOΣ across central horizontal band. Mavrogordato -, cf. Class β, 49 (unlisted magistrate); BMC -; Pixodarus 18 = Gorny & Mosch 244, 314; HGC 6, 1116. 15.27g, 23mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Extremely rare with this magistrate, only the Pixodarus coin recorded.

3,600

Acquired from Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXII, 8 January 2019, lot 255 (since professionally conserved). Chios was one of the original twelve member states of the Ionian League and was, at the end of the 7th century BC, one of the first cities to strike coinage, quickly establishing the Sphinx as its civic emblem. Chios’ ability to play a pivotal role in the League was made possible by the fact that it was one of the wealthiest cities in the world during the Archaic and Classical periods, prospering through maritime trade and the production and export of local wine. The Chians were very active in the establishing of overseas trading posts, most famous of which was Naukratis in Egypt, which has been shown by archaeological evidence to have had a prominent Chian presence. It appears that in the early Archaic period Chian traders were invested in the transit of goods between Asia Minor and mainland Greece, a trade that was centred on luxury items manufactured in the Near East which became popular in mainland Greece around this time, this being facilitated both by Chios’ favourable geographical position, and by possession of one of the largest merchant fleets in the region. Large-scale export of wine appears to have begun in the early 6th century, and the quality of this wine was particularly excellent, such that it quickly became renowned throughout the Greek world. By virtue of their existing trade connections, the Chians were able to easily promote this wine abroad and trade it on a comparatively large scale. Both of these pillars of the Chian economy are represented on the present coin type along with the principal device of the city. As the civic badge of the city, the sphinx is known to have been used on pottery stamps, coin weights, headings of official decrees and gravestones of Chians abroad, and as the principal device of their coinage it was employed for a period of approximately eight hundred years - a great span of devotion to their emblem that no other Greek city can match. Constantinos Lagos (A Study of the Coinage of Chios in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods, Durham PhD Thesis 1998) suggests that what may have begun as mere custom, might eventually have been enshrined in local law, such is the adherence to the design. Its significance is more difficult to discern. J. Mavrogordato (A Chronological Arrangement of the Coins of Chios, 1918) reasserted an old association of the Sphinx with the rites of Dionysos, which “with its hieratic attitude... as an attribute of Dionysus enjoining silence in respect of his mysteries, or as a guardian of the temple’s treasures, there is nothing of the commercial element about it.” Yet he acknowledges that with the addition of the amphora and the grapes, the “business interests of an essentially mercantile community were clearly brought into notice”, which suggests that if indeed the Sphinx ever held any religious significance, this was soon replaced with a notion of the sphinx acting as a guardian of Chian commercial interests, an association that later becomes clearer still with the permanent depiction of the sphinx with one paw raised protectively over a bunch of grapes, or an amphora, or the prow of a ship. This protective aspect of the sphinx is not well attested in mainland Greek mythology, but owing to the Chians’ close links with Egypt, it is likely that the Egyptian aspects of the sphinx as a protector were more recognised on Chios; the appearance of what has been called the ‘lock of immortality’ with Egyptian roots, rendered as a tendril or plume on very early Chian sphinxes lends weight to this theory.

172. Ionia, Ephesos AV Stater. Circa 123-119 BC. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephane, bow and quiver over shoulder / Cult statue of Artemis of Ephesos facing, arms outstretched, fillet hanging from each; E-Φ across fields, thymiaterion in inner right field. Jenkins, Hellenistic, pl. B, 6 = BM 1896,0601.67 = Montagu I 567 (same dies); Head p. 69, 2-6 var. (control mark); Gulbenkian 985 var. (same); CNG 106, 367 (same dies). 8.43g, 19mm, 12h. 1,800

Extremely Fine. Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 1134.

The Hellenistic era gold coinage struck at Ephesos is extremely rare and rarely well preserved. It was previously thought to have all been struck during the Mithradatic wars, but this is now known not to be the case. Some seem to be dated by the era of the Province of Asia and the dates they bear are too early for them to be Mithradatic War issues. Certain other issues such as the present example appear to be part of extraordinary issue of gold struck in conjunction with an extremely rare gold stater type of Magnesia in the mid-second century. The style and fabric of both issues seem consistent with an emergency issue struck to meet an immediate expense. The reverse of this coin depicts the famous cult statue of Ephesian Artemis, housed in the great temple of Artemis that is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The original image of the goddess was a wooden xoanon that had represented a pre-Hellenic goddess who the Greeks later equated with Artemis. This first image, which was kept decorated with jewellery, was possibly lost in a flood in the 8th or 7th century which destroyed the temple; excavations have discovered the tear-shaped amber drops of elliptical cross-section which must have dressed it. In circa 550 BC, when reconstruction of the temple was begun (partly financed by Kroisos), it was undertaken in grand style and was supposedly the first Greek temple to be built of marble. The wooden xoanon was replaced by a new ebony or grapewood statue sculpted by Enoidos, which presumably survived until the temple was again destroyed, this time by an act of arson on the part of one Herostratos. The second destruction of the temple coincided with the birth of Alexander the Great; Plutarch later noted that Artemis was too preoccupied with Alexander’s delivery to save her burning temple. The form of the goddess is distinctly near-eastern in appearance; characteristics such as her legs being enclosed in a tapering pillar-like unit are closely related to Egyptian and Hittite images, and the curious feature of the many protuberances on her chest (usually described as breasts or eggs) are decidedly non-Greek in origin, and indeed have defied explanation or identification for centuries, though an association with fertility seems implicit.

173. Ionia, Magnesia ad Maeandrum AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Attic standard. Stephanophoric type. Pausanias, son of Pausanias, magistrate. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis to right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Apollo Delphios standing to left, resting on tall tripod behind and holding branch tied with fillet; ΠAVΣANIAIΣ ΠAVΣANIOY to left, MAΓNHTΩN to right, meander pattern below, all within laurel wreath. Jones 18 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 844. NGC graded Ch AU 4/5 - 5/5 (#6156331-015).

900

Acquired from Vilmar Numismatics; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 117, 19 May 2021, lot 205.

2x 2x 174. Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Forepart of lion to left, devouring prey; above, [small seal] to left / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 36; SNG von Aulock -; Boston MFA -; BMC 21; de Luynes 2646. 2.55g, 10mm. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

360

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XV, 5 April 2018, lot 152.

2x 2x 175. Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Forepart of griffin to left; seal downward to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 42; SNG von Aulock -; Boston MFA -. 2.57g, 9mm. Good Very Fine. Very Rare; Bodenstedt knew of only the Berlin specimen. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XIV, 21 September 2017, lot 157.

240

The Second Known Example

176. Ionia, Samos AR Didrachm. Circa 512 BC. Head of panther facing, within pelleted square / Rough incuse square. Barron -; HGC 6 -; CNG 111, 272 var. (rev. incuse) = NAC 100, 160 = Gemini IV, 192. 5.70g, 16mm. Near Extremely Fine; beautiful light cabinet tone. Extremely Rare; apparently only the second (and arguably finest) known example.

2,400

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

177. Ionia, Samos AR Triobol. Circa 512 BC. Head of panther facing, within pelleted square / Head of ox to left within linear and pelleted borders, all within incuse square. Barron p.175, 1; SNG Fitzwilliam 4634; HGC 6, 1994. 1.57g, 11mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine.

360

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 1209.

TROAS

178. Troas, Abydos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 80-70 BC. Iphiados, magistrate. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephanos; bow and quiver over shoulder / Eagle, with wings spread, standing to right; ABYΔHNΩN above, IΦIAΔOY below, radiate head of Helios to right with star above in right field; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Abydos, D32 (same obv. die); SNG München 32; SNG von Aulock 1453; Morton & Eden 115, 106 (same dies). 15.93g, 32mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Rare.

750

179. Troas, Abydos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 80-70 BC. Iphiados, magistrate. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephanos; bow and quiver over shoulder / Eagle, with wings spread, standing to right; ABYΔHNΩN above, IΦIAΔOY below, radiate head of Helios to right with sun above in right field; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Abydos, D32 (same obv. die); SNG München 32; SNG von Aulock 1453. 15.71g, 31mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

750

180. Troas, Abydos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 80-70 BC. Iphiados, magistrate. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephanos; bow and quiver over shoulder / Eagle, with wings spread, standing to right; ABYΔHNΩN above, IΦIAΔOY below, radiate head of Helios to right with sun above in right field; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Abydos, D32 (same obv. die); SNG München 32; SNG von Aulock 1453. 16.29g, 32mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

600

181. Troas, Abydos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 80-70 BC. Iphiados, magistrate. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephanos; bow and quiver over shoulder / Eagle, with wings spread, standing to right; ABYΔHNΩN above, IΦIAΔOY below, radiate head of Helios to right with star above in right field; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Abydos, D33; SNG München 32; SNG von Aulock 1453. 15.63g, 30mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Rare.

750

182. Troas, Abydos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 80-70 BC. Iphiados, magistrate. Draped bust of Artemis to right, wearing stephanos; bow and quiver over shoulder / Eagle, with wings spread, standing to right; ABYΔHNΩN above, IΦIAΔOY below, radiate head of Helios to right with star above in right field; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Abydos, D34 (same obv. die); SNG München 32; SNG von Aulock 1453 (same obv. die); Roma XXI, 192 (same obv. die). 16.29g, 32mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

1,200

An Apparently Unpublished Control

183. Islands off Troas, Tenedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-70 BC. Janiform head of laureate bearded male to left and female to right, wearing stephanos / Labrys; TENEΔIΩN above, handle flanked by monogram and grape bunch to left, small figure of Hermes with kerykeion to right; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Tenedos -, cf. 49-55 (drachms) corr. (monogram); BMC -, cf. 33 (drachm); HGC 6, 390 var. (unlisted control); Roma XXVII, 257. 16.05g, 32mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; fine style, beautiful old cabinet tone. Apparently unpublished with this control in this denomination.

6,000

Tenedos was an island of strategic importance throughout antiquity due to its location at the entrance to the Hellespont, which ensured every ship sailing to or from the Propontis and the Black Sea would pass by. It is referenced in both Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid, in the latter as the place where the Greek fleet was concealed towards the end of their siege of Troy in order to trick the Trojans into taking the fateful Trojan horse within the walls of the city. During the fifth century, Athens used the island as a stronghold to protect their vital shipping routes, but it came under the influence of successive Hellenistic dynasties from the third century onwards: controlled first by the Seleukids, then the Attalids and eventually by Mithridates VI Eupator, who used the island as a naval base in the Third Mithridatic War against the Roman general Lucullus in 73-63 BC. It was during the latter’s long reign that this type and other stephanophoric (wreath-bearing) Tenedian tetradrachms were first minted. This labrys is a reference to the Tenedian foundational myth, in which the hero Tenes used an axe to sever the mooring lines of his father’s ship when he attempted to land on the island to reconcile with his son. In Pausanias’ version of the myth, he concludes “for this reason a by-word has arisen, which is used of those who make a stern refusal: so and so has cut whatever it may be with an axe of Tenedos” (Paus. 10.14.4). Indeed, Cicero, writing less than half a century from the time of this coin’s issue jokes to his brother Quintus about Tenedos’ unsuccessful request to the Roman senate to be made a free city: “well then, the liberty of the Tenedians has been chopped by the Tenedian axe” (Letters to his brother Quintus, 2.9).

184. Islands off Troas, Tenedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-70 BC. Janiform head of laureate bearded male to left and female to right, wearing stephanos / Labrys; TENEΔIΩN above, handle flanked by monogram and grape bunch to left, owl to right; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Tenedos 103 (D20/ R3) = ANS 1944.100.44063; BMC 28; SNG Copenhagen 523; SNG von Aulock 1590; HGC 6, 390. 15.94g, 33mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

4,500

185. Islands off Troas, Tenedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-70 BC. Janiform head of laureate bearded male to left and female to right, wearing stephanos / Labrys; TENEΔIΩN above, handle flanked by monogram and grape bunch to left, owl to right; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Tenedos 101-111 (D20); BMC 28; SNG Copenhagen 523; SNG von Aulock 1590; HGC 6, 390. 16.05g, 31mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

4,500

186. Islands off Troas, Tenedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 100-80 BC. Janiform head of laureate bearded male to left and female to right, wearing stephanos / Labrys; TENEΔIΩN above, handle flanked by monogram and grape bunch to left and Athena Promachos to right; all within laurel wreath. Callataÿ, Tenedos 56-62 (D13); HGC 6, 390. 15.93g, 31m, 1h. Good Very Fine. Rare.

3,000

AIOLIS

187. Aiolis, Myrina AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-143 BC. Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Apollo Grynios standing to right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram in outer left field, omphalos and amphora at feet to right; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 2017c (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 223. 16.38g, 29mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,500

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

Only Two Recorded by Sacks

188. Aiolis, Myrina AR Tetradrachm. Circa 155-145 BC. Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Apollo Grynios standing to right, holding phiale in right hand, filleted laurel branch in left; monogram and MYPINAIΩN to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 34, obv. die 59 (die unlisted for issue); Hunterian 5; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -. 16.82g, 31mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare; only two specimens recorded by Sacks.

1,200

LESBOS Ex Charles Gillet Collection

189. Lesbos, Methymna AR Didrachm. Circa 500-450 BC. Boar standing to right with lowered head, scratching muzzle with its left foreleg; MAⴲVMNAI[OΣ] above / Head of Athena to right, wearing crested helmet, decorated with tendril, disc-shaped earring and necklace; within dotted square border, all within incuse square. P. R. Franke, Zur Münzprägung von Methymna, in H.-G. Buchholz, Methymna, 1; SNG Lockett 2776 (same dies); Gillet 1127 (this coin); Boston MFA 1658 (same dies). 8.20g, 20mm, 10h. Good Very Fine; wonderful Archaic style and old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

12,000

Ex Numismatica Genevensis SA, Auction 7, 27 November 2012, lot 81; Ex Leu Numismatik AG (1992-2005), Auction 81, 16 May 2001, lot 262; Ex Bank Leu AG, Auction 45, 26 May 1988, lot 210; Ex Charles Gillet (‘Kunstfreund’, 1879-1972) Collection, 1127. Little is known concerning the foundation of Methymna; the earliest finds for the city date to the early Bronze Age and evidence continues down to the late Roman period. The city later extended its territory when it conquered the neighbouring city of Arisba, the sixth polis on Lesbos, and enslaved its population (see Herodotus, 1.151). Herodotus provides the earliest written record for the city through this brief note, but provides further evidence for the ealier history of the city through the story of Arion, a native of Methymna, who was a contemporary of the Corinthian tyrant Periander (circa 627585 BC), and composed the first dithyramb. Herodotus records that Arion is said to have hired a Corinthian ship to take him to Italy and Sicily but the crew, desiring to rob him, threatened to kill him if he did not kill himself. Arion leapt into the sea and was saved by a dolphin who carried him safely to Taenarus (1.23-24). This tale suggests that at this time Methymna must have already been a prominent city with far-reaching contacts across the Greek world. Viewed as the second city of Lesbos after Mytilene, the two cities were long-standing rivals. With the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, Mytilene revolted against Athenian hegemony (428 BC), and was joined by all the other cities of Lesbos except for Methymna, which despite Mytilenaian collaboration with an anti-Athenian faction in Methymna, sided with Athens. When the revolt was put down the following year, only Methymna was spared from having its territory colonised and garrisoned by the Athenians. Indeed, after 427, along with Chios, Methymna was the only member of the Delian League allowed to remain self-governing and exempt from paying the phoros (tribute). The city’s unwillingness to join the other cities of Lesbos in revolt does seem to have been motivated by a genuine sense of loyalty within the city’s populace, as Thucydides indicates that the Methymnaians were much more inclined to side with Athens than Sparta, and when the Spartan commander Kallikratidas besieged Methymna in 406, the city stayed loyal to its Athenian garrison and held out until betrayed by several traitors.

MYSIA

190. Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Lion at bay to left, head facing and seen from above; tunny fish to left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 83; SNG BnF 212; SNG von Aulock 1187-8; Boston MFA 1443. NGC graded XF 4/5 - 5/5 (#2080858-001).

1,200

Acquired from Vilmar Numismatics; Ex Editions V. Gadoury, Auction 2018, 16 November 2018, lot 11.

191. Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 500-450 BC. Head of Zeus-Ammon to right atop tunny fish to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Von Fritze 130 (unlisted denomination); cf. Greenwell 3 (same); cf. SNG BnF 281 (stater); cf. Boston MFA 1520 (stater); cf. Gulbenkian 640 (stater); cf. Jameson 1419 (stater); cf. Weber 4987 (stater); Giessener Münzhandlung 89, 169; NAC 59, 605. 2.65g, 11mm. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,800

Ex Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG, Online Auction 161 Silver, 16 April 2023, lot 106.

192. Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 450-350 BC. Perseus, nude but for helmet and cloak clasped at neck, crouching to right, head reverted to left, holding harpa in right hand, [head of Medusa] in left; tunny fish to left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 162; Greenwell 74; Boston MFA 1549 = Warren 1491; SNG BnF 312; BMC -; Gillet -; Gulbenkian 648; Jameson 1422; Weber -. 2.70g, 10mm. Extremely Fine.

1,050

Ex Collection of a Mentor, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 132, 30 May 2022, lot 296.

Of Elegant Classical Style

193. Mysia, Kyzikos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 390-340 BC. Head of Kore Soteira to left, two grain ears in hair, wearing sphendone covered with veil, singlependant earring and necklace; ΣΩTEIPA above / Head of roaring lion to left, tongue protruding; KY-エI around, ivy-wreath in right field, tunny fish to left below. Pixodarus Type 2, Group E, 17-18 (same dies); Sandstrom Issue 8, 56 (O35/R37); Von Fritze 23. 15.26g, 25mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; well-centered and lightly toned with blue and gold iridescence. Very rare with this symbol.

12,000

Ex Lawrence R. Stack Collection, Stack’s, 14 January 2008, lot 2228; Ex Sunrise Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Triton X, 9 January 2007, lot 271.

Very Rare

194. Mysia, Priapos Æ 11mm. Circa 300-200 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Crab, strung harpa below, A above. SNG von Aulock 7526; Klein 290. 1.05g, 11mm, 11h. Very Fine. Very Rare.

120

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction VI Session 2, 29 September 2013, lot 651.

LYDIA

195. Kingdom of Lydia, Alyattes EL Trite - 1/3 Stater. Sardes, circa 600-561 BC. Head of roaring lion to right, sunburst with six rays on forehead / Two incuse square punches. GRPC Lydia G26; Weidauer 86-87; ATEC Group D, 20; Boston MFA 1764; Rosen 655-656. 4.69g, 13mm. Extremely Fine.

1,200

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 24, 3 December 2022, lot 1399.

196. Kingdom of Lydia, Alyattes EL Trite - 1/3 Stater. Sardes, circa 600-561 BC. Head of roaring lion to right, sunburst with five(?) rays on forehead / Two incuse square punches. GRPC Lydia G25; Weidauer 88-89; ATEC Group D, 14-19. 4.74g, 12mm. Near Extremely Fine.

1,200

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

197. Kingdom of Lydia, Alyattes EL Trite - 1/3 Stater. Sardes, circa 600-561 BC. Head of roaring lion to right, sunburst with five rays on forehead / Two incuse square punches. GRPC Lydia G25; Weidauer 88-89; ATEC Group D, 14-19. 4.76g, 12mm. Extremely Fine.

900

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 1222.

KARIA Apparently Unpublished

198. Karia, Antioch ad Maeandrum AR Tetradrachm. 1st century BC. Sochares and Papias, magistrates(?). Laureate head of Apollo to right / Zebu bull standing to left, head facing; ANTIOXEΩN ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΩI in two lines above, ΠAΠIAΣ upwards to left, ΣΩXAPHΣ downward to right, maeander pattern and MAIANΔPΩ in exergue. Thonemann -; HNO -; BMC -. 16.26g, 31mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone. Apparently unique and unpublished.

2,400

Extremely Rare

199. Karia, Antioch ad Maeandrum AR Tetradrachm. Circa 90-60 BC. Solon, magistrate. Laureate head of Zeus to right / Eagle standing to left on thunderbolt; ANTIOXEΩN in three lines in right field, ΣOΛ in left field; all within circular meander pattern. Thonemann Group B, 8; HNO 1530 (temporary). 16.13g, 28mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone. Extremely Rare.

2,400

200. Karia, Knidos AR Drachm. Circa 500-490 BC. Forepart of roaring lion to right / Archaic head of Aphrodite to right, with hair bound and falling in queue, within incuse square in circular incuse. HNO 300 (temp.); Cahn 49 (V27/R38); SNG Copenhagen 214-5 (same dies); SNG Keckman 117 (same dies); Waddington 2303 (same dies). 6.17g, 17mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone.

300

Ex De Nederlandsche Postzegel- en Muntenveiling BV, 29 October 2022, lot 66.

201. Islands off Karia, Kos AR Hemiobol. Circa 520-490 BC. Crab / Rough incuse square. HNO 2124 (temp.); BMC 5; SNG Kayhan 903; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Keckman -. 0.49g, 9mm. Extremely Fine; encrustation to reverse. Very Rare.

240

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction X, 27 September 2015, lot 515.

RHODOS

202. Rhodos, Kamiros AR Obol. Circa 500-460 BC. Aiginetic standard. Fig leaf / Rough incuse square. HNO 370 (temp., tritemorion); SNG Keckman 3234; cf. BMC p. 224, 10; HCG 6, 1390 (tritemorion). 0.61g, 8mm. Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

120

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 357.

From the Hecatomnus Hoard

203. Rhodos, Rhodes AR Tetradrachm. Circa 316-305 BC. Head of Helios facing slightly to right / Rose with bud to right, grapes to left; POΔION above, E in right field; all within incuse square. HNO 1241 (temp.); Ashton 107; Hecatomnus 230 (A152/R162, this coin); HGC 6, 1431. 15.24g, 26mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

4,500

This coin published in Ashton, R. et. al. “The Hecatomnus Hoard” in Coin Hoards IX (2002); Acquired from Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH; Ex Vinchon, 26 April 1999, lot 203.

PAMPHYLIA

204. Pamphylia, Aspendos AR Stater. Circa 380-330 BC. Two wrestlers grappling; Π between / Slinger in throwing stance to right; EΣTFEΔIIYΣ to left, triskeles to right; all within pelleted square. Tekin Series 4; SNG BnF 59. 10.86g, 22mm, 6h. About Extremely Fine; lightly toned with golden and blue iridescent highlights. Ex Dr. Plümacher Collection; Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 221, 2 May 2002, lot 413.

900

205. Pamphylia, Side AR Stater. Circa 479-460 BC. Pomegranate, with dolphin to left below / Helmeted head of Athena to right within incuse square. Atlan 4 (O4/R4); SNG BnF 625 (same rev. die); SNG von Aulock 4760 (same dies); BMC 1 (same dies). 10.89g, 19mm, 1h. Very Fine. Rare early issue of Pamphylia.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVII, 28 March 2019, lot 524.

PHOENICIA A Crucifixion Year Shekel

206. Phoenicia, Tyre AR Shekel. Dated CY 159 = AD 33/4. Laureate head of Melkart to right / Eagle standing to left on prow, palm frond in background; [ΤΥPΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ Α]ΣΥΛΟΥ around, PNΘ (date) above club to left, KP above monogram to right, [Phoenician letter alef?] between legs. DCA Tyre 575; RPC I 4663; DCA 920; HGC 10, 357. 13.87g, 24mm, 12h. Good Very Fine.

1,200

This issue was struck during the year the crucifixion is traditionally believed to have taken place.

KYRENAIKA

207. Kyrenaika, Kyrene AR Didrachm. Temp. Magas, circa 294-275 BC. Horned head of Zeus Karneios to left / Silphion plant; [monogram] to upper left, star to upper right, KY-PA across fields. BMC 238, pl. XXII 1 (same dies); SNG Lockett 3475; SNG Copenhagen 1238 corr. (monogram). 7.69g, 21mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine; light cabinet tone with hints of lustre.

900

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 120, 11 May 2022, lot 520; Ex cgb.fr, Mail Bid Sale 32, 6 December 2007, lot 76.

EGYPT

208. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexandria, circa 306-300 BC. Head of deified Alexander to right with horn of Ammon, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant headdress, aegis around neck / Athena Alkidemos advancing to right, brandishing spear and holding shield; AΛEΞANΔPOY to left, monogram and Corinthian helmet above eagle standing to right on thunderbolt in right field. CPE 69; Svoronos 162; SNG Lockett 3393; SNG Copenhagen 29. 15.77g, 28mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; old cabinet tone with hints of blue iridescence around the devices on reverse; banker’s mark on obverse.

1,500

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger.

209. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexandria, circa 306-300 BC. Head of deified Alexander to right with horn of Ammon, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant headdress, aegis around neck / Athena Alkidemos advancing to right, brandishing spear and holding shield; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡOY to outer left, ΘE monogram to left, ΔI and Corinthian helmet above eagle standing to right on thunderbolt in right field. CPE 73; Svoronos 177; Boston MFA 2258 (same obv. die); SNG Lockett 3394 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 30 var. (monogram to left). 15.53g, 28mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; a wonderful portrait.

2,700

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 23, 22 August 2022, lot 3479.

210. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexandria, circa 306-300 BC. Head of deified Alexander to right with horn of Ammon, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant headdress, aegis around neck / Athena Alkidemos advancing to right, brandishing spear and holding shield; AΛEΞANΔPOY in left field, Δ to inner left; to inner right, circular erasure (in die), Corinthian helmet above eagle standing to right on thunderbolt in right field. CPE 71; Svoronos 179; Zervos Issue 30, dies 521/b; BMC 25. 15.70g, 27mm, 12h. Near Mint State; blue and golden iridescence around devices.

1,800

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique.

211. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter AV Stater. Struck under Menes at Tyre, dated RY 33 of ‘Ozmilk = 317/6 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing to left, holding wreath and stylis; AΛEΞANΔΡOΥ downwards on right, -|O (Phoenician ‘K [= ‘Ozmilk (king of Tyre)]) above ||| -= (33 [date in Phoenician]). Price 3285 (Ake); Newell 36; DCA 73. 8.62g, 19mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; slightly worn dies. Very Rare.

2,100

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 603.

212. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Arados, circa 320/19311/0 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, AP monogram in left field. Price 3426 (Byblos); Müller 1375 (same). 17.24g, 27mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; fine style.

450

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

213. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Arsinoe II (wife of Ptolemy II) AV Mnaieon (Oktadrachm). Alexandria, circa 253-246 BC. Veiled head to right, wearing stephane; Λ in left field, lotus-tipped sceptre in background / Double cornucopiae, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet; APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY around. CPE 391; Troxell, Arsinoe, pl. 7, 4; Svoronos 476; SNG Copenhagen -; Boston MFA -. 27.76g, 30mm, 11h. Good Very Fine; a few minor scattered marks, and lightly polished, but a well-centred strike. Ex European collection formed before 2005, Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 18, 18 December 2021, lot 1604.

4.500

Ex Pozzi Collection, Naville 1, 1921

214. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Arsinoe II (wife of Ptolemy II) AR Dekadrachm. Alexandria, posthumous issue under Ptolemy II, circa 253/2 BC. Veiled head of deified Arsinoe with ram’s horn to right, wearing diademed stephane, sceptre surmounted by lotus over left shoulder; eight-rayed star (as banker’s mark) above Ω in left field / Double cornucopiae, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet; AΡΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY around. CPE 342; Svoronos 518 (dated 247/6 BC; two specimens listed); Troxell, ‘Arsinoe’s Non-Era’ in Museum Notes 28 (1983), p. 43, pl. 6, 4 (this coin). 35.62g, 35mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; attractive dark cabinet tone. Previously NGC graded XF★ 5/5 - 4/5 (4372344-001). Extremely Rare; only two specimens listed by Svoronos. 4,500 This coin published in H. A. Troxell, ‘Arsinoe’s Non-Era’ in Museum Notes Volume 28 (American Numismatic Society, 1983); Ex WTR Collection, Heritage World Coin Auctions, Dallas Signature Sale 3102, 2 November 2022, lot 31029; Ex Charles H. Deetz Collection of Ancient Roman and Greek Gold and Silver Coins also Foreign Gold Coins, part I, Stack’s, 9 November 1946, lot 255; Ex Prof. Samuel-Jean Pozzi Collection (1846-1918) Collection, Naville, Auction 1, 4 April 1921, lot 3226. The present dekadrachm belongs to the new coinage, struck by Ptolemy II in honour of his wife Arsinoe II after her death on 9 July 270.

215. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VI Philometor AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in Cyprus, dated Year 109 of an uncertain year = 154/3 BC. Diademed head to right, aegis around neck / [BAΣIΛE]Ω[Σ] ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing to left on thunderbolt; P-Θ (date) across fields. Svoronos 1216 (Ptolemy V); SNG Copenhagen 556 (Ptolemy V); DCA 76. 7.08g, 20mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; old cabinet tone.

180

Ex Helios Numismatik, Auction 3, 29 April 2009, lot 68.

A Superb Example

216. Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera Æ 19mm. Chalkis, dated RY 21 (Egypt) and 6 (Chalkis) = 32/1 BC. ΒΑCΙΛΙCCΗC ΚΛЄΟΠΑΤΡΑC, diademed and draped bust to right / ЄΤΟΥC ΚΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ Ϛ ΘЄΑC ΝЄWΤЄΡΑC, Nike advancing to right, with palm and wreath; all within wreath. RPC I 4772; Sofaer 44; Svoronos 1888. 3.78g, 19mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; superb for the type.

450

AXUM

217. Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; Λ above bust; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CEB (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 269 (same dies); H 34; AC 71-3. 1.61g, 16mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Rare variant with Λ above obv. bust.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 96, 5 May 2022, lot 458.

218. Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CCC (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 255-76; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.60g, 16mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 96, 5 May 2022, lot 459.

219. Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛC ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾⧾ CΛ ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ BAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + BCC (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; • above bust; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 255-76; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.59g, 16mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine.

450

220. Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CVN (sic-interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick, grain ears flanking; within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ CAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CEB (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 274; H 34; AC 71-3. 1.57g, 17mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

450

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 18 July 2022, lot 3206; Ex important collection of Aksumite coins.

221. Kingdom of Axum, Ebana AV Unit. Circa AD 460-480. ⧾ CΛX ⧾ ΛCΛ ⧾ CΛC ⧾ CIN (interpretation uncertain - “King of the land of the Abyssinians” [much abbreviated]?), crowned bust to right, holding stick; Λ above head, grain ears flanking, all within circular border / ⧾ ΛNΛ ⧾ BAC ⧾ ΛCΛ + CEB (“King Ebana”), draped bust to right, wearing headcloth, holding fly-whisk, grain ears flanking; within circular border. Hahn & Keck 43; SACAM 262 (same obv. die); H 34; AC 71-3; Vaccaro 38 (Esbael). 1.53g, 16mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare.

450

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 18 July 2022, lot 3232; Ex important collection of Aksumite coins.

SELEUKID EMPIRE

222. Seleukid Empire, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon, circa 311-300 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and stylis; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, MI below left wing, monogram within wreath below right wing. SC 81.2; Price 3748; Müller 731. 8.56g, 19mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine.

2,400

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

223. Seleukid Empire, Seleukos I Nikator AR Tetradrachm. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon I, circa 311-305 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; BAΣIΛEΩΣ below, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, MI above lion’s head to left in left field, monogram in wreath below throne. SC 82.3c; Price 3759; Müller 743. 17.14g, 28mm, 12h. About Extremely Fine.

600

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 384, 2 November 2005, lot 263.

224. Seleukid Empire, Seleukos I Nikator AR Tetradrachm. In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Seleukia on the Tigris I, circa 300 BC. Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ below, ΣΕΛΕΥΚΟΥ to right, NO in left field. SC 117.6a; ESM 24; HGC 9, 12i. 16.83g, 27mm, 8h. Near Mint State; an attractive example struck in high relief.

300

225. Seleukid Empire, Antiochos I Soter AR Tetradrachm. Seleukeia, circa 281-261 BC. Diademed head to right / Apollo Delphios seated to left on omphalos, testing arrow with right hand and resting left hand on grounded bow; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ANTIOXOY to left, monogram to outer left and right. SC 378.3; Newell, ESM 140; McClean 9255; Weber 7848; Ward 777; HGC 9, 128g. 17.20g, 30mm, 8h. Extremely Fine; superb ‘severe’ style portrait. Rare.

2,100

Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 300; Ex Hess-Divo AG, Auction 328, 22 May 2015, lot 66; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 151, 9 October 2006, lot 212.

226. Seleukid Empire, Antiochos I Soter AR Drachm. Seleukia on the Tigris, circa 281-261 BC. Diademed head to right / Apollo Delphios seated to left on omphalos, testing arrow with right hand and resting left hand on grounded bow; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ to left, monogram to outer left and right. SC 380.3; ESM 171; HGC 9, 134a. 4.27g, 19mm, 3h. About Extremely Fine; a charming example.

900

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 431, 27 April 2022, lot 3302; Acquired from Münzhandlung Ritter (Düsseldorf), 31 October 1997.

227. Seleukid Empire, Antiochos II Theos AR Tetradrachm. Sardes, 261-246 BC. Diademed head of Antiochos I to right / Apollo Delphios seated to left on omphalos, testing arrow with right hand and resting left hand on grounded bow; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ to left, two monograms in exergue. SC 518e; HGC 9, 236f. 17.14g, 30mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; charming style, lightly toned.

300

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 586.

228. Seleukid Empire, Seleukos II Kallinikos AR Tetradrachm. Antioch on the Orontes, after 244 BC. Diademed head to right / Apollo, laureate and nude, standing to left, testing arrow and leaning on tall tripod; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΣEΛEYKOY to left, monogram to inner left field. SC 689.4; Le Rider, Antioche 30-54; HGC 9, 303p. 16.99g, 28mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

600

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 1513.

229. Seleukid Empire, Antiochos III ‘the Great’ AR Drachm. Apameia on the Orontes(?), circa 222-187 BC. Diademed head to right / Elephant standing to right; monogram to right; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ in exergue. SC 1065.6; Houghton, Elephants, Type C; HGC 9, 453a. 4.09g, 17mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; lustrous.

300

Ex Bucephalus Numismatic, Auction 6, 12 June 2022, lot 84.

Of the Greatest Rarity

230. Seleukid Empire, Timarchos AR Tetradrachm. Seleukia on the Tigris, circa 164-161 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested Boiotian helmet with scroll element / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ MEΓAΛOY above, TIMAPXΟΥ below. SC 1588; Houghton, RN 1979, p. 214, fig. B = CSE 990; HGC 9, 761. 16.86g, 29mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Of the greatest rarity; the second known and the only one in private hands.

30,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 134, 21 November 2022, lot 245. Timarchos chose a familiar military iconography for one of his issues, presenting himself in a Boiotian helmet with the Dioskouroi on the reverse, clearly in iconographic dialogue with the coinage of Eukratides I of Baktria. He further titles himself BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ MEΓAΛOY ‘The Great King’, a title also used by Eukratides and through which he distances himself from previous Seleukid rulers who never used this title on their coinage. In doing so, Timarchos portrays himself as the rightful king of his eastern kingdom by aligning himself with the Achaemenid Kings who had originally ruled in the Iranian satrapy of Media and by equating his rule with his contemporary Eukratides I of Baktria, who had also seized control of his domain by force. It has been suggested that the coinage reveals an alliance between the two rulers against a shared enemy, Mithradates I of Parthia, however, further evidence is required to support this theory, as it is also likely that the similarity was intended to support the legitimacy of Timarchos’ issues through the imitation of a coinage which was already circulating and accepted in the east. The geographical reach of Timarchos’ authority is evidenced solely through the survival of coins which indicate that, alongside his main mint of Ekbatana, he struck occasional issues at different locations to fund his campaign. The extreme scarcity of these coins has not allowed for firm attributions for the majority, with the exception of a single tetradrachm (Houghton 990 = SC 1588) which has been attributed to Seleukia on the Tigris, demonstrating the extent of Timarchos’ influence during his brief revolt. The case for this tetradrachm’s attribution was initially put forward by A. Houghton in 1979 and is based on the features of the coin which are characteristic of this mint. It is struck on a broad flan (the Ekbatana issues are on tight flans), it has a vertical die axis (Ekbatana is notable for loose die axes) and, most significantly, it has a remarkably different portrait to the Ekbatana issues. The bust is extended to reveal more shoulder, there is a scroll on the helmet and the treatment of the diadem end with one curved behind and the other hanging over the shoulder, as is also seen at the Seleukia mint under Demetrios I (see SC 1686 = Houghton 991, overstruck on a tetradrachm of Timarchos). This current specimen therefore poses a question: is it the second known tetradrachm of Timarchos struck at Seleukia? Following Houghton’s checklist, it is clear that the coin fits certain criteria, namely that it is struck on a broad flan, the die axis is 12h and the portrait has the longer bust and the horn on the helmet. It differs, however, in the arrangement of the diadem ends which fall behind the bust and also in the precision of the portrait which bears greater resemblance to SC 1589, the Ekbatana issue. The problem posed by the diadem ends can be explained through examination of Demetrios’ tetradrachms struck at Seleukia which have both variations of diadem arrangement, straight behind and curved and over the shoulder, however the style of the portrait remains a source of contention.

An Unpublished Monogram

231. Seleukid Empire, Diodotos Tryphon AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 142/1-138 BC. Diademed head of Tryphon to right, filleted border around / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΤΡΥΦΩΝΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Macedonian helmet adorned with ibex horn, monogram in inner left ﬁeld; all within oak wreath border. SC 2031 var. (unlisted monogram); cf. Leu 7, 1369 for similar monogram. 16.75g, 33mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; a stellar example with a beautiful old cabinet tone and attractive hints of iridescence over lustrous metal. Extremely Rare; seemingly no other examples with this particular monogram. 6,000 Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 17, 14 August 2021, lot 1345. Diodotos was a powerful administrator at Antioch during the reign of Alexander I, who played a key role in organising the rebellion that saw Alexander forced from the city and Demetrios II crowned king on the promise that Ptolemy VI would supervise his reign. This was met with one final challenge from Alexander, who was defeated by Ptolemy and subsequently assassinated by the Nabataean prince from whom he sought refuge. The victory was to come at the cost of Ptolemy’s life, who died days later from wounds received in the battle. Demetrios quickly lost the support of both the military and the populace after disbanding much of the Seleukid army and brutally crushing a rebellion at Antioch. Once again Diodotos seized the opportunity for rebellion and found an alternative ruler in Antiochos VI, the young son of Alexander and Kleopatra Thea, who he took under his protection. Their revolt against Demetrios started in Chalkis, where they gained the control of the surrounding districts before capturing Apamea in 144. It was around this time that Diodotos assumed a new name, Tryphon. He succeeded in removing Demetrios from Antioch around 144/3 and elevated Antiochos to the Seleukid throne. For two years, Antiochos reigned while Tryphon continued to campaign against Demetrios, expanding their territory into Cilicia Pedias and north Phoenicia. Around 142, Tryphon announced that Antiochos had died during surgery and having ensured the support of his soldiers with the promise of money, proclaimed himself king. He continued to wage war against Demetrios’ generals, who still held the Phoenician cities of Sidon and Tyre, Gaza, Mesopotamia, Babylonia and parts of northern Syria. The seizure of Babylonia by Mithradates I in 141 led Demetrios to embark on an eastern campaign which would see him captured in 138. This prompted Antiochos VII, the brother of Demetrios, to raise a substantial mercenary force to recover the Seleukid kingdom. He landed at Seleukia Pieria, where many of Tryphon’s troops had defected to Kleopatra Thea, who admitted his troops and married him. Antiochos quickly took northern Syria from Tryphon’s control and pursued him into Phoenicia, where he was besieged at Dora. Tryphon escaped and fled to Apamea, where he was besieged again and eventually executed late in 138 or early 137. The elaborate ibex-horned helmet used as a reverse type on the coinage of Antiochos VI and of Tryphon once he assumed the kingship is usually considered to have been Tryphon’s personal sigil. The horn and diadem together denote divinity and royalty, and the helmet itself, with its thunderboltadorned cheek-guards and two medallions depicting an eagle and a panther holding a thyrsos would certainly have been worthy of either, or both. While it is most unlikely to represent Tryphon’s personal choice of headwear, it has been speculated (H. Seyrig, The Khan El-Abde Find and the Coinage of Tryphon, ANS NNM, 1950) that the helmet may have been a spectacular offering, made by the young king Antiochos VI, under the direction of Tryphon, to the god that had favoured their claim to power.

Ex Hirsch 157, 1988

232. Seleukid Empire, Demetrios II Nikator AR Tetradrachm. Second reign. Antioch on the Orontes, 129-128 BC. Diademed head to right / Zeus Nikephoros seated to left, holding sceptre; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY to right, ΘEOY NIKATOPOΣ to left, Ξ to outer left, O below throne. SC 2166.2c; SMA 320; HGC 9, 1117b. 16.31g, 30mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,200

Ex Peter Corcoran Collection; Ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 117, 24 November 2003, lot 416; Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 157, 26 February 1988, lot 185.

233. Seleukid Empire, Demetrios II Nikator AR Tetradrachm. Second reign. Damaskos, dated SE 184 = 128/7 BC. Diademed head to right within fillet border / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY ΘΕΟΥ NIKATOPOΣ, Zeus Nikephoros seated to left, holding sceptre; monogram in outer left field, monogram below throne, EΠΡ (date) in exergue. SC 2181.5; DCA 223; HGC 9, 1116d. 16.47g, 30mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; lustrous metal, with a light cabinet tone.

750

Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd., Auction 76, 2 October 2022, lot 130.

234. Seleukid Empire, Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes) AR Tetradrachm. Tyre, dated SE 176 = 137/6 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / ANTIOXOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing to left on prow; club surmounted by monogram in left field, APE monogram above, monogram in right field above ⊏OP (date), monogram between legs. SC 2109.4a; DCA 198; HGC 9, 1074. 14.13g, 30mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; an attractive portrait.

450

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 1599.

235. Seleukid Empire, Kleopatra Thea and Antiochos VIII AR Tetradrachm. Ake-Ptolemais, 125-120 BC. Jugate busts of Kleopatra, wearing diadem, veil, and stephane, and Antiochos VIII, wearing diadem, to right / ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΘΕΑΣ KAI ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ [ΑΝ]ΤΙΟXΟ[Y], Zeus Nikephoros seated to left, holding sceptre; [monogram in outer left field]. SC 2271.1; Boston MFA 2182; HGC 9, 1182g. 16.56g, 30mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

1,200

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 393.

ELYMAIS

236. Kings of Elymais, Kamnaskires II Nikephoros AR Drachm. Circa 145-139 BC. Diademed head to right; monogram(?) behind / Apollo Delphios seated to left on omphalos, holding arrow and resting hand on bow; BAΣIΛE[ΩΣ] KAMNA NIKE. van’t Haaff 2.1.2-3 var. (rev. legend). 3.87g, 17mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

300

PERSIS

237. Kings of Persis, Ardaxšīr (Artaxerxes) I AR Tetradrachm. Istakhr (Persepolis), 3rd century BC. Diademed head to right, wearing kyrbasia and earring / Fire temple of Ahura-Mazda; to left, king standing to right, hands raised in adoration; standard to right, Aramaic legend around. Alram 520 var. (legend to inner right); Sunrise 562 var. (legend to left reversed). 16.86g, 27mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

1,920

BAKTRIA

238. Baktria, ‘Athenian Series’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-238 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena to right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette and grape bunch(?) on the bowl / Owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before; all within incuse square. Roma E-98, 585 var. (obv. legend); Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -. 16.73g, 24mm, 12h. Very Fine; pleasant cabinet tone.

240

From the 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group, present in Germany in 1975, subsequently exported to the USA.

239. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Euthydemos I Theos Megas AR Tetradrachm. Mint B (“Baktra”), circa 210-206 BC. Diademed head to right / Herakles seated to left on lion skin draped over rocks, holding club set on right leg; BAΣIΛEΩΣ and monogram to right, EYΘYΔHMOY to left. Glenn Group V (O130/R- [unlisted rev. die]); Kritt B15; Bopearachchi 10A; Mitchiner 94a; SNG ANS 137-8; HGC 12, 42. 16.86g, 31mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

600

240. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Euthydemos I Theos Megas AR Tetradrachm. Mint B (“Baktra”), circa 206-200 BC. Diademed head to right / Herakles seated to left on lion skin draped over rocks, holding club set on right leg; BAΣIΛEΩΣ and monogram to right, EYΘYΔHMOY to left. Glenn Group VII (O169/R395); Kritt B17; Bopearachchi 12A; Mitchiner 94a; SNG ANS 141-2; HGC 12, 43. 16.58g, 30mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,500

241. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Euthydemos I Theos Megas AR Tetradrachm. Mint B (“Baktra”), circa 206-200 BC. Diademed head to right / Herakles seated to left on lion skin draped over rocks, holding club set on right leg; BAΣIΛEΩΣ and monogram to right, EYΘYΔHMOY to left. Glenn Group VII, 602 (O165/R395); Kritt B17; Bopearachchi 12A; Mitchiner 94a; SNG ANS 141-2; HGC 12, 43. 16.61g, 30mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

1,200

242. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Demetrios I Aniketos AR Obol. Circa 200-185 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing elephant skin headdress / Herakles standing facing, crowning himself and holding club; BAΣIΛEYΩΣ to right, ΔHMHTPIOY and K to left. Bopearachchi 3B; Mitchiner 105e; SNG ANS 193; HGC 12, 65. 0.70g, 12mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; very well preserved for the type.

180

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVII, 28 March 2019, lot 604.

Very Rare

243. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Agathokles Dikaios AR Drachm. Circa 185-175 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / Zeus standing facing, holding figure of Hekate with torches in outstretched right hand, and sceptre in left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕOYΣ to left, monogram in inner left field. Glenn Group I 14 (O6/R6); Bopearachchi 2B; Mitchiner 138a; SNG ANS -; HGC 12, 90. 4.11g, 18mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

300

244. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Antimachos I Theos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 180-170 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing kausia / Poseidon, laureate, standing facing, holding trident and filleted palm; BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΘEOY to right, ANTIMAXOY to left, monogram to inner right. Glenn Group I (unlisted dies); Bopearachchi 1B; SNG ANS -; HGC 12, 106. 16.89g, 33mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

600

The Unique Pentadrachm of Eukratides I NGC Graded CH AU ★

245. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Pentadrachm. Circa 171-145 BC. Attic standard. Diademed and draped bust to right / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, E (mark of value) in left field, monogram in lower right field. Unpublished. 21.14g, 34mm, 12h. NGC graded Ch AU★ 5/5 - 4/5 (#6675146-001). A bold portrait, beautiful light cabinet tone with golden iridescence around the devices. Unique, of considerable numismatic and historical importance, and the only definitive pentadrachm known to have ever been produced. 45,000 Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXV, 22 September 2022, lot 571. This incredible novum with an unambiguous denominational mark E (=5) immediately invites comparison to the Eukratidion, the 20 stater gold coin preserved in the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris (cf. Bopearachchi Série 4; HGC 12, 128), and like the Eukratidion it seems almost certain to have played a ceremonial role rather than a functionally monetary one. Yet it is also unlike that ‘numismatic monster’ as it has been called, in that it was evidently produced very early, possibly even at the outset of Eukratides’ reign before he had earned for himself the title of ‘Megas’. It is struck from a reverse die that displays very careful consideration of geometry, symmetry and balance; it is in short a reverse die of extraordinarily accomplished style. One need look no further than the leftmost Dioskouros to understand the enormous difference between this die and those employed for the vast number of tetradrachms. Yet further observation will draw the viewer’s attention to the exceedingly well-balanced symmetry and geometry of the design, with the Dioskouroi centrally placed between the two lines of uncommonly neat parallel legend of equal length, the tail of one acting as a counterweight to the lance and hoofs of the other, with monogram and mark of value equipoised in lower right and upper left quadrants. The employment of the denominational mark E on this coin has allowed for identification of similar denominational marks of Δ (=4) and A (=1) on other early issues of Eukratides (see successive lots). The only other supposed issue of the silver πεντάδραχμον or five drachma coin is the very rare issue in the name of Berenike II, sister/wife of Ptolemy III in c. 244/3-221 BC (CPE 742; Svoronos 989), which has been described as Attic weight (ideally 21.5g), but which are problematically typically lighter at around 19.4 grams on average. Though nobody has seriously questioned the type’s attribution as a pentadrachm, the denomination is far from certain. Firstly, the Ptolemaic weight standard at that time was based on a tetradrachm of 14.2g (the Attic standard having been discontinued decades earlier), and the heavier immediate counterpart to the issue (Svoronos 988) is now generally referred to as a Ptolemaic-standard ‘pentakaidekadrachm’. If one accepts the latter, it becomes very hard to support the attribution of Svoronos 989 as a completely anomalous Attic-weight pentadrachm. ‘Pentedrachmia’ were mentioned by Xenophon (Hellenica 1.6.12) in the context of payments made to soldiers at Chios in 406 BC, but no such coins are now extant and scholars believe he was not referring to a singular coin. (W. E. Thompson, ‘Gold and Silver Ratios at Athens during the Fifth Century’, The Numismatic Chronicle 4 (1964), p.121, cf. Gardner, A History of Ancient Coinage, 700-300 BC (1918), p.250ff.) According to Pollyx’s Onomasticon there was a coin denominated pentadrachm at Kyrene and in the Delphic inscriptions such a denomination was referenced for the time of Alexander III, but these are also unknown and presumed to refer to calculations based on lighter Asian standards or gold issues based on the drachm as the unit of weight from which it originally evolved. Polyaenus in Stratagems also informs us that Timotheos debased metal when campaigning in northern Greece in 364 BC and contrasted these coins with so-called ‘old pentadrachms’, probably an erroneous assumption made on calculating the lighter weight issues introduced by Archelaos (HGC 3.1, 794-5) in 413-399 BC. This all leaves the present piece as likely being the sole surviving coin deliberately tariffed upon issue as a pentadrachm, and as such is of considerable numismatic interest.

246. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi 1B; Bopearachchi & Rahman -; Mitchiner 168f; SNG ANS 431; HGC 12, 130. 16.97g, 33mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

900

247. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Drachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram to lower right, A (mark of value) to upper left. Bopearachchi 2E (see note for Mitchiner’s interpretation of monogram); Mitchiner 169; HGC 12, 135. 4.22g, 18mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

240

Extremely Rare Variant

248. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Drachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ above, ΕYΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram to lower right. Bopearachchi 2E var. (A behind Dioskouroi); Mitchiner 169 var. (same); HGC 12, 135. 4.04g, 18mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Extremely rare without mark of value on reverse.

240

249. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi 6W; Mitchiner 177f; SNG ANS 469-71; HGC 12, 131. 17.00g, 36mm, 12h. Near Mint State; scrape to chin, otherwise a superb specimen.

900

250. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi 6X; Mitchiner 177e; SNG ANS 472; HGC 12, 131. 17.00g, 33mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

900

251. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Drachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ above, ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ below, monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi 7G; Mitchiner 178a; SNG ANS 476-8; HGC 12, 136. 4.26g, 20mm, 12h. Near Mint State; lustrous metal.

300

252. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Drachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY above, EVKPATIΔOY below, monogram in left field. Bopearachchi 7J; Mitchiner 178d; SNG ANS 483; HGC 12, 136. 4.23g, 19mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine.

240

Wonderful Sculptural Heroic Bust

253. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Diademed heroic bust to left, seen from behind, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear, brandishing spear in right hand / The Dioskouroi on horses prancing to right, each holding spear and palm; BAΣIΛEΩΣ MEΓAΛOY above, EYKPATIΔOY below, monogram in lower right field. Bopearachchi 8A; Bopearachchi & Rahman 252-4; Mitchiner 179a (Mitchiner does not differentiate between monograms A and B in Bopearachchi but the plates show both); SNG ANS 484; HGC 12, 132. 17.06g, 35mm, 12h. Mint State; a wonderfully sculptural heroic style bust, preserved on lustrous silver beneath a satin grey tone.

6,000

The Greco-Baktrian Kingdom is seldom mentioned in classical texts, in fact, much of what we know about the territory has been learnt from coins and their inscriptions. Notably, it is these very coins that have also granted Baktria a position in the history of Hellenistic art (J.J. Pollitt, Art in the Hellenistic Age, p.285), for, they present some of the finest examples of numismatic design and portraiture. Not only remarkable for its artistic merit however, a coin such as this is further significant for what it reveals about the self-perception of a Baktrian King. Eukratides, an usurper, proclaimed himself king following a revolt (recorded by Justin (XLI, 6)) against Demetrios and the elimination of the entire former dynasty. The reverse of this coin reflects the warring prowess of the king in an intricate depiction of cavalrymen, the Dioskouroi, rushing into battle with their lances set and palm branches trailing behind them. The inscription surrounding the image reads ‘of the great King, Eukratides’ implying that, like the Persians and Alexander before him, Eukratides had come to dominate all the local rulers of the region. In a numismatically unprecedented mode of depiction, Eukratides I appears on the obverse of this coin as a heroic nude bust. Seen from behind with a side-profile of his verisimilar portrait, Eukratides, spear in hand, is poised ready to strike. His muscles are tense, ready for action, but Eukratides’ face conveys the calm composure of a true leader, he gazes straight ahead and his expression is of utmost concentration. Eukratides wears a crested helmet decorated with a bull’s horn and ear, possibly an allusion to his Seleukid blood as we also find them on coins of Seleukos, who, according to Appian (Syr. 57) ‘was of such a large and powerful frame that once when a wild bull was brought for sacrifice to Alexander and broke loose from his ropes, Seleukos held him alone, with nothing but his hands, for which reason his statues are ornamented with horns’. The artistry of this image tempts a comparison with earlier heroic nude sculpture of Olympian deities, for example, the Artemision Bronze. More generally, there is reason to suppose that the Greek kings of Baktria would have considered their coinage a symbol of and a link with their Hellenic cultural heritage and therefore went to some expense to ensure that their coins were designed by the very best artists (J.J. Pollitt, Art in the Hellenistic Age, p.285). Kings such as Eukratides considered their Hellenic roots made them both distinct and civilized, a notion further evidenced by the fact that this portrait type went on to be copied by successive eastern kings and was later adopted by several Roman emperors from the time of Septimius Severus onward.

254. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas, with Heliokles and Laodike, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Dynastic pedigree issue. Jugate draped busts of Heliokles and Laodice to right, HΛIOKΛEOYΣ above, KAI ΛAOΔIKHΣ below; monogram behind / Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear, BAΣIΛEYΣ MEΓAΣ above, EYKPATIΔHΣ below. Bopearachchi 13A; Mitchiner 182b; SNG ANS -; HGC 12, 133. 17.00g, 34mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

4,500

Ex Gorny & Mosch 121, 2003

255. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides I Megas, with Heliokles and Laodike, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 170-145 BC. Dynastic pedigree issue. Jugate draped busts of Heliokles and Laodice to right, HΛIOKΛEOYΣ above, KAI ΛAOΔIKHΣ below; monogram behind / Diademed and draped bust to right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear, BAΣIΛEYΣ MEΓAΣ above, EYKPATIΔHΣ below. Bopearachchi 15A; Bopearachchi & Rahman 263; SNG ANS 526-7; Mitchiner 182a; HGC 12, 133. 16.94g, 32mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Rare.

1,800

Ex Peter Corcoran Collection; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 75, 23 May 2007, lot 644; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 121, 10 March 2003, lot 248 (lot no. misrecorded as 1025 in subsequent CNG auction).

256. Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Eukratides II Soter AR Tetradrachm. Circa 145-140 BC. Diademed and draped bust to right; all within bead-and-reel border / Apollo standing facing, head to left, holding arrow in right hand and grounded bow with left; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to right, EYKPATIΔOY and monogram to left. Bopearachchi 1H; Mitchiner 164m; SNG ANS 619-22; HGC 12, 161. 16.88g, 32mm, 11h. Near Mint State; of medallic appearance, struck on a broad planchet.

1,500

Ex Professor Shir Mohammad Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 444.

INDO-GREEK KINGDOM Extremely Rare, the Finest Known

257. Indo-Greek Kingdom, Menander I Soter AR Tetradrachm. Circa 165/55-130 BC. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ MENANΔPOY, diademed heroic bust to left, seen from behind, wearing aegis over shoulder, brandishing spear / ‘Maharajasa tratarasa Menamdrasa’ in Kharosthi, Athena Alkidemos standing to left, wielding thunderbolt and shield; monogram to right. Bopearachchi 8C = Mitchiner 219a; Bopearachchi & Rahman 322; SNG ANS -; HGC 12, 180; Roma E-18, 562 = Roma E-23, 257 = Roma E-30, 202; CNG e399, 321; CNG e443, 206; CNG e461, 248. 9.88g, 26mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; a bold portrait, beautiful old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare; only one example known to both Bopearachchi and Mitchiner, four on CoinArchives, and undoubtedly the finest known. 4,500 Ex Rubellite Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 450. The origins of the Indo-Greek Kingdom can be traced all the way back to the time of Alexander the Great, who famously led his armies as far as North West India and conquered large parts of the region in 326 BC. After Alexander’s death, his empire fragmented and the Indian territories fell under the rule of the emperor Chandragupta, founder of the Mauryan empire, until 185 BC when it was toppled by Pushyamitra Shunga, founder of the Shunga Empire. There followed several incursions by Greco-Baktrian kings into India, the most significant of which was by Menander I Soter, who Strabo highlights as having advanced further than his predecessors and subdued more peoples (Geographica, 11.11.1) and is therefore widely considered to be the most important of the Indo-Greek kings. Save for a very limited account by Strabo, the literary record of Menander’s military endeavours is scant, with epigraphic and numismatic evidence forming much of the basis of modern understanding of this part of his life. It seems that he launched several campaigns in the Indian subcontinent, with some sources, notably the Hathigumpha inscription, stating that his troops reached as far East as the city of Mathura in modern-day Uttar Pradesh. The precise geographical extent of his empire remains unclear and it is certainly possible that the borders fluctuated throughout his rule, but the few sources all corroborate the view that he ruled a large area of North West India for between 25 to 35 years. The prosperity of his dominions is attested by the preponderance of coinage, the find-locations of which have also helped to somewhat illuminate the boundaries of his empire. The numismatic record could also be seen to hint at his style of leadership, with the large majority of issues exemplifying bilingual legends, in both Greek and Kharosthi, as is the case here. This is perhaps an indication that he placed emphasis on integration and unity with the peoples over whom he ruled. This view is further supported by accounts of his religious life, which by contrast with the lack of detail of his military achievements, is expounded upon in great depth in the Buddhist text the Milinda Panha, which relates a dialogue (real or imagined) between the Buddhist sage Nagasena and Menander himself - ‘Milinda’ being the translation of Menander into the Buddhist liturgical script of the time, Pali. Buddhist tradition has it that Menander converted to Buddhism and the Milinda Panha, which likely dates to after his death, is a retelling of the conversation he had with the sage when the ruler asked many questions about the faith, at the end of which he made the decision to convert. A decision which undoubtedly ingratiated him with the many Buddhist populations who lived in his empire.

SASANIAN KINGDOM

258. Sasanian Kingdom, Shapur I AV Dinar. Mint I (“Ctesiphon”), Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Draped bust to right, wearing diadem and mural crown surmounted by korymbos / Fire-altar flanked by two regal attendants each wearing mural crown with ribbons and korymbos and holding staff; frawahr symbol to left of flames. SNS type IIc/1c, style T; Göbl type I/1; Saeedi AV5 var. (no obv. pellets); Sunrise 740 var. (same). 7.36g, 23mm, 3h. Near Mint State; a beautifully centred example.

1,800

Acquired from Pars Coins, San Jose CA.

259. Sasanian Kingdom, Shapur I AV Dinar. Mint I (“Ctesiphon”), Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Draped bust to right, wearing diadem and mural crown surmounted by a korymbos / Fire-altar flanked by two regal attendants each wearing mural crown with ribbons and korymbos and holding staff surmounted by pellet-in-crescent; two pellets above. SNS type IIc/1b, style P; Göbl type I/1; Saeedi AV4 var. (no pellets on rev.); Sunrise 739 var. (same). 7.42g, 23mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,800

Acquired from Pars Coins, San Jose CA.

Very Rare

260. Sasanian Kingdom, Vahran II AV Dinar. AD 276-293. Draped bust to right, wearing winged crown surmounted by a korymbos / Fire altar flanked by two regal attendants, one wearing winged crown with korymbos, one wearing mural crown with korymbos. SNS type 1/1; Göbl type I/1; Sellwood type 1; Sunrise 764 var. (obv. pellets). 7.47g, 23mm, 4h. Mint State; beautifully centred strike on a large planchet. Very Rare.

3,600

Acquired from Pars Coins, San Jose CA. The legend reads “The Mazdah worshipper, the divine Vahran, King of Kings of Iran, who descended from the Gods.”

261. Sasanian Kings, Shapur II AV Dinar. Uncertain mint, circa AD 320. Bust to right, wearing mural crown surmounted by a korymbos / Fire-altar flanked by two ribbons. SNS type 1c2/2a; Göbl 1a/7; Saeedi AV51-4; Sunrise 863. 7.31g, 19mm, 3h. Near Mint State; dies of excellent style. Very Rare.

2,400

Acquired from Pars Coins, San Jose CA.

PHILISTIA Of Significant Numismatic Interest

262. Philistia (Palestine), uncertain mint AR Tetradrachm. Imitating Athens, circa 450-400 BC(?). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, round earring with central boss, and pearl necklace; uncertain Aramaic or Phoenician letter on cheek, perhaps a taw(?) / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references; for similar examples, cf. SNG ANS 3 (shin on cheek), Roma XXVII, 459 (uncertain letter on cheek), Heritage 3042, 29128 (uncertain letter on cheek), CNG 97, 399 (aleph on cheek guard), CNG 84, 738 (shin on cheek), Leu Numismatik 83, 246 (aleph on neck); for general classification, cf. Van Alfen, Mechanisms III.C.2. 17.18g. NGC graded MS 5/5 - 4/5 (#6672356-030).

1,200

The fascinating specimen, which is struck in fine style and is a near-faithful rendering of the contemporary Athenian iteration, bears not a countermark but instead a raised letter on Athena’s cheek, probably either an Aramaic or Phoenician character and most closely resembling an Aramaic taw, which was cut into the original die. One comparable example, found in SNG ANS (3), has been linked to the Samaritan city of Shomron, owing to the presence of a shin-like character on the right cheek, but whether or not the letter observed here, and others akin to it, can genuinely be associated with particular governors, satraps, magistrates or indeed locales is, at present, uncertain. The altering of imitative Athens tetradrachms from Levantine, Egypt and Arabia with (most commonly) Aramaic style countermarks and/or graffiti was widespread during the fifth-fourth century BC. Van Alfen, in his exhaustive and illuminating review of the subject (The 1989 Syria Hoard, 2002, p. 5), maintains that such punches were most likely the personal emblems of specific magistrates or bankers, and advises against attempting to associate marks with particular Eastern mints. With this in mind, the questions arises whether the letter observed in relief here should also be considered the mark of an individual as opposed to a city ethnic. Clearly, further investigation is required.

JUDAEAN COINS Of Great Historical Importance

263. Judaea. Herodians. Agrippa I, with Herod of Chalcis and Claudius Æ 27mm. Caesarea Maritima, dated RY 8 of Agrippa I = 43 CE. BAC AΓPIΠΠAC [CEB KAICAP BAC HPΩΔHC] (King Agrippa, Augustus Caesar, King Herod), Claudius, togate, standing to left, sacrificing from patera, between Agrippa I and Herod of Chalcis, each crowning the emperor with a wreath; [LH] (date) in exergue / [OPKI]A BAC AΓPIΠΠA [Π CEΒ KAICAP AK CYNKΛHTON K] ΔHM PΩM ΦIΛI K CY MAXI [AYTOY] (A vow and treaty of friendship and alliance between the Great King Agrippa and Augustus Caesar, the Senate and the People of Rome) in two concentric circles divided by wreath; clasped right hands in centre; c/m: laureate(?) male head to left within oval incuse. RPC I 4982; TJC 124a (same dies); Burnett, Coinage 8; Hendin GBC 6, 6278; Hendin GBC 5, 1248; for c/m, GIC 156. 15.24g, 27mm, 12h. 3,600 Very Fine. Extremely Rare; of great historical importance. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 524. This extremely rare coin commemorates the treaty wherein Claudius awarded the kingdoms of Judaea and Samaria to Agrippa, and Chalcis to Agrippa’s brother Herod. The reverse legend is an excerpt of the treaty and appropriately encircles two clasped hands signifying the agreement, a long-established Roman numismatic motif dating back to the first century BC (see Crawford 450/2). That the agreement was rather favourable to Agrippa perhaps reflects his importance as a political force in the promotion of Claudius’ succession (for an account of Agrippa’s role, see Flavius Josephus, Antiquities, 19.236-45). The obverse depicts three full-length portraits of the two client kings crowning the emperor Claudius with laurel wreaths, all of whom are identified by the obverse legend. Whilst it is tempting to imagine, there is no historical record of such a ceremony taking place during the treaty making in Rome in AD 41. Despite this, the crowning scene is highly intriguing in its novelty - there is no parallel in Roman coinage of an emperor being crowned by two client kings. The iconography has been discussed at length by Andreas Kropp, who rightly highlights that Roman artists would never have depicted such a scene implying the source of the emperor’s power came from the hands of mere mortals, let alone a client king. As such, this coin appears to have been designed by artists at the Caesarea mint not for the glorification of the emperor but for emphasising Agrippa’s own power as a kingmaker, rather than a mere vassal, and without fear of Roman authority (see Crowning the Emperor an unorthodox image of Claudius, Agrippa I and Herod of Chalkis, 2013).

EX NFA 1992 and Published in Deutsch

264. Judaea. First Jewish War AR Shekel. Temple (Jerusalem) mint, dated year 2 = April 67 CE - March 68 CE. Omer cup with beaded rim, date above; “Shekel of Israel” in Paleo-Hebrew script around / Sprig of three pomegranates; “Jerusalem the Holy” in Paleo-Hebrew script around. Deutsch 108 (O7/R103, this coin); Hendin GBC 6, 6387; Hendin GBC 5, 1358; TJC 193; Sofaer 5-8. 14.11g, 22mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone with attractive iridescence.

3,000

This coin published in R. Deutsch, Jewish Coinage During the First Revolt Against Rome 66–73 CE (Tel Aviv, 2017); Acquired from Eukratides (Dr Brad Bowlin), 16 March 2017 (certificate of authenticity issued by ACCS/ David R. Sear included); Ex Edward J. Waddell, Fixed Price List 68, 1996, no. 68; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction XXVIII, 23 April 1992, lot 161.

ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINS Extremely Rare Bronze of Lollius

265. L. Lollius Ӕ 16mm of Cyrene, Cyrenaica. Circa 37 BC. Diademed head of Libya to right, letter(?) behind, uncertain symbol before / ΛΟΛΛΙΟΥ, caduceus between poppy head and corn ear; B to lower right field. RPC I 913b. 3.86g, 16mm, 6h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only 3 examples listed on RPC.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 754.

100

An Infamous Alliance

266. Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Circa 36 BC. BACIΛICCA KΛЄOΠATPA ΘЄA NЄѠTЄPA, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra to right / ANTѠNIOC AVTOKPATѠP TPITON TPIѠN ANΔPѠN, bare head of Marc Antony to right. RPC I 4094; McAlee 174; Prieur 27. 15.49g, 25mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; displaying two bold portraits.

21,000

Ex Dmitry Markov Coins & Medals - M&M Numismatics Ltd - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles - Sovereign Rarities Ltd, The New York Sale 54, 11 January 2022, lot 181. This tetradrachm, struck after the return of Antony to the East, proclaims the new political alliance between the triumvir and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Antony’s choice to leave the sister of his rival Octavian was a bold move which completely separated him from his homeland, though the many titles and honours he received when he made this transition are symptomatic of the irresistible allure of the luxurious Eastern world. Despite Antony having been away for four years, during which time he had married another woman and fathered two daughters, Cleopatra eagerly accepted Antony’s invitation to join him in Antioch, where the two were married and made ostentatious display of their partnership. She had already borne twins for Antony, and the difficulty of maintaining the Ptolemaic Kingdom intact while Rome eyed up her rich and bountiful, but weak, country was no doubt the prime motivating factor. Though this coin confirms their political union, the individual sovereignty of both Cleopatra and Antony is distinctly maintained by their placement on obverse and reverse respectively rather than displaying them in a conjoined bust format. This issue has been traditionally assigned to Antioch, however R. McAlee points out that the letter forms (C for Σ and ω for Ω) are inconsistent with those on contemporary Antiochene issues. Moreover, Antioch remained in Roman rule despite Antony granting vast tracts of territory to Cleopatra. The placement of Cleopatra, not Antony, on the obverse also points to a mint within Egyptian territory, perhaps in Phoenicia. For this same reason, a military mint moving with Antony appears unlikely. Nonetheless, the dating of the coin suggests that it may well have been issued in support of Antony, and in particular of his Parthian campaign, a great undertaking involving more than 100,000 Roman and allied troops which ultimately proved to be a complete failure that cost the lives of about 25,000 men. This joint issue coinage (along with the similar denarius type) no doubt contributed to the increasingly prevalent view in Rome that Antony had deserted his Roman values and indeed the Roman people; a view that was shortly thereafter firmly cemented by the Donations of Alexandria, in which ceremony Antony paraded himself dressed as Dionysus and proceeded to distribute Rome’s eastern territories to the children of Cleopatra and grant them many titles. When Octavian obtained Marc Antony’s will from the temple of Vesta, distaste turned to outrage as it was read out in the Senate that Antony wished to be buried with Cleopatra in Alexandria. When the second term of the Second Triumvirate expired on the last day of 33 BC, the Roman world again found itself at war.

101

267. Augustus AR Cistophorus of Pergamum(?), Mysia. Circa 27-26 BC. IMP•CAESAR, bare head to right / Sheaf of six ears of corn bound together; AVGV-STVS across fields. RPC I 2212; RIC I 4904; RSC 32a. 11.97g, 27mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; well-centred, beautiful deep old cabinet tone and rev. in wonderful state of preservation. Scarce.

900

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

268. Augustus AR Drachm of Masicytus, Lycian League. Circa 27-20 BC. Bare head of Augustus to right; Λ-Y flanking / Two citharas; MA below. RPC I 3309c.4; Troxell, Lycian League, Period IV, 121.2. 3.57g, 19mm, 12h. Fleur De Coin. Extremely Rare.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 522.

A Magnificent Cistophorus

269. Augustus AR Cistophorus of Ephesus, Ionia. Circa 25 BC. IMP•CAESAR, bare head to right / AVGVSTVS, capricorn to right, head to left, cornucopiae on its back; all within wreath. RPC I 2213, RIC I 477; BN 916. 12.09g, 26mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; wonderful old cabinet tone. Rare.

1,800

Ex Auktionhaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 94, 9 April 2014, lot 703; Ex Münzen und Medaillen AG Basel, Auction 81, 18 September 1995, lot 170. The significance of the constellation Capricorn to Augustus is subject to debate, with some ancient sources reporting that it was his birth sign and others relating that he was conceived under the sign - the latter tying in with his official birthday on 23rd-24th September. Although we now view conception and birth as two separate events, the Romans viewed conception through to birth as a continuous process. Under the tropical zodiac, the sun transits Capricorn from late December to late January, marking midwinter and the shortest day of the year. For this reason, often it was considered a hostile sign but Augustus chose to interpret it positively since it had governed two major events in his life - the granting of imperium to him by the Senate in January 43 BC, and the acceptance of the title Augustus on 16 January 27 BC. The capricorn is represented as a goat with a fish tail, and is often thought to be a representation of Pan escaping an attack by the monster Typhon. Having jumped into the Nile, the half of Pan’s body which was submerged was transformed into a fish. An alternative interpretation is that the goat is Amalthea, who suckled the infant Zeus after Rhea rescued him from being devoured by his father Cronus. The broken horn of Amalthea transformed into the cornucopiae, which on the present example is carried on the back of the capricorn. It is a symbol of fertility and abundance, and here accompanies the corona civica, awarded to Romans who saved the lives of fellow citizens by slaying an enemy, but in the case of Augustus for having saved the entire Roman citizenry from the horrors of further civil war. In 27 BC, Augustus had declared Ephesus the capital of Asia Minor, promoting the city above the former capital Pergamum. The decision to use such striking imagery alongside his birth sign for issues minted in the new capital reinforced Augustus as the head of the new imperial regime.

102

270. Tiberius, with Drusus as Caesar, AR Drachm of Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia. AD 32-33. TI CAES AVG P M [TR P] XXXIV, laureate head of Tiberius to right / DRVSVS CAES TI AVG F COS II TR P [IT], bare head of Drusus to left. RPC I 3621; RIC I 84; Sydenham, Caesarea 43; CNG 99, 456 (hammer: 850 USD). 3.51g, 17mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare; only six specimens cited by RPC Online.

180

Ex Sternberg 1975

271. Tiberius, with Drusus as Caesar, AR Drachm of Caesarea-Eusebia, Cappadocia. AD 33-34. TI CAES AVG P [M TR] P XXXV, laureate head of Tiberius to right / DRVSVS CAES TI AVG CO II R T (sic), bare head of Drusus to left. RPC I 3622b.6 (this coin); RIC I 87; Sydenham, Caesarea 46. 3.71g, 19mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

360

This coin published at Roman Provincial Coinage Online (rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk); Ex Frank Sternberg AG, Auction V, 28-29 November 1975, lot 19.

272. Nero AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated RY 10 and year 112 of the Caesarean Era = AD 64. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, laureate bust to right, wearing aegis / ΕΤΟΥΣ ΒΙΡ • Ι, eagle standing to right on thunderbolt, wings spread, palm branch to right. RPC I 4189; McAlee 265b; Prieur 89. 15.25g, 26mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

240

273. Claudia Octavia (wife of Nero) Æ 27mm of Perinthus, Thrace. AD 54-62. ΟΚΤΑΟΥΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, draped bust to right, wearing stephane / ΗΡΑ ΠΕ[Ρ] ΙΝΘΙΩΝ, statue of Hera of Samos to left. RPC I 1755.9 (this coin); Schönert-Geiss 255; Varbanov 3694. 10.56g, 27mm, 1h. Very Fine. Very Rare.

720

This coin published at Roman Provincial Coinage Online (rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk); Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVIII, 29 September 2019, lot 756; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 133, 11 October 2004, lot 308. Beloved by the people of Rome but hated by her husband, Claudia Octavia’s marriage to her stepbrother Nero was surely an unhappy one. The younger daughter of the former emperor Claudius was Nero’s first wife when an affair with his mistress Poppaea Sabina resulted in pregnancy. Divorcing Octavia, Nero had her banished to the island of Pandateria on the false pretence that she had committed ‘adultery’. The People of Rome demanded her return, but she was soon after executed on the orders of Poppaea.

103

274. Galba AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated RY 1 = AD 68. ΓΑΛΒΑϹ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ, laureate head to right; star before / ΕΤΟΥϹ ΝΕΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΥ Α, eagle standing to left on thunderbolt, wings spread; palm branch to left. RPC I 4194; McAlee 303; Prieur 94. 15.35g, 25mm, 1h. About Good Very Fine.

300

275. Galba Æ ‘Semis’ of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. AD 68-69. IM • SE[R • SVL • GALBA • C]AE • AVG •, laureate head to right / Large SC in circular linear border, all within laurel wreath. RPC I 4315A (same obv. die); McAlee 314 (same obv. die). 8.63g, 24mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; an excellent portrait. Extremely Rare.

300

276. Vespasian, with Titus as Caesar, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated ‘New Holy Year’ 2 = AD 69/70. AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYECΠAΣIANOY, laureate head to left, slight drapery on near shoulder, set on eagle with spread wings standing to left / T ΦΛΑΥΙ ΟΥΕΣΠ [ΚΑΙΣ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΝΕΟΥ] ΙΕΡΟΥ, laureate head of Titus to right; lituus before, B (date) after. RPC II 1944; McAlee 331; Prieur 109. 15.61g, 24mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; area of flatness. Rare.

240

277. Vespasian AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated ‘New Holy Year’ 2 = AD 69/70. AYTOKPA OYЄCΠACIANOC KAICAP CЄBACTOC, laureate head to right / ЄTOYC NЄOY IЄPOY B, eagle standing to left on club, wings spread, holding wreath in beak; palm branch to left. RPC II 1954; McAlee 345; Prieur 122. 15.12g, 28mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine.

180

104

278. Vespasian AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated ‘New Holy Year’ 2 = AD 69/70. AYTOKPATΩP KAICAP CEBACTOC OYECΠACIANOC, laureate head to right / ETOYC NEOY IEPOY•A, eagle standing to left on club, wings spread, holding wreath in beak; palm branch to left. RPC II 1970; McAlee 358; Prieur 132. 15.29g, 26mm, 2h. Near Mint State; an excellent portrait.

180

279. Vespasian AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated ‘New Holy Year’ 3 = AD 70/1. AVTOKPAT KAIΣA OVЄΣΠAΣIANOV, laureate head to right / ЄTOVΣ Γ IЄPOV, eagle standing left on club, wings spread; palm branch to left. RPC II 1947; McAlee 336; Prieur 113. 15.41g, 26mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

180

280. Titus, as Caesar, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated ‘New Holy Year’ 3 = AD 70/1. [AYTOK]P TITOΣ KAIΣ OYE[ΣΠ], laureate head to right, aegis over far shoulder / ETOYΣ Γ IEPOY, eagle standing to left on palm, wings spread, holding wreath in beak; club to left. RPC II 1967; McAlee 379; Prieur 140. 14.61g, 25mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

240

281. Domitian, with Domitia, Æ 21mm of Anazarbus, Cilicia. Dated year 112 = AD 93/94. AYTO KAI ΘΕ YI ΔOMITIANOΣ CE ΓEP, laureate head of Domitian to right / KAICAPEΩN ΔOMETIA CEBACTH, draped bust of Domitia to left; IB-P across fields. RPC II 1749.16 (this coin); SNG BnF 2019-2020; Ziegler 76 (Vs1/Rs3). 6.73g, 22mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

180

This coin published at Roman Provincial Coinage Online (rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk); Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVIII, 29 September 2019, lot 758; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 236, 7 October 2013, lot 1025.

105

282. Nerva AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. Dated “New Holy Year 2” = AD 97-98. AYT • NEPOYAΣ • KAIΣ • ΣEB • ΓERM, laureate bust to right, wearing aegis on far shoulder / ETOYΣ NEOY • IEPOY B, eagle standing to right on thunderbolt, wings spread; palm branch to right. RPC III 3477; McAlee 420; Prieur 150. 14.82g, 26mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

900

The inclusion of the title Germanicus on Nerva’s year 2 tetradrachms from Antioch date them to a short period between November AD 97, when he received the title, and his death in January 98. Prieur cites only 8 specimens; RPC cites 16.

283. Trajan AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. AD 103-111. AYTOKP KAIC NЄP TPAIANOC CЄB ΓЄPM ΔAK, laureate head to right, set on eagle standing to right; club in right field / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ YΠATЄ, laureate bust of Melkart-Hercules to right, with lion skin tied around neck. RPC III 3528; McAlee 455; Prieur 1495 (Tyre). 15.11g, 27mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; well-detailed. Rare.

900

Purchased from Dr. Martina Dieterle, 18 February 2005, collector’s ticket included.

Descended from Spartans

284. Septimius Severus Æ 31mm of Amblada, Pisidia. AD 193-211. ΑV ΚΑΙ ΛΟV ϹЄΠ ϹЄVΗΡΟϹ ΠЄΡ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / ΑΜΒΛΑΔЄѠΝ ΛΑΚЄΔΑΙΜΟΝΙѠΝ, Tychai of Amblada and Sparta standing, facing each other, clasping hands, each wearing kalathos and holding long sceptre ΦΙΛΟϹΟ to left, ΑΡΤЄΜΙΔ in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references. 20.19g, 31mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

900

This coin published in H. Arroyo-Quirce. “ΦΙΛ(Ο) ΑΡΤЄΜΙΔ. An enigmatic coin legend from Amblada in Pisidia and the philosophos Artemidoros” in Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 216 (2020) 129–132; Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 431, 27 April 2022, lot 3663; Acquired from Münzhandlung Ritter, 7 January 2009, collector’s ticket included. The reverse legend of this type proudly proclaims Spartan heritage with the word ‘ΛΑΚЄΔΑΙΜΟΝΙѠΝ’, the ancient name of the Spartan people derived from the mythical king Lacedaemon who founded their city. The reverse type of the Tyches of both Amblada and Sparta clasping hands in a gesture of alliance or friendship points to a connection between the two cities, perhaps of historic descent or in recognition for assistance when threatened by Athens.

106

Ex Gorny & Mosch 58, 1992

285. Macrinus Æ 25mm of Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior. AD 217-218. Pontianus, consular legate. AYT K OΠEΛΛIOC CEYH MAKPEINOC, laureate and cuirassed bust to right / VΠ ΠONTIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN, Tyche standing facing, head to left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. AMNG 711; Varbanov 1132. 10.51g, 25mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

180

Ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 117, 24 November 2003, lot 976; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 58, 9 April 1992, lot 820.

286. Macrinus Æ Tetrassarion of Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior. AD 217-218. Marcus Claudius Agrippa, consular legate. AV K OΠΠΕΛ CEVH MAKPINOC, laureate and cuirassed bust to right / YΠ MAPK AΓΡΙΠΠA NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠPOC ICTPΩ, winged Nike standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and palm. CNO 25134; Varbanov 3578 corr. (rev. legend). 14.12g, 29mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

240

Ex A. Tkalec AG, 24 October 2003, lot 333.

287. Elagabalus Æ 30mm of Sidon, Phoenicia. AD 218-222. [AV IM]P CAESAR M A ANTONINV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / [COL AVR PIA] METR S[IDON], cart of Astarte containing baetyl within centre of zodiacal wheel. RPC VI Online 8385 (temporary); Rouvier 1527 & 1561; BMC 260. 19.58g, 30mm, 5h. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,500

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 532.

107

SELECTIONS FROM THE ANDREW MCCABE COLLECTION

288. Anonymous Æ Double Litra. South Italy, circa 275-270 BC. Female head to right / Lion standing to right, with spear in jaws; ROMANO in exergue. Crawford 16/1a; HN Italy 276; RBW 10. 7.22g, 21mm, 12h. Near Very Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Previously purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica AG, 2010.

289. Anonymous Cast Æ Sextans. Rome, circa 240 BC. Scallop shell; two pellets (mark of value) across fields / Caduceus; sickle to right; two pellets (mark of value) across fields. ICC 52; Crawford 25/8; HN Italy 304; RBW 45. 42.12g, 35mm, 6h. Very Fine; cleaning marks.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Mail Bid Sale 9, 23 September 2005, lot 397.

Ex NAC 9, 1996

290. Anonymous Cast Æ Uncia. Rome, circa 240 BC. Astragalus (knucklebone) seen from outside / Sickle; • (mark of value) to left. ICC 53; Crawford 25/9; HN Italy 305; RBW 46. 25.68g, 28mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. Rare.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 9, 16 April 1996, lot 460 (hammer: CHF 500).

108

291. Anonymous AR Didrachm (Quadrigatus). Rome, circa 225-214 BC. Laureate head of Janus / Jupiter standing in galloping quadriga driven by Victory to right, holding sceptre and reins, brandishing thunderbolt overhead; ROMA raised in solid tablet below. Crawford 29/3; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 101-7 var. (outlined tablet); RSC 23/24; RBW 75. 6.65g, 22mm, 5h. Near Extremely Fine; minor flan flaw, of exceptional style, among the finest of this quadrigatus variation.

450

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Freeman & Sear, Mail Bid Sale 12, 28 October 2005, lot 267.

292. Anonymous Cast Æ Quadrans. Rome, circa 225-217 BC. Head of Hercules to left, wearing lion skin; ••• (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; ••• (mark of value) below. ICC 80; Crawford 35/4; HN Italy 340; RBW 88. 69.27g, 42mm, 12h. Very Fine.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex English Amateur Scholar Collection, with collector’s ticket stating purchased January 1999.

293. Anonymous Æ Semis. Post-Semilibral Standard. Rome, circa 215-212 BC. Laureate head of Saturn to right; S (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; S (mark of value) above, ROMA below. Crawford 41/6e; McCabe Group A2; RBW 124. 30.09g, 32mm, 8h. Near Extremely Fine; lightly tooled, attractive green and red patina. Rare and heavy for the issue.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l., Auction XLIX, 28 April 2018, lot 68. For commentary of this issue, please see A. McCabe, ‘The Anonymous Struck Bronze Coinage of the Roman Republic: A Provisional Arrangement’ in Essays in P.G. van Alfen and R.B. Witschonke, Essays in Honour of Roberto Russo (NAC, 2013), pp. 139-140.

109

294. Anonymous Æ Uncia. Post-Semilibral Standard. Rome, circa 215-212 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; • (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, • (mark of value) below. Crawford 41/10; McCabe Group A1; RBW 135. 9.15g, 22mm, 7h. Good Very Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Acquired from London Ancient Coins Ltd.

295. Corn-Ear Series Æ Uncia. Sicilian mint, 214-212 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; • (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; corn-ear and ROMA above, • (mark of value) below. Crawford 42/4; Sydenham 195e; RBW 144-5. 6.61g, 20mm, 9h. Near Extremely Fine; overstruck with traces of undertype visible on obv., a highly attractive example of the type.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Acquired from Lodge Antiquities.

296. L Series Cast Æ Sextans. Luceria, 214-212 BC. Laureate head of Saturn to right / Prow of galley to right; S (mark of value) above, L to right. ICC 114; Crawford 43/2a; RBW 150-1. 36.19g, 36mm, 12h. Near Very Fine. Rare.

240

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l., Auction 61E, 8 Jan 2023, lot 265.

297. Anonymous Æ Sextans. Rome, after 211 BC. Head of Mercury to right; •• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, •• (mark of value) below. Crawford 56/6; McCabe Group G1; Sydenham 143d; cf. RBW 213-4. 5.85g, 21mm, 7h. Good Very Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Spink, Auction 16004, 22 March 2016, lot 1095. “The die size and module of this example, and that of the next lot, confirm them both as sextantal, but the reverse dies of both are stylistically akin to the second McCabe A2 group of post-semilibral bronzes, likely due to the same engraver” - Andrew McCabe

110

298. Anonymous Æ Uncia. Rome, after 211 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; • (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, • (mark of value) below. Crawford 56/7; McCabe Group G1; Sydenham 143e; cf. RBW 215. 5.00g, 20mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection.

299. Caduceus Series AR Denarius. Central Italian mint, 211-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right, X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; caduceus below, ROMA within linear frame in exergue. Crawford 60/1a; BMCRR Italy 104; RSC 20f. 4.30g, 22mm, 9h. Extremely Fine; beautiful light cabinet tone with iridescent highlights, exceptional for the issue.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Harlan J. Berk, Buy or Bid Sale 156, 17 October 2007, lot 188. “Dies of this issue are less finely engraved than the supposedly related Victory and Caduceus series and clearly used different engravers - rough style should not be confused with wear, as this type hardly comes better preserved” - Andrew McCabe

300. Caduceus Series Æ As. Central Italian mint, 211-208 BC. Laureate head of Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; caduceus above, I (mark of value) before, ROMA below. Crawford 60/2; Sydenham 164; RBW 243. 59.91g, 37mm, 1h. Very Fine; exceptional weight and module.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex V.C. Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Mail Bid Sale 79, 17 September 2008, lot 788. “Coins of the caduceus series seem to have been struck at the late post-semilibral standard. The large module inevitably leads to low relief strikes” Andrew McCabe

301. Victory Series AR Denarius. Central Italy, 211-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right, X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; behind, Victory flying to right, crowning the Dioscuri with wreath; ROMA within linear frame in exergue. Crawford 61/1; BMCRR Italy 24; RSC 20jj. 4.28g, 19mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; beautiful deep old cabinet tone.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, eLive Auction 43, 7 December 2016, lot 69.

111

Extremely Rare and Among the Finest

302. C Series Æ Semis. Sardinian mint, after 211 BC. Laureate head of Saturn to right; S (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; S (mark of value) above, C to right, ROMA below. Crawford 63/3; Sydenham 157; BMCRR Italy 176; RBW -. 14.25g, 26mm, 3h. Very Fine. Extremely rare, and among the finest known.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Acquired from London Ancient Coins, 2019.

An Extremely Rare Variant

303. P. Manlius Vulso Æ Sextans. MA series. Sardinian mint, after 210 BC. Head of Mercury to right; •• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, MA (ligate) horizontally to right, •• (mark of value) below. Crawford 64/6c; Sydenham 160; RBW 272. 4.19g, 20mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely rare with horizontal MA reverse legend; only one die pair noted by Schaefer.

120

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Acquired from Numismatica Ars Classica, 2010; Ex Bombarda Collection.

304. Corn-Ear and KA Series Æ Sextans. Sicilian mint, 211-208 BC. Head of Mercury to right; •• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; corn-ear above, I C before, ROMA below. Crawford 69/6b; Sydenham 310d; RBW 294. 6.20g, 20mm, 8h. Extremely Fine; attractive dark green patina.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Bombarda Collection, A. Tkalec AG, 8 September 2008, lot 226.

112

One of Very Few Known

305. Corn-Ear and Crooked Staff Series AR Denarius. Sicilian mint, 209-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; corn-ear and crooked staff below horses, ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 77/1; Sydenham 225; RSC 20m*. 4.20g, 19mm, 7h. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare; one of very few known.

1,200

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Münzhandlung Ritter, FPL 83, December 2008, lot 676.

Ex Nascia Kunst und Münzen 27, 1989

306. Dolphin Series AR Denarius. Sicilian mint, 209-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; dolphin to right below, ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 80/1a; BMCRR Rome 423; RSC 20k; RBW 328. 4.25g, 20mm, 7h. Extremely Fine; attractive light cabinet tone with iridescent highlights around the devices.

210

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Goodman Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 43, 24 September 1997, lot 1350; Ex Nascia Kunst und Münzen, Auction 27, 18 April 1989, lot 1368.

Very Rare

307. Spearhead Series AR Denarius. South East Italy, 211-210 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; upright spearhead and ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 83/2; BMCRR Italy 54; RSC 20aa var. (spearhead to right); RBW 338. 4.07g, 19mm, 10h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

900

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Münzhandlung Ritter, FPL 83, December 2008, lot 679.

113

308. Spearhead Series Æ As. Sardinian mint, 207 BC. Laureate head of Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; I (mark of value) above, upright spearhead to right, [ROMA] below. Crawford 88/3b; Sydenham -; RBW 374. 24.45g, 32mm, 9h. Very Fine. Very Rare.

450

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex V.C. Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Mail Bid Sale 79, 17 September 2008, lot 805; Ex Numismatic Ars Classica AG, Auction P, 12 May 2005, lot 1661. “A great rarity, this is the Sardinian issue of spearhead bronzes (see A. McCabe, ‘Roman Struck Bronze Coinage in Apulia’ in Proceedings XV International Numismatic Congress, Taormina, 2015). Since the C, MA and AVR bronzes can be precisely dated to 211, 210 and 209 BC as the Praetors in Sardinia were Cornelius, Manlius and Aurunculeius, this issue must relate to Aulus Hostilius Cato who was the Praetor in 207 BC, and the spearhead symbol may be a family symbol. The other spearhead issues from Apulia (victoriatus RRC 83/1; denarius RRC 88/1 and related bronzes in Apulian style) may also have been issued by a Hostlius Cato, perhaps the same person. My suggested downdating of this Sardinian spearhead Hostilius issue and the Sicilian crooked staff Mamilia issue, both to 207 BC, may have other parallels” - Andrew McCabe

309. Spearhead Series Æ Semis. Sardinian mint, 209 BC. Laureate head of Saturn to right; S (mark value) behind / Prow of galley to right; S (mark of value) above, spearhead before, ROMA below. Crawford 88/4; Sydenham 224; RBW 375. 13.66g, 25mm, 9h. Very Fine. A rare Sardinian issue spearhead semis, see note on previous lot.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Comptoir des Monnaies.

310. Roma Monogram Series AR Denarius. South East Italy, 211-210 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; Roma monogram below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 84/1; BMCRR Italy p. 190; RBW 340; RSC 32f. 4.38g, 19mm, 10h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly only four others on CoinArchives.

1,200

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Previously purchased from Bank Leu, June 2006.

114

Only Four Others on CoinArchives

311. Roma Monogram Series AR Sestertius. South East Italy, 211-210 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; IIS (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; Roma monogram below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 84/3; BMCRR Italy 192; RSC 34b; RBW 342. 1.10g, 13mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly only four others on CoinArchives.

1,800

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 204, 5 March 2012, lot 1900 (hammer: EUR 1700); Ex Dix Noonan Webb, Coinex Auction 2007, 27 September 2007, lot 2420.

Ex Malter XXXVII, 1988

312. H Series AR Quinarius. South East Italy, 211-210 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; V (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; H behind, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 85/1b; King 17; BMCRR Italy 201; RSC 33b; RBW 350. 2.09g, 15mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Rare with H behind horses; only one example cited by King.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Ex Joel L. Malter & Co., Inc., Auction XXXVII, 17 April 1988, lot 73.

Published in RBW and Essays Russo

313. Anonymous Series Æ Quadrans. Apulia, 211-210 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing lion skin headdress; ••• (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, ••• (mark of value) below. Crawford -, but cf. 86A/3 (Anchor and Q Series) and 97/5b (L Series); McCabe in Essays Russo p.150. F1.Qd.1 (this coin); Sydenham -; RBW 493 (this coin). 7.09g, 22mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine; of fine style and a high relief obverse. Very Rare.

300

This coin published in Roberto Russo ‘The RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins’ (NAC, 2013); This coin published in A. McCabe, ‘The Anonymous Struck Bronze Coinage of the Roman Republic’ in P.G. van Alfen and R.B. Witschonke, Essays in Honour of Roberto Russo (NAC, 2013); From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 61, 5 October 2011, lot 481. “A rare Apulian issue related by engraving style to RRC 86 (Anchor and Q), which shares its reverse style, and to RRC 97 Luceria, which shares its obverse style” - Andrew McCabe

115

314. Anonymous Series Æ Quadrans. South Italy, 211-210 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing lion skin headdress; ••• (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, ••• (mark of value) below. Crawford -, but cf. 89/6 (Club Series); McCabe C1.Qd; Sydenham143; RBW -. 8.39g, 23mm, 2h. Very Fine; of fine style.

120

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Ex Wagner Collection, UBS 59, 29 January 2004, lot 6125. The design elements of this issue are typical of RRC 89 (Club Series) however there is no club and the coins are generally of finer style (McCabe in Essays Russo, p. 135).

Ex M&M List 516, 1988

315. CROT Series AR Victoriatus. Uncertain mint, 211-208 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter to right / Victory standing to right, crowning trophy with wreath; CROT upward between, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 92/1a; BMCRR Italy 243; Sydenham 120; RSC 36b; RBW 386. 2.29g, 17mm, 7h. Very Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Ex Münzen & Medaillen, List 516, November 1988, lot 299.

Ex Triton 2 & NAC 11, 1998

316. VB Series AR Victoriatus. Uncertain mint, 211-208 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter to right / Victory standing to right, crowning trophy of arms with wreath; VB monogram between, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 95/1b; BMCRR Italy 235; Sydenham 113; RSC 36m; RBW 390. 3.40g, 18mm, 6h. Mint State.

600

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton 2, 1 December 1998, lot 689; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 11, 29 April 1998, lot 149.

116

Ex Astarte V, 1999

317. VB Series AR Half Victoriatus. Uncertain mint, 211-208 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter to right / Victory standing to right, crowning trophy of arms with wreath; VB monogram between, S (semis) to right, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 95/2; BMCRR Italy 236-7; Sydenham 114; RSC 37; RBW 392. 1.11g, 14mm, 7h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 262, 13 March 2015, lot 7395; Ex Nomisma S.p.a., Auction 34, 28 April 2007, lot 97; Ex Astarte S.A., Auction V, 28 October 1999, lot 416.

Only Three Others on CoinArchives

318. L Series Æ Semuncia. Luceria, 214-212 BC. Draped bust of Mercury to right, wearing petasos; L below / Prow of galley to right; Σ (mark of value) above, L before, ROMA below. Crawford 97/8; Sydenham 180; RBW 406. 3.22g, 17mm, 9h. Very Fine. Extremely rare Luceria (second outstep mint) semuncia with value mark sigma above prow; seemingly only three other examples on CoinArchives.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Gordon Andreas Singer (Greenbelt, MD) stock, with older ticket with confirming weight marked £25.

319. L Series AR Quinarius. Luceria mint, 214-212 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right wearing Phrygian helmet; V (mark of value) behind, L below / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; ROMA within linear frame in exergue. Crawford 98A/3; King 21; BMCRR Italy 153; RSC 33e; RBW 433. 2.18g, 14mm, 4h. Near Mint State.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Previously purchased from Harlan J Berk, 15 May 1994.

117

320. L-T Series Æ Sextans. Military mint near Herdonia, 213 BC. Head of Minerva to right, wearing Corinthian helmet; L below chin, •• (mark of value) below / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; T below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 98A/6; Sydenham 134; RBW 435. 10.09g, 24mm, 10h. About Very Fine. Very Rare; seemingly only three others on CoinArchives.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Gibboni Collection, Münzen & Medaillen Deutschland GmbH, Auction 19, 16 May 2006, lot 598; Ex Herakles, Fixed Price List, December 2003. “This heavy weight L-T sextans issue undoubtedly predates the sextantal bronze era and the associated quinarius and victoriatus from the same issue likely shows that the so-called denarius coinage actually started with these smaller denominations, probably in 213 BC. In INC Proceedings Taormina 2015 I date and place this issue to a military mint near Herdonia and not to the main Luceria city mint, it was likely issued by the Consul Quintus Fabius Maximus (filius), son of Fabius Cunctator (the Delayer), in the field against Hannibal in Apulia, 213 BC. The Dioscuri type has no parallels in the struck bronze coinage, but as the new coinage was just being introduced from 213 BC onwards it probably was thought best to use Dioscuri on all possible denominations, not just the silver” - Andrew McCabe

321. CA Series Ӕ Triens. Canusium, 209-208 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva to right; •••• (mark of value) above, CA below / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, CA before, •••• (mark of value) below. Crawford 100/3; Sydenham 309c; RBW 450. 4.87g, 21mm, 3h. Extremely Fine; slight die shift, traces of overstriking.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 236, 4 September 2022, lot 387. “All RRC 100/3 trientes are overstrikes as far as we are aware” - Andrew McCabe

Ex Titano 47, 1991

322. MT Series AR Victoriatus. Luceria(?), 211-210 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter to right / Victory standing to right, crowning trophy; MT (ligate) in lower right field. Crawford 103/1c; BMCRR Italy 232; RSC 36i; RBW 463. 2.31g, 16mm, 2h. Very Fine. Very Rare.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Asta del Titano, Auction 10, 24 February 2002, lot 106 (hammer: EUR 460); Ex Aes Rude - Asta Internazionale del Titano (San Marino), Auction 47, 30 November 1991, lot 78. “Very rare victoriatus issue whose obverse style relates it to the main mint of Luceria where it was probably struck” - Andrew McCabe

118

Extremely Rare

323. B Series AR Denarius. Central Italy, 211-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; B and ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 104/1a; BMCRR Italy p. 192; RSC 32; RBW 468. 4.30g, 19mm, 3h. Extremely Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare; seemingly only five other examples on CoinArchives.

1,200

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Privately purchased from Numismática Indalo.

324. Wreath Series AR Denarius. Uncertain mint, 211-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right, X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; wreath above, ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 110/1a; Sydenham 278; RSC 20mm; RBW 500. 4.20g, 18mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful light cabinet tone with golden iridescent highlights.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Raffaele Negrini, Auction 42, 17 March 2017, lot 55; Ex Nomisma S.p.a., Auction 35, 17 October 2007, lot 48; Ex Asta del Titano, 23 September 2001, lot 117.

325. Knife Series AR Victoriatus. Rome, 206-195 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter to right / Victory standing to right, crowning trophy with wreath; knife between, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 120/1; BMCRR Rome 475; RSC 24j; RBW 547. 3.00g, 16mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Privately purchased from Charles Hersh, January 1991.

Ex SNC, March 1997

326. P. Maenius AR Denarius. Rome, 194-190 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; P•MAE (partially ligate) below, ROMA in partial tablet in exergue. Crawford 138/1; BMCRR Rome 988; RSC Maenia 1; RBW 616. 4.03g, 21mm, 4h. Good Extremely Fine; attractive iridescent tone. Scarce.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Forestier, Auction 2, 6 July 2020, lot 171; Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, March 1997, lot 718.

119

327. Sextus Quinctilius AR Denarius. Rome, 189-180 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind, curl of hair on left shoulder / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; SX•Q below, ROMA in partial tablet in exergue. Crawford 152/1b; BMCRR Italy 416; RSC Quinctilia 1; RBW 679. 3.35g, 20mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Rare, and among the finer known examples.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex RBW Collection; Privately purchased from Numismatic Fine Arts, February 1991.

Only Five Others on CoinArchives

328. L. Furius Purpurio AR Denarius. Rome, 179-170 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; PVR (ligate) below, ROMA in partial tablet in exergue. Crawford 155/1; BMCRR Italy 384-5; RSC Furia 7; RBW 683. 4.00g, 19mm, 8h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly only five other examples on CoinArchives.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Privately purchased from Spink, January 1981.

329. Furius Purpurio Ӕ As. Rome, 169-158 BC. Laureate head of Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; PVR (partially ligate) above, I before, ROMA below. Crawford 187/2; Sydenham 359; RBW 798. 33.96g, 32mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; attractive green patina.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Casa d’Aste Thesaurus s.r.l., Auction 15, 8 November 2019, lot 167.

330. Papirius Turdus Æ Quadrans. Rome, 169-158 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing lion’s skin headdress; ••• (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; TVRD above, ••• (mark of value) before, ROMA below. Crawford 193/4; Sydenham 366c; BMCRR Rome 803; RBW 829. 6.12g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l., Auction 1E, 19 September 2009, lot 10111.

120

No Others on CoinArchives

331. Anchor Series Æ Uncia. Rome, 169-158 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; • (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; • (mark of value) above, anchor before, ROMA below. Crawford 194/6; Sydenham 238e; RBW 836 (this coin). 4.40g, 18mm, 9h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; no others on CoinArchives.

450

This coin published in Roberto Russo ‘The RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins’ (NAC, 2013); From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 61, 5 October 2011, lot 832. “This issue is noted for having the value mark above rather than before the prow, a design choice due the vertical nature of the anchor which needed to go before the prow” - Andrew McCabe.

332. C. Terentius Lucanus AR Denarius. Rome, 147 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) and Victory behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; C•TER•LVC below, ROMA in linear frame in exergue. Crawford 217/1; BMCRR Rome 775; RSC Terentia 10; RBW 932. 3.72g, 20mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Graham Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 138, 18 May 2023, lot 397; Privately purchased from Seaby, 27th December 1972.

Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein 25, 1990

333. M. Aurelius Cotta AR Denarius. Rome, 139 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; COTA below chin, X (mark of value) behind / Hercules, holding club and reins, driving galloping biga of centaurs to right, the centaurs each carrying a branch; M•AVRELI below, ROMA in linear frame in exergue. Crawford 229/1a; BMCRR Rome 914; RSC Aurelia 16; RBW 959. 3.80g, 20mm, 7h. Good Very Fine; attractive iridescent toning.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein, Auction 25, 19 September 1990, lot 298.

334. L. Minucius Æ Quadrans. Rome, 133 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing lion’s skin headdress; ••• (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; [L]•MINVCI above, ••• (mark of value) before and ROMA below. Crawford 248/4; Sydenham 471b; RBW 1022. 4.57g, 20mm, 3h. Good Very Fine.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l., Auction XXI, 5 September 2008, lot 392.

121

335. M. Aburius M. f. Geminus AR Denarius. Rome, 132 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; GEM behind, mark of value below chin / Sol driving galloping quadriga to right; M•ABVRI (partially ligate) below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 250/1; BMCRR Rome 995-7; RSC Aburia 6. 3.89g, 20mm, 1h. Near Mint State; attractive iridescent tone.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Poinssot Collection (assembled 1879-1967), Tauler & Fau, Auction 95, 2 November 2021, lot 11.

Very Rare - Not in Crawford

336. Anonymous Æ Triens. Rome, 135-125 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva to right; •••• (mark of value) behind / Prow of galley to right; •••• (mark of value) above, ROMA below. Crawford -, but cf. 272; McCabe L1.Tr.1; Sydenham -; RBW 1091. 6.32g, 21mm, 9h. Very Fine. Very Rare; not in Crawford but related to RRC 272.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Privately purchased from Artful Colorado.

337. P. Porcius Laeca AR Denarius. Rome, circa 110-109. Helmeted head of Roma to right; ROMA above, P•LAECA behind, X (mark of value) below chin / Male figure in military dress standing to left, with right hand raised; togate male figure standing to left, attendant standing to right, holding rods; PROVOCO in exergue. Crawford 301/1; BMCRR Italy 649; RSC Porcia 4. 3.48g, 18mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine; exceptional for the type, attractive light iridescent tone with an underlying lustre. From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Poinssot Collection (assembled 1879-1967), Tauler & Fau, Auction 95, 2 November 2021, lot 178.

122

390

Ex Kunst & Münzen 13, 1974

338. M. Herennius AR Denarius. Rome, 108-107 BC. Head of Pietas to right, wearing stephane; PIETAS downwards behind / Amphinomus running to right, carrying his father; M•HERENNI downwards behind, •E almost horizontally before. Crawford 308/1b; BMCRR Rome 1238 var. (vertical control letter); RSC Herennia 1a. 4.00g, 20mm, 11h. Extremely Fine.

120

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Fred Shore, Fixed Price List 97, 2000, no. 43; Ex Kunst & Münzen, Auction 13, 5 December 1974, lot 211.

A Bold and Innovative Reverse

339. A. Manlius Q. f. Sergianus AR Denarius. Rome, 118-107 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; SER behind, ROMA before / Sol in facing quadriga rising from the waves of the sea; X and crescent across upper fields, stars flanking, A•MANLI•Q•F (partially ligate) below. Crawford 309/1; BMCRR Italy 509; RSC Manlia 1. 3.79g, 22mm, 3h. Very Fine; a well-centred strike from unworn dies, unusual for this issue which is typically struck from badly broken dies. Rare.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Dix Noonan Webb, Auction 177, 3 June 2020, lot 447. This bold and innovative reverse design uses the device of Helios in quadriga as an allusion to the East to recall the memory of the moneyer’s ancestor Cn. Manlius Vulso who led a victorious campaign against the Galatians in Asia Minor, concluded a treaty with Antiochos III of the Seleucid Empire, and returned to Rome laden with treasure. Manlius’ campaign was apparently widely regarded in the Senate as a wanton expedition for the gaining of plunder, and Florus reports that his request for a triumph was rejected, though Livy, who is greatly critical of Manlius’ actions, nonetheless describes a triumphal procession in elaborate detail, including its captives, wagon loads of booty and even the celebratory songs of the soldiery.

Extremely Rare

340. C. Malleolus Æ As. Rome, 96 BC. Laureate head of Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; [mallet] above, [I] (mark of value) before, ROMA below. Crawford 335/4; Sydenham 616; RBW 1206; BM 1864,0718.1 (same dies). 30.21g, 32mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly only four examples on CoinArchives. From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l., Auction LIV, 7 November 2020, lot 202.

123

Of the Greatest Rarity

341. L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi AR Denarius. Rome, 90 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to left; Γ (control mark) before / Horseman riding to right, carrying whip; lizard above, L•PISO FRVGI ROMA in exergue. Crawford 340/1; Sydenham 659; RSC Calpurnia 12c; RBW 1253 (this coin). 3.87g, 19mm, 7h. Good Very Fine. Of the greatest rarity.

1,200

This coin published in Roberto Russo ‘The RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins’ (NAC, 2013); From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 63, 17 May 2012, lot 29. “The head left variety of L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi is of the highest rarity. Four examples are known of the type with the horseman holding a whip (this type), and nine are known of the horseman holding palm branch. Roberto Russo in NAC 54 (2010), lot 200 wrote a comprehensive note to these types, listing each of the 13 known specimens. In a conversation with Roberto Russo, he explained that in his view the head left varieties, which are all of fine style and have the complete legend ROMA, are the earliest varieties of the L. Piso Frugi issue. The symbol on this coin is a lizard and Russo cites four examples: 1) Haeberlin 1308, ex. Coll. Fontana, Paris 1860 n. 84; 2) Haeberlin 1309 sold by Leo Hamburger; 3) FFC 344, 4) Private collection (this coin), all from the same pair of dies. Highly important; no known examples in any museum collection” - Andrew McCabe

A View of the Harbour of Ostia

342. C. Censorinus Æ As. Rome, 88 BC. NV[MA P]OMPILI (clockwise) ANCVS MARCI (counterclockwise), jugate heads of Numa Pompilius, bearded, and Ancus Marcius to right / Two arches, through which can be seen statue of Victory on column to left and prow with crescent above to right; [C•CENS]O above, [ROMA] below. Crawford 346/3; Sydenham 716; RBW 1320. 12.58g, 28mm, 10h. Good Very Fine; attractive brown patina.

180

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Privately purchased from London Ancient Coins. “This coin undoubtedly shows a view of the harbour of Ostia which was founded in the 7th century BC during the reign of Ancus Marcius, depicted on the obverse. The strike and flan are typical; the coin has had little actual wear as can be seen from the obverse lettering” - Andrew McCabe

Extremely Rare

343. L. Cornelius Sulla Æ As. Military mint moving with Sulla, 82 BC. Laureate head of Janus; I (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; [L S] VL[A] (partially ligate) above, IMPE below. Crawford 368/1; Sydenham 767; RBW 1388. 20.00g, 33mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; superb for the type. Extremely Rare.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Privately purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica AG. “An extremely rare type, this is the last prow bronze of the Roman Republic issued by Sulla which is inevitably badly struck and few of the known examples have surfaces as good as this coin. Important in the history of Roman Republican Numismatics, and also the only prow bronze type to feature an Imperator’s name and title” - Andrew McCabe

124

344. M. Volteius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 78 BC. Head of Bacchus to right, wearing ivy wreath / Ceres driving biga of serpents to right, holding torch in each hand; strigil behind, M•VOLTEI•M•F in exergue. Crawford 385/3; BMCRR Rome -, but cf. 3160-78; RSC Volteia 3. 4.00g, 19mm, 4h. Good Extremely Fine.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A., Auction 112, 17 March 2012, lot 228.

A Superb Example

345. P. Satrienus AR Denarius. Rome, 77 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; ⊥XXXXII (control numeral) behind / She-wolf standing to left; ROMA above, P•SATRIENVS in two lines in exergue. Crawford 388/1b; BMCRR Rome -; RSC Satriena 1. 3.85g, 18mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Privately purchased from Barry Murphy in 2014; Ex Southern California Collection, with 1970s Joel Malter ticket priced at $26.

346. L. Farsuleius Mensor AR Denarius. Rome, 75 BC. Diademed and draped bust of Libertas to right; MENSOR upwards before, S•C and pileus behind / Roma standing facing in biga to right, holding reins and spear, assisting togate figure to mount into the chariot; XII below horses, L•FARSVLEI in exergue. Crawford 392/1b; BMCRR Rome 3293ff.; RSC Farsuleia 2. 3.94g, 20mm, 5h. Extremely Fine.

240

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Dr. Erik Miller Collection (active 1960s-1970s), Spink, Auction 19004, 27 March 2019, lot 215.

347. Cn. Lentulus AR Denarius. Uncertain Spanish mint, 76-75 BC. Diademed and draped bust of Genius Populi Romani to right, holding sceptre over shoulder; G•P•R above / Sceptre with wreath, globe and rudder; EX• S•C across fields, CN•LEN•Q in exergue. Crawford 393/1a; BMCRR Spain 52; RSC Cornelia 54. 3.96g, 19mm, 6h. Near Mint State.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 100, 29 May 2017, lot 290.

125

348. M. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus AR Denarius. Rome, 69 BC. Bust of Ceres to right, hair gathered in net; cricket behind / Winged caduceus; M•PLAETORI downwards to right; CEST•EX•S•C• downwards to left. Crawford 405/3b; BMCRR Rome 3547 (symbol described as fly); RSC Plaetoria 6. 3.85g, 18mm, 3h. Extremely Fine; minor hairlines in obv. field, attractive light cabinet tone over lustrous metal.

450

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 228, 9 March 2015, lot 418; Ex Varesi, June 1994 (as per RRDP).

349. Q. Pompeius Rufus AR Denarius. Rome, 54 BC. Curule chair flanked by arrow and laurel-branch; Q•POMPEI•Q•F RVFVS in two lines above, COS on raised tablet below / Curule chair flanked by lituus and a wreath; SVLLA•COS above, Q•POMPEI•RVF on raised tablet below. Crawford 434/2; BMCRR Rome 3885; RSC Pompeia 5. 4.09g, 18mm, 1h. Near Mint State.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Osenat Fontainebleu, 25 October 2015, lot 80.

350. Servius Sulpicius AR Denarius. Rome, 51 BC. Laureate male head to right; SER• behind, SVLP before / Naval trophy, naked and bound captive standing on right, draped figure standing on left. Crawford 438/1; BMCRR Rome 3907; RSC Sulpicia 8. 4.03g, 19mm, 11h. Good Very Fine; small scratch on obv., attractive light cabinet tone with hints of golden iridescence. Rare.

600

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Raffaele Negrini, Auction 42, 17 March 2017, lot 419; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction Q, 6 April 2006, lot 1550 (hammer: CHF 1700). The reverse type may celebrate the achievements of P. Sulpicius Galba Maximus who was proconsul in Greece during the war against Philip of Macedon in 209-8 BC. He was responsible for leading the Roman fleet into the Aegean sea and capturing Aegina; hence the naval trophy would refer to the destruction of the enemy fleet, and the prisoner to those captured during the battle (cf. Livy XXVII, 5-6).

Ex Bank Leu Retail, 1977

351. Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar, 49-48 BC. Elephant advancing to right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis (surmounted by wolf’s head) and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; BMCRR Gaul 27; RSC 49. 3.96g, 20mm, 10h. Good Extremely Fine; banker’s mark and two hairlines on obv., lustrous metal with golden iridescent highlights. From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl Collection, Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 8, 23 October 2021, lot 276; Privately purchased from Bank Leu AG on 11 March 1977, copy of the original Bank Leu receipt included.

126

900

Ex Malloy FPL, 1975

352. L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus AR Denarius. Asia, 49 BC. Head of Jupiter to right / Cult statue of Ephesian Artemis with hands extended, ornamented with fillet hanging; L•LENTVLVS downwards to right, MAR COS (partially ligate) upwards to left. Crawford 445/3b; CRI 6; BMCRR East 23; RSC Cornelia 66. 3.78g, 20mm, 12h. Very Fine. Very Rare.

600

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex RBW Collection; Ex William M. Rudman, Baldwin’s Auctions Ltd and M&M Numismatics Ltd, The New York Sale III, 7 December 2000, lot 522; Ex A.G. Malloy, Fixed Price List 38, September 1975, lot 23.

353. M. Porcius Cato AR Denarius. Utica, 47-46 BC. Draped female bust to right; M•CATO•PRO•PR before, ROMA (partially ligate) behind / Victory seated to right, holding patera; VICTRIX in exergue. Crawford 462/1a; CRI 46a; BMCRR Africa 15; RSC Porcia 9. 3.86g, 18mm, 9h. Extremely Fine.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Raffaele Negrini, Auction 42, 17 March 2017, lot 373; Ex Nomisma S.p.a., Auction 34, 28 April 2007, lot 218; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 114, 4 March 2002, lot 193.

354. T. Carisius AR Sestertius. Rome, 46 BC. Head of Diana to right, with bow and quiver over shoulder / Hound running to right; T CAR above. Crawford 464/8a; CRI 76; BMCRR Rome 4077-9; RSC Carisia 7. 0.74g, 10mm, 12h. Near Very Fine. Rare.

150

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Scott Rottinghaus Collection; Ex Jim Seaver Collection, Morton & Eden, Auction 57, 3 July 2012, lot 262 (part of).

355. C. Considius Paetus AR Denarius. Rome, 46 BC. Helmeted bust of Minerva to right, wearing aegis / Victory driving quadriga to right, holding reins, palm and wreath; C•CONSIDI in exergue. Crawford 465/5; CRI 79; BMCRR Rome 4091; RSC Considia 5. 3.87g, 19mm, 9h. Extremely Fine; an unusually well struck example, difficult to find for this type. From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 92 Part 2, 24 May 2016, lot 1893.

127

180

Celebrating Caesar’s Fifth Consulship

356. Julius Caesar AV Aureus. Rome, January 44 BC. Diademed head of Venus to right; CAES DIC upwards to left, QVAR downwards to right / COS QVINC within wreath. Crawford 481/1; CRI 117; BMCRR Rome 4129-30; Calicó 42. 8.04g, 21mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine; surface marks. Rare.

3,000

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex ArtCoinsRoma, Auction 1, 15 September 2010, lot 164. “A very typical strike on this aureus, all which come on large flans and typically with a slight weakness at the centre of the reverse due the high profile obverse” - Andrew McCabe. Sear describes this as a special issue celebrating Caesar’s fifth consulship on 1 January 44 BC, as indicated on the reverse (COS QVINC), which was presumably ‘intended for distribution to notables at the time of the consular ceremonies’ (CRI, p. 80). The obverse also records Caesar’s fourth dictatorship (CAES DIC), a title which otherwise only appears on the Caesar portrait denarii by the moneyer M. Mettius (CRI 98-9). This issue is unusual as it is does not bear the name of a moneyer unlike Caesar’s earlier gold issues struck at the mint of Rome (CRI 56 and 60-1).

357. Marc Antony AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Antony in Greece, 42 BC. M•ANTONI IMP, bare head to right / III VIR R•P•C, facing head of Sol on disk within distyle temple. Crawford 496/1; CRI 128; BMCRR Gaul 60-1; RSC 12. 3.93g, 18mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine.

600

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Nomisma S.p.a., Auction 32, 13 May 2006, lot 129.

358. C. Cassius Longinus AR Denarius. Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in Sardis(?), 42 BC. M. Servilius, legatus. Laureate head of Libertas to right; C•CASSEI•IM upwards to left / Crab holding aplustre in its claws; below, rose and untied diadem; M•SERVILIVS upwards to left, LEG upwards to right. Crawford 505/3; CRI 226; BMCRR East 84; RSC Cassia 19. 3.44g, 17mm, 6h. Near Very Fine. Extremely Rare.

600

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex iNumis, Mail Bid Sale 8, 20 March 2009, lot 158.

359. Octavian, Divus Julius Caesar and Agrippa AR Denarius. Military mint traveling with Agrippa in Gaul or Octavian in Italy, 38 BC. Laureate head of Divus Julius Caesar to right, facing bare head of Octavian to left; DIVOS•IVLIVS upwards to left, DIVI•F downwards to right / M•AGRIPPA COS DESIG in two lines. Crawford 534/2; CRI 306; BMCRR Gaul 100; RSC 5. 3.91g, 19mm, 3h. Near Very Fine; banker’s marks to obv., attractive deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 153, 14 March 2009, lot 8565.

128

300

Ex Glendinings, 1969

360. Octavian and Agrippa AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Agrippa in Gaul or with Octavian in Italy, 38 BC. Bare head of Octavian to right, with slight beard; IMP•CAESAR upwards to left, DIVI•IVLI•F downwards to right / M•AGRIPPA•COS DESIG in two lines. Crawford 534/3; CRI 307; BMCRR Gaul 103; RSC 545. 3.87g, 18mm, 5h. Very Fine.

300

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Auctiones GmbH, Auction 3, 4 December 1973, lot 347; Ex Glendinings, 11 March 1969, lot 55.

Ex Ponterio 49, 1991

361. Marc Antony AR Denarius. Antioch or military mint travelling with Canidius Crassus in Armenia, 37 BC. ANTONIVS•AVGVR•COS•DES•ITER• ET•TERT, bare head to right / IMP•TERTIO•III•VIR•R•P•C, Armenian crown, decorated with three stars over crossed bow and arrow. Crawford 539/1; CRI 297; BMCRR East 172; RSC 195. 3.56g, 22mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1,500

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included; Ex Andy Haviland Collection, Gemini, Auction X, 13 January 2013, lot 433; Ex Garth R. Drewry Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Mail Bid Sale 67, 22 September 2004, lot 1219; Ex Ponterio, Auction 49, 13 June 1991, lot 2139. Sear suggests that this type marks the successful invasion of Armenia in 37 BC by Antony’s general Canidius Crassus, which was undertaken as a prelude to the Triumvir’s attack on Parthia in the following year. This issue has a celebratory nature that was ultimately to be dashed by Artavasdes’ betrayal of the Romans at a most critical juncture, resulting in a disastrous defeat for Marc Antony. Sear also comments that the fine style of the engraving tends to suggest that this issue was struck by Antony at his headquarters in Antioch, rather than by a military mint travelling with Canidius Crassus in Armenia.

362. Marc Antony and M. Junius Silanus AR Denarius. Athens, 32 BC. ANTON•AVG•IMP•III•COS•DES•III•III•V•R•P•C•, bare head of Mark Antony to right; small P (die engraver’s signature) in hair behind ear / M•SILANVS•AVG Q•PRO•COS in two lines. Crawford 542/1; CRI 346; BMCRR East 175; RSC Antonia 71. 3.87g, 18mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone over lustrous metal.

450

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s tickets included; Ex Editions V. Gadoury, Auction 2013, 30 November 2013, lot 39. The small P on the obverse of this coin represents the only example of an artist engraving his initials on a Roman Republican coin. This fact went unnoticed for centuries, until it was first pointed out in a Santamaria sales catalogue in 1920.

129

COINS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

363. Anonymous AR Didrachm. Rome, 269-266 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing taenia, with club and lion-skin over shoulder / She-wolf standing to right, head to left, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; ROMANO in exergue. Crawford 20/1; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 28; RSC 8. 7.10g, 22mm, 9h. Extremely Fine; well-centred, beautiful light cabinet tone with hints of golden iridescence.

3,600

Acquired from Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions. While Pliny writes “the Roman people did not even use silver coin before the defeat of Pyrrhus” which took place in 275 BC, modern scholars can scarcely hope to be as categorical as the ancient author (NH xxxiii, 42). It is clear, however, that the silver didrachm emerged at some point during the early 3rd century BC, weighing around 6.8g or six scruples, consistent with the weight of a south Italian Greek didrachm. Thomsen suggested that this Hercules / Wolf type can be conclusively dated to 269 BC, since the type alludes to the consuls of that year, C. Fabius Pictor, of whom Hercules was the patron, and Q. Ogulnius L. f. Q. n. Gallus, whose ancestors Gnaeus and Quintus Ogulnius had as curule aediles used fines collected from violators of usury laws to erect a statue of the she-wolf in 296 BC (ERC III, p. 120). Mitchell, however, assigns the date of this issue much earlier, to the date of the statue’s erection, and argues that the legend ROMANO, which appears on four early didrachms, indicates that this coinage was struck outside Rome, as opposed to the later didrachms which bear the legend ROMA (‘A New Chronology for the Romano-Campanian Coins’, NC 1966, pp.66-7). Mattingly had suggested earlier that the latter legend “might seem to indicate the sovereignty of Rome more explicitly” (‘The Various Styles of the Roman Republican Coinage’, NC 1949, p.63.). Crawford meanwhile believes that although basing the date upon the family histories of the consuls is misconceived, since he argues that it was in fact the censors who were responsible for issues of the didrachm (RRC p.714), he nonetheless also dates it to 269 BC noting that of the four issues of silver didrachms it is the first to bear distinctly Roman imagery. He suggests the portrait of Hercules may be that of Hercules Victor, which would be “highly suitable for a coinage struck from the spoils of war and perhaps reflecting the Roman ideology of military prowess” after the victory against Pyrrhus (RRC p.714). Following the sporadic didrachm issues, the so-called Quadrigati emerged in the latter half of the 3rd century and were eventually issued in large quantities throughout the Punic Wars. At some point circa 214-212 the denomination was replaced by the denarius, a shift that would prove decisive and would dominate Roman coinage for centuries to come. Nevertheless, the wolf type, which is rendered for the first time so masterfully on this early didrachm, would endure as an iconic and patriotic symbol of Rome on coinage well into the imperial period and beyond, eventually achieving a satisfying historical circularity when it was employed on the municipal coinage of Rome under the Ostrogoths for what was to be the last issue of coinage struck by the ancient Romans in their own name.

364. Anonymous Æ Sextans. Semilibral standard. Rome, 217-215 BC. Head of Mercury to right, wearing winged petasos; •• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, •• (mark of value) below. Crawford 38/5; McCabe Group AA; Sydenham 85; BMCRR Rome 59; RBW 96-7. 27.16g, 30mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; pleasant old ‘Tiber’ tone.

240

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 374, 23 April 2003, lot 246.

130

365. Anonymous Æ Quadrans. Semilibral standard. Rome, 217-215 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing boar-skin; ••• (mark of value) behind / Bull charging to right, snake below; ••• (mark of value) above, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 39/2; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 116; RBW 106. 37.40g, 37mm, 2h. Good Very Fine.

300

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 879.

366. Anonymous Æ Triens. Rome, 215-212 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva to right; •••• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, •••• (mark of value) below. Crawford 41/7b; Sydenham 105; BMCRR Rome 44; RBW 126. 16.83g, 30mm, 11h. Good Very Fine.

150

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 887.

367. Anonymous Æ Triens. Rome, after 211 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva to right; •••• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, •••• (mark of value) below. Crawford 56/4; Sydenham 143b; BMCRR Rome 245; RBW 205. 7.32g, 23mm, 3h. Good Very Fine.

120

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 897.

368. Anonymous Æ Quadrans. Rome, after 211 BC. Head of Hercules to right, wearing lion skin; ••• (mark of value) to left / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, ••• (mark of value) below. Crawford 56/5; Sydenham 143c; BMCRR Rome 255; RBW 209. 4.15g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

120

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 904.

131

369. Anonymous Æ Sextans. Rome, after 211 BC. Head of Mercury to right; •• (mark of value) above / Prow of galley to right; ROMA above, •• (mark of value) below. Crawford 56/6; BMCRR Rome 263; RBW 212. 2.61g, 16mm, 3h. Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 906.

370. Anonymous AR Serrate Denarius. Mint in Sicily, 209-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; wheel of six spokes below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 79/1; BMCRR Italy 308; RSC 20kk. 4.38g, 20mm, 7h. Near Mint State; lightly toned and lustrous.

210

Acquired from cgb.fr.

371. Spearhead series AR Denarius. South east Italian mint, 209 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; spearhead below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 88/2b; BMCRR Rome 318-19; RSC 20aa. 4.09g, 20mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone.

300

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXV, 22 September 2022, lot 824.

372. Pentagram Series AR Denarius. Uncertain mint, 206-200 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; pentagram below, ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 129/1; BMCRR Italy 293; RSC 20w. 3.32g, 18mm, 4h. Extremely Fine; attractive hints of iridescence around rev. devices. Scarce.

300

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXV, 23 September 2022, lot 835.

373. Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 179-170 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; X (mark of value) behind / Diana, wearing crescent, driving biga to right; feather below, ROMA in linear frame below. Crawford 163/1; Sydenham 325; BMCRR Italy 394; RSC 22a. 3.42g, 19mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare, and very well preserved for the type.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXV, 22 September 2022, 841.

132

374. L. Sempronius Pitio AR Denarius. Rome, 148 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; PITIO downwards behind, X (mark of value) below chin / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; L•SEMP (partially ligate) below, ROMA within linear frame in exergue. Crawford 216/1; BMCRR Rome 711-5; RSC Sempronia 2. 3.98g, 20mm, 7h. Near Mint State; golden highlights around devices on obv.

150

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 69, 16 April 2020, lot 757.

375. Cn. Lucretius Trio AR Denarius. Rome, 136 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; TRIO downwards behind, X (mark of value) beneath chin / The Dioscuri riding to right, each holding spear; CN•LVCR below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 237/1a; BMCRR Rome 929; RSC Lucretia 1. 3.94g, 18mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

120

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique.

Ex Hirsch 284, 2012

376. C. Servilius M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 136 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; wreath and mark of value behind, ROMA below / The Dioscuri galloping in opposite directions, heads reverted, holding spears; two stars above, C•SERVEILI• M•F in exergue. Crawford 239/1; BMCRR Italy 540; RSC Servilia 1. 3.75g, 20mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

180

Ex American collection of Roman Republican and Imperatorial coins; Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger, Auction 284, 26 September 2012, lot 2609.

377. M. Marcius Mn. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 134 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; modius behind, mark of value below chin / Victory driving biga to right, holding whip and reins; M MARC ROMA (partially ligate) in two lines divided by two stalks of grain below. Crawford 245/1; Sydenham 500; BMCRR Rome 1008; RSC Marcia 8. 3.88g, 20mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine; attractive deep old cabinet tone with vivid iridescent highlights.

300

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 409; Ex Spink & Son Ltd, Auction 19004, 27 March 2019, lot 166.

378. M. Aburius M. f. Geminus AR Denarius. Rome, 132 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; GEM behind, mark of value below chin / Sol driving galloping quadriga to right; M•ABVRI (partially ligate) below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 250/1; BMCRR Rome 995-7; RSC Aburia 6. 4.03g, 20mm, 4h. Mint State; lustrous.

120

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 69, 16 April 2020, lot 767.

133

379. L. Memmius Galeria AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 106 BC. Laureate bust of Saturn to left; ROMA and harpa behind / Venus driving biga to right; Cupid flying to left with laurel wreath above, E• (control mark) below horses, L•MEMMI GAL in two lines in exergue. Crawford 313/1c; RSC Memmia 2a. 3.81g, 19mm, 5h. Extremely Fine; lustrous metal, with a light cabinet tone.

180

Ex Auktionshaus Felzmann, Auction 171, 16 March 2021, lot 565.

380. Q. Minucius Thermus M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 103 BC. Helmeted head of Mars to left / Two warriors in combat, one on left protecting fallen comrade; Q•THERM•MF (ligate) in exergue. Crawford 319/1; BMCRR Italy 653; RSC Minucia 19; RBW 1174. 3.50g, 19mm, 2h. Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

360

Ex American collection of Roman Republican and Imperatorial coins; Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 369, 31 October 2001, lot 314. This coin records the brave deeds of the moneyer’s ancestor and namesake, Quintus Minucius Q. f. L. n. Thermus, who was elected consul in 193 and assigned Liguria as his province. From his base in Pisa, he waged war against the Ligurians. His command was extended for the following year, during which time he defeated the Ligurian forces near Pisa. He remained as proconsul in Liguria for 191-190. During this time it appears that he may have won the distinction of the corona civica, the second highest military award to which a Roman could aspire, by saving the life of a fellow citizen in battle through slaying an enemy on a spot not further held by the enemy army that day - this act being depicted on the reverse. He may also have been the same Thermus who served as military tribune under Scipio in North Africa in 202 BC. Appian relates that about this time there was a cavalry engagement between the forces of Hannibal and those of Scipio near Zama, in which the latter had the advantage. On the succeeding days they had sundry skirmishes until Scipio, learning that Hannibal was very short of supplies and was expecting a convoy, sent the military tribune, [Quintus Minucius] Thermus, by night to attack the supply train. Thermus took a position on the crest of a hill at a narrow pass, where he killed 4,000 Africans, took as many more prisoners, and brought the supplies to Scipio.

381. Q. Minucius Thermus M. f. AR Denarius. Rome, 103 BC. Helmeted head of Mars to left / Two warriors in combat, one on left protecting fallen comrade; Q•THERM•MF (partially ligate) in exergue. Crawford 319/1; BMCRR Italy 653; RSC Minucia 19; RBW 1174. 3.90g, 17mm, 3h. Extremely Fine; attractive old cabinet tone.

120

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique.

382. D. Junius L. f. Silanus AR Denarius. Rome, 91 BC. Diademed bust of Salus to right; SALVS below, A (control letter) below chin, all within torque / Victory driving biga to right; ROMA below, D•SILANVS•L•F in exergue. Crawford 337/2c; BMCRR Rome 1842; RSC Junia 18a. 3.80g, 19mm, 12h. Near Mint State; beautiful old cabinet tone.

150

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

134

383. GAR OGVL VER Series AR Denarius. Rome, 86 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right; [thunderbolt below] / Jupiter driving galloping quadriga to right, hurling thunderbolt. Crawford 350A/2; BMCRR Rome 2622-2624; RSC 226. 3.69g, 20mm, 8h. Near Extremely Fine; light cabinet tone with golden iridescence over lustrous metal.

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique.

384. L. Censorinus AR Denarius. Rome, 82 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Marsyas walking to left, raising hand and holding wineskin over shoulder; column to right, surmounted by statue of Victory, L•CENSOR downwards to left. Crawford 363/1d; Sydenham 737; BMCRR Rome 2657-9; RSC Marcia 24. 3.90g, 18mm, 5h. Near Extremely Fine; deep old cabinet tone.

180

Privately acquired from Maison Platt (with original dealer’s ticket).

385. L. Censorinus AR Denarius. Rome, 82 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / Marsyas walking to left, raising hand and holding wineskin over shoulder; column to right, surmounted by statue of Victory, L•CENSOR downwards to left. Crawford 363/1d; Sydenham 737; BMCRR Rome 2657-9; RSC Marcia 24. 4.10g, 18mm, 3h. Mint State; golden highlights on rev.

386. A. Postumius A. f. Sp. n. Albinus AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 81 BC. Head of Hispania to right, wearing veil; HISPAN behind / Togate figure standing to left, raising hand; legionary eagle to left, fasces with axe to right; A ALBIN N•S across fields, POST•A•F in exergue. Crawford 372/2; BMCRR Rome 2839-42; RSC Postumia 8. 3.77g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

180

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), processed clippings, 372-2_01_sd, available online at: http:// numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.processed_300-399#schaefer_clippings_output_372-2_01_sd; Ex Laurens Schulman B.v., Auction 26, 19 November 2001, lot 2389.

387. L. Procilius AR Denarius. Rome, 80 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter to right; S•C downwards behind / Juno Sospita advancing to right, hurling spear and holding shield decorated with thunderbolt; serpent to right, L•PROCILI•F downwards in two lines to left. Crawford 379/1; BMCRR Rome 3147-9; RSC Procilia 1. 3.77g, 18mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine.

210

Ex Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A., Auction 147, 4 June 2021, lot 344.

135

388. C. Naevius Balbus AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 79 BC. Diademed bust of Venus to right; S•C behind / Victory in triga to right; CCVIII (control numeral) above, C•NAE•BALB (partially ligate) in exergue. Crawford 382/1b; BMCRR Rome 2973 (listed as Juno); RSC Naevia 6. 4.19g, 18mm, 11h. Good Extremely Fine.

120

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), processed clippings, 382_28_od, available online at: http:// numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.processed_300-399#schaefer_clippings_output_382_28_od; Ex A. Tkalec AG, 7 May 2009, lot 101.

389. L. Papius AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 79 BC. Head of Juno Sospita to right, wearing goat skin headdress; aplustre (control symbol) behind / Griffin springing to right; prow (control symbol) below, L•PAPI in exergue. Crawford 384/1; BMCRR Rome 2981; RSC Papia 1. 3.78g, 20mm, 5h. Good Very Fine; lustrous.

180

Ex Cayón Numismática, E-Auction 80, 28 February 2022, lot 30492; Collector’s note: Spink 1994.

390. L. Cassius Q. f. Longinus AR Denarius. Rome, 78 BC. Head of Liber (or Bacchus) to right, wearing ivy wreath; thyrsus over shoulder / Head of Liber to left, wearing vine wreath; L•CASSI•Q•F upwards behind. Crawford 386/1; BMCRR Rome 3152-3; RSC Cassia 6. 3.91g, 18mm, 9h. Good Extremely Fine.

210

Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 319: The Alba Longa Collection vol. 1, 7 November 2018, lot 226.

391. P. Satrienus AR Denarius. Rome, 77 BC. Helmeted head of Roma to right; VI (control numeral) behind / She-wolf standing to left; ROMA above, P•SATRIENVS in two lines in exergue. Crawford 388/1b; BMCRR Rome 3209ff. var. (control numeral); RSC Satriena 1; BM 2002,0102.3659 = Ghey, Leins & Crawford, 388.1.36 (same dies). 3.86g, 18mm, 7h. 180

Near Mint State. Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 246, 27 September 2012, lot 94.

392. L. Lucretius Trio AR Denarius. Rome, 76 BC. Laureate head of Neptune to right, with trident at shoulder; ꓕXIX (control numeral) behind / Infant Genius riding dolphin to right; L•LVCRETI TRIO in two lines below. Crawford 390/2; BMCRR Rome 3267; RSC Lucretia 3. 4.10g, 19mm, 3h. Near Extremely Fine; deep old cabinet tone with hints of blue iridescence around devices. This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), processed clippings, 390-2_08_od, available online at: http:// numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.processed_300-399#schaefer_clippings_output_390-2_08_od; Ex iNumis, Mail Bid Sale 17, 23 March 2012, lot 123 (with original ticket).

136

180

393. C. Egnatius Cn. F. Cn. N. Maxsumus AR Denarius. Rome, 76 BC. Winged bust of Cupid to right, with bow and quiver over shoulder; MAXSVMVS downwards behind / Distyle temple with figures of Jupiter and Libertas standing facing within; C•EGNATIVS•CN•F below, CN•N upwards to right, [control numeral] downwards to left. Crawford 391/2; RSC Egnatia 3. 4.12g, 18mm, 7h. Extremely Fine; deep cabinet tone. Rare.

300

Acquired from cgb.fr.

394. Mn. Aquillius Mn. f. Mn. n. AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 71 BC. Helmeted bust of Virtus to right; VIRTVS upwards before, III•VIR downwards behind / Consul Manius Aquillius standing facing, head to right, holding shield and raising slumped Sicilian by arm; MN AQVIL upwards to right, MN•F MN N (partially ligate) downwards to left, SICIL in exergue. Crawford 401/1; BMCRR Rome 3366; RSC Aquillia 2. 3.93g, 19mm, 7h. Extremely Fine.

180

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 249, 9 February 2011, lot 305.

395. Q. Fufius Kalenus and Mucius Cordus AR Serrate Denarius. Rome, 70 BC. Jugate heads of Honos, laureate, and Virtus, wearing crested helmet, to right; KALENI below, HO behind, VIRT (ligate) before / Italia standing to right, holding cornucopiae and clasping hands with Roma, standing to left, foot on globe and holding sceptre; winged caduceus and ITAL monogram in left field, RO in right field, CORDI in exergue. Crawford 403/1; BMCRR Rome 3358; RSC Fufia 1. 3.87g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; subtle golden iridescence to obv.

240

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 94, 24 February 2022, lot 771.

396. M. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus AR Denarius. Rome, 69 BC. Draped bust to left, wearing winged diadem; flower(?) behind / Pediment of temple with anguipede figure holding cornucopiae; M•PLAETORI on entablature; CEST•S•C• in exergue. Crawford 405/1b; BMCRR Rome 3521-3522 var. (control symbol); RSC Plaetoria 9b. 3.92g, 19mm, 5h. Good Very Fine; area of flatness and evidence of clashed dies (the anguipede can be seen behind the bust on the obverse). Rare.

360

Ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 123, 30 May 2005, lot 320.

397. M. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus AR Denarius. Rome, 69 BC. Bust of Ceres to right, hair gathered in net; shield behind / Winged caduceus; M•PLAETORI downwards to right; CEST•EX•S•C• downwards to left. Crawford 405/3b; BMCRR Rome 3550; RSC Plaetoria 6. 3.97g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

270

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XVIII, 29 September 2019, lot 879; Ex InAsta s.p.a. (San Marino), Auction 80, 23 March 2019, lot 145; Ex Nomisma S.p.a. (San Marino), Auction 58, 6 November 2018, lot 141.

137

398. M. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus AR Denarius. Rome, 69 BC. Male head to right, with flowing hair; flower behind / Winged caduceus; M•PLAETORI downwards to right, CEST•EX•S•C downwards to left. Crawford 405/5; BMCRR Rome 3554ff.; RSC Plaetoria 5; RBW 1453. 4.05g, 19mm, 6h. Mint State; beautiful old cabinet tone with underlying mint lustre.

360

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), processed clippings, 405-5_06_od, available online at: http:// numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.processed_400-499#schaefer_clippings_output_405-5_06_od; Ex Andrew McCabe Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 71, 28 May 2020, lot 817; Ex A. Tkalec AG, September Auction, 8 September 2008, lot 128.

399. P. Sulpicius Galba AR Denarius. Rome, 69 BC. Veiled and diademed head of Vesta to right; S•C behind / Knife, culullus and axe; AE - CV[R] across fields, P•GALB in exergue. Crawford 406/1; BMCRR Rome 3516-7; RSC Sulpicia 7. 4.08g, 19mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

210

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Spring Sale 2021, 10 May 2021, lot 1070; Privately purchased from M. Ratto in 1970.

Ex Seaby 1988

400. C. Hosidius C. f. Geta AR Denarius. Rome, 68 BC. Draped bust of Diana to right, wearing stephane, bow and quiver over shoulder; III•VIR downwards to left, GETA downwards to right / The Calydonian boar standing to right, its front legs thrust forward, pierced through by a spear and harried by a hound below; C•HOSIDI•C•F in exergue. Crawford 407/2; BMCRR Rome 3388; RSC Hosidia 1. 3.84g, 18mm, 6h. Near Mint State; beautiful old cabinet tone over lustrous metal.

450

Ex Seaby, List 832, July/ August 1988, C377.

401. Q. Pomponius Musa AR Denarius. Rome, 66 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right; sandal behind / Thalia, the Muse of Comedy and Idyllic Poetry, standing to left, holding comic mask and resting elbow on column; Q•POMPONI behind, MVSA before. Crawford 410/9b; BMCRR Rome 3624; RSC Pomponia 19. 3.89g, 18mm, 2h. Extremely Fine.

750

138

402. L. Furius Brocchus AR Denarius. Rome, 63 BC. Wreathed and draped bust of Ceres to right; wheat-ear behind, barley grain before, III-VIR across upper fields, BROCCHI below / Curule chair between fasces; L•FVRI CN•F in two lines above. Crawford 414/1; BMCRR Rome 3896; RSC Furia 23. 3.93g, 19mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; attractive golden highlights.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 69, 16 April 2020, lot 833.

403. L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus AR Denarius. Rome, 62 BC. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, veiled and diademed head of Concordia to right / Trophy, togate figure on right, three captives on left; TER above, PAVLLVS in exergue. Crawford 415/1; BMCRR Rome 3373-5; RSC Aemilia 10; FFC 126 (this coin). 3.97g, 18mm, 6h. Mint State; mirror-like surfaces with iridescent highlights.

600

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), binder 7, p. 52, available online at: http://numismatics.org/archives/ ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.b07#schaefer.rrdp.b07_0069; This coin published in Fernández, Fernández & Calicó, Catálogo Monográfico de los Denarios de la República Romana (Madrid, 2002); Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 434; Ex Alba Longa Collection, Áureo & Calicó, Auction 319, 7 November 2018, lot 99; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 7, 2 March 1994, lot 613.

Published in RBW

404. C. Coelius Caldus AR Denarius. Rome, 51 BC. Head of Coelius Caldus to right, C•COEL•CALDVS before, [COS] below, standard inscribed HIS behind, standard in the form of a boar before / Table, inscribed L•CALDVS•VII•VR (ligate) EP•VL (ligate), with figure behind preparing epulum, IMP•A•X and trophy with Macedonian shield to right, C•CALDVS and trophy with carnyx and oval shield decorated with thunderbolt to left; CALDVS•III [VIR] in exergue. Crawford 437/2a; BMCRR Rome 3837; RSC Coelia 7; RBW 1551 (this coin). 4.07g, 18mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet toning.

420

This coin Published in Roberto Russo ‘The RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins’ (NAC 2013); Ex Andrew McCabe Collection, collector’s ticket included, Roma Numismatics Ltd, E-Sale 86, 8 July 2021, lot 801; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 63, 17 May 2012, lot 327; Ex RBW collection (pre 1999); Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 6, 25 February 1993, lot 302; Ex Nascia Kunst und Münzen, Auction 4, 23 April 1970, lot 70 (est. 450 CHF).

139

COINS OF THE ROMAN IMPERATORS

405. L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus AR Denarius. Apollonia, 49 BC. Head of Apollo to right; L•LENT•C•MARC•COS• around / Jupiter standing facing, head to right, holding thunderbolt in right hand and eagle in left above garlanded altar; star and Q in left field. Crawford 445/2; CRI 5; BMCRR East 21-2; RSC Cornelia 65; RBW 1563. 3.94g. NGC graded Ch XF★ 4/5 - 5/5 (#6329094-013). Attractive old cabinet tone with golden iridescence around devices.

600

406. Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar, 49-48 BC. Elephant advancing to right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis (surmounted by wolf’s head), and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; BMCRR Gaul 27-30; RSC 49. 3.90g, 18mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine.

900

Acquired from 51 Gallery, 30 May 2014.

407. Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar, 49-48 BC. Elephant advancing to right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis (surmounted by wolf’s head), and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; BMCRR Gaul 27-30; RSC 49. 4.11g, 18mm, 9h. Near Mint State; attractive golden iridescence around devices.

750

Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 258, 20 March 2014, lot 1111.

Ex M&M Basel 66, 1984

408. Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar, 48-47 BC. Diademed female head to right, wearing oak-wreath; LII (Caesar’s age) behind / Trophy of Gallic arms, wearing horned helmet, holding oval shield ornamented with thunderbolt and carnyx; securis to right, CAE-SAR across lower fields. Crawford 452/2; CRI 11; BMCRR Rome 3955; RSC 18. 4.00g, 20mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

1,200

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), Binder 9, p. 174: http://numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.b09#schaefer.rrdp.b09_0231; Acquired from Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A.; Ex Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, Auction 66, 22-23 October 1984, lot 456. Since the numerals behind the obverse head have long been recognized to represent Caesar’s age at the time, this denarius was struck shortly after the battle of Pharsalus, where Pompey met his ultimate defeat, and Caesar became master of Rome. The reverse deliberately references Caesar’s Gallic victories, rather than his recent victory over fellow Romans, the celebration of which would have been distasteful; Caesar’s conduct after the battle was similarly conciliatory - he forgave the large part of Pompey’s officers and army. The depiction of this female portrait wearing the corona civica, or oak wreath, however, may be a subtle allusion to his Pompeian victory. This award was granted to any citizen who had personally saved the life of another citizen; in this case, Caesar had saved the citizen-body of Rome and the Republic from further civil war.

140

409. Man. Acilius Glabrio AR Denarius. Rome, 49 BC. Laureate head of Salus to right; SALVTIS downwards behind / Valetudo standing to left, resting arm on column and holding snake; [II]I•VIR•VALETV MN•ACILIVS (partially ligate) around. Crawford 442/1b; CRI 16a; BMCRR Rome 3943; RSC Acilia 8a. 3.89g, 17mm, 2h. Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique.

Ex Prof. Angelo Signorelli Collection

410. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and P. Licinius Crassus Junianus AR Denarius. Africa, 47-46 BC. Female head to right, wearing turreted crown; cornear to left, caduceus to right, rostrum tridens below, uncertain object above; CRASS•IVN downwards to outer right, LEG•PRO•PR upwards to outer left; all within [laurel-wreath border] / Trophy; lituus to left, jug to right; on far right METEL•[PIVS] downwards; on far left [S]CIP•IMP upwards; [border of dots]. Crawford 460/3; CRI 42; BMCRR Africa 6-7; RSC Caecilia 52 & Licinia 22. 3.73g, 18mm, 11h. Good Very Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

900

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), Binder 10, p. 42: http://numismatics.org/archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.b10#schaefer.rrdp.b10_0048; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Spring Sale 2021, 10 May 2021, lot 1100; Ex Prof. Angelo Signorelli Collection Part II, P & P Santamaria, 4 June 1952, lot 728.

411. Cnaeus Pompey Junior AR Denarius. Corduba (Cordoba) mint, summer 46 - spring 45 BC. M. Poblicius, legate pro praetore. Helmeted head of Roma to right; M•POBLICI•LEG PRO•PR around / Female figure standing to right, with shield slung on back, holding two spears in left hand and with right hand giving palm-branch to soldier, standing to left on prow of ship; CN•MAGNVS•IMP upwards to right. Crawford 469/1a; CRI 48; BMCRR Spain 72; RSC 1 (Pompey the Great). 4.15g, 22mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

300

Auctioned in association with and on behalf of Numismática Lucernae, Jaén; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 8 October 2021, lot 630.

141

Extremely Rare

412. Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus AR Denarius. M. Minatius Sabinus, proquaestor. Corduba 46-45 BC. CN•MAGN IMP, bare head of imperator to right / Corduba city-goddess standing to right, raising hand to greet Pompeian soldier, another city-goddess kneeling to left, presenting soldier with shield, PR•Q upwards to left; M•MINAT SABI in two lines in exergue. Crawford 470/1b; CRI 52; BMCRR Spain 80; ACIP 4013; RSC Minatia 3 and Pompeia 12. NGC graded Ch XF 4/5 - 3/5 (#5872212-001). Extremely Rare.

4,500

Ex WTR Collection, Heritage World Coin Auctions, NYINC Signature Sale 3097, 10 January 2022, lot 30058. The eldest son of Pompey Magnus, Cnaeus Pompeius (also commonly referred to as Pompey Junior) and his brother Sextus grew up in the long shadow of their father’s fame as the greatest general of his age. The elder Pompey had seemed to hold the whole Roman world in the palm of his hand, yet in the struggle for mastery of the Republic against his former friend and ally Caesar, Pompey was forced to abandon Italy with his family, and was utterly undone at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC. Defeated, Pompey and his family took flight to Egypt where the general believed they would be safe, since the boy king Ptolemy XIII was indebted to the friendship and the help Pompey had given to his father. Upon their arrival in Egypt however, Pompey was treacherously murdered by a former comrade on the orders of the Egyptian king, who had been advised that this would forestall further civil war, and ingratiate him with Caesar. Stabbed to death by sword and daggers, his head severed and his unclothed body thrown into the sea, Pompey died the day after his sixtieth birthday. Horrified, his family put back out to sea. Cnaeus and Sextus joined the remainder of the resistance to Caesar in Africa, and after the defeat at Thapsus the brothers escaped to the Balearic islands, whence they crossed over to the Spanish mainland with Titus Labienus, a former lieutenant of Caesar. Struck at Corduba, which became the Pompeian military headquarters, this coin is laden with symbolism. The reverse is as imaginative and unusual as any reverse in the Republican series, and propagandises the welcome received by the brothers in Spain, which readily provided them with the means with which to continue the fight against Caesar. The obverse bears the first securely datable portrait of their dead father Pompey Magnus, whose success in bringing the Sertorian War to a close in 71 BC would still have been remembered in Spain. The legend names ‘Cnaeus Magnus Imperator’, a pious statement that the authority behind the striking of this coinage is that of the wronged and murdered Pompey Magnus, on whose behalf the resistance to Caesar was taken up by his son. This coin must have been struck only shortly before the Pompeian and Caesarean armies met on 17 March 45 BC; the extreme rarity of the issue argues for a limited production run. At the Battle of Munda, some 70,000 troops commanded by Cnaeus, Sextus, and Titus Labienus met Caesar’s battlehardened veteran force of 40,000. The result of the contest was a decisive victory for Caesar; Labienus was killed along with around 30,000 Pompeian troops, and the brothers Cnaeus and Sextus were once again forced to flee. Cnaeus was quickly captured and executed, but Sextus would survive his brother in Sicily for over a decade.

413. Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BC. Draped bust of Venus to left, wearing stephane; small Cupid at point of bust; lituus to left, sceptre to right / Trophy of Gallic arms, holding shield and carnyx in each hand; on left, bearded male captive kneeling to left, looking to right; on right, female captive seated to right, resting head in hand; CAESAR in exergue. Crawford 468/2; CRI 59; BMCRR Spain 86; Sydenham 1015; RSC 14; RBW 1640. 4.00g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; a superb example of the type.

900

Ex Scipio Collection, Marti Hervera and Soler & Llach, Auction 1122, 26 October 2021, lot 470.

414. Lollius Palikanus AR Denarius. Rome, 45 BC. Head of Libertas to right, wearing pearl diadem, cruciform earring, pearl necklace, hair collected into a knot behind, one lock falling down her neck, jewels in hair above forehead; LIBERT[ATIS] downwards to left / View of the Rostra in the Roman Forum surmounted by a subsellium (tribune’s bench); the Rostra consist of a platform supported by an arcade; each column being ornamented with a rostrum; PALIKANVS above. Crawford 473/1; CRI 86; BMCRR Rome 4011-2; RSC Lollia 2. 3.96g, 20mm, 8h. Good Extremely Fine; attractive light cabinet tone.

360

Ex Collection of a Hanseatic Romanophile, Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 341, 1 October 2020, lot 5636; Privately purchased in 2002 from Dieter Grunow, Berlin.

142

415. L. Flaminius Chilo AR Denarius. Rome, 43 BC. Diademed head of Venus to right; IIII•VIR behind, PRI•[FL] before / Victory in biga to right, holding wreath and reins; L•FLAM[INI?] below, [CHILO] in exergue. Crawford 485/2; CRI 171; BMCRR Rome 4198 (same obv. die); Sydenham 1088; RSC Flaminia 2-2a; RBW 1700. 3.88g, 19mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine; small test cut at edge.

360

Ex Collection of a Hanseatic Romanophile, Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 347, 22 March 2021, lot 931; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 143, 6 October 2008, lot 421.

Ex CNG 29, 1994

416. P. Clodius M. f. Turrinus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Radiate head of Sol to right; quiver with top and strap behind / Crescent moon surrounded by semicircle of five stars; P•CLODIVS•M•F in two lines below. Crawford 494/21; CRI 182; BMCRR Rome 4289; RSC Claudia 17. 4.10g, 19mm, 7h. Near Mint State; lustrous metal.

600

This coin published in Richard Schaefer’s Roman Republican Die Project (RRDP), binder 12, p. 109, available online at: http://numismatics.org/ archives/ark:/53695/schaefer.rrdp.b12#schaefer.rrdp.b12_0164; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 29, 30 March 1994, lot 498.

417. C. Cassius Longinus and P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther AR Denarius. Military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius, probably at Smyrna, early 42 BC. Diademed head of Libertas to right; LEIBERTAS upwards before, C•CASSI•IMP upwards behind / Capis and lituus; LENTVLVS SPINT in two lines below. Crawford 500/3; CRI 221; BMCRR East 77-78; RSC Cassius 4. 3.72g, 19mm, 6h. Good Very Fine.

360

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 24, 3 December 2022, lot 498; Previously acquired from Münzhandlung Ritter (with original dealer’s ticket).

418. Sextus Pompey AR Denarius. Uncertain Sicilian mint, 42 BC. [MA]G PIVS IMP ITER, diademed and bearded head of Neptune to right; trident over shoulder / Naval trophy set on anchor, top of trident visible above helmet, the arms composed of the stem of a prow in right and aplustre in left, two heads of Scylla at base; P[RAEF] CLAS ET ORA[E MA]RIT EX S C around. Crawford 511/2a; CRI 333; BMCRR Sicily 15; RSC 1a. 3.79g, 20mm, 11h. Extremely Fine; details enhanced on the high points of the obv. portrait.

600

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXV, 22 September 2022, lot 926; Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 429, 3 November 2021, lot 276.

143

419. Marc Antony AR Denarius. Uncertain mint (Actium?), 31 BC. D. Turillius, moneyer. M•ANTONIVS•AVG•IMP•IIII•COS•TERT•III•VIR•R•P•C, bare head to right / Victory standing to left, holding wreath and palm; D TVR (partially retrograde) in lower right field; all within wreath. Crawford 545/1; CRI 387; BMCRR East 227; RSC 11; RBW 1850. 3.48g, 18mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. Rare.

450

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 19, 26 February 2022, lot 2507.

COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE

420. Augustus AR Denarius. Samos or Pergamum(?), 21-20 BC. CAESAR, bare head to right / AVGVSTVS, bull standing to right. RIC I 475 (Samos?); BMCRE 663 (uncertain mint in the East); RSC 28; Sutherland, “L’attribution des deniers augustéens aux types du temple, de la couronne et du jeune taureau” in RN 1974, 61f; BN 943 (Pergamum). 3.42g, 20mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, Auction 87, 14 December 2020, lot 477.

421. Augustus AR Denarius. Samos or Pergamum(?), 21-20 BC. CAESAR, bare head to right / AVGVSTVS, bull standing to right. RIC I 475 (Samos?); BMCRE 663 (uncertain mint in the East); RSC 28; Sutherland, “L’attribution des deniers augustéens aux types du temple, de la couronne et du jeune taureau” in RN 1974, 61f; BN 943 (Pergamum). 3.76g, 19mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; cleaning marks, flan crack at 11h.

450

144

422. Augustus AR Denarius. Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?), 19 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head to right / OB CIVIS SERVATOS in three lines within oak wreath. RIC I 77a; BMCRE 378-380; RSC 208. 3.72g, 18mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

450

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XI, 8 January 2008, lot 754.

423. Augustus AV Aureus. Lugdunum, 15-12 BC. AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head to right / Bull butting to right, pawing ground and flicking tail; IMP•X in exergue. RIC I 166a; C. 136; BMCRE 450; BN 1372; Giard, Lyon, 18, pl. IX; Biaggi 109; Calicó 212. 7.78g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; scratch to reverse and traces of mounting.

3,600

Acquired from Nomisma S.p.a.; Ex Swiss collection, formed in mid 20th century, Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 12, 30 May 2020, lot 1054.

424. Augustus AR Denarius. Rome, 12 BC. L. Caninius Gallus, moneyer. AVGVSTVS, bare head to right / L•CANINIVS GALLVS•III•VIR, German kneeling to right, offering up vexillum and extending hand below left knee. RIC I 416; BMCRE 127; RSC 383. 3.88g, 20mm, 9h. Extremely Fine.

750

Ex Santana Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 836; Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 357, 16 December 2020, lot 1007 (hammer: 1,300 EUR).

145

Ex Bank Leu 1981

425. Divus Augustus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 36-37. Deified Augustus, holding laurel-branch and long sceptre, seated to left on car pulled to left by quadriga of elephants with riders; DIVO AVGVSTO S•P•Q•R in three lines above / TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR POT XXXIIX around large S•C. RIC I 68 (Tiberius); C. 308; BMCRE 125-127 (Tiberius). 26.24g, 34mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Scarce.

9,000

Ex Jesus Vico S.A., Auction 162, 12 July 2022, lot 107; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 29, 11 May 2005, lot 455; Ex Bank Leu, Auction 28, 5 May 1981, lot 365. The deification of emperors was introduced in the imperial period by the Roman Senate, influenced by the East, where Pharaohs and the Ptolemies, for example, were worshipped as divinities (Burton, The Worship of the Roman Emperors, p. 80). The Roman worship of deceased statesmen began with Julius Caesar: after his death, Augustus bestowed the title of Divus upon him and ordered a temple to be constructed in his name, which was begun in 42 BC and dedicated in 29 BC. Although Augustus rejected divine worship while he was alive, the senate conferred upon him the title of Divus, seen on the obverse of this coin, after his death. Like Caesar, a temple was vowed by the Senate to Augustus in AD 14, to be built on the site where Augustus had lived between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. The construction of the Temple of Divus Augustus began under Tiberius, although it was completed by Caligula in AD 37 and often features on the latter emperor’s coinage. The Senate was eager to make Augustus’ funeral surpass in splendour those which had come before, mirroring his wishes. Suetonius writes that Augustus wished for a painless and swift death and had one final utterance, one of fear, a delirium that forty men would carry him away (Life of Augustus, 97). This turned out to be a premonition with forty soldiers later carrying him to lie in state. Senators carried his body through the triumphal gate, followed by a statue of Victory and the equestrian order. Two eulogies were given: one before the temple of the Deified Julius, by Tiberius, and another from the old rostra by Drusus. After cremation, his remains were placed in a mausoleum, which had been built between the Via Flaminia and the Tiber. This impressive mausoleum, of which the remnants can still be seen today, was once an extremely large and elaborate building, designed and constructed under Augustus’ rule when he was still alive, showing the importance he placed on the legacy of his rule. It would serve as the final resting place of not only Augustus, but also of his family and of the succeeding emperors of the patrician Julio-Claudian family. His Res Gestae, an autobiographical enumeration of his achievements, was engraved on two bronze pillars and displayed outside the mausoleum entrance, per Augustus’ instructions. Augustus’ death left a large hole in the new imperial system he had himself created and made urgent the problem of how he would be succeeded and by whom. Many of Augustus’ likely successors had predeceased him: Marcellus, the emperor’s nephew and son-in-law, had died in 23 BC, the experienced general Agrippa, who married the emperor’s daughter upon Marcellus’ death, passed away in 12 BC, and Agrippa’s sons Gaius and Lucius Caesar died in AD 4 and AD 2 respectively. Augustus had therefore adopted his stepson Tiberius, the son of his wife Livia by a previous husband and married him to his daughter Julia upon Agrippa’s death, thus formally designating him as his heir. Thus, in AD 14 Tiberius succeeded Augustus in the first formal hereditary succession since the founding of the Roman Republic. It is difficult with hindsight to appreciate how precarious this succession would have been, and it was imperative that Tiberius, who was not biologically related to Augustus, align himself closely with his illustrious predecessor to legitimise his reign. Minting this coin is an indication he was doing just that, to pay homage to the long and successful rule of his predecessor.

146

426. Tiberius AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 14-37. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head to right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as Pax, seated to right on throne with plain legs, holding sceptre and olive branch; double exergual line below. RIC I 25; BMCRE 30; Calicó 305d. 7.86g, 19mm, 5h. Extremely Fine; small edge nick.

2,400

Acquired from CGB.fr (French export license included).

427. Tiberius AR Denarius. Lugdunum, AD 14-37. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head to right / PONTIF MAXIM, Livia as Pax seated to right on throne with plain legs, holding sceptre and olive branch; double exergual line below. RIC I 26; BMCRE 34; RSC 16. 3.78g, 19mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; rev. in high relief.

900

Ex José A. Herrero S.A, Auction 12, 13 December 2012, lot 234.

Ex Sir Arthur Evans Collection, 1926

428. Drusus Julius Caesar (son of Tiberius) Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 22-23. Confronted heads of Drusus’ twin sons Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus on crossed cornucopiae with winged caduceus between / DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II, around large S•C. RIC I 42 (Tiberius); BMCRE 95 (Tiberius). 27.27g, 35mm, 12h. Very Fine; scratches to reverse, attractive ‘Tiber’ tone.

600

Ex Salton Collection (Part IV), Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 377, 20 October 2022, lot 5700; Ex Sir Arthur Evans Collection, Ars Classica and Naville & Co., Auction XII, 18-23 October 1926, lot 2747; Ex J. Faure Collection, Étienne Bourgey, 10-11 December 1923, lot 69. This sestertius was struck in the wake of the death of Tiberius’ heir designate, Germanicus. With no heir apparent, Tiberius nonetheless promoted the concept of a ‘Tiberian’ dynasty on his coinage of AD 22/3, as clearly embodied in the present type, through his son Drusus and twin grandsons Tiberius Gemellus and Germanicus Gemellus, whose portraits adorn the cornucopiae here. Tragically however, Drusus and Germanicus Gemellus were both to die in AD 23, and Tiberius Gemellus would eventually be executed by Caligula as a potential threat to his position.

429. Germanicus (father of Caligula) Ӕ As. Rome, AD 37-38. GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVGVST F DIVI AVG N, bare head to left / C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, large S•C in field. RIC I 35 (Gaius); C. 1; BMCRE 49-51 (Caligula); BN 73-6 (Caligula). 11.16g, 28mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; in a wonderful state of preservation for the type.

750

Ex Jack A. Frazer Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXIII, 14 January 2020, lot 662; Privately purchased from Classical Numismatic Group in 1996.

147

Likely the Finest Aureus of Antonia NGC Ch AU

430. Antonia (mother of Claudius) AV Aureus. Rome, AD 41-45. ANTONIA AVGVSTA, draped bust to right, wearing wreath of grain ears / CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI, Antonia standing facing, holding long torch and cornucopiae. RIC I 65 (Claudius); C. 1; BMCRE 109 (Claudius); BN 9 (Claudius); von Kaenel Type 16, 316 (V253/R261); Lyon 30 (unlisted dies); Calicó 318a. 7.77g, 19mm, 12h. NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 3/5, light marks (#6674257-001). Rare, and not only the finest known of this important issue (cf. NAC 67, 116 [sold for 40,000 CHF]) but also likely the finest surviving portrait aureus of Antonia (cf. Palombo 17, 44 [sold for 50,000 CHF] and cf. NGSA 12, 127 [sold for 48,000 CHF]). 12,000 Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton IX, 10 January 2006, lot 1386 (hammer: 26,000 USD). This coin bears the posthumous representation of Antonia Minor, and was struck in memory of her by Claudius, her son, upon his ascension to the throne. This well-liked and respected Roman woman, who was celebrated for her virtue and beauty, was the younger of the two daughters of Marc Antony and Octavia, who, after Antony’s death, was allowed by Augustus to benefit from her father’s estate. She thus became wealthy and influential, and married Nero Claudius Drusus, general and consul, bearing him several children. Three survived into adulthood: the popular Germanicus, the future emperor Claudius, and a daughter Livilla. Following the death of her husband in AD 9 whilst on campaign in Germania, the rest of Antonia’s life was plagued by ill fortune as she outlived her oldest son, her daughter and several of her grandchildren. The legend of this pleasing reverse type refers to perseverance in the face of adversity, which indeed Antonia displayed continually throughout her life, not to a god ‘Constantia’ to whom no other references may be found besides three coin types issued under Claudius. After the death of her husband, her eldest son Germanicus died in AD 19 in mysterious circumstances in Asia, where he had successfully defeated the kingdoms of Commagene and Cappadocia and turned them into Roman provinces. It is thought that he was perhaps poisoned by his adoptive father Tiberius as his influence and popularity with his troops was becoming too great. Her younger son Claudius, who was born with severe disabilities, was ostracised by his family and excluded from public office until his consulship in AD 37 which he shared with his nephew Caligula. Ironically, this action by his family may have actually saved his life as he was not perceived as a threat to power and therefore survived the purges of Tiberius and Caligula’s reigns, going on to prove himself a worthy emperor. Antonia’s woes did not stop with her sons, as her daughter Livilla supposedly poisoned her husband Drusus the Younger, son of Tiberius. According to Cassius Dio, Tiberius handed Livilla over to her mother, who locked her up in a room and starved her to death. After the death of Tiberius, her grandson Caligula became emperor, and though Antonia would often offer him advice, he once told her, ‘I can treat anyone exactly as I please!’ Caligula was rumoured to have had his young cousin Gemellus beheaded, to remove him as a rival to the throne. This act was said to have outraged Antonia, who was grandmother to Gemellus as well as to Caligula. Able to stand no more of Caligula’s tyranny, Antonia committed suicide, though Suetonius’s ‘Caligula’ (23), suggests she might also have been poisoned by her grandson: “When his grandmother Antonia asked for a private interview, he refused it except in the presence of the prefect Macro, and by such indignities and annoyances he caused her death; although some think that he also gave her poison. After she was dead, he paid her no honour, but viewed her burning pyre from his dining-room.” This reverse design also makes reference to Antonia’s abilities and long service as a mother and grandmother. Ceres, whose attributes of the torch and cornucopiae she is shown holding, was the Roman goddess of agriculture, fertility and motherly relationships. As well as her own children, after the death of Germanicus, Antonia became the de facto mother for his children including Caligula, and later Claudius’ daughter Claudia Antonia after her mother had been divorced and removed from the Imperial family. With this reverse type Claudius celebrates Antonia’s devotion to her family and dedication in ensuring the survival of the Julio-Claudian dynastic line. The figure on the reverse is most likely a magnificent statue of Ceres which may have had a head with the features of Antonia known to have been commissioned by Claudius when he became emperor after his nephew’s assassination in AD 41. This identification is supported by the portrayal of Antonia on the obverse wearing a wreath of grain ears, a typical attribute of Ceres. Claudius gave his mother the title of Augusta and her birthday became a public holiday, which had annual games and public sacrifices and her image paraded in a carriage.

148

149

Claudius Defeats the Britons

431. Claudius AV Aureus. Rome or Lugdunum, AD 46-47. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head to right / DE BRITANN on architrave of triumphal arch surmounted by equestrian statue to left flanked by two trophies. RIC I 33 (Rome); C. 17; BMCRE 32 (Rome); Lyon 52; Von Kaenel, type 27; Calicó 349. 7.82g, 19mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine; in pleasing style, and exceptional condition for the issue. Very rare and historically interesting.

3,000

In AD 43, Claudius sent the distinguished senator Aulus Plautius with four legions to Britannia after an appeal from the Roman ally Verica, ousted king of the Atrebates. The Roman invasion was contested by an alliance of tribes led by Togodumnus and Caratacus, sons of the late king of the Catuvellauni, Cunobelinus. The legions met stiff resistance at a river crossing thought to be near Rochester on the river Medway; in the course of this two-day engagement the Legio II Augusta commanded by the future emperor Vespasian forded the crossing and engaged the Britons while an auxiliary unit of Batavians swam the river and made a surprise attack on the Britons’ armed chariots. The first day ended without a decisive result, and on the second the contest was again indecisive until Gnaeus Hosidius Geta personally led his legion (probably the IX Hispana) into the fray; the legate was himself nearly surrounded, but turned the battle and defeated the enemy so resoundingly that he was awarded triumphal ornaments even though he had not yet held the consulship (Cassius Dio, LX.20). Plautius halted the advance after a further engagement at the Thames, to which the Britons had withdrawn as their next line of defence, and sent for the emperor as he had been instructed to do. Claudius brought with him reinforcements, doubtless including a sizeable part of the Praetorian Guard, heavy armaments, and a contingent of war elephants to overawe the natives. Cassius Dio relates that Claudius, taking command of the Roman forces, “crossed the stream, and engaging the barbarians, who had gathered at his approach... defeated them and captured Camulodunum, the capital of Cunobelinus. Thereupon he won over numerous tribes, in some cases by capitulation, in others by force, and was saluted as imperator several times, contrary to precedent”. For the victories won in Britannia, the Senate voted Claudius the title of ‘Britannicus’, a triumph, and that there should be two triumphal arches erected - one in the city, and the other in Gaul, whence Claudius had sailed when he crossed over to Britain. This rare aureus depicts the anticipated triumphal Arch of Claudius, commissioned in AD 43, but which would not be dedicated until AD 51. It was a conversion of one of the arches of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct where it crossed the Via Flaminia, the main road to the north of Rome, but is now lost and a fragment of the inscription is all that remains, housed in the Capitoline Museum. The full inscription has been reconstructed however from the sisterarch that was built at Gesoriacum (Boulogne-sur-Mer).

150

Very Rare

432. Nero AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 62-63. NERO CAESAR AVG IMP, bare head to right / PONTIF MAX TR P VIIII COS IIII P P, Roma standing to right, foot on helmet, holding shield, bow and dagger at feet; EX- SC across fields. RIC I 38; C. 230; BMCRE 43; Calicó 436. 7.71g, 19mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; high relief. Very Rare.

4,500

Ex Bolaffi Spa, Auction 34, 30 May 2019, lot 435.

433. Nero AV Aureus. Rome, AD 64-66. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head to right / IANVM CLVSIT [PAC]E P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA, closed doors of the temple of Janus. RIC I 50 & 58; C. 114; BMCRE 64; Biaggi 224; Calicó 409. 7.22g, 18mm, 7h. Good Very Fine; shallow test cuts on edge, possibly ex-jewellery, lustrous metal. Ex Peter J. Merani Collection; Ex H. J. Berk, Auction 127, 25 June 2002, lot 21; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction M, 20 March 2002, lot 2613.

151

1,800

Ex Auctiones 18, 1989

434. Nero, with Agrippina II, AR Denarius. Lugdunum, AD 55. NERO CLAVD DIVI F CAES AVG GERM IMP TR P COS, jugate busts to right of Nero, bare-headed with slight drapery over left shoulder, and Agrippina, bare-headed and draped / AGRIPP AVG DIVI CLAVD NERONIS CAES MATER, quadriga of elephants to left, cart bearing two chairs supporting radiate Divus Claudius (in background), holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right hand, and radiate Divus Augustus (in foreground), holding patera in right hand and grounded sceptre in left; EX SC in left field. RIC I 7; BMCRE 8; BN 13; RSC 4. 3.66g, 19mm, 7h. NGC graded XF★, 4/5 - 5/5 (#4625237-009).

6,000

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, NYINC Signature Sale 3061, 8 January 2018, lot 32089; Ex Tradart S.A., 18 December 2014, lot 255; Ex Tradart S.A., 17 November 1994, lot 156; Ex Auctiones AG, Auction 18, 21 September 1989, lot 1039. After the assassination of his nephew Caligula, it was Claudius, the last adult male of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, who was unexpectedly installed as emperor at 51 years of age. He swiftly took steps to legitimise his precarious succession, adopting the cognomens ‘Caesar’ and ‘Augustus’ and keeping the honorific ‘Germanicus’ to highlight the connection to his heroic brother. Although his wife Messalina had provided him with a future heir in a young son named Britannicus, when she attempted to remarry and mount a coup against him, he realised the weakness of his position with no obvious adult heir and remarried in 49 BC to Agrippina the Younger, his niece, the sister of his predecessor as emperor and one of the last few remaining blood descendants of Augustus. He formally adopted her son Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 50 BC, married him to his daughter Octavia in 53 BC and promoted him to joint heir with the underage Britannicus. The boy would become Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the last of the JulioClaudian emperors. Agrippina initially exercised regency over Nero in the first months of his reign. Indeed, on the earliest Neronian coinage (RIC 1, BMCRE 6, C. 6) which feature confronted busts of the emperor and his mother, the emperor’s inscription is not only relegated to the reverse of the coin while Agrippina’s occupy the obverse but was also engraved in the dative case; in short, the coin was in reality an issue of Agrippina, not of Nero. Nero’s portrait on earlier coinage was a classic example of the so-called ‘first type’ of Neronian portraiture, a consistent and codified public image of the boy in his early teenage years when first adopted by Claudius and named as his heir in AD 50. He is presented to the world as a quintessential JulioClaudian prince in the style of his grandfather Germanicus, with idealised unindividualized physiognomy, a long straight nose, thin flat eyebrows and flat hair brushed forward into the standard Augustan fringe. When he became emperor in AD 54, the Julio-Claudian portrait mode which legitimised his accession gave way to a new image form embodying prosperity and sophistication with a plump, luxurious portrait in the style of Hellenistic kings. Despite owing his throne to his mother, the relationship of son and mother quickly descended into a power struggle that began in earnest the year this coin was struck. With the immediately succeeding change on the coinage to jugate busts, it must be inferred that Nero was asserting his authority, as the inscriptions are now reversed (Nero’s is now on the obverse, his mother’s on the reverse). Agrippina began to quietly transfer her support to step-son Britannicus, as a way to threaten and regain control of her son, however the emperor poisoned the boy at a family dinner in February AD 55. In AD 58, having ostracised his mother from the imperial court, Nero loaded her onto a self-sinking boat, which was unsuccessful in causing Agrippina’s death, but having escaped from the vessel she was met on the shore and murdered by a trio of assassins.

152

435. Civil War, Vindex AR Denarius. Uncertain Gallic Mint (Videbona?), March-May AD 68. SALVS GEN[ERIS] HVMANI, Victory standing to left on globe, holding palm branch and wreath / S P Q R within corona civica with circular jewel in bezel at apex. RIC I 72 (Civil War); BMCRE 34-6; RSC 420. 3.29g, 18mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; excellent metal, deep cabinet tone. Very Rare.

750

Ex Dmitry Markov Coins & Medals - M&M Numismatics Ltd - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles - Sovereign Rarities Ltd, The New York Sale 54, 11 January 2022, lot 232.

436. Otho AR Denarius. Rome, AD 69. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head to right / SECVRITAS P R, Securitas standing to left, holding wreath and sceptre. RIC I 8; BMCRE 17; Muona Group 1, Type 4B, Portrait Type A; RSC 17. 3.32g, 19mm, 6h. Mint State; stunning old cabinet tone with hints of iridescence.

2,100

Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 99, 8 December 2015, lot 119; Ex Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 82, 29 April 1997, lot 257. It is well known that the emperor Otho regularly wore a wig to hide his hair loss, a fact that can be clearly seen on this coin. The abrupt transition from hairline to face along with the regular, pattern-like waves makes it clear to the viewer that the portrait subject is bewigged. There was more to Otho’s decision to don this item than to merely appear distinguished; the association of hair loss with lack of virility and inviting derision is well documented in Suetonius when discussing Julius Caesar’s baldness. Gleason (1990) expands further on this evidence suggesting that hair loss may also have been considered to lead to ‘dangerous effeminisation’, a quality not desirable in a Roman Emperor.

153

Unpublished and Seemingly Unique

437. Vespasian AV Aureus. Lugdunum, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head to right / TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAES PRIN IVVEN, Titus and Domitian seated to left on curule chairs, each holding a branch. RIC II.1 -, cf. 1318 (denarius); C. 543 var. (obv. legend); BMCRE -; Biaggi -; Calicó -. 7.27g, 19mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch XF 4/5 - 4/5 (#6944528-001). Struck from dies of fine style and preserved with beautifully lustrous metal. Unpublished and seemingly unique - a remarkable addition to the corpus of Flavian coinage. 12,000 This unpublished aureus provides an illuminating insight into the relationship between the emperor Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian and his desire to establish the legitimacy of his new Flavian dynasty. The implied emphasis on a linear succession, highlighted by the depiction of his two sons on the reverse of this coin is particularly pertinent from a historical perspective, given that Titus’ succession of Vespasian in AD 79 represented the first occasion since the inception of the principate by Augustus that a biological child had been the successor to an emperor. Vespasian, having been sent to Judaea by Nero in AD 66 to put down the Jewish rebellion, was joined by Titus, by now a tried, tested and capable commander who brought his own legion to support the existing troops. Josephus describes in vivid detail the taking of the city of Taricheae by Titus, who he says was the first to enter the city ahead of his men, his boldness taking those guarding the walls by surprise and allowing his forces to overwhelm them, to the delight of his father (The Wars of the Jews, III.10.5-6). During the chaos that ensued at Rome after the death of Nero in AD 69, Titus was sent to pay Vespasian’s respects to the new emperor Galba, although he never reached Rome as he learned en route that Galba was already dead at the hands of Otho, with Vitellius preparing to march on Rome. Titus therefore abandoned the journey and rejoined his father in Judaea; he was then the crucial interlocutor (Tacitus, Histories, II.5) between Vespasian and the Syrian governor in negotiations that gained the military support of the governor of Syria, Gaius Licinius Mucianus. This provided Vespasian with the necessary forces to emphatically defeat the third new emperor of the same year, Vitellius, and ascend to the purple in December of AD 69. Titus was left in Judaea in AD 69, entrusted with bringing an end to the Jewish rebellion, thus freeing Vespasian to march on Rome. After his success at the siege of Jerusalem he returned to Rome, arriving in AD 71, which coincides with the date for the striking of this coin. He was received with much acclaim and fanfare, and his father immediately appointed him to several positions within the state, including those of consul and Praetorian Prefect, the latter giving him authority over the Praetorian guard. Both he and his brother Domitian were furthermore confirmed in the rank of Caesar, to which they had already been appointed, and received the honorific of Princeps Iuventutis. While Domitian was 12 years Titus’ junior and therefore had been less able to demonstrate the same military and diplomatic abilities as his brother by the time Vespasian came to power, he was nevertheless promoted simultaneously with Titus. This decision to show no outward favouritism appears to be reflected by the iconography of this coin, which depicts them as equals: they are both seated on curule chairs, which had been long-associated with offices of power, despite the fact that in reality Domitian’s official roles as Caesar and Praetor were only nominal and did not represent the wielding of any significant control. It is clear, however, that Vespasian was eager to represent both his sons as worthy successors.

154

155

Exceptionally Rare

438. Titus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 80. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head to left / TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, tripod with fillets; dolphin to right on wreath above, flanked by raven to left and right. RIC II.1 127; C. -, cf. 322 (rev. legend); BMCRE p.236, 80 note; Calicó 788. 7.23g, 19mm, 6h. Very Fine; lustre around the devices. Exceptionally Rare; no other examples on CoinArchives.

1,200

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 996.

439. Titus Æ Sestertius. Eastern mint (Thrace?), AD 80-81. IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII, laureate head to right / PAX AVGVST, Pax standing facing, head to left, holding branch and cornucopiae; S-C across fields. RIC II.1 498; RPC II 501; BMCRE 309 (Lugdunum). 26.09g, 38mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; slight die shift, well-centred with attractive green patina. An exceptional example with sharply struck details.

156

1,800

A Very Rare Aureus of Divus Titus

440. Divus Titus AV Aureus. Restoration issue under Trajan. Rome, AD 107. DIVVS TITVS, laureate head to left / IMP CAES TRAIAN•AVG GER•DAC•P•P•REST, pulvinar (throne) of Jupiter and Juno: square seat, draped and surmounted by horizontal winged thunderbolt. RIC II 833 (Trajan); C. 403; BMCRE 705 (Trajan); Biaggi 392; Calicó 802 (same dies). 7.37g, 19mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

7,500

Trajan’s extensive ‘restoration’ series of coins that depicted portraits and types of earlier emperors and even Republican figures can arguably be viewed as a development building upon a practice which originated during the early empire and was particularly embraced by the Flavians before Trajan, in which the reuse of earlier types and designs sought to cultivate a link with a hallowed past. Naturally, the primary purpose of this extraordinary series was the replacing of coins which were worn out by use (Cassius Dio tells us that in 107 Trajan “caused all the money that was badly worn to be melted down”, LXVIII.15) or which had a precious metal content higher than the standard of the day (and could therefore be turned into a greater number of coins at a profit). These were therefore recalled to be melted down and restruck. However, it also served certain propagandistic ends. Most unusually, the types chosen to be struck onto the melted-down bullion were not all new Trajanic portrait coins, nor simple re-strikes of what had originally been on the recalled coins, but clearly a deliberate and considered series of commemorative designs chosen for several reasons and intended to provide a link between present and past. Perhaps the most important of the reasons for the types chosen for restoration was the aim of glorifying the current emperor by association with positive models, hence certain past emperors such as Caligula and Nero were not included in the series. Moreover, as Trajan’s restoration of older Republican types suggests, this was a means of presenting Roman history as a cohesive continuum rather than a two-part sequence pivoting around the coming of Augustus and the emperors, and a whole which takes its natural end in an empire that is simply an evolution of the Republic and not its antithesis, and an empire run (largely) by honourable and popular rulers like the deified Titus and not a series of despots. This type of Trajan features the deified Titus, who had been emperor during Trajan’s own lifetime. It features an elder, statesmanlike portrait of Titus, shown with a lined forehead, deep-set eyes and a heavy, muscular neck. Titus, who was deified under his brother and successor Domitian after a short but seemingly popular reign, was an appropriate model for Trajan; both emperors built their reputation on military successes which greatly enriched the empire - Titus in Judaea, Trajan in Dacia and Parthia.

441. Domitian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 76-77. CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head to right / COS IIII, Pegasus standing to right, foreleg raised. RIC II.1 921 (Vespasian); BMCRE 193 (Vespasian); RSC 47. 3.53g, 19mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine.

900

Acquired from Noonans; Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, August 2003, RM1476.

157

442. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 98-99. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head to right / P•M•TR•P•COS•II•P•P•, Fortuna standing to left, holding rudder attached to prow and cornucopiae. RIC II 4; C. 205; BMCRE 32-3; Woytek 53a; Calicó 1042. 7.21g, 20mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch XF 5/5 - 3/5 (#6944543-003). An expressive portrait.

3,600

443. Trajan AR Denarius. Rome, AD 100. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head to right / P M TR P COS III P P, Pax standing facing, head to left, holding branch and cornucopiae. RIC II 38; BMCRE 72; Woytek 75a; RSC 222. 3.48g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State.

240

Ex Hanlon Collection, Spink, Auction 22108, August 2022, lot 2731.

444. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 104-107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, emperor riding to right on galloping horse, cloak billowing behind, spearing fallen Dacian below to right, head reversed. RIC II 208 var. (bust type); C. 501 var. (same); BMCRE 246; Woytek 202f2; Calicó 1107a. 7.20g, 20mm, 7h. NGC graded XF 5/5 - 5/5 (#6944543-004). Rare.

3,600

Trajan had in AD 101-102 launched an offensive against the powerful Dacian king Decebalus with whom Domitian had signed an unfavourable (and some would argue shameful) treaty some twenty years before, the price of which was the payment of an annual ‘subsidy’ of eight million sestertii and the presentation of a diadem from Domitian to Decebalus. In that war, Trajan succeeded in defeating the Dacians in a series of pitched battles, and reduced Decebalus to the status of client king. The victory was celebrated with a triumph (Trajan’s first), and later by the construction of the Tropaeum Traiani.Although this victory had greatly eroded Decebalus’ power, he nonetheless began to rearm straight away, to harbour Roman runaways and to pressure the neighbouring barbarian tribes to ally themselves with him. In 104 he organised a failed attempt on Trajan’s life by means of some Roman deserters, as well as capturing Trajan’s legate Longinus who he tried to use as a bargaining chip; Longinus however took poison to avoid compromising his country and emperor. Then finally in 105 Decebalus launched an invasion of the Roman-held territories north of the Danube. Trajan was not unprepared; by 105 the concentration of Roman troops assembled in the middle and lower Danube regions amounted to fourteen legions – half of the entire Roman army. Trajan ordered the construction of a massive bridge over the Danube designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, which for over 1,000 years was the longest arch bridge ever built both in terms of total and span length. The counter-offensive consisted mostly of the reduction of the Dacian fortress network which the Romans systematically stormed while denying the Dacians the ability to manoeuvre in the open. At last Decebalus’ main stronghold of Sarmizegetusa was taken by storm and razed to the ground. Decebalus himself escaped, but soon after committed suicide as a Roman cavalry scout named Tiberius Claudius Maximus was closing on him. Maximus delivered the head and right hand of the enemy king to his emperor. Trajan’s second triumph was understandably a grand affair, which was accompanied by spectacular games that the emperor held in celebration: ten thousand gladiators fought in these games, and ten thousand animals were sacrificed in thanks to the gods. The riches of Dacia (estimated recently at 165 tons of gold and 331 tons of silver) were invested in a series of important public works, the jewels of which were the forum and great market in Rome which bore the emperor’s name, and the magnificent celebratory column depicting the glorious achievements of the campaign. As reward for his service the cavalry scout Tiberius Claudius Maximus was decorated and immortalised in a relief on Trajan’s column. A grave stele he ordered made for himself while he lived tells us of his deeds and honours, and bears his likeness on horseback, riding down the Dacian king. The relief is nearly identical to the reverse of this coin type.

158

445. Trajan Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 104-107. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust to right, slight drapery on far shoulder / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Victory standing to right, fastening shield inscribed VIC DAC to palm tree; S-C across fields. RIC II 527; C. 452; Woytek 204b; BMCRE 812. 32.39g, 35mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; pleasant cypress-green patina; minor corrosion to obv.

300

From a Belgian collection of an engineer.

446. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 107-108. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC, Jupiter, naked to waist, seated to left, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left. RIC II 113 var. (bust type); C. 62 var. (bust type); BMCRE 264; Woytek 264f; Calicó 994a. 7.26g, 19mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch VF 5/5 - 4/5 (#6944543-006). Very Rare.

1,800

Ex Pinewood Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 922.

447. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI in three lines within oak wreath. RIC II 150; C. 581; BMCRE 253-6; Strack 99; Woytek 224f; Calicó 1121. 7.28g, 19mm, 7h. NGC graded XF 5/5 - 4/5 (#6944543-005).

3,600

Ex Pinewood Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 924.

448. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI in three lines within oak wreath. RIC II 150; C. 581; BMCRE 253-6; Strack 99; Woytek 224f; Calicó 1121. 7.25g, 19mm, 7h. Good Very Fine; well-centred, and with lustre around the devices.

1,800

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 1007.

159

449. Trajan Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 108-110. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust to right, slight drapery on far shoulder / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Dacia, in attitude of mourning, seated to left on shields, trophy of arms to left; SC in exergue. RIC II 564 var. (bust type); Woytek 326b; BMCRE 791. 25.77g, 32mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; attractive green patina.

450

From a Belgian collection of an engineer.

The Forum Traianum

450. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 112-113. IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / Frontal view of the hexastyle façade of Trajan’s Forum, with central entrance and two alcoves containing statues to either side, an elaborate statue group comprised of a facing chariot drawn by six horses between three statues on each side atop the roof; FORVM TRAIAN in exergue. RIC II 257; BMCRE 509; Woytek 409f; Calicó 1031a. 7.26g, 19mm, 7h. Good Very Fine. A superb and sought-after architectural reverse type. Very Rare.

3,000

Ex Spink Noble Numismatics, Auction 44, 23 March 1994, lot 1260. Trajan became consul for the sixth and final time on January 1, AD 112; on the same day he dedicated his new Forum complex. It is thought to have been designed by the architect Apollodorus who accompanied Trajan on his campaigns in Dacia and is famous for building a bridge across the Danube river recorded by ancient authors and artists. When complete, the vast complex consisted of the area fori (main square), the Basilica Ulpia, the column of Trajan, and two libraries, all situated adjacent to the Markets of Trajan on one side and the Forum Augustum on another. The project sought to exceed previous imperial fora in plan, scale and ornamentation while focusing directly on Trajan’s military achievements in Dacia. Each imperial forum had specific architectural and decorative schemes which created specific ambiences; thus, Trajan’s military theme is vastly different from the Forum of Vespasian (also known as the Temple of Peace and not officially called a forum since there is no evidence of it serving a political function) which instead contains gardens, fountains and promenades. One ancient account tells us that “all along the roof of the colonnades of Trajan’s forum there are placed gilded statues of horses and representations of military standards, and underneath is written Ex manubiis [from money obtained through spoils]” (Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights 13.25.1). Perhaps the message the emperor wished to send was that his rule saw such great military achievement that his successes alone were capable of creating the greatest public architectural space in Rome. Following Trajan’s death, Hadrian is reported to have added a colossal temple to the deified Trajan and his wife Plotina (of which very little survives) so that the completed Forum focused not only on Trajan’s military victories, but also on his apotheosis. The magnificence of this complex in comparison to previous imperial fora is emphasised by ancient witnesses, one of whom, when describing the emperor Constantius II’s reaction when he first visited Rome in AD 357, says it was “a construction unique under the heavens, as we believe, and admirable even in the unanimous opinion of the gods...” (Ammianus Marcellinus 16.10.15). It was later a space where various important events occurred; Hadrian and Aurelian ordered the burning of notes of debt to the state here (Historia Augusta, Hadrian 7.6, Aurelian 39.3), Marcus Aurelius held a sale of imperial treasures here following a period of war as an alternative to taxing the provinces (Historia Augusta, Marcus Aurelius 17.4) and here laws were frequently fastened up on bronze tablets to be read by the public. This coin was produced following the dedication of the forum and depicts the magnificent arch commemorating Trajan’s victories in Dacia which acted as its entrance. Martin Beckmann (see The Early Gold Coinage of Trajan’s Sixth Consulship in The American Journal of Numismatics Vol. 12 (2000), pp. 119-156) argues that it was part of the first production of AD 112 which contained a group of types focusing on commemorating the forum such as depictions of the Basilica Ulpia, and Equus Traiana (the following year saw the production of coins showing the newly built Trajan’s Column). His study reveals that there were ten dies for this reverse type and that “from the die links it appears that the forum type carried on strongly, perhaps to the end of the entire series...” implying that significant importance was attached to the promulgation of this great architectural work, the grandest of all imperial fora to date, made possible by the emperor’s military victories.

160

451. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 114-116. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Salus seated to left, feeding out of patera snake coiled around altar; SALVS AVG in exergue. RIC II 368 var. (bust type); BMCRE 585-6; Woytek 529f; Calicó 1086. 7.26g, 19mm, 7h. Very Fine; ex mount.

1,200

Ex Osenat, The Ecrins of Fontainebleau, 16 October 2022, lot 113.

452. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 116. IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Parthia seated to right, head facing, in attitude of mourning, and Parthian seated to left in attitude of mourning; both below trophy; PARTHIA CAPTA in exergue. RIC II 324; C. 184; BMCRE 603; Woytek 560f; Biaggi 496; Calicó 1035a. 7.24g, 19mm, 6h. About Good Very Fine. Rare; a historically important type.

1,200

From a Belgian collection of an engineer. Commemorating his final great campaign, this aureus of Trajan is a clear indication to the people of Rome that the emperor had succeeded in expanding the empire still further through his conquest of Parthia and the capture of the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon. However, the areas of Armenia and Mesopotamia that Trajan conquered were unwieldy and difficult to secure, and it was left to the new emperor Hadrian in AD 117 to abandon these indefensible lands in favour of a smaller, but more easily governable, empire. Trajan’s campaign against the Parthians was prompted by their unacceptable installation of a puppet king in Armenia. Both the Parthian and Roman Empires had shared a hegemony over the Armenian kingdom for fifty years, but Trajan now resolved to remove the Parthian client king and annexe Armenia as a Roman province. After so doing, Trajan moved southwards, receiving acknowledgement of hegemony from various tribes on the way to Mesopotamia, a large part of which he had conquered by the time this coin was struck in AD 116.

161

Sol and the East

453. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 116-117. IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, radiate and draped bust of Sol to right. RIC II 329; BMCRE 621-623; Woytek 572f; BN 880-882; Biaggi 499; Calicó 1038. 7.18g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

9,000

While it is very likely that the Romans, like many other cultures, had a reverence for the sun from the earliest of times, the ‘official’ cult of the sun-god, Sol Indiges, did not have a very high profile initially. According to Roman sources, the worship of Sol was introduced by Titus Tatius. A shrine to Sol stood on the banks of the Numicius, near many important shrines of early Latin religion. In Rome itself Sol had an ‘old’ temple in the Circus Maximus according to Tacitus, and this temple remained important in the first three centuries AD. Sol also had an old shrine on the Quirinal Hill where an annual sacrifice was offered on August 9. Romans were therefore well acquainted with the concept of a sun god, though his appearance on coinage was infrequent; it would require an Eastern revival of the cult to bring it to prominence. It is known that by AD 158 the cult of Sol Invictus was established at Rome, as evidenced by a votive military inscription (see Campbell, 1994, The Roman Army, 31 BC-AD 337: A Sourcebook, p. 43 and Halsberghe, 1972, The Cult of Sol Invictus, p. 45), however Rome’s first contact with the Syrian cult that would come to worship the sun under this name probably occurred sometime during the reign of Hadrian, whose Eastern connections led to an intensification of relations with the Eastern provinces of the empire. Hadrian had accompanied Trajan on all his campaigns in Dacia and the East, and had been appointed legate of Syria, and remained there to guard the Roman frontiers as Trajan, now seriously ill, returned to Rome. Sol appears on the coinage of Trajan where the type is used as a deliberate and obvious reference to his campaign of conquest in the East. Sol also appears early on in the coinage of Hadrian’s reign, personifying the East more explicitly still with the inscription ORIENS below the portrait, doubtless representing not only a continuation of Trajan’s legacy but also an indirect reference to the emperor himself who, like the sun, had risen to power in the east.

454. Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 116-117. IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, radiate and draped bust of Sol to right. RIC II 329; C. -; BMCRE 621-623; Woytek 572f; BN 880-882; Biaggi 499; Calicó 1038. 7.33g, 19mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine; lustrous metal.

4,500

162

A Superb Portrait of Marciana

455. Diva Marciana (sister of Trajan) AR Denarius. Rome, AD 112-117. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, diademed and draped bust to right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing to left, head to right, with wings spread. RIC II 743 (Trajan); BMCRE 650 (Trajan); Woytek 719; RSC 4. 3.19g, 20mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine; light scratching on obv. A superb portrait of Marciana.

1,500

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 2441. A public expression of his devotion to his family, Trajan’s relatives were portrayed on his coinage to an extent not seen since the Julio-Claudian emperors. Both his natural father Marcus Ulpius Traianus and adoptive father Nerva are commemorated on his coinage, and Trajan also extended the honour to his living relatives, namely his sister Marciana, his wife Plotina and his niece Matidia. Trajan and his elder sister Marciana maintained a particularly close relationship. The deep affection that existed between them is evident in Trajan’s decision to award her the title of Augusta, the first sister of an emperor ever to receive the title. Marciana thus became part of the imperial iconography, and her statue was placed, together with those of Trajan and his wife Plotina, over the Arches of Trajan in Ancona. Marciana would often travel with her brother and assist him in decision making. Throughout the Roman Empire, she was honoured with monuments and inscriptions, and Trajan founded two towns named after her: Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi founded in 100 and Marcianopolis founded in 106. If there had been any doubt of the esteem in which Trajan held his beloved sister, it must surely have been dispelled when upon her death, sometime between 113 and 114, she was deified by the Senate at Trajan’s behest. It is on this posthumous coinage of Marciana that the reverse legend CONSECRATIO is first utilised, and it was thereafter frequently employed for posthumous coinages of deified Augusti and Augustae. Following Marciana’s death, her daughter Matidia was raised to the rank of Augusta in her stead, and coinage was struck in her name also. Through Matidia, Marciana would be the great-great-great grandmother of the future emperor Marcus Aurelius.

456. Diva Marciana (sister of Trajan) AR Denarius. Rome, AD 112-117. DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, diademed and draped bust to right / CONSECRATIO, carpentum decorated with bas reliefs drawn by two mules to left. RIC II 746 (Trajan); BMCRE 654 (Trajan); BN 759; RSC 10. 3.27g, 19mm, 7h. Near Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone over lustrous metal. Very Rare; missing from most museum and major private collections.

2,400

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XXVI, 10 January 2023, lot 757.

457. Diva Matidia (niece of Trajan) AR Denarius. Consecration issue struck under Hadrian. Rome, AD 119-120. [DIVA A]VGVSTA MATIDIA, draped bust to right, wearing double stephane / CONSECRATIO, eagle with spread wings standing to left on sceptre. RIC II.3 2462; BMCRE 330-1; BN 4610; RSC 6. 3.09g, 18mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; deep cabinet tone with iridescent highlights. Very Rare.

600

163

Fortuna Redux

458. Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 118. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P COS II, Fortuna seated to left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; FORT RED in exergue. RIC II.3 113; BMCRE 72; Strack 35; Calicó 1259. 7.10g, 20mm, 6h. NGC graded AU ★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style (#6944528-002). Rare; among the finest known examples.

9,000

Ex Pinewood Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 946.

Ex Spink - Noble 44, 1994

459. Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 119-120. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P COS III, Genius standing facing, head to left, holding patera and cornucopiae; GEN-P R across fields. RIC II.3 194; BMCRE 273; BN 289; Calicó 1267a. 7.18g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Rare.

2,400

Ex Spink Noble Numismatics, Auction 44, 23 March 1994, lot 1265.

164

Libertas Publica

460. Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 120-121. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P COS III, Libertas seated to left, holding laurel branch and sceptre; LIB•PVB in exergue. RIC II.3 361; C. 902; BMCRE 281; Biaggi 619; Calicó 1284. 7.36g, 19mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch XF ★ 5/5 - 5/5 (#6944543-002).

4,500

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 25 March 2022, lot 955.

Near Mint State

461. Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, late AD 120-121. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head to right / P M TR P COS III, Libertas seated to left, holding branch and vindicta. RIC II.3 363; RSC 903. 3.59g, 18mm, 6h. Near Mint State; attractive iridescent toning around the devices.

450

Acquired from the stock of Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung (#116084); Ex Frankfurter Münzhandlung Nachf. GmbH, Auction 156, 4 November 2022, lot 259.

165

Extremely Rare

462. Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 121-123. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P COS III, Roma seated to left on cuirass, holding Victory and spear; shield at side, bow and quiver with arrows behind. RIC II.3 538; BMCRE 133; Strack 121; Calicó 1334. 7.25g, 19mm, 6h. NGC graded AU 5/5 - 4/5 (#6944543-001). A desirable type with a charming reverse composition.

4,500

463. Hadrian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 124-125. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust to right, slight drapery on far shoulder / COS III, Roma standing facing, head to left, holding Victory and spear. RIC II.3 722; BMCRE 361-5; RSC 349. 3.26g, 20mm, 7h. About Extremely Fine.

180

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 24, 3 December 2022, lot 2801.

166

167

A Superb Aureus of Hadrian

464. Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 125-127. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / COS III, emperor on horse prancing to left, raising right hand and holding spear in left. RIC II.3 779; C. 415; BMCRE 439; Biaggi 596 (same rev. die); Calicó 1230, cf. 1229 (same rev. die). 7.42g, 20mm, 7h. NGC graded Ch AU ★ 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style (#6944528-003). highly lustrous, untouched surfaces.

9,000

Though not a warrior emperor in the same manner as his predecessor Trajan, the iconography of this coin immediately recalls similar warlike types issued under the previous emperor, and also the ancient denarii of the Republic which featured the Dioscuri with couched lance. Despite the militaristic theme of this coin and others issued during his reign (which are almost as common as coins with peaceful themes), Hadrian’s policy was peace through strength, or threat of strength, with an emphasis on discipline. His skills as a military administrator were well applied during his reign, and aside from the consolidation of the empire’s frontiers, Hadrian also made a great many beneficial reforms to the Roman military system, including the introduction of the first regular unit of auxiliary, mailed cataphract cavalry, the ala I Gallorum et Pannoniorum cataphractata, whose primary armament was a heavy lance far more effective than a regular cavalry spear, capable of puncturing two layers of chain mail.

168

465. Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 136. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare-headed and draped bust to right / ROMA • AETERNA, Roma seated to left on cuirass with pile of arms behind, the heads of Sol and Luna held in right hand, grounded spear in left. RIC II.3 2231; Calicó 1362a corr. (rev. legend; same rev. die). 6.57g, 18mm, 5h. NGC graded Ch VF 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style, edge smoothed (#6327004-017).

1,500

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, Hong Kong Signature Sale 3103, 7 December 2022, lot 35032.

Extremely Rare

466. Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 140-144. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS, bare head to right / HONOS, Honos, togate, standing facing, head to left, holding branch and cornucopiae. RIC III 422 (Pius); BMCRE 263 (same dies); Calicó 1864 (same dies). 7.29g, 20mm, 7h. Extremely Fine; scuff on obv., a few knocks to edge and reverse. Extremely Rare; seemingly only four other examples on CoinArchives. Ex Bruun Rasmussen, Auction 897, 2 November 2020, lot 408.

169

1,800

A High Relief Portrait

467. Lucius Verus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 165. L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / TR P V IMP III COS II, emperor on horseback to right, spearing fallen enemy below. RIC III 544 (Aurelius); C. 275; BMCRE 391; Biaggi 964; Calicó 2184. 7.29g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; an attractive portrait in high relief, with beautiful reddish tone around the devices.

12,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica - Jesús Vico S.A, Auction 119, 6 October 2020, lot 126; Previously privately purchased from Lopez in 1977. Lucius Verus, co-emperor with his better-known adoptive brother Marcus Aurelius from 161 until his death from disease in AD 169, was the eldest son of Lucius Aelius Caesar, Hadrian’s first intended heir who died in AD 138. Verus was adopted by Antoninus Pius alongside Marcus Aurelius and thus eventually became one of the first co-rulers of the Roman Empire, a system for the division of responsibilities which became more commonplace towards the end of the second century. Their partnership was cemented by Lucius Verus’ marriage to Marcus Aurelius’ daughter in AD 164. Verus’ portrait follows the Antonine mode with a long face, tightly curled hair and pointed beard, emphasising continuity between emperors and a united front with Marcus Aurelius through visual likeness even though there was no biological dynastic link. He is portrayed cuirassed, which by the time of Hadrian had become the dominant costume of imperial portraiture, emphasising the emperor’s role in ensuring military security throughout the empire. Verus indeed spent much of his reign shoring up the eastern boundaries of the Roman Empire. The obverse and reverse legends denote the titles with which he was honoured: Armeniacus (ARM) in AD 163 after the capture of the Armenian capital Artaxata, and Parthicus Maximus (PARTH MAX) after the invasion of Mesopotamia in AD 165, which led to his acclamation as imperator by the army for the third time. The rare reverse type of this attractive aureus is particularly arresting: an image of the emperor on horseback, the horse rearing as he spears a fallen enemy below. The group is dynamic, the horse’s tail and Lucius Verus’ cloak emphasising decisive movement. Such images of the emperor mounted in combat had come into favour during the reign of Trajan; this type bears a striking similarity to the heroic image of the unhelmeted emperor on horseback trampling a fallen barbarian below, his cloak billowing out behind him, used extensively on Trajan’s coinage as well on the Great Trajanic Frieze (c.117-120), which was later reused to decorate the Arch of Constantine. This image of the emperor as a military figure looked back beyond the Julio-Claudian preference for static imperial images which emphasised religious piety and civic authority to the Hellenistic taste for heroic representation and strong gestural poses. This reverse type of Lucius Verus emphasises personal charisma and military success, but belies the truth: the successes attributed to the emperor, for which he received so many titles, were all due to his experienced generals - Verus himself is not believed to have ever seen active combat.

170

171

468. Lucius Verus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 168. L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate and draped bust to right / TR P VIII IMP V COS III, Aequitas seated to left, holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC III 593 (Aurelius); BMCRE 480 (Aurelius & Verus); Calicó 2203. 7.19g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine.

3,000

Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd, Auction 55, 9 February 2020, lot 566; Ex Editions V. Gadoury, Auction 2018, 16 November 2018, lot 138.

469. Commodus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 192. L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL, laureate and draped bust to right / LIB AVG VIII P M TR P XVII COS VII P P, Liberalitas standing facing, head to left, holding abacus and cornucopiae. RIC III 239a; BCMRE 311 note; Calicó 2281. 7.34g, 20mm, 5h. Good Very Fine. Rare.

3,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Spring Sale 2021, 10 May 2021, lot 1374.

Rated R4 in RIC

470. Pertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head to right / MENTI LAVDANDAE, unidentified female deity (Bona Mens?) standing to left, holding wreath and sceptre. RIC IV 7; BMCRE 4; RSC 30. 2.81g, 18mm, 12h. Near Mint State; possibly the finest example known. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC and only two examples on CoinArchives.

172

2,400

Unpublished

471. Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / [FO] RTVNAE REDVCI, Fortuna standing to left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC IV 26 var. (bust type); BMCRE -; RSC 28b var. (bust type); Naville 20, 569 (hammer: 850 GBP, same obv. die). 3.01g, 19mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Unpublished, with only one other example on CoinArchives, this being in considerably better condition.

600

472. Pescennius Niger AR Denarius. Antioch, AD 193-194. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / SALVTI AVGVSTI, Salus standing facing, head to right, feeding serpent held in her arms. RIC IV 77 var. (bust type); BMCRE 312A var. (same); RSC 68a var. (same); Roma E-41, 833 (same dies); Triton XX, 782 (same dies); Spink 3014, 192 (same dies). 2.50g, 19mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; somewhat off-centre rev. strike. Extremely rare bust type. Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 284, 7 March 2022, lot 770; Ex Emporium Hamburg, Auction 93, 4 May 2021, lot 365.

173

1,500

The Severan Dynasty

473. Septimius Severus, with Caracalla and Geta, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 200-201. SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, laureate head of Severus to right / AETERNIT IMPERI, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, facing bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta to left. RIC IV 155c; BMCRE 184; Calicó 2598a. 7.31g, 20mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style (#6674413-001). A very rare dynastic issue.

12,000

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 25 March 2022, lot 1021. There is a certain sense of irony that might occur to the modern viewer of this aureus of Septimius Severus, which proudly portrays his progeny in an overt display of familial unity and stability, belying the ultimately fatal rivalry that was to arise between the two Severan sons. As far as the contemporary viewer was concerned, however, this imagery was consistent with the imperial propaganda circulating at the time, the emphasis of which was on the dynastic permanency secured by Septimius Severus’ defeat in AD 197 of the many challengers vying for the position of emperor after the death of the emperor Pertinax. The multiple-portrait issues struck in particular around AD 200-201 presented a strong message of stability from an ostensibly virtuous and cohesive imperial family, thus creating the potential for a stable succession by being seen to be preparing the next generation for the duty of ruling the empire; the present aureus is a compelling illustration of these sentiments. The elder son, Caracalla, although only aged only 13 at the time of its striking, is portrayed on this coin as an emperor-in-waiting, wearing the laurel wreath of Roman authority; indeed this was an eminently appropriate depiction, given he had already been appointed Augustus by his father in AD 198 at the age of 10. Geta, the younger son by one year, had been raised to the rank of Caesar at the same time and is consequently shown in a junior capacity on this coin, subservient to his older brother’s superior position. Geta was not promoted to Augustus by his father until AD 209, with the intended outcome being that he would rule together with Caracalla as Septimius Severus’ successors, securing the longevity of the Severan dynastic line. It seems that for the duration of their father’s rule the two brothers were able to maintain at least an artifice of unity, however, after Septimius’ death in AD 211 relations between the two began to deteriorate swiftly and their father’s ambitions of a smooth transition of power without bloodshed did not come to fruition. The Historia Augusta tells of how Geta was always hated by his brother and intimates that he enjoyed a closer relationship with their mother, Julia Domna (Geta. 5.1), a fact perhaps stressed by the writer for dramatic effect to make his later murder all the more distressing, as it is said that Geta died in his mother’s arms. Cassius Dio presents a particularly emotive description of the murder scene, writing that after he had been struck down by the Praetorian Guard on the orders of Caracalla, he ran to his mother, clung to her bosom, crying and that she “saw her son perishing in the most impious fashion in her arms and received him at his death into the very womb, as it were, whence he had been born” (Roman History, 78.5). Thus Septimius Severus’ efforts to establish a peaceful, long-lasting dynasty were categorically undermined. So precarious did the rule of the empire become in the 90 years after his death, the period has been characterised by later scholars as ‘The Crisis of the Third Century’.

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 89, 1998

474. Divus Septimius Severus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 211. DIVO SEVERO PIO, bare head to right / CONSECRATIO, eagle with spread wings standing facing, head to left, on globe. RIC IV 191c (Caracalla); BMCRE 21 (Caracalla and Geta); RSC 84. 3.11g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; highly lustrous.

240

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 95, 6 October 2016, lot 326; Ex Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 89, 5 May 1998, lot 454.

174

175

An Extremely Rare Alexandria Mint Aureus

475. Julia Domna (wife of S. Severus) AV Aureus. Alexandria, AD 193-194. IVLIA DOMNA AVG, draped bust to right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated to left on shield, holding Victory and spear; ꟼꟼ in exergue. RIC IV 613 (Severus) = BMCRE 333 (wars of the succession) = Calicó 2636 (same dies). 7.07g, 20mm, 1h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only one example cited in the standard references - seemingly the second known example.

6,000

Struck from Dies of Wonderful Style

476. Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 210-213. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head to right / PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM, Providentia standing to left, holding wand over globe and sceptre. RIC IV 227; C. 528; BMCRE 100 note; Biaggi 1213; Calicó 2801. 7.50g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State; small mark to rev. exergue, struck from dies of wonderful style, lustrous rev. Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group.

176

9,000

Providentia Deorum

477. Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 210-213. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head to right / PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM, Providentia standing to left, holding wand over globe and sceptre. RIC IV 227; C. 528; BMCRE 100 note; Biaggi 1213; Calicó 2801 (same dies). 7.50g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

7,500

Attractive ‘Tiber’ Patina

478. Caracalla Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 211. M AVREL ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head to right, slight drapery on far shoulder / FORT RED P M TR P XIIII COS III P P, Fortuna seated to left, holding rudder on ground and cornucopiae; wheel under seat, SC in exergue. RIC IV 479b; C. 85 var. (bust type); BMCRE 31 (Caracalla & Geta). 21.99g, 32mm, 1h. Extremely Fine; double struck, attractive ‘Tiber’ patina.

750

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 430, 27 April 2022, lot 252; Privately acquired from cgb.fr, 2021.

177

VICTORIA GERMANICA

479. Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 213. ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA GERMANICA, Victory, winged and draped, advancing to right, holding wreath in extended hand and trophy over shoulder. RIC IV 237 (R2) corr. (bust type); C. 645 corr. (same); BMCRE 64; Biaggi 1223; Calicó 2833 (R2). 6.77g, 20mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; rated R2 by both RIC and Calicó and only six other specimens on CoinArchives.

9,000

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 97, 12 December 2016, lot 188; Ex Hess-Divo AG, Auction 327, 22 October 2014, lot 131 (hammer: CHF: 36,000). This remarkably rare issue was struck at some point during AD 213, during which year Cassius Dio relates that Caracalla had departed Rome in order to suppress an alliance of Germanic tribes who had broken through the Limes Germanicus into the province of Raetia (Roman History, LXXVIII.13). Broadly referred to as the ‘Alemanni’ by the contemporary writer Herodian (History of the Empire IV.7), this confederation was to become an especially implacable enemy of future Roman emperors such as Aurelian. Dio describes, in some detail, the causes of the conflict. A vocal detractor of Caracalla’s arbitrary operations and bent morality in his Roman History, Dio states that the emperor had ignored Alemmanic pleas for aid over a tribal conflict, and resolved instead to publicly execute their leaders (ibid.) It was these slayings, according to the historian, that had incited the initial surge across the Limes. In retaliation, Caracalla quickly mobilised the famed Legio II Traiana Fortis, renowned for their campaigns in Parthia, Egypt and Syria during the reign of Trajan, who crushed the marauders with ease. This prompted Dio to reflect that the whole debacle was likely devised by Caracalla as a guaranteed way of acquiring military prestige; a notion sustained by the modern historian John F. Drinkwater, who asserts that the Alemmani were yet to develop into a potent force by 213, rendering them somewhat easy pickings for the emperor (The Alammani and Rome 213-496: Caracalla to Clovis p. 43-44). One must deduce from its dating that the present specimen was struck to commemorate Caracalla’s Germanic victories either during or directly after the campaign (a theory supported by Mattingly, RIC IV, p. 86) and further highlighted through the reverse legend VICTORIA GERMANICA. Assessing the situation in 213, Caracalla might have thought his reign was progressing satisfactorily. He had cemented the support of the legions by quadrupling their rate of pay to four denarii per day and had in the previous year finally eliminated his brother and rival, Geta, along with 20,000 of his ‘sympathisers’, according to modern estimates (see Varner, Mutilation and Transformation: Damnatio Memoriae and Roman Imperial Portraiture, p. 168). His introduction of unprecedentedly high tax rates, consistent confiscation of Roman estates and deplorable character however meant that he remained a loathed figure, unpopular among the aristocracy and masses alike. Unsurprisingly, then, multiple attempts were made against his life before he succumbed to a plot instigated in 217 by the praetorian prefect Macrinus, who was to be his successor and the first emperor to hail from the equestrian class.

178

480. Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / P M TR P II COS P P, Annona standing to left, holding grain ears over modius and cornucopiae. RIC IV 26; Clay Issue 3; BMCRE 21; RSC 47a. 3.71g, 19mm, 12h. Mint State.

120

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 71, 28 May 2020, lot 1061.

481. Macrinus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing facing, head to left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC IV 73; BMCRE 66-67; RSC 33b. 3.99g, 20mm, 6h. Mint State; beautiful light cabinet tone, an attractive example.

240

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 24, 3 December 2022, lot 2970.

482. Diadumenian, as Caesar, AR Denarius. Rome, AD 217-218. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed and draped bust to right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, prince standing facing, head to right, holding standard and sceptre; two standards to right. RIC IV 102; BMCRE 88 (Macrinus); RSC 3. 2.75g, 20mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; underlying lustre. Rare in this condition.

240

Ex Cayón Numismática, E-Auction 80, 28 February 2022, lot 31424.

483. Elagabalus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 219. IMP ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust to right / P M TR P II COS II P P, Pax walking to left, holding branch and sceptre. RIC IV 21; BMCRE 97-98; RSC 143. 2.58g, 19mm, 11h. Near Mint State; beautiful old cabinet tone.

360

Ex collection of H. Ursprung.

179

484. Elagabalus AR Denarius. Rome, AD 219-220. IMP ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust to right / TEMPORVM FELICITAS, Felicitas standing facing, head to left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae. RIC IV 150; BMCRE 168; RSC 282. 3.07g, 20mm, 10h. Fleur De Coin; attractive old cabinet tone.

300

Ex collection of H. Ursprung; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 95, 6 October 2016, lot 341.

485. Severus Alexander Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 231. IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, laureate head to right, with slight drapery on far shoulder / P M TR P X COS III P P, Annona standing facing, head to left, holding corn ears over modius and anchor in other hand; S-C across fields. RIC IV 518; C. 422; BMCRE 739. 23.09g, 31mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

240

Ex collection of J. Schmit, Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 17, 14 August 2021, lot 2753.

486. Maximinus I AR Denarius. Rome, AD 235-236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / PAX AVGVSTI, Pax standing facing, head to left, holding branch in raised hand and transverse sceptre. RIC IV 12; BMCRE 68-71; RSC 31a. 3.41g, 20mm, 6h. Fleur De Coin; highly lustrous, mirror-like surfaces.

180

Ex Solidus Numismatik, Online Auction 7, 15 November 2015, lot 289.

180

487. Maximinus I AR Denarius. Rome, AD 235-236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / SALVS AVGVSTI, Salus seated to left, feeding serpent rising from altar. RIC IV 14; BMCRE 99; RSC 85a. 3.31g, 20mm, 12h. Fleur De Coin.

180

Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 233, 6 October 2015, lot 2470.

Fleur De Coin

488. Maximinus I AR Denarius. Rome, AD 236. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VOTIS DECENNALIBVS in three lines within laurel wreath. RIC IV 17; BMCRE 38; RSC 117. 3.05g, 20mm, 11h. Fleur De Coin; an example in exceptional condition for this rare issue.

1,200

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 106, 9 May 2018, lot 747; Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 84, 13 May 2009, lot 723.

489. Pupienus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and palm; S-C across fields. RIC IV 23a; C. 38; BMCRE 58. 19.07g, 31mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; a splendid portrait.

750

Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Web Auction 20, 16 July 2022, lot 2603.

181

One of Two Known

490. Philip I AV Aureus. Rome, AD 244-247. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / PAX AETERNA, Pax advancing to left, holding branch and sceptre. RIC IV -, cf. 40 for obv. type; Calicó 3253a = NAC 80, 177. 4.32g, 20mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other with this rev. type on CoinArchives.

6,000

491. Herennius Etruscus, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 250-251. Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, youthful bare-headed and draped bust to right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Prince in military attire advancing to left, holding transverse spear and baton. RIC IV 147a (Decius); C. 25 var. (bust type); Calicó 3311a. 3.42g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; repaired. Very Rare.

3,600

492. Aemilian Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 253. [IM]P AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL [AVG], laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / SPES PVBLIC[A], Spes advancing to left, holding flower and raising skirt; S-C across fields. RIC IV 39; C. 51. 18.96g, 30mm, 12h. Extremely Fine, cleaning marks. Rare.

750

Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd., Auction 62, 13 December 2020, lot 581.

182

Only Four Others Auctioned in Last 20 Years

493. Valerian I AV Aureus. Rome, AD 253-254. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing to left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC V.1 37; MIR 23a (1); Calicó 3421. 2.95g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only four other examples offered at auction in the past 20 years.

4,500

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 1063. Unlike many of the men who vied to rule the Roman Empire during the third century AD, Valerian came from a noble senatorial family and had held the consulship and been princeps senatus under the fateful year of the six emperors. He was given significant control over affairs both civil and military by Trajan Decius and Trebonius Gallus, and when Gallus was killed by his own troops in AD 253, Valerian was proclaimed emperor by his soldiers and swiftly acknowledged by the Senate. He quickly appointed his son Gallienus as Caesar and sent him to shore up the western frontier while he focused on the threats posed by the Persians and Goths in the east. While he enjoyed initial success against the Goths, his long and futile campaign against the Persian king Shapur I ended with his capture, an unprecedented blow which marked the empire’s darkest hour. He allegedly endured such humiliations as being forced to serve as Shapur’s footstool for many years, until he died in captivity and was flayed and stuffed. In this context, the supreme traditional reverse type of IOVI CONSERVATORI, with an image of protective power exuded by the great god Jupiter’s muscular figure, assertive stance and deadly thunderbolt, seems bitterly ironic.

183

The Second and Finest Known

494. Valerian I AV Binio (Double Aureus). Samosata (?), AD 255-256. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust to right / MINERVA VICTRIX, Minerva standing to left, holding Victory in right hand and inverted spear with left, shield at her feet, trophy of arms behind. RIC -; Calicó -; C. -; MIR -; CNG 106, 799 (same obv. die). 5.39g, 21mm, 6h. Near Mint State. Unpublished in the standard references; the finest of only two known examples, the CNG specimen being holed.

9,000

Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 30 October 2020, lot 657; Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 1, 25 October 2017, lot 329. Reigning during of the most turbulent periods of Roman history, Valerian achieved everlasting notoriety as the first Roman emperor to be captured in battle, a shocking event that had a dramatic impact on the perception of Roman arms in cultures across the Mediterranean. He rose to power as a capable military commander, who was entrusted to hold Rome when then-emperor Trajan Decius left to fight the Gothic invasion in the Balkans. After Decius was defeated, the first emperor to die in battle against a foreign enemy, Trebonianus Gallus assumed the purple. He too would rely on Valerian for assistance, this time against the rebellion of Aemilianus, commander of the Moesian legions. Before Valerian could come to Gallus’ aid, however, the emperor was murdered by his own troops who had defected to Aemilianus, who later suffered a similar betrayal and death before ever reaching Rome. These legions then declared Valerian as emperor, whose elevation was ratified by the Senate shortly thereafter. Valerian’s first official act was to appoint his son Gallienus co-emperor, in order that together father and son might tackle the myriad threats both internal and external that were then assailing the empire; the turmoil of the period and the excessive strain placed on the Roman economy is evidenced by the beginning of a massive decline in the Roman monetary system. Valerian would confront the Sassanid Persian threat in the East, and Gallienus would take charge of the West. Valerian at first met with success: Antioch was once again re-taken, and the province of Syria was returned to Roman control. In 259 Valerian reached the ancient city of Edessa, near the modern Turkish-Syrian border. Here an outbreak of plague among the legionaries weakened the Roman forces, and in early 260 Valerian was decisively defeated in the Battle of Edessa. Shortly after, Valerian would come face to face with the leader who had been troubling emperors for decades – the Sassanid Persian king Shapur I, known as Shapur the Great. The battle was a decisive defeat for the Romans, and Valerian himself was taken captive and deported to Persia alongside what remained of his army. His fate thereafter has been the subject of much speculation. Christian writers (such as Lactantius, De Mortibus Persecutorum), sought to assign a fitting death to one of their most infamous persecutors. Likewise, Romans assuming the worst of their traditional Persian enemies described several versions of Valerian’s torture, humiliation and eventual grisly death. These included being used as a human mounting block and being skinned and then stuffed with straw (Trebellius Pollio, Life of Valerian; Aurelius Victor, Caesares, 32; Eutropius IX, 6). However, modern scholars have disputed many of these accounts as inconsistent with Persian traditions of treating captured kings, and it is more likely he simply died in captivity as a “living trophy” (Touraj Daryaee, Sasanian Iran).

184

Extremely Rare

495. Valerian I AV Aureus. Rome, AD 255. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / LIBERALITAS AVGG, Liberalitas standing to left, holding tessera and cornucopiae. RIC V.1 43; MIR 66a (same dies); Biaggi 1439; Calicó 3425. 2.79g, 18mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

4,500

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 25 March 2022, lot 1064.

Ex Sternberg XXVI, 1992

496. Postumus Æ Double Sestertius. Treveri, AD 261. IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / LAETITIA, galley rowing to left; AVG in exergue. RIC V.2 143 (Lugdunum); Mairat, 2014 (unpublished PhD Thesis), 124; Elmer 243. 17.83g, 33mm, 5h. Good Very Fine.

1,200

Ex North German collection of Roman Imperial Bronzes, Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 7, 24 October 2020, lot 1680; Ex F. Sternberg AG, Auction XXVI, 16 November 1992, lot 416.

185

Aurelian Restorer of the East

497. Aurelian AV Binio (Double Aureus). Siscia, AD 274-275. IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust to right / ORIENS AVG, radiate Sol standing facing, head to left, holding globe and raising right hand; IL in exergue. RIC V.1 18 (Rome) & 188 (Siscia); MER-RIC 2345 (temporary) = BN 887 = Estiot 150a = MIR 218b (same obv. die); C. 138; Calicó 4015. 6.47g, 23mm, 1h. Mint State; highly lustrous and attractive.

12,000

Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 265, 14 October 2019, lot 1500. Aurelian is best known as the emperor who brought an end to the so-called Crisis of the Third Century, a period characterised by loss of empire and frequent usurpations of the imperial throne. In AD 272, Aurelian turned his attention to the lost eastern provinces of the empire, the so-called Palmyrene Empire ruled by Queen Zenobia, which encompassed Syria, Palestine, Egypt and large parts of Asia Minor. Despite a pragmatic acknowledgement of Zenobia and Vabalathus at the beginning of his reign, and having granted them both the titles they craved, Aurelian’s driving ambition was to reunify and secure the sundered parts of the Roman empire. Marching east, Asia Minor was recovered with minimal resistance. Every city but Byzantium and Tyana surrendered quickly, and having spared Tyana from sack and despoliation supposedly because Apollonius of Tyana (a first century philosopher whom he greatly admired) appeared to him in a dream and implored him to mercy, many more cities submitted peacefully knowing that they would be treated leniently. Within six months, Aurelian stood at the gates of Palmyra. Zenobia was captured while attempting to flee, and paraded in golden chains in Aurelian’s triumph in Rome. The recovery of Egypt by the future emperor Probus and a return to Palmyra to deal with a Palmyrene rebel named Antiochus finally secured the eastern provinces. Aurelian was given the title of ‘Restitutor Orientis’ (Restorer of the East) by the Senate. Sol, a god deeply associated with the East as the location of the rising sun, was particularly celebrated in this part of the empire. Aurelian himself actively promoted Sol as his patron deity and attempted to secure the deity’s primacy over the Roman pantheon, introducing the cult of Sol into the army, restoring the Temple of Sol at Palmyra after his victory, and dedicating a new Temple of Sol at Rome with the establishment of a new priestly college for the worship of Sol. This connection between sun-god and emperor is emphasised by the depiction of both emperor and Sol radiate, while the reverse legend ORIENS AVG (the rising Sun of the Emperor) seeks to equate the two while reflecting Aurelian’s own trajectory as an ascendant emperor from out of the chaos of the mid-third century and the new dawn which his military conquests, monetary reforms and amnesties promised. Boundaries between human and divine were certainly blurred by this association: Aurelian is the first emperor for whom the title ‘dominus et deus’, originally demanded by Domitian, occurred in written form on official documents, helping to pave the way for the dominate system of government that would come into being less than a decade after Aurelian’s death. Aurelian would in 274 be bestowed with the title of ‘Restitutor Orbis’ (Restorer of the World) by the Senate when he brought the breakaway Gallic provinces back into the fold, thus reunifying the empire, and in 275 he was preparing another campaign against the Sassanids. The deaths of Shapur I and Hormizd I in quick succession (272 and 273 respectively), and the rise to power of a weaker ruler (Bahram I), set the conditions for an invasion of the Sassanid Empire. Aurelian however never reached Asia Minor. He was assassinated by officers of the Praetorian guard who had been tricked by one of the emperor’s secretaries into believing Aurelius had ordered their executions. Zosimus tells us the secretary’s name was Eros, and that he feared punishment because he had told a lie on a minor issue. Thus perished one of the most competent and promising emperors of the age.

186

187

The Fourth Labour of Hercules

498. Probus AV Aureus. Siscia, AD 278. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, laureate bust to left, wearing imperial mantle and holding eagle-tipped sceptre / HERCVLI ERYMANTHIO, Hercules standing slightly to right, lion-skin and the Erymanthian boar over his shoulder. Cf. RIC V.2 586 & 587 (obv. legend and bust variants on both); Calicó 5146; CNG Triton III, 1168 (same obv. die); NAC 39, 169 (same obv. die). 5.97g, 21mm, 12h. Fleur De Coin; previously NGC graded NGC MS★ 5/5 - 4/5. Extremely Rare.

45,000

Ex Morris Collection, Heritage World Coin Auctions, NYINC Signature Sale 3071, 6 January 2019, lot 32228 (hammer: USD 95,000); Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 27, 12 May 2004, lot 485. This stunning coin depicts one of the famous labours of Hercules on the reverse. Punished for murdering his wife and children in a rage visited on him by Hera queen of the gods, Hercules was tasked with ten labours to redeem himself, meted out by his cousin King Eurystheus, (two of the tasks were disqualified as Hercules was considered to have received too much help). Ultimately, when these tasks were completed he would be rewarded with immortality by the gods. The labour depicted here is the capturing of the Erymanthian boar, the fourth of Hercules’ tasks. The boar ‘of vast weight’ according to Ovid, lived on mount Erymanthos, giving its name to the creature, and wreaked havoc upon nearby farms and villages. Eurystheus requested that the boar be captured alive ensuring the difficulty of the task for Hercules. Apollodorus gives us the closest account of the capture in The Library and also touches on it in his Argonautica, describing how he chased the boar to exhaustion into deep snow from where he was able to trap and chain it. It was Statius who in his Thebaid book VIII described how Hercules lifted the boar ‘breathing from the dust’ and carried it on ‘his left shoulder’. It is this moment that is shown here, the victorious aftermath of overcoming the boar who appears here, on his left shoulder, limp and almost lifeless despite the fact that he is still alive. The traditional lion-skin that Hercules is so often depicted wearing is here clearly visible, the head immediately below the body of the boar. Harkening back to his first labour, the slaying of the Nemean Lion, the almost jugate heads of the animals in this design emphasises Hercules’ power over beasts and more broadly the taming of nature by men. The presence of Hercules on the coins of the Roman Emperors is a trope from as far back as Augustus. He represented the labours the emperor had to endure for his citizens and the eventual deification that would be the reward for this service. Probus however, was never deified unlike many of his predecessors, due to his assassination by his troops. This is recorded in the Historia Augusta as follows: “Now away with those who make ready soldiers for civil strife, who arm the hands of brothers to slay their brothers, who call on sons to wound their fathers, and who deny to Probus the divinity which our emperors have wisely deemed should be immortalised by likenesses, honoured by temples, and celebrated by spectacles in the circus!”.

188

189

Ex Imagines Imperatorvm Collection

499. Carus AV Aureus. Siscia, AD 282-283. IMP C M AVR CARVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIAE AVGG FEL, Victory advancing to left, holding open wreath in both hands; shield on base in left field. RIC V.2 98; C. 95 var.; Vagi 2471; Calicó 4291. 5.23g, 19mm, 12h. Fleur De Coin. Extremely Rare.

15,000

Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 30 October 2020, lot 669; Ex Imagines Imperatorvm Collection, Aureo & Calicó S.L., Auction 241, 8 February 2012, lot 291 (hammer: EUR 38,000); Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 24, 5 December 2002, lot 221; Ex Classical Numismatic Group - Numismatica Ars Classica - Freeman & Sear, Triton IV, 5 December 2000, lot 673. Frustratingly for modern scholars, almost nothing is known of the life of Marcus Aurelius Carus before his ascension to the purple in the summer/ autumn of AD 282. The only historical source which speaks of his life (and indeed reign) in any meaningful detail is the notoriously imprecise Historia Augusta, which, as is generally recognised, tends to favour scandalous hearsay over hard fact. Before being proclaimed Augustus, the Historia maintains that Carus served as a senator (Vita Cari, V.4), before being elevated to the role of Praetorian Prefect under the auspices of his predecessor, Probus. The future emperor Julian, in his catalogue of tyrants (The Caesars), declares that Carus was complicit in Probus’ death in 282, as Gibbon observes (History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, ch. XII, p. 293); though other accounts, including that of the Historia, rebuff this claim, pointing to Carus’ swift execution of the genuine perpetrators (ibid. p. 292). Nevertheless, one must assume that Carus was stationed in Sirmium when mutinous troops assassinated Probus there in the summer of 282, and was in the vicinity some months later, as he was compelled to command a manoeuvre against the raiding Sarmatian and Quadi forces who had become heartened by the news of Probus’ demise. Before embarking on this counter-offensive, however, Carus first elevated his two sons, Numerian and Carinus, to the rank of Caesar; undoubtedly with a Carian dynasty in mind. Carinus, the elder brother, was tasked with administering the Western Empire while Numerian joined his father on the Danube. Together, Carus and Numerian enjoyed great success, with their army inflicting multiple and ever-more decisive defeats on the invaders. By the end of 292, an estimated 36,000 Sarmatian and Quadi tribesmen had been slaughtered (Gibbon p. 294), and all survivors had been repelled from the frontier. This outstanding aureus was struck in Siscia around that time to commemorate the various victories on the Danube border. Its striking reverse displays Victory holding a wreath with a shield in the left field, traditional attributes of the goddess and reflecting the successful campaign. Emboldened by his success on the Danube, and safe in the knowledge that his two sons might be able to establish a veritable dynasty in the event of his death, Carus and Numerian next advanced further East, where they were able to quell revolts in Thrace and Asia Minor and annex vast parts of Mesopotamia (Zonaras, XII.30). Yet more victories then followed, this time against the Sassanid army commanded by Bahram II. Eutropius relates that the army captured and sacked the Sassanid capital of Ctesiphon (IX.14.1) before Carus (perhaps aged 61 at this stage) mysteriously died while still in Sassanid territory in either July or August of 283. Immediately, rumours began to circulate among his superstitious troops that his tent had been struck by a particularly violent bolt of lightning; a divine indication, according to them, that the campaign had ventured too far East. Any hopes of a burgeoning dynasty were then utterly dashed by the similarly suspicious death of Numerian in 284 (perhaps masterminded by the Praetorian Prefect Lucius Flavius Aper) and Diocletian’s resounding defeat of Carinus at the Battle of Margus in 285.

190

191

500. Divus Nigrinian (son of Carinus) BI Antoninianus. Rome, AD 284. DIVO NIGRINIANO, radiate bust to right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing facing with wings spread, head turned to left; KAA in exergue. RIC V.2 472 (Numerianus); C. 2; Pink VI/2, p. 9. 2.98g, 23mm, 5h. Near Extremely Fine; much silvering remaining.

750

Only a single inscription and the coins attest to the existence of Nigrinian, apparently a son of Carinus by Magnia Urbica who died at a young age and was consecrated.

Of National Importance and Possibly Unique

501. Carausius Æ Radiate. C mint, AD 290-292. AVGGG C V M DIOCLETIANO P, jugate, radiate and cuirassed busts of Carausius, Diocletian and Maximian to right / CONCORDI AVGGG, Concordia standing to right, clasping hand of emperor standing to left; SPC in exergue. RIC V.2, -, cf. 204 for rev. type, p. 442, note for another example for busts to right; BM no. 1996,1201.1 var. (obv. legend); Webb -; Shiel -. 4.39g, 23mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Possibly a unique and unpublished variant: a note on p. 442 of RIC V.2 describes a coin with the same obverse type but no further details are given so a match to this coin type is not possible. 3,000 Found in Hampshire on Friday 7th August 2020; recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and returned to the finder. PAS ID: E75B29. This unpublished coin has been designated by the Portable Antiquities Scheme to be of National Importance, due not only to being a new variant but also because of the historical significance of the three portraits on the obverse. This coin fits into a series struck by Carausius between 290-292, including the ‘Carausius et Fratres’ group, which all depict the three ruling emperors of the Roman empire at this time. These coins were struck in an attempt by Carausius to cement the uneasy peace struck in 289 when his military skill and well trained armies made it impossible for troops from the south to succeed. It was a political statement on behalf of Carausius to set himself on a level with Diocletian and Maximian, not only by joining their portraits but also by using the legend AVGGG on the obverse of this coin, giving himself the title of Augustus along with his ‘co-emperors’. Given the terms of the ‘peace’, which was indeed broken by Constantius Chlorus as Caesar in 292, it seems highly likely that Diocletian and Maximian would have seen Carausius as a usurper rather than an equal ruler and as can be seen below, even the British military stalwart made a few concessions to their supremacy. There has historically been debate over the order of the emperors on the ‘Carausius et Fratres’ group coins, but it is now believed, based on high quality examples, to depict Maximian, Diocletian and Carausius from front to back. This is thought to show some deference on behalf of Carausius to the senior Augusti in Rome, not so on this coin here. A note in Mattingly and Sydenham, p. 442, refers to a unique coin of Mr Baldwin which, like ours, depicts busts facing to the right, rather than the left as on the ‘Carausius et Fratres’ group. The note describes the portraits as being in reverse order, with Carausius at the front and Maximian at the back, this is further confirmed by the British Museum example cited above which also lists the emperors in this order. Mattingly and Sydenham posit that this could be an earlier iteration of the series which was discontinued due to its disrespectful assertions in the ordering. The legend AVGGG from our coin is also removed from the obverse legend in the ‘Carausius et Fratres’ group, further supporting the argument that our coin, along with the British Museum example and perhaps that of Mr Baldwin, were part of an earlier more politically audacious group.

192

193

One of Only Four Known

502. Maximian AV Aureus. First reign. Treveri, AD 295-305. MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head to right / HERCVLI CONSERVATORI, bearded head of Hercules to right, wearing lion skin headdress; TR below. RIC VI 47; Depeyrot 7A/2; Calicó 4655. 5.36g, 19mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch AU★, 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style (#2022637-028). Extremely Rare; one of only four known, with only one other (considerably more worn) example offered at auction in the past 20 years. 24,000 Acquired from Heritage World Coin Auctions. When Diocletian took the dramatic step of raising Maximian to the role of Augustus and co-ruler of the Roman Empire in circa AD 286, both men took on religious titles; Diocletian that of ‘Iovius’ and Maximian ‘Herculius’. The choices were symbolic: Diocletian’s association with Jupiter, the ‘king of the gods’ reflected his seniority and strategic dominance, while Maximian’s title recalled the physical might and prodigious activity of the hero who famously completed twelve labours. Indeed, Maximian, who had served in the Roman army from the reigns of Aurelian and Probus, was an aggressive, vigorous commander who engaged in important military campaigns in Gaul, Germany and North Africa. The coinage of Maximian consistently highlights his association with Hercules, the celebrated hero whose portrait, complete with lionskin and club, graced some of the most iconic types of Greek and Roman coinage, including that of Alexander III ‘the Great’. Early in his reign, Maximian is sometimes pictured in the guise of Hercules, wearing his lion skin headdress (e.g. RIC V.2 494). He employs dynamic reverse types of Hercules strangling the Nemean lion (RIC V.2 500), besting the Hydra (RIC VI Treveri 9), capturing the stag of Arcadia (RIC VI 84b), carrying the Erymanthian boar over his shoulders (RIC VI Treveri 24) and leading Cerberus from hell (RIC VI Treveri 48), symbolising five of the twelve labours in an energetic sculptural style which emphasise the sheer force and power of the hero and the emperor by association. On others (e.g. RIC VI Treveri 13), Hercules is rendered in static, calm scenes with legends such as ‘HERCVLI VICTOR’ or ‘VIRTVTI HERCVLIS’, highlighting the hero’s virtue and the victorious peace achieved by military might. It is to this latter vein of imagery to which we might assign this type: Hercules is represented in a majestic bust type, and the legend ‘HERCVLI CONSERVATORI’ celebrates the hero as a defender or preserver of emperor and empire. That this epithet ‘conservator’ is traditionally associated with Jupiter reinforces the connection between the two divinities and the two emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Types with legends celebrating the two senior colleagues and their junior counterparts (e.g. RIC VI Treveri 40) also feature Jupiter and Hercules standing facing one other, joining hands in a symbol of unity and holding together Victory on globe, a powerful symbol that the bond between the two Augusti will deliver peace, prosperity and victory for the whole Roman empire.

503. Martinian BI Nummus. Nicomedia, AD 321-324. D N M MARTINIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / IOVI CONSERVATORI, Jupiter standing to left, holding Victory on globe and eagle-tipped sceptre, eagle standing to left at feet, wreath in beak, bound captive kneeling to right; X above IIΓ in right field, SMNΓ in exergue. RIC VII 45; C. 3. 2.56g, 20mm, 11h. About Very Fine. Very Rare.

900

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 62, 20 April 1993, 628 (with original ticket).

194

Unpublished and Seemingly Unique

504. Constans AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 337-347. FL IVL CONSTANS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor on horseback to left, raising right hand, turreted figure kneeling to right before, proffering wreath; SMANTΓ in exergue. RIC VIII -; C. -; Depeyrot -; for similar type, cf. Roma XVI, 820 (Constantius II). 4.75g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; perfectly centered. Unpublished and seemingly unique, an important addition to the corpus of Neo-Flavian coinage.

9,000

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 25 March 2022, lot 1087. The third and youngest son of Constantine I ‘the Great’ and Fausta, Constans was made Caesar in AD 333 when he was only ten years of age, joining his elder brothers Constantine II and Constantius II in the purple. The death of Constantine I near Nicomedia in AD 337 represented the end of a period of internal peace under the rule of the famous emperor, who had governed alone for the last thirteen years of his thirty-one year reign. Initially, power passed to five men, his three sons Constantine II, Constans and Constantius II and their half-cousins Delmatius and Hanniballianus, whom they quickly conspired to murder. In the tripartite division of the empire which followed, Constans was given control of Italy, Illyricum and Africa. After Constans received Thrace and Macedonia upon the death of his cousin Dalmatius, who had been earmarked to rule those provinces, Constans and his brother Constantine II quarrelled, the latter complaining that as the elder brother he had not received his due. Constans agreed to hand over the African provinces in order to preserve the peace, but relations worsened, culminating in Constantine II’s ill-fated invasion of Italy, Constans’ territory, in AD 340. Constantine II died in Aquileia, leaving Constans to inherit Hispania, Britannia and Gaul, where he waged successful campaigns against the Franks and in Britain. Constans would rule the western Roman empire for the next ten years, until his general Magnentius declared himself Augustus with the support of the troops on the Rhine frontier. Constans attempted to flee to Hispania, but was killed by the usurper Magnentius’ supporters in Helena in southwestern Gaul, thus somewhat fulfilling an alleged prophecy made at his birth which said he would die ‘in the arms of his grandmother’, who shared a name with the town. On this unpublished and seemingly unique coin, Constans is the picture of victory and power: he performs the ritual of the imperial adventus, a ceremony which would mark the emperor’s victorious arrival in a city following their accession or a military campaign. The event is immediately recognisable from the archetypal gesture of greeting in the raised right hand of an emperor on horseback. This particular type is engraved in a lively and decorative style, and elements such as Constans’ flowing cape, the horse’s bouncy waved tail and the vivid expressions of the characters all contribute to an engaging scene. Constans is met by a kneeling city-goddess, although being as this was the territory of his brother Constantius II and given that the reverse legend seems to bear out that this is a generic type rather than one referring to a specific event, it seems unlikely that Constans himself would ever have visited Antioch, let alone in a formal and ceremonial capacity.

195

505. Constantius II AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 347-355. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, Roma, seated facing on left, and Constantinopolis, seated to left on right, supporting round shield inscribed VOT XX MVLT XXX in four lines; SMANЄ in exergue. RIC VIII 83; Depeyrot 6/3. 4.54g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare with this officina.

1,080

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XIV, 21 September 2017, lot 813.

Ex Comte. H. de Lestrange Collection, 1905

506. Valentinian I AV Solidus. Siscia, January AD 365. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, consular bust to left, wearing pearl-diadem and imperial mantle, holding mappa and sceptre / SALVS REIP, emperor standing facing, head to right, holding labarum and Victory on globe, with foot on bound captive kneeling to left with head to right; star in right field, SMSISC(palm) in exergue. RIC IX 1a; Depeyrot 27/1; Biaggi -. 4.38g, 22mm, 12h. NGC graded Ch AU 5/5 - 3/5, brushed (#6158066-012). Very Rare.

3,000

Ex GK Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 25 March 2022, lot 1106; Ex Maison Palombo, Auction 17, 20 October 2018, lot 114 (hammer: CHF 11,000); Ex Pepe Fernandez Molina (Imagines Imperatorvm) Collection, Áureo & Calicó, Auction 241, 8 February 2012, lot 365 (hammer: EUR 11,000); Ex S. Bourgey, 4-5 June 1991, lot 309; Ex Comte H. de Lestrange (1853-1926) Collection, R. Serrure (Paris), 29-31 May 1905, lot 586.

507. Valens AV Solidus. Treveri, AD 372. D N VALENS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGG, two emperors seated facing, together holding globe, Victory above, palm branch between; TR•OB• in exergue. RIC IX 17c; Depeyrot 42/2 var. (diadem). 4.54g, 22mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

600

Ex David Miller Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 700 (collector’s ticket included).

196

Ex NAC, 2005

508. Procopius AR Siliqua. Nicomedia, AD 365-366. D N PROCOPIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VOT V in two lines within laurel wreath; SMN in exergue. RIC IX 6; RSC 14†h. 2.19g, 18mm, 2h. Mint State; flan crack at 9h; attractive iridescence. Rare.

900

Ex David Miller Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 689 (collector’s ticket included); Ex Naville Numismatics, Auction 40, 27 May 2018, lot 806; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 29, 11 May 2005, lot 645.

509. Magnus Maximus AV Solidus. Treveri, AD 383-384. D N MAG MAXIMVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE, emperor standing facing, head to right, holding standard with christogram and Victory on globe; star in left field, SMTR in exergue. RIC IX 76; Depeyrot 50/1. 4.45g, 22mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

2,100

Ex David Miller Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIII, 24 March 2022, lot 700 (collector’s ticket included).

Published in 1967

510. Honorius AV Solidus. Mediolanum, AD 394-395. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing to right, holding labarum and Victory on globe, treading on captive to right; M-D across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC IX 35c = RIC X 1206; Toffanin 486/2; Kunst der Antike aus Privatbesitz Bern, Biel, Solothurn (1967), 522 (this coin); Depeyrot 16/2. 4.45g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

900

This coin published in Kunst der Antike aus Privatbesitz Bern, Biel, Solothurn (1967); Ex collection of Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl, Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 8, 23 October 2021, lot 396.

197

A Puppet Usurper

511. Priscus Attalus AV Solidus. Rome, AD 409. PRISCVS ATTALVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / INVICTA ROMA AETERNA, helmeted and draped Roma, seated facing on high-backed throne supporting Victory, who stands to right on globe crowning her with wreath and palm, and holding spear; palm branch behind throne, R-M across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 1404; C. 3; Depeyrot 39/1. 4.33g, 20mm, 12h. About Extremely Fine; a few light scrapes, well struck on a full flan. Exceptionally Rare.

30,000

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXVII, 22 March 2023, lot 774 (hammer 42,000 GBP; sold but buyer defaulted). Priscus Attalus was a Romano-Greek from Asia of noble descent whose father had moved to Italy under Valentinian I. He became an important senator in Rome, serving as praefectus urbi at the time of the Visigothic king Alaric’s second siege in 409. Angered by the western emperor Honorius’ lack of concessions, Alaric pressured the senate of Rome by threatening to destroy the granaries at Ostia. Faced with starvation, the Senate was forced to cooperate with the Visigoths by electing one of their own members to be raised to Augustus as a rival for Honorius, whose court was based in Ravenna. In so doing, Alaric hoped to bring Honorius to negotiations. Attalus was to be the last non-Christian pretender to the purple, and was twice proclaimed emperor by the Visigoths in an effort to impose their terms on the weak and ineffectual Honorius. Attalus’ first reign only lasted a few months when in 410 Alaric deposed Attalus, believing he was hampering his negotiations with Honorius. After Rome had been intermittently under attack from the Visigoths for three years, Alaric led part of his army north to challenge Honorius in Ravenna. When the venture failed, he returned to Rome to depose Attalus and sacked the city for three days in August 410, taking Attalus and Honorius’ halfsister, Galla Placidia, as hostages. Although Rome had long been overlooked as a western imperial capital, having been replaced by Mediolanum in 286 and again by Ravenna in 402, the Visigoth siege of Rome culminating eventually in the sack of 410 dealt a keen blow to the Roman psyche. This was the first time that the spiritual and cultural heart of the empire had been conquered in fully eight hundred years. The legend ‘INVICTA ROMA AETERNA’ the unconquerable, eternal Rome and image of an enthroned Roma holding Victory vainly invokes the invincibility of the city of Rome and are laughably ironic, but reflect the desperate faith the besieged Romans felt in the invincibility of their historic capital. Despite being crowned in direct opposition to Honorius, Attalus’ Rome issues show a marked stylistic continuity with those of Honorius, likely owing to the highly competent mint workers who remained in Rome during the Visigoth siege. Attalus remained a prisoner of the Visigoths for five years until he was called on as emperor against Honorius again by Alaric’s successor and brotherin-law Athaulf. After heavy fighting between several different parties during these years, Athaulf allied the Visigoths with Honorius, cementing the partnership by marrying Galla Placidia in 414. The partnership was short-lived and Honorius’ general Constantius (who would later become Emperor Constantius III) began to blockade the ports of Gaul. In reply, Athaulf acclaimed Priscus Attalus as emperor again. Attalus second reign was no more successful than his first, and he fell into the hands of Constantius and Honorius, who paraded him in triumph through the streets of Rome and banished him to the Aeolian Islands after relieving him of his right thumb and forefinger in a symbolic punishment against his revolt.

198

199

Rated R3 in RIC

512. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 441-450. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / IMP XXXXII COS XVII•P•P•, Constantinopolis seated to left, holding globus cruciger and sceptre, foot on prow, shield by throne; star in left field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 313; Depeyrot 84/1 var. (mintmark). 4.50g, 21mm, 6h. Mint State; a wonderful example. Rare; rated R3 in RIC.

600

513. Marcian AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 450. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 508; Depeyrot 87/1. 4.37g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; ‘X’ graffito in obv. field.

300

514. Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Θ, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. 4.29g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

300

515. Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. 4.29g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

200

516. Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. 4.44g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

240

517. Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG H, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

240

First Auctioned in Over Two Decades

518. Leo I AV Solidus. Mediolanum, 23 October AD 472 - 5 March AD 473. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; M-D across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 2535 (struck during the period from the death of Olybrius to the accession of Glycerius); Depeyrot 27/8 (struck under Anthemius, AD 462-465); DOCLR 591 (AD 467-474) = Lacam pl. 33, 163 (struck under Anthemius, AD 462-472, same dies); Toffanin 530 (struck under Anthemius). 4.40g, 21mm, 12h. Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly the first example to be auctioned in over 20 years.

900

519. Anthemius AV Solidus. Rome, AD 468. D N ANTHEMIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Anthemius and Leo I, in military attire, standing facing, holding spears and supporting globus cruciger between them; stylised Christogram engraved over RM in lower central field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 2816 & note; Depeyrot 60/1 & note; cf. Lacam 61 & 64. 4.43g, 21mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; slight weakness to obv. Very Rare.

2,400

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 127, 17 November 2021, lot 377; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 92 Part 1, 23 May 2016, lot 883. This example was clearly struck with a reverse die where the mintmark was re-engraved, replacing RM with a stylised Christogram in the lower central field.

201

Exceedingly Rare

520. Julius Nepos AV Solidus. Arelate, AD 474-475. D N IVL NEPOS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long cross; A-R across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3223; Depeyrot 29/1; Lacam 8 = Heritage NYINC 3071, 32317 = NAC 33, 632; DOCLR 948; E. A. Arslan and M. A. Turchetti, Il Ripostiglio Di San Mamiliano a Sovana (Sorano-GR): 498 Solidi Da Onorio a Romolo Augusto (Fondazione Centro italiano di studi sull’alto Medioevo, 2015), 479-83; Roma XXVII, 803. 4.41g, 21mm, 6h. About Extremely Fine. Exceedingly Rare; only two other examples on CoinArchives.

3,000

Milan Mint

521. Julius Nepos AV Solidus. Mediolanum, AD 474-475. D N IVL NEPOS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long cross; M-D across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3230 (AD 477-480); Depeyrot 36/1; DOCLR 951-2 (AD 476-480); Lacam pl. 39, 51-2; Toffanin 536/1. 4.41g, 20mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; rev. flan flaw. Very Rare.

1,500

522. Julius Nepos AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome(?), 24 June AD 474 - 28 August AD 475. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3202; Lacam pl. 44, 134 (attributed to Arelate) = Vedrin Hoard 55 (same obv. die). 4.39g, 19mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; minor scrapes in obv. field. Extremely Rare; seemingly the first example to come to auction in at least twenty years.

1,200

523. Leo II and Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 474. D N LEO EƮ ZENO P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Leo and Zeno seated facing on double throne, each holding mappa in right hand; star and cross above, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 803; Depeyrot 98/1; DOCLR 600. 4.44g, 21mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; ‘Λ’ graffito in obv. field. Rare.

600

202

BELLATOR TYRANNOR

524. Zeno AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 475-476. D N ZENO PERPET AЧϚ, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / bELLAƮOR ƮYRAИИOR, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, ANTIOB in exergue. Unpublished. 4.41g, 21mm, 5h. Extremely Fine. Unique and of great numismatic importance.

9,000

The reverse of this remarkable solidus features a legend hitherto unknown to numismatists concerned with Roman coins of any period: BELLATOR TYRANNOR. The latin noun ‘bellator’ refers to someone who is warlike, and can be translated as warrior or fighter. The second part of this legend ‘tyrannor’ can only be a contracted form of the genitive ‘tyrannorum’ - ‘of tyrants’, a choice of word with distinctly perjorative connotations. The full phrase ‘bellator tyrannorum’ can therefore be loosely translated as ‘fighter of tyrants’. There are no recorded examples of these two words found together on any ancient inscription that we are aware of, making this coin of great epigraphic, as well as numismatic interest. The proclamation of Zeno as ‘fighter of tyrants’ is not only without precedent, it is unconventional during a period where evidently strict protocol produced limited reverse types and legends. The Victory and cross reverse type was invariably accompanied by the legend ‘Victoria Augustorum’ from the reign of Marcian (AD 450-457) until the end of Maurice Tiberius’ reign (AD 602). We can only speculate as to the reasons why this radical new legend might have been employed, however the expression is fascinating given Zeno’s Isaurian origin and the various political and military crises of his reign. The Isaurian tribes are described by ancient writers as being semi-civilised, warlike inhabitants of the rugged mountain territory between the plains of Adana and Pamphylia. By the fifth century, a considerable number of Isaurians were serving the Roman army as ethnic units under their own commanders. The war leaders of Isauria penetrated the highest echelons of the Roman army command structure and played a significant political role, culminating in Zeno’s eventual accession. The Isaurians were by no means united however and it has been argued Zeno’s countrymen were the ‘greatest problem’ of his reign (N. Lenski, ‘Assimilation and Revolt in the Territory of Isauria, from the 1st Century BC to the 6th Century AD’ in Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Vol. 42, No. 4, 1999, p. 428). We know that the Constantinopolitan aristocracy, who generally viewed the Isaurians as a group of Romanised barbarians, identified Zeno as such and opposed him. A conspiracy to replace the Isaurian emperor by Aelia Verina (widow of Leo I) and her supporters resulted in Zeno being usurped by her brother Basilicus less than one year after taking power. Given the brevity of Zeno’s first reign, it is likely that this solidus was struck sometime after 9th January 475 when he fled Constantinople and is said to have reached Chalcedon before setting out across Anatolia. A solidus in the British Museum (1979,0503.1, RIC X 904), previously thought to be the only surviving gold coin struck at Antioch for Zeno prior to the publication of this catalogue (see lot 525), has been attributed to the period of the emperor’s exile (see Kent in RIC X p. 111, Grierson and Mays, DOCLR, p. 174). If this is the case, then we might view this reverse legend as propaganda aimed at Basiliscus, Verina and the Isaurian generals who had betrayed the now exiled Zeno. A problem with this interpretation is that the ancient sources seem to indicate that Zeno never made it as far as Antioch. It may have been Zeno’s intention to try and convince the eastern army to support him, allowing him to establish a base at Antioch, however it seems that he was forced to retreat to one of the mountain fortifications in his homeland of Isauria. Basiliscus sent two generals of Isaurian origin, the brothers Illus and Trocundus, to find and capture Zeno at what is believed to be the town of Sbide. The problem for the new regime was that Zeno held an impregnable position which meant they could only hope to capture the former emperor by siege. This was crucial, for it guaranteed Zeno’s safety long enough for the capital to realise that Basiliscus was unfit to rule, which ultimately resulted in Illus and Trocundes switching sides (see P. Crawford, Roman Emperor Zeno: the perils of power politics in fifth-century Constantinople, 2019, pp. 111-112). Hahn argued that it was unlikely coins were struck for Zeno at Antioch during his period of exile given that it was a stronghold of his opponents and he himself was trapped in the mountains of Isauria (MIRB, p. 46). An alternative theory put forward by Hahn is that the coins may have been struck early in Zeno’s second reign, when in the fall of AD 476 he sent Trocundus to depose Peter the Fuller, the patriarch of Antioch who had been restored by Basiliscus (ibid). This is entirely possible given that the letter forms we find on this solidus and lot 525 (but not the BM specimen) are comparable to other issues struck during the early part of Zeno’s second reign (see RIC X 906-9) which were a continuation of developments under Basiliscus. The terminus ante quem for the issue would seem to be AD 484 when Leontius occupied Antioch, especially given the poor mint execution of the coins struck for the usurper (see RIC X, p. 122).

203

The Second Known Example

525. Zeno AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 475-476. D N ZENO PERPEƮ AЧ, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, ANTIOR in exergue. RIC X 904 var. (obv. legend); Depeyrot 46/1 var. (same, AD 488-491); MIRB 5 var. (same). 4.34g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; ‘T’ graffito in rev. field. Of the greatest rarity; the second known example, the other in the collection of the British Museum.

3,000

526. Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG B, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 910 and 929; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.44g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

300

527. Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 910 and 929; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.47g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

300

528. Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 910 and 929; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.39g, 19mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

529. Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 911 and 930; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.45g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

204

530. Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 911 and 930; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

Thessalonica Mint

531. Zeno AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in left and right fields, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 941; Depeyrot 62/1; MIRB 19; DOCLR 666-8. 4.36g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

532. Basiliscus AV Solidus. Constantinople, 9 January - August AD 475. D N bASILISCЧS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 1003; Depeyrot 101/1. 4.40g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

600

533. Basiliscus and Marcus AV Solidus. Constantinople, autumn AD 475 - August AD 476. D N bASILISCI EƮ MARC P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG H, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 1024; Depeyrot 105/2; DOCLR -. 4.45g, 22mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare.

900

Extremely Rare

534. Basiliscus AV Solidus. Mediolanum, 4 September - late AD 476. D N bASILISCVS PERT AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3312 var. (AVGGG:, •COMOB•); Depeyrot 81/3 var. (same, attributed to Rome); DOCLR 616 var. (same, same obv. die); Lacam pl. 49, 5 var. (same, same obv. die, struck under Nepos); cf. Toffanin 542 (no illustration). 4.42g, 21mm, 12h. Good Very Fine. An extremely rare variant of an already extremely rare type.

205

1,500

THE CAMPOSTELLA COLLECTION

535. Commemorative Series AR Third Siliqua. Struck under Constantine I. Constantinople, circa AD 330. Helmeted and draped bust of Roma to right / Large P. Bendall Type 2; RIC -; J.P.C. Kent, Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis Medallions at the mint of Rome, Essays Sutherland, p. 112, pl. 13, 29; RSC -; Vagi 3039; cf. Roma XXV, 1086. 0.96g, 12mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; in an excellent state of preservation.

300

From the Campostella Collection.

536. City Commemorative AR Third Siliqua. Struck under Constantine I. Constantinople, AD 330. Pearl-diademed and draped bust to right, wearing pearl necklace / Large K. Bendall Type 4; RSC -; Mazzini 287; Göbl, Antike Numismatik (1978), pl. 10, 144; Roma E-Live 6, 397. 1.13g, 12mm, 12h. Good Very Fine.

240

From the Campostella Collection; Reportedly ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 46, 28 November 1988.

537. Arcadius BI 23mm. Antioch, AD 383-388. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right, holding spear and shield, and being crowned by manus Dei from above / GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor standing to left, holding labarum and shield set on ground, to left, captive seated to right; cross in left field, *ANTS in exergue. RIC IX 41b. 5.39g, 23mm, 12h. Extremely Fine; rev. die shift.

From the Campostella Collection.

538. Arcadius Æ 14mm. Antioch, AD 388-392. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / SALVS REI PVBLICAE, Victory advancing to left, head to right, holding trophy over shoulder and dragging captive; cross in left field, ANTΓ in exergue. RIC IX 67d; LRBC 2771. 1.21g, 14mm, 12h. Extremely Fine.

From the Campostella Collection.

539. Arcadius AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 392-393. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory seated to right, inscribing VOT X MVLT XX in four lines on shield; Christogram in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 16; Depeyrot 52/2. 1.99g, 17mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; wavy flan. Rare.

210

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Numismatica Ars Classica, 13 September 2011.

206

540. Arcadius AV Solidus. Sirmium, AD 402-408. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG Є, emperor standing facing, head to right, holding standard and Victory on globe, treading on captive seated to left; S-M across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC IX 15b; Depeyrot 34/1. 4.40g, 21mm, 12h. Near Mint State.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Marcus Hoellisberger.

Possibly The Finest Known

541. Arcadius AV Tremissis. Ravenna, AD 402-406. D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing to right, holding wreath and globus cruciger; R-V across fields, COM in exergue. RIC X 1288 corr. (rev. type); Depeyrot 10/2. 1.53g, 13mm, 12h. Near Mint State; possibly the finest known example. Very Rare; rated R3 in RIC, Depeyrot cites only six examples.

300

From the Campostella Collection.

542. Honorius AV Solidus. Sirmium, AD 393-395. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, emperor standing to right, holding standard and Victory on globe, foot on captive to right; S-M across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 2 (R3); Depeyrot 32/2. 4.47g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare; rated R3 in RIC.

600

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd.

A Rare Variant

543. Honorius AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 397-402. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slight to right, with Christogram on chest, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / CONCORDIA AVGG, Constantinopolis seated facing, head to right, foot on prow, holding sceptre and Victory on globe; star in left field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 38; Depeyrot 44/2. 4.38g, 20mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. A rare variant; rated R2 in RIC.

360

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd, 31 May 2007. “In 397 Thessalonica introduced the new Constantinopolis type together with a rev. legend terminating ...AVGG, in a distinct and rather crude style. Obverse busts are distinguished by the presence of a large Christogram on the front of the emperor’s cuirass.” (RIC X, p.67)

207

544. Honorius AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 402-406. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing facing, head to right, holding standard and Victory on globe, treading on captive seated to left; R-V across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 1287; Depeyrot 7/1. 4.30g, 20mm, 5h. Good Very Fine; grafitto to obv.

300

From the Campostella Collection.

545. Honorius AV Solidus. Ravenna, after AD 408. D N HONORIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing facing, crowned from above by manus Dei, holding long staff surmounted by Christogram and placing hand on sword hilt, foot resting on serpent tailed lion lying to left; R-V across fields, COB in exergue. RIC X 1310; Depeyrot 3/1. 4.48g, 21mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Rare.

750

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from David Miller, 11 June 2005; Ex cgb.fr, Mail Bid Sale 23, 27 November 2004, lot 647.

An Excellent Example

546. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 408-420. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / CONCORDIA AVGG Δ, Constantinopolis seated facing, head to right, holding sceptre and Victory on globe, foot on prow; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 202; Depeyrot 73/2. 4.50g, 21mm, 12h. Near Mint State; an excellent example.

600

From the Campostella Collection.

Very Rare

547. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 408-420. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / CONCORDIA AVGG, Constantinople seated facing, head to right, holding spear and Victory on globe; star in left field, TES•OB• in exergue. RIC X 360 (R3); Depeyrot 50/2 4.43g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare; rated R3 in RIC, only a handful of examples on CoinArchives with this mintmark variation. From the Campostella Collection; Ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 112, 25 November 2002, lot 926.

208

300

548. Theodosius II AR Siliqua. Constantinople, AD 408-420. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VOT X MVLT XX in four lines within wreath; CONS* in exergue. RIC X 372; RSC 20B. 2.07g, 19mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; flan flaw.

150

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd, October 1999.

549. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 408-423. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing to right, holding labarum and Victory on globe, foot on captive; R-V across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 1322 (R4); Depeyrot 7/3. 4.43g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Antiqua Ltd, 28 March 2000.

550. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 423-425. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VOT XX MVLT XXX H, Victory standing to left, supporting long jewelled cross; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 225; Depeyrot 75/1. 4.46g, 22mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A.H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd, 1992.

Rated R5 in RIC

551. Theodosius II AR Light Miliarense. Thessalonica, AD 423-450. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor standing facing, head to left, holding spear and resting shield on ground; star in left field, CON in exergue. RIC X 393 (R5) var. (mintmark); RSC 20†. 4.18g, 23mm, 5h. Near Mint State; a well-preserved example. Extremely Rare; rated R5 in RIC. From the Campostella Collection.

209

600

552. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 424/5-430. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / GLOR ORVIS TERRAR, emperor standing facing, holding standard and cross on globe; star in left field, TESOB in exergue. RIC X 361; Depeyrot 51/1. 4.41g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

From the Campostella Collection.

553. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 425-430. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / GLOR ORVIS TERRAR Є, emperor standing facing, holding standard and cross on globe; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 232; Depeyrot 77/1. 4.47g, 22mm, 7h. Near Mint State.

600

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Jean Vinchon Numismatique, 1997.

554. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 425-430. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Theodosius II and Valentinian III enthroned facing, each holding mappa; star above, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 233; Depeyrot 78/1. 4.44g, 22mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare; rated R2 in RIC.

360

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, 10 May 2001.

555. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 425-429. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE Γ, Theodosius II and Valentinian III enthroned facing, each holding mappa; star above, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 237; Depeyrot 79/1. 4.37g, 21mm, 6h. Near Mint State; slight doubling to obv. legend.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A .H. Baldwin & Son Ltd, 1992.

210

556. Theodosius II AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 425-429. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory standing facing, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 249; Depeyrot 70/1. 1.48g, 15mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

300

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd, 20 November 2001.

557. Theodosius II Æ 12mm. Constantinople, AD 425-435. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust to right / Cross within wreath; CON in exergue. RIC X 444. 1.16g, 12mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine.

From the Campostella Collection.

558. Theodosius II AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 430. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory seated to right on cuirass, shield behind, holding shield inscribed XXX XXXX in two lines; star in left field, staurogram in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 270; Depeyrot 80/1. 2.12g, 18mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare; rated R4 in RIC.

300

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Spink & Son Ltd, June 1992.

559. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 430-440. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VOT XXX MVLT XXXX, Constantinopolis enthroned to left, holding globus cruciger and sceptre, resting foot on prow; round shield behind throne, star in right field, TESOB in exergue. RIC X 366 (R3); Depeyrot 52/1. 4.40g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare; rated R3 in RIC.

360

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Spink & Son Ltd, June 1992.

560. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 441. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VIRT EXERC ROM, soldier advancing to right, dragging captive and holding trophy over shoulder; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 284; Depeyrot 83/1. 4.39g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

From the Campostella Collection.

211

561. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 441-450. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / IMP•XXXXII•COS•XVII•P•P•, Constantinopolis seated to left, holding globus cruciger and sceptre, foot on prow, shield by throne; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 291 (R5); Depeyrot 84/1. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; edge defect, possible mount marks. Extremely Rare; rated R5 in RIC and seemingly only a handful of examples on CoinArchives.

450

From the Campostella Collection.

562. Theodosius II AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 441-442. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VIRT EXERC ROM, soldier advancing to right, dragging captive and holding trophy over shoulder; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 367 (R4); Depeyrot 53/1. 4.45g, 22mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC, seemingly only a handful on CoinArchives.

600

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Rob Freeman; Ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 112, 25 November 2002, lot 932.

563. Theodosius II AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 444. D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / Trophy with shield and two javelins; two stars flanking; CONOB in exergue. RIC X 333; Depeyrot 71/1; DOCLR 361-362; Roma XXVII, 776 (hammer: 800 GBP). 1.49g, 13mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine; light graffito.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from David Miller, 20 July 2002.

564. Aelia Eudocia (wife of Theodosius II) AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 444. AEL EVDOCIA AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust to right / Cross within wreath; CONOB* in exergue. RIC X 335 (Theodosius); Depeyrot 72/2. 1.50g, 14mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; well-centered.

360

From the Campostella Collection.

565. Licinia Eudoxia (wife of Valentinian III) AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 444. AEL EVDOXIA AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed to right / Cross within wreath; CONOB* in exergue. RIC X 336 (R4); Depeyrot 72/3. 1.36g, 14mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare; rated R4 in RIC.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Bernardi, 8 March 2003.

212

Ex Gorny & Mosch 2001

566. Aelia Pulcheria (sister of Theodosius II) AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 444. AEL PVLCHERIA AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust to right / Cross within wreath; CONOB* in exergue. RIC X 334; Depeyrot 72/4. 1.49g, 14mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Ex Numismatik Lanz München, Auction 123, 30 May 2005, lot 966; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 107, 2 April 2001, lot 645.

Ex Berk 2000

567. Valentinian III AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 425-429. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE B, Valentinian III and Theodosius II seated facing, both nimbate and holding mappa and cruciform sceptre; star above, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 242; Depeyrot 79/2. 4.39g, 21mm, 12h. About Extremely Fine; graffito to obv., small die breaks on obv.

450

From the Campostella Collection; Ex Harlan J. Berk, Auction 113, 14 March 2000, lot 51.

Only Two Examples on CoinArchives

568. Valentinian III AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 425-429. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / IMP•XXXXII COS XVII•P•P•, Constantinopolis enthroned to left, holding globus cruciger and sceptre, round shield leaning on throne; star in left field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 311 (R5); Depeyrot 84/2. 4.47g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; well-centered on large flan. Extremely Rare; this variant rated R5 in RIC, with seemingly only two examples on CoinArchives. 450 From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Baldwin’s Auctions Ltd.

569. Valentinian III AV Solidus. Ravenna, AD 426-430. D N PLA VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor standing facing, holding long cross and victory on globe, foot on head of human-headed coiled serpent; R-V across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 2010; Depeyrot 17/1. 4.34g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

From the Campostella Collection.

570. Valentinian III AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 439. D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB below. RIC X 274 (R3); Depeyrot 70/2. 1.47g, 14mm, 7h. Extremely Fine.

300

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Paul-Francis Jacquier, 8 March 2003.

213

571. Marcian AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 450. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, supporting long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 510; Depeyrot 87/1. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

300

From the Campostella Collection.

Ex Gorny 2014

572. Marcian AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 450-457. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory seated to right on cuirass, inscribing XVXXX on shield; star in left field, christogram in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 515 (R4); Depeyrot 88/1. 2.22g, 18mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; small area of flatness. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC.

300

From the Campostella Collection; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 224, 13 October 2014, lot 725.

Ex NAC 2007

573. Marcian AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 450-457. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star to right, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 520; Depeyrot 87/5. 1.33g, 14mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; rev. scratch.

210

From the Campostella Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction R, 17 May 2007, lot 1667.

Rated R4 in RIC

574. Marcian AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 450-457. D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG•, Victory standing facing, head to left, supporting long jewelled cross; star in right field, THSOB in exergue. RIC X 525 (R4); Depeyrot 55/2. 4.48g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; slightly worn dies. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC, Depeyrot cites only one example and there are seemingly only two examples on CoinArchives. From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Baldwin’s Auctions, 20 March 2007.

214

240

575. Leo I Æ 10mm. Uncertain mint, AD 457-474. [D N LEO P] F AV[G], diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / Regular Latin monogram of Leo within wreath. RIC X 683-8 (Constantinople). 0.89g, 10mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine.

From the Campostella Collection.

576. Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG H, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. 4.51g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

240

From the Campostella Collection. Acquired from Spink & Son Ltd, 7 October 1997.

577. Leo I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Δ, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOR (sic) in exergue. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. 4.33g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; ex-mount(?).

240

From the Campostella Collection.

Rated R4 in RIC

578. Leo I AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGG, Victory seated to right on cuirass, inscribing XXV on shield; star in left field, christogram in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 609 (R4); Depeyrot 95/1 var. (rev. type). 2.26g, 18mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC, seemingly only one example on CoinArchives of this variant. From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Spink & Son Ltd, 7 October 1997.

215

180

579. Leo I AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 462-466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 611; Depeyrot 93/3. 1.48g, 14mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

150

From the Campostella Collection.

580. Leo I AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 462 or 466. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in left and right fields, THSOB in exergue. RIC X 618; Depeyrot 59/1. 4.33g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare.

300

From the Campostella Collection.

Ex NFA 1987

581. Leo I AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 462. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed and mantled bust to left, holding mappa and cruciform sceptre / VICTORIA AVGGG, emperor, nimbate, enthroned facing, holding mappa and cruciform sceptre; star in left field, THSOB in exergue. RIC X 620; Depeyrot 58/1; Lacam Civilisation pl. XXVII, 1 (this coin); Roma XXIII, 731 (hammer: 3,000 GBP). 4.36g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; wavy flan, spade mark to rev. Very Rare.

1,200

This coin published in G. Lacam, Civilisation et monnaies byzantines, Paris, 1974; From the Campostella Collection; Ex Marc Poncin Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Mail Bid Sale 72, 14 June 2006, lot 1933; Ex Spink & Son Ltd, Auction 165, 8 October 2003, lot 227; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Auction 18, 1 April 1987, lot 614; Reportedly ex Lacam Collection.

Rated R3 in RIC

582. Leo I, with Leo II, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 473-474. D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE C, Leo I and Leo II seated facing on double throne, each nimbate and holding mappa; cross between, star above, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 637 (R3); Depeyrot 92/1 corr. (rev. legend). 4.51g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; obv. die break, some obv. scratches. Very Rare; rated R3 in RIC. From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Numismatic Fine Arts, 30 April 1992.

216

600

583. Zeno AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 911 and 930; Depeyrot 108/1. 4.52g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, 1995.

584. Zeno AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGTSORIVM (sic), Victory standing facing, head to left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 924 (R4); Depeyrot 109 note. 1.48g, 14mm, 12h. About Extremely Fine.

300

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd, 18 February 2003.

Rated R3 in RIC

585. Zeno AV Semissis. Constantinople, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory seated to right on cuirass, shield behind, inscribing shield upon her knee XXXV; star in left field, christogram in right, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 931; Depeyrot 109/2. 2.17g, 17mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

180

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Numismatica Ars Classica, 7 February 2012.

586. Zeno AV Solidus. Thessalonica, AD 476-491. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in left and right fields, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 939; Depeyrot 62/1. 4.39g, 21mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

600

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, February 1990.

217

Ex Berk 1992

587. Basiliscus AV Solidus. Constantinople, 9 January - August AD 475. D N bASILISCЧS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 1003; Depeyrot 101/1. 4.52g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare.

600

From the Campostella Collection; Ex Harlan J. Berk, Auction 74, 4 November 1992, lot 24.

588. Basiliscus and Marcus AV Solidus. Constantinople, autumn AD 475 - August AD 476. D N bASILISCI EƮ MARC P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE S, Basiliscus and Marcus seated facing on double throne, each nimbate, holding mappa and globus; cross between, star above, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 1022; Depeyrot 104/1; Roma XXV, 1121 (hammer 3,200 GBP). 4.11g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,500

From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, February 1990.

589. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3654; Ladich -; MEC 1 -; BMC Vandals -; DOC -; Lacam p. 936, Class 1, Type 1 (same rev. die), Type 2 (same obv. die); Roma XXVIII, 813 (hammer: 3,400 GBP). 4.25g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; ‘C’ graffito on obv., ‘+’ graffito in left and right rev. fields. Extremely Rare; rated R4 in RIC. From the Campostella Collection; Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd, 20 March 2007.

218

1,200

COINS OF THE MIGRATION PERIOD

590. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG (retrograde Z), pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG S, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 910 and 929, Depeyrot 108/1; CNG 57, 1455 (same dies); Roma XXVII, 816 (same dies). 4.36g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

591. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG (retrograde Z), pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG S, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 910 and 929, Depeyrot 108/1; Roma XXVIII, 698 (same dies). 4.24g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

592. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG S, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COИOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 910 and 929, Depeyrot 108/1. 4.30g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

593. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D И ZEИO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 910 and 929, Depeyrot 108/1; Roma E-112, 1358 (same dies); for similar, cf. Roma XXVIII, 696 (hammer: 3,400 GBP) and Roma XXIII, 1153. 4.44g, 21mm, 6h. Mint State; highly lustrous, mirror-like surfaces. Extremely Rare.

1,200

594. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 911 and 930, Depeyrot 108/1. 4.30g, 20mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

900

219

595. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Uncertain mint, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Δ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. For prototype, cf. RIC X 911 and 930, Depeyrot 108/1; Roma E-110, 1656 (same dies). 4.36g, 20mm, 5h. Near Mint State. Extremely Rare.

600

596. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Mediolanum, AD 476-489. D N ZFNO PFPR AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; M-D across fields, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3227; Depeyrot 36/3 (struck under Nepos, AD 474-475); DOCLR 678; Lacam pl. 44, 133 (struck under Nepos, AD 474-475); Toffanin 544/1; BM 1867,0101.1005 (same obv. die). 4.44g, 21mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1,200

597. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Mediolanum, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; M-D across fields, star to left, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3601; Depeyrot 39/1; DOCLR -; Lacam pl. 53, 55 (same dies); Toffanin 544/5. 4.43g, 20mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

Exceedingly Rare

598. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Mediolanum, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; M-D across fields, star to left, Θ to inner left, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3603; Depeyrot 42/1; DOCLR 679; Lacam pl. 57, 64-6 (struck under Theodoric); Toffanin 544/7; Roma XXI, 857. 4.40g, 21mm, 12h. Near Mint State. Exceedingly Rare; only the second to be offered at auction in the past 20 years.

3,000

Lacam attributes this issue to Theodoric on the belief that the Θ in the reverse field represents his initial however this leaves unexplained the A in the same position on another issue from this mint (see RIC X 3602). Since Theodoric did not capture Milan long before Zeno’s death, it is likely that this issue was struck at the behest of Odovacar. Indeed, Metlich has argued that ‘no Ostrogothic solidi production prior to the time of Anastasius I can be identified’ (The Coinage of Ostrogothic Italy, London, 2004, p. 16).

220

599. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Ravenna, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG ✶, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3630 var. (obv. legend); Depeyrot -; DOCLR -; Lacam pl. 52, 45-7 var. (same). 4.43g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State. Extremely Rare; seemingly unpublished with this obv. legend and seemingly the first example of this type to be offered at auction in over twenty years. 1,200

600. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Ravenna, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG N̄ , Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 3632; Depeyrot 43/1; DOCLR -; Lacam pl. 52, 39. 4.36g, 19mm, 6h. Mint State. Extremely Rare.

1,200

601. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Ravenna, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG N̄ , Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X 3632; Depeyrot 43/1; DOCLR -; Lacam pl. 52, 39-44. 4.39g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; ‘X’ graffito in obv. field. Extremely Rare.

900

602. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Ravenna, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG R (inverted), Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. RIC X -, but cf. 3634 (RV); Depeyrot -; DOCLR -; Lacam pl. -. 4.40g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State; minor scrapes to obv. Unpublished in the standard references.

1,200

A New Type for Ravenna

603. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Ravenna, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. Unpublished. 4.47g, 20mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Of the greatest rarity; a new type for the Ravenna mint in the name of Zeno.

221

1,200

604. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG :, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3651; cf. Depeyrot 78/2 (Nepos); Lacam pl. 50, 1 (same obv. die); Roma XXVIII, 689 (same obv. die). 4.40g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1,200

605. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG R, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3653; Depeyrot 88/2; DOCLR 686; Lacam pl. 58, 72. 4.28g, 20mm, 6h. Mint State. Extremely Rare; only the third example to be offered at auction in at least the past 20 years.

1,200

606. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3654; Depeyrot 91/1; Lacam pl. 57, 70 (same obv. die); NAC 93, 1096 (hammer: 8,500 CHF); CNG MB 72, 2213; Roma XXIII, 1152 (same obv. die). 4.43g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

1,200

In RIC X, Kent argues that the Rome solidi struck at the behest of Odovacar can be divided into two series. The first series bearing the mint mark COMOB and :, R or Γ at the end of the reverse legend, and the second with •COMOB• and Γ• or Ä (see p. 216).

607. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ•, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, •COMOB• in exergue. RIC X 3655; Depeyrot 90/1; Lacam pl. 51, 21 (same dies). 4.41g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1,200

608. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG (Z retrograde), pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ•, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, •COMOB• in exergue. RIC X 3656; Depeyrot 90/1; Lacam pls. 50-1, 10-24. 4.44g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine; flan slightly wavy. Extremely rare with partially retrograde obv. legend.

222

600

609. Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Ä, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, •COMOB• in exergue. RIC X 3657; Depeyrot 92/1; Lacam pl. 50, 7-9. 4.41g, 21mm, 6h. Near Mint State. Very Rare; rated R4 by RIC.

1,200

610. Visigoths, Uncertain King AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Arelate(?), AD 480-491. D N I ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Z, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. DOCLR 690 (Arles?) = Lacam pl. 44, 136 (Visigoths, same dies); Roma XXIII, 1157 (same dies), Roma XXVII, 818 (same dies); Roma E-112, 1363 (same dies). 4.30g, 20mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine; highly lustrous. Extremely Rare.

900

This example is struck from the same dies as the DOC specimen which is tentatively attributed to Arelate (Arles) by Grierson and Mays on the basis of style. As Arles was annexed by the Visigothic kingdom after Zeno’s accession it has been argued that coins were likely to have been struck there in his name (DOC, p. 189) although this was disputed by Kent in RIC X.

611. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Anastasius I. Uncertain mint, AD 491-518. D N ANASTASIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG B, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references; for similar, cf. Roma XXVII, 827 (hammer: 5,000 GBP); cf. MEC 1, 343-4 and Belfort 5025-42 (Merovingians). 4.43g, 19mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine; minor scratch in obv. field, highly lustrous. Extremely Rare.

1,200

612. Pseudo-Imperial, uncertain AV Solidus. In the name of Anastasius I. Uncertain mint, AD 491-518. D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Γ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. Unpublished in the standard references; for possible obv. prototypes, cf. Metlich 4-8. 4.46g, 18mm, 7h. Mint State. Extremely Rare.

1,200

The official solidi struck during the reign of Anastasius use the title ‘P P’ (pater patria) or ‘PERP’ (perpetuus) in the obverse legend. The use of ‘P F’ (perpetuus felix) on this example is characteristic of the Ostrogothic solidi struck by Theodoric in the name of Anastasius at Rome and Ravenna. The style of the portrait is most comparable to the Roman solidi struck by Theodoric in the name of Anastasius, particularly the rounded head form and the barbed lance top (see Metlich, p. 17 and LOTS 613-615). The reverse of this example however is seemingly not based on any known Ostrogothic prototype. The exergual legend is CONOB rather than COMOB and there are no monograms for either the mint or Theodoric. Even when CONOB is used on Ostrogothic solidi, a monogram usually takes the place of a ‘officina’ letter. Moreover, there are no Ostrogothic solidi in Metlich’s catalogue with the officina ‘Γ’ struck in the name of Anastasius.

223

Mint State

613. Ostrogoths, Theoderic AV Solidus. In the name of Anastasius I. Rome, AD 491-518. D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. Metlich 8; Ladich 37; Lacam pl. 59, 89; MEC 1, 112; BMC Vandals 1-2. 4.41g, 20mm, 5h. Mint State; a superb example. Very Rare.

1,800

614. Ostrogoths, Theoderic AV Solidus. In the name of Anastasius I. Rome, AD 491-518. D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG Θ, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, mint monogram in left field, COMOB in exergue. Metlich 6; Ladich 36; Lacam pl. 59, 88; MEC 1, -; BMC Vandals 63. 4.37g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; minor flan crease. Very Rare.

1,200

A Beautiful Solidus of Theoderic

615. Ostrogoths, Theoderic AV Solidus. In the name of Anastasius I. Rome, AD 493-518. D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG ☧, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. Metlich 4; Ladich 31; Lacam pl. 58, 86; MEC 1, 13; BMC Vandals 62; NAC 25, 643; Roma XXVII, 828; Roma XXV, 1134; Roma XXIII, 1155 (hammer: 7,000 GBP). 4.42g, 20mm, 6h. Mint State; some minor scratches on rev., highly lustrous. Extremely Rare; Arslan & Metlich cited the existence of only five specimens of this type. 1,800

224

COINS OF THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

616. Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 491-498. D N ANASTASIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 3a; DOC -; Sear 3. 4.47g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Rare variant with PERP in the obv. legend.

300

617. Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 491-498. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG A, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 4a; DOC 3a; Sear 3. 4.46g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

300

618. Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 491-498. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, cross on helmet, holding spear and shield with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 4a; DOC 4b; Sear 3. 4.45g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Scarce type with the emperor’s helmet decorated with a cross rather than a trefoil ornament.

300

619. Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 491-498. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, cross on helmet, holding spear and shield with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 4a; DOC 4b; Sear 3. 4.48g, 20mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Scarce type with the emperor’s helmet decorated with a cross rather than a trefoil ornament.

300

620. Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 498-518. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG B, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 7; DOC 7b; Sear 5. 4.47g, 23mm, 7h. Mint State.

600

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

225

621. Anastasius I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 498-518. D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 7; DOC 7j; Sear 5. 4.48g, 21mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch MS 5/5 - 4/5, clipped (#6944544-001). Lustrous metal.

900

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

622. Justin I AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 518-519. D N IVSTINVS P P AVC, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVCCC A, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long staff surmounted by staurogram; star in left field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 2; DOC 1; Sear 55. 4.48g, 21mm, 7h. Mint State; lustrous fields.

600

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

623. Justin I AV Tremissis. Constantinople, AD 492-518. D N IVSTINVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust to right, wearing paludamentum / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing to right, head reverted to left, holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. MIBE 5; DOC 4; Sear 58. 1.49g, 16mm, 6h. Mint State; lustrous fields.

360

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

624. Phocas AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 607-610. ∂ N N FOCAS PЄRP AVG, draped and cuirassed bust facing, wearing crown without pendilia and holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVςЧ Є, angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by staurogram and globus cruciger; CONOB in exergue. MIBE 11 corr. (rev. legend); DOC 10e.6-7; Sear 620. 4.51g, 20mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine.

240

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 91, 2 December 2021, lot 1243.

625. Leontius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 695-698. D LЄON PЄ AV, crowned bust facing, wearing loros, holding akakia and globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVςЧ Θ Δ, cross potent on three steps; CONOB in exergue. MIB 3 var. (officina not listed); DOC -; Sear 1331A. 4.41g, 20mm, 6h. Mint State; small obv. die break, well-centered, a wonderful portrait. Rare. Ex Nea Rhomē Collection; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 257, 10 October 2014, lot 9308.

226

1,200

Extremely Rare

626. Leontius AV Tremissis. Syracuse, AD 695-698. D LEON [AЧςЧ], diademed bust to right, wearing chlamys / [VICTORIA AVςЧ Θ], cross potent; CONOB in exergue. BCI 610 var. (no letters in fields); MIB 15; DOC 16; Sear 1342D. 0.99g, 12mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

600

627. Justinian II AV Solidus. Second reign. Constantinople, AD 705-711. ∂ N IҺS CҺS RЄX RЄGNANTIЧM, bust of Christ Pantokrator facing / δ N IЧSTINIANЧS ЄT TIbЄRIЧS P P A’, crowned half-length figures of Justinian, on left, and smaller figure of Tiberius, on right, both wearing divitision and chlamys, jointly holding with their right hands a cross potent on two steps. MIB 2a; DOC 2a; Sear 1414. 4.50g, 21mm, 6h. Near Mint State; weak obv. strike.

2,400

Acquired from Morton & Eden Ltd; Ex European Ambassador Collection, formed in the 1950s and 1960s.

628. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 742-745. C LЄON P A MЧL ‘, crowned and draped bust of Leo facing, holding cross potent and akakia / C N CONSƮANƮINЧS, crowned and draped bust of Constantine facing, holding cross potent and akakia. Füeg -, cf. 2.B.10 for obv. and similar rev.; DOC 1; Sear 1550. 4.43g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare; an apparently unknown rev. die.

300

629. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 742-745. C LЄON P A MЧL, crowned and draped bust of Leo facing, holding cross potent and akakia / C N CONSƮANƮINЧS •, crowned and draped bust of Constantine facing, holding cross potent and akakia. Füeg 2.C.1; DOC 1d.2; Sear 1550. 4.46g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State; slight flatness.

300

630. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 745-750. N C LЄON P A MЧL, crowned and draped bust of Leo facing, holding cross potent and akakia / N CONSƮANƮINЧS, crowned and draped bust of Constantine facing, holding cross potent and akakia. Füeg 3.D.1; DOC 1; Sear 1550. 4.43g, 20mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine; evidence of die rust.

300

227

631. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo IV and Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 750-756. COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS S LЄOҺ O ҺЄOS, crowned facing busts of Constantine V and Leo IV, each wearing chlamys; cross above, pellet between / C LЄON PAM θ, crowned facing bust of Leo III wearing loros, holding cross potent in right hand. Füeg 4.A.3; DOC 2c; Sear 1551. 3.64g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; die shift to rev.

300

632. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo IV and Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 756-764. COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS S LЄOҺ O ҺЄOS, crowned facing busts of Constantine V and Leo IV, each wearing chlamys; cross above, pellet between / C LЄON P A MЧL, crowned facing bust of Leo III wearing loros, holding cross potent. Füeg 4.A.2; DOC 2d; Sear 1551. 4.46g, 20mm, 5h. Mint State; highly lustrous.

300

633. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo IV and Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 756-764. COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS S LЄOҺ O ҺЄO-, crowned facing busts of Constantine V and Leo IV, each wearing chlamys; cross above / C LЄON P A MЧL, crowned facing bust of Leo III, wearing loros, holding cross potent. Füeg 5.A.4; DOC 2d; Sear 1551. 4.44g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State; slight flatness.

300

634. Constantine V Copronymus, with Leo IV and Leo III, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 773-775. COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS S LЄOҺ O ҺЄOS, crowned facing busts of Constantine V and Leo IV, each wearing chlamys; cross above, pellet between / C LЄON [P A] MЧL B, crowned facing bust of Leo III wearing loros, holding cross potent in right hand. Füeg 7.B.1; DOC 2f; Sear 1551. 4.45g, 20mm, 6h. Mint State.

300

635. Leo IV ‘the Khazar’, with Constantine VI, Leo III, and Constantine V, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 778-780. LЄOҺ VS S ЄςςOҺ COҺSƮA[ҺƮIҺOS O ҺЄO]S Θ, crowned busts of Leo IV and Constantine VI facing, each wearing chlamys; cross above, pellet between / LЄOҺ PAP’ COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS PAƮHR , crowned busts of Leo III and Constantine V facing, each wearing loros; cross above, pellet between. Füeg 2.A.1; DOC 1b; Sear 1583. 4.46g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State; some flatness.

600

228

636. Leo IV ‘the Khazar’, with Constantine VI, Leo III, and Constantine V, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 778-780. LЄOҺ VS S ЄςςOҺ COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS O ҺЄOS X(?), crowned busts of Leo III and Constantine V facing, each wearing chlamys; cross above, pellet between / LЄOҺ PAP’ [COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS] PAƮHR, crowned busts of Leo IV and Constantine VI facing, each wearing loros; cross above, pellet between. Füeg 2.B.1; DOC 1; Sear 1583. 4.40g, 21mm, 6h. Mint State.

600

637. Constantine VI, with Leo III, Constantine V, and Leo IV, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 780-787. LЄOҺ VS S ЄςςOҺ COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS O ҺЄOS B, Leo IV and Constantine VI enthroned facing, each wearing crown and chlamys and holding akakia; cross above / LЄOҺ PAP COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS PAƮHR, crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V, each wearing loros; cross above, two pellets between. Füeg 1.C.1 (same rev. die); DOC 2 (Leo IV); Sear 1584 (Leo IV). 4.39g, 21mm, 7h. Extremely Fine; some slight flatness.

300

638. Constantine VI, with Leo III, Constantine V, and Leo IV, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 780-787. LЄOҺ VS S ЄςςOҺ COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS O ҺЄOS B, Leo IV and Constantine VI enthroned facing, each wearing crown and chlamys and holding akakia; cross above / LЄOҺ PAP COҺSƮAҺƮIҺOS PAƮHR, crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V, each wearing loros; cross above, two pellets between. Füeg 1.C.2; DOC 2 (Leo IV); Sear 1584 (Leo IV). 4.43g, 22mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; some slight flatness.

300

639. Constantine VI and Irene, with Leo III, Constantine V, and Leo IV, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 787-790. COҺS[TAҺTIҺOS CΛS’ R’ Ь’], Constantine V, Leo III, and Leo IV seated facing, each crowned and draped / S IRIҺI AVΓ’ ΜΙ[ƮHR], crowned facing busts of Constantine IV, draped and holding globus cruciger, and Irene, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform sceptre; cross above, pellet between. Füeg 2.8 (C.2.1/ Ir.2.7); DOC 1.1; Sear 1591. 4.41g, 19mm, 6h. Mint State. Very Rare.

600

640. Constantine VI and Irene, with Leo III, Constantine V, and Leo IV, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 792-793. S IRIҺI AΓ’ AV ᙏIƮRA’, Constantine V, Leo III, and Leo IV seated facing, each crowned and wearing chlamys / COҺSƮΛҺƮIҺOS C’ b’ Δ’, crowned facing busts of Constantine IV, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger, and Irene, wearing loros; cross above, pellet between. Füeg Ir.4.10/C.4.9; DOC 2; Sear 1591; CNG 97, 796 (same dies). 4.42g, 19mm, 7h. Mint State.

600

229

Fleur De Coin

641. Constantine VI and Irene AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 793-797. IRIҺH AΓOVSƮI, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform sceptre / COҺSƮAҺƮINOS bAS’ Θ, crowned and draped facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia. Füeg 5.A; DOC 3a; Sear 1594. 4.39g, 20mm, 7h. Fleur De Coin.

1,800

642. Constantine VI and Irene, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 793-797. IRIҺH AΓOVSƮI, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform sceptre / COҺSƮAҺƮINOS bAS’ Θ, crowned and draped facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia. Füeg 5.A; DOC 3a; Sear 1594. 4.45g, 19mm, 7h. Near Mint State; areas of flat strike.

1,500

643. Irene AV Solidus. Sole Reign. Constantinople, AD 797-802. ЄIRIҺH bASILISSH, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform sceptre in left / • ЄIRIҺH bASILISSH ⴲ, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform sceptre in left. Füeg 1.C.1; DOC 1a.1; Sear 1599. 4.47g, 20mm, 6h. Near Mint State; slight flatness to edges. Rare.

1,800

Struck after AD 797, when Irene had had her son Constantine VI deposed and murdered, this solidus depicts Irene on both the obverse and reverse, and marks a distinct shift from the types of her predecessors. Gone is the cross-on-steps reverse type, or figures of deceased members of the dynasty, to be replaced by two facing busts of Irene. Here we have Irene proclaiming herself Empress and sole ruler in the most public way possible. However, after just five years on the throne she herself was deposed and replaced by her Minister of Finance, Nicephorus, and thus ended the first period in the history of the empire during which the throne was occupied by a woman exercising power in her own right. Beginning during the time she ruled as regent for her son, Irene severely depleted the state treasuries with her policy of reducing taxation and making generous gifts to buy popularity, leaving the empire weak and unable to offer effective resistance to foreign aggressors. Having had to accept terms from the Arab Caliphs both in 792 and 798 in order to protect the fragile security, and being harried by the Bulgarians simultaneously, Irene was powerless to stop the formation of a new empire in the west under Charlemagne, who in AD 800 was crowned in Rome by Pope Leo III as Holy Roman Emperor due to his belief that the Imperial position was vacant, as it could not be filled by a woman.

644. Irene AV Solidus. Sole Reign. Constantinople, AD 797-802. ЄIRIҺH bASILISSH, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform sceptre in left / ЄIRIҺH bASILISSH θ, crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger in right hand and cruciform sceptre in left. Füeg 1.A.1; DOC 1a; Sear 1599. 4.42g, 20mm, 6h. Mint State; minor die break to rev., slight flatness, otherwise lustrous and with untouched surfaces. Very Rare.

1,800

645. Nicephorus I, with Stauracius, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 803-811. • ҺICIFOROS ЬASILЄ’, crowned facing bust of Nicephorus, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / SƮAVRACIS ∂ЄSPO’ Θ, crowned facing bust of Stauracius, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia. Füeg 2.B.1; DOC 2b.1-2; Sear 1604. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h. Mint State; lustrous, untouched surfaces.

600

230

646. Nicephorus I, with Stauracius, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 803-811. ҺICIFOROS ЬASILЄ’, crowned facing bust of Nicephorus, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / SƮAVRACIS ∂ЄSPO’ Θ, crowned facing bust of Stauracius, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia. Füeg 2.A.1; DOC 2b.3; Sear 1604. 4.47g, 19mm, 6h. Mint State; slight flatness, but lustrous, untouched surfaces.

450

647. Michael II ‘the Amorian’ with Theophilus, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 821-829. ∗ MIXAHL bASILЄЧS, crowned bust of Michael facing, wearing chlamys and holding cross potent and akakia / ΘЄOFILO ∂ЄSP’ ⧾ Є, crowned bust of Theophilus facing, wearing loros and holding globus cruciger and cruciform sceptre. Füeg 4.A.1; DOC 5a; Sear 1640. 4.44g, 21mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

1,500

Ex collection formed in the Rhineland, Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 60, 5 October 1992, lot 678 (original ticket included).

648. Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus II, AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 955-959. ⧾ IҺS XPS RЄX RЄϚNANTIЧm, facing bust of Christ Pantokrator / COҺSƮAҺƮ’ CE ROMAҺ’ AЧϚϚ Ь R, crowned facing busts of Constantine VII, wearing loros, and Romanus II, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal cross between them. Füeg 15.A.2; DOC 15; Sear 1751. 4.40g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; well-centred.

600

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 360, 27 April 1999, lot 792.

649. Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus I, Stephen and Constantine AR Miliaresion. Constantinople, AD 931-944. IҺSЧS XRISTЧS ҺICA, cross potent set upon three steps, crowned facing bust of Romanus in central medallion, pelleted cross below; RƜ-MA across fields / ⧾ ROMAҺO COҺSTAҺT STЄFAҺOS CЄ COҺSTA ЄҺ XƜ Ь R in five lines; pelleted cross between dashes above and below. DOC 20; Sear 1755. 2.93g, 25mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine; pleasant old cabinet tone, superb for the issue.

450

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger.

650. Nicephorus II Phocas AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 967-969. ⧾ IҺS XPS RЄX RЄϚNANTIȠᙏ, facing bust of Christ Pantokrator / ⧾ ΘЄOTOC’ b’ HΘ’ ҺICHF, ∂ЄSP, half-length facing busts of the Virgin, nimbate, wearing stola and maphorium, and Nicephorus, wearing crown and loros, holding patriarchal cross between them; M-Θ either side of Virgin. Füeg 3.C.2; DOC 2; Sear 1778. 4.42g, 21mm, 6h. Mint State.

1,800

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

231

651. John I Zimisces AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 970-973. ⧾ IҺS XIS RЄX RЄϚNANTIN’ᙏ, facing bust of Christ Pantokrator / ⧾ ΘЄOTOC Ь’ OHΘ’ IƜ ∂ЄSP, half-length facing bust of John, wearing crown and loros, holding patriarchal cross, being crowned by the Virgin; MΘ above her, manus Dei above John. Füeg 3; DOC 3; Sear 1785. 4.40g, 23mm, 6h. Near Mint State.

1,200

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.

652. Constantine IX Monomachus AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1042-1055. +IҺS XIS RЄX RЄςNANTIҺM, Christ enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels / + CѠҺSƮAҺTҺ ЬASILЄЧS Rm, crowned bust facing, wearing loros, and holding cruciform sceptre and globe surmounted by patriarchal cross. DOC 1a; Sear 1828. 4.41g, 29mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

240

653. Theodora AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, 11 January AD 1055 - 31 August 1056. + IҺS XIS RЄX RЄGNANTIҺM, Christ standing facing on souppedion, wearing nimbus crown, pallium and colobium, holding Gospels in both hands / + θЄOΔƜPA AVΓOVCTA, Theodora, to left, wearing crown, saccos and loros, and the Virgin, on right, nimbate and clad in pallium and maphorium, with M and Θ across shoulders, both standing facing, holding between them labarum with pellet on shaft. DOC 1b; Sear 1837. 4.41g, 25mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; minor marks.

1,500

Ex collection formed in the Rhineland, Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 58, 9 April 1992, lot 1055a (original ticket included).

654. Isaac I Comnenus AV Tetarteron Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1057-1059. ⧾ IҺS XIS RЄX RЄϚNANTIҺm, facing bust of Christ Pantokrator / ⧾ ICAAKIOC BACIΛЄVC PM, Isaac standing facing, wearing crown with pendilia, medium beard, armour, and cloak, holding scabbard and globus cruciger. DOC 3; Sear 1845. 4.05g, 21mm, 6h. Mint State. Rare.

900

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Hestia Collection; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

232

655. Constantine X Ducas AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. + IҺS XS IRC X RЄGNANTIhM, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on throne with curved arms / + KѠN RACɅ O ΔOVKAC, the Virgin standing facing, nimbate, wearing tunic and maphorium, crowning emperor, standing facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, holding hand to breast and globus cruciger; M between their heads and Θ in upper right field. DOC 2; Sear 1848. 4.40g, 27mm, 6h. Near Mint State.

450

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger; Reportedly purchased from SKA Monetarium, 13 December 1988.

656. Constantine X Ducas AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. + Ih(retrograde)S IXS RЄX RЄGNANTIҺM, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on throne with curved arms / + KѠN RAC Λ O ΔOVKAC, the Virgin standing facing, nimbate, wearing tunic and maphorium, crowning emperor, standing facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, holding hand to breast and globus cruciger; M between their heads and Θ in upper right field. DOC 2; Sear 1848. 4.42g, 27mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; minor rev. die break.

180

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 101, 13 October 2022, lot 1629.

657. Constantine X Ducas AV Tetarteron Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. Facing bust of the Virgin orans, nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium; MP-ΘV across fields / KѠN RACIΛ O ΔVK, crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 3a; Sear 1849. 4.08g, 18mm, 6h. NGC graded AU, 5/5 - 4/5 (#6330384-003).

750

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, Hong Kong Signature Sale 3103, 7 December 2022, lot 35040.

658. Constantine X Ducas AV Tetarteron Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1059-1067. Facing bust of the Virgin orans, nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium; MP-ΘV across fields / KѠN RACIΛ O ΔVK, crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 3a; Sear 1849. 4.03g, 20mm, 6h. NGC graded Ch AU, 3/5 - 4/5 (#6330831-011).

600

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, Hong Kong Signature Sale 3103, 7 December 2022, lot 35039.

233

659. Eudocia, with Michael VII and Constantius, AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1067. + IhS XIS REX REGNANTINM, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing / + MIX EVΔK KWNS, Eudocia, holding jewelled sceptre, standing facing on footstool, flanked by her sons Michael and Constantius, each holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 1; Sear 1857. 4.38g, 26mm, 6h. Near Mint State.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 99, 7 July 2022, lot 1355.

660. Eudocia, with Michael VII and Constantius, AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1067. + IhS XIS REX REGNANTIꞂM, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing / + MIX EVΔK KWNS, Eudocia, holding jewelled sceptre, standing facing on footstool, flanked by her sons Michael and Constantius, each holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 1; Sear 1857. 4.43g, 25mm, 6h. Near Mint State.

450

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 99, 7 July 2022, lot 1356.

661. Michael VII Ducas AV Histamenon Nomisma. Constantinople, AD 1071-1078. Half-length bust of Christ Pantokrator facing; IC-XC across fields / ⧾ MIXAHΛ RACIΛ OΔ, half-length bust of Michael facing, wearing crown with pendilia and loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger. DOC 2a; Sear 1868. 4.41g, 28mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine.

450

Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 430, 27 April 2022, lot 332.

662. Alexius I Comnenus AV Hyperpyron. Thessalonica, AD 1092-1118. ⧾ KЄ ROHΘЄI, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing; IC-XC across upper fields / Alexius standing facing wearing jewelled chlamys, holding labarum and globus cruciger; in upper field to right, manus Dei; ΛΛЄZIѠ ΔЄCΠOT to left, TѠ KOMNNѠ to right. DOC 20h; Sear 1924. 4.47g, 30mm, 6h. Mint State; sharply struck.

600

Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG; Ex Nea Rhomē Collection, formed in the early 2000s.

234

COINS OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD ALMORAVIDS

663. Almoravids, ‘Alì bin Yusuf AV Dinar. Ishbiliya (Seville) mint, AH 518 = AD 1124. Kalima in two lines, “Commander of the Muslims ‘Alì bin Yusuf” below; Qur’an IX, 33 around / “The Imam Abd Allah Commander of the faithful” in four lines; mint and date formula around. CMA 376; Hazard 216; Vives 1660. 4.01g, 26mm, 4h. Near Extremely Fine; light scratches to obverse.

450

Acquired from Morton & Eden.

FATIMIDS

664. Fatimids, al-Mustansir billah AV Dinar. Misr mint, AH 440 = AD 1048. Kalima, Shi’ite profession and Qur’an IX, 33 in three concentric lines around central pellet / Caliphal name and titles and mint-date formula in three concentric lines around pellet. Nicol 2122; Album 719A. 4.24g, 21mm. Extremely Fine.

450

Acquired from Morton & Eden.

UMAYYADS

665. Umayyads, time of al-Walid I AV Dinar. Damascus mint, AH 95 = AD 714/5. Kalima in three lines; Qur’an IX, 33 around / Qur’an, 112 in three lines; date formula around. Album 127; Bernardi 43. 4.28g, 20mm, 7h. Good Extremely Fine.

360

Acquired from Morton & Eden Ltd.

235

MEDIEVAL AND WORLD COINS ANGLO-GALLIC

666. Anglo-Gallic, Henry VI of England and France AV Salut d’or. Saint-Lô mint, second issue, struck from 6 September 1423. ⚜ ҺЄИRICVS : DЄI : GRA : FRACORV : Ƶ : AGLIЄ : RЄX, the Virgin standing behind the arms of France facing the Archangel Gabriel standing behind the quartered arms of France and England, handing her a scroll bearing AVЄ beneath the light of God / ⚜ XPC’ ∗ VINCIT ∗ XPC’ ∗ RЄGNAT ∗ XPC’ ∗ IᙏPЄRAT, Latin cross above Һ within tressure of arches, lis at point of each arc; a lis and leopard to either side. SCBC 8164; Withers-Ford 387A.2a-b; Schneider 120; Elias 271; Duplessy 443A; Friedberg 301 (France); Numista 95179. 3.49g, 27mm, 3h. Mint State.

3,000

Ex Beaussant Lefèvre, Numismatique 19-20 June 2020, lot 28; Ex Trésor de la Guerre de Cent Ans, Beaussant Lefèvre - Thierry Parsy, 13 December 2005, lot 207.

667. Anglo-Gallic, Henry VI of England and France AV Salut d’or. Rouen mint, second issue, 1433-1444. Étienne Marcel, mintmaster. (leopard) ҺЄИRICVS : DЄI : GRA : FRACORV : Ƶ : AGLIЄ : RЄX (pellet-in-annulet under final letter), the Virgin standing behind the arms of France facing the Archangel Gabriel standing behind the quartered arms of France and England, handing her a scroll bearing AVЄ beneath the light of God / (leopard) XPC’ ∗ VIИCIT ∗ XPC’ ∗ RЄGИAT ∗ XPC’ ∗ IᙏPЄRAT (pellet-in-annulet under final letter), Latin cross above Һ within tressure of arches, lis at point of each arc; a lis and leopard to either side. SCBC 8164; Withers-Ford 386F.1b; Elias 270c; Duplessy 443A; Friedberg 301 (France); Numista 95179. 3.49g, 27mm, 3h. Mint State.

3,000

Ex Trésor de la Guerre de Cent Ans, Beaussant Lefèvre with Thierry Parsy, 30 June 2009, lot 329.

668. Anglo-Gallic, Henry VI of England and France AV Salut d’or. Rouen mint, second issue, 1433-1444. Étienne Marcel, mintmaster. (leopard) ҺЄИRICVS : DЄI : GRA : FRACORV : Ƶ : AGLIЄ : RЄX (pellet-in-annulet under final letter), the Virgin standing behind the arms of France facing the Archangel Gabriel standing behind the quartered arms of France and England, handing her a scroll bearing AVЄ beneath the light of God / (leopard) XPC’ ∗ VIИCIT ∗ XPC’ ∗ RЄGИAT ∗ XPC’ ∗ IᙏPЄRAT (pellet-in-annulet under final letter), Latin cross above Һ within tressure of arches, lis at point of each arc; a lis and leopard to either side. SCBC 8164; Withers-Ford 386F.1b; AGC 386F, 1/b; Duplessy 443A; Friedberg 301 (France); Numista 95179. NGC graded MS 65 (#4216400-001).

2,400

Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction, 22 August 2022, lot 32165.

236

669. Anglo-Gallic, Henry VI of England and France AV Salut d’or. Rouen mint, second issue, 1433-1444. Étienne Marcel, mintmaster. (leopard) ҺЄИRICVS : DЄI : GRA : FRACORV : Ƶ : AGLIЄ : RЄX (pellet-in-annulet under final letter), the Virgin standing behind the arms of France facing the Archangel Gabriel standing behind the quartered arms of France and England, handing her a scroll bearing AVЄ beneath the light of God / (leopard) XPC’ ∗ VIИCIT ∗ XPC’ ∗ RЄGИAT ∗ XPC’ ∗ IᙏPЄRAT (pellet-in-annulet under final letter), Latin cross above Һ within tressure of arches, lis at point of each arc; a lis and leopard to either side. SCBC 8164; Withers-Ford 386F.1b; AGC 386F; Duplessy 443A; Friedberg 301 (France); Numista 95179. 3.52g, 27mm, 9h. Mint State. Rare from this mint.

2,400

Ex Editions V. Gadoury, Spring Auction 2022, 12 March 2022, lot 159.

ANGLO-SAXON

670. Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Viking (Danish Northumbria). Cnut AR Penny. Ebraice Civitas type. York mint, 900-905. Patriarchal cross, one letter of CNVT at the end of each arms, REX in the gaps around / x ER :· IΛI ·:· ICE :· I ·, small cross with two pellets in angles. SCBC 991; North 497. PCGS graded AU 55 (#896079.55/44760658).

750

Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection, acquired from Stack’s Bowers Galleries.

671. Anglo-Saxon, Kings of All England. Aethelred II AR Penny. Long cross type. Winchester mint, 978-1016. Godwine, moneyer. ✠ ÆDELRED REX ANGLOX, draped bust to left / ✠ GODPINE MO PINT, voided long cross. SCBC 1151; North 774. PCGS graded MS 63 (#44760659).

600

Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), Summer 2022 Global Showcase Auction, 22 August 2022, lot 31146; Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection, sold with original collection ticket.

237

DENMARK The Only Example Graded by NGC

672. Denmark, Kingdom. Frederik III AR 1 Speciedaler. Copenhagen (Den Kongelige Mønt) mint, 1668. FRIDER • III • D • G • DAN NOR • VAN • GOT • REX •, laureate and armoured bust to right, wearing chain with Order of the Elephant / DVX • SLES HOL • STOR DITM • COM OLD & DELM, crown of Denmark above arms of Sweden, Denmark and Norway within chain of the Order of the Elephant; 15 shields of the provinces of the Kingdom of Denmark around; all superimposed on cross with long arms. KM 301; Davenport 3560. NGC graded MS 64 (#2117149-005). The only (and therefore top) example graded by NGC, but in any case superior to all others present on CoinArchives. Wonderful old cabinet tone with iridescent highlights.

6,000

Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, NYINC Signature Sale 3097, 10 January 2022, lot 30166. The second eldest son of King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, Frederick was only considered as a possible successor after his older brother Christian died in 1647. The monarchy of Denmark and Norway, along with many in northern and eastern Europe, was still nominally elective, requiring a ratification by the nobles in the Rigsraadet (royal council). When Christian IV died, misgivings about the king’s rule and Frederick’s own previous conflicts with powerful nobles led to Frederick III making significant concessions and diminishing the royal prerogative relative to the influence of the Rigsraadet in order to be elected king. He signed a ‘haandfaestning’, a charter which was designed to protect the power of the nobility and was drafted for each new king. Upon his coronation on 23 November 1648, Frederick set about removing influential members of the Rigsraadet to lessen its influence relative to his own power. This was followed by an international embarrassment: Frederick III had to sue for peace with the neighbouring kingdom of Sweden in 1658 after the latter marched across the frozen sea to invade Danish territories. Upon a further assault by the Swedish army on Copenhagen the same year, Frederick actively led the defence of the city with the memorable words ‘I will die in my nest’, rapidly reinforcing the fortifications, weaponry and army and holding out against the enemy’s assault and subsequent siege until Dutch reinforcements defeated Sweden. Frederick III became immensely popular in Denmark after his spirited defence of Copenhagen, and successfully converted this personal popularity into enthusiasm for the idea of an absolute hereditary monarchy. He declared a state of emergency in 1660 due to financial problems caused by the wars, emerging from the negotiations with the abolition of his haandfaestning or election charter and all noble privileges and a fundamental restructuring of the Danish state. The Kongeloven or ‘King’s Law’ was passed in 1665, asserting for the first time the diving right of kings in any written constitution in Europe and paving the way for Frederick III’s subsequent abolition of the Rigsraadet.

FRANCE

673. France, Maine (County). Herbert I ‘le Éveillé-Chien’ (Wakedog) AR Denier. Le Mans mint, 1015-1035. ✠ COMES CENOMANIS, Erbertus monogram / ✠ SIGNVM DEI VIVI, cross pattée with pellets in first and second quarters, Λ and Ѡ in third and fourth. Duplessy, Féodales 398; Legros 572 var. (unbarred A); Poey d’Avant 1588; Boudeau 170. 1.28g, 20mm, 10h. Good Very Fine.

Acquired from Beaussant Lefèvre, Paris.

238

674. France, Kingdom. Charles VI ‘le Bien-Aimé/le Fol’ (the Well-Beloved/the Mad) AV Ecu d’Or. 2nd emission, struck from 28 February 1388. ✠ KAROLVS ⁑ DЄI : GRACIA : FRAnCORVM : RЄX, crowned arms of France / ✠ XPC * VIИCIT * XPC * RЄGИAT * XPC * IИPЄRAT, floriated cross within quadrilobe, crown between each lobe. Duplessy 369A; Friedberg 291; Numista 12654. 3.98g, 30mm, 1h. Good Extremely Fine; well-centered on a splendidly large planchet.

750

Ex Editions V. Gadoury, Spring Auction 2022, 12 March 2022, lot 150.

675. France, Kingdom. Charles VI ‘le Bien-Aimé/le Fol’ (the Well-Beloved/the Mad) AV Écu d’Or. Mirabel mint, 3rd emission, struck from 11 September 1389. ✠ KAROLVS ⁑ DЄI ⁑ GRACIA ⁑ FRAꞂCORVᙏ ⁑ RЄX, crowned coat-of-arms / ✠ XPC’ ★ VIИCIT ★ XPC’ ★ RЄGИAT ★ XPC’ ★ IИPЄRAT ★, floriated cross within quadrilobe, crown between each lobe. Cf. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 332 (for type); Duplessy 369B; Friedberg 291. 3.91g, 28mm, 7h. Extremely Fine.

900

Ex Trésor de la Guerre de Cent Ans, Beaussant Lefèvre - Thierry Parsy, 30 June 2009, lot 122.

676. France, Kingdom. Charles VII ‘le Victorieux’ (the Victorious) AV Écu d’or à la couronne. Anger mint, 2nd emission, struck from August 1445. ♕ KAROLVS 8 DЄI 8 GRA 8 FRAИCORVᙏ 8 RЄX, crowned coat-of-arms of France flanked by crowned fleur-de-lis / ♕ XPC 8 VIИCIT 8 XPC 8 RЄGИAT 8 XPC 8 IИPЄRAT, cross feuillue with voided quatrefoil at centre; all within quadrilobe with crowns at points. Duplessy 511A; Friedberg 307. 3.30g, 28mm, 3h. Near Mint State.

1,200

Ex Monnaies d’Antan, Auction 12, 22 November 2012, lot 345.

677. France, Kingdom. Louis XI le Prudent (the Prudent) AV Écu d’or au soleil. Châlons-en-Champagne mint, struck from 2 November 1475. ♛ LVDOVICVS ⦂ DЄI ⦂ GRΛ ⦂ FRΛNCORV ⦂ RЄX, crowned coat-of-arms, sunburst above; pellet below 21st letter / ♛ XPS ⦂ VIꞂCIT ⦂ XPS ⦂ RЄGꞂΛT ⦂ XPS ⦂ IᙏPЄRΛT, cross fleurdelisée with pellet in quadrilobe at centre; pellet below 21st letter. Duplessy 544; Ciani 745; Lafaurie 529; Friedberg 312. 3.47g, 27mm, 4h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

750

Ex GK Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIV, 28 March 2022, lot 1277; Ex MDC Monnaies de Collection sarl, Auction 3, 1 December 2017, lot 393 (hammer: EUR 2,500).

239

678. France, Kingdom. Louis XII AV Écu d’or au soleil de Provence. Tarascon mint, struck from 25 April 1498. (crowned lis) LVDOVICVS ⦂ D ⦂ G ⦂ FRΛꞂCO ⦂ RЄX ⦂ PROVIꞂ’ CO ⦂ T ◦ L ◦, crowned coat-of-arms; annulet under 24th letter / (crowned lis) ⚬ XPS ⦂ VIꞂCIT ⦂ XPS ⦂ RЄGꞂΛT ⦂ XPS ⦂ IᙏPЄRΛT ⦂ T ◦ L ◦, cross fleurdelisée with voided quadrilobe, pellet at centre; annulet under 26th letter. Duplessy 653; cf. Ciani 903; Lafaurie 596b. 3.29g, 27mm, 3h. Extremely Fine. Rare.

600

Ex GK Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXIV, 28 March 2022, lot 1279; Ex MDC Monnaies de Collection sarl, Auction 3, 1 December 2017, lot 395.

679. France, Kingdom. Francois I AV Ecu d’Or. Rouen mint, 19 March 1541. (sun) FRANCISCVS : DEI : GRA : FRANCORVM ♥ REX, crowned arms of France; B below / ⧾ XPS : VINCIT : XPS : REGNAT : XPS ♥ IMPERAT :, plain cross with pellet within thirteen-lobed border with floral decorations; pellet under fifteenth letter. Duplessy 889; Friedberg 351; Numista 126405. 3.40g, 25mm, 10h. Good Extremely Fine.

750

Ex Fernand David (1861-1927) Collection.

680. France, Kingdom. Louis XIV AV Louis d’Or. Paris mint, 1657. Jean Warin, engraver. LVD • XIIII • D • G • FR • ET • NAV • REX, laureate head to right; date below, flower above / CHRS • REGN • VINC • IMP, cross formed of eight Ls, crowned and cantoned by four lilies, mintmark in centre. Duplessy 1422; Friedberg 418; Gadoury 245. 6.70g, 25mm, 9h. Extremely Fine.

600

Acquired from cgb.fr.

Very Rare Mint

681. France, Kingdom. Louis XV AV Demi-Louis d’Or. Amiens mint, 1742. LUD • XV • D • G • FR • ET NAV • REX •, diademed head to left; privy mark below / • CHRS • REGN • VINC • IMPER ♥ (date), two shields crowned; X (mint mark) below. Duplessy 1644; Friedberg 465; Gadoury 330. 3.82g, 20mm, 6h. 480 Good Very Fine. Very rare from this mint. Acquired from cgb.fr.

240

682. France, Kingdom. Louis XVI AV Double Louis d’Or. Nantes mint, 1786. Pierre Benjamin Duviver, engraver. LUD • XVI • D • G • FR • ET NAV • REX, bare head to left; DUVIV on neck truncation, small dog (privy mark) below / CHRS • REGN • VINC • IMPER (date), two shields crowned; T (mint mark) below. Duplessy 1706; Friedberg 474; Gadoury 363. 15.64g, 29mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; small scuffs to obv. and rev.

600

Acquired from cgb.fr.

683. France, First Republic. Napoléon Bonaparte, as Premier Consul, AR Medal. Commemorating the arrival of the Venus de Medici. Dated year 4 of Bonaparte’s consulate = 1803. Dies by Jeuffroy; Denon, mintmaster. Head to right; JEUFFROY FECIT 1803 in two lines below truncation, DENON DIR. G. D. MUSEE C. D’ARTS beneath / AUX ARTS LA VICTOIRE, the Venus de Medici; L’AN IV DU CONSULAT DE BONAPARTE below. Bramsen 280. NGC graded MS 61 (#5790006-050).

450

Acquired from cgb.fr.

684. France, First Republic. Napoléon Bonaparte, as Premier Consul, AV 40 Francs. Paris mint, AN XI = 1803A. Obverse die by Pierre-Joseph Tiolier. BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL., bare head to left; Tiolier signature below bust truncation / REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, denomination within laurel wreath, date and mintmarks below. KM 652; Gadoury 1080; Mazard 402; Friedberg 479. PCGS graded AU 53 (#17258232).

300

GERMAN STATES

685. German States, Preußen (Prussia, Kingdom). Friedrich II AV 1 Friedrich d’Or. Berlin mint, 1751A. FRIDERICVS BORVSSORVM REX, bare-headed and armoured bust to right; cross below / Eagle sitting upon trophy of weapons and banners with ornate cartouche containing A (mintmark) below; small crown above, date below. KM 260; Friedberg 2381. 3.26g, 21mm, 12h. Very Fine.

600

Reportedly acquired from Muizon & Rieunier, 3 July 2019.

241

686. German States, Bayern (Bavaria, Kingdom). Ludwig II AV Medallic Dukat. Munich mint, circa 1864-1886. Design by Carl Friedrich Voigt. LUDWIG II KŒNIG V. BAYERN, bust to right; C.V. below truncation / Crown within laurel wreath. KM -; Witt. 3003. 3.48g, 20mm, 12h. Mint State; minor flaw on obv. Rare; unlisted in Krause Mischler.

720

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 1227.

GREAT BRITAIN Ex Numismatic Circular, 2001

687. Great Britain, Plantagenet. Edward III AV Noble. Fourth coinage. Pre-Treaty period, series F. Tower (London) mint, 1356. (crown) ЄDWΛRD x DЄI x GRA x RЄX x AИGL x Ƶ x FRAИC x D ҺУB, king standing facing in ship, holding sword and shield bearing coat-of-arms; within beaded border / IhC ⚬ AVTЄᙏ ⚬ TRAIICIЄIIS ⚬ P ⚬ ᙏЄDIVᙏ ⚬ ILORVᙏ IBAT, short cross potent over cross fleurée; voided angled polylobe containing Є at centre, lion passant guardant with crown above and trefoil below in each angle, tiny lis in second quarter, all within polylobe, lis in each spandrel. SCBC 1489; North 1173; Frieberg 89. NGC graded AU 58+ (#2124432-002).

3,900

Ex Sincona AG, Auction 75, 16 May 2022, lot 2; Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, February 2001, lot MG0191.

688. Great Britain, Plantagenet. Edward III AV Noble. Fourth coinage. Treaty period, series A. Tower (London) mint, 1361-1369. ◦ ЄDWΛRD ⁑ DЄI ⁑ GRA ⁑ RЄX ⁑ ΛꞂGL’ ⁑ DꞂS ⁑ ҺУB ˣZ(retrograde)ˣ AQT, king standing facing in ship, holding sword and shield bearing coat-of-arms; within beaded border / ✠ IҺC ⁑ ΛVTЄᙏ ⁑ TRΛꞂSIЄꞂS ⁑ PЄR ⁑ ᙏЄDIV ⁑ ILLORVᙏ ⁑ IBAT, short cross potent over cross fleurée; voided angled polylobe containing Є at centre, lion passant guardant with crown above and trefoil below in each angle; all within polylobe, lis in each spandrel. SCBC 1503; North 1232; Friedberg 95. 7.67g, 33mm, 2h. Good Extremely Fine.

3,000

Ex Seaby’s Coin and Medal Bulletin, February 1973, G2116, pg. 61, pl. 8.

242

689. Great Britain, Plantagenet. Edward III AV Noble. Fourth coinage. Treaty period, series A. Tower (London) mint, 1361-1369. ˣ ЄDWΛRD ⁑ DЄI ⁑ GRΛ ⁑ RЄX ⁑ ΛꞂGL’ ⁑ DꞂS ⁑ ҺУB ˣZ(retrograde)ˣ AQT, king standing facing in ship, holding sword and shield bearing coat-of-arms; within beaded border / ✠ IҺC ⁑ ΛVTЄᙏ ⁑ TRΛꞂSIЄꞂS ⁑ PЄR ⁑ ᙏЄDIV ⁑ ILLORVᙏ ⁑ IBAT, short cross potent over cross fleurée; voided angled polylobe containing Є at centre, lion passant guardant with crown above and trefoil below in each angle; all within polylobe, lis in each spandrel. SCBC 1502; North 1231; Friedberg 95. 7.69g, 33mm, 5h. Extremely Fine; slight die shift, ex mount.

1,500

Ex Spink, Auction 374, 16 January 2022, lot 13.

690. Great Britain, Plantagenet. Henry VI AV 1/4 Noble. First reign. York mint, 1422-1461. ⚜ һЄꞂRIC’ ⚜ DI’ ⚜ GRA’ ⚜ RЄX ⚜ AꞂGL’, quartered coat-of-arms within double tressure of eight arcs; two fleur-de-lis over shield (mintmark) / ⚜ ЄXΛLTΛBITVR*IꞂ ⚬ GLORIΛ , ornate cross, voided angled polylobe containing lis at centre, lion passant guardant with crown above in each quarter within double tressure of eight arcs. SCBC 1816; Friedberg 114; Numista 53973. 1.75g, 20mm, 11h. Extremely Fine.

1,350

Ex Baldwin’s Auctions Ltd, Auction 105, 12 July 2022, lot 184.

Ex Glendining & Co, 1950

691. Great Britain, Tudor. Henry VII AV Angel. London (Tower) mint, 1504-1505. Class IV. (cross crosslet) hЄꞂRIC ⁑ DI⁑GRΛ’ x RЄX ⁑ ΛꞂGLIЄ’ ⁑ Z ⁑ FRΛ’, crowned, nimbate figure of St. Michael the Archangel facing, standing on dragon below, spearing it with cross-tipped staff / (cross crosslet) PЄR ❀ CRVCЄ’ ❀ TVΛ’ ❀ SΛLVΛ ❀ nOS ❀ XPЄ’ ❀ RЄD’, galley surmounted by shield bearing king’s coat-of-arms; h and rose across fields. SCBC 2186; North 1697; Friedberg 151. NGC graded UNC Details, holed (#2124432-047).

3,000

Ex Sincona AG, Auction 75, 16 May 2022, lot 46; Ex Spink, Auction 3014, 8 October 2003, lot 266; Ex L. A. Lawrence collection, Glendining & Co., 17 May 1950, lot 103.

243

244

Extremely Rare

692. Great Britain, Tudor. Elizabeth I AV Pound. Seventh issue, ‘1’ mm. London (Tower) mint, 1601-1602. 1 : ELIZABETH • D’. G’. ANG’. FRA’. ET • HIB’. REGINA •, crowned and mantled bust to left / 1: SCVTVM • FIDEI • PROTEGET • EAM •, crowned coat-of-arms; E-R across fields. SCBC 2539; North 2008; Schneider 805; Brown & Comber F23. 11.24g, 39mm, 7h. Extremely Fine; faint graffito ‘G44’ to right rev. field. Extremely rare with this mintmark and in this denomination; only four other specimens found on CoinArchives. 12,000 Ex Christopher Comber Collection; Acquired from Knightsbridge Coins Ltd, 1995. The daughter of Henry VIII and his infamous second wife Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I (1558-1603) came to the throne at the young age of 26, at a time when religious division, economic stagnation and foreign invasion seriously threatened the security of the kingdom. In contrast to her half-sister Mary I, the imagery of Elizabeth’s coinage centred not on her lineage, but her personal virtues and charisma. Although she would have been in her 60s when this coin was struck, she is depicted with a youthful appearance on the obverse of this coin – her face unlined, her hair loose and flowing in conscious imitation of the Virgin Mary and young unmarried women of the time. This was the result of a fiercely controlled public image, in which artists worked not from a real or even recent likeness of the queen, but a state-sanctioned ‘face pattern’ which ensured a consistently flattering portrait. The result of this was a projection of the ageless power and purity of the monarch’s body, and by extension the ‘body politic’ of her government, which provided security and prosperity for her subjects. This coin is also a fine example of the successful restoration of the currency which occurred under Elizabeth, and which she regarded as one of her greatest achievements. English currency had gradually become more and more debased over the sixteenth century, and the situation had become so dire that it was hindering international trade and the solvency of the monarchy. Previous efforts by Edward VI and Mary I, her predecessors, had made little to no effect in improving the quality of coins in circulation. Elizabeth therefore made it a priority, and by 1561 the Royal Mint had collected, melted down and re-minted the debased currency, even making a profit in the process. Coins of this type, which featured Elizabeth I in her most iconic style, also played a part in early colonisation efforts. Walter Raleigh, on his 1565 voyage to South America, traded gold coins (likely of this type, given his descriptions) with the Arawak people of coastal Guyana. Their value as trade items lay not in their metallic value (gold was plentiful in the region, which Raleigh claimed to be “more lucrative than Peru”) but purely in the fine portrait of Elizabeth on the obverse, because the Arawaks desired to have an image of the queen whom Raleigh had told them so much about. He therefore gifted them the coins on the condition they swear allegiance to the image of the queen, and returned from the fabled land of El Dorado with less gold than he had started with (A Discoverie of the large, rich, and beautiful Empire of Guiana, 1596).

245

693. Great Britain, Stuart. James I AV Laurel. Third coinage. Tower (London) mint, 1623-1624. (lis) IACOBVS D: G: MAG: BRI: FRA: ET HIB: REX, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to left (fourth head variety); XX (mark of value) behind / (lis) FACIAM EOS IN GENTEM VNAM, crowned coatof-arms over long cross fourchée. SCBC 2638C; KM 75; North 2114. 8.79g, 34mm, 1h. Near Extremely Fine; some light scratches.

2,400

Reportedly acquired from Muizon & Rieunier, 3 July 2019.

694. Great Britain, George II AV 2 Guineas. London mint, 1748. GEORGIVS • II • DEI • GRATIA •, laureate bust to left / M•B•F•ET•H•REX•F•D•B•ET•L• D•S•R•I•A•T•ET•E•, crowned coat-of-arms; date flanking above. SCBC 3669. 16.19g, 33mm, 5h. Very Fine; traces of mounting, dig to reverse at base of shield.

720

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 1241.

INDIA

695. India, British Colonial. Victoria AV Mohur. East India Company issue. Calcutta mint, 1841. Dies by William Wyon. VICTORIA QUEEN, young head to left; small W. W. on neck, date below / EAST INDIA COMPANY, lion walking to left, palm tree in background; denomination in English and Arabic below. KM 462.1; S&W 3.7; Friedberg 1595a. NGC graded UNC Details: obv. rim filed, cleaned (#6672716-001).

2,100

Ex Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG, Online Auction 138, 17 July 2022, lot 335.

246

ITALIAN STATES

696. Italian States, Savoia-Sardegna (Savoy-Sardinia, Kingdom). Vittorio Emanuele I AR 1/2 Scudo. Turin mint, 1814. Amedeo Lavy, engraver. VIC • EM • D • G • REX • SAR • CYP • ET • IER •, draped bust to left; A.LAVY incuse on shoulder, date below / DVX • SABAVD • ET • MONTISFER • PRINC • PEDEM • & •, crowned coat-of-arms. MIR 1021; Pagani 16; Gigante 3; KM 109; Craig 91; Numista 200780. NGC graded AU 58 (#6675143-001). Stunning deep old cabinet tone with hints of iridescence. Very Rare.

1,200

Displaying the First AD Date on Any Coin

697. Italian States, Sicilia (Sicily, Kingdom). Frederick I (later Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor) and Constance as Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, AV Tari. Amalfi mint, November 1198. Outer circle Kufic legend: ‘struck in his reign in the year five hundred ninety-five’; inner circle Latin legend: ⧾ FRE REX SICILIE around palm tree in fruit in central circle / Outer rim Kufic legend: ‘struck in the year one-hundred one-thousand ninety and eight; inner rim Kufic legend: ‘Constance imperatrix of the Romans’, around Latin cross in central circle. L. Travaini, ‘Le monete Sveve con legend arabe nel Regno di Sicilia (1194-1220)’ in RIN 1986, p.136, 2; MIR 36; MEC 14, p.166 fig. 3b; CNI XVII, p.10, 1, pl. 1, 14; G. Sambon, Repertario generale, 1113; M. Guglielmi, La monetazione degli Svevi nell’Italia meritionale, Serravalle RSM, 2000, p.67, 1; D. Spinelli, Monete cufiche, Napoli 1844, pl. 20, 1; R. Levinson, The Early Dated Coins of Europe 1234-1500, Clifton 2007, p.258; Friedberg 51. 0.88g, 24mm. Mint State. Very rare and of great numismatic importance.

1,800

This remarkable scyphate-shaped tari bears two dates: Hegira 595 and Christian era 1198, the earliest Anno Domini date ever recorded on a coin, which according to Philip Grierson and L. Travaini commemorates the investiture formally granted to Frederick II and Constance by Pope Innocent III on 19 November of that year. In return the pope received an annual cens of 1,000 ‘schifati’, cf. MEC pp.165-6. Amalfi was an independent republic from the 7th century that managed to extract itself from Byzantine vassalage in 839 and first elected an independent duke in 958. By 944 Amalfitan merchants were already present at Constantinople, trading with Egypt by the late 10th century and rivalling Pisa and Genova in its domestic prosperity and maritime trade with Asia before the rise of the Venice. In 1073 the republic fell to the Norman countship of Apulia and was granted many rights and attained great wealth. In about 1080, Amalfitans founded a hospice for pilgrims in Islamic occupied Jerusalem, from which the Order of the Hospital (St. John of Jerusalem) later developed. Under Roger II in 1131, Amalfi passed into the kingdom of Sicily and by 1220 the Empire of Frederick II. In matters of medieval culture, Amalfi was famous for its multiculturalism, flourishing schools of law and mathematics, maritime code and the reputed Amalfitan Flavio Gioia, who in about 1300 was considered the first marine pilot to have introduced the sailor’s compass to Western navigation. The date on the Amalfi tari must be connected to the fact that Islamic coinage had been dated from the time of the 5th Caliph, ‘Abd al-Malik in the 77th year of the Hagira, the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Yathrib in AD 696/7. Amalfi had been within the Islamic monetary sphere strongly influenced by the Emirate of Sicily since the 10th century, in which the standard gold unit was the gold Tarì (meaning “fresh” or “newly minted money”), the Christian designation of Ruba’i or quarter Dinar with the ideal weight of 1.05g of gold. The idea that coins should bear a date of issue referencing the time passed since the birth of Christ was not widespread in Europe until the mid 16th century. While the learned Scythian monk, Dionysus Exiguus from Tomis, formulated the Anno Domini calendar in the 6th century and is still used to enumerate the years of both the Julian and Gregorian calendars, it was not until the advent of this issue in 1198 that European coinage was so dated. This dating system was not utilised again until 1234 by the bishopric of Roskilde on its silver deniers and in 1251 in Arabic script on the Islamic-styled silver coinage by the crusader city of Acre. In the spring of 1250 the papal legate Odo of Châteauroux arrived in Syria and was scandalised to learn that the Franks were striking gold and silver coins with the name and dates of the Muslim Prophet and had them substituted with purely Christian legends and dates in the name of the Messiah, albeit written in Arabic to maintain acceptability in the region. Much later from 1372 dated groschen in the name of Charlemagne were struck on a regular basis at Aachen. Frederick II, son of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI of the Hohenstaufen dynasty and Constance the posthumous daughter of Roger II de Hauteville and heiress to the Norman kings of Sicily, was an infant of only three years of age when his father died and was crowned king of Sicily on papal authority at Palermo cathedral on 17 May 1198. Frederick’s minority under his mother only lasted five months as the regent died on 27 November 1198.

247

Extremely Rare

698. Italian States, Venezia (Venice, Republic). Nicolò Marcello AV Ducat. Doge LXIX, 1473-1474. NICOL’ • MARCЄLL’ S • M • VЄNЄTI, St. Marco standing to right, holding Gospels and presenting banner to Doge kneeling to left; DVX downwards in field / • SIT • T • XPЄ • DAT • Q • TV • RЄGIS • ISTЄ DVCAT’, Christ standing facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, surrounded by mandorla containing nine stars. CNI VII 21; Papadopoli 3; Paolucci 1; Friedberg 1236; Numista 116380. 3.52g, 21mm, 12h. Good Very Fine; planchet indentation rev. Extremely Rare; only two examples on CoinArchives.

2,400

ITALY

699. Italy, Kingdom. Vittorio Emanuele II AR 5 Lire. Commemorating the Unification of Italy. Firenze (Florence) mint, 1861F. Dies by Luigi Gori. VITTORIO EMANUELE II • RE D’ITALIA, head to right; small hill and L. GORI F. below / • CINQUE LIRE ITALIANE •, crowned coat-of-arms within chain of the Order of the Santissima Annunziata, all within laurel wreath; FIRENZE and date below. Edge inscription: ❀ FERT ❀ ❀ FERT ❀ ❀ FERT ❀. MIR 1081a; Pagani 481; Gigante 31; KM 7; Davenport 139. 24.75g, 37mm, 6h. Very Fine. Very Rare.

960

Ex Vitangelo Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 8 October 2021, lot 1055.

700. Italy, Kingdom. Umberto I AR 50 Centesimi. Rome mint, 1889R. Engraved by Filippo Speranza. UMBERTO I RE D’ITALIA, head to right; date below / Crowned arms within chain of the Order of the Santissima Annunziata; denomination across fields, all within laurel and oak wreath; Star of Italy above, R (mintmark) below. MIR 1104a; Pagani 608; KM 26; Gigante 42. 2.48g. 18mm, 6h. Mint State. Rare.

192

Ex Vitangelo Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 8 October 2021, lot 1057.

701. Italy, Kingdom. Umberto I AR 50 Centesimi. Rome mint, 1892R. Engraved by Filippo Speranza. UMBERTO I RE D’ITALIA, head to right; date below / Crowned arms within chain of the Order of the Santissima Annunziata; denomination across fields, all within laurel and oak wreath; Star of Italy above, R (mintmark) below. MIR 1104b; Pagani 609; KM 26; Gigante 43. 2.48g, 18mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

240

Ex Vitangelo Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 8 October 2021, lot 1058.

248

LOMBARD KINGDOM

702. Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Gregory AV Solidus. In the name of Justinian II. 732-739. DNI - ••• - P P ЄTV, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICTOR AϚVST, cross potent on globe set on four steps; G to left, CONOB in exergue. LCSI 27; MIR 154; MEC 1089; CNI pp. 129-134, 1-44. 3.70g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; stunning iridescence.

720

Ex Numismatica Varesi, Auction 78, 30 September 2021, lot 5; Previously acquired from Massimo Rossi, Mantova SPL.

703. Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Arichis II AV Solidus. 765-774. D NS VICTORIΛ, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICTIRA ❖ ASVSTV, cross potent on globe set on four steps; A to left, C•ONO•B in exergue. LCSI 55; MIR 180; CNI pp. 151-2, 7-13. 3.85g, 20mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

1,920

704. Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Arichis II AV Tremissis. 765-774. D NS VICTORIΛ, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VITIRA ❖ PRINPI, cross potent on base; A to left, C•ONO•B in exergue. LCSI 58; MIR 183; MEC 1097; CNI pp. 153, 2-3. 1.22g, 16mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

960

705. Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Grimoald III and Charlemagne AV Tremissis. 788-792. GRIMVALD, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / DOMS ❖ CAR • RX, cross potent set on base; pellets flanking base, G-R across fields, VICA in exergue. LCSI 63; MIR 187; MEC 1098; CNI p. 155, 8-9. 1.25g, 17mm, 7h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

960

706. Lombard Kingdom, Beneventum. Grimoald III AV Solidus. 792-806. GRIMVALD, crowned and draped bust facing, holding globus cruciger / VICTORA ❖ PRINCIP, cross potent on globe set on three steps; two triangles flanking base; G-R across fields, C•ONO•B (retrograde) in exergue. LCSI 68; MIR 199; MEC 1101; CNI pp. 156-7, 22-8; Oddy 457 = BMC Vandals p. 172, 11, pl. 23, 8. 3.85g, 21mm, 7h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

1,200

249

707. Lombard Kingdom, Salerno. Siconulf AR Denaro. 839-849. ⧾ PRINCЄ BЄNЄBЄNTI around SCONF monogram / Λ • RHΛNGЄLV MIHΛЄ •, cross potent set on three steps; wedge and pellet flanking. MEC 1121; BMC Vandals -; Sambon 497. 0.85g, 18mm, 12h. Near Mint State; attractive deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

360

Ex Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions, E-Auction 100, 12 June 2021, lot 413.

MAURITIUS

708. Mauritius, British Commonwealth. Elizabeth II AV 1000 Rupees. 1975. QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND (date), diademed and draped bust to right / MAURITIUS, Mauritius Flycatcher standing on nest between two branches; denomination below. Friedberg 2; KM 42. 33.88g, 35mm, 12h. Mint State; lustrous and proof-like, in original case and capsule.

900

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 1386. Mintage of only 1966 pieces for this one year type coin.

MONACO

709. Monaco, Principality. Rainier III and Grace Kelly AV 200 Francs. 1966. Design by Georges Simon and R. Cochet. GRACE • RAINIER III DE MONACO, jugate busts to left; G.S behind, date below / Xᴱᴹᴱ • ANNIVERSAIRE MARIAGE, crowned coat-of-arms, denomination below, mintmarks flanking. KM XM2. 32.11g, 35mm, 6h. Mint State. Scarce.

840

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 1390. Only 5000 pieces struck.

250

SPANISH STATES

710. Spanish States, Castile and Leon (Kingdom). Juan II AV Dobla. Burgos mint, 1430-1454. IOһAꞂЄS ✿ DЄI ✿ GRACIA ✿ RЄX ✿ CASTЄLL ✿, coatof-arms; B above / IOһAꞂЄS ✿ DЄI ✿ GRACIA ✿ RЄX ✿ CASTЄLLЄ, lion rampant to left in two quarters, castle in two quarters of cross. Friedberg 112; Numista 107237. 4.65g, 32mm, 9h. Extremely Fine.

750

Ex Áureo & Calicó, Auction 388, 27 April 2022, lot 2705.

SPAIN

711. Spain, Napoleonic Occupation. Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte AV 20 Pesetas. Barcelona mint, 1812. Lozenge-shaped Arms of Catalonia-Barcelona within wreath / •EN • BARCELONA, denomination over two grain stems; date below. KM 76. 6.73g, 23mm, 12h. About Extremely Fine; light red-blue tone.

720

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 1494.

UNITED STATES

712. United States, Liberty Head AV 10 Dollars. New Orleans mint, 1903. Draped bust of Liberty to left, wearing diadem inscribed LIBERTY; thirteen stars around, date below / • UNITED STATES OF AMERICA •, eagle with escutcheon on breast standing facing on olive branch and bundle of arrows, with wings spread, head to left; banner above inscribed IN GOD WE TRUST, mint mark and denomination below. Friedberg 159; KM 102; Yeoman p. 261. 16.73g, 27mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

570

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 73, 23 July 2020, lot 1501.

END OF SALE 251