CNG 132 Main Virtual Catalog

May 18-19, 2026

CNG Feature Auction 132

May 18–19, 2026

To Be Conducted Live and Online at the CNG Lancaster Auction Center

Featuring: The PLZ Collection

The Thomas A. Palmer Collection

An Impressive Offering of Siculo-Punic Tetradrachms

A Fine Style Carthaginian Tridrachm

The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Drachms

A Splendid Group of Mint State Alexander Staters

A Magnificent High Grade Alexander Distater

Selections from the James A. Lock Collection

A Group of Attractive Early Anglo-Saxon Pennies

An Important Group of Royal Mint Splashers

US Office

PO Box 479

Lancaster, PA 17608-0479

Phone (717) 390.9194 • Fax (717) 390.9978

California Office

CNG Authorized Partner

4040 Macarthur Blvd., Suite 307

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Phone (949) 932.0500

UK Office

De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square London WC1B 4HS, UK Phone +44.20.7495.1888 Fax +44.20.7499.5916

EU Office

Noordeinde 64a 2514GK, The Hague, NL Phone +31.851.301.541

Numismatic Group, Inc.

Grading Conditions

English Deutsch Français Italiano

Proof Polierte Platte

Mint State/Uncirculated Stempelglanz

Extremely Fine (EF) Vorzüglich

Very Fine (VF)

Sehr Schön

Flan Bruni Fondo Specchio

Fleur de Coin Fior di Conio

Superbe Splendido

Très Beau Bellissimo

Fine Schön Beau Molto Bello

Good/Fair Gut

Common Abbreviations

AD Anno Domini

Bien

Bello

BE Bithynio-Pontic Era IY Indictional Year

Æ Bronze BI Billon MBS Mail Bid Sale

AE Actian Era CE Common Era mm Mintmark

AH Anno Hegirae Cf. Confer (compare) PB Lead

AR Silver c/m Countermark p. Page

AV Gold CY Civic Year (Era) pl. Plate

BBS Buy or Bid Sale EL Electrum RPE Roman Provincial Era

BC Before Christ FPL Fixed Price List RY Regnal Year

BCE Before the Common Era g Gram SE Seleukid Era

See Bibliography on our website, www.cngcoins.com, for a complete list of reference abbreviations.

Bank Accounts

Beneficiary: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc.

US$ Account:

Northwest Bank

€ Account:

HSBC Bank plc

£ Account:

HSBC Bank plc

100 Liberty St., Warren PA 16365 60 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4TR 60 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4TR

Account Number: 7216021910

ABA Number: 243374218

BIC or SWIFT: NWBIUS33

Account Number: 84309198

Sort code: 40 12 76

IBAN: GB82HBUK40127684309198

BIC or SWIFT: HBUKGB4B

Account Number: 71170910

Sort code: 40 11 60

IBAN: GB45HBUK40116071170910

BIC or SWIFT: HBUKGB4B

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. is a United States limited company. Auction license number AY002406. United Kingdom Registration No. FC035702, Branch No. BR020787.

All lots in this auction were in the possession of CNG in CNG’s Lancaster, Pennsylvania office no later than 27 March 2026. This information is provided for the protection of buyers in the event that US import restrictions are introduced subsequent to that date on any of the types of coins that are included in this auction.

Notice Regarding “Slabs”

Coins that have been encapsulated (“slabbed”) by a grading and/or authentication service may not be returned for any reason, including authenticity, if they have been removed from the encapsulation (“slab”).

Acknowledgement

CNG would like to thank Jan Moens (jan.moens@bvdmc.com) for creating and providing the Numismatica Medievalis font used in this sale.

CNG would like to thank Lyle Engleson for the photography and catalog design of the PLZ Collection.

AUCTION TERMS

This is a public and Internet auction conducted by Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (CNG). Bidding in the auction constitutes acceptance of the following terms:

1. The property listed in this catalogue is offered for sale by CNG for itself and as agent for various owners and other consignors. We reserve the right to reject any bid, to determine the opening price, to set bidding increments, to vary the order of the auction, to reopen bidding in the case of a dispute, to withdraw any lot, to bid on behalf of CNG, to bid on behalf of the consignor, to permit the auctioneer to bid on his own behalf, and to permit the consignor, where reserves have been agreed, to bid on his own lots. CNG may loan or advance money to consignors or prospective bidders, and may have an interest other than commission charges in any lot. CNG may bid on its own account as an “insider” with information not available to the public.

2. A buyer’s fee will be charged to all successful bidders as follows on the hammer price:

A. 25% for written, fax, email, and telephone bids.

B. 22.5% for floor bids placed in person at the auction and electronic bids placed directly on www.cngcoins.com. All written bids, email bids, nonlive telephone bids, live internet bid registrations, and live telephone bid registrations must be received before 5PM Eastern time on the day before the auction begins. CNG reserves the right to change the format of www. cngcoins.com at any time.

3. All coins are guaranteed genuine. Attribution, date, condition, and other descriptions are the opinion of the cataloguer, and no warranty is expressed or implied. Please note that an auction sale is not an approval sale. Grading is subjective and the opinion of the cataloger. The photographs and videos (when available) of each coin provide additional information for the bidder and supplement the written description found in the catalog. It is the responsibility of the bidder to view photographs and videos and draw their own conclusion as to the quality of the coin they are bidding on. CNG expressly makes no guarantee that our grade and coin descriptions will match those provided by others. No refund will be provided due to grade or “adjectival” comments by a third-party grading service if a coin is submitted for grading after the sale. Any claim of lack of authenticity must be made in writing by the original purchaser immediately after discovery that an item is not authentic, and upon making such a claim the original purchaser must immediately return the lot to CNG in the same condition as at the time of the auction. Any coin returned as “not authentic” which CNG feels is genuine will be submitted to the International Association of Professional Numismatists Authentication Bureau (IBSCC) for final decision of authenticity. No refund shall be made on such coins until the IBSCC makes their determination. This includes coins that have been submitted to a thirdparty grading service after the auction. Coins that have been previously encapsulated (“slabbed”) by a grading and/or authentication service may not be returned for any reason, including authenticity, if they have been removed from the encapsulation (“slab”). If payment is made by credit card, rights of return are governed by these Auction Terms which supersede any rights of return promulgated by the card issuer. Estimates are intended as a guide only and not as a statement of opinion of value.

4. Invoices are due and payable immediately upon receipt. Interest and late fees of 2.0% per month, or at the highest rate permitted by law, whichever is less, from the date of the auction, shall be payable on invoices not settled within 30 days of the auction date. Payment may be made by check or bank wire. Credit cards (Visa or MasterCard) will be accepted; credit card payments will not be accepted more than 14 days after the sale date. Payment by credit card for printed sale auctions will be charged a 2.5% handling fee. Payment by check must be made in either US dollars ($) drawn on a US bank or British sterling (£) drawn on a British bank. All successful bidders outside North America and the United Kingdom will be charged an additional $20 fee for bank charges that are the result of international wire transfer fees; this fee will be deducted for credit card or check payment as described above. CNG may reduce or compromise any charge or fee at its discretion.

5. Bidders not known to us must provide us with satisfactory credit references or pay a deposit as determined at CNG’s discretion before bidding. Minors are not permitted to bid without written consent of a parent guaranteeing payment. CNG may require payment in full from any bidder prior to delivery of lots. Title does not pass until lots are paid in full. Upon receipt of lots, the buyer assumes full responsibility for loss or damage. Delivery to the buyer’s address of record shall constitute receipt by the buyer regardless of the identity of the person accepting delivery.

6. Estimates are in U.S. dollars ($US) and bids must be in even dollar ($) amounts. CNG will execute mail bids on behalf of mail bidders. Subject to reserves and opening prices, mail bids will be executed at one bidding increment (approximately 10%) over the next highest bid. In the case of identical bids, the earliest bid wins. A mail bid has priority over an identical floor bid. Bid by lot number. No lots will be broken. Bidders are responsible for errors in bidding. Check your bid sheet carefully.

7. All lots are subject to reserve unless otherwise indicated.

8. Bidders personally guarantee payment for their successful bids, including bidders executing commission bids from other parties and bidders representing corporations or other entities. Buyers accepting commission bids from other parties do so at their own risk and remain responsible for payment under these Auction Terms.

9. At the conclusion of bidding for each lot, the sale contract is concluded and the successful bidder becomes liable for immediate payment under these Auction Terms. In the event a successful bidder fails to make full payment within 30 days of the auction date, CNG reserves the right either: (a) to require payment as provided under these Auction Terms; or (b) to deem the sale incomplete and to re-auction the material, in which case the successful bidder agrees to pay for the reasonable cost of such a sale and also to pay any shortfall between the re-auction price and the successful bidder’s purchase price. CNG reserves all rights that it is entitled to under the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code, including the right to offset any sums due from a successful bidder against any future consignment or purchase or monies or goods in possession of CNG.

10. Sales tax, postage, handling and insurance are the responsibility of the buyer and are added to all invoices where appropriate. For buyers in the United Kingdom, CNG may import lots into the United Kingdom prior to shipment and charge buyers the import Value Added Tax. On any tax not paid by the purchaser which should have been paid, even if not invoiced by CNG, the purchaser agrees to pay the same on demand together with any interest or penalty that may be assessed. It is the responsibility of the buyer to comply with foreign customs and other regulations.

11. Prices realized are published after the sale and are mailed with CNG’s next publication. Prices realized are also posted after the sale on CNG’s web site: www.cngcoins.com

12. Bidders hereby waive any claim for incidental, consequential or exemplary damages arising from this auction. The sole remedy that any participant in the auction shall have for any claim or controversy arising out of the auction shall be a refund, without interest, of all or part of the purchase price paid by the participant.

13. All rights granted by CNG or otherwise available to bidders and purchasers, under these Auction Terms or otherwise, are personal and may not be assigned or transferred to any other person or entity, whether by operation of law or otherwise. No third party may rely on any benefit or right conferred by these Auction Terms. Bidders acting as agents must disclose the agency in writing to CNG prior to the auction; otherwise rights are limited to the agent and are not transferable to the undisclosed principal.

14. Any dispute regarding this auction shall be governed by the laws of Pennsylvania and shall be adjudicated only by the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; all bidders submit themselves to the personal jurisdiction of these courts for this purpose, consent to service of process by registered or certified mail, and waive any contrary provisions of Articles 14 or 15 of the French Civil Code and any similar provisions in any jurisdiction. All bidders consent to the confidentiality of consignors’ identities and waive any right to require disclosure of the name of the consignor or owner of any auction lot, whether such right is based on New York GOL §5-701(a) or any other provision in any jurisdiction. In any dispute regarding this auction, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable costs and attorney fees.

Meet the Team

Steve Lloyd Numismatist Islamic Specialist

& Consignments

Consignments

Consignments British & World Coinage

Mike Gasvoda President

Victor England Consulting Director

Eric McFadden Consulting Director

Dave Michaels Manager Shows

Caroline Holmes Numismatist Consignments

Lance Hickman Vice President Sales

Julian Okun-Dubitsky Numismatist

Bill Dalzell Vice President Numismatics

Angelien Ponsioen Numismatist Consignments

Paul Hill Director, London

Max Tursi Director, EU

Steve Pruzinsky Chief Financial Officer

Travis Markel Vice President Operations

Kan Liu (Vera) Manager Consignments

Katie Vint Numismatist Consignments

Aleeza Brown Numismatist Consignments

Miles Thompson Numismatist Consignments

Marten Scherpenzeel Numismatist Consignments

Oliver Reece Numismatist

Meet the Team

Bradley R. Nelson Senior Numismatist Cataloging

Jared Goldfarb Librarian/Numismatist Cataloging

Goldfarb Administration & Shipping

Lynn Gasvoda

Administrative

Assistant

Scott VanHorn Senior Numismatist Cataloging

Ventura Lead Photographer

Jeffrey B. Rill Numismatist Cataloging

Numismatist Cataloging

Numismatist Cataloging

Sharon Pruzinsky Accounting

Rill Customer Relations Manager

Additional Support

A.J. Gatlin IT Consultant

Tim Wilkes Islamic Consultant

John W. Yurchak Printing Control

Jeffrey B. Rill Auctioneer PA License No. AU006206

Brian Callahan Auctioneer PA License No. AU005870

D.

Tom Mullally

Daniel Burch

David James III Photographer

Nate Penwell Photographer

Dylan Ossman Office Manager, London

Jennifer Ventura Shipping

Christian

Kate

Julia Motter Shipping

Siska

With the CNG Bidding Portal, you can:

• Log on and bid at any time at auctions.cngcoins.com

• View the lots, follow the bidding, and see hammer prices as they are sold

• Hear and see the auctioneer live

• Enjoy all the advantages of an auction room bidder to win your favorite lots

To bid live in this Feature auction:

• Visit our new Bidding Portal before the auction at auctions.cngcoins.com

• Register online with your email address and a password

• Once approved, you may place pre-bids up until the moment the lot opens in the auction room

• On the auction day, login to join the auction and participate live

Please Note

• If you have not already registered for our bidding platform, you must create a new registration at auctions.cngcoins.com/register. Your old cngcoins.com handle and password will not allow you to log on or bid.

• You must register to bid before 5PM EST on Friday, May 15, 2026

• All lots won through the CNG Bidding Portal will be subject to a 22.5% buyer’s fee

Lot Viewing

Lancaster, PA

Auction lots may be viewed at our Lancaster Office from April 13 – April 28, 2026, by appointment only, except when they are on exhibition at the viewings below. Lancaster Office Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM (Monday - Friday).

Hong Kong

Select lots will be available for viewing at the Hong Kong Coin Show, April 10–12, 2026, at The Mira Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

Schaumberg, IL

Auction lots will be available for viewing at the Central States Numismatic Convention, April 22–25, 2026, at the Schaumberg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumberg, IL.

London, UK

Auction lots may be viewed at our London Office from May 4 – May 12, 2026, by appointment only.

Online Viewing

Enlargements of all single lots and selected multiple lots may be viewed on the internet at

We are sorry, but photographs of individual coins in multiple lots cannot be provided.

Auction Location

This sale will be conducted live online from our CNG Lancaster Auction Center

Lot Pickup

Lots will be mailed from our Lancaster, PA office subsequent to the sale

ORDER OF SALE

Session One – Monday Morning – May 18 – 9:00 AM

Session Two – Monday Afternoon – May 18 – 2:00 PM

Session Three – Tuesday Morning – May 19 – 9:00 AM

Session Four – Tuesday Afternoon – May 19 – 2:00 PM

Thomas A. Palmer

Tom Palmer was a prominent and active numismatist for over 50 years, with interests ranging from early US silver to ancient coins. He held life memberships in Florida United Numismatists (FUN), the American Numismatic Association (ANA), Maryland State Numismatic Association (MSNA), and several local clubs. He was General Chairman of the 2003 ANA World’s Fair of Money in Baltimore and Public Registration Chairman for the ANA convention in 1992. Tom was past President of Central Florida Coin Club, MSNA, Baltimore Coin Club, the Ancient Numismatic Society of Washington, and the Ancient Coin Collector’s Guild. He received an ANA Presidential Award in 2002.

Tom was extensively involved in numismatic education and outreach. He served on the FUN Board of Directors for sixteen years and was FUN public registration chairman for six years. He was the 1984 winner of FUN’s Literary Award for an article on bust half dollars. More recently, he was honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild for his article about Celtic imitations of Greek tetradrachms. Tom also gave presentations to coin clubs throughout Florida and Maryland.

His articles on bust half dollars and ancient coins were published in the ANA’s magazine The Numismatist and the journal of Florida United Numismatists, FUN Topics. He wrote several scripts used in the public radio series Money Talks, gave educational presentations at the FUN, ANA, and MSNA conventions. Tom was a winning exhibitor of bust halves at FUN and of ancient coins at two different ANA conventions. He also won ANA’s Thomas Law award as best first-time exhibitor for Forty Influential Ancient Coins. He was also a certified exhibit judge at the ANA and FUN conventions for many years.

Tom was a graduate of the University of Florida and San Diego State College, and had a long and successful career as an aerospace engineer and financial manager for the defense industry. He retired in the early 2000s.

After being one of the most well-known numismatists in Florida for several decades, Tom was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the 2013, which slowly curtailed his in-person activities for FUN and other organizations over the next few years. Thanks to his terrific and supportive wife, Barbara, he remained an active coin collector, researcher and author until his passing in December of 2025. He is survived by Barbara, their children Alex Palmer and Cindy Muzzy, and grandchildren Christian and Austin Palmer, and Evan and Ava Muzzy. He will also be greatly missed by several generations of coin collectors, for whom he served as an enthusiastic champion and mentor.

CNG brought Tom’s collection of Roman Imperial portrait silver coins to market in 2022. The current catalog features his impressive collection of Greek coins, including a carefully curated array of beautiful stephanophoric (“wreath bearing”) silver tetradrachms of the mid-second century BC, which served as the basis of an article he wrote for the FUN Topics journal in March of last year. Another of his goals was to collect at least one coin of every Greek city he and Barbara visited during their travels, including some great rarities such as a didrachm of Priene (lot 423) and a stater of Thera (lot 317). Several of Tom’s Roman Republican British hammered coins are also offered herein, and more coins from Tom’s Greek and Roman collections will be featured in an upcoming CNG Electronic Auction.

Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. joins the whole numismatic fraternity in mourning Tom’s passing, and we thank his wife Barbara for entrusting us with his precious Greek and Roman Republican collections.

Session 1 – Monday, May 18, 2026 — 9 AM

Please see The PLZ Collection catalog for lots 1 through 61

CELTIC COINAGE

62. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 11.26 g, 7h).

‘Kreuzelreiter’ type. Struck in southern Serbia or Moldavia. Celticized laureate head of Zeus right / Celticized rider on horseback right; c behind. OTA 108/3; Lanz 408; KMW 1067; CCCBM I 144-145. Toned. Good VF. Struck on a broad flan. ($500)

63. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 12.05 g, 7h).

‘Kreuzelreiter’ type. Struck in southern Serbia or Moldavia. Celticized laureate head of Zeus right / Celticized rider on horseback right; c behind. OTA 108/3; Lanz 408; KMW 1067; CCCBM I 144-145. Toned, slight roughness. Good VF. ($500)

64. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 13.88 g, 12h).

‘Baumreiter’ type. Mint in the Carpathian region. Celticized head of Zeus right, S-like ornament in hair / Plumed horseman riding left, holding branch or scepter, annulet at point of plume, pellet below horse’s tail; animal before, double leaf ornament below. OTA 129/4; Lanz 418; KMW 1085a; CCCBM I 65-6. Toned with hints of luster, minor marks. Near EF. ($1000)

Extremely Rare Variety

65. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (22.5mm, 12.07 g, 6h). ‘Doppelkopf’ type. Mint in central Serbia. Janiform Celticized head of Zeus / Horseman riding right, wearing helmet with long crest; to right, rosette; below raised foreleg, head right. OTA 233/5 var. (control); Lanz 546 var. (same); KMW 1133-6 var. (same); CCCBM I S117 var. (same); Flesche 715. Toned with hints of luster. EF. Extremely rare variety, this coin superior to the one specimen in CoinArchives (Künker 366, lot 6709 = Flesche 715, hammer €5,500). ($1000)

66. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. Early 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 12.12 g, 1h). ‘Zweigarm’ type. Mint in the Carpathian region. Head of Zeus right / Rider on horseback left, holding branch (or palm frond). OTA 296/2; Lanz 589; KMW 1209; CCCBM I S25. Toned, minor pitting and marks. Near EF. ($750)

67. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Philip II of Macedon. Early 2nd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 11.27 g, 1h). ‘Zweigarm’ type. Mint in the Carpathian region. Head of Zeus right / Rider on horseback left, holding branch (or palm frond). OTA 296/3; Lanz 589; KMW 1209; CCCBM I S26. Toned with underlying luster, minor porosity and marks. EF. ($750)

Very Rare

68. EASTERN EUROPE, Kolchis. 2nd-1st centuries BC. AV Stater (16.5mm, 3.60 g, 12h). Reduced standard. Imitating a stater of Alexander III of Macedon. Celticized head of Athena right, pellets around / Celticized Nike standing facing, pellets around. Cf. Lang 4-4A, Tf. 1, 5-6; cf. Frolova, Caucasian, pl. 1, 1; cf. Paulsen pl. 3, 45-7; cf. Zograph, pl. XII, 18. All with differing obverse style and pellet arrangement. Toned, trace deposits. Good VF. Very rare. ($2000)

From the PLZ Collection. Ex Peus 433 (1 November 2022), lot 1219.

69. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Thasos. Circa 90-75 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.54 g, 2h). ‘Rippenlegende’ type. Mint in the lower Danube region. Head of young Dionysos right, wearing ivy wreath / Herakles standing facing, head left, holding club, lion’s skin draped over arm; ∏ to inner left. Lukanc Ve groupe, 1473 var. (same obv. die, no control letter); OTA IV/1; Lanz 980-2 var. (legends, control); KMW –; CCCBM I S231 var. (same). Lightly toned with iridescence, lustrous, scratches. Near EF. ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex VAuctions 273 (24 November 2011), lot 8.

Extremely Rare Variety

70. EASTERN EUROPE, Imitations of Thasos. Circa 90-75 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.09 g, 12h). ‘Auflösung der Legende’ type. Mint in the lower Danube region. Head of young Dionysos left, wearing ivy wreath / Herakles standing facing, head left, holding club, lion’s skin draped over arm; ¬ above Z to inner left; to right, amphora. Lukanc Xe groupe, 1914-5 var. (obv. right, rev. legend); OTA III/3 (same, no amphora); Lanz 971-4 var. (same, no amphora); KMW –; CCCBM I –; Rauch 97, lot 30 (same dies). Golden toning, trace deposits. Near EF ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Goldberg 106 (4 September 2018), lot 1006.

71. CENTRAL EUROPE, Boii. Biatec. Mid-late 1st century BC. AR Hexadrachm (27mm, 17.10 g, 6h). Jugate heads of Honos, laureate, and Virtus, helmeted, right; leaf before / Rider on horseback galloping right; leaf before. Göbl, Hex. II/1(3); Paulsen 732-6 Lanz 67; KMW 595-6; CCCBM I 242-3. Lightly toned, traces of overstrike. VF. ($1500) Ex Gorny & Mosch inventory 117648; Numismatika Argo inventory.

Rare Celtic Fourrée Mule

72. CENTRAL EUROPE, Vindelici. Early 1st century BC. Fourrée Stater (14mm, 3.88 g, 9h). ‘Vogelkopf’ type. Bird’s head left within wreath-like torc / Crescent between three annulets below torc. Cf. Kellner, Manching 2289–2306 var. (rev. without crescent); Kellner Type II –; cf. KMW 469 (same); cf. Flesche 402 (same). Lightly toned, trace deposits, edge splits revealing a base metal core. Good VF. Rare fourrée mule. ($750)

This reverse type, with annulets instead of pellets, is found paired with the triskeles obverse type and the crescent within the annulets is unrecorded.

One of Two Known

73. GAUL, Central. Uncertain tribe. Circa BC. Æ Unit (26mm, 7.51 g, 12h). Bearded head right, wearing diadem; COÂ to left, BuCiO∞ to right / Goat stepping left; three annulets arranged in a triangle above, BuCiO in exergue. Depeyrot, NC –; D&T –; CCCBM III –; RIG 78 corr. (description), otherwise unpublished. Deep green-brown patina with earthen dusting, slightly off center. EF. Extremely rare, only one other known, in the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale (Saint Germain en Laye; illustrated by a line drawing in RIG). ($2500)

Ex Triton XXIV (19 January 2021), lot 836 (hammer $3250).

This coin will be published in a future article in the SENA journal. In it the authors argue that, as typical of issues after the Gallic Wars, this coin’s types are influenced by Roman Republican issues. The obverse is likely inspired by a denarius of Sextus Pompey struck circa 37/6 BC, featuring the diademed, bearded head of Neptune (Crawford 511/2b), while the reverse may be inspired by a denarius of Cn. Plancus struck circa 55 BC, featuring a Cretan goat (Crawford 432/1). Based on a variety of factors, they place the issue somewhere in the Bourges region.

74. GAUL, Northwest. Veneti. 3rd century BC. AV Quarter Stater (20mm, 7.30 g). Celticized head right, set on ornate basis; pearl strings flowing around, terminating in human heads / Devolved charioteer driving biga led by androcephalic horse right, holding reins and long branch connected to vexillum-like device to right; below, winged figure flying right. Cf. D&T 2097; cf. Depeyrot, NC VIII, 199; Auctiones AG 25 (19 June 1995), lot 1346 (same dies). Toned, light obverse roughness. VF. ($5000)

From the PLZ Collection. Ex MDC Monaco 14 (3 May 2024), lot 39; Armoricaine Collection (Rennes, 24 March 2013).

Exceptional “Au Nez Retroussé” Parisii Stater

75. GAUL, Northeast. Parisii. 2nd century BC. AV Stater (25.5mm, 7.03 g, 10h). Class IV (“Au Nez Retroussé”). Celticized head of Apollo right; volute before, “pine cone” below chin, double-linear zig-zag with pellets below neck / Celticized horse galloping left; the charioteer devolved into a fan shape with checkerboard design; dotted rosette below; beaded linear ornaments to left and below, ornament below contains pellet in annulet. CdB fig. 18, 55; D&T 83; Depeyrot, NC V, 187. Struck on a large flan, minor edge flaws. Superb EF. ($60,000)

From the PLZ Collection. Ex Maison Palombo 20 (22 January 2022), lot 1; Hess-Divo 335 (6 December 2018), lot 65; Cernunnos Collection (Goldberg 65, 6 September 2011), lot 4021; Vinchon (7 October 2003), lot 1.

Much of the Celtic gold coinage consisted of stylized derivatives of the ubiquitous gold staters of Philip II type. Originally copied faithfully by Celtic tribes along the Danube, these types of Apollo and chariot slowly spread westward among the coinage of the central and western European tribes, who continually modified their appearance and often added subsidiary symbols that apparently held local significance. The Parisii made their staters into works of art, their coins being among the finest of all Gallic issues. The extraordinarily rich artistic treatment of the horse is characterized by a curvilinear triangular formation above it, the so-called ‘wing’, containing square compartments, each enclosing a pellet, perhaps representing the canopy of heaven. According to Caesar’s De Bello Gallico (VI 3), the capital of the Parisii was the village of Lutetia on a marshy island in the Seine. The Parisii sided with Vercingetorix against the Romans, and the Celtic chieftain sent a force under his lieutenant, Camulogenus, to secure the area. Camulogenus and his men were soon defeated near Melun, and the region came under Roman control. Lutetia was thoroughly Romanized, and although it flourished, the town was of minor importance compared to Agedincum, the capital of its province, Lugdunensis Senona. The town was renamed Paris, after the Celtic tribe, in the third or fourth century, but remained relatively small until the Merovingian Clovis made the city his capital in the early sixth century.

Early Prototype for British Celtic Issues

76. GAUL, Northeast. Suessiones. Circa 60-50 BC. AV Quarter Stater (12mm, 1.36 g, 1h). Celticized head of Apollo right / Horse leaping right; carnyx(?) above, A and pellet-in annulet below, pellet-in-annulet to right. Delestrée, “Les monnayages en or de la Gaule belgique,” in RN 152 (1997), p. 116-7, VI and fig. 21; D&T 329; Depeyrot, NC VI 83 (Suessiones) and 170 (Ambiani); Scheers Series 26a, Class I; de la Tour 8606; Triton VII, lot 1225 (same dies). Toned, flan crack. Good VF. Very rare. ($1000)

The types are similar to those of the Ambiani, but with a distinctive broken-line style of eye used by the Suessiones. Find spots indicate a production site around the sanctuary of Digeon in the Somme department. The style would serve as the prototype for early uninscribed issues of the Ambiani in southeastern Britain, whose quarter staters are very similar, but lacking any eye and replacing the carnyx(?) with a wheel.

GREEK COINAGE

77. IBERIA, Punic Iberia. Circa 237-209 BC. AR Quarter Shekel (14mm, 1.65 g, 12h). Laureate head of male left; club over far shoulder / Elephant advancing right. MHC 46–50 var. (O31/R– [unlisted rev. die]); ACIP 555. Find patina, slight roughness. VF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 130 (23 September 2025), lot 7; Wild Rose Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 563, 5 June 2024), lot 5; G. Hirsch 165 (14 February 1990), lot 566.

78. IBERIA, Punic Iberia. Circa 237-209 BC. AR Half Shekel (16.5mm, 3.60 g, 12h). Head of male left / Horse standing right; pellet below. MHC 217–21; ACIP 615. Lightly toned, minor marks, some die wear on reverse. Good VF. ($500)

Ex G. Hirsch 392 (26 September 2024), lot 2088; G. Hirsch 386 (7 February 2024), lot 1043; G. Hirsch 380 (4 May 2023), lot 47.

79. ETRURIA, Populonia. 3rd century BC. AR 20 Asses (18.5mm, 8.45 g). Diademed facing head of Metus; oc⁘≈o (mark of value) below / Blank. EC Group XII, Series 54.19–43 (O36); Vicari 32–47; Sambon 54; HN Italy 152; SNG Ashmolean 6 (same die); SNG BN 11 and 13 (same die). Toned, remnants of find patina, slight granularity. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Artemide LVII (30 April 2022), lot 6.

Like the Romans, the Etruscans of northern and central Italy were latecomers to the Greek concept of coinage. The origins of the Etruscans are still regarded as enigmatic, and their language survives only in the form of relatively short inscriptions. When they did begin striking coins in the mid 4th century BC, many of the distinct and whimsical qualities of their culture came through. Only five Etruscan cities struck coins in any quantities, with Fufluna, called Populonia by the Romans, by far the most prolific.

80. ETRURIA, Populonia. 3rd century BC. AR 20 Asses (20mm, 7.87 g). Diademed facing head of Metus; c ≈ (mark of value) below / Blank. EC Group XII, Series 59.6 (O34 – this coin, illustrated); Vicari 32; Sambon 41a; HN Italy 152; BMC 12 (same die); SNG Fitzwilliam 62 (same die). Toned. VF. ($750)

Ex Santamaria FPL (1979), lot 101.

Rutter Plate Coin – Pedigreed to 1930

81. CAMPANIA, Cumae. Circa 420-385 BC. AR Nomos (19.5mm, 7.49 g, 12h). Head of female right / Mussel shell; barley grain above. Rutter Period V, Group 18, 189a (O133/R171 – this coin, illustrated); HN Italy 532. Toned, a few minor marks. VF. ($750)

Ex Myers & Adams 6 (6 December 1973), lot 9; Cahn 66 (6 May 1930), lot 4.

Ex Pasquale del Pezzo, Duke of Cajaniello and Marquis of Campodisola (1927)

82. CAMPANIA, Neapolis. 395-385 BC. AR Nomos (19mm, 7.26 g, 1h). Head of female right, hair in broad band / Man-headed bull standing right; above, Nike flying right, crowning bull. Rutter Period IV, Group 19, 156 (O100/R141); HN Italy 563. Toned, slight die wear. VF. ($750)

Ex Pasquale del Pezzo, Duke of Cajaniello and Marquis of Campodisola Collection (Sambon & Canessa, 27 June 1927), lot 51.

Neapolis, modern-day Naples, located in Southwestern Italy in the region of Campania on the Bay of Naples, an arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea, was founded from Cumae (Cuma) by the Greeks in 650 BC, along the port area, including the little island of Megaris (the Castel dell’Ovo). Further colonists came from Chalcis in Euboea, from Pithecusae (Ischia) beside the Gulf of Cumae, and from Athens. An extension of the city was laid out in a rectangular grid pattern toward the northeast, which was given the name Neapolis. After the city of Neapolis was created, the oldest part of the city became known as Palaiopolis or Palaipolis (Old City). That city was conquered by the Roman general Quintus Publilius Philo about 327/6 BC, after which Neapolis became an ally of the Romans, issuing bronze coins, with legends in Greek, extending help in their hostilities against Pyrrhos of Epeiros (280-275 BC) and against Hannibal in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).

Pedigreed to 1931

83. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 290-281 BC. AR Nomos (21.5mm, 7.89 g, 1h). Warrior, holding shield and two spears, preparing to cast a third, on horseback right; f5¬5 below / Phalanthos, holding dolphin and distaff, riding dolphin left; ivy leaf to right, f5 above waves below. Fischer-Bossert Group 79, 1097a (V410/R845 – this coin); Vlasto –; HN Italy 934; SNG Lockett 185 (same dies). Deep iridescent tone, minor die wear on obverse. VF. ($750)

Ex Helbing 83 (19 August 1941), lot 47; Cahn 71 (14 October 1931), lot 44.

The city of Tarentum was founded in the late 8th century BC by Spartan colonists on the north coast of the gulf of the same name, on a rocky islet at the entrance to the only secure harbor. It was Sparta’s only colony and maintained close relations with its mother city. The official founder of the city was believed to be the Spartan leader Phalanthos. Ancient tradition, however, tells how Taras, the son of Poseidon and a local nymph, Satyra, was miraculously saved from a shipwreck by his father, who sent a dolphin on whose back he was carried to shore, at which spot he founded a city.

Blessed with fertile land, Tarentum became famous for olives and sheep. It possessed a fine harbor, great fisheries and profitable exports of wool, purple dye, and pottery. It adopted a democratic form of government circa 475 BC, and thereafter became the leading Greek city in southern Italy. Its success led to continual difficulties with its neighbor cities, though, and on four occasions Tarentum required expeditions from Greece to help overcome its aggressors. The last of these expeditions was led by the famed Epeirote, Pyrrhos. Following his withdrawal from the city, Tarentum was occupied by the Romans

84. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 280 BC. AR Nomos (21.5mm, 7.89 g, 8h). Nude youth, holding rein and crowning horse he rides right; sÅ to left, ÅrE>QW@ in two lines below / Phalanthos, nude, holding tripod, riding dolphin left; 4Ås below. Vlasto 666–7; HN Italy 957. Deep cabinet tone, a few light scratches. Good VF. Well centered. ($750)

Ex Münzen und Medaillen 68 (15 April 1986), lot 24; Kricheldorf V (20 October 1958), lot 13.

85. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 280-272 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 6.53 g, 7h). Reduced standard. Warrior, holding shield and two spears, preparing to cast a third, on horseback right; EU to left, sWstr/Åtos below / Phalanthos, nude, holding Nike and cornucopia, riding dolphin left; ∏oGU to left, thunderbolt to right. Vlasto 713; HN Italy 1001. Lovely iridescent toning, minor marks, small lamination. EF. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Spink, August 1996. Ex Spink Taisei Numismatics 52 (Part 1, with Numismatica Ars Classica, 26 October 1994), lot 1730.

Ex Côte Collection (1929)

86. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 280-272 BC. AR Nomos (19.5mm, 6.33 g, 8h). Reduced standard. Nude youth, crowning horse upon which he rides right; zW to left, @EU/Â˙ in two lines below / Phalanthos, holding Phrygian helmet, riding dolphin left; stars flanking, πo¬U to right. Vlasto 745 (same dies); HN Italy 1006. Old cabinet tone, with some iridescence, some scratches on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Claudius Côte Collection (R. Ratto, 28 January 1929), lot 397.

Ex Berlin Museum and Löbbecke Collections – Pedigreed to before 1924

87. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 240-228 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 6.12 g, 12h). Reduced standard. Nude youth, holding filleted palm frond, on horse leaping right; 1 to left, År51t5ππ[o1] below / Phalanthos, holding kantharos, on dolphin left; N to right. Vlasto 947 (same dies); HN Italy 1056. Old cabinet tone, with some iridescence, light scratches and marks. VF. ($750)

Ex Helbing 83 (19 August 1941), lot 28; A. Cahn 68 (26 November 1930), lot 942; Duplicates from the Münzkabinett of the Königliche Museen zu Berlin (Reichmann XXX, 11 December 1924), lot 86; Arthur Löbbecke (1850-1932) Collection.

88. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 240-228 BC. AR Nomos (21.5mm, 6.51 g, 2h). Reduced standard. Nude youth, holding rein and crowning horse he rides right; Ą to left, Ó to right; below, f5¬o/˚¬˙s in two lines above dolphin right / Phalanthos, holding rhyton and trident, riding dolphin left; two amphorae to right. Vlasto 950–3; HN Italy 1057. Underlying luster. Choice EF. ($1000)

89. CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 240-228 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 6.57 g, 4h). Reduced standard. Warrior, holding Nike, who crowns him, on horse rearing right; * to upper left, ˚Ŭ¬5˚rÅ>[t˙s] in two lines below / Phalanthos, nude, holding Nike, who crowns him, and cradling trident, riding dolphin left; “ to right. Vlasto 963; HN Italy 1059. Lustrous. EF. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Nomos Obolos 19 (8 May 2021), lot 30.

This remarkable nomos celebrates a military victory whose details are lost to us, struck at a time when the city was more or less subject to Rome. The cavalry rider on the obverse is depicted with exquisite detail, enabling us to determine he is likely a senior commander, or epihipparkos, abbreviated in the monogram in the upper left field. He is bearded and wears a short cuirass (linothorax, a modern term) with layered linen strips called pteryges at his waist. His ankle-high boots are equipped with spurs. The name Kallikrates appears below; whether this identifies the rider or is the name of a mint magistrate is unknown. Tarentum took great pride in its cavalry and honored its riders extensively on their coinage.

90. LUCANIA, Herakleia. Circa 390-340 BC. AR Nomos (19.5mm, 7.63 g, 3h). Helmeted head of Athena facing slightly right / Herakles standing facing, head and torso right, fighting the Nemean Lion to right; club and bow to left. Work 21 (same dies); Van Keuren 20; HN Italy 1375; SNG Fitzwilliam 426 (same dies). Attractive light toning. VF. Rare. ($1500)

Ex William H. Birkinshaw Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 484, 27 January 2021), lot 17; Triton II (1 December 1998), lot 57.

Herakleia, located on the Gulf of Taranto, was one of the last Greek colonies to be established in Italy, with a foundation date of 432 BC. Its foundation arose from the destruction of Siris, an Ionic colony located nearby, circa 550 BC. Athens claimed the right to re-found Siris with its own colonists and is said to have briefly considered relocating Athens itself to the site after its destruction by the Persians in 480 BC. Athens did indeed found Thourioi in 443 BC across the gulf from the site of Siris, but this was resisted by Tarentum and Kroton, which sided with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War and did not want an ally of Athens so close. After a brief war, an agreement was signed whereby Athens and Tarentines would jointly found a new city on the site of Siris. This became Herakleia, named in honor of Herakles. The city’s coinage reflected its bifurcated foundation by honoring Athena (patron of Athens) on the obverse and its namesake Herakles on the reverse.

91. LUCANIA, Laos. Circa 480-460 BC. AR Nomos (19mm, 7.86 g,

Man-headed bull standing left, head right / Man-headed bull standing right. Sternberg 6

Italy

153

dies); de Luynes 446 (same dies). Toned, a couple of scuffs, struck with worn obverse die. VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Heritage, 21 April 2021.

Laos was a colony of Sybaris, founded probably in the 7th century BC, along the banks of the river Laos on the western coast of Lucania. By the later 6th century, most of its inhabitants were refugees of Sybaris, after that city’s destruction by Kroton in 510 BC. Very little is known of the city beyond its foundation, except that it was the site of the defeat of the Greek cities who had united against the native Lucanians (Strabo VI, 253). The coinage of Laos is relatively rare, and fairly sporadic in issue. The silver is confined to a few issues in the 5th century, and consisted of a wide variety of denominations, from nomoi to dioboloi.

7h).

(V5/R6); HN

2275; SNG ANS

(same

92. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 400-340 BC. AR Nomos (19.5mm, 7.89 g, 5h). Helmeted head of Leukippos right; grape bunch to left / Barley ear with leaf to right. Johnston Class A, 4.5 (same dies); HN Italy 1553; SNG ANS 403 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 1213 (same dies). Deep cabinet tone, some die wear, a few minor edge marks, faint graffiti on reverse. VF. ($750)

Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH 6 (23 March 2000), lot 8; Astarte 5 (28 October 1999), lot 117; Santamaria (7 October 1959), lot 8.

Metapontion, originally named Sybaris, was an Achaian colony of very early foundation, though the precise details of its origin are shrouded in uncertainty. Following the destruction of its first foundation by the Samnites, it was refounded as Metapontion, early in the 7th century BC by settlers under the leadership of Leukippos, who was thereafter revered as the city founder. The great prosperity of the city — attested by the extent of its archaic silver coinage commencing in the mid 6th century BC — was based on agriculture. Situated on the Gulf of Tarentum, Metapontion occupied a plain of extraordinary fertility watered by the rivers Bradanos and Kasuentos. Its standard coin type is an ear of barley, a tribute to the source of Metapontine wealth.

93. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 330-290 BC. AR Nomos (19mm, 7.70 g, 12h). Wreathed head of Demeter facing slightly right; tiny Åπ to lower right / Barley ear with leaf to right; facing bull’s head above leaf, ÅQ[Å] below. Johnston Class C, 2.3 (same dies); HN Italy 1584; SNG Copenhagen 1220 (same dies). Toned, light roughness. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Nomos Obolos 16 (11 October 2020), lot 561.

94. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 330-290 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.67 g, 4h). Wreathed head of Demeter left / Barley ear with leaf to left; pitchfork above leaf, dÅ below. Johnston Class C, 5.7 (same dies); HN Italy 1582. Light iridescent tone, some die wear on obverse. Good VF. Well centered. ($750)

95. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 290-280 BC. AR Nomos (20.5mm, 7.91 g, 6h). Wreathed head of Demeter right; [d to left] / Barley ear with leaf to right; above leaf, star above two amphoras; f5 below. Johnston Class D, 4.16 (same dies); HN Italy 1625. Attractive iridescent cabinet tone, a little die wear. Near EF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 475 (26 August 2020), lot 322.

Extremely Rare

96. LUCANIA, Poseidonia. Circa 530-500 BC. AR Nomos (27.5mm, 7.27 g, 12h). Poseidon, beardless and nude but for chlamys draped over both arms, standing right, preparing to cast trident held aloft in right hand, left arm extended; ÂoP to left / Incuse of obverse type, but trident and ethnic is in relief; eÂoP to right. Gorini 5 var. (rev. legend); HN Italy 1107; Leu Numsimatic AG Web Auction 25, lot 110 (same dies). Deeply toned, hairlines, graffiti and lamination on reverse. VF. Extremely rare with longer reverse legend; a variation not noted in HN Italy, and missing from the major published public collections, only two in CoinArchives. ($3000) Poseidonia, later called Paestum, was a coastal city on the front instep of the Italian “boot.” Founded circa 600 BC by colonists expelled from nearby Sybaris, it took its name from a shrine to Poseidon they erected on the Tyrrhenian coast. The site today features three beautifully preserved Doric temples.

97. LUCANIA, Poseidonia. Circa 445-420 BC. AR Nomos (18mm, 7.85 g, 6h). Poseidon, nude but for chlamys draped over both arms, standing right, preparing to cast trident / Bull standing right within incuse circle. HN Italy 1116; SNG ANS 647. Minor marks, small die flaws on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 477 (23 September 2020), lot 20.

Ex Pasquale del Pezzo, Duke of Cajaniello and Marquis of Campodisola (1927)

98. LUCANIA, Poseidonia. Circa 445-420 BC. AR Nomos (18mm, 7.94 g, 1h). Poseidon, nude but for chlamys draped over both arms, standing right, preparing to cast trident / Bull standing left within incuse circle. HN Italy 1116; SNG ANS 655. Old collection tone, some porosity and marks, minor edge marks. VF. ($500)

Ex Pasquale del Pezzo, Duke of Cajaniello and Marquis of Campodisola, Collection (Sambon & Canessa, 27 June 1927), lot 360.

99. LUCANIA, Sybaris. Circa 550-510 BC. AR Nomos (28mm, 7.93 g, 12h). Bull standing left, head right / Incuse bull standing right, head left. S&S Class B, pl. 48, 4–8; Gorini 2; HN Italy 1729. Old cabinet tone. VF. ($1000)

Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection (Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 14 January 2022), lot 4062; Salton-Schlessinger FPL 15 (undated, c. 194952), no. 26.

Sybaris, located on the bottom of the Italian boot, was founded circa 720 BC and quickly amassed great wealth due to its fertile fields and active port. Descriptions of the city’s sumptuous festivals and luxurious dwellings abound in ancient literature, and “Sybarite” became a synonym for any lover of luxury and pleasure. The silver coinage of Sybaris follows the remarkable relief / incuse pattern employed by other cities of Greek southern Italy in the sixth and early fifth centuries BC, which required careful flan preparation and precise alignment of dies. The bull of Sybaris, with its reverted head, exerted a powerful influence on modern artists, including Picasso.

Pedigreed to 1960

100. LUCANIA, Thourioi. Circa 443-400 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.90 g, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right, bowl decorated with a laurel wreath / Bull standing right; Δ below; in exergue, fish left. Jörgensen 16; HN Italy 1760; SNG ANS 887–8 (same obv. die). Old cabinet tone. VF. ($500)

Ex Vico 162 (12 July 2022), lot 18; Superior Galleries (12 December 1989), lot 2360; Numismatic Fine Arts Winter Mail Bid Sale (15 January 1982), lot 27; Numismatic Fine Arts (E. Gans) 16 (19 April 1960), lot 77.

In 446 BC, with the aid of Athens, the refugee population of the destroyed city of Sybaris returned to the location of their previous home, and founded a new city, giving it the name Thourioi. The new city quickly regained the prosperity enjoyed by its former incarnation, as evidenced by the extensive series of coins it issued over the following two centuries. Although its perennial rival had been Kroton, the new city grew close to its former enemy, and Tarentum as well. Good relations with the latter were probably responsible for the weakening of Thourioi’s historical connection to Athens, and she turned to Sparta during the Peloponnesian War. Although supported by Tarentum, the city suffered at the hands of the Lucanians and Brettians during the 4th century. In need of a more robust ally, the Thourians turned to Rome in 285 BC. Unlike many cities in southern Italy, Thourioi’s support of Rome was steadfast during both the time of Pyrrhos and Hannibal’s invasion, even though the Thourians suffered heavily at the hands of the latter. The coinage of Thourioi was diverse in both its denominations and metals. The primary types were the head of Athena, probably due to the city’s initial close relationship with Athens, and a standing or butting bull, which had been the civic type on the coins of Sybaris.

Pedigreed to 1952

101. LUCANIA, Thourioi. Circa 443-400 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.87 g, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right, bowl decorated with a laurel wreath / Bull butting right; in exergue, fish right. Jörgensen 8; HN Italy 1775; SNG ANS 896 var. (letter on rev.; same obv. die). Old iridescent tone, traces of find patina, light scratch on reverse, edge marks. VF. ($500)

Ex Foreign Collector (Glendining, 13 November 1957), lot 22; Berlin Collection (Stack’s, 27 June 1952), lot 947.

102. LUCANIA, Thourioi. Circa 400-350 BC. AR Nomos (22mm, 7.66 g, 12h). Helmeted head of Athena right, bowl decorated with Skylla holding trident / Bull butting right, head facing, on dotted ground line; A above; in exergue, fish right. HN Italy 1791c; SNG ANS 1041 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 1442 (same dies). Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Grand Haven Collection (Triton XXIV, 19 January 2021), lot 347.

103. LUCANIA, Thourioi. Circa 350-300 BC. AR Dinomos – Distater (25mm, 15.50 g, 5h). Helmeted head of Athena right, bowl decorated with Skylla throwing stone / Bull butting right; EUfÅ above; in exergue, two fish right. Noe, Thurian J16 (same dies); HN Italy 1823. Lovely deep toning with some iridescence around the devices, die break on reverse. Good VF. Well centered. ($1500)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 149 (2 February 2025), lot 50; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 547 (4 October 2023), lot 24; Roma E-Sale 68 (27 February 2020), lot 215; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 452 (18 September 2019), lot 44; Aretusa 3 (25 November 1994), lot 7.

104. LUCANIA, Velia. Circa 280 BC. AR Nomos (21.5mm, 7.45 g, 5h). IE Group. Helmeted head of Athena left, bowl decorated with griffin; Å before crest, [f before neck], 5E within incuse square behind neck guard / Lion attacking stag left. Williams Period IX, 567 (O283/R396); HN Italy 1318; SNG ANS 1400 (same dies); de Luynes 649 (same dies). Lovely old collection tone, remnants of find patina, tiny die break on obverse, minor scratch on reverse. VF. ($500)

Ex Rauch 110 (2 July 2020), lot 25.

Velia, situated on the Tyrrhenian coast of southern Italy south of Poseidonia, was founded circa 540 BC by colonists from Phokaia in western Asia Minor who had fled their homeland following the Persian conquest. Its coinage commenced soon after the city’s foundation and its types (forepart of lion devouring prey/incuse square) and denomination (Phokaian silver drachm) reflect the Asian origin of the early citizenry of Velia. Later, in the 5th century, the weight standard of the Velian coinage was assimilated to that of the Achaean cities of Magna Graecia producing a nomos of about 8 grams. The type of a lion, or a lion attacking its prey, remained popular at Velia throughout the two and a half centuries of its silver coinage, which ceased just prior to the city’s alliance with Rome negotiated circa 275 BC.

Beautiful Brettii Drachm – Pedigreed to 1969

105. BRUTTIUM, The Brettii. Circa 216-214 BC. AR Drachm (18.5mm, 4.77 g, 12h). Second Punic War issue. Diademed and draped bust of Nike right / Dionysos, nude but for drapery over left arm, standing facing, holding scepter and crowning himself with wreath; to right, rhyton right above tiny ˝. Arslan dies 35/53’; Scheu S13; HN Italy 1959; SNG Lloyd 548 (same dies); SNG München 1238 (same dies). Beautiful cabinet tone. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 99 (29 May 2017), lot 99; Vinchon (24 November 1969), lot 80.

The Brettii were an indigenous Italian people who emerged in southern Italy in the mid-fourth century BC. Ancient authors describe them as a group of runaway slaves and miscellaneous fugitives who came together after seeking refuge in the rugged mountains of the area. Nonetheless, it is more likely that most of these people were native Oenotrians or Pelasgians who had escaped from domination by the Greek cities and other native groups to the north. By the mid-third century BC, this disparate congregation of people, now known as the Brettii, had become the predominant power over most of Italy south of the river Laos, including the important mints of Consentia, Medma, Hipponium, Terina, and Thurium (Diod. XVI.15; Strabo VI).

106. BRUTTIUM, The Brettii. Circa 216-214 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.48 g, 1h). Second Punic War issue. Diademed and draped bust of Nike right; amphora to left / River god standing facing, crowning himself with wreath and holding scepter; to right, serpent above s. Arslan dies 39/55; HN Italy 1961. Deeply toned. Near EF. ($500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 76 (12 September 2007), lot 84.

Stunning Kaulonia Nomos – Ex Salton Collection

107. BRUTTIUM, Kaulonia. Circa 525-500 BC. AR Nomos (31mm, 7.91 g, 12h). Apollo advancing right, holding branch aloft in right hand, left arm extended, upon which a small daimon, holding branch in each hand, runs right; ˚å¨Ò to left; to right, stag standing right, head reverted; dot-and-cable border / Incuse of obverse, but daimon in outline and no ethnic; radiate border. Noe, Caulonia, Group A, 14; Gorini 3; HN Italy 2035; SNG ANS 147 (same obv. die); McClean 1591 (same dies). Wonderful deep old cabinet tone. EF. ($10,000)

Ex Mark & Lottie Salton Collection (Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 14 January 2022), lot 4072.

Kaulonia was founded in the 7th century BC by Achaean Greeks. The location, on the underside of Italy’s “toe,” has long since disappeared beneath the waves, but underwater archaeologists have located more than 100 fluted columns, likely for a large shrine to Apollo, the deity depicted on the city’s beautiful coinage. On this exceptional piece, Apollo’s nude body is shown striding to right, with a small winged daimon on his left arm; to his right stands a stag, sacred to both Apollo and his sister Artemis. The design clearly owes much to the coinage of nearby Poseidonia, on whose coins Poseidon is seen in a similar pose. The unusual fabric of this piece follows a style peculiar to Greek southern Italy in the archaic period: A broad, thin flan, obverse depicted in relief, the reverse repeating the obverse motif, but incuse, and reversed. The reasons for the popularity of this fabric are poorly understood. A connection has been postulated to the dualistic religio-political movement of Pythagoras, whose followers found safe haven in Kaulonia after being driven from Kroton in circa 510 BC, but this remains entirely speculative. Whatever the reason, striking such coins required a high degree of technical skill, competence, and quality control in all phases of production, including engraving and aligning the dies, preparing the flan, and delivering a powerful and uniform hammer blow

108. BRUTTIUM, Kaulonia. Circa 475-425 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.85 g, 5h). Apollo advancing right, holding branch; small daimon running left on Apollo’s left arm; to right, stag standing right, head reverted / Stag standing right; laurel branch to right. Noe, Caulonia, Group F, 96 (same dies); HN Italy 2046; SNG ANS 181 (same dies). Faintly toned. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Frank M. Martin Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 114, 13 May 2020), lot 21; CNG inventory 161988 (December 2005).

Pedigreed to 1959

109. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 8.07 g, 12h). Tripod, legs surmounted by wreaths and terminating in lion’s feet, set on basis of three lines, the center dotted; crab to left / Incuse tripod as obverse, but wreaths in relief; to right, dolphin upward. Gorini –; Attianese 34; HN Italy 2090. Toned. VF. ($750)

Ex Auctiones 5 (2 December 1975), lot 31; Comte Chandon de Briailles Collection (Part I, Bourgey, 17 June 1959), lot 80.

As with many cities in Magna Graecia, Kroton was established by colonists from mainland Greece. Myskellos, obeying a directive of the oracle of Delphi, led a group of Achaian settlers to the site and founded the city around 710 BC. This divine sanction is represented by the tripod of the oracle, which became the civic badge of Kroton and is featured on its coinage. Kroton was among the first cities to produce coinage in Italy, its earliest being of the incuse type struck on the Achaian standard. As evidenced by its bountiful coinage, Kroton was one of the most important and wealthy cities of southern Italy. Although its fortunes rose and fell over the centuries, it maintained its production of a wide array of denominations and metals until the Roman period.

Exceptional Double Struck Reverse

110. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 480-430 BC. AR Nomos (17.5mm, 7.76 g, 9h). Tripod, legs surmounted by wreaths and terminating in lion’s feet / Incuse eagle flying right. Gorini 26–7 var. (form of ethnic); Attianese 56 var. (same); HN Italy 2108. Toned, remnants of find patina, light roughness and small scuff on obverse, double struck on reverse. Near EF. Exceptionally clear double strike. ($500)

Ex Naville Numismatics 61 (8 November 2020), lot 16.

111. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 425-350 BC. AR Nomos (20.5mm, 7.80 g, 7h). Eagle standing left, head right, on stag’s head / Tripod; ivy leaf to left. Attianese 104 (same obv. die as illustration); HN Italy 2146; SNG ANS 352 (same obv. die). Deep cabinet tone, light cleaning scratches. VF. Well centered. ($1000)

Ex Weise Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 115, 16 September 2020), lot 20; Paul H. Gerrie Collection (Triton XII, 6 January 2009), lot 54.

112. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 400-325 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.86 g, 5h). Laureate head of Apollo right / The Herakliskos Drakonopnigon: the Infant Herakles, nude, crouching facing on rock, head left, strangling a serpent in each hand. Attianese 163; HN Italy 2157. Toned, remnants of find patina, some roughness, scattered marks. Good VF. ($2000)

Ex Peus 426 (16 June 2020), lot 41; Roma E-Sale 34 (18 February 2017), lot 4.

The figure of Herakliskos Drakonopnigon was depicted in Greek art from the first half of the 5th century BC and represents an important event in the early life of the Greek hero. The birth of Herakles, son of Zeus and Alkmene, enraged Zeus’ wife Hera, who tried to kill the infant by sending two serpents to strangle the sleeping baby in his crib. The following morning, the nurse discovered Herakles playing with the serpents’ lifeless bodies: he had strangled one in each hand.

113. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 400-325 BC. AR Nomos (19mm, 7.91 g, 5h). Head of Hera Lakinia facing slightly right, wearing necklace and stephane decorated with palmette and two griffin foreparts / Herakles Epitrapezios: young Herakles, nude, holding cup, reclining left on lion’s skin draped over rock; bow and club above. Attianese 139; HN Italy 2160; SNG ANS 378 (same dies). Lightly toned, hole repaired at 12 o’clock on obverse. VF. ($1000)

Ex Weise Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 115, 16 September 2020), lot 22; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 294 (16 January 2013), lot 424; G. Hirsch 167 (26 September 1990), lot 140.

The type of Herakles Epitrapezios (lit. “Herakles at the table”) shows the hero reclining in the midst of his labors, enjoying a relaxing cup of wine. Phyllis Lehmann, in Statues on coins of Southern Italy and Sicily in the classical period (New York: H. Bittner & Co., 1946), makes a connection between the coin type and a series of later statues in the manner of Lysippos, linking both to a common source, probably an earlier statue at the temple of Hera Lakinia at Kroton, one of the most prominent sanctuaries in Italy.

Pedigreed to 1954

114. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 400-325 BC. AR Nomos (20.5mm, 6.87 g, 11h). Head of Hera Lakinia facing slightly right, wearing ornamented stephane / Herakles Epitrapezios: young Herakles, nude, holding cup and club, reclining left on lion skin draped over rock; bow below. Attianese 135 corr. (no signature, same obv. die as illustration); HN Italy 2167; SNG ANS 371 = Locker Lampson 47 (same dies); SNG Ashmolean 1522 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 616 (same obv. die). Old collection tone, with some iridescence, die flaws, overstruck on uncertain type. VF. ($750)

Ex Blaser-Frey [1] (24 September 1954), lot 508.

115. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 350-300 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.72 g, 1h). Eagle, with wings displayed and head raised, standing left on olive branch / Tripod with legs terminating in lion’s feet; ∫ to right. Attianese 121 (same obv. die as illustration); HN Italy 2172; SNG ANS 358 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, traces of find patina, a hint of porosity, a few light marks. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Nomos Obolos 16 (11 October 2020), lot 573.

Ex Count de Laval and Riche Collections – Pedigreed to 1926

116. BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 350-300 BC. AR Nomos (22mm, 7.56 g, 4h). Obverse die signted by Ai–. Eagle, with wings displayed and head raised, standing left on olive branch; small Å5 below / Tripod with legs terminating in lion’s feet; d to right. Attianese 118 var. (signture on rev.); HN Italy 2172. Old cabinet tone, minor die breaks on reverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex G. Hirsch 201 (25 September 1998), lot 57; Count de Laval Collection [Property of a Nobleman] (Glendining, 18 April 1955), lot 142; Helbing 55 (8 November 1928), lot 3452; Riche Collection (Part 1, R. Ratto, 25 January 1926), lot 698.

117. BRUTTIUM, Lokroi Epizephyrioi. Circa 344-318 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 8.65 g, 3h). Pegasos flying left; thunderbolt below / Helmeted head of Athena left. Spinelli Group I, 1b, 24 (same dies); Pegasi 13; HN Italy 2342. Lightly toned, traces of find patina, light scratch on obverse, slight die shift on reverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Nomos Obolos 16 (11 October 2020), lot 576.

118. BRUTTIUM, Rhegion. Circa 415/0-387 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.76 g, 5h). Lion mask facing / Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; olive sprig to left, r˙˝5@o@ to right. Herzfelder 75 (D43/R63); HN Italy 2496; SNG ANS 660; Boston MFA 204 = Warren 174 (same dies); Hermitage Sale II 206 (same dies); Kraay & Hirmer 288 (same rev. die). Toned, minor roughness. Good VF. Well centered and struck. ($7500)

Ex Father & Son Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 121, 6 October 2022), lot 91; Künker 326 (7 October 2019), lot 578.

This issue of coinage corresponds to quite an eventful period in the history of Rhegion. Around 415/0 BC, the reverse type on the tetradrachms changed from a seated figure to the head of Apollo. It is thought that this significant change was precipitated by a change in regime in the city. In the mid 5th century, Rhegion was a steadfast supporter of Athenian interests in Magna Graecia, especially in 427 BC, when Rhegion provided its port as a base from which Athens could operate. By the time of the Athenian Expedition in 415 BC, however, Rhegion refused to participate, and remained neutral, an act that effectively blocked Athens’ access to the straits. The timing of the beginning of this issue roughly coincides with this event. Rhegion’s ambivalence towards Athens, though, did not translate into support for the interests of Syracuse. Perhaps wishing to distance itself from the turmoil in Sicily, Rhegion allied itself with the other major cities of southern Italy in a coalition against Dionysios I, the tyrant of Syracuse. Unfortunately, this decision proved disastrous, as Dionysios invaded Bruttium, and fought against the cities from 399-386 BC, with the result that Rhegion was reduced to near non-existence until it was refounded by Dionysios II in 360 BC. It seems likely that the bountiful tetradrachm coinage struck during this period was used to finance military activity. In any event, these coins exemplify the high aesthetic standard of the Classical Period that is common to the coins of Magna Graecia at this time. The facing lion head is rendered in a bold, detailed manner, as is the head of Apollo, carefully depicted as a serene deity. What separates these coins from their contemporaries is the depth of the relief, which was extraordinarily high. The effect is particularly striking on the obverse, where the lion head has an unsurpassed exceptional three-dimensional quality.

119. BRUTTIUM, Carthaginian occupation. Circa 216-211 BC. AR Half Shekel (20.5mm, 3.82 g, 9h). Second Punic War issue. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right; ouraios above. Jenkins, Some U1; Robinson, Second 3–4; Jenkins & Lewis pl. 28, 3; CNP 44; HN Italy 2016. Lightly toned, remnants of find patina, numerous hairlines on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

120. SICILY, Akragas. Circa 480/78-470 BC. AR Didrachm (20mm, 8.82 g, 8h). Sea eagle standing left / Crab within incuse circle. Westermark, Coinage, Period I, Group IV, 282 (O90/R195); HGC 2, 97; SNG ANS 953 (same dies). Lovely cabinet tone, die break and a little die wear on obverse. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Aes Rude [1] (4 November 1977), lot 49.

Akragas, Roman Agrigentum, was situated close to the southern coastline of Sicily midway between Gela and Selinos. Founded by colonists from Gela circa 580 BC, Akragas grew to become the second most important city on the island after Syracuse, deriving much of its wealth from the export of agricultural produce to Carthage, which lay about 200 miles to the west. Its coinage commenced in the closing years of the 6th century and principally consisted of silver didrachms down to about 440 BC, after which the tetradrachm became the principal denomination. The first series of tetradrachms, though, coincided with the last period of didrachms, with all featuring the same types that had persisted since the beginning of the city’s coinage: on the obverse, an eagle, sacred to Olympian Zeus, to whom the city dedicated an immense temple, and a reverse with an overhead view of a crab, harvested from the sea as a delicacy in the region. After 440 BC, as with many of the coinages of the great Sicilian cities, the designs became more complex and artistic, with one or two eagles shown devouring a hare on the obverse, and a galloping quadriga ultimately replacing the crab on the reverse. In the final decade of the 5th century, as the artistry of it coinage reached its zenith, Akragas suffered the same fate as many of the other Greek cities of Sicily when it was stormed and sacked by the invading Carthaginians (406 BC). Though its coinage continued thereafter, the scale and beauty of its 5th century series were never attained again.

121. SICILY, Akragas. Circa 465/0–445/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (255mm, 17.03 g, 5h). Sea eagle standing left / Crab within shallow incuse circle. Westermark, Coinage, Period II, Group II, 373 (O12/R44); HGC 2, 94; SNG ANS 976 (same dies); SNG Tübingen 559 (same dies); Gulbenkian 162 = Weber 1182 = Locker-Lampson 58 (same dies). Toned, minor marks. VF. ($1500)

Ex R.M. Smythe inventory 3015452994 (2 April 2003); Early American History Auctions (5 January 2008), lot 6233; Monetarium 65 (Spring 1996), no, 28.

122. SICILY, Gela. Circa 420-415 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.13 g, 11h). Charioteer driving slow quadriga left; [above, Nike flying left, crowning horses]; [in exergue, lizard left, about to catch fly] / Forepart of man-headed bull left within incuse circle. Jenkins, Gela, Group VIII, 470 (O91/R182); HGC 2, 355; SNG Lockett 768 = Bement 380 (same dies); BMC 49 (same dies). Iridescent tone, struck with worn obverse die. VF. ($750)

Ex Freeman & Sear 10 (11 February 2004), lot 44.

Situated on the Gela river on the southern coast of Sicily, Gela was founded in 688 BC by Cretans and Rhodians. Although the city had a Creto-Rhodian foundation, the name of the river is of local Sikanian origin, meaning very cold, as the water runs from the Heraei mountains to the north.

Ex Sheikh Al-Thani Collection

123. SICILY, Himera. Circa 483/2-472/1 BC. AR Didrachm (19mm, 8.60 g, 2h). Cock standing left / Crab within shallow incuse circle. Westermark, Himera, Group II, 69–80 (O12/R– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 2, 438. Toned, scratches, edge marks. VF. ($750)

Ex Sheikh Saud Al-Thani [‘Man in Love with Art’] Collection (Part II, Numismatica Ars Classica 123, 9 May 2021), lot 123; Künker 124 (16 March 2007), lot 7849.

Founded circa 649 BC by settlers from Zankle, Himera was the only Greek colony on the north coast of the island. On evidence of its late 6th century coinage it would appear to have enjoyed a high degree of prosperity at this time, despite the relative isolation of its position. As at the other two Chalkidian colonies (Naxos and Zankle), the standard denomination of Himera’s archaic coinage was the drachm of about 5.73 grams, being one-third of the Euboeic stater of 17.2 grams. It is generally assumed that the cock was the civic ‘badge’ of Himera, having been adopted in honor of the Euboian city of Karystos, perhaps the original home of many of the first colonists. In 483 BC, Himera was captured by Theron, tyrant of Akragas, and thereafter the crab of Akragas appeared as the reverse type on the coinage of Himera.

124. SICILY, Kamarina. Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.04 g, 11h). Athena, holding reins, driving galloping quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning Athena with wreath / Bearded head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin. Westermark & Jenkins 132 (O1/R2); HGC 2, 519 (same dies as illustration); SNG Ashmolean 1697 (same dies); BMC 11 (same dies); Jameson 522 = Warren 207 = Rizzo pl. 5, VI (same dies). Iridescent tone, light scrapes and nick on obverse. VF. ($2000)

Ex Harlan J. Berk inventory cc39638 (2 January 2004).

Originally founded by settlers from Syracuse in 598 BC, Kamarina was dependent upon its mother-city for much of its history. A revolt in 553 BC left the city devastated and partly abandoned until 492 BC, when the tyrant Hippokrates of Gela re-founded the city with groups of mercenaries. The first coinage of Kamarina, with its martial design of a panoply of arms, dates from this era. The first period of coinage ended in 484 BC, when Hippokrates’ successor Gelon forcibly relocated its residents to Syracuse. Kamarina was re-founded a third time in 461 BC, by settlers from Gela. This stunning tetradrachm, with its striking head of Herakles anticipating the similar coinage of Alexander the Great by nearly a century, dates from Kamarina’s third incarnation, in the last quarter of the fifth century BC. During this period, at least one athlete from the city, Psaumis, was victorious at the Olympics, a feat celebrated in Pindar’s fourth and fifth Olympian odes, and possibly alluded to with the prize urns below the racing chariot of this coin.

125. SICILY, Katane. Circa 445-435 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.46 g, 11h). Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga of horses right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with wreath / Laureate head of Apollo right. Mirone 48; HGC 2, 567. Toned, with some iridescence, edge split, minor marks, flan flaw on reverse. VF. ($750)

Ex Freeman & Sear inventory KMF001 (1 April 2006).

126. SICILY, Katane. Circa 412-410 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.14 g, 9h). Reverse signed by Choirion. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer with wreath / Head of Amenanos left, wearing tainia; [two] fish and crayfish around; co5-r5W@ below. Mirone 66 (this coin illustrated); Rizzo pl. XIV, 14 (this coin illustrated); HGC 2, 583 var. (signatures). Toned. In NGC encapsulation 1999695-001, graded Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style, light scratches. Very rare. ($3000)

Ex Triton II (1 December 1998), lot 176.

This drachm was struck during the golden age of Sicilian numismatic art, when masters such as Euainetos and Kimon were at the height of their skills. Some of these masters exhibited their work on various issues at Katane, and Mirone lists two series of drachms during this time, from dies by Choirion and Euainetos, some of which were even signed. Nearly all of the very rare drachms of this type are struck from dies of these two engravers.

Signed Katane Drachm – Plated in Mirone (1917) and Rizzo

127. SICILY, Leontini. Circa 425-415 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23.5mm, 17.45 g, 1h). Laureate head of Apollo left / Head of roaring lion left; three barley grains and leaf around. Maltese Period IV, 138 (D34/R106); Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 55 (same dies); HGC 2, 671; SNG ANS 257 (same dies); Gillet 453 (same dies); Rizzo, pl. XXIV, 4 (same dies). Light iridescent tone, underlying luster. EF. ($3000)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 28 (9 December 2023), lot 619; Nomisma 67 (13 April 2023), lot 5.

Leontini was founded in 729 BC by settlers from Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily, which itself had been established just a few years earlier. In the first decade of the 5th century the city was captured by the tyrant Hippocrates of Gela whose successor, Gelon, transferred his seat of government to Syracuse in 485. Thereafter, Leontini usually remained within the Syracusan sphere of influence, though its 5th century coinage was on a considerable scale attesting to the independent wealth of the community. A major political change took place in the late 460s — the expulsion of the tyrants and the restoration of democracy. This was reflected on the Leontine coinage by the introduction of new types featuring the head of Apollo on obverse and a lion’s head on reverse. Apollo was especially revered at Leontini, as he was at the mother city of Naxos where there was a famous sanctuary of Apollo Archegetes. The lion apparently represents a punning allusion to the city name. The surrounding barley-grains are indicative of the exceptional fertility of the Leontine territory and doubtless refer to the local worship of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.

128. SICILY, Leontini. Circa 425-415 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.21 g, 9h). Laureate head of Apollo left / Head of roaring lion left; three barley grains and leaf around. Maltese Period IV, 138 (D34/R106); Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 55 (same dies); HGC 2, 671; SNG ANS 257 (same dies); Gillet 453 (same dies); Rizzo, pl. XXIV, 4 (same dies). Toned, underlying luster, die wear on obverse. Good VF. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from Colosseum Coin Exchange, 25 November 2007.

129. SICILY, Morgantina. The Sikeliotes. Circa 214-213 BC. AR 8 Litrai – Didrachm (21.5mm, 6.95 g, 6h). Wreathed head of Persephone left; leaf to right / Nike, wearing long chiton, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; ` above. Erim & Jaunzems Group II; BAR Issue 3; Campana 12; HGC 2, 910. Deep iridescent tone. EF. ($2000)

Purchased from Bolaffi, 30 Novemeber 2011.

Morgantina was founded by Chalkidian colonists in the early-mid sixth century BC, although the site appears to have been inhabited by natives from prehistoric times. In the mid-late fifth century, the city fell under Syracusan and then Kamarinan control. Dionysios I reconquered the city in 396 BC, and Morgantina allied itself with Timoleon after the victory at Adranon in 344. At the beginning of the Second Punic War, the Romans garrisoned the city, but it later fell to the Carthaginians. Punic mercenaries from Iberia and Libya were stationed there in 212 and 211 BC, but the city was eventually retaken by the Romans, who maintained control of Morgantina until it ceased to exist during the Empire.

130. SICILY, Naxos. Circa 415-403 BC. AR Litra (10.5mm, 0.79 g, 3h). Wreathed head of young Dionysos left / Grape bunch on vine. Cahn 133 (V80/R109); Campana 28 var. A/a; HGC 2, 975. Toned, light scratches and marks. VF. ($500)

Located on the eastern shore of Sicily in the shadow of Mt. Aitna, Naxos was the oldest of the Greek colonies on the island, founded in 735 BC by colonists from Chalkis in Euboia and Ionia. According to Thucydides (1.100), Naxos established its own colony by founding Leontini in 730 BC, which was soon followed by the foundation of a second colony, Aitne, later known as Katane. Taking advantage of the fertility of the surrounding volcanic soil of Mt. Aitna, Naxos developed an economy of viticulture, and along with Leontini and Katane became very prosperous. This wealth attracted the attention of Syracuse, which subjugated Naxos in 476 BC, removing its citizens along with those of Katane to Leontini. Upon the death of Hieron in 461 BC, the Naxians were reinstated to their original city, and formed a close alliance with Leontini and Katane. During the first Athenian Expedition in 427 BC, Naxos actively provided support to the Athenians, who had sent a large fleet to support the allies against Syracuse. In 409 BC, Naxos sided with Syracuse against the Carthaginian threat to Sicily, but in 403 BC, the tyrant Dionysios of Syracuse turned against the Naxians, destroying the city and selling the women and children into slavery.

Referenced by Hurter

131. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 475/0-455/0 BC. AR Didrachm (20.5mm, 8.58 g, 6h). Hound standing right, on the scent / Head of Aigiste right. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung, Period I, Series 2, 19a (V5/R15 – this coin); HGC 2, 1113. Toned, cleaning scratches and marks, edge filed. VF. ($500)

Ex Morton & Eden 20 (27 June 2006), lot 201.

Segesta was the principal city of the Elymi in north-west Sicily. The Segestans wrote their Elymian language in Greek characters, as witnessed by their coins. They developed a traditional hostility with Selinos, in the pursuit of which they allied themselves with Athens in 418/7 BC (Thuc. 6. 6-8 and 46). In 409 BC, Segesta passed into the Carthaginian sphere of influence in another attempt to combat the encroachments of Selinos. Carthage captured and sacked Selinos in that same year.

132. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 412/0-400 BC. AR Didrachm (21.5mm, 8.03 g, 9h). Hound standing right, on the scent; above, head of female right / Head of Aigiste right. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung, Period IV, Series 9, – (V45/R92 [unlisted die combination]); HGC 2, 1142. Toned, edge split, light scratches and marks. Near VF. ($500)

Ex Pegasi Auctions XXIV (5 April 2011), lot 56.

133. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 412/0-400 BC. AR Didrachm (21mm, 8.27 g, 10h). Hound standing left, on the scent; above, head of female left / Head of Aigiste left, wearing sphendone. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung, Period IV, Series 10, 168 (V49/R94); HGC 2, 1144 (same dies as illustration); BMC 27 (same dies). Lightly toned, traces of find patina, light marks. Near VF. ($500)

Ex Dr. Walter Stoecklin (†1975) Collection (Nomos Obolos 8, 2 December 2017), lot 90.

134. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 412/0-400 BC. AR Didrachm (22mm, 8.45 g, 5h). Hound standing right; above, head of female right / Head of Aigiste left. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung, Period IV, Series 11, 182 (V55/R102); HGC 2, 1148 (same dies as illustration). Toned, minor marks. VF. ($500)

Ex Dr. Walter Stoecklin (†1975) Collection (Nomos Obolos 8, 2 December 2017), lot 91.

135. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 412/0-400 BC. AR Didrachm (21mm, 8.56 g, 4h). Hound standing right; murex shell to right / Head of Aigiste right; ivy branches above and below. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung, Period IV, Series 11, 184 (V56/ R103); HGC 2, 1149 (same dies as illustration); SNG ANS 613 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1180 (same dies); BMC 35 (same dies); Winterthur 835 (same dies). Iridescent tone, gouged and bent near edge, some marks. VF. Very rare, only eight noted by Hurter (all in public collections), and only one in CoinArchives. ($500)

Ex Harlan J. Berk inventory cc63543 (3 February 2009).

Wonderful Style

136. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 405/2-400 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 17.42 g, 6h). The hero Egestes, nude, standing right, cap slung over shoulder and chlamys over left arm, resting left foot on rock; E˝EstÅ5W@ to left; below, two hounds standing right at his feet, one sniffing the ground; small ithyphallic herm to lower right / Head of the nymph Segesta right, hair bound in ampyx and a star embroidered sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace with pendants; sE˝EstÅ$5Å to right, grain ear below. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung T8 (V4/R7); Lederer 6; HGC 2, 1108 (same dies as illustration); BMC 32 = Kraay & Hirmer 203 (same dies); Hirsch 523 (same dies); McClean 2555 (same dies); Regling, Kunstwerk 567 (same obv. die); Rizzo pl. LXII, 14 (same dies). Lightly toned, roughness, some horn silver, cleaning marks. VF. Wonderful style. Rare. ($7500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 129 (13 May 2025), lot 56 (hammer $13,000); Heritage 3115 (8 May 2024), lot 31003.

Although the most common denomination at Segesta was the didrachm, a few very rare and extremely accomplished tetradrachms were minted in about 400 BC with a remarkably detailed representation of a young huntsman. S. Hurter has maintained the traditional identification of this young man as Egestes, the legendary founder of the city, son of the Trojan maiden Segesta by the river-god Krimsos. Other plausible identifications are the hunter Krimsos or Pan, god of the hunt.

137. SICILY, Segesta. Circa 405/2-400 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 16.93 g, 6h). The hero Egestes, nude, standing right, cap slung over shoulder and chlamys over left arm, resting left foot on rock; below, two hounds standing right at his feet, one sniffing the ground; small ithyphallic herm to lower right / Head of the nymph Segesta right, hair bound in ampyx and a star embroidered sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace with pendants; sE˝EstÅ$5Å to right, grain ear below. Hurter, Didrachmenprägung T9 (V4/R8); Lederer 7; HGC 2, 1108; SNG ANS 646 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1195 = ACGC 849 (same dies); de Luynes 1120 (same dies); Dewing 674 (same dies); Gulbenkian 241 = BMC 31 (same dies); Hunt IV 84 (same dies); Jameson 709 (same dies); Pozzi 531 (same dies); Rizzo pl. LXII, 15 (same dies). Old collection tone, scratches, edge marks. VF. ($4000)

Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich 10 (21 October 2018), lot 7.

138. SICILY, Selinos. Circa 540-515 BC. AR Didrachm (23.5mm, 8.53 g). Selinon leaf; [two tiny pellets across upper field] / Incuse square divided into ten sections. Arnold-Biucchi Group I, 2; HGC 2, 1209. Lightly toned, flan crack, some roughness. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 123 (23 May 2023), lot 28; Cederlind 142 (5 April 2007), lot 26.

Situated on the southwest coast of Sicily at the mouth of the Selinunte River, Selinos was founded by Dorian colonists from Megara Hyblaia, a town on the eastern coast of the island. Selinos is believed to be the first city on Sicily to strike coins, introducing its didrachms circa 540 BC, less than a decade after Aegina had introduced the concept of coinage to Europe. Based on the Corinthian weight standard, the initial coinage of Selinos regularly featured a tri-lobed wild parsley leaf, since the ancient Greek name for this, selinos, provided an allusive pun on the town’s name.

139. SICILY, Syracuse. Gelon I. 485-478 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 16.79 g, 11h). Struck circa 480 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series IV, 45 (V26/R29); HGC 2, 1304. Find patina, slight roughness. Good VF. ($1500)

140. SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron I. 478-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.93 g, 5h). Struck circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series VIIIb, 128 (V58/R88); HGC 2, 1306; SNG Tübingen 639 (same dies); Randazzo 287 (same dies). Toned, light roughness on obverse, a few flan flaws on reverse. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 12 (30 May 2020), lot 78.

141. SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron I. 478-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.23 g, 6h). Struck circa 478-475 BC.

Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series VIIIb, 156 (V70/R108); HGC 2, 1306; Randazzo 330–1 (same dies). Lightly toned. Near EF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXIX (13 August 1992), lot 31; Numismatic Fine Arts XXVI (14 August 1991), lot 26.

Hieron I, assuming power after his brother, Gelon’s, death, expanded Syracuse’s influence onto the Italian mainland, where he won a signal victory over the Etruscans at Cumae in 474 BC. Like his brother, Hieron embellished Syracuse with amphitheaters, libraries, and other civic buildings, and was a liberal patrons of art and literature. On the other hand, Hieron employed a secret police force, the first in Greek history, to retain his grip on power. Though both Gelon and Hieron were addressed as “king” by some contemporaries, there is no evidence they adopted the royal title and their names never appear on Syracusan coins. A third Deinomenid brother, Thrasybolos, attempted to rule Syracuse after Hieron’s death in 466 BC but was quickly overthrown and replaced by a democratic government.

142. SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron I. 478-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.26 g, 9h). Struck circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series VIIIb, 156 (V70/R108); HGC 2, 1306; Randazzo 330–1 (same dies). Toned, roughness, die break and some scratches on reverse. VF. ($1000)

Purchased by the consignor from Civitas Galleries, 22 May 2003.

Ex American Numismatic Society, Newell, Headlam, Philipsen, and Evans Collections Pedigreed to 1898

143. SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 16.84 g, 11h). Obverse die signed by Euainetos, reverse die signed by Eumenes. Struck circa 415-409 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, holding wreath from which hangs a tablet inscribed E¨Å5@>Eto in two lines; two dolphins confronted in exergue / Head of Arethousa left, hair in ampyx and sphendone; [E¨Â]E-@o-¨ below, four dolphins around. Fischer-Bossert, Coins 44q (O14/R26) = SNG ANS 271 (this coin); Tudeer 44; HGC 2, 1333; SNG Ashmolean 1997 (same dies); Basel 459 (same dies); Hermitage Sale II 347 (same dies); Ognina 290–1 (same dies). Toned, much find patina remaining, a few light cleaning scratches. Good VF. Well centered and attractive style. ($3000)

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 116 (1 October 2019), lot 52; Gemini VIII (14 April 2011), lot 17; Duplicates from the American Numismatic Society Collection (Gemini V, 6 January 2009), lot 360; ANS inventory 1944.100.55782; Edward T. Newell (†1941) Collection; Rev. Arthur C. Headlam Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 8 May 1916), lot 105; Gustav Philipsen Collection (Part I, J. Hirsch XV, 28 May 1906), lot 1177; Sir Arthur Evans Collection [“The Collection of an Archaeologist and Traveller”] (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 20 January 1898), lot 85.

144. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (35mm, 42.97 g, 8h). Reverse die signed by Euainetos. Struck circa 405-390 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning charioteer with laurel wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness], shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [ÅQ¬Å below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; sU-rÅ-k-os-5W@ above, d below chin, four swimming dolphins around, [EU-Å5@E along lower edge]. Gallatin dies R.IX/D.II; Scavino 33 (D9/R18a); HGC 2, 1299; SNG Lloyd 1413 (same dies); Dewing 898–900 (same dies); Basel 481 (same dies); BMC 173 (same dies); Boston MFA 425 (same dies); Hunterian 53 (same dies); Rizzo pl. LIV, 5 and pl. LVI, 5 (same dies). Toned, cleaning scratches, some smoothing. VF. ($15,000)

Ex Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio (9 January 2015), lot 31, purchased from Elias Padros, circa 1977.

Dionysios assumed power in 405 BC and immediately set out to make Syracuse the greatest and most heavily fortified city in all Sicily. He was defending against the renewed imperialistic expansion of Carthage. Three times he defeated the Carthaginians, bringing further prestige and wealth to Syracuse. During his reign, the Syracusan navy became the most powerful in the Mediterranean, allowing Syracuse to expand her territorial control over much of southern Italy.

Dionysios reintroduced the large and ostentatious silver dekadrachms, a denomination that had not been used in Syracuse since the issue of the Demareteion decades earlier. Dionysios entrusted two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, to design these impressive pieces. The regard for these coins in modern times is reflected by the fact that they are considered a must for any first rank collection of Greek coins.

145. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (33.5mm, 41.33 g, 8h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-390 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning charioteer with laurel wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness], shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [ÅQ¬Å below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; [sU-rÅ-k-o-s5W@ above], shell behind neck, four swimming dolphins around. Gallatin dies R.XI/F.II; Scavino 39 (D11/R22); HGC 2, 1299; Rhousopoulos 430 (same dies). Toned, roughness, cleaning scratches, light smoothing. VF. ($15,000)

Ex Künker 376 (18 October 2022), lot 4378; UBS 45 (15 September 1998), lot 155.

Two Attractive Syracusan Dekadrachms

146. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.06 g, 7h). Unsigned dies in the style of Eukleidas. Struck circa 400/395-390 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; in exergue, dolphin left / Head of Arethousa left, hair in broad band and welling upwards in wavy locks; four dolphins around. Fischer-Bossert, Coins 89 (V33/R61); Tudeer 89; HGC 2, 1345; SNG Ashmolean 2008 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 681 (same dies); SNG Fitzwilliam 1251 (same dies); SNG Lockett 978 (same dies); Dewing 855–6 (same dies); Gillet 663 (same dies); Ward 283 (same dies). Find patina, scrape on reverse. Near EF. ($3000)

Ex Nomos 32 (8 June 2024), lot 366.

147. SICILY, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. 344-317 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 8.47 g, 12h). Struck under Timoleon, 344-339/8. Pegasos flying left / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet. Pegasi 2; HGC 2, 1400. Iridescent tone, slight roughness, minor pitting. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Max Vogt Collection (Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 28, 9 December 2023), lot 652; Monetarium 63 (Spring 1995), no. 44.

In the early 4th century BC, Syracuse had become highly factionalized, and the political turmoil was taken advantage of by the Carthaginians, who supported Hiketas against Dionysios I. Eventually a delegation was sent by the Syracusans to Corinth to appeal to their mother city for help. Timoleon was chosen to take control of Syracuse, drive the Carthaginian-backed government from power, and restore the tranquility and prosperity of the great Sicilian city. In this endeavor Timoleon was successful, and his rule sparked a cultural and political revival. This revival is reflected in the city’s coinage, with the advent of many new types and denominations.

148. SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AV Drachm – Hemistater (15mm, 4.22 g, 11h). Struck circa 317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast biga right; triskeles below. Bérend, l’or, pl. 9, 1; BAR Issue 1; HGC 2, 1276. A few minor flan flaws. Good VF. ($3000) Ex ArtCoins Roma 16 (17 June 2015), lot 184.

Agathokles was born in Himera circa 361 BC, the son of a potter who moved the family to Syracuse in the 340s BC. Tiring of his father’s trade, Agathokles became a soldier and quickly established himself as an able leader. Agathokles seized power at the head of a mercenary army in a bloody coup in 317 BC. Over the next few years, he strengthened his army and created a formidable navy, and used them to expand his power base throughout Sicily. This inevitably led him into conflict with Carthage, which still controlled territory in western Sicily. The war lasted from 311-306 BC and only resulted in each side becoming more entrenched in their respective parts of Sicily, with the border between them established along the Halycus River. In 304 BC, imitating the famous Diadochs in the east, Agathokles declared himself king of Sicily, though his power only extended across the eastern part of the island. His later years were more concerned with the consolidation of his power than with expansion. Seeing that none of his progeny could effectively rule in his place, in 289 BC, upon his death bed, Agathokles restored the Syracusan democracy.

Ex Lestranges Collection (1909)

149. SICILY, Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai – Tetradrachm (26mm, 14.08 g, 1h). Struck circa 240-218/5 BC. Diademed and veiled head left; star to right / Nike, holding reins in both hands, driving fast quadriga right; crescent above, ˚ below. CCO 60 (D15/R38); Burnett, Enna –; BAR Issue 65; HGC 2, 1554; McClean 2914 (same dies); Rhousopoulos 474 (same dies). Deep iridescent tone, minor marks. Near EF. ($3000)

Ex Lestranges Collection (Egger, 26 November 1909), lot 285.

150. SICILY, Syracuse. Hieronymos. 215-214 BC. AR 10 Litrai (22.5mm, 7.89 g, 12h). Diademed head left; ˚ to right / Winged thunderbolt; ˚5 above. Holloway 46 (O21/R38); BAR Issue 79; HGC 2, 1567; SNG ANS 1028 (same obv. die). Light iridescent tone, traces of find patina, hairline flan crack. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Sotheby’s (6 November 1997), lot 19; Monetarium 51 (Spring 1989), lot 22.

151. SICILY, Syracuse. Fifth Democracy. 214-212 BC. AR 12 Litrai (26mm, 10.18 g, 12h). Helmeted head of Athena left / Artemis standing left, drawing bow; at side, hound springing left; dÅ to left. Burnett, Enna 7–8 var. (dies 2/– [unlisted rev. die]); BAR Issue 84; HGC 2, 1412. Lightly toned, slight die wear, indications of undertype on reverse. EF. ($1500)

Ex Ronald Cohen Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 66, 19 May 2004), lot 151.

152. SICILY, Syracuse. Fifth Democracy. 214-212 BC. AR 12 Litrai (25mm, 10.18 g, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena left / Artemis standing left, drawing bow; at side, hound springing left; xÅ to left. Burnett, Enna 21 (dies 8/n); BAR Issue 84; HGC 2, 1412; SNG Copenhagen 878 (same obv. die); SNG Delepierre 713 (same obv. die); McClean 2957 (same dies). Deep cabinet tone with some iridescence, a few marks at edge. Near EF. Perfectly centered and well struck from dies of fine style. ($1500)

Ex European Connoisseur Collection (Morton & Eden 124, 26 September 2023), lot 168 (hammer £4200).

A Substantial Offering of Siculo-Punic Tetradrachms

The Siculo-Punic coinage in Sicily, which included the minting of Attic-weight standard tetradrachms and didrachms within Sicily by Carthage, is linked primarily to five cities: Motya, Panormos, Lilybaion, Entella, Solous, and Thermai Himerenses. Entella has been identified as the site of the main Punic controlled mint on the island, but that is disputed and it is often referred to as “uncertain.” Thermai Himerenses and Solous were minor mints that issued only a few tetradrachms along with silver fractional and bronze issues. Motya, once the leading Punic city and mint in the area, ceased production after its destruction in 397 BC. This left Entella, Panormos, and Lilybaion as the major remaining mints, with Entella issuing the majority of the subsequent Punic coinage.

This coinage is directly tied to Carthage’s attempts to subjugate the eastern Greek half of the island. The first Sicilian War saw Carthage crushed at the Battle of Himera in 480 BC, and for seventy years after Carthage declined to interfere in Greek Sicilian politics even when called upon. However, this stance changed with her intervention on behalf of Segesta against Selinos and Himera in the Second Sicilian War. Notably, before Punic intervention, Carthage did not mint any coins at all. Instead, Punic trade across the Mediterranean was conducted in kind rather than with currency. However, Carthage needed to hire mercenaries to bolster her armies in her quest to conquer Sicily and this required currency that the mercenaries would trust.

The earliest Siculo-Punic tetradrachms had a distinctly Punic style that did not match with current issues circulating on the island. Subsequent Carthaginian emissions, however, copied local imagery and style, producing tetradrachms and didrachms that denizens of the island were familiar with. This allowed them to easily integrate into circulation alongside the Greek issues in Sicily. This syncretism, which Carthage practiced in other areas, produced a body of coinage that is fascinating not only due to its beauty, but also because of the amalgamation of styles and cultures. This model would be adopted for almost all of the Punic coinage minted in Sicily. The coins were identified as inherently Punic by alterations in style or use of a Punic legend or symbol such as the horse. However, the core concepts of the coins were borrowed from Syracuse, Akragas, Himera, and other Greek cities in Sicily. Even in Carthage’s last issue of Herakles head tetradrachms, we see the use of prototypes from Alexander’s different mints in the East. This confluence of cultures is what makes the series interesting to collect outside of its beauty and history: the ability to buy one coin that has elements from three or even four cultures is difficult to beat and is attractive to collectors of almost any area.

153. SICULO-PUNIC, “Carthage”. Circa 407-398 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.59 g, 2h). Possibly Entella mint. Forepart of horse left; barley grain to left; to right, Nike flying left, crowning horse / Palm tree with two date clusters; tßDJ TeQ (QRT ḤDŠT = “Carthage” in Punic) across lower field. Jenkins, Punic, Series 1, 31 (O8/R30); CNP 641; HGC 2, 262 (same dies as illustration); SNG Copenhagen (Carthage) 70 (same dies). Iridescent tone, areas of roughness. Near VF. ($2500)

Ex Garth R. Drewry Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 97, 8 September 2004), lot 17; Lanz 50 (27 November 1989), lot 89.

154. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.75 g, 10h). Possibly Entella mint. Wreathed head of Kore left; M (Punic mem) behind neck / Horse advancing left; palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2a, 63 (O17/R57); CNP 208c; HGC 2, 268; SNG Ashmolean 2156 (same dies). Deeply toned, flan flaws on obverse, faint cleaning marks on reverse. VF. ($1500)

Ex Gorny & Mosch 186 (8 March 2010), lot 1160; InAsta 28 (23 November 2008), lot 91.

Entella has been tentatively identified as the site of the main Carthage-controlled mint on Sicily, but this identification remains uncertain. Other Carthaginian (or “Punic” in Latin terminology) mints include Motya, Panormos and Lilybaion. The coinage identified by the enigmatic Punic inscription “People of the Camp” is usually ascribed to Entella and is directly tied to Carthage’s attempts to subjugate the eastern Greek half of the island. The example seen here is typical of the Greco-Carthaginian syncretism emblematic of the SiculoPunic series: The obverse bears a head of Arethousa, nymph of the Syracusan sacred spring of Ortygia, while the reverse depicts a horse advancing left and a palm tree, both representing Carthage.

155. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.26 g, 2h). Possibly Entella mint. Wreathed head of Kore left; M (Punic mem) behind neck / Horse advancing left; palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2a, 65 (O18/R59); CNP 208c; HGC 2, 268; Bement 582 (same dies); de Luynes 1443 (same dies). Old collection tone, with iridescence around the devices, traces of find patina. Good VF. ($2000)

Ex Maison Palombo 6 (12 October 2008), lot 2.

156. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.53 g, 4h). Possibly Entella mint. Wreathed head of Kore right / Horse advancing left; palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2a, 80 (O25/R53); CNP 208; HGC 2, 270. Toned, traces of horn silver. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Hess-Divo 317 (27 October 2010), lot 86; Rauch 73 (17 May 2004), lot 89.

Beautiful Punic Tetradrachm – Published in 1891 by Sir Arthur Evans

157. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.10 g, 10h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace / Horse leaping right; palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2d, 123 (O42/R111 – this coin referenced [incorrect weight cited]); CNP 212; HGC 2, 279; SNG Lloyd 616 (same dies); Sir A. J. Evans, “Syracusan ‘Medaillions’ and their Engravers” in NC 1891, pl. XIV, 12 (this coin). Beautiful old collection tone, a few minor flan flaws on reverse. Good VF. Well centered and fine style. ($7500)

Ex Coin Galleries (16 February 2005), lot 47; Hess-Leu [3] (27 March 1956), lot 228 (incorrect weight cited).

This is one of the most starkly beautiful issues of the Siculo-Punic series, with a head of Arethousa of exceptional style, closely modeled on the Euainetos dekadrachms of Syracuse, and a wonderfully athletic Punic horse caught in mid-leap. The lack of any inscription or control marks emphasizes the artistry of the composition.

158. SICILY, “The Camp”. Circa 320/15-300 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.55 g, 8h). Possibly Entella mint. Wreathed head of Arethousa left; four dolphins swimming around / Head of horse left; palm tree to right, M (M = “People of the Camp” in abbreviated form, in Punic) below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 3c, 238 (O74/R203 – this coin cited); CNP 264; HGC 2, 289. Iridescent toning, a few marks, struck with worn dies. Near EF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Berk BBS 61 (20 March 1990), lot 103.

159. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 350-310 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.70 g, 9h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; [te]Q¬M[ße] ([RŠ]MLQ[RT] = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Head of female right, hair in sphendone; three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 6 (O5/R5); CNP 315; HGC 2, 731. Toned, cleaning scratches, spots of roughness on periphery, graffito on reverse. VF. ($1500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 201 (17 December 2008), lot 9; Auctiones AG 25 (19 June 1995), lot 346.

Lilybaion, modern day Marsala, was a Punic city in Sicily founded in the fourth century BC. The destruction of the chief Punic stronghold Motya in 397 BC by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios I left the denizens of Motya without a home and Carthage without a primary military base on the island. In order to remedy both of these issues, the city of Lilybaion was founded by the survivors from Motya. The new port town would become a thriving trade hub and the most important military base in Sicily. The strong new walls that were built to defend the city were able to fend off both Pyrrhos of Epiros and the Romans. It was the last bastion of Punic rule in Sicily during Pyrrhos’ conquest of the island, beating back his attempts to take the city before his campaign unraveled entirely. The Romans placed the city under a nine year siege with numerous assaults during the First Punic War, but they were never able to capture the city and only gained control of it after Carthage’s surrender at the end of the war.

The issue of tetradrachms that are purportedly from Lilybaion were all struck in the later half of the fourth century BC. While many show strong affinity for Syracusan styles from the same period, Jenkins notes that this series relies heavily on prototypes from the Entella series.

160. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 350-310 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 17.01 g, 5h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; teQ¬Mße (RŠMLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Head of female right, hair in sphendone and ampyx; five dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 10 (O6/R8); CNP 314; HGC 2, 731; McClean 2487 (same dies). Toned, some doubling and die wear on obverse. VF. ($1500)

Ex Coin Galleries (18 December 2007), lot 72; Coin Galleries (14 December 2005), lot 31.

161. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 16.93 g, 1h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; teQ¬Mße (RŠMLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Wreathed head of Arethousa right; four dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 41 (O15/R32); CNP 309; HGC 2, 741. Find patina, some light roughness, a few faint cleaning scratches. VF. ($1500)

Ex Gemini VI (10 January 2010), lot 54; I. Vecchi 17 (15 December 1999), lot 150.

162. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22.5mm, 17.43 g, 2h). Probably Lilybaion mint. [Charioteer], holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; [te]Q¬M[ße] ([RŠ]MLQ[RT] = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Wreathed head of Arethousa right; three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 52 (O18/R40); CNP 311; HGC 2, 741; Boston MFA 269 (same dies). Toned, with some iridescence around the devices. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 117 (29 June 2005), lot 4; Auctiones AG 25 (19 June 1995), lot 349.

163. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 17.11 g, 10h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; [teQ¬Mße (RŠMLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue] / Wreathed head of Arethousa right; three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 56 (O19/R43); CNP 343; HGC 2, 743 (this coin illustrated). Toned. VF. ($1500)

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 59 (4 April 2011), lot 1580 (further pedigree listed is erroneous).

164. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.22 g, 12h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; teQ¬Mße (RŠMLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Wreathed head of Arethousa left; five dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 65 (O22/R49); CNP 304a; HGC 2, 742. Iridescent tone, a couple of light scratches on reverse. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Barry P. Murphy inventory 18209 (16 August 2008).

165. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.20 g, 7h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; [teQ¬Mße (RŠMLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue] / Wreathed head of Arethousa right; four dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 66 (O22/R50); CNP 312; HGC 2, 741; SNG Lloyd 1602 (same dies); BMC 10 (same dies); Boston MFA Supp. 23 (same dies). Deep iridescent tone. VF. ($1500)

Ex Goldberg 53 (25 May 2009), lot 1598; Berk BBS 75 (28 January 1993), lot 87; Berk BBS 69 (22 January 1992) lot 126.

166. SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.16 g, 12h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer; [teQ¬Mße (RŠMLQRT = “Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue] / Wreathed head of Arethousa right; four dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 67 (O22/R51); CNP 312; HGC 2, 741; Pozzi 425 (same dies). Toned, a couple of light scratches on reverse. VF. ($1500)

Ex Chaponnière & Hess-Divo 1 (18 May 2010), lot 67; Hess-Divo 308 (24 October 2007), lot 20.

167. SICULO-PUNIC, Motya. Circa 400-397 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.41 g, 10h). Head of Arethousa left, hair in ampyx and sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; four dolphins swimming around / Crab. Jenkins, Punic 47 (O6/R9); Campana 22; CNP 502; HGC 2, 923 (same dies as illustration); Jameson 667 (same dies). Iridescent tone, a few hairlines. VF. ($4000)

Ex Robert O. Ebert Collection (Gemini V, 6 January 2009), lot 502; Golden Gate Collection (Coin Galleries, 14 April 1993), lot 158; Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 7 (27 April 1987), lot 110; Kunst und Münzen XXIV (29 November 1984), lot 70.

The island city of Motya was founded as a trading post by Phoenician settlers in the eighth century BC as part of a wave of Phoenician colonization in the western Mediterranean. The city was the largest and most influential of the Phoenician colonies founded in Sicily and this continued into the period of Carthaginian domination of the western half of the island. The city was used as a stronghold for Punic forces during Carthage’s conflicts with the Greek cities in Sicily and finally Dionysios of Syracuse decided to target the city. The siege and capture of the city in 397 BC resulted in its complete destruction and it never recovered. The survivors were eventually resettled in the new Punic stronghold in Sicily, Lilybaion.

168. SICULO-PUNIC, “Ṣyṣ”. Circa 405-380 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.18 g, 8h). Likely Panormos mint.

Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; [8]$8 (Punic ṢY[Ṣ]) in exergue / Head of female right; four dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 12 (O3/R11); CNS 347; HGC 2, 1004. Toned, die break on reverse (diagnostic for die). VF. ($1000)

Ex G. Hirsch 267 (5 May 2010), 102; G. Hirsch 261 (7 May 2009), lot 123.

Founded by the Phoenicians in the eighth century BC, Panormos was established along the northern coast of Sicily as a trading post with the indigenous Sicani of the region. The people of Panormos, although active traders like the other Phoenician settlers in Sicily, felt little need for striking their own coinage; instead, they relied upon the regional Greek coinages for their transactions. By the late fifth century, however, as Carthage and its Punic allies were expanding control of the western Mediterranean, it became necessary to begin striking coins in order the pay the mercenaries used to assert Punic power. As a result, cities like Panormos began striking coins which could be integrated into the existing monetary system, and which derived their types for the most part from the Greek city-states in Sicily.

169. SICULO-PUNIC, “Ṣyṣ”. Circa 405-380 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 16.67 g, 10h). Likely Panormos mint.

Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; 8$8 (Punic ṢYṢ) and [shell(?)] in exergue / Head of female right; four dolphins swimming around, head of fifth emerging from neck truncation. Jenkins, Punic 20 (O4’/R18); CNS 347c; HGC 2, 1004; Boston MFA 232 (same dies); Ward 364 (same dies). Toned, flan crack, light graffiti on reverse. VF. ($1500)

Ex G. Hirsch 275 (22 September 2011), lot 3339; Rauch 43 (5 June 1989), lot 153.

170. SICULO-PUNIC, “Ṣyṣ”. Circa 360-340 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.06 g, 6h). Likely Panormos mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying left, crowning horses; 8$8 (Punic ṢYṢ) in exergue / Head of Arethusa left; four dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 42 (O12/R36); CNS 288; HGC 2, 1015. Toned, die break on reverse. VF. ($1000)

Ex Pecunem 2 (Gitbud & Naumann, 7 April 2013), lot 17; Gorny & Mosch 203 (5 March 2012), lot 86.

171. SICULO-PUNIC, “Ṣyṣ”. Circa 340-320 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23.5mm, 17.31 g, 3h). Likely Panormos mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; [8$8 (Punic ṢYṢ) in exergue] / Wreathed head of Arethusa left; pellet to right, three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 63 (O17/ R50); CNS 326d; HGC 2, 1022; SNG Lloyd 1586 (same dies); Boston MFA 325 (same dies). Attractive light iridescent tone, underlying luster. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Goldberg 53 (25 May 2009), lot 1597; Berk BBS 75 (28 January 1993), lot 86.

172. SICULO-PUNIC, “Ṣyṣ”. Circa 325-300 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 16.75 g, 12h). Likely Panormos mint. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; dolphins flanking 8$8 (Punic ṢYṢ) in exergue / Wreathed head of Arethusa left; three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 80 (O21/R67); CNS 326; HGC 2, 1023; SNG Lockett 846 = Pozzi 513 (same dies); BMC 11 (same dies). Deep old iridescent tone over lustrous surfaces. Near EF. ($2000)

Ex Barry P. Murphy inventory 18210 (16 August 2008).

173. CARTHAGE. Circa 350-320 BC. AV Stater (36mm, 61.70 g, 10h). All measurements include bezel. Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with eight pendants / Horse standing right on exergual line; three pellets in triangle to lower right. Jenkins & Lewis Group IIIg, 67; CNP 1.5h; MAA 4. Mounted in 18 karat yellow gold bezel containing round brilliant cut diamonds weighing approximately 2.30 carats total, and round cabochon sapphires measuring approximately 3.75 mm, with stamp: 18 K. U.S.A. Gross weight: 39.75 dwt.n. EF ($7500)

174. CARTHAGE. Circa 350-320 BC. AV Stater (19mm, 9.05 g, 3h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with eleven pendants / Horse standing right on exergue line; three pellets in triangle to right of foreleg. Jenkins & Lewis Group IIIf, 31 (same dies); CNP 1.5t; MAA 4. Lustrous, a few light scratches. Near EF. ($5000)

175. CARTHAGE. Circa 310-290 BC. EL Stater (17.5mm, 7.42 g, 12h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with ten pendants; pellet before neck / Horse standing right; [two pellets below exergue line]. Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 272 (same dies); CNP 2.10a; MAA 10. Good VF. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from Malvin Numismatic, 29 November 2009.

176. CARTHAGE. Circa 310-290 BC. EL Stater (19mm, 7.47 g, 11h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with ten pendants; pellet before neck / Horse standing right; three pellets below exergue line. Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 288 (same dies); CNP 2.10f; MAA 10. Trace deposits, edge marks. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Nomisma 38 (21 April 2009), lot 27; InAsta 20 (19 May 2007), lot 359.

177. CARTHAGE. Circa 290-270 BC. EL Stater (19.5mm, 7.34 g, 12h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with eight pendants / Horse standing right on exergue line. Jenkins & Lewis Group VI, 312 (same dies); CNP 2.6; MAA 13. VF. ($1500)

Ex Harlan J. Berk inventory cc67538 (5 March 2010).

178. CARTHAGE. Circa 290-270 BC. EL Stater (18.5mm, 7.36 g, 1h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with nine pendants / Horse standing right; four pellets on exergue line behind forelegs. Jenkins & Lewis Group VI, 331 (same dies); CNP 2.6k; MAA 13. Struck with worn dies. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex John Jencek inventory Y00861 (16 August 2011).

179. CARTHAGE. Circa 290-270 BC. EL Stater (19mm, 7.51 g, 11h). Carthage mint. Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing necklace [with pendants] / Horse standing right on exergue line. Jenkins & Lewis Group VII; CNP 2.11; MAA 13. Trace earthen deposits, a few light scratches and marks. VF. ($1500)

Ex Kunker 168 (12 March 2010), lot 7463; Künker 143 (6 October 2008), lot 299.

Fine Style Gold Tridrachm

180. CARTHAGE. Circa 270-264 BC. AV 1½ Shekels – Tridrachm (22mm, 12.47 g, 12h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with eleven pendants / Horse standing right, head left. Jenkins & Lewis Group IX, 389 (same dies); CNP 76d; MAA 26; SNG Copenhagen 181; Basel 569; Gulbenkian 384; Kraay & Hirmer 210; de Luynes 3749 (same obv. die). In NGC encapsulation 8559712-001, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style, brushed. ($30,000)

Purchased by the consignor from Shanna Schmidt. Ex Peus 435 (31 October 2023), lot 177; Numismatica Ars Classica 125 (23 June 2021), lot 296. Reportedly previously purchased from Freeman & Sear and ex Tunis Hoard of 1948 (ICGH 2271).

By the third century BC, the Punic goddess Tanit and the horse had become the standard types of Carthaginian coinage and remained so for the balance of the city’s existence. Tanit was the primary deity of Carthage. A celestial divinity with some fertility aspects, she was the North African equivalent of Astarte. She is always depicted on the coinage wearing a wreath of grain, which may have been borrowed from Demeter and Persephone as the Carthaginians assimilated the Sicilian culture into their own during the various Punic excursions to the island. The use of the horse on the reverse is usually considered part of the foundation myth of Carthage. According to Virgil’s Aeneid, the Phoenician colonists who founded Carthage were told by Juno (or Tanit) to establish the new colony at the place where they discovered a horse’s head in the ground. Another theory is that the obverse head is actually Demeter or Persephone, whose worship was introduced to Carthage in 396 BC to make amends for the destruction of the goddesses’ temples outside Syracuse by the Carthaginian army.

181. CARTHAGE, First Punic War. Circa 264-241 BC. EL 1½ Shekels – Tridrachm (21.5mm, 10.84 g, 11h). Carthage mint. Wreathed head of Tanit left, wearing necklace with eleven pendants / Horse standing right; ouraios above; three pellets before forward hind hoof. Jenkins & Lewis Group Xa, 412 (same obv. die); CNP 41i; MAA 32. Toned, light marks, edge marks from prior bezel. Good VF. ($5000)

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64 (17 May 2012), lot 773; George & Robert Stevenson Collection (Classical Numismatic Group XXVI, 11 June 1993), lot 49; Numismatic Fine Arts XII (23 March 1983), lot 35.

182. CARTHAGE, Libyan Revolt. Circa 241-238 BC. BI 1¼ Shekels (20mm, 9.31 g, 11h). Wreathed head of Tanit left / Hose standing right; zzzzz§ (25 in Punic) above. Visonà, Unusual, Variety a, 1–19; CNP 30; MAA 39; SNG Copenhagen 188. Lightly toned, some deposits. VF. Very rare. ($1000)

Ex VAuctions 275 (Gitbud & Naumann, 5 January 2012), lot 107.

At the end of the First Punic War in 246 BC, Carthage found herself confronted with a dilemma. Large numbers of Greek, Italian, and African mercenaries had been hired to pursue the war with Rome, and now Carthage, defeated and bankrupt, had no money for the pay owed to them. Rebellion broke out in Sardinia and Africa. The latter situation became critical when one of the leaders, Matho, a native Libyan, inspired the native population to join the mercenaries against their Punic Carthaginian overlords. Hamilcar Barca, the great Carthaginian general, finally suppressed the revolt in 238 BC.

183. CARTHAGE, Libyan Revolt. Circa 241-238 BC. BI Shekel (22mm, 6.80 g, 11h). Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Lion standing right; M (Punic M) above. Carradice & La Niece 1; CNP 433b; MAA 53. Lightly toned, overstruck on uncertain type. EF. ($750)

Ex G. Hirsch 275 (22 September 2011), lot 4158; Numismatica Ars Classica A (28 February 1991), lot 1287.

Remarkable Overstrike

184. CARTHAGE, Libyan Revolt. Circa 241-238 BC. BI Shekel (25mm, 7.14 g, 12h). Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Lion standing right; M (Punic M) above. Carradice & La Niece 1; CNP 433b; MAA 53. Toned, overstruck on an uncertain Carthaginian issue (head of Tanit visible on the reverse, horse standing right visible on the obverse). Good VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Steven Battelle, 26 September 2013.

185. CARTHAGE, Second Punic War. Circa 220-205 BC. EL Three-eighths Shekel (15mm, 2.76 g, 12h). Carthage mint. Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right. Jenkins & Lewis Group XV, 476–7; CNP 9; cf. MAA 73. Remnants of find patina, hairline flan crack, marks, some die wear. VF. ($750)

Ex Amilcare Collection (Roma E-Sale 69, 16 April 2020), lot 264.

186. SKYTHIA, Geto-Dacians. Koson. Mid 1st century BC. AV Stater (18.5mm, 8.56 g, 12h). Roman consul accompanied by two lictors advancing left; û to left / Eagle standing left on scepter, holding wreath; pellet below raised claw. Hourmouziadis dies A/a; Iliescu 1; RPC I 1701A; HGC 3, 2049 corr. (some without monogram). EF. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from Flavian Logic Ancient Numismatics (FLAN), 10 April 2003.

187. THRACE, Abdera. Circa 520/15-500 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 14.76 g). Griffin, with featherless curved wing, seated left, raising forepaw / Quadripartite incuse square. May, Abdera, Period I, 3–8 var. (unlisted dies); CN Online Type 4389 (same dies as feature coin); HGC 3, 1128 (same dies as illustration); Gemini XI, lot 76 (hammer $11,000; same dies). Remnants of find patina, some granularity, hairlines, minor die wear on obverse. VF. Rare. ($3000)

Abdera has its mythological foundation in the Labors of Herakles, who founded the city in honor of his companion Abderos after the latter was killed by the mares of Diomedes. Historically, the first recorded settlement was a failed colonization effort by Klazomenaians under the leadership of Timesias in 656 BC, but neither of these events have left any concrete traces in the later history. It was in 541 BC that citizens of Teos, fleeing the Persian conquest of Ionia, established a long-lasting civic entity. The unchanging numismatic symbol of Abdera, the griffin, was adopted from the coinage of the lost home city, Teos, but turned to face left instead of right as at Teos. Abdera’s production of massive silver oktadrachms begins within a decade of the founding of the city, and reflects the reason for the success of this foundation as opposed to the earlier failure; at the beginning of the 6th century BC the prolific silver mines of Thrace started coming online, and trading cities such as Abdera and Thasos were well positioned to claim their portion of the wealth. While producing large quantities of silver coins, the city also introduced one of the earliest series of signed coinage by annual magistrates. While the obverse type was invariably a griffin, the reverses, once they evolved beyond the simple quadripartite square in the late 5th century, seem to have been left to the whim of the magistrates, who responded with a delightful repertoire of varied types, mythological and naturalistic, a number featuring visual puns on the magistrates’ names. This was the period of Abdera’s greatest achievements, of well known citizens such as Demokritos, the ‘laughing philosopher’, and Protagoras, the most celebrated of the sophists. The failed revolt against Athens in 411 BC proved only a slight hiatus in the city’s prosperity. However, the final end would come within a generation, as the production of the Thracian silver mines began to slow (or was diverted to the growing power of Macedon) and the Thracian tribes became increasingly restive. In 375 BC, the Abderan army was destroyed by the Triballoi, and only closer confederacy with Athens preserved the city. Its annual coinage issues ceased, and after this period little precious metal coinage was struck in Abdera.

188. THRACE, Abdera. Circa 336-311 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 9.77 g, 10h). Euresippos, magistrate. Griffin couchant left, raising foreleg / Laureate head of Apollo right. C-N Period XI, 110–1 var. (unlisted dies); May, Abdera 541; CN Online Type 6371; HGC 3, 1211g. Toned, some find patina and granularity. VF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 523 (7 September 2022), lot 58; Kricheldorf 49 (20 February 2017), lot 80, reportedly purchased by the consignor from Nomos AG (Dr. Roland Maly), 7 October 1977.

189. THRACE, Ainos. Circa 455/4-453/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 15.41 g, 1h). Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos with pelleted rim / Goat standing right; to right, term set on garlanded throne right; all within incuse square. May, Ainos, Group XV, 74 (A46/P56); CN Online Type 2724; HGC 3, 1266; McClean 3820 (same dies). Toned, porous, die flaw on obverse. VF. ($1000)

The legendary founder of Ainos was said to be Ainios, a son of the god Apollo; the Roman poet Virgil apparently confused this name with that of the Trojan hero Aeneas and credits the city’s foundation to him. The main deity of the city was Hermes Perpheraios (”the wanderer”), and it is he who is depicted on the city’s early coinage.

190. THRACE, Byzantion. Circa 260-245 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 17.07 g, 12h). In the name and types of Lysimachos. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, transverse spear in background; 4 to inner left, spiral ornament on throne. Marinescu Issue 15, 41 (O21/R38); Müller –; CN Online Type 11627; HGC 3, 1394; Meydancikkale 2699 (same dies). Lightly toned, underlying luster. Good VF. ($1000)

191. THRACE, Byzantion. Circa 240-220 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.86 g, 1h). Meniskos, magistrate. Wreathed and veiled head of Demeter right, wearing grain ear wreath / Poseidon seated right on rocks, holding trident and aphlaston; to right, *U (civic monogram) above Æ. Marinescu Issue 6; Schönert-Geiss, Byzantion 991 (V7/R10); CN Online Type 52946; HGC 3, 1408. Toned, remnants of find patina, edge marks, scrape. VF. ($1000)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 149 (2 February 2025), lot 100; Numismatik Naumann 148 (5 January 2025), lot 64.

192. THRACE, Byzantion. Circa 230s-early 220s BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 16.60 g, 12h). In the name and types of Lysimachos. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, transverse spear in background; Ą to inner left, spiral ornament on throne. Marinescu Issue 61, 142–4 var. (O54/R– [unlisted rev. die]); Müller –; CN Online Type –; HGC 3, 1396. Traces of horn silver, slight die shift. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Weise, De la Tour, and Vierordt Collections – Pedigreed to 1924

193. THRACE, Orthagoreia. Circa 340s-330s BC. AR Stater (23mm, 10.12 g, 8h). Bust of Artemis right, quiver over shoulder / Chalkidian helmet facing; star above, £ below. CN Online Type 2237; HGC 3, 599 (Macedon). Deeply toned, remnants of find patina, scratches and scrapes under tone, filing on edge. VF. ($2000)

Ex Weise Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 114, 13 May 2020), lot 92; G. Hirsch 272 (4 May 2011), lot 179; De La Tour Collection (Hess-Divo 314, 4 May 2009), lot 1069, purchased from Antika, Lyon, October 1984; Spink Zurich 13 (9 May 1984), lot 582; Vierordt Collection (Part II, Schulman, 17 June 1924), lot 367.

The conventional placement of Orthagoreia in Macedon is perplexing. Both of the only ancient literary sources, Strabo 7a.1.48 and Pliny, HN 4.42–3, place the city in Thrace, and all of the recorded find spots of its coinage are in Thrace (see Psoma, Maroneia, pp. 193–4). While the city was likely founded by Philip II, some of whose rare silver fractions mimic the obverse types of Orthagoreia’s silver, and the reverse type is of a Chalkidian helmet, these Macedonian connections provide insufficient evidence to place the city in Macedonia. The traditional attribution dates back to Eckhel (ii.76), who cited a late source that (erroneously) identified Orthagoreia with Stageira in Macedonia. B.V. Head and others reiterated this attribution, while P. Gardner (History of Ancient Coinage, p. 325) and H. Gaebler (AMNG III/2, p. 92) accurately challenged this evidence, and insisted the city was in Thrace. Interestingly, though, Gaebler still listed these coins in his volume of AMNG on Macedon, which likely perpetuated the incorrect notion of the city’s location. Among the standard references, apparently only the catalogers of SNG Copenhagen and SNG Fitzwilliam recognized the attribution to Thrace. With a large quantity of bronze issues of Orthagoreia appearing in the excavations at Maroneia, S. Psoma devoted a chapter of her work on the coin finds of Maroneia to review the totality of evidence on the city (Psoma, Maroneia, pp. 193–204). She convincingly argues that Orthagoreia was founded in the vicinity of cape Serrhion by Philip II, in connection with his campaigns in Thrace in the 340s BC. Evidence suggests that the city was originally populated with Macedonian settlers and was later synoecized with Maroneia near the end of the 4th century BC. No evidence of the city exists from the Hellenistic period, so it appears that Orthagoreia did not flourish after the time of Alexander, and was eventually abandoned or destroyed.

194. ISLANDS off THRACE, Thasos. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 9.62 g). Ithyphallic satyr advancing right, carrying off protesting nymph / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 2; HPM pl. X, 3–5; CN Online Type 20745; HGC 6, 331. Remnants of find patina, granular surfaces, die break on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ritual abduction as a form of exogamy (marrying outside of a community or clan) was, and is still, frequent in tribal society. The reference here is probably to the Dionysiac cult and is modeled on one of the stone reliefs for which Thasos is famous. The overtly sexual displays seen on many early Greek coins can be disconcerting to the modern eye, viewing them through the lens of centuries of Christian fulmination against pagan eroticism. These scenes are at their most graphic in northern Greece, for example, on the archaic coins of Thasos, showing the interplay of nymphs and satyrs. The towns and tribes of this region were only newly introduced to the ‘civilizing’ influences of the south, and were still close to their roots in farming and herding cultures. Their gods were not the Olympian super beings, but the spirits of nature, and the emphasis was on celebrating the fecundity of fields and flocks.

195. ISLANDS off THRACE, Thasos. Circa 480-463 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 8.71 g). Satyr advancing right, carrying off protesting nymph / Quadripartite incuse square. Le Rider, Thasiennes 5; HGC 6, 331. Lightly toned, faint porosity, flan crack. Near EF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Berk BBS 139 (4 August 2003), lot 123.

196. ISLANDS off THRACE, Thasos. Circa 150-140 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34mm, 16.82 g, 12h). Wreathed head of young Dionysos right / Herakles standing left, right hand on club set on ground, lion skin draped over left arm; 6 to inner left. Prokopov, Silberprägung, Group I, 14 (V A2/R – [unlisted rev. die]); Le Rider, Thasiennes 51; HGC 6, 358. Attractively toned, a few light scratches. Good VF. Fine early style. ($1000)

From the G.W. Trow Collection. Ex Spink Auction 23007 (3 October 2023), lot 80; Spink Numismatic Circular CXVII.5 (September 2009), no. GK2771.

197. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.10 g, 12h). Lampsakos mint. Struck 297/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; torch to inner left, star on throne. Thompson 43; Müller 381; HGC 3, 1750b; SNG BN 2538-9. Light iridescent tone, underlying luster. Good VF. Attractive style and in high relief. ($1000)

From the D. K. Collection.

Lysimachos, a Macedonian noble of great strength and stature, was born circa 360 BC and rose to prominence as a bodyguard for Alexander the Great, although he was a generation older than the young king. When Alexander’s territories were parceled out in 323 BC, Lysimachos was given control of Thrace, the Chersonese, and the intervening Black Sea coast. Much of this territory was claimed by various Thracian tribes, forcing him to spend decades in a largely fruitless effort to subdue them. By the time he assumed the royal title in 306/5 BC, his kingdom consisted of little more than the southern portions of Thrace. But he soon experienced a late-career revival as he plunged fully into the wars of the Diadochi, carving out an ever-expanding realm largely at the expense of his main rivals, Antigonos I Monophthalmos and his son Demetrios I Poliorketes. This territory was rich with both bullion and mint cities, enabling Lysimachos to begin striking a voluminous coinage on his behalf, initially patterned on the coins of Alexander, but with his own name and royal title.

198. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.93 g, 1h). Lampsakos mint. Struck 297/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; B to inner left, crescent in exergue. Thompson 49; Müller 399; HGC 3, 1750b. Lightly toned. Near EF. ($1500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, 2 December 1999.

199. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 16.96 g, 12h).

“Alexandreia Troas” mint. Struck circa 297/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; to inner left, head of ram left; star on throne. Thompson 151; Meadows, Earliest 5, dies O5;/R– (unlisted rev. die); Müller –; HGC 3, 1750h. Lightly toned, a few light marks, scuffs on obverse. Near EF. ($1000)

In his die study of the lifetime Lysimachoi attributed to Alexandreia Troas, A. Meadows doubted that the attribution of this coinage to that mint was correct, and suggested it be left uncertain. A. Ellis-Evans, in his new die study of the Hellenistic coinage of Alexandreia Troas, agrees that this coinage should no longer be given to that mint.

Unpublished and Unique

200. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AV Stater (18.5mm, 8.57 g, 3h). Amphipolis mint. Struck 288/7-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear behind; monograms to inner left and outer right. Cf. Thompson 200 (tetradrachm); Müller –; cf. HGC 2, 1743 (for type). Underlying luster, a few minor marks, light smoothing. Good VF. An apparently unique and unpublished stater from Amphipolis. ($4000)

Although Amphipolis was a prolific issuer of Lysimachos type tetradrachms, there are no staters previously known for any issue there.

201. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 17.08 g, 12h). Parion mint. Struck 287/6-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; filleted thyrsos to outer right, Ć in exergue. Seyrig, Parion – (but cf. 15 for similar obv. style); Thompson –; Müller 364; HGC 3, 1750n; Boehringer, Chron., p. 159, 15 and pl. 28, 15 (same dies). Toned, minor die wear on reverse. Good VF. ($1500)

202. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 17.09 g, 12h). Uncertain mint; Menod– and Sosi–, magistrates. Posthumous issue, struck mid 3rd century BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon; Â˙@od below / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; sWs5Q to inner left, ) on throne. Callataÿ, Tétradrachme, dies D1/R– (unlisted rev. die); Thompson –; Müller 564 corr. (obv. name not noted, corrected monogram); cf. HGC 3, 1750 (for type). Toned, remnants of find patina, trace deposits, light cleaning marks. Good VF. Very rare, only ten known; Callataÿ notes seven examples, with three additional in CoinArchives (the example in CNG 41 and 43 is the NFA XXXIII coin noted by Callataÿ). ($750)

Ex Washburn King, Philipsen, and Seyffer Collections – Pedigreed to 1891

203. MACEDON, Argilos. Circa 495-478/7 BC. AR Stater (25mm, 13.12 g). Pegasos stepping right / Quadripartite incuse square. Liampi Period IV, Group A, 32 (this coin); HGC 3, 468. Toned, light scratches, struck with worn obverse die, test cut with some edge loss. VF. Very rare. ($2000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Gemini II (10 January 2006), lot 48; Elisabeth Washburn King Collection, gifted to Bryn Mawr College, 1951 (Christie’s New York, 11 December 1992), lot 663, purchased from Ch. Morley, 1946; Münzhandlung Basel 10 (15 March 1938), lot 188; Gustav Philipsen Collection (Part I, J. Hirsch XV, 28 May 1906), lot 446; Dr. O. Seyffer Collection (Merzbacher, 13 October 1891), lot 496.

204. MACEDON, Chalkidian League. Circa 385 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 14.44 g, 5h). Olynthos mint. Laureate head of Apollo left / Kithara; all within incuse square. Robinson & Clement Group G, – (unlisted dies); AMNG III/2, 4; HGC 3, 497. Lightly toned. EF. ($4000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Triton XXV (11 January 2022), lot 143 (hammer $17,000).

The Chalkidike is a three-fingered spit of land extending from eastern Macedon into the Aegean Sea. Wary of Athenian imperialism and the rising power of the Macedonian Kingdom, the free cities of the Chalkidike banded together in 432 BC to form a defensive coalition called the Chalkidian League, with its capital of Olynthos. The silver coinage struck at Olynthos was on the Macedonian standard, somewhat lighter than the Attic standard employed by most of Greece, and was legal tender at all cities belonging to the league. The standard design featured a head of Apollo, god of beauty, art and music, with a type of lyre called a kithara on the reverse. The heads of Apollo on these pieces are remarkable for the strength and beauty of their style. Some of the most beautiful dies in the series were produced in the early to mid-300s BC, of which an outstanding example is seen here. Sadly, the Chalkidian League’s coinage came to an end with the capture and destruction of Olynthos by King Philip II of Macedon in 348 BC.

205. MACEDON, Chalkidian League. Circa 352 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 14.43 g, 11h). Olynthos mint; Olympichos, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / Kithara; [Eπ5 o]¬UÂπ5coU in small letters below. Robinson & Clement Group T, 114 (A73/P97); HGC 3, 499. Toned, minor pitting, faint cleaning scratches. Good VF. ($2000)

206. MACEDON, Neapolis. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Stater (18mm, 9.61 g). Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 6; HGC 3, 583. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8465273-001, graded Ch XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style, brushed. ($1500)

207. MACEDON, Neapolis. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 9.74 g). Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 6; HGC 3, 583. Remnants of find patina, faint granularity, light cleaning scratches. VF. ($1500)

208. KINGS of MACEDON. Archelaos. 413-400/399 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 9.91 g, 12h). Aigai mint. Head of Apollo right, with short hair, wearing tainia / Horse advancing right, trailing rein, in linear square within shallow incuse square. Westermark, Staters, Group II, Series 2, dies O69/R– (unlisted rev. die); AMNG III/2, 3; HGC 3, 795. Toned, a little porosity. Good VF. ($1000)

Archelaos was one of early Macedon’s most capable kings. His reign saw major changes to state administration, the organization of the kingdom’s military, and significant developments in commerce that helped stabilize the kingdom’s finances. Perhaps the most important event of his reign was a rapproachment with Athens, historically an opponent to the Macedonian kings. In 413 BC, Athens suffered a devastating defeat at Syracuse that destroyed most of its fleet of ships. Amphipolis had provided Athens with timber for shipbuilding, but the Athenians lost control of the city to Macedon in 424 BC. Rather than see the Athenians struggle to rebuild, Archelaos used this as an opportunity to normalize relations with Athens as an equal power, and supplied them with the timber they required. This single act greatly enriched his kingdom, and ingratiated Archelaos with the Athenians such that they honored him and his family with the titles of proxenos and euergetes Other significant events were his relocation of the Argead capital from Aigai to Pella, and the expansion of trade with various cities in Greece. This trade greatly increased the influence of Hellenic culture in Macedon, and many Greek artists, poets, musicians, and tragedians were brought to Archelaos’ court. Archelaos was murdered in 399 BC, but the sources differ on the circumstances.

209. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Philip II – Alexander III. Circa 340/36-328 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.55 g, 6h). In the name and types of Philip II. Pella mint. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast biga right; kantharos below. Le Rider Group II.1, 133–226 var. (D38 [unlisted with kantharos], unlisted rev. die); SNG ANS 130–7. Faintly toned, underlying luster. VF. ($2000)

Purchased by the consignor from Alexandria Coins, 19 January 2005.

210. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Philip II – Alexander III. Circa 340/36-328 BC. AV Stater (16.5mm, 8.58 g, 7h).

In the name and types of Philip II. Amphipolis mint. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast biga right; crescent below. Le Rider Group II, 105 (D47/R80); SNG ANS 255. Underlying luster, hairlines, a few light cleaning marks. Good VF. ($3000)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 118 (3 July 2022), lot 211.

Unique and Attractive Disaster

211. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AV Distater (21mm, 17.27 g, 11h). Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent, single-pendant earring, and two necklaces / ŬE$Å@droU, Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; quiver(?) in left field. Unpublished. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232455-001, graded Ch AU★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. Unique. ($50,000)

Alexander III the Great’s distater was the largest gold coin yet seen in the Greek world, and was tariffed at 40 silver drachms. Although distaters had apparently been struck earlier in Alexander’s reign, the largest output commenced after circa 325 BC, as he was wrapping up his Indian campaign and en route back to Babylon. Most of the distater mintage took place in Macedon proper, at the mints of Amphipolis and Aigai. The club-of-Herakles mintmark seen on this example is hitherto unrecorded for any Alexander distater; indeed it is only rarely seen on staters, and then positioned quite differently. The attribution to Amphipolis is thus conjectural, based on stylistic grounds.

212. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AV Distater (21mm, 17.00 g, 9h). Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 325-323/2 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent, single-pendant earring, and two necklaces / ŬE$Å@droU, Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; vertical thunderbolt in left field, “ below left wing. Price 191; Troxell, Studies, Group B, 539; Noe, Sicyon, 7.9–17 var. (A13/P– [unlisted rev. die]); SNG Copenhagen 623 (same obv. die); SNG Fitzwilliam 2092 (same obv. die); Bement 705 (same obv. die). Faintly toned, a few cleaning scratches, edge marks from prior bezel, ex jewelry. Near VF. ($10,000)

213. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.60 g, 8h). Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 328/5-323 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; thunderbolt in left field. Price 164; Troxell, Studies, Series 2, dies O22/F7. In NGC encapsulation 8559543-012, graded AU★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. ($5000)

Unique Alexander Distater - Lot 211

Noe Plate Coin – Ex Haughton and Storrs Collections

214. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.17 g, 5h). Pella mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 328/7-323/2 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, athlete jumping left. Price 195; Noe, Sicyon 14.5 (A22/P41 – this coin, illustrated). Lightly toned, die breaks, edge bump. Good VF. ($500)

Ex A. Hess 252 (24 May 1982), lot 43; Major-General H. L. Haughton Collection (Sotheby & Co., 30 April 1958), lot 69; General Sir Ronald Storrs Collection, purchased en bloc by A.H. Baldwin & Sons.

215 216

215. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (15.5mm, 4.31 g, 11h). Lampsakos mint. Struck under Kalas or Demarchos, circa 328/5-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; star in left field. Price 1350; ADM II Series IV. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-005, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($500)

216. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.27 g, 6h). Lampsakos mint. Struck under Kalas or Demarchos, circa 328/5-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Artemis Phosphoros standing facing, holding two torches; ∂ below throne. Price 1356; ADM II Series V. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-119, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($500)

217. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 4.29 g, 12h). Abydos mint. Struck under Kalas or Demarchos, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Hermes standing left, holding kerykeion; ◊ below throne. Price 1503; ADM II Series I. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-062, graded Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. ($750)

218. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.61 g, 9h). Miletos mint. Struck under Philoxenos, circa 325-323 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right; thunderbolt below / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; M below left wing. Price 2079; ADM I Series I. In NGC encapsulation 8232370-010, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($7500)

A

Selection of Mint State Alexander III Staters

219. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.60 g, 12h). Miletos mint. Struck under Philoxenos, circa 325-323 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right; thunderbolt below / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; M in left field. Price 2078; ADM I Series I. In NGC encapsulation 8559701-005, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($7500)

220. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.31 g, 11h). Miletos mint. Struck under Philoxenos, circa 325-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, legs spread; M in left field. Price 2090; ADM I Series I. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-063, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. ($750)

Price 2090 comprises two varieties, one with Zeus’ legs parallel (or spread), the other with his legs crossed, though this distinction is not differentiated in his corpus.

221. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (15.5mm, 4.32 g, 1h). Sardes mint. Struck under Menander, circa 330/25-324/3 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; kantharos in left field. Price 2542; ADM I Series VII. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-058, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($500)

222. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 4.28 g, 11h). Sardes mint. Struck under Menander, circa 324/3 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; bee in left field, Ö below throne. Price 2563; ADM I Series X. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-003, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style. ($500)

223. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.32 g, 12h). Sardes mint. Struck under Menander, circa 324/3 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; torch in left field, Ö below throne. Price 2567; ADM I Series X. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-061, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style. ($500)

224. KINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.28 g, 11h). Myriandros or Issos mint. Struck under Menes or Philotas, circa 324/3-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; æ in left field, m below throne. Price 3228; Newell, Myriandros 26, obv. die XII; SNG Ashmolean 2341 (same obv. die). Toned, underlying luster. EF. Well struck and high relief. ($1000)

225. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 325-319 BC. AV Quarter Stater (10.5mm, 2.13 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater. Helmeted head of Athena right / Bow and club; thunderbolt above. Price 165. Underlying luster, scrapes and marks, edge marks. VF. ($750)

226. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 325-319 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.63 g, 2h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; kantharos in left field. Price 168; Troxell, Studies, p. 127 and pl. 31, 11. In NGC encapsulation 8559701-004, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. ($7500)

227. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.60 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; harpa in left field. Price 3136; Troxell, New, Group I, 11 (dies 6/d). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232370-012, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($6000)

228. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.60 g, 12h).

In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; below left wing, eagle standing right. Price 3129; Troxell, New, Group II, 26 (dies 14/e). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232370-009, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($6000)

229. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (18.5mm, 8.64 g, 12h).

In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; below left wing, eagle standing right. Price 3129; Troxell, New, Group II, 28 (dies 15/g); ANS inv. 1944.100.33987 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 8232370-001, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($6000)

230. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.66 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; below left wing, eagle standing left. Price 3125 (Salamis; same obv. die as illustration); Troxell, New, Group II, 30 corr. (Group II, not III; dies 16/m). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232370-016, graded Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($10,000)

231. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.59 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; below left wing, eagle standing left. Price 3125 (Salamis; same obv. die as illustration); Troxell, New, Group II, 30 corr. (Group II, not III; dies 16/m). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8559702-002, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($7500)

232. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.67 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; below left wing, eagle standing left. Price 3125 (Salamis; same obv. die as illustration); Troxell, New, Group II, 30 corr. (Group II, not III; dies 16/m). In NGC encapsulation 8559702-005, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($7500)

233. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.61 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; below left wing, eagle standing right. Price 3129b (Salamis; same obv. die); Troxell, New, Group II, 34 (dies 19/q). In NGC encapsulation 8559703-002, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($7500)

234. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.60 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; to left, head of ram right. Price 1719 (Magnesia); Troxell, New, Group III, 37 (dies 19/a). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8559702-004, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. Rare. ($7500)

235. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Alexander III – Philip III. Circa 330/25-320 BC. AV Stater (19mm, 8.59 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; to left, head of ram right. Price 1719 (Magnesia); Troxell, New, Group III, 40 (dies 20/c). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232370-007, graded Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. Rare. ($10,000)

Pedigreed to 1939

236. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 17.19 g, 3h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 322-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; cornucopia in left field. Price 108; Troxell, Studies, Issue G1. Deep iridescent tone. Near EF. ($500)

Ex Grabow XIV (27 July 1939), lot 239.

237. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 17.21 g, 3h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 322-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; Phrygian cap in left field. Price 112; Troxell, Studies, Issue H2. Lightly toned. Near EF. Struck on a broad flan. ($500)

Ex Heritage 3032 (10 April 2014), lot 23079; Rauch Summer Auction 2013 (18 September 2013), lot 109; Rauch 90 (4 June 2012), lot 94.

238. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.27 g, 7h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Amphipolis mint. Struck under Antipater, circa 322-320 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; Macedonian helmet in left field. Price 113; Troxell, Studies, Issue H3. Light iridescent tone, underlying luster. Near EF. ($500)

Moore Plate Coin – Ex Haughton and Storrs Collections

239. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 17.26 g, 6h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Pella mint. Struck under Antipater or Polyperchon, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; vertical thunderbolt in left field. Price 232; Moore 193 (dies 59/U – this coin referenced and illustrated). Lovely old cabinet tone, with iridescence around the devices. EF. ($1000)

Ex J. Schulman 232 (9 March 1959), lot 1316; Major-General H. L. Haughton Collection (Sotheby & Co., 30 April 1958), lot 6; General Sir Ronald Storrs Collection, purchased en bloc by A.H. Baldwin & Sons.

240. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.60 g, 12h). In the types of Philip II. Teos mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 323-319 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast biga right; below, griffin seated right, raising forepaw; spearhead in exergue. Thompson, Philip 18 (same rev. die as illustration); Le Rider –; SNG ANS 324 (same rev. die). Lustrous, a few hairlines, small mark on reverse. Near EF. Rare. ($2000)

241. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.59 g, 7h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Sardes mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319/8 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent and single-pendant earring / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling stylis in left arm; Ñ in left field, akrostolion below right wing. Price 2592; ADM I Series XIII. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8559702-009, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($7500)

242. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 4.28 g, 11h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Sardes mint. Struck under Menander, circa 324/3 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; Ñ in left field. Price 2597; ADM I Series XIII. In NGC encapsulation 8558179-047, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. ($500)

243. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.58 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Sardes mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319/8 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent and single-pendant earring / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling stylis in left arm; Ñ in left field, akrostolion below right wing. Price 2592; ADM I Series XIII. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232370-013, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($6000)

Second Known

244. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.59 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Sardes mint. Struck under Menander or Kleitos, circa 322-319/8 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled serpent and single-pendant earring / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling stylis in left arm; ∑ below left, akrostolion below right wing. Price 2593 corr. (monogram); ADM I Series XIII, 173 (same dies). Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8559702-010, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style. Extremely rare, only one example published (the BM coin referenced by Price and ADM), none in the ANS Photofile, CoinArchives, nor acsearch. The second known. ($5000)

245. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.20 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Babylon mint. Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; Â in left field, ¬U below throne. Price 3692; Waggoner Issue III, obv. die 147. Lightly toned, underlying luster. EF. Well centered and high relief. ($750)

246. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.12 g, 4h). In the types of Alexander III. Babylon mint. Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; Â in left field, ∫ below throne. Price P182; Waggoner Issue V, obv. die unlisted; ANS inv. 1944.100.82738 (same obv. die). Attractively toned. Good VF. ($500)

247. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.18 g, 4h). In the types of Alexander III. Babylon mint. Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, wheel above ™; ‰ below throne. Price P202; Waggoner Issue VI, obv. die unlisted. Lightly toned. Near EF. ($750)

248. KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos I Monophthalmos. As Strategos of Asia, 320-306/5 BC, or king, 306/5-301 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 17.16 g, 11h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Tarsos mint. Struck circa 316-301 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; sU in left field, ˜ below throne. Price 3805 (Karrhai); ANS inv. 1964.143.1 (same obv. die). Underlying luster, struck with worn dies. Near EF. ($750) For the reattribution of this issue to Tarsos, see CNG 85, lot 301.

249. KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos I Monophthalmos. As Strategos of Asia, 320-306/5 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.50 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Babylon mint. Struck under Peithon, circa 315-311 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ( below left wing, ü below right wing. Price 3724. Trace deposits. VF. ($2500)

After Perdikkas, Antigonos Monophthalmos (“one-eyed,” so-called for having lost an eye to a catapult bolt) was perhaps the most powerful of the Diadochs upon Alexander’s death. Having been entrusted with overseeing Macedonian rule in Asia Minor, Antigonos was left in control of vast resources that enabled him to persevere through the wars of the Diadochs. At the height of his power, his territories stretched from the Hellespont to Babylon. While his military prowess was keen, so too were his diplomatic skills. In fact, his skill of using the other Diadochs against one another was more attributable to his success in building his domains than his military victories. By 306 BC, Antigonos was so certain of his dominance that he proclaimed himself king, the first of the Diadochs to do so. It was this event, which he thought to be his triumphant moment, that proved his undoing. From that moment, the other Diadochs clearly saw Antigonos and his son, Demetrios Poliorketes, as their primary opponents. Putting aside their differences for the first time, all the other Diadochs – Ptolemy, Seleukos, Lysimachos, and Kassander – joined forces against Antigonos. For a year the allies pressured the Antigonid forces around the Aegaean. Finally, at the battle of Ipsos in 301 BC, Antigonos was defeated by the combined forces of Seleukos and Lysimachos. Antigonos was killed in the battle, but Demetrios was able to escape and continue fighting the others for years, though he never regained the sizeable territory that his father had once ruled.

250. KINGS of MACEDON. Kassander. As regent, 317-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 14.31 g, 8h). In the name and types of Philip II. Amphipolis mint. Struck circa 316-311 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Nude youth, holding palm frond and reins, on horseback right; aphlaston below, À below raised foreleg. Le Rider pl. 46, 17–8; Troxell, Studies, Group 9, 323-5. Attractively toned, light deposits, minor cut on edge. Near EF. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Herman, July 1988. Ex Auctiones AG 17 (7 July 1988), lot 138.

Kassander was the son of Alexander III’s regent in Macedon, Antipater. By the end of Alexander’s reign, Antipater had fallen under suspicion of treason, and thus the Macedonian king treated Kassander, who was with him in the East, disfavorably. Thankfully for Kassander, Alexander died before dealing with Antipater. At Triparadeisos, Kassander was named chiliarch, while his father remained regent in Macedon. Although Kassander wanted to succeed his father, when Antipater died, the regency was given to Polyperchon instead. In response, Kassander allied himself with the powerful Antigonos Monophthalmos, who supported him in establishing a power base in Piraios and the Peloponnesos. From these bases, Kassander launched invasions against Polyperchon, and eventually succeeded in overthrowing the regent in 317 BC. Kassander quickly established his firm dominion over Macedon, and had Alexander’s mother, Olympias, put to death. He also married Thessalonike, the daughter of Philip II, to ingratiate himself with the families who had long ties to Alexander’s father, and who exerted much power over the local countryside. His consolidation of power also included the murder of Alexander III’s wife, Roxane, and the young Alexander IV in 310 BC. His success in controlling Macedon, though, was seen as a threat by Antigonos, who still had the Macedonian throne as his own goal. In response to Kassander’s rise in Macedon, Antigonos proclaimed that the Greek cities were free from Macedonian control, an act that ingratiated him to them. Antigonos used their gratitude to foment dissent againt Kassander throughout Greece and Peloponnesos. Antigonos also allied himself to Polyperchon, who had sought refuge in the Peloponnesos, and now supported his attempts to overthow Kassander. Although he lost power in Greece, Kassander maintained his control of Macedon thoughout the Diadochi Wars. He died of dropsy in 298 BC.

251. KINGS of MACEDON. Kassander. As Regent, 317-305 BC, or King, 305-298 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 14.32 g, 10h). In the name and types of Philip II. Amphipolis mint. Struck circa 307-297 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Youth on horseback right, holding palm frond and reins; below, ¬ above torch; tripod below raised foreleg. Le Rider pl. 47, 24–5; SNG ANS 798. Toned, small cut on obverse. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 128 (7 May 2023), lot 137.

252. KINGS of MACEDON. Kassander. As regent, 317-305 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.60 g, 2h). In the name and types of Philip II. Pella mint. Struck circa 317/6-315/4 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast biga right; thunderbolt and s below. Le Rider 556 (D234/R402); SNG ANS 185. Trace deposits, a couple of tiny marks. Good VF. Well centered. ($2500)

Ex Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 484, 27 January 2021), lot 154, purchased from A. Kosoff, 27 July 1965. Reportedly ex Jules Furthman Collection.

253. KINGS of MACEDON. Demetrios I Poliorketes. 306-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.22 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Salamis mint. Struck circa 306-300 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; 2 in left field, d5 below throne. Newell 2, dies I/2; Price 3176; HGC 3, 1009a; ANS inv. 1944.100.34146 (same dies). Lightly toned, underlying luster. Superb EF. High relief. ($1000)

Demetrios I Poliorketes was the son of one of Alexander’s greatest generals, Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Antigonos was arguably the strongest of Alexander’s followers, the Diadochs, at one time ruling over all of Alexander’s eastern territories from Asia Minor to Baktria, except for Egypt. Antigonos’ success led him to be the first Diadoch to crown himself king, in 306 BC. By that time, Demetrios was an active participant in his father’s wars and was also crowned king along with his father. Fearing Antigonos’ growing power, the other Diadochs allied themselves against him, and finally defeated and killed him at the battle of Ipsos in 301 BC. Following Ipsos, Demetrios continued to battle the other Diadochs, and although he won numerous victories, he was usually unable to maintain his control over his conquests afterward. His epithet, Poliorketes (‘besieger of cities’) was earned following his siege of Rhodes. While that siege ultimately failed, it featured a number of elaborate siege engines which had become a hallmark of Demetrios’ style of warfare. Demetrios was eventually abandoned by his army, and he subsequently surrendered to Seleukos I of Syria in 288 BC. Demetrios died in captivity five years later

Attractive Iridescent Toning

254. KINGS of MACEDON. Demetrios I Poliorketes. 306-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 17.16 g, 1h). Pella mint. Struck circa 294-293 BC. Nike standing left on prow of galley left, blowing trumpet she holds in her right hand and cradling stylis in her left arm / Poseidon Pelagaios standing left, seen from behind, preparing to throw trident held aloft in his right hand, chlamys draped over extended left arm; g to left; to right, dolphin left above star. Newell 68, obv. die LVII; HGC 3, 1012e; SNG München 1042 var. (no dolphin; same obv. die); Dewing 1196 (same obv. die). Light iridescent tone. Superb EF. ($5000)

Ex Dr. Lamar Payne Collection (Triton XI, 8 January 2008), lot 128; Triton VIII (11 January 2005), lot 181.

255. KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos II Gonatas. 277/6-239 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31.5mm, 17.08 g, 5h). Amphipolis mint. Struck circa 271/68-260/55 BC. Horned head of Pan left, lagobolon over shoulder, in the center of a Macedonian shield / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis on left arm, preparing to cast thunderbolt; crested Macedonian helmet to inner left, ˆ to inner right. TEA Period I, Group 1, 9 var. (O3/R– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 3, 1042. Underlying luster, a few minor marks. Near EF. ($1000)

Antiogonos II Gonatas was the son of Demetrios I Poliorketes and grandson of Antigonos I Monophthalmos (“one-eyed”). During the wars of succession, he participated with his father on campaign in Greece and Macedon. Upon his father’s death in 283 BC, Antigonos assumed the royal title and resolved to retake the Macedonian throne. Before he was able to invade Macedonia, in 279 BC, a huge wave of Galatians moved into the region from the north and ravaged as far south as Delphi. In 277 BC, Antigonos took his army north and decisively defeated the Celts in a victory that brought him recognition and acclaim across the Aegaean. Antigonos now seized the empty Macedonian throne and reigned successfully for nearly 40 years.

256. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Antigonos II Gonatas – Demetrios II Aitolikos. 246/5-229 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 17.02 g, 7h). Amphipolis or Pella mint. Horned head of Pan left, lagobolon over shoulder, in the center of a Macedonian shield / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis on left arm, preparing to cast thunderbolt; crested Macedonian helmet to inner left, Ò to inner right. TEA Period III, Group 10, 51 (O11/R49); HGC 3, 1042 (Antigonos II Gonatas). Toned, slight die wear on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

257. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Antigonos II Gonatas – Demetrios II Aitolikos. 246/5-229 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 17.00 g, 12h). Amphipolis or Pella mint. Horned head of Pan left, lagobolon over shoulder, in the center of a Macedonian shield / Athena Alkidemos advancing left, shield decorated with aegis on left arm, preparing to cast thunderbolt; crested Macedonian helmet to inner left, ˚t to inner right. TEA Period III, Group 14, 74 (O12/R70); HGC 3, 1042 (Antigonos II Gonatas). Toned, with some iridescence. Good VF. Well centered on a broad flan. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Nomos 35 (5 April 2025), lot 278; Gorny & Mosch 125 (13 October 2003), lot 132.

258. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Antigonos II Gonatas – Demetrios II Aitolikos. 246/5-229 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 17.06 g, 11h). Amphipolis or Pella mint. Wreathed head of Poseidon right / Apollo, testing bow, seated left on prow left; f below. TEA Period III, Group 44, 213–24 var. (O33/R– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 3, 1051 (Antigonos III Doson). Good VF. ($1500)

259. KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos III Doson. 229-221 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33.5mm, 17.00 g, 12h). Amphipolis or Pella mint. Wreathed head of Poseidon right / Apollo, testing bow, seated left on prow left; f below. TEA Period IV, Group 16, 64–9 var. (O17/R– [unlisted rev. die]); HGC 3, 1051. Light deposits on reverse. Good VF. ($2000)

Antigonos III Doson was the son of the ill-fated Demetrios the Fair, a Macedonian nobleman who briefly served as king of Kyrene in 250 BC before falling into a love affair with his mother-in-law and being murdered by his jealous bride. His sobriquet Doson means “prone to giving” in Greek, but it is unclear how it applies to him. Although he stood outside the direct line of Macedonian royal succession, he grew into a capable soldier and was asked to serve as regent for the five-year-old Philip V after the death in battle of the boy’s father, Demetrios II Aetolikos, in 229 BC. Facing a chaotic situation caused by successive defeats and the misrule of his predecessor, Antigonos ably restored Macedonia’s military and financial position as the major power in mainland Greece. He proved so successful that the gentry of Macedon confirmed him as king, although he gave all due honors to Philip V, who eventually succeeded him after his reign was cut short by a burst blood vessel in 221 BC. His beautiful coinage bears a nautical theme, depicting a superb head of Poseidon on the obverse and Apollo astride a ship’s prow on the reverse.

260. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip V. 221-179 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31.5mm, 16.92 g, 12h). Attic standard. Pella or Amphipolis mint; Ar–, mintmaster. Struck circa 188/7-184 BC. Head of the hero Perseus left, wearing winged helmet surmounted by griffin’s head; harpa in background; all in the center of a Macedonian shield / Club; 1 (mintmaster’s monogram) above, Ø to lower left, g to lower right; all within oak wreath tying to left; plow to outer left. Mamroth, Philip 7; HGC 3, 1058. Lightly toned, minor marks. Near EF. ($1500)

Philip V was the son of the Macedonian king Demetrios II Aitolikos. He was only nine at the time of his father’s death in 239 BC, so the kingdom passed to his cousin, Antigonos III Doson, who ruled until 221 BC. The entirety of his reign was devoted to maintaining the supremacy of Macedon in Greece, which inevitably brought the kingdom into conflict with Rome, whose power in Greece was ascendant. Two major wars ensued, the First and Second Macedonian Wars, the latter culminating in the overwhelming defeat of the Macedonians at the Battle of Cynocephalae in 197 BC. Although Philip retained his kingdom, the influence of Macedon was considerably decreased, and Greece passed into the sphere of Rome.

261. KINGS of PAEONIA. Lykkeios. Circa 358/6-335 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 13.23 g, 4h). Astibos or Damastion mint. Laureate head of Apollo right with short hair / Herakles strangling the Nemean Lion; bow and quiver to right. Paeonian Hoard 66; Peykov E1030 (same dies as illustration); AMNG III/2, 6; HGC 3, 140. Toned. EF. ($1500)

Ex Schulman 375 (6 April 2023), lot 1000; Künker 124 (16 March 2007), lot 7927.

Pedigreed to 1927

262. ILLYRIA, Dyrrhachion. Circa 375-280 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 11.04 g, 10h). Cow standing right, looking back at suckling calf standing left below / Vertical double stellate pattern, divided by line, in linear square border; club to left; all within linear circle border. Meta Series II, Group I, dies D8/R11 (this coin referenced); HGC 3, 34. Old cabinet tone, edge marks. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Auctiones AG 20 (8 November 1990), lot 293; Helbing 52 (24 October 1927), lot 2906.

Referenced in Fried – Pedigreed to 1930

263. KORKYRA, Korkyra. Circa 433/2-375/60 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 11.11 g). Cow standing left, looking back at suckling calf standing right below / Vertical double stellate pattern, divided by double line, in double linear square border; all within linear circle border. Fried Group III, dies 91/165, a (this coin); HGC 6, 34; BMC 64 (same rev. die). Deep iridescent tone, die wear on obverse. EF. Well centered. ($750)

Ex Astarte XII (12 September 2003), lot 156; J. Schulman 254 (11 November 1971), lot 3044; Ars Classica XV (2 July 1930), lot 646.

264. THESSALY, Krannon. Circa 460-420 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 6.07 g, 3h). Thessalos, nude but for petasos and cloak tied at neck, holding band across horns of bull leaping right / Bridled horse trotting left; diagonal trident in background; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 109 var. (different rev. legend orientation); HGC 4, 374. Lightly toned, faint marks. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Leu 77 (11 May 2000), lot 188.

Extremely Rare First Issue at Larissa

265. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 479-460 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 5.06 g, 11h). Horse grazing left; above, cicada left / Sandal of Jason left; labrys above, ¬Å∞5-ßA-5o-˜ counterclockwise around from lower left; all within incuse square. BCD Thessaly II 129 (this coin); HGC 4, 393. Attractively toned. Near EF. Extremely rare first issue at Larissa. ($15,000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Nomos 24 (22 May 2022), lot 77; BCD Collection (Triton XV, 3 January 2012), lot 129.

The Sandal of Jason series is the earliest coinage at Larissa, consisting of all denominations from drachms to tetartemoria. The series is characterized by the depiction of a sandal in incuse on the reverse of the drachms, hemidrachms, and obols, while the hemiobols and tetartemoria only have the city ethnic.

ΣIMO Signed Obverse Die

266. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 400-370 BC. AR Drachm (20mm, 6.02 g, 4h). Obverse die signed by Simo–. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly right; s5Âo above / Horse grazing right. L-S Group 3, Head Type 8, dies 19/2; BCD Thessaly II 195; HGC 4, 430; Traité IV 713 and 718, pl. CCXCIX, 2, 3, and 6 (same dies). Lightly toned, touch of porosity, a few minor marks. Near EF. Well centered on a broad flan. Exceptional for issue. ($2000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Markov 11 (3 September 2003), lot 48.

267. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 6.06 g, 12h). Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, grain ears in hair / Mare and foal standing right. L-S Series VI, Type A, dies O4/R1, g (this coin); Lorber, Hoard 8 (same dies); BCD Thessaly II 297; HGC 4, 444; SNG Berry 544 (same dies); McClean 4625 (same dies). Minor patches of find patina. Near EF. Better than most of the examples of middle facing head types in CoinArchives. ($1000) Ex CNG inventory 760505 (October 2005).

The name Larissa derives from a proto-Greek word for “citadel” or “fortress.” One of the largest cities in Thessaly, Larissa produced a large and varied coinage beginning in the early-fifth century BC, mostly featuring the hero Thessalos wrestling a bull. Starting about 404 BC, inspired by Kimon’s Syracusan facing-head portrait of the spring nymph Arethousa, Larissa introduced a new design also featuring a facing female head, probably intended to represent a local spring nymph bearing the city’s name. The nymph heads feature on nearly all Larissan coinage, including bronzes, tiny fractions, silver drachms (by far the most numerous coins struck and surviving), and staters of two drachms. The larger staters, in particular, are closely modeled on Kimon’s Arethousa, lacking only the dolphins surrounding the portrait on the original.

268. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 370-360 BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 5.92 g, 12h). Head of Aleuas facing slightly left, wearing conical helmet; labrys and ŬEUÅ to right / Eagle standing left, head right, on thunderbolt; E¬¬Å to left, ¬År5sÅ5Å to right. Lorber, Thessalian 94; BCD Thessaly 185 (same dies); HGC 4, 438; BMC 12 (same dies); Gulbenkian 473 (same dies); Jameson 2469 (same dies). Lightly toned, usual die wear, slight granularity on reverse. VF. ($2000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex MACM inventory MMoCA5C; Triton XIII (5 January 2010), lot 119.

269. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 365-356 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 6.10 g, 12h). Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, with hair in ampyx / Horse standing left, preparing to lie down; plant below. Lorber, Beginning, Series 2, dies O4/ R4; BCD Thessaly II 288; HGC 4, 452. Lovely iridescent tone, minor die breaks on reverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex London Coin Galleries inventory 6907; BCD Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 311, 25 September 2013), lot 144.

270. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 6.19 g, 2h). Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down; plant below. Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-III, 61–3; BCD Thessaly II 320; HGC 4, 454. Golden toning. Near EF. ($750)

Ex Sheikh Al-Thani and BCD Collections

271. THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 344-337 BC. AR Drachm (19.5mm, 6.05 g, 1h). Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left, hair in ampyx / Horse standing right, preparing to lie down; trident head below. Lorber, Hoard, Group L-IV; BCD Thessaly I 1157 (this coin); HGC 4, 454 corr. (trident not noted). Faint iridescent tone, trace deposits. EF. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Sheikh Saud Al-Thani [‘Man in Love with Art’] Collection (Part V, Numismatica Ars Classica 133 (21 November 2022), lot 57; BCD Collection (Nomos 4, 10 May 2011), lot 1157.

272. AKARNANIA, Anaktorion. Circa 350-300 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 8.44 g, 2h). Pegasos flying right; J (civic monogram) below / Helmeted head of Athena right; tripod and J (civic monogram) to left. Imhoof-Blumer, Akarnaniens 62; Pegasi 26; BCD Akarnania 88 var. (monograms retrograde); HGC 4, 758. Light iridescent tone, traces of find patina. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Glendining (9 December 1986), lot 88.

Pedigreed to 1924

273. AKARNANIA, Anaktorion. Circa 350-300 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 8.28 g, 6h). Pegasos flying right; J (civic monogram) below / Helmeted head of Athena right; tripod in wreath and J (civic monogram) to left. Imhoof-Blumer, Akarnaniens 60; Pegasi 30; BCD Akarnania 89; HGC 4, 758. Deep iridescent tone, remnants of find patina, some delaminations. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Reichmann XXX (11 December 1924), lot 626.

274. AITOLIA, Aitolian League. Circa 220-205 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 10.59 g, 2h). Korkyrean standard. Laureate head of Apollo right; f5 below / Aitolos standing left, kausia hung around neck and sword slung at waist, holding spear, foot set on rock, leaning on raised knee. Tsangari 643 (D11/R17); BCD Akarnania 438 (this coin); HGC 4, 942. Toned. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 803356 (June 2009); BCD Collection (Münzen und Medaillen GmbH, 18 October 2007), lot 438.

Little history is recorded for the region of Aitolia in west-central Greece until the fourth century BC, when its cities banded together to the form the Aitolian League for mutual defense against marauding Gauls and the powerful Macedonian Kingdom. The league created its own federal currency, probably minted at its capital of Thermika. Obverse types were based on contemporary Hellenistic coinage, while reverses featured the hero Aitolos, son of Endymion, a legendary figure in Greek mythology. The handsome laureate male head on the obverse of these issues is usually described as Apollo, but could also be Aitolos. It has also been proposed that it is a portrait of a contemporary Hellenistic ruler, although which one is difficult to establish. Antigonos Gonatas and his son Demetrios II Aitolicos have been proposed, but the Aitoleans were usually warring with Macedon and it is unlikely they would so honor one of its kings. Antiochos III of Syria, who allied with the Aitoleans against the Romans in circa 190 BC, has also been proposed, but the alliance seems to post-date this coinage.

275. LOKRIS, Lokri Opuntii. Circa 370-360 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 11.99 g, 4h). Opus mint. Wreathed head of Persephone left / Ajax, nude but helmet, holding sword and shield decorated with serpent, advancing right on rocks; round shield below. H&D Group 4, 52 (O7/R10); BCD Lokris 15; HGC 4, 989. Toned, underlying luster, granular surfaces, minor double strike on obverse. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 131 (6 August 2023), lot 194; Numismatik Naumann 38 (6 December 2015), lot 151.

Ex BCD Collection – Pedigreed to 1933

276. BOEOTIA, Tanagra. 457-448 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 12.10 g). Boeotian shield / Forepart of horse right within incuse square. BCD Boiotia 256 (this coin); HGC 4, 1278. Toned, a few light scratches, minor pitting and small dig on reverse. Near VF. ($750)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex BCD Collection (Triton IX, 10 January 2006), lot 256; Sotheby’s (12 May 1983), lot 184; L. Hamburger 98 (3 April 1933), lot 572.

277. BOEOTIA, Thebes. Circa 480-460 BC. AR Stater (17.5mm, 11.93 g). Boeotian shield / Square incuse with counterclockwise mill-sail pattern; q at center. BCD Boiotia 350; HGC 4, 1308. Toned, a little porosity. Near VF. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex BCD Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 156, 17 January 2007), lot 31; Weil (26 May 1986), lot 62.

Ex C.P.A. and BCD Collections – Pedigreed to 1966

278. BOEOTIA, Thebes. Circa 379-368 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 12.18 g). Theog–, magistrate. Boeotian shield / Amphora; above, kerykeion right; ΘE-OΓ across central field; all within concave circle. Hepworth 57; BCD Boiotia 502; HGC 4, 1331. Attractive old collection tone, with some iridescence, graffiti on reverse. VF. ($500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex C.P.A. Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 78, 14 May 2008), lot 550; BCD Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 75, 23 May 2007), lot 252; Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin 571 (February 1966), no. A157.

279. BOEOTIA, Thebes. Circa 379-368 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 12.18 g). Theog-, magistrate. Boeotian shield / Amphora; above, kerykeion left; QE-o˝ across field; all within concave circle. BCD Boiotia 503; Hepworth 58; HGC 4, 1331. Old cabinet toning, small deposit. VF. Well centered. ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 39 (18 September 1996), lot 451; Auctiones AG 24 (23 June 1994), lot 198.

The silver staters of the Boeotian Confederacy of the 4th century are well known to collectors and Hellenists of all stripes. These staters, struck on the Aiginetan standard of about 12 grams, bear on the obverse a Boeotian shield, which differed from the traditional circular Greek aspis in having two cutouts at the sides, through which the spear (dory) could be thrust. The reverse usually depicts an amphora, the ubiquitous Greek pottery vessel used for transporting and storing liquids or dry goods, with the addition of magistrate names and, on occasion, vines hanging from the handles or extra symbols positioned above or below. Although the coins do not bear the mark of an issuing city, Thebes, as hegemon of the Boeotian Confederacy, was most likely responsible for their issuance. For a few decades in the mid-fourth century BC, Thebes was the dominant power on the Greek mainland, with its coinage nearly supplanting the “owls” of Athens and the “pegasi” of Corinth as the primary medium of trade.

280. EUBOIA, Eretria. Circa 500-465 BC. Fourrée Stater (23mm, 6.58 g, 9h). Cow standing right, head reverted with hind leg scratching muzzle, on ornate ground line; E below / Octopus within incuse square. For prototype: cf. BCD Euboia 313; cf. HGC 4, 1505. Lightly toned, break in plating on reverse that exposes core. Good VF. Very rare as a fourrée. ($1000)

Ex Otto Collection - Pedigreed to 1931

281. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 500/490-485/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (21mm, 17.29 g, 2h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray to left; all within incuse square. Seltman Group Gi, unlisted dies; HGC 4, 1590. Old cabinet toning, a few marks. Good VF. ($5000) Ex Kommerzienrat H. Otto Collection (A. Hess 207, 1 December 1931), lot 436.

282. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 500/490-485/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (20.5mm, 17.09 g, 5h). Head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray to left; all within incuse square. Seltman Group Gi, unlisted dies; Asyut Group IVe; HGC 4, 1590. Old cabinet tone. Good VF. ($4000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 120 (11 May 2022), lot 226.

283. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 475-465 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.16 g, 5h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, with spread tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Starr Group IV, unlisted dies; HGC 4, 1595. Lightly toned, edge split, minor marks, graffiti on reverse. Good VF. ($750)

284. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.09 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Starr pl. XXIII, 1’–3’; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Lightly toned, a few marks. EF. Early post-454 issue. ($1000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 111 (29 May 2019), lot 151.

The certain elements of the style of this, and the following, tetradrachm, particularly the palmette on Athena’s helmet and the stance of the owl, suggest that this coin was among the earliest issues in the ubiquitous “frontal eye”/classical tetradrachms of the mid-late 5th century at Athens, as these features more closely resemble those found on the later groups of early-mid 5th century issues analyzed by Chester Starr

285. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23.5mm, 16.85 g, 11h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Starr pl. XXIII, 1’–3’; Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Toned, trace deposits, a little porosity, minor marks and nicks. Good VF. Early post-454 issue. ($500)

286. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.18 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Lustrous. Superb EF. Well centered and with a fine compact portrait showing a nearly full crest. ($1500)

287. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.18 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. In NGC encapsulation 6291084-001, graded Ch AU★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($1000)

288. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.14 g, 10h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. In NGC encapsulation 2086329-034, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($1000)

289. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.17 g, 4h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Toned. EF. Struck on a broad flan. ($1000)

290. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.20 g, 1h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive spray and crescent to left; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597. Toned. Good VF. Struck on a broad flan. ($750)

291. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 353-294 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.17 g, 8h). Helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye and pi-style palmette / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray and crescent to left. Bingen Pi Phase IV; Kroll –; HGC 4, 1599. Underlying luster. Superb EF. ($500)

Extremely Rare Early Issue

292. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.89 g, 1h). New Style coinage. Struck 165-149/8 BC. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; Ċ to left, v to right, torch horizontally below; all within wreath. Thompson 2 var. (different monogram on left, no torch; same obv. die); HGC 4, 1602. Toned, remnants of find patina, areas of roughness, double struck on reverse. Good VF. Extremely rare early issue. ($750)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, purchased from J. Blankley, 7 August 1999, who had acquired the coin from Antiquarius, New Zealand.

293. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.79 g, 12h). New Style coinage. Hera–, Aristoph–, and Epist–, magistrates. Struck 136/5 BC. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; club draped with lion’s skin to left, ¬ on amphora, Å@ below; all within wreath. Thompson 335h (same obv. die); HGC 4, 1602. Lightly toned. Good VF. ($500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXII (7 December 1994), lot 1294 (part of).

294. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.71 g, 12h). New Style coinage. Mened–, Epigeno–, and Diodo–, magistrates. Struck 135/4 BC. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; to left, Asklepios standing left, holding serpent-entwined scepter; ∫ on amphora, ˙r below; all within wreath. Thompson 349a (same dies); HGC 4, 1602. Toned, area of slight roughness. EF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 112 (11 September 2019), lot 190; Garth R. Drewry Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 67, 22 September 2004), lot 579.

295. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.93 g, 11h). New Style coinage. Dorothe–, Dioph-, and Diokle– magistrates. Struck 132/1 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; to right, forepart of lion right; ∫ on amphora, sf below; all within wreath. Thompson 386a (same obv. die); HGC 4, 1602. Faintly toned, traces of find patina, slight die shift. Near EF. ($750)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXII (7 December 1994), lot 1294 (part of).

296. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.82 g, 10h). New Style coinage. Theophra–, Sotas–, and Peison–, magistrates. Struck 130/29 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; winged thunderbolt to left, d on amphora, sf below; all within wreath. Thompson 407c = BMC 427; HGC 4, 1602. Lightly toned, small scratch. EF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Thomas Bentley Cederlind, August 2006. Around 165 BC, Athens introduced a new series of precious metal coinage. Colloquially called the “New Style Coinage” today, it represented a revolution in the coinage of Athens. Although it remained essentially an Athena/Owl type, this new coinage broke from the traditional, more archaic-style devices employed on the previous three centuries of Athenian coinage. The obverse now depicts the Athena Parthenos of Pheidias, wearing her triple-crested Attic helmet adorned on its visor with the foreparts of four or more horses, and a flying Pegasos on the bowl. On the reverse, the owl was now shown standing on a horizontal amphora, with an elaborate array of magistrates’ names, symbols, and other letters in the surrounding fields. The entirety of the reverse was enclosed within a large olive wreath. These new depictions were largely facilitated by the coins’ innovative flans that were far more broad, offering a larger canvas for the celator to fill. Unlike the previous two centuries, this coinage was produced on a large scale, as attested by surviving examples. This uptick is generally attributed to Athens’ recovery of the port of Delos in 166 BC. As with the fifth century issues, this New Style Coinage became an important and respected coinage in international trade, being found today at sites throughout the Mediterranean area, and was also imitated at a number of cities. In fact, the popularity of the New Style coinage likely strongly influenced the “stephanophoric” coinage of western Asia Minor, which likewise featured reverse types enclosed within a wreath. The series reached its apogee in the early first century BC, but went into steep decline following Sulla’s capture of Athens in the spring of 86 BC.

297. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.82 g, 11h). New Style coinage. Epigene–, Sosandros, and Deinok–, magistrates. Struck 125/4 BC. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; to left, eagle standing right on thunderbolt; d on amphora, ∏W in exergue; all within laurel wreath. Thompson 446j (same dies); HGC 4, 1602; CNG E-589, lot 114 (same dies); Shirley Barr Sage, Biblical Numismatics: Thirty Pieces of Silver, 12 (this coin). Lightly toned, die flaws on obverse. Near EF. ($750)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Shirley Barr Sage Collection (Goldberg, 2 June 2002), lot 4314; Superior (2 June 1998), lot 6373.

Ex Pozzi Collection (1921) – Referenced in Thompson

298. ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.78 g, 12h). New Style coinage. Karaich–, Ergokle–, and Diome–, magistrates. Struck 121/0 BC. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; to right, prow right; Â on amphora, ÂE below; all within wreath. Thompson 540d corr. (letter on amphora; this coin referenced); HGC 4, 1602; Pozzi 1605 (this coin). Deep cabinet tone. VF. ($1000)

Ex Stack’s, Bowers and Ponterio 185 (5 August 2014), lot 30089; Stack’s (7 December 1989), lot 3123; Prof. S. Pozzi Collection (Naville I, 14 March 1921), lot 1605.

Ex Athena Fund and Selinute Hoard

299. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 525-480 BC. AR Stater (17mm, 12.16 g). Sea turtle, head in profile, with thin collar and row of dots down its back / Incuse square with “Union Jack” pattern. Selinus Hoard 108 (this coin); Asyut Group II, 437 (same dies); Meadows, Aegina, Group IIa; HGC 6, 428. Toned, with some iridescence, lightly granular surfaces, a few marks. VF. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Athena Fund (Part III, Sotheby’s New York, 9 December 1993), lot 392 (part of); Selinute, 1985 Hoard (CH VIII, 35).

The first coins produced on the island of Aegina depicted a sea turtle (emblematic of the marine interests of the Aeginetans) on the obverse, while bearing on the reverse the imprint of the punch used to force metal into the obverse die. The production of turtles decreased as silver from the island of Siphnos was no longer available and Mediterranean trade was now dominated by Athens, the new mistress of the Aegean. In 457 BC, Athens conquered Aegina and stripped her of her maritime powers. Following the loss of her naval autonomy, Aegina produced staters with a land tortoise on the obverse in lieu of her former emblematic sea turtle. Subsequently in 431 BC, the Aeginetans were expelled from their homeland by the Athenians, only returning after the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War.

300. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 525-480 BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (7mm, 0.94 g). Sea turtle, head in profile, with thin collar and row of dots down its back / Quadripartite incuse square with one diagonal division. Meadows, Aegina, Group IIa; HGC 6, 450. Old cabinet tone, few light marks. Good VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Century Collection (New York Sale LVII, 10 January 2023), lot 51.

301. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 480-457 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 12.10 g, 7h). Sea turtle, head in profile, with ‘T-back’ design on shell / Large square incuse with skew pattern. Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIa; HGC 6, 448. Toned, remnants of find patina, granular surfaces, light scrapes, banker’s mark on obverse. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Nomos Obolos 31 (21 April 2024), lot 172; Nomos Obolos 25 (23 October 2022), lot 172.

302. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 456/45-431 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 11.66 g, 5h). Land tortoise with segmented shell / Large square incuse with heavy skew pattern. Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIb; HGC 6, 437. Lightly toned, surfaces a bit rough. Near EF. Well centered, attractive compact style. ($2000)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 29 (24 February 2024), lot 588; Gorny & Mosch 276 (19 April 2021), lot 141; Triton XXIV (19 January 2021), lot 526.

303. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 456/45-431 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 12.33 g, 3h). Land tortoise with segmented shell / Large square incuse with heavy skew pattern. Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIb; HGC 6, 437. Lightly toned with hints of luster. Near EF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Herman, January 1990.

The loss of Aegina’s sea power probably occasioned the replacement of the maritime turtle with the terrestrial tortoise as the emblem of the city, and it was also at this time that she formed the reverse “skew” pattern in a more rectangular five-part incuse punch, finally including letters and symbols within each sunken section. Subsequently in 431 BC, the Aeginetans were expelled from their homeland by the Athenians, only returning after the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War.

304. ISLANDS off ATTICA, Aegina. Circa 370 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 12.09 g, 5h). Land tortoise with segmented shell / Incuse square of thin skew pattern and no control markings. Milbank pl. II, 14; HGC 6, 438. Toned, with slight iridescence, a few hairlines. Good VF. ($1500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection.

305. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 490-450 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 8.55 g, 1h). Pegasos flying left / Helmeted head of Athena right within incuse square. Ravel Period II, 148 (P94/T112); Pegasi 55; HGC 4, 1821 corr. (illustration labeled 1822); ANS inv. 1944.100.36539 (same dies). Remnants of find patina, some light cleaning scratches. VF. ($500)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 137 (4 February 2024), lot 162 (conserved since).

306. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 350/45-285 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 8.58 g, 5h). Pegasos flying left / Helmeted head of Athena left; 5 below chin, quiver-over-bow to right. Ravel Period V, 1033; Pegasi 424; HGC 4, 1848. Iridescent tone, hairlines. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 146 (3 November 2024), lot 199.

307. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 350/45-285 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 8.57 g, 12h). Pegasos flying left / Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with wreath; Å-r flanking neck truncation; to right, eagle standing left, head right. Ravel Period V, 1008; Pegasi 426; BCD Corinth 101; HGC 4, 1848. Light iridescent toning. Near EF. Lovely style. ($500)

Very Rare Symbol

308. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 350/45-285 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 8.44 g, 12h). Pegasos flying left / Helmeted head of Athena left; d-5 flanking neck; to right, cow standing left, suckling calf. Ravel Period V, 1074 (same obv. die as illustration); Pegasi 448; BCD Corinth –; HGC 4, 1848. Lightly toned, a few marks. Good VF. Very rare symbol. Only two examples in CoinArchives. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection.

In terms of population, wealth and political clout, Corinth was the second city in Greece throughout the Classical era, outshone only by Athens. A Mycenaean settlement on the narrow Isthmus of Corinth, it was seized by the Dorian Greeks in circa 900 BC and by the fifth century BC the city boasted two fine harbors, a host of imposing public buildings, and a population of about 100,000. Corinth’s military innovations included the trireme, a warship powered by three banks of oarsmen, and a popular style of enclosed bronze helmet (“Corinthian”) that became ubiquitous throughout Greece. Corinth’s colonies abounded in Greece proper and Magna Graecia, chief among them Syracuse, Korkyra, Ambrakia, and Apollonia. From the late sixth century BC, Corinth’s coinage featured the winged horse Pegasos and a fine head of Athena wearing a Corinthian helmet. In mythology, Pegasos was captured and tamed by the hero Bellerophon, who went on to become king of Corinth. Corinthian “pegasi” staters were struck in enormous numbers both in the mother city and its colonies, rivaling the Athenian “owl” as an international trade coin.

309. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Circa 350/45-285 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 8.60 g, 6h). Pegasos flying left / Helmeted head of Athena left; d-5 flanking neck; to right, Artemis Phosphoros running left, holding long torch. Ravel Period V, 1076; Pegasi 451; BCD Corinth –; HGC 4, 1848. Light iridescent tone. EF. ($1000)

Ex James Knox Collection (Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 28, 9 December 2023), lot 31, purchased from Calgary Coin Gallery, 23 October 2015.

310. SIKYONIA, Sikyon. Circa 335-330 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 12.22 g, 9h). Chimaera standing left; wreath above, sE below / Dove flying left; @ to left; all within wreath. BCD Peloponnesos 218; HGC 5, 201. Attractive iridescent tone over lustrous surfaces, marks and light scratches under tone. Good VF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 124 (19 September 2023), lot 151; Hess-Divo 310 (22 October 2008), lot 104.

The Chimaera was introduced as a design type on the coinage of Sikyon in the mid fifth century BC. While the real reason will remain a mystery, the curious choice of this mythological beast (Sikyon – apart from some isolated and extremely rare issues from Macedon and Asia Minor – was one of only three cities to use the type as a design on their coinage) may derive from Sikyon’s association with Corinth, a city which also struck an issue featuring the Chimaera in connection with Bellerophon, the grandson of Sisyphos and the son of the Glaukos, king of Corinth. According to the myth related by Homer (Il. VI.155-203), Bellerophon was sent by Iobates, king of Lycia, to slay the Chimaera – a fire-breathing beast composed of the body of a lioness with a tail that terminated in a snake’s head and the head of a fire-breathing goat that arose from its back. To accomplish this, Bellerophon captured the winged horse, Pegasos. Flying high overhead to avoid the creature’s fire, Bellerophon slew the Chimaera by thrusting a spear, tipped with a block of lead, down its throat. The lead melted, suffocating the Chimaera, and Bellerophon returned victorious to Iobates.

311. ELIS, Olympia. 92nd Olympiad. 412 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 11.76 g, 1h). Head of Hera right, wearing ornamented stephane / Flaming thunderbolt within olive wreath. Seltman, Temple 273 (dies EJ/ηφ); BCD Olympia 88 (same obv. die); HGC 5, 347. Toned, minor old cleaning marks, doubling on reverse. Near VF. ($1000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXVII (29 September 1993), lot 535; Classical Numismatic Auctions XII (26 September 1990), lot 365; Numismatic Fine Arts [XXIII] (14 December 1989), lot 207.

Elegant Portrait

312. ELIS, Olympia. 108th Olympiad. 348 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 11.64 g, 12h). Head of Hera right, wearing stephanos ornamented with three palmettes connected by tendrils at their base; V-[Å] flanking neck / Eagle standing left within olive wreath. Seltman, Temple 327 (dies FB/ιη); BCD Olympia 149 (same dies); HGC 5, 382. Toned, flan crack, cleaning scratches, marks, roughness. Good VF. Struck from dies of elegant style. Extremely rare. Only two known to Seltman. Lot includes an old collector’s ticket in Greek. ($5000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Atlantis.

Located on the northwest corner of the Peloponnesos, the sacred shrine of Olympia became established as the site of the most important Greek festival of athletics in the eighth century BC. The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC, consisting solely of a foot race, or stadion, won in that year by Koroibus of Elis. As time went on, more events were added, including wrestling, boxing, long jump, javelin, discus, and chariot races. The contests became so important that Greek cities at war would declare a temporary truce to allow athletes to cross their lines. Soon a permanent complex was built to house the games, and a magnificent temple of Zeus containing a statue ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the World was completed in 463 BC. The first coins of Olympia date to the games of 468 BC, and new types were issued at four year intervals (to coincide with the games) thereafter. Three basic types were struck, depicting a head of Zeus, his wife Hera, or an eagle, Zeus’ animal avatar; it is likely that different workshops of the mint struck each type. The exceedingly rare example offered here is from the Hera mint and is dated to the 108th Olympiad, circa 348 BC, a time of great ferment in the Greek world. The Macedonian king Philip II, who was beginning to pull the other Greek city-states under his control, is actually recorded that year as the winner of the Synoris, or chariot race.

Ithaka, Home of Odysseus

313. ISLANDS off ELIS, Ithaka. Mid-late 4th century BC. Æ (17mm, 3.53 g, 10h). Head of Odysseus right, wearing pilos / Thunderbolt within wreath. HGC 6, 121; BMC 7–9. Brown surfaces, some green encrustation, flan crack, light roughness. Good Fine. Very rare, only four in CoinArchives: CNG 127, lot 132 (hammer $4750), CNG 78, lot 705 (hammer $3100), CNG 76, lot 563 (hammer $3800), and M&M GmbH 21, lot 412 (hammer €3000). ($2000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection.

Very Rare Knossos Labryrinth Type

314. CRETE, Knossos. Circa 300-270 BC. AR Stater (26.5mm, 10.52 g, 6h). Head of Hera left, wearing stephane decorated with palmettes / Labyrinth. Svoronos, Numismatique 69 var. (ethnic below labyrinth); Le Rider, Crétoises pl. XXX, 12 (same rev. die); cf. SNG Copenhagen 73. Toned, a few scratches on obverse under tone. Fine. Very rare variety. ($3000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Christopher Morcom Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 76, 12 September 2007), lot 616; Glendining (21 June 1972), lot 221.

By the early Classical period, the labyrinth had evolved from the most famous myth associated with Crete into the civic badge of Knossos. As such it made frequent appearances on the city’s coinage down to the Roman period. Although usually depicted in a square shape with winding concentric interior walls, as seen on this stater, it sometimes appeared in the form of a swastika, a circular maze with complex interior convolutions, or as a meandering pattern surrounding a central device. The image of the labyrinth was so distinctive, and so tied with Knossos, that the coins often dispensed with the usual ethnic naming the city.

Unpublished Labyrinth Tetradrachm

315. CRETE, Knossos. Mid 2nd-early 1st centuries BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 15.67 g, 12h). Diademed and bearded head (of Minos?) right / Labyrinth; ˚@W/s-5/W@ around. Cf. Svoronos, Numismatique 98–101 and 177–8 (for type). Some cleaning marks and pitting. EF. An unpublished issue, struck between Svoronos types 98 and 177. ($50,000)

From the PLZ Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 204.

The ancient city of Knossos, the remains of which were excavated by Sir Arthur Evans, beginning in 1900, was founded in the Minoan Period (circa 1700-1400 BC) as a large and complex palace-city. Although the exact origin of the word labyrinth, as well as its location, remains open to scholarly conjecture, the intricate maze of rooms and interior courtyards of this palace-city contributed to the later Greek use of the word to describe a maze and the source of the events connected with it to Crete.

According to the Greek myth, Minos was the first king of Crete. Although he gave the island its first constitution, ordered the construction of the palace at Knossos, and was the first to build a navy, he was a cruel tyrant and imperialist. One of his subject cities was Athens. He demanded from its citizens as payment every nine years seven youths and seven virgins. Minos would feed them then to the Minotaur, a halfman, half-bull who was held in the Labyrinth, a large walled maze. To stop this brutal tribute, the Athenian hero Theseus had himself sent as part of the required tribute. With the assistance of Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, Theseus was able to navigate the Labyrinth successfully and kill the Minotaur.

Published Paros Drachm – Ex Washburn King Collection and Paros Hoard (1936)

316. CYCLADES, Paros. Circa 500-497/5 BC. AR Drachm (16.5mm, 6.04 g). Goat kneeling right, head left; branch before head(?) / Quadripartite incuse square, diagonally divided. Sheedy Class C, Group 1, 57a (O37/R42) = Vermule 117 = Lederer, Neue (this coin); HGC 6, 650 (this coin illustrated). Old collection tone. Good VF. ($1500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Elisabeth Washburn King Collection, gifted to Bryn Mawr College, 1951 (Christie’s New York, 11 December 1992), lot 717; 1936 Paros Hoard (IGCH 13).

Sheedy characterized the element before the goat head as a “small flaw,” but under magnification it clearly appears to be a branch.

317. CYCLADES, Thera. Circa 525/20-500 BC. AR Stater (20.5mm, 12.19 g). Dolphin swimming left above dolphin swimming right / Incuse square in “Union Jack” pattern. Cf. Sheedy 1-24 (unlisted die); HGC 6, 855. Traces of find patina, granular surfaces. Near VF. Very rare. ($3000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 76 (12 September 2007), lot 664.

Rising in a dramatic crescent of volcanic cliffs from the deep blue Aegean, the island of Thera (also called Santorini) is the surviving rim of one of antiquity’s most spectacular geological temper tantrums: the 16th century BC volcanic explosion that utterly destroyed a prosperous Minoan settlement on the island and marked a decisive shift in late Bronze Age Mediterranean culture. Recovery was long and slow, but by the early first century BC, the remnants of the island had been resettled by Dorian colonists from Sparta, who soon built a confident maritime community perched high above its harbor. In the 7th century BC its inhabitants even sent out their own colonists who founded Cyrene in North Africa. Shortly after the island denizens of Aegina began striking coins, Thera struck its own issues on the same weight standard. The earliest silver staters, drachms, obols and hemiobols were struck circa 525-500 BC. All denominations depict on the obverse two dolphins swimming in opposite directions, while the reverse carries a simple incuse punch of a “union jack” pattern similar to the earliest “turtle” issues of Aegina. All very rare, these earliest pieces carry no other identifying mark, leading some numismatists to initially attribute them to other islands in the Cycladic and Sporadic chains. More recent hoard evidence cements the attribution to Thera.

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Leu Numsimatik AG Web Auction 20 (16 July 2022), lot 955.

End of Session 1

318. CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS, Pantikapaion. Circa 310-304/3 BC. Æ (20.5mm, 7.65 g, 11h). Bearded head of satyr right / Forepart of griffin left; below, sturgeon left. Anokhin 1023; MacDonald 69; HGC 7, 113. Dark green-brown surfaces. Superb EF. Perfectly centered. ($500)

Session 2 – Monday, May 18, 2026 — 2 PM

319. KINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI Eupator. Circa 120-63 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.79 g, 12h).

Pergamon mint. Dated month 11, year 212 SE (August 85 BC). Diademed head right / Stag grazing left; to left, star-in-crescent above (; to right, ∫5s (year) above ¬; 5Å (month) below; all within Dionysiac wreath of ivy and fruit. Callataÿ p. 16, dies D3/R– (unlisted rev. die); RG 16; HGC 7, 338; DCA2 555. Faintly toned, underlying luster, trace deposits, minor doubling on obverse. EF. ($2000)

Mithradates was a fascinating Hellenistic ruler at a time when Roman power was ascendent. His career, driven by megalomaniacal ambitions, led to murderous assaults upon family and followers alike and disastrous foreign adventures against superior forces. His portraiture attempts to mimic the gods with its bold staring gaze and unruly, free-flowing hair, but at its most extreme is a personification of hysteria in its Dionysiac sense.

At the age of 18, Mithradates overthrew his mother’s regency and embarked on a career of conquest, bringing most of the lands around the Black Sea into his domain. His expansionist aims inevitably brought him into conflict with Rome, and in preparation for the coming war he built up the largest army in Asia, unleashing it in 88 BC in what would be the First Mithradatic War. He sought to undermine the Roman power base by ordering the massacre of every Roman citizen in Asia, in which nearly 80,000 people perished.

The Romans were not intimidated, and when Mithradates crossed over to Greece proper as ‘Liberator,’ the Roman legions under Sulla smashed his army. Mithradates retreated to Pontus, from where he continued to skirmish with the Romans, suffering more defeats to the general Lucullus. In 63 BC, having suffered a final defeat by Pompey and facing a revolt by his own son Pharnakes, the elderly king tried to commit suicide by taking poison, but he had inured himself to its affects by years of small counterdoses, and so had to be stabbed to death by one of his mercenaries.

Very Rare Byzantion Mint Stater – Pedigreed to 1964

320. KINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI Eupator. Circa 120-63 BC. AV Stater (20.5mm, 8.58 g, 12h). First Mithradatic War issue. In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Byzantion mint. Struck circa 88-86 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear diagonally in background; ∑ to inner left, ∫U on throne; in exergue, ornate trident left. Callataÿ p. 142, dies D1/R1, a (this coin, illustrated); HGC 3, 1385. Minor marks. Good VF. Very rare. ($1500)

Ex Astarte XII (12 September 2003), lot 156; Vinchon (26 October 1964), lot 5.

321. KINGS of PONTOS. Mithradates VI Eupator. Circa 120-63 BC. AV Stater (19.5mm, 8.20 g, 12h). First Mithradatic War issue. In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Istros mint. Struck circa 88-86 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, spear diagonally in background; d5 to inner left, 5% on throne; in exergue, ornate trident left. Callataÿ p. 139, dies D1/R1; AMNG I 482; SNG Copenhagen (Thrace) 1094 (same dies); McClean 4481 (same dies). Underlying luster, a few hairlines. Near EF. ($1500)

Ex Leu Numismatik Web Auction 23 (22 August 2022), lot 3305.

Pedigreed to 1926

322. PAPHLAGONIA, Kromna. Circa 360-330 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 3.59 g, 11h). Laureate head of Zeus left / Head of Hera left, wearing ornate stephane; crescent above, x (or monogram?) and star flanking neck. RG 2 (unlisted with these control marks); HGC 7, 369. Deep iridescent tone, a little off center. Near EF. ($750)

Ex Johns Hopkins University Collection [inv. 72.1.73] (Part II, Bank Leu & Numismatic Fine Arts, 16 October 1984), lot 248; Ars Classica XII (18 October 1926), lot 1700.

323. PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. Circa 425-410 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 5.99 g). Aeginetic standard. Head of sea-eagle left; below, dolphin left / Quadripartite incuse square with two opposing quarters filled, pellet with lattice pattern and pellet with ˝ within opposing unfilled quarters. RG 11; HGC 7, 388. Lightly toned. Good VF. ($750)

Pedigreed to 1933

324. PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. Circa 410-350/30 BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 6.08 g, 7h). Age–, magistrate. Head of nymph left, hair in sakkos / Sea eagle standing left, wings spread, on dolphin left. RG 20; HGC 7, 392. Deep iridescent tone. Near EF. ($500)

Ex L. Hamburger 98 (3 April 1933), lot 812.

325. PAPHLAGONIA, Sinope. 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.80 g, 12h). Head of female (SinopeTyche?) right, wearing turreted crown / Apollo, nude, holding kithara supported on his leg, seated right on omphalos; to right, 1 above · above 1. RG 50 var. (unlisted with these controls); HGC 7, 402. Faint iridescent tone, underlying luster, light cleaning marks. Good VF. Very rare. ($1500)

Very Rare

326. BITHYNIA, Kalchedon. Circa 230s-mid 220s BC. AV Stater (19mm, 8.42 g, 12h). In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Zopy–, magistrate. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left; É to inner left; zWπU in exergue. Marinescu Issue 35, – (O32/R72 [unlisted die combination]); Türkoğlu L01; HGC 7, 506. Minor marks, double struck on reverse. Good VF. Very rare. ($2000)

327. BITHYNIA, Kios. Circa 350-300 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.58 g, 2h). Attic standard. Proxenos, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / Prow of galley left, decorated with star; above, club right; to left, eagle standing left. RG 1; HGC 7, 550; Traité II 2853. Light scuff on obverse, double struck on reverse, edge marks. Near VF. Very rare. ($4000)

328. BITHYNIA, Kios. Circa 270-260 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 17.00 g, 12h). In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; club to outer right, K to inner left, bow-in-bowcase and ˚t in exergue. Marinescu, Cius, Issue 32, 118 (O42/R106); Müller 412; HGC 7, 555; ANS inv. 1944.100.81644 (same dies). Toned, underlying luster. Good VF. ($1000)

329. BITHYNIA, Kios. Circa 270-260 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 16.92 g, 12h). In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; club to outer right, , to inner left, bow-in-bowcase and Ĉ in exergue. Marinescu, Cius, Issue 38, 134 (O39/R117); Müller 410; HGC 7, 555. Light die wear on obverse. Good VF. ($1000)

330. MYSIA, Adramytion. Circa 125-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 12.32 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; U above, ∑ (civic monogram) to left; to right, head of Helios right. S&B 101; AMNG IV 59; CN Online Type 7059. Faint doubling on obverse. VF. Very rare. ($500)

Five Unique Adramytion Tetradrachms

331. MYSIA, Adramytion. Circa 125-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.52 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; U above, ∑ (civic monogram) to left; serpent entwined around torch to right. S&B 102 var. (cornucopia with serpent); AMNG IV 60 var. (same); CN Online Type 707 var. (same). Faintly toned, hairline on obverse. VF. Apparently unique variety. ($500)

332. MYSIA, Adramytion. Circa 125-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.59 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; QE above, ∑ (civic monogram) to left; cuirass to right. Unpublished. Faintly toned, a few marks, a little porosity on obverse. Good VF. Apparently unique. ($500)

333. MYSIA, Adramytion. Circa 125-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 12.41 g, 1h). Cistophoric standard. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; ¬U above, ∑ (civic monogram) to left, shield to right. Unpublished. Lightly toned. Good VF. Apparently unique. ($500)

334. MYSIA, Adramytion. Circa 125-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.59 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; @5˚ above, ∑ (civic monogram) to left; club to right. Unpublished. Faintly toned, scrapes and light scratches on reverse. Good VF. Apparently unique. ($500)

335. MYSIA, Adramytion. Circa 125-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 12.57 g, 12h). Cistophoric standard. Cista mystica within ivy wreath / Two serpents entwined around bow and bowcase; @5˚5 above, ∑ (civic monogram) to left; to right, grain ear with poppy and grape bunch at sides. Unpublished. Faintly toned, remnants of find patina, a few light scrapes at edge on reverse, cleaning marks on edge. VF. Apparently unique. ($500)

336. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Stater (18mm, 16.15 g). Head of lion left; to right, tunny upward / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 39; Boston MFA 1414; SNG BN 178. Near VF. ($1500)

Ex Siren Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 513, 6 April 2022), lot 128.

337. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (7mm, 1.27 g). Helmeted head of Athena left on tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 67; cf. Boston MFA 1447 (hekte); cf. CN Online 11269 (hekte); SNG BN 195. Good VF. Well centered. ($1000)

338. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (11mm, 2.65 g). Winged male mythological creature running-kneeling left, head right, holding tunny by its tail in left hand / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 123; Boston MFA 1459; cf. CN Online Type 11460 (stater). Near EF. ($2000)

While the identification of this creature, certainly of local significance, is unknown today, it has traditionally been referred to as “Phobos” or a “Daimon.” In his catalog of the Gulbenkian collection, Jenkins sees an Egyptian or near-Eastern influence, while Bivar, in his article on Mithra (“Mithra and Mesopotamia,” Mithraic Studies [Manchester, 1975], pp. 275-89), suggests that the creature corresponds to the Mithraic Areimanios (Ahriman). One also may see an assimilation of the ubiquitous Persian lion-headed griffin, adapting the head, wings, and tail to a human body. Although some references note the head as being that of a wolf, other examples clearly show a mane that is directly influenced by the lion heads on the common early Lydian electrum, supporting Bivar’s (and others’) contention that it is a lion head. At the same time, the ear is not fully visible on most examples, but on some, such as the present piece, it clearly is that of a griffin (compare to its depiction on the coins of Teos and Abdera). The wings and posture of the creature are mythological archetypes, commonly found on displays of various deities and creatures on pottery and coins. An excellent example of an archaic representation of a local deity of Asia Minor.

339. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (11mm, 2.76 g). Lioness or panther at bay left on tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 86; Boston MFA 1472 = Warren 1529; cf. CN Online 11436 (stater). A few faint marks, light graze on obverse. VF. ($500)

340. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9.5mm, 2.58 g). Nude male kneeling left, holding a tunny by the tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 112; Boston MFA 1488 = Warren 1503; CN Online Type 11284. Bankers’ marks. VF. ($500)

341. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (12mm, 2.68 g). Nike advancing left, head right, wings spread, holding in right hand a tunny by the tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 121; Boston MFA –; CN Online Type 11288. A few marks on reverse. EF. ($1500)

342. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9.5mm, 2.65 g). Silenos crouching right on tunny right, supporting amphora on left leg and with left hand pouring wine into cup he holds in his right / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Von Fritze I 172 (unlisted denomination); Hurter & Liewald II 172 (same obv. die); Boston MFA –; CN Online Type –; cf. SNG BN 318-9 (stater). Underlying luster. Near EF. Rare as a hekte. ($2000)

343. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.60 g). Diademed and radiate Helios, kneeling right, holding back his two prancing horses; below, tunny right / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 148; cf. Boston MFA 1515 (stater); cf. CN Online Type 11459; cf. SNG BN 297 (stater). Marks. Near VF. Rare as a hekte. ($1000)

Ex Trausnitz Collection (Nomos Obolos 18, 21 February 2021), lot 253, purchased from Athena Münzhandlung, July 1999.

Exceptional and Extremely Rare

344. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 450-330 BC. EL Stater (15mm, 15.99 g). Horned and bearded head of Zeus Ammon facing slightly left; below, tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 183; Greenwell –; Boston MFA 1559 = Warren 1425 = Traité II 2624, pl. 173, 32; CN Online –; SNG BN –; SNG von Aulock –; BMC –; FSD –; Gillet –; Gulbenkian –; Jameson –; Myrmekion 100 (same die and punch); Rosen –; Weber –; Sotheby, 8 July 1996, lot 60 = Leu 59, lot 125; CNG 108, lot 171 (hammer $40,666). Small scuffs on obverse, edge scrape. VF. Exceptional for this extremely rare issue, apparently the fifth known. ($30,000)

Very Rare

345. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 450-330 BC. EL Stater (18mm, 16.00 g). Horse prancing left, trailing rein; below, tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 218; Boston MFA 1562 = Warren 1547; CN Online Type 11484. Lightly toned, light cleaning marks on reverse. VF. Very rare, one of only two in CoinArchives (the other: CNG 96, lot 386). ($3000)

Extremely Rare as a Hemihekte

346. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 450-330 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (9mm, 1.34 g). Aphrodite standing half-left, leaning on column to right, before column Eros stands half-right; below, tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Von Fritze I 203 (unlisted denomination); cf. Boston MFA 1566 = Warren 1452 (stater); CN Online –; cf. SNG BN 338 (stater); Hurter & Liewald II –. Minor marks. VF. Extremely rare as a hemihekte, none in CoinArchives. ($750)

347. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 390-341/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 14.97 g, 6h). Head of Kore Soteira left, hair in sphendone covered with a veil, two grain ears in hair / Head of lion left, mouth open with tongue protruding; bee to lower right; below, tunny left. Von Fritze II 23; Pixodarus Type 2, Group D, 12–4; CN Online Type 11529. Old collection tone, minor marks, small test punch on reverse. Good VF. ($1500)

≈ (Triton XXV, 26 January 2022), lot 229; Leu 74 (19 October 1998), lot 228; Peus 277 (25 October 1971), lot 115.

348. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 390-341/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 14.88 g, 12h). Head of Kore Soteira left, hair in sphendone covered with a veil, two grain ears in hair / Head of lion left, mouth open with tongue protruding; club to lower right; below, tunny left. Von Fritze II 23, pl. V, 33; Pixodarus Type 2, Group E; CN Online Type 20214. Old collection tone, granular surfaces, minor marks, two test punches on reverse, shallow test cuts on edge. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Pixodarus Hoard

349. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 390-341/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22.5mm, 15.22 g, 7h). Head of Kore Soteira left, hair in sphendone covered with a veil, two grain ears in hair / Head of lion left, mouth open with tongue protruding; wreath to lower right; below, tunny left. Von Fritze II 23; Pixodarus Type 2, Group E, 17 (this coin); CN Online Type 11415. Old collection tone, test punch on reverse. Near EF. ($1500)

Ex Trausnitz Collection (Nomos Obolos 18, 21 February 2021), lot 128; Künker FPL 125 (December 1996), no. 23; Pixodarus Hoard (CH 9.421)

350. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Mid 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.96 g, 1h). In the name and types of Lysimachos of Thrace. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, left arm resting on shield, transverse spear in background; 5 to inner left; in exergue, tunny left. SNG BN 2523–4 var. (monogram); Müller 328 var. (thunderbolt to inner left); CNG 94, lot 452 (same dies). Faintly toned, trace deposit, minor marks. EF. Rare mint. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 61 (25 September 2002), lot 543.

351. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 170-150 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 17.05 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Kore Soteira right / Long torch horizontally left; Ê below; all within oak wreath. Von Fritze II 33; SNG BN 446–51 var. (monograms). Cleaning marks. VF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection.

The city of Kyzikos (also spelled Cyzicus) on the northwestern coast of Asia Minor, was host to one of the longest-lived mints of the ancient world, producing coins continuously from the early sixth century BC until the seventh century AD, a span of nearly 1200 years. The stephanophoric coinage of Kyzikos, which began after the city gained its independence from Seleukid rule, was among the more short-lived issues, and the broad-flan “wreath bearers” remain some of the rarest of the series.

352. KINGS of PERGAMON. Eumenes I. 263-241 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 16.95 g, 12h). In the name of Philetairos. Pergamon mint. Struck circa 255/50-241 BC. Laureate head of Philetairos right / Athena enthroned left, elbow resting on shield to right, crowning dynastic name with wreath; transverse spear in background, ivy leaf to outer left, v to inner left, bow to right. Westermark Group IVA, dies V.XXXV/R– (unlisted rev. die); CN Online Type 8455. Lightly toned. EF. ($1000)

Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich 14 (20 November 2021), lot 21.

Very Rare

353. TROAS, Ilion. Circa 185-late 70s/early 60s BC. AR Tetradrachm (36mm, 16.76 g, 12h). Zoilos, president of the agonothetai. Helmeted head of Athena right / Athena Ilias standing right, holding distaff and filleted spear; at her feet, owl standing right to right, winged caduceus to left; ˚¬E-W@os across field, zW5¬oU in exergue. Ellis-Evans dies O12/R39 = Demetrius I Hoard 130 (this coin cited); Bellinger T52; A. Bellinger, “The First Civic Tetradrachms of Ilium” in MN VIII (1958), 17. Lightly toned, minor marks. Good VF. Very rare. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Vagi, July 2005. Ex Gemini I (11 January 2005), lot 153; 2002 Unknown Findspot (“Demetrius I”) Hoard (CH X, 301).

Founded in the seventh century BC by Aeolians on the site of ancient Troy, Ilion prospered and ultimately developed into a successful Hellenistic and Roman city. It possessed a famous temple of Athena (‘Ilias’) which was visited by King Xerxes of Persia and later by Alexander the Great. With the collapse of Seleukid authority in Asia Minor in 189 BC, Ilion, in common with many other communities of western Asia Minor, celebrated its liberation from regal authority by issuing large and impressive tetradrachms. These honor the goddess Athena Ilias, whose helmeted head appears as the obverse type, while the reverse features her standing figure, probably the statue which stood within the temple. The names appearing on these issues are not technically magistrates, but wealthy and influential citizens who financed the coinage from their own monies in return for recognition on the coins (see Bellinger, “The First Civic Tetradrachms of Ilium,” ANSMN VIII (1958), p. 23-24). The patronymic form used on this coinage has a parallel in the earlier stephanophoric coinage of Magnesia ad Maeandrum (see Jones). Although lacking a wreath enclosing the reverse and thus technically not stephanophoroi, the tetradrachms of Ilion are surely part of the artistic upsurge readily evident in the coinage of Western Asia Minor during the mid-second century BC.

Apparently Unique

354. TROAS, Ilion. Circa 185-late 70s/early 60s BC. AR Tetradrachm (37.5mm, 16.49 g, 12h). Demetrios, son of Hermokrates, president of the agonothetai. Helmeted head of Athena right / The Palladion: Athena Ilias standing right, holding distaff and filleted spear; to inner left, 6 above Č; kithara to inner right. Unpublished. Lightly toned, crimped flan, with stress cracks and slight wave to flan, chipping around edge, a couple of scrapes on obverse. VF. Apparently unique. ($1000)

Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 126, 28 May 2024), lot 220.

A note from Aneurin Ellis-Evans on this coin: “New obverse die, new signer. The lower of the two monograms is shared with issues dated to the 70s BC signed by Demetrios (Bellinger T119), Philokles and Philon (Bellinger T55), and Hegesidemos s. Diophanes (Bellinger T54). The style of the obverse die is somewhat similar to those latter two issues and also Mnaseas s. Demetrios, Bellinger T103 (all different dies) and the condition of the flan ... is also precisely what we see in the examples we have of Philokles and Philon and Hegesidemos s. Diophanes (see, e.g., ANS inv. 1953.54.14). So a precisely dateable issue from close to the end of the series (which I would now date to the late 70s/early 60s...).”

355. ISLANDS off TROAS, Tenedos. Circa 235-210/05 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.03 g, 11h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; labrys in left field. Meadows, Double-Axe, Group 4, dies O6/R– (unlisted rev. die); Price 2074 (Miletos or Mylasa); ANS inv. 1944.100.32227 (same obv. die); Berlin obj. no. 18252534 (same obv. die). Bright surfaces, underlying luster. EF. ($500)

356. AEOLIS, Kyme. Circa 151/0-143/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.80 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Euktemon, magistrate. Head of the Amazon Kyme right, wearing taenia / Horse prancing right; one-handled cup below; all within laurel wreath. E-E&E-Ö, Phase I, 6; Oakley obv. die 55; Norman Davis 77 (same obv. die). Old collection tone, with some iridescence around the devices. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 131 (6 August 2023), lot 252; G. Hirsch 352 (25 September 2019), lot 2346; Dr. Kaya Sayar (“Amadeus”) Collection (Giessener Münzhandlung 100, 20 November 1999), lot 163; Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 7 (27 April 1987), lot 219.

Excellent Portrait of the Amazon Kyme

357. AEOLIS, Kyme. Circa 151/0-143/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.72 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Seuthes, magistrate. Head of the Amazon Kyme right, wearing tainia / Horse prancing right; one-handled cup below; all within laurel wreath. E-E&E-Ö, Phase II, 8; Oakley obv. die unlisted; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 78-9. Light golden toning with some luster, trace porosity. Near EF. An excellent portrait on an unlisted obverse die. ($1500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 70 (21 September 2005), lot 212.

The stephanophoric tetradrachms of Kyme are among the loveliest coins in the series. Fortunately for modern collectors, they have survived in good numbers. The obverse type is a wreathed female head, thought to represent the Amazon Kyme. Although this identification is not certain, Sacks notes that the lack of jewelry and subsidiary attributes, as well as the simple hair band she wears, suggests the portrait is not of a goddess. The reverse of the coins features a horse standing right and a one-handled cup under its raised foreleg, while the city ethnic is on the right and a magistrate’s name is present in the exergue. Both the horse and cup are common types on many of the city’s issues from its earliest coinage, but their specific relation to Kyme is unknown.

358. AEOLIS, Kyme. Circa 151/0-143/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.85 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Metrophanes, magistrate. Head of the Amazon Kyme right, wearing tainia / Horse prancing right; one-handled cup below raised foreleg; all within wreath. E-E&E-Ö, Phase III, 11; Oakley obv. die 6; SNG Copenhagen 104. In NGC encapsulation 5748666-006, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. ($750)

Ex Künker 333 (16 March 2020), lot 786; Peus 301 (25 May 1981), lot 392.

Unpublished Monogram

359. AEOLIS, Myrina. Circa 155-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (35mm, 16.67 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding branch and phiale; Ė to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Cf. Sacks Issues 1-4, obv. die 1 (unlisted monogram); BMC 18-9 var. (same obv. die, different monogram); cf. CNG 87, lot 505 (same obv. die, very similar monogram). Lightly toned, minor marks. Near EF. Unpublished monogram for series. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, January 2005.

The stephanophoric coinage of Myrina features an obverse laureate head of Apollo, who also is the primary feature of the reverse, where he stands in full figure facing right, holding a branch, two fillets, and a phiale. At Apollo’s feet are an amphora, the traditional emblem of the city, and an ompholos, while the city ethnic runs downward behind him. The appearance of Apollo on the coinage reflects his importance to the city, which was primarily known for its proximity to the temple of Apollo at Gryneion (Pliny, HN 22), a place that was under the influence of Myrina for most of the Hellenistic period. The stephanophoroi at Myrina differed from the issues of most other cities in that rather than featuring magistrates’ names on the reverse, the coins have various complex monograms. Whether these monograms indicate magistrates’ names has yet to be determined.

360. AEOLIS, Myrina. Circa 160-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33.5mm, 16.82 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding branch and phiale; Ď to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 2, obv. die 6 (unlisted for issue); SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 18. Lightly toned, some hairlines. Good VF. ($750)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, August 1995.

361. AEOLIS, Myrina. Circa 160-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.53 g, 1h). Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding branch and phiale; , to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 20, obv. die 21; SNG Copenhagen 223. Near EF. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, July 1995.

362. AEOLIS, Myrina. Circa 160-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.09 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Laureate head of Apollo right / Apollo Grynios standing right, holding branch and phiale; ó to left, omphalos and amphora at feet; all within laurel wreath. Sacks Issue 45, obv. die 91; BMC 2; Ward 637. Lightly toned, slightly rough surfaces. Near EF. ($1000) Ex Classical Numismatic Group 126 (28 May 2024), lot 225.

363. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.54 g, 11h). Forepart of bull left; Â to left / Incuse head of roaring lion left; rectangular punch to right. Bodenstedt Em. 1; HGC 6, 926 corr. (letter not noted); Asia Minor Coins 11702 (this coin). Toned, minor scratches. Good VF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Bruun Rasmussen 1433 (17 August 2014), lot 5001.

Extremely Rare

364. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.54 g, 7h). Forepart of bull right / Incuse head of roaring lion right; rectangular punch to left. Asia Minor Coins 12873 (this coin); otherwise, unpublished. Good VF. Well centered. Extremely rare, one of six in CoinArchives & acsearch. ($1000)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Gitbud & Naumann 39 (3 January 2016), lot 308.

365. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte (11mm, 2.57 g, 11h). Head of roaring lion right / Incuse head of calf left; rectangular punch to right. Bodenstedt Em. 12; HGC 6, 937; Asia Minor Coins 14587 (this coin). Minor die break on reverse. Near EF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Numismatik Naumann 65 (6 May 2018), lot 144; Pecunem 40 (Numismatik Naumann, 3 February 2016), lot 229.

366. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (11mm, 2.55 g, 5h). Head of roaring lion left / Incuse head of calf left; rectangular punch to right. Asia Minor Coins 12956 (this coin); otherwise, unpublished. Good VF. Very rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Gitbud & Naumann 40 (3 February 2016), lot 226.

The Fifth Known

367. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Myshemihekte – Twenty-fourth Stater (6.5mm, 0.68 g, 11h). Head of calf left / Incuse head of lion left; rectangular punch to right. Asia Minor Coins 14027 (this coin); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Trace deposits. EF. Extremely rare, one of five known, and this type unlisted in any denomination by Bodenstedt. ($1000)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Roma XIV (21 September 2017), lot 169.

Unique

368. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (9.4mm, 1.25 g, 11h). Forepart of winged boar right / Incuse head of man-headed bull (river god) left; rectangular punch to right. Asia Minor Coins 13297 (this coin); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Die rust on obverse. VF. Unique, and this issue unknown in any denomination. ($1500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 103 (14 September 2016), lot 233.

369. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.49 g, 11h). Head of ram right; below, cock pecking left / Incuse head of roaring lion right; rectangular punch to left. Bodenstedt Em. 16; HGC 6, 941. Faintly toned, some scratches. VF. ($750)

370. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.54 g, 3h). Head of ram right; below, cock standing left / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress; square punch behind neck. Bodenstedt Em. 18; HGC 6, 943. Faintly toned, minor marks on reverse. Near EF. ($500)

371. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.56 g, 12h). Gorgoneion / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress; square punch behind neck. Bodenstedt Em. 19.1; HGC 6, 944; Asia Minor Coins 12997 (this coin). Lightly toned. Near EF. ($1000)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Roma XI (7 April 2016), lot 342.

372. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.49 g, 12h). Gorgoneion / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress; square punch behind neck. Bodenstedt Em. 19.1; HGC 6, 944. Faint scratch on obverse, a few marks on reverse. VF. ($750)

373. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 478-455 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.53 g, 4h). Forepart of horse right / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress. Bodenstedt Em. 23; HGC 6, 949; Asia Minor Coins 11241 (this coin). Some marks, a little die wear on obverse. VF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Künker 243 (21 November 2013), lot 4633; Gemini IX (8 January 2012), lot 108.

Extremely Rare

374. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 478-455 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.49 g, 5h). Forepart of bull running right / Incuse head of roaring lion right; rectangular punch to left. Bodenstedt Em. 26; HGC 6, 953. Minor marks. VF. Extremely rare, one known to Bodenstedt, no others in CoinArchives nor acsearch. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 19 (26 February 2022), lot 1094.

375. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 478-455 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.48 g, 5h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Incuse facing head of lion. Bodenstedt Em. 30; HGC 6, 957; Asia Minor Coins 11253 (this coin). Toned. Near VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Sincona 10 (27 May 2013), lot 158; James & Sneja Velkov Collection (Vinchon, 24 November 1994), lot 127.

376. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 478-455 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.52 g, 2h). Bearded head of Silenos facing slightly right / Incuse head of roaring lion left. Bodenstedt Em. 34; HGC 6, 960. Minor marks on reverse. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 19 (26 February 2022), lot 1095.

377. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.50 g, 11h). Bearded head of Silenos facing slightly right / Head of lion right within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 36; HGC 6, 962; Asia Minor Coins 11242 (this coin). Lightly toned, traces of find patina, a few minor cleaning scratches. Good Fine. ($750)

From the Dr.

From the

Adrian Carr Collection, purchased from Zuzim, July 2013.

378. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9mm, 2.51 g, 6h). Bare head of male right / Head of calf right in incuse and linear square within incuse circle. Bodenstedt Em. 39; HGC 6, 965; Asia Minor Coins 11305 (this coin). Toned. VF. ($500)

Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Monnaies d’Antan 13 (16 May 2013), lot 42.

379. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.55 g, 2h). Young male head right, wearing tainia / Crested Corinthian helmet right; Â to right; all within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 40; HGC 6, 966; Asia Minor Coins 11306 (this coin). Good VF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Monnaies d’Antan 13 (16 May 2013), lot 41.

380. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.51 g, 11h). Diademed female head facing slightly right / Head of bull left; Â above; all within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 44; HGC 6, 970; Asia Minor Coins 13635 (this coin). Good VF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 389 (18 January 2017), lot 257.

381. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.54 g, 5h). Diademed female head facing slightly right / Confronted boars’ heads; A between; all within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 45; HGC 6, 971; Asia Minor Coins 12993 (this coin). Toned, minor marks. Good VF. Very rare, one of only three in CoinArchives. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Agora Auctions 16 (5 April 2016), lot 36. Bodenstedt’s Emission 45 contains two varieties, with and without a small letter A between the boars’ heads, both of which are quite rare.

382. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.52 g, 5h). Female head right, wearing sphendone / Female and male terminal figures standing confronted; all in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 46; HGC 6, 972; Asia Minor Coins 12060 (this coin). Lightly toned, minor marks, light graze on obverse. VF. Very rare. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Künker 262 (13 March 2015), lot 7174.

383. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.61 g, 10h). Young male head right, wearing tainia / Wreathed male head right, wearing long beard, in incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 52; HGC 6, 978; Asia Minor Coins 13775 (this coin). VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 389 (18 January 2017), lot 201.

The Third Known with Depiction of Chalkidian Helmet

384. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.52 g, 5h). Head of Athena right, wearing Chalkidian helmet / Two confronted female heads, their faces overlapping, within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 55 var. (Corinthian helmet); HGC 6, 981 var. (same); NAC 78, lot 1471 (same dies); CNG E-416, lot 205 (same dies); cf. Gemini IX, lot 111 (same obv. die, different rev. type); Asia Minor Coins 13768 (this coin). VF. Well centered. Extremely rare variety, one of only three known. ($1500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 105 (10 May 2017), lot 269 . The Athena on Bodenstedt’s emission 55 is depicted in the usual manner, wearing a Corinthian helmet tilted back on her head. This coin clearly shows her wearing a Chalkidian helmet. This helmet is thought to be a derivative of the Corinthian helmet, and became popular in the 5th-4th centuries BC. It was lighter than the Corinthian helmet, and afforded its wearer better visibility and hearing while worn.

385. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.55 g, 10h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of calf right within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 56; HGC 6, 982. Lightly toned. VF. ($500)

386. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 454-428/7 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.56 g, 4h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Rock partridge standing right in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 58; HGC 6, 984; Asia Minor Coins 13790 (this coin). A few hairlines. Good VF. Rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Numismatik Naumann 55 (2 July 2017), lot 212; Classical Numismatic Group 102 (18 May 2016), lot 423.

This issue is the only ancient coin type to depict the rock partridge (Alectoris graeca).

387. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.56 g, 12h). Forepart of winged lion left / Sphinx seated right in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 63; HGC 6, 989 corr. (winged lion, not boar). Lightly toned. Good VF. ($500)

388. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.53 g, 9h). Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / Head of Amazon right, wearing ornate helmet, in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 64; HGC 6, 990. VF. ($750)

Extremely Rare

389. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.56 g, 4h). Head of Ares right, wearing crested helmet decorated with forepart of griffin / Head of calf right within linear incuse square. Asia Minor Coins 12839 (this coin); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Toned. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($1000)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Roma X (27 September 2015), lot 460.

This interesting issue combines the obverse of Bodenstedt emission 65 with the reverse of emission 56. While this may be a novel issue isolated from those, it may also be a hybrid or a new type that draws the two separate emissions together. At the moment, emissions 56 and 65 are placed in separate time periods, but this issue suggests they likely should both be in the same period.

390. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.54 g, 8h). Head of Ares right, wearing crested helmet decorated with forepart of griffin / Head of Amazon right, wearing ornate helmet; all within linear border within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 65; HGC 6, 991. Toned. VF. ($750)

391. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.62 g, 1h). Bearded head of Ares right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Crested Corinthian helmet facing in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 66; HGC 6, 992; Asia Minor Coins 13774 (this coin). Toned. Good VF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex MM Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 397, 17 May 2017), lot 150; Triton XIX (5 January 2016), lot 204.

392. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9.5mm, 2.57 g, 3h). Bearded head of Ares right, wearing crested Attic helmet / Crested Corinthian helmet facing in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 66; HGC 6, 992. Lightly toned. VF. ($750)

393. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (11mm, 2.55 g, 1h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of female right in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 70; HGC 6, 996. Lightly toned. Good VF. ($750)

394. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (12mm, 2.57 g, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Head of Pharnabazos right, wearing satrapal headdress, in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 71; HGC 6, 997. Lightly toned, small flan flaw on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

395. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.49 g, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Head of Pharnabazos right, wearing satrapal headdress, in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 71; HGC 6, 997; Asia Minor Coins 13657 (this coin). Hairlines. VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 391 (15 February 2017), lot 256.

396. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9.5mm, 2.58 g, 7h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Head of Artemis-Kybele right, wearing stephane; all in linear frame within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 73; HGC 6, 999. Good VF. ($500)

The Fourth Known

397. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.51 g, 7h). Head of female (Leda?) right / Head of Nike right, wearing tainia; [@]-5/˚-Å around; all in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt – (but see em. 82.1 for same obverse die); S. Hurter, “Die Nike von Mytilene: Eine anonyme Siegesprägung” in SM 202 (June 2001), pp. 21–2 = Leu 83, lot 801 (same obv. die); Asia Minor Coins 12842 (this coin). Toned. Near VF. Extremely rare, one of four known. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 202 (14 December 2011), lot 267; Dr. Bernhard Schulte Collection (Münzen und Medaillen GmbH 28, 30 October 2008), lot 928; E. Karl Collection; Münzen und Medaillen GmbH 9 (4 October 2001), lot 254.

This issue is one of the very rare examples of a legend appearing on one of the many electrum issues of Mytilene, and it is even more exceptional in that it is not an ethnic, but an identifier of the figure depicted on the coin. As Hurter noted in her article publishing this type that was unknown to Bodenstedt, it certainly commemorates a specific, yet unknown, event, though it was likely a victory that was local in nature.

398. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte (10mm, 2.51 g, 9h). Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Head of satyr facing; grape bunch to lower left; all in linear square [within shallow incuse square]. Bodenstedt Em. 90; HGC 6, 1016 var. (grape bunch not noted); Asia Minor Coins 11244 = Linzalone LN1168 (this coin). Lightly toned. VF. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Demetrios Armounta Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 94, 18 September 2013), lot 498; Classical Numismatic Group 75 (23 May 2007), lot 357.

Exceptionally Refined Head of Satyr

399. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte (9.5mm, 2.57 g, 11h). Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Head of satyr facing; all in linear square [within shallow incuse square]. Bodenstedt Em. 90; HGC 6, 1016. Trace deposits, a couple of marks on reverse. VF. An exceptionally refined head of satyr, with only two other examples known from this die: Gorny & Mosch 233, lot 1622, and Münzzentrum Rheinland 175, lot 214. ($750)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection.

400. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.53 g, 12h). Half length bust of Maenad right, hair in sphendone / Race torch in linear square within shallow incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 92; HGC 6, 1018. A few hairlines. Good VF. ($750)

401. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.54 g, 12h). Head of Kabeiros right, wearing pileos; two stars flanking / Head of Persephone right within linear square. Bodenstedt Em. 99; HGC 6, 1025. Minor marks. Good VF. ($750)

402. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (11mm, 2.54 g, 5h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of female right in linear square within incuse square. Asia Minor Coins 14912 (this coin); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Light marks. Good VF. Very rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Numismatik Naumann 67 (1 July 2018), lot 194.

403. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 5h) (10mm, 2.54 g, 12h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of Artemis right, hair bound in sphendone; all in linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 100C; HGC 6, 1026. Toned, small flan flaw on obverse. Good VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Berk BBS 183 (28 March 2013), lot 8.

404. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.52 g, 12h). Head of Zeus Meilichios right, wearing laurel wreath; [small serpent before chin] / Draped bust of Nike facing, head right; stars flanking above; all within linear square. Bodenstedt Em. 101; HGC 6, 1027. Deposits, light scrapes. Good VF. ($1000)

405. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.55 g, 12h). Head of Zeus Meilichios right, wearing laurel wreath; small serpent before chin / Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin, within linear square. Bodenstedt Em. 102; HGC 6, 1029. Trace deposits, light marks. Good VF. Rare. ($750)

The Third Known

406. LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 377-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.52 g, 1h). Head of female right, hair bound with ribbons / Panathenaic amphora; filleted palm frond to left; all within linear square. Bodenstedt –; HGC 6, 1032; Asia Minor Coins 11250 (this coin). Trace deposits. VF. Extremely rare, one of three known. ($1500)

From the Dr. Adrian Carr Collection. Ex Pecunem 15 (Gitbud & Naumann, 6 April 2014), lot 191.

407. IONIA, Ephesos. Phanes. Circa 625-600 BC. EL Myshemihekte – Twenty-fourth Stater (6.5mm, 0.59 g). Forepart of stag left, head reverted, its dappled coat indicated by indentations on the body / Incuse square with raised intersecting lines within. Fischer-Bossert, Phanes 36 (O23/R36T); Konuk & Lorber Fig. 19; SNG Kayhan 1219 var. (pellets on obv.). Indications of undertype on obverse (likely a rotated double strike). Near EF ($750)

Pixodarus Hoard Plate Coin

408. IONIA, Ephesos. Circa 390-325 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 15.11 g, 12h). (H)ippokritos (I), magistrate. Bee with straight wings / Forepart of stag right; palm tree to left. Karwiese II, Series 11.1, 368, dies O97/R6; Pixodarus p. 180, Obverse 97 (this coin referenced and illustrated). Iridescent toning, trace deposits, minor marks. Good VF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Harlan J. Berk, February 1994. Ex 1979 Caria (“Pixodarus”) Hoard (</i>CH<i> IX, 421 = </i>CH<i> X, 241).

409. IONIA, Ephesos. Circa 202-150 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.14 g, 12h). Antidoros, magistrate. Bee with straight wings / Stag standing right; palm tree to left. Kinns, Attic, p. 84, obv. die 27, and pl. 13, 5.1 (same dies). Lustrous. EF. Well centered. ($750)

410. IONIA, Herakleia ad Latmon. Circa 140-135 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.53 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos right / Club; below, Nike walking left, holding wreath, flanked by ñ and V; all within oak wreath. Lavva, Silberprägung, Group II.B, 10 (V6/R10); SNG Lockett 2823 = Pozzi 2452. Toned, some die wear on obverse. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 143 (4 August 2024), lot 184; Savoca 148 (20 November 2022), lot 169.

Fine Style

411. IONIA, Herakleia ad Latmon. Circa 140-135 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34.5mm, 16.68 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type.

Head of Athena Parthenos right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Pegasos above the foreparts of five galloping horses / Club; below, Nike walking left, holding wreath, flanked by ñ and V; all within oak wreath. Lavva, Silberprägung, Group II.B, 11–2 var. (V7/R– [unlisted rev. die]); SNG Keckman II 235 (same obv. die). Lovely old cabinet tone, minor deposit on reverse. EF. Fine style and well centered on a broad flan. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Review XLIX.2 (Summer 2024), no. 5677356; MACM inventory MMoCA23C; Manhattan Sale I (5 January 2010), lot 72.

With the collapse of Seleukid authority in Asia Minor in 189 BC, many communities of western Asia Minor celebrated their liberation from regal authority by issuing series of large and impressive tetradrachms. All of these coins were struck on the reduced Attic standard, and were struck on broad, thin flans that were influenced by the Athenian New Style coinage. These series also copied a feature on their reverses, a large laurel or oak wreath that formed the border encompassing the entire reverse type. We know from the Delos inventory lists that these coins were referred to as stephanophoroi, attesting to the ubiquity of these series. The types appearing on the coins clearly indicated their civic nature, depicting the city’s patron deity on the obverse and various aspects of the city’s culture on the reverse.

Regardless of the particular city of issue, the stephanophoric coinage is regarded among the more artistic of the Hellenistic period. This is no surprise as nearly all of the issuing cities were located in western Asia Minor, an area whose numismatic artistry is well attested in the preceding Classical period. Whether the wreath reverse type indicated a kind of unified league coinage or just a common artistic vision remains an open question. Stephanophoric coinage was a major focus of Thomas Palmer’s collecting interests and, after assembling an impressive collection of the series, he wrote an informative article on Stephanophoroi for the Florida United Numismatist journal, FUN Topics, in March 2025.

412. IONIA, Lebedos. Circa 140-135 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.42 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Athenaios, magistrate. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, on club between two filleted cornucopias; all within wreath. Amandry, Tétradrachmes, Group II, – (D3/R– [unlisted rev. die]); Kinns 31; SNG Copenhagen –. Light golden toning with hints of luster, surface flan crack. EF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Tkalec (22 April 2007), lot 77 (hammer 5600 CHF).

Lebedos was located on the central coast of Ionia, to the north of Ephesos. Very little is known of the town, which was best known for its mineral springs. Pausanias noted that it was originally inhabited by Carians, but later, Ionian Greeks migrated there under Andræmon, son of Codrus. In contrast, Strabo says it was founded as a colony by Andropompus, and previously bore the name Artis. A member of the Ionian League, the city’s commerce flourished in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, during which time it issued a civic coinage in silver and bronze. Particularly notable are these tetradrachms issued in the mid-2nd century. Struck on the Attic standard, their types were influenced by the ‘New Style’ Athenian issues, with a similar head of Athena on the obverse, and a reverse type of civic symbols enclosed within a wreath. As these tetradrachms were typically used in international trade, they were a source of civic pride, and this is reflected in the high quality of engraving found on these coins, which is among the finest of the middle Hellenistic period.

413. IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Circa 350-325 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23.5mm, 15.09 g, 12h). Rhodian standard. Lykomed–, magistrate. Warrior, holding lance, on horse rearing right / Bull butting left within circular Maeander pattern. SNG Ashmolean –; SNG Kayhan 409. Faintly toned, traces of find patina. VF. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica O (13 May 2004), lot 1614; Numismatica Ars Classica I (19 May 1999), lot 1303.

414. IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Mid 140s BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.56 g, 1h). Stephanophoric type. Pausanias, son of Euphemos, “magistrate”. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Apollo standing left, resting on tall tripod to right, holding branch tied with fillet; maeander pattern below; all within laurel wreath. Ellis-Evans, Wreathed, dies 2/PE1, 4 (this coin); SNG Berry 1069 (same dies). Toned, trace deposits, a touch of die rust on obverse. EF. ($1500)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 142 (7 July 2024), lot 281; F. Freber Collection (Monnaies d’Anton 23, 19 May 2018), lot 571; Parsy (10 May 2007), lot 37; Kricheldorf inventory.

415. IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Mid 140s BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.89 g, 10h). Stephanophoric type. Euphemos, son of Pausanios, “magistrate”. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Apollo standing left, resting on tall tripod to right, holding branch tied with fillet; maeander pattern below; all within laurel wreath. Ellis-Evans, Wreathed, dies 8/EP4 (this coin cited); Jones dies 21/c. Iridescent toning. Near EF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 250193 (December 2002); Morton & Eden 2 (13 November 2002), lot 530; Morton & Eden 1 (18 April 2002), lot 24; Numismatic Fine Arts XXIII (14 December 1989), lot 579.

Magnesia was founded on the banks of the Lekathos, a tributary of the Meander river, in southwestern Ionia during the 700s BC by a tribe from Thessaly known as the Magnetes. The local farmland was rich and the city soon grew enough in prosperity to challenge nearby Ephesos. Sometime between 726 and 660 BC, the Cimmerians swept into the region, destroyed Magesia and enslaved the original populace; however the site was rebuilt within a few years by colonists from Miletos and Ephesos, who retained the original name. Magnesia came under Persian control in the 540s BC and was given by King Artaxerxes I to the Athenian exile Themistocles to govern from 470 BC to his death 11 years later. Themisticles struck the first coin attributed to Magnesia, a didrachm, now extremely rare, in the 460s BC. During the Hellenistic period, Magnesia came under control of the Pergamene Kingdom, along with nearby Ephesus. In the mid-2nd century BC, Magnesia was among the cities that took part in a revival of classical Greek coinage, issuing large and beautiful stephanophoric (“wreath bearing”) silver tetradrachms, the obverse of which bore a lovely head of the city’s patron goddess, Artemis, while the reverse depicted her brother Apollo standing atop a meander pattern, representing the winding course of the nearby river. These coins carried the names of a series of magistrates (or, as suggested by Nicholas F. Jones, wealthy civic patrons who financed the coinage), including probably the same Euphemos and Pausanius named on this stunning tetradrachm.

Immaculate and Fine Style Magnesia Tetradrachm MS★

416. IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Mid 140s BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 16.38 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Erasippos, son of Aristeas, “magistrate”. Diademed and draped bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Apollo standing left, resting on tall tripod to right, holding branch tied with fillet; maeander pattern below; all within laurel wreath. Ellis-Evans, Wreathed, dies 28/EA6; SNG Hunterian 428 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 8559704-002, graded MS★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style. ($3000)

Extremely Rare Early Phokaia Hekte

417. IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 625/00 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (9.5mm, 2.73 g). Phokaic standard. Head left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Incuse square. Cf. Bodenstedt E3 (forty-eighth stater); CNG 100, lot 1479 (same dies); cf. Nomos 33, lot 1321 (myshemihekte); otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Remnants of find patina. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($750)

418. IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 625/0-522 BC. EL Myshemihekte – Twenty-fourth Stater (6.5mm, 0.65 g). Head of griffin left; to right, small seal upward / Incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 12. Lightly toned. Near EF ($750)

419. IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.65 g). Bearded head left, wearing [crested] helmet; below, small seal right / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 44. Small scuff, a few marks. Near EF. ($1000)

Rare Greek Portait of King Midas

420. IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 478-387 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.50 g). Head of King Midas left; [to right, small seal downward] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 66. Lightly toned. VF. Very rare. ($1000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 384 (12 October 2016), lot 244 (hammer $4500).

This issue of Phokaia is the only Greek (non-Imperial) coin to bear the portrait of the famous King Midas of Phrygia.

421. IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 478-387 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.54 g). Helmeted head of Athena left; [below, small seal left] / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt Em. 91. Slightly off center. Near EF. ($500)

Unpublished Hekte

422. IONIA, Phokaia. Circa 387-326 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10.5mm, 2.56 g). Head of female left, hair tied in knot above, wearing wreath with large grain ears / Quadripartite incuse square. CNG E-510, lot 155 = CNG E-362, lot 151; otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Lightly toned. Good VF. Well centered, and better than the CNG E-510 coin that hammered at $1700. ($500)

Unique Didrachm – Bias of Priene, One of the Seven Sages of Greece

423. IONIA, Priene. Circa 190-170 BC. AR Didrachm (22mm, 8.41 g, 12h). Akrisios, magistrate. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with vine tendril and Pegasos right / The sage Bias of Priene standing facing, holding staff; tripod to right; ∏r5˙@EW[@] Å˚r5s5os to left and right. Unpublished in the standard references, but cf. Regling 30 (for a unique drachm of same issue). Toned, light deposits. Near EF. Unique. ($6000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Freeman & Sear FPL 11 (Spring/Summer 2006), no. 54.

Priene, on the Ionian coast near the mouth of the River Maeander, was founded circa 800 BC by Theban colonists as a harbor city. Its fortunes were tied to a river famous for wandering—and for depositing prodigious quantities of silt. In time the Maeander quietly filled the harbor, leaving Priene landlocked. In the mid-4th century BC the Carian satrap Maussolos—whose own tomb would later give the world the word mausoleum—relocated the city to higher ground at the foot of Mount Mycale. The rebuilding was completed and dedicated by Alexander the Great around 323 BC, providing the new Priene with both improved geography and enviable prestige. Though never a large polis, Priene was impressively planned and beautifully situated, overlooking the Maeander plain. Its public monuments included a fine theater and the renowned Temple of Athena Polias, whose portrait appears on the city’s very rare silver coinage. The site is so well preserved that it has often been called a “Greek Pompeii,” though fortunately without the volcano.

Priene’s most celebrated citizen was the philosopher Bias, one of the legendary Seven Sages of Greece, famed both as an advocate for the oppressed and for his rather bleak assessment of humanity: “most men are wicked.” Ancient writers credit him with once ending a siege by the Lydian king Alyattes through an inspired display of confidence—sending out two conspicuously well-fed mules to suggest the city’s supplies were abundant. Alyattes, apparently persuaded that starvation was not imminent, withdrew. Bias also appears in the well-known story of the sacred tripod depicted on this remarkable didrachm. Inscribed “to the wisest,” the tripod was first given to Thales of Miletos, who declined the honor and passed it to Bias; Bias passed it to another Sage, and so on until all seven had politely refused the title. The moral was clear: truly wise men rarely nominate themselves. The tripod was ultimately dedicated to Apollo, ending its philosophical circuit at Delphi (or, according to some versions, Didyma). Thus the coin neatly celebrates Priene’s identity: Athena, patron of the city, on the obverse; Bias, its most famous thinker, on the reverse. Few coins manage to combine theology, philosophy, civic pride—and a wry moral lesson—quite so effectively.

Likely the Fourth Known

424. IONIA, Smyrna. Circa 220-200 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31.5mm, 16.82 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, turreted head of Tyche left above monogram. Milne, Autonomous, Period VIII, unlisted monogram; Price 2253; Mektipini 294 (same dies). Attractively toned, traces of find patina, minor marks. Good VF. Extremely rare, none in Pella, nor the ANS Photofile, only two in CoinArchives. Likely the fourth known. ($1000)

425. IONIA, Smyrna. Circa 150-143 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34mm, 16.21 g, 11h). Stephanophoric type. Arist-, magistrate. Turreted head of Tyche right / Ethnic and Ĕ (magistrate’s monogram) within laurel wreath. Milne, Silver 1a, obv. die A; Milne, Autonomous 123a; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 3. Some luster, minor peripheral porosity, a few short scrapes. Near EF. ($2000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, June 2002. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 60 (22 May 2002), lot 749.

Smyrna was well known as a center of Hellenic culture in western Asia Minor from the time of its founding in 1,000 BC. The supposed birthplace of Homer, it rose to prominence in the seventh century BC and was brought to its full splendor during the Hellenistic era, circa 316197 BC, where it became famous for the skill of its artisans. Among them die engravers of exceptional ability who produced stunning coins for Lysimachos of Thrace and the early Seleukid kings. During the second-century BC, Smyrna owed nominal allegiance to the Attalid rulers of Pergamum, but circa 150 BC began producing stephanophoric (”wreath-bearing”) tetradrachms along with many other cities of western Asia Minor, who had been recently freed from Seleukid rule. Stephanophoric issues of Smyrna are among the simplest designs in the series, with an obverse bearing a rather stern-looking head of Tyche, goddess of providence, wearing a turreted crown representing the city’s walls. The reverse simply has the city’s name and a series of identifying monograms enclosed within a laurel wreath. Smyrna would go on to be one of the most prolific Roman provincial mints and would remain Greek in character throughout the middle ages and into the modern era.

426. IONIA, Teos. Late 6th-early 5th century BC. AR Hemistater – Drachm (16mm, 5.91 g). Aeginetic standard. Griffin seated right / Quadripartite incuse square. Matzke Group Ba1; Balcer Group XX, 39 var. (unlisted dies); Boston MFA 1934 = Warren 1130. Attractively toned, traces of find patina, granular surfaces. EF. Well centered. ($750)

A member city of the Ionian Dodekapolis, Teos was a thriving seaport with two fine harbors. It was the birthplace of Anakreon the poet, Hekataios the historian, Protagoras the sophist, Skythinos the poet, Andron the geographer, and Apellikon, the preserver of the works of Aristotle. When the Persians under Cyrus invaded circa 540 BC, many Teans fled, resettling in Abdera. The griffin was the badge of the city of Teos and is present on the coins of both cities.

427. IONIA, Teos. Circa 450-425 BC. AR Stater (19.5mm, 11.99 g). Griffin seated right, raising forepaw, on an ornamented ground line; to lower right, swan standing right / Quadripartite incuse square. Matzke Group Cb1; Balcer Group LII, 101 var. (A101/P– [unlisted rev. die]); Boston MFA 1939 = Warren 1135 (same obv. die). Iridescent toning, tiny flan crack. Near EF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Herman, January 2002. Ex Peus 326 (1 November 1989), lot 204.

428. IONIA, Teos. Circa 450-425 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 11.80 g). Griffin seated right, raising forepaw; grape bunch on vine to lower right / Quadripartite incuse square. Matzke Group Cb1; Balcer Group LIII, 102 (dies A102/P134); Jameson 1517 (same dies). Lightly toned, underlying luster, deposits on reverse. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Libertas Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 124, 19 September 2023), lot 201.

429. IONIA, Uncertain. Circa 625-600 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.52 g). Phokaic standard. Raised counterclockwise swastika pattern / Quadripartite incuse square. Artemision –; cf. SNG Ashmolean 68–9 (myshemihektai); SNG Kayhan –; Traité I 117–8 var. (clockwise swastika). Hairlines. Near EF. ($500)

430. ISLANDS off IONIA, Samos. Circa 408/4-380/66 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 15.15 g, 10h). Leontiskos, magistrate. Facing lion scalp / Forepart of bull right; laurel branch to left; [all within incuse square]. Barron Class X, 153 (A77/ P147); HGC 6, 1218; SNG Berry 1106 (same dies). Toned, slight granularity. VF. ($2000)

431. KINGS of LYDIA. Kukas (Gyges). Circa 680-early 640s BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (7mm, 1.21 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of lion right; traces of legend to right / Incuse punch. Weidauer Group XVIII (unlisted denomination); cf. Wallace, KUKALIṂ, pl. I, 2 (trite; same punch as that on left in photo); Artemision –; Kurth –; ANS 1969.156.1 corr. (same rev. punch; incorrect Weidauer numbers [but correct Group]); Triton XXIV, lot 695 (same die and punch); CNG 111, lot 276 (same die and punch); cf. Triton XX, lot 296 (trite; same punch as that on left in photo). Good VF. Very rare KUKALIṂ hemihekte. ($750)

For the reattribution of the KUKALIṂ-signed coinage to Gyges, see W. Fischer-Bossert, “43. FALFET and KVKALEM” in: J. Bodzek, A. Bursche, and A. Zapolska, eds. Proceedings of the XVI International Numismatic Congress, 11-16.09.2022, Warsaw, Vol. I: Greek Numismatics (Turnhout, 2025).

Struck from Hekte Dies

432. KINGS of LYDIA. Walwetes (Alyattes) II (Ardys). Early 640s-circa 620s BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (7.5mm, 1.11 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Confronted heads of roaring lions (die positioned to feature the right side lion); traces of legend to left / Incuse punch. Weidauer Group XVII, 113 (but same dies as 112, which features left side lion on die); cf. Artemision 78 (hekte; same right side punch); Kurth G20; Traité I 58; Triton XXIX, lot 254 (same punch; hammer $5500). VF. Struck from hekte dies. ($1000)

For the reattribution of the WALWET-signed coinage from Alyattes III (Ardys), father of Kroisos, to Alyattes II, son of Gyges, see W. FischerBossert, “43. FALFET and KVKALEM” in: J. Bodzek, A. Bursche, and A. Zapolska, eds. Proceedings of the XVI International Numismatic Congress, 11-16.09.2022, Warsaw, Vol. I: Greek Numismatics (Turnhout, 2025).

433. KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Walwetes (Alyattes) II (Ardys) – Walwetes (Alyattes) III. Late 640s-early 6th century BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (10mm, 2.40 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right, “sun” with four rays on forehead / Two incuse squares. Weidauer Group XV, 76 (same right side punch); Kurth G28; cf. SNG Ashmolean 748 (trite). Trace deposits, minor marks, light scuff on reverse. VF. Well centered on a broad flan. ($750)

434. KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Walwetes (Alyattes) III – Kroisos. Late 7th-early 6th centuries BC. EL Trite – Third Stater (13mm, 4.72 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right, “sun” with multiple rays on forehead / Two incuse squares. Weidauer Group XVI, 86–7; Kurth G24–5; cf. SNG Ashmolean 749–53. Minor marks. VF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 96648 (January 1991).

435. KINGS of LYDIA. temp. Walwetes (Alyattes) III – Kroisos. Late 7th-early 6th centuries BC. EL Hemihekte –Twelfth Stater (7.5mm) (7.5mm, 1.18 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Head of roaring lion right, “sun” with no rays on forehead / Incuse square. Weidauer Group XVI, 90; Kurth G29–30; SNG Ashmolean 757. Light mark on obverse. Good VF. Well centered. ($500)

436. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 10.77 g). Heavy standard. Sardes mint. Regular issue. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Kurth G53; Berk 2; Le Rider, Naissance, pl. V, 2; Traité I 396; SNG Ashmolean 759; SNG von Aulock 2873–4; BMC 30; Boston MFA 2068–9; Gulbenkian 756. Underlying luster, minor flan flaw on obverse. Good VF. ($7500)

437. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. 2nd quarter 6th century-547/30 BC. AV Trite – 1/3 Stater (10mm, 2.67 g). Light standard. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Kurth G52; Berk 6; Traité I 404–5. A few small scratches. Good VF. ($4000)

438. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. 2nd quarter 6th century-547/30 BC. AV Hekte – 1/6 Stater (9mm, 1.81 g). Heavy standard. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Kurth G52; Berk 7; Traité I 400. Trace deposits, a few minor marks. Near EF. ($3000)

439. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. 2nd quarter 6th century-547/30 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 10.56 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 20; Kurth S1; Traité I 407–8; SNG Ashmolean 760. Lightly toned, slight granularity, a couple of minor scratches on obverse. EF. Excellent detail. ($3000)

440. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. 2nd quarter 6th century-547/30 BC. AR Stater (21.5mm, 10.47 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 20; Kurth S1; Traité I 407–8; SNG Ashmolean 760. Toned, granular surfaces, some hairlines. Good VF. ($1500)

441. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. 2nd quarter 6th century-547/30 BC. AR Stater (19.5mm, 10.38 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 20; Kurth S1; Traité I 407–8; SNG Ashmolean 760. Toned, granular surfaces, a few hairlines. Good VF. ($1500)

442. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. 2nd quarter 6th century-547/30 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 10.54 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 20; Kurth S1; Traité I 407–8; SNG Ashmolean 760. Toned, remnants of find patina, some granularity, minor marks. VF. ($750)

443. CARIA, Alabanda. Circa 167/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32.5mm, 16.59 g, 12h). Dated CY 1 (circa 167/6 BC). Laureate head of Apollo right / Pegasos alighting right; & (date) below. Meadows, Alabanda, Series 4, 14b (A4/P13 – this coin); Waggoner, New, Series 4; HN Online 451; DCA2 472. Toned, with some iridescence, underlying luster. Superb EF. Rare. ($3000)

Ex North River Collection (Triton XXVI, 10 January 2023), lot 273; Semon Leper Collection (Triton XI, 8 January 2008), lot 262; G. Hirsch 183 (20 September 1994), lot 465.

444. CARIA, Kaunos. Circa 410-390 BC. AR Stater (23.5mm, 11.64 g, 12h). Winged female figure, in kneeling-running stance left, head right, holding kerykeion and wreath / Baetyl(?); ∂ ˝ (K B in Carian) across upper field; all within incuse square. Konuk Period V, Type 4, 114 (O53/R54); Konuk, Coin M26; HN Online 220; SNG von Aulock 2350 = Jameson 1601 (same dies). Toned, remnants of find patina. EF. ($1500)

442

445. CARIA, Knidos. Circa 490-465 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 6.22 g, 12h). Aegenetic standard. Forepart of lion right / Head of Aphrodite right within incuse square. Cahn 68 (V34/R47); HN Online 301; SNG Ashmolean 4697 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 226 (same dies). Old cabinet toning. VF. ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Palladium Numismatics, July 1995.

446. CARIA, Knidos. Circa 395-380 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 14.17 g, 12h). Timoteles, magistrate. Head of Aphrodite left, hair in ampyx and sphendone; [behind neck, prow left] / Forepart of lion left within incuse square. Hecatomnus 22d (A7/P22 – this coin); HN Online 2779. Toned, minor roughness. VF. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from Kölner Münzkabinett, 11 July 2021; Ex Gorny & Mosch 118 (15 October 2002), lot 1463; Künker 67 (9 October 2001), lot 402; Giessener Münzhandlung 101 (6 March 2000), lot 299; Giessener Münzhandlung 100 (20 November 1999), lot 1044; Elsen 58 (12 June 1999), lot 953.

447. CARIA, Knidos. Circa 350-330/20 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 14.16 g, 12h). Chian standard. Theumelon, magistrate. Head of Aphrodite right; behind neck, small helmet right / Forepart of lion right. Ashton, Late 13–4 var. (A8/P–[unlisted rev. die]); HN Online 2222. Old collection tone, with a hint of iridescence, traces of horn silver, slight roughness, hairlines. VF. Rare. ($2000)

Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich 14 (20 November 2021), lot 29.

448. SATRAPS of CARIA. Hidrieus. Circa 351/0-344/3 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 15.08 g, 12h). Halikarnassos mint. Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right / Zeus Labraundos standing right, holding labrys and inverted spear; 5 to left. Konuk, Identities 28; cf. Babelon, Perses 409 (drachm); HN Online 2208; NAC 27, lot 190 (same dies). Deep iridescent tone. VF. ($1500)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 132 (3 September 2023), lot 267; Schulman 342 (9 July 2013), lot 433.

Caria was an important region along the coast of south-western Asia Minor, incorporating several populous cities including the capital of Halikarnassos. Peopled by a mixture of Greek settlers and native Anatolians, Caria became a Persian satrapy in 546 BC, but retained a measure of autonomy under the Hekatomnid satraps, who ruled as virtual kings starting in 395 BC. The Hekatomnids were of native Carian descent and practiced brother-sister marriage to keep their bloodlines pure. Most famous of these was Maussolos (377-353 BC), who greatly beautified Halikarnassos and began building a huge family sepulcher, the Mausoleum, that became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Mausoleum was finished by his son, Hidrieus, who struck this coin. Few other details are known about his reign, but Hidreius is reported to have assembled a fleet and 8,000 mercenaries in support of a Persian invasion of Cyprus. He also appears to have expanded his territory to include the islands of Chios, Kos, and Rhodes. Though loyal to the Persian king at first, relations apparently soured later in his brief reign. Hidrieus died of disease in 344 BC and left power to his sister-wife, Ada. The head of Apollo on this coin may reflect Rhodian typological influence, while the figure of Zeus Labraundos on the reverse represents the patron deity of Mylasa, home of the Hekatomnid dynasty

Excellent Portrait

449. SATRAPS of CARIA. Pixodaros. Circa 341/0-336/5 BC. AR Didrachm (18mm, 6.99 g, 12h). Halikarnassos mint. Laureate head of Apollo facing slightly right, drapery around neck / Zeus Labraundos standing right. Konuk, Identities 30; Babelon, Perses 414–21; HN Online 241. Lustrous. EF. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex American Collection (Nomos 30, 6 November 2023), lot 1362.

450. ISLANDS off CARIA, Kos. Circa 370/60-345 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 14.82 g, 6h). Chian-Rhodian standard. Kallias, magistrate. Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Crab; below, club over ˚ÅGG5Ås; all in dotted square within shallow incuse square. Ingvaldsen Issue VI, 27a (O15/R15) = Stefanaki Series V, Issue B, 233 (this coin); HN Online –; HGC 6, 1302. Toned, horn silver, spot of heavy cleaning marks on reverse. Good VF. ($1500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Vagi, September 2007. Ex Spink America (3 May 1995), lot 251; 1979 Caria (“Pixodarus”) Hoard (</i>CH<i> IX, 421 = </i>CH<i> X, 241).

The island of Kos attained the zenith of its prosperity during the Hellenistic era, when it was a valued ally of the Ptolemies, who used its port as a naval base. This alliance also contributed to cultural aspects of the island. As a seat of learning, it arose as a provincial branch of the museum of Alexandria and became a favorite resort for the education of the princes of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Among its most famous residents were the physician Hippokrates, the painter Apelles, the elegaic poet Philitas, and, possibly, the pastoral poet Theokritos.

Ingvaldsen and Stefanaki Plate Coin – Ex Pixodarus Hoard

Ex Langlotz Collection – Cahn Plate Coin

451. ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Lindos. Circa 515/10-485 BC. AR Stater (18mm, 13.62 g). Head of lion right / Two rectangular punches (the same punch used twice, inverted). Cahn, Archaischen Group A, 6 (this coin); HGC 6, 1397. Old cabinet toning. VF. ($3000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Leu 91 (10 May 2004), lot 168; Prof. Ernst Langlotz Collection.

Lindos was one of three cities located on the island of Rhodos in the archaic and early classical period, the other two being Kamiros and Ialysos. Lindos had a fine harbor and a towering acropolis that was heavily fortified by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders and Ottomans in succession. All three cities merged in 408 BC to form a single great metropolis that took the name of the island itself, Rhodes.

452. ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 250-229 BC. AR Didrachm (19.5mm, 6.75 g, 12h). Mnasimachos, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud to right; to left, Athena Nikephoros standing left. Ashton 208; HN Online 395; HGC 6, 1439. Attractive iridescent tone, delamination on reverse. Near EF. ($750)

Ex London Coin Galleries inventory 6635.

Pedigreed to 1928

453. ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 229-205 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.27 g, 12h). Ameinias, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud to right; to left, prow right. Ashton 212; HN Online 387; HGC 6, 1432. In NGC encapsulation 8731322-007, graded Ch XF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style, brushed. ($1500)

Ex Rosenberg 64 (19 June 1928), lot 1483.

454. ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 229-205 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.47 g, 11h). Tharsytas, magistrate. Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud to right; to left, eagle standing right, wings spread, on torch. Ashton 215; HGC 6, 1432. Lightly toned, remnants of find patina. VF. ($1000)

Ex Numismatik Naumann 141 (22 June 2024), lot 294; Lugdunum 23 (14 December 2023), lot 50; Monetarium 47 (Spring 1987), no. 47.

455. ISLANDS off CARIA, Rhodos. Rhodes. Circa 205-190 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 2.62 g, 11h). Reduced standard. Aristakos, magistrate. Head of Helios facing slightly right / Rose with bud to right; APIΣTAKO[Σ] above, kerykeion to left. Ashton 285; HGC 6, 1453; HN Online 864. Toned. EF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Grand Haven Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 477, 23 September 2020), lot 151.

Heipp-Tamer Plate Coin

456. LYCIA, Phaselis. Circa 167-130 BC. AR Stater (26mm, 10.71 g, 12h). Antigenes, magistrate. Laureate head of Apollo right / Athena Promachos striding right, f and coiled serpent flanking, on prow right; Å@t5˝E@˙s below. HeippTamer 359 (V18/R33; this coin); BMC 85 (same obv. die). Toned, minor deposits, a few faint scratches. Good VF. Rare – only two examples of this moneyer in CoinArchives, with none offered in the last 20 years. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Vagi, August 1999. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 50 (23 June 1999), lot 877; Numismatica Ars Classica 9 (16 April 1996), lot 245; Numismatica Ars Classica 5 (25 February 1992), lot 160; Sternberg XIV (24 May 1984), lot 146.

Phaselis was founded in 690 BC by settlers from the island of Rhodes. In the same year, the great Rhodian seafarers also founded Gela, on the island of Sicily, thus extending their influence across the Greek world. The colony of Phaselis was the one purely Greek city in Lycia and differed in language, culture, and alphabet from the adjacent cities of the region.

Very Rare

457. DYNASTS of LYCIA. Amartite. Circa 490/80-440/30 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 9.31 g, 11h). Uncertain mint. Crab / Crab; Đ below; all in dotted square within incuse square. Müseler III, 17 (same obv. die); Falghera 55 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen Supp. 397 var. (no symbol on rev.). Toned, remnants of find patina, trace deposits, light roughness. Near VF. Very rare. ($1000)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Glendining’s (4 June 1992), lot 81.

458. DYNASTS of LYCIA. Kherei. Circa 430/25-390/85 BC. AR Stater (17mm, 8.58 g, 1h). Telmessos mint. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet; [e]f ([K]H in Lycian) behind and on neck guard / Bearded head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin, within incuse square. Mørkholm & Zahle II 53; Müseler VI 61–3; Falghera –; SNG Copenhagen Supp. 451 (same obv. die). Toned. Good VF. ($2000)

Ex Grapevine Collection, purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica.

459. DYNASTS of LYCIA. Ddenewele. Circa 420-400 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 8.34 g, 12h). Pinara(?) mint. Head right, wearing kyrbasia; [d to left], Ē to right / Helmeted head of Athena right in dotted circle within incuse circle. Müseler VI, 71 (same dies); Falghera –; SNG Copenhagen Supp. –. Toned, irregular flan, struck from somewhat worn dies. VF. ($500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Triton III (30 November 1999), lot 576.

460. PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 420-360 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 5.44 g, 6h). Warrior (Mopsos) on horseback right, brandishing spear / Boar running right. SNG BN 15 var. (orientation of ethnic); Sternberg XIX, lot 212 = Münzen und Mediallen AG XXV, lot 470 (same dies). Attractive light iridescent tone, minor marks. Near EF. Well centered and struck. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 265 (14 October 2019), lot 437; Leu Numismatik AG 2 (11 May 2018), lot 116.

As renderings of athleticism and action, the coins of Aspendos have seldom been matched. Aspendos was a colony of Argos located at the southern coast of Asia Minor on the navigable river Eurymedon, which made it an important emporium and naval base. Its famous wrestler coinage commences circa 410 BC. Wrestling was one of the premier events of Greek sports, practiced at the Olympic Games and at gymnasia throughout the ancient world.

461. PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 330/25-300/250 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 10.27 g, 12h). Two wrestlers, nude, grappling; E between / Slinger in throwing stance right; to right, triskeles over club; all in dotted square. Tekin Series 5; SNG BN 124; SNG von Aulock 4574 (same dies). Richly toned. Near EF. ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Edward J. Waddell FPL (1991), no. 21.

462. PAMPHYLIA, Perge. Circa 260-230 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 16.88 g, 1h). Wreathed head of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder / Artemis standing left, holding wreath and scepter; to inner left, forepart of stag standing left, head right. Colin Series 1, Em. 2, dies 2.1/2.4; SNG Copenhagen 299; Kölner Münzkabinett 27, lot 78 (same dies). Hairlines. Good VF. ($750)

463. PAMPHYLIA, Side. Circa 205-100 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 16.84 g, 12h). Deino–, magistrate. Helmeted head of Athena right / Nike advancing left, holding wreath; pomegranate to left. Seyrig, Side 8; SNG BN 678–81. Lightly toned, underlying luster, minor die flaw on obverse. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 29 (24 February 2024), lot 823.

464. CILICIA, Aigeai. Circa 47/6-27/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.43 g, 10h). Dated CY 18 (30/29 BC). Turreted and veiled bust of Tyche right / Athena Nikephoros standing left; d5 and club to left, 5˙ (date) in exergue, @ to lower right; all within wreath. Arnold-Biucchi, Trésor 161-191 (D4/R19); SNG BN 2280 var. (date); DCA 355. Struck with worn obverse die. EF. ($500)

465. CILICIA, Kelenderis. Circa 430-420 BC. AR Stater (20mm, 10.55 g, 12h). Nude youth, holding whip in right hand, dismounting from horse rearing left; Å below horse’s belly / Goat kneeling left, head right; ˚E¬E@ and branch with ivy leaf and berries above; all within shallow incuse circle. Casabonne Type 2; Celenderis Series I, 4 (O2/R3A); SNG BN 46; SNG Levante –; SNG von Aulock 5617 (same dies). Lightly toned. EF. Well centered and struck on a full round flan. Exceptional for issue. Very rare. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Jonathan P. Rosen Collection (Triton XXIII, 14 January 2020), lot 448; Roma XIII (23 March 2017), lot 373.

466. CILICIA, Tarsos. Pharnabazos. Persian military commander, 380-374/3 BC. AR Stater (22mm, 10.56 g, 6h). Struck circa 380-379 BC. Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding lotus-tipped scepter / Helmeted and bearded male head (Ares?) left. Casabonne Series 4; Moysey Issue 2; SNG BN 252. Toned, underlying luster, a few minor flan flaws on obverse, small scrape on edge. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich 14 (20 November 2021), lot 25.

Pharnabazos was a member of the Persian nobility with close connections to the Persian king and satrap of Hellespontine Phrygia. In 399 BC, war broke out between Sparta and Persia, and Agesilaus, one of the Spartan kings, attacked his satrapy. Pharnabazos was able to destroy the Spartan fleet at Knidos in 394 BC, but the land campaign was less successful, and the war dragged on. The arrival of a Spartan delegation at the Persian capital resulted in a peace treaty and, contrary to the wishes of Pharnabazos, a renewed alliance. For all of his work, Pharnabazos was recalled from his satrapy. The weakness of Persia during this period prompted Egypt to declare its independence. Two successive attempts by the Persians to recover Egypt were unsuccessful, and Pharnabazos was one of the many Persian commanders in the second of these, in 380 BC. In 377, the Persians prepared to attack again; this time with Pharnabazos as sole commander. Moysey connects this issue of coinage with this military venture. Gathering a large navy at Akko and reinforcing his army with Greek mercenaries, Pharnabazos tried to take the Egyptian capital at Memphis. A disagreement between himself and the Greek commander, Iphicrates, caused the Persians to bog down in the Delta and the recovery of Egypt once again failed. The ultimate fate of Pharnabazos is unknown, as he disappears from the historical record thereafter.

467. CILICIA, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 10.89 g, 10h). Baal of Tarsos seated left, head and torso facing, holding eagle, grain ear, grape bunch and lotus-tipped scepter; rt (TN in Aramaic) to left, M (M in Aramaic) below throne / Lion attacking bull left; å below. Casabonne Series 2, Group C; SNG BN –; SNG Levante 106. Lustrous, small spots of porosity. Superb EF. ($750) Ex Heritage 339 (8 January 2004), lot 12084.

468. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain mint. Late 3rd-2nd centuries BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.64 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; trident head left in left field. CNG 124, lot 263 = Gorny & Mosch 276, lot 95 = CNG E-322, lot 328; CNG E-72, lot 7; Heritage Europe & MPO 58, lot 2929 = NAC 51, lot 599; otherwise unpublished. EF. Very rare. ($500)

Symbols on Alexander type issues from this late period are typically recognizable civic types, such as the rose on Rhodian issues. In this late period, a trident head is only known on contemporary issues of Corinth, Mylasa, and Priene. However, the trident is always “ornate” at the former two mints, unlike the plain style of the symbol here, and at Priene, the city’s ethnic is always present. The style of these cities’ coins is also generally quite different from the present piece.

469. KINGS of ARMENIA. Tigranes II ‘the Great’. 95-56 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 15.91 g, 11h). Tigranocerta mint. Struck circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Tyche of Antioch seated right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming right; v to inner right, M on rock; all within wreath. SCADA Group 1, obv. die A10; Kovacs 74.1; M&D 2; CAA 17; AC 30. Trace deposits, slight roughness. EF. ($500)

470. KINGS of ARMENIA. Tigranes II ‘the Great’. 95-56 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.75 g, 12h). Tigranocerta mint. Struck circa 80-68 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Tyche of Antioch seated right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming right; · on rock; all within wreath. SCADA Group 7, obv. die A57; Kovacs 75.1; M&D 9; CAA 33; AC 37. Trace deposits, cleaning marks, die break on reverse. EF. ($500)

Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 316.

471. KINGS of ARMENIA. Tigranes II ‘the Great’. 95-56 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 15.78 g, 12h). Official imitation struck under Antiochos I of Commagene. Samosata mint(?). Struck circa 69-56 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing tiara decorated with star between two eagles / Tyche of Antioch seated right on rock, holding laurel branch; below, river-god Orontes swimming right; p to inner right; all within wreath. SCADA Group 6, obv. die A48; Kovacs 123; M&D 49; CAA 24–5 and 40–1; AC 35. Slight roughness. Near EF. ($500)

472. CYPRUS, Kition. Baalmilk II. Circa 415-395 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 11.10 g, 9h). Herakles in fighting stance right, holding club and bow, lion skin draped from neck; ankh symbol to right / Lion attacking stag right; all within pellet border [within shallow incuse square]. Markou, Royal, Group B.4.1, 848 (O7/R19); Zapiti & Michaelidou 12; Tziambazis 19. In NGC encapsulation 6327036-001, graded XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. ($750)

473. CYPRUS, Paphos. Stasandros. Second half 5th century BC. AR Stater (22mm, 10.98 g, 12h). Bull standing left; winged solar disk above, e to left, palmette ornament in exergue / Eagle standing left; one-handled vase to left, s1 ß^ß (Basi Stasa in Cypriot) around; all within dotted square in incuse square. Destrooper-Georgiades 15; Zapiti & Michaelidou 7; Tziambazis 7. Lightly toned, test cut on edge. Good VF. ($1000)

474. SELEUKIS and PIERIA, Seleukeia Pieria. 2nd-1st centuries BC. Æ Hemimnaion Weight (81x80mm, 247.50 g). %E2EU˚E5o@ above, ˙Â5Â@&5o@ below, horse prancing right on ground line; all within egg-and-dart border / Lattice-work design. O. Tekin, “Weights from Antiochia and Seleucia Pieria, Including some Unattributed Weights in the Hatay Museum” in Shopping and Weighing Instruments in the Mediterranean World and Beyond throughout History, November 27–29, 2023 –AKMED / Antalya. Proceedings (Istanbul, 2025), fig. 19; Pondera Online Permalink 13348; Leu Numismatik AG 7, lot 1996. Earthen green and red patina, areas of hard green. VF. Very rare. ($1500)

475. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AV Stater (17mm, 8.51 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon I mint. Struck circa 311-300 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right, serpent on helmet / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ˙ below left wing, ü below right wing. SC 81.7; Price 3707; HGC 9, 3a. A few bumps and bruises, laminations on obverse. Near EF. ($2500) Ex Classical Numismatic Group 64 (24 September 2003), lot 365.

The Seleukid Empire was one of the main successor states to the Macedonian empire forged by Alexander III ‘the Great.’ Following Alexander’s death, his greatest generals, the Diadochs, divided the empire among themselves, but the settlement was not enduring and nearly constant warfare resulted from their ambitions to widen their respective areas of control. Seleukos I, despite being passed over in the initial settlement in 323 BC, received the satrapy of Babylon in the second settlement in 320 BC. By the time of his death in 281 BC, Seleukos had expanded his realm to encompass most of Alexander’s eastern possessions from Asia Minor to Baktria.

476. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.13 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon I mint. Struck circa 311-300 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Â5 above head of lion left; ¶ below throne. SC 82.3c var. (monogram without pellet); Price 3759 var. (same); HGC 9, 10f. Underlying luster. EF. High relief. ($1000)

477. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.15 g, 9h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon I mint. Struck circa 311-300 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; ˙ in left field, ü below throne. SC 82.7; Price 3708; HGC 9, 10f. Faintly toned. EF. ($1000)

Attractive Portrait

478. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.96 g, 12h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Seleukeia on the Tigris I mint. Struck circa 300-296/5 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; @o in left field. SC 117.6a; HGC 9, 12i. Toned, underlying luster, patch of find patina on reverse. EF. ($1000)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 28 (9 December 2023), lot 1647.

479. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 17.03 g, 6h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint II. Struck circa 296/5-281 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Athena, shield on left arm, brandishing spear overhead, in quadriga of elephants right; above, @5 above anchor; d@ in exergue. SC 130.12c; ESM 40, dies A38/P110; HGC 9, 18a; BMC 27 (same dies). Toned, die break on obverse. VF. ($1000)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 20 (16 July 2022), lot 1490; Walter Weise Collection (Künker 347, 22 March 2021), lot 22, purchased from Spink, March 1987.

480. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.18 g, 11h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint II. Struck circa 296/5-281 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Athena, shield on left arm, brandishing spear overhead, in quadriga of elephants right; anchor above, ÄQ above elephants. SC 130.33e; ESM 79, dies unlisted; HGC 9, 18a. Faintly toned. Good VF. ($1000)

481. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.58 g, 4h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint II. Struck circa 296/5-281 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Athena, shield on left arm, brandishing spear overhead, in quadriga of elephants right; anchor above, ÄQ above elephants. SC 130.33e; ESM 79, dies unlisted; HGC 9, 18a. Some roughness, a few cleaning marks. Good VF. ($1000)

482. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.80 g, 10h). Contemporary imitation of Susa mint issue struck circa 305-298/7 BC. Head of hero (Alexander or Seleukos?) right, wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with the ear and horns of a bull / Nike standing right, placing wreath on trophy; ‘ to lower left, ( in lower middle field. Marest-Caffey Imitations Group 5, C2 (same dies). For prototype: cf. SC 173.4; cf. HGC 9, 20. Faintly toned, scratch and graffito on obverse. Good VF. ($1000)

483. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 17.01 g, 3h). Susa mint. Struck circa 305-298/7 BC. Head of hero (Alexander or Seleukos?) right, wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with the ear and horns of a bull / Nike standing right, placing wreath on trophy; R to lower left, ( in lower middle field. SC 173.5a; ESMS Tr.34–42 var. (unlisted dies); HGC 9, 20. Lightly toned, graffiti in field on obverse. Good VF. ($1000)

484. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 16.98 g, 7h). Susa mint. Struck circa 305-298/7 BC. Head of hero (Alexander or Seleukos?) right, wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with the ear and horns of a bull / Nike standing right, placing wreath on trophy; Â to lower left, Åc in lower middle field. SC 173.14; ESMS Tr.94 (A59/P3); HGC 9, 20. In NGC encapsulation 6842139-043, graded Ch VF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style. ($1000)

482 483

484

Unique – Published by Kritt

485. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 17.15 g, 5h). Susa mint. Struck circa 291-288/7 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Athena, shield on left arm, brandishing spear, in quadriga of elephants right; spearhead above, no control marks. SC 177 var. (unlisted variety); Kritt, Elephant, Group 4a, 40A (A8/P2 – this coin, illustrated); HGC 9, 18c. Toned. VF. Unique. ($600)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 29 (24 February 2024), lot 1574; Emporium Hamburg 95 (8 November 2021), lot 238.

486. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator. Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.82 g, 5h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Ekbatana mint. Struck circa 295-281 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, ∫Å above horizontal anchor above forepart of horse grazing left; O below throne. SC 204.7; HGC 9, 12k. Lightly toned. Good VF. Fine style. ($500)

487. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos I Nikator Second satrapy and kingship, 312-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.93 g, 7h). In the types of Alexander III of Macedon. Ekbatana mint. Struck circa 295-281 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, anchor above Y; O below throne. SC 204.8b; HGC 9, 12k. Lightly toned. Good VF. ($500)

488. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 16.97 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Pergamon mint. Struck under Philetairos, circa 280 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; laurel branch in left field. SC 307.1; Price 1472; HGC 9, 123. Underlying luster. Good VF. ($500)

487

488

489. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.00 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Diademed head right / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; Û to outer left, t to outer right. SC 379.3c; HGC 9, 128g. Lightly toned, small nicks at edge on reverse. EF. ($1500)

Ex Triton XXVI (10 January 2023), lot 342.

490. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos I Soter. 281-261 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 15.73 g, 7h). Aï Khanoum mint. Struck circa 280-271 BC. Diademed head right / Horned and bridled head of horse right with horn-like forelock; ò to right. SC 430.2c; SMAK A1TH-19–22 var. (A7/P– [unlisted rev. die]; HGC 9, 132. Toned, remnants of find patina, roughness and smoothing, cleaning scratches. VF. Very rare. ($3000)

491. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos II Theos. 261-246 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.01 g, 11h). Kyme mint. Diademed head of Antiochos I right / Herakles, holding club set on ground, seated left on lion skin draped over rock; to outer left, cup above fl above €; ÷ in exergue. SC 503; HGC 9, 241c. Faint marks. Good VF. Rare. ($1000)

492. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos II Theos. 261-246 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 16.82 g, 7h). Alexandreia in Aria (Artakoana) mint. Diademed head of Antiochos I right / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; Å∫ downward to outer left, Á in exergue. SC 612.3b; Ehling, Seleukidische 6 (V1/R6); ESM 728 (same dies as illustration); HGC 9, 236h. A few tiny marks, faint graffiti in field on reverse. Good VF. Rare. ($500)

493. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos II Kallinikos. 246-225 BC. AR Drachm (20mm, 3.48 g, 12h). Uncertain mint 43 in the West. Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet / Apollo standing left, testing arrow and leaning on grounded bow; fl above, ˚ to outer left, linear square(?) to outer right. SC 732 var. (unlisted control marks); HGC 9, 310b; CNG E-531, lot 311 (same dies; monogram and square off flan). Traces of iridescent tone, minor flan flaws, hairlines. Near EF. Extremely rare, unpublished variety. ($750)

494. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos Hierax. Circa 242-227 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30mm, 17.03 g, 12h). Parion mint. Diademed head right / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; ®O in exergue. SC 836.7; Seyrig, Parion 30 var. (unlisted dies); HGC 9, 403a. Bright surfaces. Good VF. Well centered on a broad flan. ($750)

495. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos Hierax. Circa 242-227 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 16.93 g, 12h). Alexandreia Troas mint, “Workshop A”. Head right, wearing winged diadem / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; Ÿ to inner right; in exergue, horse grazing left and e. SC 875.1b; Ellis-Evans, Alexandreia, dies O2/R3; WSM 1568γ = Pozzi 2942 = Rhousopoulos 4440 (same dies); HGC 9, 399g. Minor hairlines. Good VF. ($750)

Extremely Rare

496. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos III Soter (Keraunos). 225/4-222 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 17.05 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Karne mint. Dated CY 36 (of Arados, 224/3 BC). Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, ˚1 above palm tree and cornucopia; g (Phoenician G) below throne, zzzzzz0à tv (36 and ŠT [date, in Phoenician]) in exergue. SC 929b var. (date); Duyrat, Ateliers 38 var. (same); Price 3432 var. (same); HGC 9, –; DCA2 778 var. (same). Underlying luster. EF. Extremely rare; no examples in SCO, Pella, CoinArchives, nor acsearch. ($1000)

This coin was part of a joint issue of the cities of the Aradian Peraia (Arados, Balaneia, Karne, Gabala, Marathos, and Simyra), that may have been used to help finance Seleukos’ campaign in Asia Minor to recover the Seleukid territories that were lost to Attalos I during the reign of Seleukos II.

The only known example of SC 929b, referenced by all publications, is a coin in Henri Seyrig’s photofile in the ANS. This coin is otherwise unpublished, and it is questionable whether this photo still exists. Interestingly, F. Duyrat, in her article on the mints of northern Phoenicia in the Hellenistic period, does not cite the dies for that coin, which suggests that she was unable to locate this photo (the present cataloger was also unable to find it). Perhaps the citation in Price, to Seyrig’s photofile, is erroneous. In any event, it is thus possible, given the change in letter below the throne, that that coin likewise was dated CY 36, as here, and has been erroneously read as CY 35, which is not a difficult error to make.

497. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos III ‘the Great’. 222-187 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33.5mm, 16.79 g, 12h). Probably Seleukeia on the Kalykadnos mint. Struck circa 211-209/8 BC. Diademed head (Type B) right / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; to outer left, forepart of horse left above 5. SC 1016; HGC 9, 447n. Bright surfaces, lustrous, some areas of minor porosity. EF. Well struck on a broad flan. ($1000)

498. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos IV Epiphanes. 175-164 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.77 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Second series, circa 173/2-169/8 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; J in exergue. SC 1396a; Le Rider, Antioche, 39–51 (obv. die A6); HGC 9, 619. Toned, patch of find patina on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Nomos 35 (5 April 2025), lot 503, purchased from Elsen, 1997.

Pedigreed to 1934

499. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos IV Epiphanes. 175-164 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31.5mm, 16.38 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Series 3, struck 168-164 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; ∫ to outer left. SC 1400d; Le Rider, Antioche, Series IIIB, 478 (A46/P333 – this coin); Mørkholm Series III, 17, dies A43/P78; HGC 9, 620a. Iridescent tone, traces of find patina, some porosity, delamination and scrape on reverse. VF. ($500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica E (4 April 1995), lot 2401; Ars Classica XVII (3 October 1934), lot 597.

500. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos IV Epiphanes. 175-164 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 16.59 g, 12h). Ptolemaïs (Ake) mint. Struck circa 170-168 BC. Diademed head right / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; palm frond to outer left, J to inner right, @ in exergue. SC 1473a; Mørkholm 3, obv. die A2; HGC 9, 620c. Deep iridescent tone, remnants of find patina, light roughness, a few small scratches. VF. ($1000)

Unique

501. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos IV Epiphanes. 175-164 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 15.96 g, 11h). Uncertain mint. Struck circa 168-164 BC. Diademed, radiate, and draped bust right / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@t5ocoU E∏5fÅ@oU% @5˚EforoU, Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; 5¬ in exergue. Unpublished. Deep iridescent tone, remnants of find patina, test cut on edge. Near VF. Unique. ($750)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection.

Extremely Rare Mallos Tetradrachm

502. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios II Nikator. First reign, 146-138 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 15.51 g, 11h). Mallos mint. Struck circa 145-143/2 BC. Diademed head right; Â to left / Cult figure of Athena Magarsia standing facing, wearing aegis, holding spear; rosettes over shoulders, [Ô to lower left, Ó to lower right]. Cf. SC 1896.2–4; Houghton, Mallos 2–7 var. (unlisted dies); HGC 9, 965. Toned, rough surfaces. Near VF. Extremely rare. ($4000)

The Temple of Athena at Magarsos, near Mallos, was an important cultic sanctuary in the Hellenistic period. The central statue of Athena Magarsia is known only from the handful of coins that have survived, and which show a blending of Greek and eastern motifs.

503. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VI Dionysos. 144-142 BC. AR Tetradrachm (34.5mm, 16.64 g, 1h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Dated SE 170 (143/2 BC). Radiate and diademed head right / The Dioskouroi, holding reins and couched lances, on horses rearing left; to right, trU above –; or (date) below; all within wreath of laurel, ivy, and grain ears. SC 2000.5b; HGC 9, 1032; DCA2 118. Bright surfaces, patches of find patina, a hint of porosity, cleaning marks. VF. ($750)

504. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Kleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. 125-121 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 16.28 g, 12h). Ptolemaïs (Ake) mint. Undated issue, struck circa 124 BC. Jugate heads right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; † to outer left. SC 2271.1; HGC 9, 1182g. Toned, underlying luster, some roughness. Good VF. ($750)

505. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos). 121/0-97/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.69 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. First reign at Antioch, 121/0-113 BC. Diademed head right within fillet border / Zeus Ouranios standing left, holding star and scepter; to outer left, 5E above `; small Å5 to inner right; all within wreath. SC 2298.2a; HGC 9, 1197e. Minor die wear on obverse. EF. ($500)

506. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos VIII Epiphanes (Grypos). 121/0-97/6 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.45 g, 12h). Ptolemaïs (Ake) mint. Struck circa 121/0-113 BC. Diademed head right / Zeus Ouranios, drapery around waist, standing left, holding star and scepter; D to outer left; all within wreath. SC 2336.2a; HGC 9, 1197h. Toned, tiny die break on obverse. EF. ($500)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG 17 (31 May 2025), lot 325; Basileiai Hellēnikai Collection (Numismatik Naumann 126, 5 March 2023), lot 497; Auctiones AG 13 (23 June 1983), lot 372.

507. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios III Eukairos. 97/6-88/7 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 15.90 g, 1h). Uncertain mint 127, in Cilicia (probably Tarsos). Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; to outer left, ¡ above Å; d below throne; all within wreath. SC 2444b; HGC 9, 1304. Faintly toned, minor flan flaw on obverse. Near EF ($750)

508. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios III Eukairos. 97/6-88/7 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29.5mm, 15.37 g, 1h). Uncertain mint 127, in Cilicia (probably Tarsos). Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; to outer left, ¡ above Å; d below throne; all within wreath. SC 2444b; HGC 9, 1304. Flan flaw and light roughness on obverse. Near EF ($750)

509. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Seleukos VI Epiphanes Nikator. Circa 96-94 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.45 g, 1h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Struck circa 95/4 BC. Diademed head right within fillet border / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; to outer left, ` above * above `; ` below throne; all within wreath. SC 2415d; SMA 422; HGC 9, 1270. A little horn silver. Good VF. ($500)

508 509

Unpublished Variety of an Extremely Rare Issue

510. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos XI & Philip I. Circa 94-93 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 16.64 g, 1h). Uncertain mint in Cilicia. Diademed jugate busts right / ∫`%5¬EW% `@t5ocoU ˚`5 ∫`%5¬EW% f5¬5∏∏o¨, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; to outer left, 1 above f above `; ` below throne. SC 2435 var. (outer left controls); Houghton, Portrait 2 var. (A1/P– [unlisted rev. die with these controls); HGC 9, 1297. Toned, trace of horn silver on obverse. Good VF. Extremely rare, and unpublished with these control marks. ($7500)

Upon the death of their older brother, Seleukos VI, in 94 BC, Antiochos XI and Philip I declared themselves joint kings, and sought revenge upon Antiochos X, who they saw as ultimately responsible for their sibling’s murder. At first, the brothers jointly sacked the Cilician city of Mopsos, which had revolted against and subsequently murdered Seleukos and his lieutenants. Afterward, Philip remained in Cilicia while Antiochos XI led a force east to confront Antiochos X in Syria. Although he was initially successful, capturing Antioch for a brief moment, Antiochos XI was soon forced to flee, and he drowned while attempting to cross the Orontes. At the same time, Philip I had been enroute to assist his brother, and thereafter carried on the fight.

The very short joint reign of the brothers is only known from five issues of tetradrachms, all struck in Cilicia. Each feature the same portraiture and reverse type, but different control marks. Three of the issues were likely struck at Tarsos, while the other two, which includes the present coin, were struck at a presently unknown mint. All are extremely rare today.

End of the Seleukids

511. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos XIII Philadelphos (Asiatikos). Second reign, 65/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.07 g, 1h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head right / Zeus Nikephoros seated left; 7 to inner left; all within laurel wreath. SC 2487a; HGC 9, 1340. VF. ($750)

Antiochos XIII “Asiatikos” was the last of the great line of Seleukid kings. He spent his youth in Asia and Rome, and, following the withdrawal of Tigranes II from Syria, he was placed on the Seleukid throne by the Romans. His reign was very turbulent, and in 64 BC he was ousted by Pompey. Thereafter, Syria became a Roman province.

512. PHOENICIA, Byblos (Gebal). ‘Ozba’al. Circa 400-365 BC. AR Shekel (25mm, 13.19 g, 10h). Three hoplites, holding shields, on galley left above waves, prow ending in lion’s head; below, hippocamp left above murex shell, Zo (‘Z in Phoenician) above dorsal fin / Lion attacking bull left. E&E-B Series IV.2.1.c, 558–61 (O17/R8); HGC 10, 133 corr. (letters on obv. not noted). Deep iridescent tone. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Forvm Ancient Coins inventory 26694 (7 March 2008).

Extremely Rare Date

513. PHOENICIA, Marathos. Circa 240/39-151/0 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.80 g, 12h). Dated CY 34 (226/5 BC). Head of Tyche right, wearing turreted crown / Marathos seated left on pile of shields, holding aphlaston and cradling filleted branch; zzz0Ó tc (34 [date] and ST [in Aramaic]) to left. Duyrat, Ateliers 57–8 var. (D2/R3, but date has been recut from 34 to 33); HGC 10, 184; DCA2 789 (same dies as illustration). Slight roughness on obverse. Near EF. Extremely rare with this date, only one example in CoinArchives (illustrated in DCA2). ($3000)

Marathos was a dependency of its more powerful neighbor Arados and only enjoyed brief periods of greater autonomy, when it could strike higher value coins. Presumably its tetradrachms were withdrawn when Arados reasserted itself.

514. PHOENICIA, Sidon. temp. Ba`alšillem (Sakton) I-Ba’ana. Circa 425-401 BC. AR Half Shekel (21mm, 6.20 g, 12h). Phoenician galley left before city wall with four towers; two lions standing outward in exergue; no legend / Persian king or hero, holding dagger in right hand, standing right, fighting lion standing left on its hind legs; no legend; all within incuse square. E&E-S Group III.2.n; HGC 10, –. Toned, roughness and porosity. Good VF. ($1000)

E&E-S Plate Coin

515. PHOENICIA, Sidon. Ba`alšillem (Sakton) II. Circa 401-365 BC. AR Dishekel (32mm, 27.87 g, 12h). Dated RY 36 (366 BC). Phoenician galley left; B (B in Phoenician) above, waves below / Persian king, raising hand, and driver, holding reins, in chariot left; to right, king of Sidon, in Egyptian style garments, holding cultic scepter, walking left; ‹‹‹ ‹‹‹ 0∂ (36 in Aramaic [date]) above. E&E-S Group IV.1.1.f, 684 (D44/R64 – this coin, illustrated); HGC 10, 236; DCA2 820. Toned. VF. ($1000)

Ex Sayles & Lavender inventory 11418 (10 January 2008); Noble 65 (15 November 2000), lot 1841.

516. PHOENICIA, Tyre. Uncertain king. Circa 440-425 BC. AR Shekel (22.5mm, 13.82 g, 3h). Dolphin right; [nclc (Phoenician ŠLŠN) above], waves and murex shell below / Owl standing right, head facing; crook and flail over shoulder; all in outline incuse within incuse square. E&E-T Group I.2.1, 84–181 (unlisted dies); HGC 10, 314. Toned, cut on obverse. Good VF. Overstruck on an uncertain type. ($750)

One of the great cities of Phoenicia, Tyre was founded on an island just off the Levantine coast circa 2750 BC and rose to wealth and prominence from its extensive trade network and colonies, including Carthage. Effectively autonomous, it paid only tacit tribute to the Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian and Persian Empires before Alexander the Great arrived in 332 BC. Confident in their defenses, the civic leaders offered only to remain neutral in the conflict and refused Alexander entry to its famous Temple of Melkart. When he tried negotiations again, his envoys were slain and thrown from the walls. Enraged, Alexander subjected Tyre to a titanic seven-month siege. The causeway he built from the mainland to the island citadel forever altered the city’s geography, turning the island into a peninsula. After taking savage reprisals on the city’s populace, he pardoned King Azemilkos and returned him to the throne as a client king to Macedon. Upon Alexander’s death in 323 BC, Tyre was subject first to the Ptolemies and then the Seleukids and was an important mint for both dynasties.

Illustrated in DCA-Tyre

517. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (29.5mm, 14.40 g, 12h). Dated CY 35 (92/1 BC). Head of Melkart right, wearing laurel wreath, [lion skin around neck] / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, E¬ (date) above club; µ to right; Å (Phoenician A) between legs. DCA-Tyre 123 (this coin illustrated); HGC 10, 357; DCA2 946. Iridescent tone, underlying luster. Superb EF. ($1500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Auctions III (29 April 1998), lot 182.

Interesting Crucifixion Year Shekel

518. PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (24.5mm, 14.20 g, 12h). Lifetime of Christ issue. Dated CY 159 (AD 33/4). Laureate head of Melkart right, [lion skin around neck] / Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, r@œ (date) above club; to right, ˚r above O; Å (Phoenician A) between legs. DCA-Tyre 577; HGC 10, 357; DCA2 947. Toned, eye and ear chisel cut in antiquity. Good VF. Well centered. ($2000)

Purchased by the consignor from Zuzim, 23 May 2012. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 70 (21 September 2005), lot 396; Classical Numismatic Group 64 (24 September 2003), lot 410.

According to the traditional chronology, this coin was struck in the year of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Interestingly, the disfigurement of the eyes and ears of Melkart on this shekel may represent an instance of contemporary Jewish iconoclasm. It is well established that Tyrian shekels—despite bearing the portrait of the god Melkart—were used to pay the Jerusalem Temple tax because of their reliably high silver purity. This naturally raises the question: why would Jews pay the tax for their most sacred institution with coinage depicting a pagan deity? David Hendin, in his Guide to Biblical Coins, Sixth Edition, p. 438, notes that, according to Jewish law, the only legally significant aspects of a coin were its value and purity, not its imagery. This interpretation would have allowed the use of Tyrian shekels despite their graven portrait. However, while this may have been a valid halakhic position, there is no reason to assume it was universally accepted among all Jews. A passage in the Jerusalem Talmud (Moed Katan 3:7) recounts a conversation between two sages in which it is stated that when one passes by an idol, they should “blind” it. Although this is often interpreted metaphorically, the possibility remains that some individuals took such injunctions literally and felt compelled to deface images they regarded as idolatrous. With that in mind, it is plausible that this coin passed through the hands of someone who objected strongly to the use of coins with pagan imagery—especially for paying the Temple tax—and therefore deliberately mutilated the portrait. If so, there is reason to believe that the coin may have been brought to Jerusalem by a Passover pilgrim and defaced before being exchanged for the tax. Given that this is a “crucifixion‑year” shekel, it is entirely possible that the coin was in Jerusalem—and perhaps even present at the Temple—during the period when Jesus confronted the money changers shortly before his crucifixion.

Unpublished in this Denomination

519. SAMARIA, “Middle Levantine” Series. Circa 375-333 BC. AR Tetartemorion (5.5mm, 0.12 g, 7h). Head of horned creature right / Head of bull right. Cf. Meshorer & Qedar 159 (obol); cf. Sofaer 206–7 (obol and hemiobol). Find patina. Good VF. Unpublished as a tetartemorion. ($500)

520. SAMARIA, “Middle Levantine” Series. Circa 375-333 BC. AR Hemiobol (7mm, 0.25 g, 6h). Head of lion facing / Head of lion right. Meshorer & Qedar 172; Sofaer 222–3. Find patina, a couple of tiny deposits. Near EF. Very rare. ($500)

Deutsch Plate Coin

521. JUDAEA, Jewish War. 66 70 CE. AR Shekel (22mm, 13.87 g, 12h). Jerusalem mint. Dated year 3 (68/9 CE). Omer cup; Gc (“Y[ear] 3” in Hebrew) above, L!Rc¥ LQc (“Shekel of Israel” in Hebrew) around / Sprig of three pomegranates; YcurQY 2¥Lcur¥ (“Jerusalem the holy” in Hebrew) around. Deutsch 66 (O7/R61 – this coin, illustrated); Kadman 20; Hendin 6390; Meshorer 202; Bromberg 69 (same dies); Shoshana I 20207–9; Sofaer 29; Spaer 174. Toned. Superb EF. ($5000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from M&M Numismatics, November 2000.

522. JUDAEA, Bar Kochba Revolt. 132-135 CE. AR Sela – Tetradrachm (26mm, 14.00 g, 1h). Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE). Façade of the Temple at Jerusalem; showbread table within, star above / Bundle of lulav; etrog to left. Mildenberg 85 (O12/R44’); Meshorer 267; Hendin 6439. In NGC encapsulation 8558054 001, graded Ch VF, Strike: 2/5, Surface: 3/5, overstruck, edge marks. ($2500)

523. JUDAEA, Bar Kochba Revolt. 132-135 CE. AR Zuz – Denarius (19mm, 2.60 g, 7h). Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 CE). Grape bunch on vine tendril / Palm frond. Mildenberg 149 (O11/R102); Hendin 6457; Meshorer 281; Shoshana I 20438 (same dies). Lightly toned with golden hues around the devices, overstruck on a denarius of Trajan (his portrait visible on the obverse). EF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Dr. Stephen Gerson Collection (Gemini VI, 10 January 2010), lot 340.

Likely the Finest Known

524. PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Azotos (Ashdod). Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (13.5mm, 3.77 g, 1h). Bearded head of male right / Heifer standing left, suckling calf, right, below; DDka (AŠDD in Aramaic) above; all in dotted square within incuse square. Gitler & Tal II.4D; HGC 10, 470. Dark find patina, light earthen deposits. Good VF. Extremely rare, and likely the finest known. ($4000)

525. PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Gaza (‘Azah). Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Drachm (13.5mm, 3.72 g, 3h). Bearded head of male right / Owl standing right; olive spray to left; `zh (AZH in Aramaic) to right; all in dotted square within incuse square. Gitler & Tal V.1D; HGC 10, 543. Lightly toned, a few light marks. VF. Very rare. ($750)

526. PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp. Kyros – Darios I. Circa 547/30–520 BC. AR Siglos (17mm, 5.17 g). In the types of Kroisos of Lydia. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 22; Bodzek pl. I, 7; Meadows, Administration 317; SNG Ashmolean 762–71; Sunrise 16. Lightly toned, traces of find patina. Good VF. ($750)

527. PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp. Kyros – Darios I. Circa 547/30–520 BC. AR Siglos (17.5mm, 5.18 g). In the types of Kroisos of Lydia. Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 22; Bodzek pl. I, 7; Meadows, Administration 317; SNG Ashmolean 762–71; Sunrise 16. Lightly toned, some porosity and granularity. VF. ($500)

528. PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp Darios II to Artaxerxes II. Circa 420 375 BC. AV Daric (15mm, 8.33 g). Lydo Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear in right hand and bow in left / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb, Group C (pl. XIV, 42); cf. Bodzek pl. I, 15; cf. Meadows, Administration 323; BMC Arabia pl. XXV, 12; Sunrise 28. Underlying luster. Good VF. ($1500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Giessener Münzhandlung, August 1991.

529. PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp Artaxerxes II to Artaxerxes III. Circa 375-340 BC. AR Siglos (14mm, 5.43 g). Lydo-Milesian standard. Sardes mint. Persian king or hero, wearing kidaris and kandys, quiver over shoulder, in kneeling-running stance right, holding dagger and bow / Incuse punch. Carradice Type IV C (pl. XIV, 46); Meadows, Administration 326; BMC Arabia pl. XXVII, 19; Sunrise 33–6. Toned, minor porosity. Good VF. Exceptional strike for issue. ($1000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Matthew Curtis Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 112, 11 September 2019), lot 361; Classical Numismatic Group 99 (13 May 2015), lot 383 (incorrect Carradice type cited).

530. PERSIA, Alexandrine Empire. Mazakes. Satrap of Mesopotamia, circa 331-323/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 16.55 g, 6h). Imitating Athens. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray and crescent to left, small Q and kdz[M] (MZDK in Aramaic) to right. Le Rider, Alexander, pp. 214–9; Van Alfen, Owls, Group IVc, 95 = O. Mørkholm, “A Coin of Artaxerxes III” in NC 1974, pl. I, 6 (same dies); Triton XVIII, lot 770 (same dies; hammer $6500). Toned, small flan flaw on cheek, die break in field on reverse. VF. Very rare. ($500) Ex Classical Numismatic Group 43 (24 September 1997), lot 815.

Mazakes is best known as the Persian satrap who took over Egypt after Sabakes fell in battle against Alexander the Great’s army at the Granicus, and later handed over the province peacefully to the Macedonian king. Imitative owls in the name of Mazakes have been known for some time, and all were originally attributed to his satrapy in Egypt. However, it was clear that stylistic elements separated the coinage into two general groups. More recent hoards, especially the 1973 Iraq hoard, have shown that one of the groups of imitative owls was certainly not struck in Egypt, but somewhere in the territory of modern day Iraq. In his analysis of the 1973 hoard, M. Price (“Circulation at Babylon in 323 B.C.” in W.E. Metcalf, ed., Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner [New York, 1991], pp. 63–72) changed the findspot from Iraq to the more specific cite of Babylon, based on anecdotal evidence (p. 63), and gave the series of Mazakes’ owls to the city. However, such an assignment has forced numismatists to conduct mental gymnastics in order to rationalize the presence of Mazakes’ coins at Babylon (cf. Van Alfen, Owls, pp. 27–33, and Le Rider, Alexander, pp. 215–7, for a summary of the previous research).

It is clear that the attribution of the owls to Babylon is almost certainly incorrect, and other find evidence suggests an attribution to somewhere further north, perhaps in the satrapy of Mesopotamia (cf. Le Rider, op. cit., p. 217–9). In any event, this coinage clarifies the historical record regarding the disposition of Mazakes following his hand-over of Egypt, upon which subject the literary evidence is silent. As noted by Le Rider (op. cit., p. 215), one can compare Mazakes to other Persians who peacefully welcomed Alexander to their domains: Mazaios, who handed over Cilicia, was later made satrap in Babylon, and Mithrenes, who surrendered Sardes, was made satrap in Armenia. Also, the Persian noble Amminapes, who met Alexander in Egypt with Mazakes, was later made satrap of Parthia and Hyrkania. Thus, one would expect Mazakes to receive similarly favorable treatment, appointment to some position of authority. Interestingly, Mesopotamia is the only satrapy that is not addressed in the literary evidence when Alexander is organizing his eastern territories. As these tetradrachms of Mazakes are found in that region, and date to the period after Alexander’s conquest, it is reasonable to suggest that Mazakes may have been appointed as satrap of Mesopotamia. It was also in the adjacent satrapy of Babylonia that Mazaios was allowed to strike a coinage in his name and types (influenced by his prior issues at Tarsos) for local use, and similar issues of local type and weight are known to have been issued at mints throughout the basin of the Tigris and Euphrates, from the time of Alexander to Seleukos I. Thus, these Athenian type tetradrachms likely constitute a local coinage of Mazakes, struck in the satrapy of Mesopotamia while he reigned there.

Very Rare Double Daric

531. PERSIA, Alexandrine Empire. Mazaios. Satrap of Babylon, circa 331 328 BC. AV Double Daric (19.5mm, 17.07 g, 9h). Baal seated left, head and torso facing, holding scepter in right hand, grain ear and grape bunch on vine in left hand, upon which an eagle, wings folded, stands right / Lion left, grasping the back of a bull collapsing left, biting into its neck; all in linear square. F. Holt & O. Bopearachchi, The Alexander Medallion (2011), note 106; ibid. figs. 51–2 var. = Miho Museum, Treasures of Ancient Bactria (2002), 44 a–b var. (rev. type right); CNG 117, lot 322; Heritage 3073, lot 30206. For Mazaios’ Cilician silver prototype, cf. SNG Levante 100–6, and for similar local issues of the same type struck contemporaneously with this issue, cf. SNG BN 352–3. Some minor marks. VF. Very rare. ($15,000)

From the Melinda Collection.

This extraordinary gold issue, unknown until the discovery of two examples in the Mir Zakah II deposit, bears the familiar types used by Mazaios as satrap of Cilicia for his silver staters, but without the usual legend and monograms. Mazaios was appointed satrap of Cilicia about 361 BC, and the region known as ‘Across the River’ (modern Syria, Lebanon, and Israel) was later added to his domain. In 331 BC, as Alexander marched into the heart of the Persian Empire, Mazaios at first led a spirited resistance, then abruptly surrendered Babylon to him and switched sides. Alexander rewarded Mazaios by retaining him as governor, a position he held until his death in 328 BC. Alexander made Babylon one of his most important mints, where a large quantity of regular ‘imperial’ coinage was struck. Babylon also produced a substantial group of local coinages, and it is among these that the present type is to be placed. Persian gold was routinely issued without legend, as were many of Mazaios’ standard double darics of the ‘running king’ type (MIG Type 14 = BMC Persia XX, 1). Perhaps it was an initial emergency issue that was later superseded, or perhaps it was a local variation for a special purpose.

532. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 16.73 g, 11h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Memphis or Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 323 317 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; rose in left field, d5-o below throne and outside scepter. CPE 20; Svoronos –; Zervos Issue 2D, dies 209/– (unlisted rev. die); Price 3971. Underlying luster, some minor porosity, hairline scratches. EF. ($1500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 363 (11 November 2015), lot 201.

Ptolemy I Soter, the son of a Macedonian nobleman, was a friend and intimate of Alexander III the Great from boyhood and accompanied him on his great career of conquest, from 333 323 BC. Upon Alexander’s death in 323 BC, Ptolemy was granted the prized satrapy of Egypt, the richest of the formerly Persian provinces. Alone among the Diadochi (”successors”), he was content with his sphere of influence and did not risk all to succeed Alexander. However, he was not above using the great conqueror’s image and reputation to secure his own position. He hijacked Alexander’s funeral cortege as it was proceeding back to Macedon and had his embalmed corpse formally interred at Memphis in Egypt; later the body was relocated to a splendid mausoleum in Alexandreia. Ptolemy declared his own kingship in 305/4 BC and was the only one of Alexander’s Successors to die peacefully, in his bed, in 282 BC, having founded a dynasty that would last three centuries.

533. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323 305/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.20 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Arados mint. Struck circa 320/19 315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, legs crossed; 1 in left field. Price 3426 (Byblos mint); Taylor, Reattribution, Group 4.1, 294–9 (A50/P156). Underlying luster. Superb EF. High relief. ($1000)

534. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.35 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Arados mint. Struck circa 320/19 315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, legs crossed; 1 in left field. Price 3426 (Byblos mint); Taylor, Reattribution, Group 4.1, 330–2 (A52/P178); ANS inv. 1944.100.35080 (same dies). Underlying luster, minor die break on obverse. Superb EF. High relief. ($1000)

535. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.10 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Arados mint. Struck circa 320/19 315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, legs crossed; 1 in left field. Price 3426 (Byblos mint); Taylor, Reattribution, Group 4.1, 427 (A67/P234). Underlying luster. EF. High relief. ($1000)

536. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27.5mm, 17.35 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Arados mint. Struck circa 320/19 315 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, legs crossed; 1 in left field. Price 3426 (Byblos mint); Taylor, Reattribution, Group 4.1, unlisted dies. Underlying luster, struck with somewhat worn obverse die. Good VF. ($1000)

537. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323 305/4 BC, or king, 305/4 282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 15.64 g, 12h). Ptolemaic standard. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 306 300 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin, aegis around neck / Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing spear and wearing shield on arm; to right, helmet, », and eagle standing right on thunderbolt. CPE 63; Svoronos 168; Zervos Issue 24, obv. die 367; SNG Copenhagen 19. Attractive iridescent tone, scratches, slight die shift and zig-zag pattern on obverse. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Chaponnière & Firmenich 14 (20 November 2021), lot 41; Malter 2 (23 February 1978), lot 15.

538. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323 305/4 BC, or king, 305/4 282 BC. AR

Tetradrachm (28mm, 15.74 g, 12h). Ptolemaic standard. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 306 300 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin, aegis around neck with tiny d in scales / Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing spear and wearing shield on arm; to right, helmet, (, and eagle standing right on thunderbolt. CPE 69; Svoronos 162; Zervos Issue 28, dies unlisted; SNG Copenhagen 29. Iridescent tone, indications of undertype. Near EF. ($2000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 127 (17 September 2024), lot 282; Mercury Group Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 118, 13 September 2021), lot 609.

539. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323 305/4 BC, or king, 305/4 282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 15.01 g, 1h). Ptolemaic standard. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Uncertain Mint 3, probably Memphis. Struck circa 306 303 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin, aegis around neck / Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing spear and wearing shield on arm; , to inner left; to right, È and eagle standing right on thunderbolt. CPE 89; Svoronos 139; Zervos Issue 67, dies 653/– (unlisted rev. die); SNG Copenhagen 23. Deep iridescent tone, delamination on obverse, surface crack on reverse. Near EF. Wonderful portrait. ($2000)

540. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. 305/4 282 BC. AR Quarter Ma’ah – Tetartemorion (7.5mm, 0.17 g, 11h). Jerusalem mint. Struck circa 294 282 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck / Eagle, with open wings, standing left on thunderbolt; hdhy (YHDH in Aramaic) to left. CPE 252; GLF Type 37, dies O2/R4; Meshorer 32a; Hendin 6079. Remnants of find patina, a little off center. VF. Rare. ($500)

Ex David Hendin Collection.

541. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphos, with Arsinöe II, Ptolemy I, and Berenike I. 285 246 BC. AV Half Mnaieion – ‘Tetradrachm’ (21mm, 13.77 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 272 261/0 BC. Conjoined busts of Ptolemy II and Arsinöe II right; Ptolemy is diademed and draped, Arsinöe is diademed and veiled; ÅdE¬fW@ above, shield to left / Conjoined busts of Ptolemy I and Berenike I; Ptolemy is diademed and draped, Berenike is diademed and veiled; QEW@ above. CPE 311; Svoronos 604; Olivier & Lorber dies 11/31, 222 (this coin); SNG Copenhagen 133. Minor marks, edge marks. Good VF. ($4000)

Ex Triton XX (10 January 2017), lot 382; Classical Numismatic Group 78 (14 May 2008), lot 986.

542. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AR Dekadrachm (34.5mm, 35.42 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 253/2 250/49 BC. Diademed and veiled head right; lotus scepter in background; 55 to left / År%5@o˙% f5¬ÅdE¬foU, double cornucopia bound with fillet. CPE 351; Svoronos 944; Troxell, Arsinoe, Group 3, p. 44; SNG Copenhagen –. Beautiful old cabinet tone with much iridescence, graffito under tone on obverse. Good VF. ($5000)

Attractive Portrait of Arsinoe II

543. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AV Mnaïeion – ‘Oktadrachm’ (28mm, 27.75 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 252/1 250/49 BC. Head right, with ram’s horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background, ˚ to left / År%5@o˙% f5¬ÅdE¬foU, double cornucopia, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 390; Svoronos 475; Olivier & Lorber dies 1/5; Troxell, Arsinoe, Group 3, p. 44, and pl. 7, 3 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –; Adams –; Boston MFA 2268 (same obv. die); BMC 10 (same dies); Pozzi 3223 (same dies). Minor edge marks. Near EF. ($10,000)

Arsinoe II, daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenike I, was born in 316 BC. Her early life saw her married off to Lysimachos of Thrace at the age of 15 and then to her half brother, the brutal Ptolemy Keraunos. She conspired against the latter and was forced to flee circa 280 BC to the protection of Egypt, ruled by her younger full brother, Ptolemy II. Her beauty, charm and intelligence utterly captivated Ptolemy, and, after eliminating his previous wife with an accusation of treason, Arsinoe married her brother, probably about 276 BC. Sibling marriage was traditional among Egyptian royalty but among the Greeks it was known only among deities; thus their union advanced the concept of rulers being worshipped as divinities. Though unscrupulous, Arsinoe proved a capable queen and co-ruler, taking charge of Egypt’s foreign affairs. Her death in 270 or 268 BC was marked by her full deification and a huge outpouring of gold and silver coinage bearing her veiled portrait.

544. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AV Mnaïeion – ‘Oktadrachm’ (27mm, 27.41 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy V or VI, circa 193/2 178/7 BC. Head of Kleopatra I in the guise of Arisnoe, with ram’s horn, veiled and wearing stephanos; lotus-tipped scepter in background, ˚ to left / År%5@o˙% f5¬ÅdE¬foU, double cornucopia, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE Class II, K8 (O15); Svoronos 1374β (same obv. die); Olivier Group 5, 3463–70 (obv. die D32); cf. SNG Copenhagen 322; SNG Delepierre 3063; BMC 45; Boston MFA 2293. Lustrous, minor marks. Good VF. ($7500)

Landvatter Plate Coin

545. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy IV Philopator. 222-205/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 13.77 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 219 217 BC. Jugate draped busts right of Serapis and Isis / Eagle standing left, head right, on thunderbolt; filleted double cornucopia over shoulder, d5 between legs. CPE 892; Svoronos 1123–4; Landvatter Group 2, 37a (O9/R28 – this coin, illustrated); SNG Copenhagen 197–8. Toned, traces of find patina, minor deposits, area of roughness at edge with some smoothing. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Bourgey (17 May 1984), lot 154; Burgan (20 May 1983), lot 280.

This type is thought to have been issued in celebration of the Ptolemaic victory over the Seleukids at the battle of Raphia during the Fourth Syrian War. Official propaganda proclaimed that these two deities, Serapis and Isis, had intervened on behalf of the Egyptians, saving them from defeat (see C. Lorber, “The Ptolemaic Era Coinage Revisited,” NC 2007, p. 116, and L. Bricault, “Serapis et Isis, Sauveurs de Ptolémé IV à Raphia,” Chronique d’Égypte LXXIV (1999), pp. 334-43).

Thomas Landvatter, in his die study cited above that appeared in the 2012 American Journal of Numismatics (Second Series, Vol. 24, p. 88), suggests that this issue was “carrying a very specific ideological message directed more widely throughout the empire: Ptolemy IV was equating himself and his wife Arsinoe with the divine sibling-spouses Serapis and Isis.” Landvatter also notes that “[t]his was an ideological statement made during wartime, meant to have wide appeal and explicitly associate the Ptolemaic king and queen with two of the most popular deities in the Eastern Mediterranean.” Indeed, the popularity of the Serapis/Isis cult would outlive the Ptolemaic dynasty and continue well into the Roman Imperial period, only to be eventually usurped by the Christian and Muslim faiths.

One of Two Known

546. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy IV Philopator. 222-205/4 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 14.10 g, 11h). Uncertain mint in Cilicia. Struck circa 220 218 BC. Jugate draped busts right of Serapis and Isis / Eagle standing left, head right, on thunderbolt; filleted double cornucopia over shoulder, t5 to left, , to right. Unpublished. Toned. Good VF. Extremely rare, one in CoinArchives (Nomos 24, lot 257). ($1500)

Ex Nomos 21 (21 November 2020), lot 270.

547. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy V Epiphanes. 204 180 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.77 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis around neck / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; no control marks. CPE 968; Svoronos 1231; Olivier 3610–74 var. (obv. die unlisted); SNG Copenhagen 244–5. Iridescent tone, hairline flan crack, a few marks, scrape on reverse. EF. ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from David Herman, July 1990.

Ascending the throne at the age of 5 in 204 BC, Ptolemy V Epiphanes faced a kingdom in crisis: A native Egyptian uprising under a rebel Pharaoh controlled much of Upper Egypt, the government of Alexandreia was paralyzed by infighting between rival courtiers, and the Seleukid and Macedonian kingdoms launched invasions of Egypt’s outlying provinces. After Ptolemy V came of age in 196 BC, an event marked by the creation of the Rosetta Stone, he took a more active role in government and conditions within the kingdom began to stabilize.

Pedigreed to 1981

548. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy V Epiphanes. 204 180 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.91 g, 12h). Fifth Syrian War issue. Uncertain military mint in Phoenicia. Struck circa 201/0 199/8 BC. Diademed and draped bust right / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; Â to left. CPE 1083; Svoronos 1263; Carlen & Lorber Group XVI, 1 (D15/R1) = A. Meadows, “EH 105. The ‘Syria’ 1981 Hoard” in T. Faucher, A. Meadows, and C. Lorber, eds., Egyptian Hoards I. The Ptolemies (Paris, 2017), 816 (this coin); SNG Copenhagen –. Iridescent tone, flan crack, trace deposits, cleaning marks on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Parsy (15 April 2009), lot 108; A. Hess AG FPL (September 1982), no. 25; Syria 1981 Hoard (CH VII. 90 = CH VIII 339 = EH I 105).

549. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. temp. Ptolemy V Epiphanes – Ptolemy VI Philometor. Before 198 circa 169/8 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 13.84 g, 12h). Imitating Ptolemaïs (Ake) mint issue dated RY 32 of Ptolemy II. Uncertain mint 23, in Ammanitis. Struck circa 169 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis around neck / Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; to left, fi above ¬E; to right, Å∫ above Q. CPE II Am12; Svoronos 776; Aumaître & Lorber 30–42; SNG Copenhagen –. Bright surfaces. Near EF. ($500)

550. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera. 51-30 BC. Æ (24mm, 7.93 g, 6h). Berytos mint. Dated CY 50 (of Berytos), Egyptian RY 21 and Phoenician RY 6 (32/1 BC). Diademed and draped bust right; [l@ (Berytos era date) to right] / Ba’al-Berit (Poseidon), holding aphlaston and trident, standing left in quadriga of hippocamps; ∫˙ to left; to right, l% (Phoenician regnal date) above l&˚ (Egyptian regnal date). CPE B836; Svoronos 1886; Olivier & Aumaître 51–6 var. (unlisted dies); SNG Copenhagen –; RPC 4530; HGC 10, 112; DCA2 730. Earthen green patina, light roughness. Near VF. Rare. ($1000)

551. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera. 51 30 BC. Æ (21mm, 7.41 g, 1h). Orthoseia mint. Dated RY 2 (of Kleopatra in Phoenicia, 36/5 BC). Diademed and draped bust right / Baal of Orthoseia driving biga drawn by griffins right; l∫ (date) to left. CPE B832; Svoronos –; Olivier & Aumaître dies D1/R1; SNG Copenhagen (Phoenicia) 176; HGC 10, 210; RPC I 4501; DCA2 815. Dark green surfaces. VF. Good portrait. ($1000)

552. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera. 51 30 BC. Æ (21.5mm, 5.80 g, 12h). Damaskos mint. Dated SE 280 (33/2 BC). Diademed and draped bust right / Tyche seated left on rock outcropping, extending hand and holding cornucopia; l∏% (date) to left; below, river god Chrysorrhoas swimming right; all within laurel wreath. CPE B845; Svoronos 1893; HGC 9, 1462; RPC I 4783; DCA2 256. Earthen green brown surfaces, light roughness. VF. ($1000)

553. KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Ophellas. Ptolemaic governor, first reign, circa 322 313 BC. AV Hemistater (14mm, 4.26 g, 12h). Chairios, magistrate. Horseman, petasos hanging from neck, riding right / Silphion plant; cicada to lower left. Naville 105 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 131a (same dies). Scattered marks and nicks. Good Fine. Rare. ($1500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 500 (22 September 2021), lot 464.

Kyrene was a city on the coast of North Africa founded by colonists from Thera. By the end of the sixth century BC, the city had developed into a thriving trading center, particularly due to the export of its native silphium plant. So important was this plant that it was the principal type on most of its coinage.

ORIENTAL GREEK COINAGE

Extremely Rare

554. KINGS of PARTHIA. Phriapatios to Mithradates I. Circa 185 132 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 3.98 g, 10h). Uncertain mint. Head left, wearing bashlyk / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow; œ to outer left; k to outer right; T in exergue. Sellwood 10.1 (Mithradates I); Sunrise 255 corr. (exergual monogram – same dies); Shore –; PDC 20707 = Derfler Collection (Peus 376), lot 579 (same dies). Lightly toned, edge deposits, granular surfaces. VF. Extremely rare. ($500)

555. KINGS of PARTHIA. Mithradates I. 165 132 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 3.87 g, 2h). Ekbatana mint. Diademed and draped bust right / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow; trace of m to outer left. Sellwood 12.2; Sunrise 259; Shore –. Slight iridescent toning, deposits in devices, double struck on reverse. VF. Very rare. ($500)

556. KINGS of PARTHIA. Mithradates I. 165-132 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 3.72 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Struck circa 141/0 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, within bead-and-reel border / Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; Q in exergue. Sellwood 13.6; Sunrise 263; Shore –. Slight iridescent toning, deposits in devices. VF. Rare. ($500)

557. KINGS of PARTHIA. Mithradates II. 121-91 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 15.40 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. Phase I, circa 122/121 119/18 BC. Diademed bust left / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on omphalos, holding bow; < to inner left, palm to outer right. SNP Type Ib/1b.γ; Sellwood 24.5 corr. (monogram); Sunrise 282; Shore 68. Iridescent toning, hint of deposits, light marks under tone, flan flaws on reverse. Near EF ($1500)

558. KINGS of ELYMAIS. Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze. Circa 82/1 73/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.25 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Hedyphon mint. Dated SE 233 (80/79 BC). Conjoined busts of Kamnaskires III, diademed and draped bust and wearing long beard and torque, and Anzaze, draped and wearing stephane and necklace, left; anchor symbol to right; all within bead-and-reel border / Zeus-Belos enthroned left, holding in outstretched right hand Nike, standing right and holding wreath, and scepter in left; traces of ∏G˚Ed∑@ to inner left; ˝2% (date) in exergue. van’t Haaff Type 7.1.1 4; Alram 454; Sunrise –; DCA 518; Triton XXVII, Session 5, lot 5370 (same obv. die, but earlier die state). Iridescent toning, cleaning marks. EF. ($750)

The Kingdom of Elymais flourished as an autonomous sub monarchy to the Seleukid and Parthian Kingdoms along the upper portion of the Persian Gulf, modern Khuzestan, Iran, from circa 188 BC to AD 222. The name derives from the ancient Biblical name for the region, Elam. Its earliest ruling dynasty, the Kamnaskirids, produced an intriguing coinage blending Hellenistic and Parthian elements. This attractive tetradrachm of Kamnaskires III depicts him alongside his wife, Anzaze, both of whom are named on the reverse as king and queen; both also sport royal diadems, indicating they ruled jointly.

559. KINGS of ELYMAIS. Kamnaskires III, with Anzaze. Circa 82/1 73/2 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 15.93 g, 12h). Seleukeia on the Hedyphon mint. Dated SE 233 (80/79 BC). Conjoined busts of Kamnaskires III, diademed and draped bust and wearing long beard and torque, and Anzaze, draped and wearing stephane and necklace, left; anchor symbol to right; all within bead-and-reel border / Zeus-Belos enthroned left, holding in outstretched right hand Nike, standing right and holding wreath, and scepter in left; traces of ∏G˚4d∑@ to inner left; traces of ˝2% (date) in exergue. van’t Haaff Type 7.1.1 4; Alram 454; Sunrise –; DCA 518; Zeno 330023 (same dies, but later die state). Iridescent toning, slight porosity. EF. Attractive portraits. ($750)

Very Rare

560. KINGS of PERSIS. Ardaxšir (Artaxerxes) I. 3rd century BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.02 g, 10h). Istakhr (Persepolis) mint. Head right, with mustache and earring, wearing kyrbasia / YR†5@6Rà (‘rthštr = “Ardaxšir” in Aramaic) down left, à32;à 3¥ àKR†RP (prtrk’ zy ’lhy’ = “fratarakā of the gods” in Aramaic) in exergue, fire temple of Ahura Mazda; to left, Ardaxšir standing right; standard to right. van’t Haaff, Persis Type 520a = Triton XXI, lot 568 (same obv. die, but earlier die state) and Type 520c = Triton X, lot 445 (same rev. die); K&M 2/9 (same obv. die); cf. Alram 520 (for type); Sunrise 562 (same obv. die); Kritt, Susa pl. 34, D (same obverse die). Iridescent toning, traces of find patina. Good VF. Very rare. ($2000)

561. BAKTRIA, Local issues. Circa 295/3 285/3 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.94 g, 6h). Local standard. Imitating Athens. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region. Head of Athena right, wearing earring and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; trace of I to left / Owl standing right, head facing; AΘE downward to right; olive spray and crescent to left; grape bunch above tail. Taylor, Birds, Group 2.14, 59 and 61 = NicoletPierre & Amandry 13-14 (same obv. die); cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes, pl. I, 6 (for obv. [same die]); SNG ANS –; HGC 12, –; Zeno –; Triton XXIII, lot 537 (same dies). Iridescent toning. Good VF. ($750)

558

559

562. BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170 145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (33mm, 16.85 g, 11h). Helmeted, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / The Dioskouroi, holding palm fronds and spears, on horses rearing right; , in lower right field. Bopearachchi 6Q; SNG ANS –; HGC 12, 131. Lightly toned, minor marks, faint porosity. EF. ($750)

Dynastic Issue

563. BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.22 g, 12h). ∫å%5GEU% ÂE˝Å% EUkrÅt5d˙% around, helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Eukratides right / ˙G5okGEoU% above, kÅ5 GÅod5k˙% in exergue, conjoined draped busts of Heliokles and Laodike, wearing tainia, right; D to left. Bopearachchi 15A; Bopearachchi & Rahman –; SNG ANS 526 7; MIG Type 182a; HGC 12, 133. Iridescent toning, areas of find patina, porosity, marks under tone. VF. ($2000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 150 (18 October 2006), lot 195.

True to his self-granted title, Eukratides Megas was perhaps the greatest of the Greco-Baktrian kings. His origins are obscure; he seems to have been the son of one Heliokles and a woman named Laodike, who may have been related to the Diodotid or Seleukid royal houses. This tincture of blue blood enabled him to attain a leading position in the army or civil service of the Greco-Baktrian realm, which had by circa 170 BC broken into several sub-kingdoms ruled by Antimachos I and II, Apollodotus I, and Demetrios II. Eukratides revolted against Demetrios and, despite being heavily outnumbered, succeeded in seizing his throne. Then, methodically, he defeated the other Baktrian rulers and annexed their realms, ultimately assuming the title Megas (“Great”). Only Menander I Soter, who controlled northern India, seems to have held out against him. Often depicted on his coins wearing a broad brimmed helmet, his image spread far and wide, and the splendor of his reign was noticed by the Hellenistic states far to the west. The second century AD historian Justin wrote a brief, garbled account of his reign, noting that he “carried out several wars with great spirit,” but that he ultimately was murdered by one of his own sons while on campaign: “He was killed on his march by his son, with whom he had shared his throne, and who was so far from concealing the murder... he drove his chariot through his blood, and ordered his body to be cast out unburied.” Which of his three sons (Eukratides II, Plato and Heliokles I) carried out the patricide remains a mystery.

564. BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Hippostratos Soter. Circa 65-55 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 9.69 g, 12h). Afghanistan. Diademed and draped bust right / Hippostratos, in military attire, on horse rearing right on ground line; 2 below. Bopearachchi 3A; SNG ANS 1622 3; HGC 12, 449. Iridescent toning, traces of deposits, struck on a broad flan. Near EF. ($1000)

CENTRAL ASIAN COINAGE

565. YUEZHI. Anonymous. Early-mid 1st century BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 9.69 g, 12h). Uncertain mint in Sogdiana. Diademed bust right, wearing Parthian-style tiara / Herakles seated left on highly schematized stool or rock outcropping, holding club on knee; m’lht y’vg (great yabghu in Sogdian Aramaic) around. Senior A18.5T; ATEC 1654; ANS Kushan –; cf. HGC 12, p. 189. Deeply toned with iridescence, areas of find patina. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG 10 (24 October 2021), lot 2267.

566. INDO-PARTHIANS, Aria or Margiana. Tanlis Mardates, with Raggodeme. Mid-late 1st century BC. AR Drachm (22mm, 3.84 g, 12h). Helmeted and armored bust of Tanlis Mardates right / Veiled and draped bust of Raggodeme right, holding palm frond. Senior 196.1D; HGC 12, 521. Iridescent toning, minor deposits. VF. ($750)

567. INDIA, Kushan Empire. Vima Kadphises. Circa AD 113-127. AV Quarter Dinar (13mm, 2.03 g, 12h). Bilingual series. Main mint in Baktria. Diademed and crowned bust of Vima Kadphises right within frame / Compound trident standard; 9 to left, 0 (Buddhist triratana [Three Jewels]) to right. Bopearachchi, Premiers –; MK 9 (dies 1/2); ANS Kushan 271 (same obv. die); Donum Burns 74; Zeno 306980 = CNG 118, lot 661 (same dies). Lightly toned, hint of underlying luster. Near EF. ($1500)

Vima Kadphises was an adept military leader who expanded Kushan power throughout much of Central Asia. He also had some contact with Rome, being the first Kushan ruler to send a diplomatic mission there during the reign of Trajan. It was also under the rule of Vima Kadphises that the first Kushan gold coins were struck, perhaps using the Roman gold that was received as a result of the Kushans extending their protective control over the Silk Road during his reign. This facilitated trade in luxury items with the Roman Empire, such as silk, spices, and other exotic goods. Vima Kadphises introduced the gold dinar (struck on an 8g weight standard), a fractional quarter dinar, and the very impressive double dinar.

568. INDIA, Kushan Empire. Vima Kadphises. Circa AD 113-127. AV Dinar (20.5mm, 7.96 g, 12h). Bilingual issue. Main mint in Baktria. Diademed and crowned half-length bust of Vima Kadphises right on clouds, holding mace-scepter over shoulder; flames at shoulder; 9 to left / Ithyphallic Siva standing facing, head left, holding composite trident with ax in right hand, he goat skin draped over left arm; 9 to left, 0 (Buddhist triratana [Three Jewels]) to right. Bopearachchi, Premiers –; MK 18 (dies 5α/–[unlisted rev. die]); ANS Kushan 269; Donum Burns 81. Underlying luster, light smoothing. Good VF. ($1000)

569. INDIA, Kushan Empire. Vasishka. Circa AD 247-267. AV Quarter Dinar (14mm, 1.96 g, 12h). Main mint in Gandhara. Late phase. Vasishka standing left, holding filleted standard, sacrificing over altar to left; filleted trident to left; traces of h (ha in Brahmi) to right of altar; [† (tha) in Brahmi between legs]; A (a in Brahmi) to right / Ithyphallic Siva standing facing, holding a garland or diadem and trident; behind, the bull Nandi standing left; 6 to upper left. MK 623 (dies15A/R –[unlisted rev. die]); ANS Kushan –; Donum Burns 695. Lightly toned, roughness/die rust. Near EF. ($750)

570. INDIA, Kushan Empire. Kanishka III. Circa AD 267-270. AV Dinar (21mm, 7.85 g, 12h). Main mint in Taxila. Kanishka standing left, holding filleted standard, sacrificing over altar to left; filleted trident to left; 1 (ga in Brahmi) to right of altar; Y (gho in Brahmi) between legs; õ (hu in Brahmi) to right of scepter / Ithyphallic Siva standing facing, holding a garland or diadem and trident; behind, the bull Nandi standing left; to upper left, • above 6. MK 634/1 (same dies); ANS Kushan 1644; Donum Burns –. Lightly toned, traces of earthen deposits. Good VF. ($750)

571. INDIA, Post-Kushan (Gandhara). Kidara Shahis. Sri Tujina. Circa 7th century AD. Base AV Dinar (22mm, 7.41 g, 12h). Kushan-style king standing left, sacrificing over altar with right hand and holding [filleted standard] in left hand; filleted trident to left, %Lân ( śri tujina) in Brahmi in upper left, abtract monograms in inner and outer right fields / Goddess enthroned facing, holding [lotus or filleted investiture garland in left hand] and lotus in right; [Kidara monogram to left?], ìy (jaya) in Brahmi to right. Cf. Cunningham, Coins of Medieval India 3-4 (there attributed to Toramana); Triton XXV, lot 627. Deeply toned with iridescence. Good VF. Very rare. ($4000)

572. INDIA, Gupta Empire. First Dynasty. Chandragupta I. Circa AD 320-335. AV Dinar (21mm, 7.75 g, 12h). King-and-Queen type (Class I, Variety A.1). Chandragupta I, nimbate and holding standard, standing left, offering uncertain object to Kumaradevi, also nimbate, standing right; crescent visible above; chandra in Brahmi between Chandragupta and standard; gupta in Brahmi to right of standard / Lakshmi seated facing on lion recumbent right, feet on lotus, holding diadem and cornucopia; 6 to left. Kumar Class I Variety A.1, 46; BKB 1 (Chandragupta); BMC Guptas p. 9, - (Samudragupta); cf. Alketar p. 34, 4 (Chandragupta I); Bayana 6 (Chandragupta Ie). Lightly toned, deposits in devices, die breaks on reverse. VF. Extremely rare. ($1500)

573. SASANIAN KINGS. Ardaxšīr (Ardashir) I. AD 223/4-240. AR Obol (23mm, 0.50 g, 3h). Mint B (“Hamadan”). Phase 2c, circa AD 226/7-228/30. Bust right, wearing diadem (type G) and Parthian-style tiara decorated with star / Fire altar (flames 2b) with diadems (type R); no attendants. SNS type IIc(3)/3a(2b); cf. Sunrise 697. Iridescent toning, traces of deposits. Near EF. Extremely rare and exceptional for issue. ($500)

Ex Pars Coins inventory PCW-S1928.

Rare Legend Variety

574. SASANIAN KINGS. Šābuhr (Shahpur) I. AD 240-272. AV Dinar (21.5mm, 7.35 g, 3h). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”).

Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos; pellet above between merlon and korymbos / KKj oj! (šhp hwr in Pahlavi) to right, ÁS! KKE (nwr šhp in Pahlavi) to left, fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns; ö on altar shaft. Cf. SNS type IIc/1b, style A, group h and pl. 23, 33 (for obv.) and pl. 23, A18 (for rev.); Saeedi –, but cf. AV9; Sunrise –. Lightly toned, traces of deposits. Near EF. Rare with this reverse legend. ($3000)

The Sasanian Empire reached its greatest size under Šābuhr (Shahpur) I, who is perhaps most famous for defeating two Roman emperors, Philip I and Valerian, actually capturing the latter. The newfound wealth of the Sasanians was reflected in an extraordinary mintage of gold dinars, likely utilizing gold plundered from Roman cities and collected as tribute or ransom. The reverse type, which is the standard type on all Sasanian coins, served a dual purpose. It made clear the paramount place of religion in the new empire, and served as a direct link to the ancient Persian religion, as the altar was modeled after the great altar in the ancient Persian palace at Persepolis.

575. SASANIAN KINGS. Šābuhr (Shahpur) I. AD 240-272. AV Dinar (21.5mm, 7.42 g, 3h). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”).

Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns. SNS type IIc/1b, style P, group b and pl. 30, A43; Saeedi AV4; Sunrise –; Triton XXIX, lot 452 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, hint of underlying luster. EF. ($2500)

576. SASANIAN KINGS. Šābuhr (Shahpur) I. AD 240-272. AV Dinar (21.5mm, 7.35 g, 3h). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”).

Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos; pellet above between merlon and korymbos / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns. SNS type IIc/1b, style P, group b; Saeedi AV4 var. (pellets); Sunrise 739. Lightly toned, traces of deposits in devices, marks. VF. ($2500)

577. SASANIAN KINGS. Šābuhr (Shahpur) I. AD 240-272. AV Dinar (22mm, 7.41 g, 3h). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”). Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos; three pellets in field to left / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns; > to left of flames. SNS type IIc/1b, style P, group d/1 and pl. 31, 143; Saeedi AV5; Sunrise 740; Triton XXII, lot 482. Lightly toned, minor deposits, traces of underlying luster. Near EF. ($2500)

578. SASANIAN KINGS. Šābuhr (Shahpur) I. AD 240-272. AV Dinar (24mm, 7.31 g, 3h). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”) (?). Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns; pellet below altar base. Cf. SNS type IIc/1a, style P, group d/1 and pl. 31, 143 (for obv.); SNS Schaaf –; Saeedi –; Sunrise –; Zeno 270934 = New York Sale 337, lot 392 (same dies, but earlier die state); CNG E-421, lot 424 (same dies, but without + on obv.). Lightly toned, hint of underlying luster. EF. ($2500)

579. SASANIAN KINGS. Šābuhr (Shahpur) I. AD 240-272. AV Dinar (22.5mm, 7.43 g, 3h). Mint I (“Ctesiphon”). Phase 2, circa AD 260-272. Bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with korymbos / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants wearing mural crowns. SNS type IIc/1b, style P, group b and pl. 30, A43; Saeedi AV4; Sunrise –; Triton XXIX, lot 452 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, minor deposits, hint of underlying luster. EF. ($2500)

580. SASANIAN KINGS. Ohrmazd (Hormizd) I. AD 272-273. AR Drachm (26mm, 3.55 g, 3h). Style A. Mint A (“Ctesiphon”). Bust right, wearing diadem and crown with korymbos, trace of > on shoulder / Fire altar flanked by two attendants facing inward, the left, wearing crown with korymbos, raises hand, the right, wearing radiate crown, holds up diadem. SNS type Ib(1)/2b(1) and pl. 1, A4 = Saeedi 115; Sunrise 749. Iridescent toning, traces of find patina, marks under tone, crystallized surfaces, edge chip. Good VF. Rare. ($1500)

581. SASANIAN KINGS. Ohrmazd (Hormizd) I. AD 272-273. AR Drachm (26mm, 3.55 g, 3h). Uncertain mint. 00 No jWo 0100 0100100 1[...]KRo 00UZoRRjRA 4 NsYdRo(mzdysn bgy ‘hrmzdy MRK’n MRK’ ‘yr’n W ‘n’yr’n MNW ctry MN yzd’n in blundered Pahlavi), bust right, wearing diadem and crown with korymbos / NKKN (NWR in blundered Pahlavi) to right, 1[...] (‘[...]) in blundered Pahlavi to left, fire altar flanked by two attendants facing outward, the left, wearing crown with korymbos, holding staff, the right, wearing mural crown, holding scepter. SNS type Ia(1)/–, Style Dbis obv.; SNS Schaaf –; Saeedi –; cf. Sunrise 752 (hemidrachm). Iridescent toning, traces of find patina, marks under tone, crystallized surfaces, edge chip. Good VF. Unpublished. ($5000)

582. SASANIAN KINGS. Vahrām (Bahram) I. AD 273-276. AV Dinar (22.5mm, 7.30 g, 3h). Style A/c. ‘Ctesiphon’ mint. Bust right, wearing diadem and radiate crown with korymbos; pellet below diadem ties / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants, each wearing crown with korymbos; pellets flanking altar shaft. SNS type I(1)/2A(1a); Saeedi –; Sunrise –; Zeno –. Lightly toned, light marks. Near EF. ($4000)

Third Known Example

583. SASANIAN KINGS. Vahrām (Bahram) I. AD 273-276. (21.5mm, 7.11 g, 3h). Style G. Merv mint. 0000π oZ UjiNo NN!o N!00 U N!ZjZeZ $ N00UZZo (mzdysn bgy wrhr’n MRK’n MRK’ ’yr’n MNW ctry MN yz[d’n] in Pahlavi), bust right, wearing diadem and radiate crown with korymbos / bZZY (nwr’ zy in Pahlavi) to left, ZZjR!ˆ (wrhr’n in Pahlavi) to right, fire altar; flanked by two attendants, the left wearing mural crown, holding staff, the right wearing radiate crown with korymbos, holding staff; UK:M (mlwy in Pahlavi) to right of flames. SNS type I(1)/1aαb(1a) and pl. 11, A49 (Roth Collection); Saeedi –; Sunrise 762; Zeno –. Lightly toned, traces of deposits. EF. One of three examples known. ($10,000) Ex Morton & Eden 30 (29 November 2007), lot 436.

584. SASANIAN KINGS. Vahrām (Bahram) II. AD 276-293. AV Dinar (22mm, 7.39 g, 3h). Style I. ‘HWPY/ HRPY’ (Herat?) mint. Phase I. Bust right, wearing winged crown with korymbos; . above ribbons / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants, the left wearing winged crown with korymbos, the right wearing mural crown. SNS type I(1)/1(1a), Style I (unrecorded as a dinar); Saeedi –; Sunrise –; Zeno 218938 = Gorny & Mosch 261, lot 430 (same dies); CNG 120, lot 604 (same dies); CNG Triton XXIII, lot 569 (same dies); VAuctions - Pars Coins Sale 1, lot 209 (same dies). Lightly toned, slight marks. EF. Extremely rare. ($3000)

585. SASANIAN KINGS. Vahrām (Bahram) II. AD 276-293. AR Drachm (28mm, 4.26 g, 2h). Style C. ‘Fars’ mint. Bust right, wearing winged crown with korymbos / Fire altar; flanked by two attendants, the left wearing winged crown, the right with mural crown, both with korymbos. SNS type I(1)/3(1b), Style C and pl. 19, 39-42; Sunrise 770 (this coin). Iridescent toning, slight double strike on reverse. EF. Attractive example. ($1000)

Ex New York Sale XXXVII (5 July 2016), lot 429 (professionally conserved since); Sunrise Collection.

Extremely Rare

586. SASANIAN KINGS. Husrav (Khosrau) II. AD 590-628. AR Drachm (32mm, 4.18 g, 3h). Uncertain mint. Dated RY 37 (AD 626/7). 02∑§ G ([GDH monogram] ‘pzwt’ in Pahlavi) to left, AÚM flÚM bÚV˙ (hwslwb MRK’n MRK’ in Pahlavi) to right, facing bust of Husrav, wearing mural crown with two wings and star-in-crescent, ribbons on shoulders; monogram to upper left, star-in-crescents flanking crown / H˜V2πH (hptsyh in Pahlavi [date]) to left, U2Lfl2Ú§ fl;LA (’ylyn apzwt’nyt’ in Pahlavi) to right, facing bust of Anahit with flame nimbus. Malek, Khusrau 59 (same dies); SNS Schaaf –; SC Tehran –; Mochiri –; Saeedi –; Zeno 304832 (same dies). Iridescent toning, areas of minor roughness and die breaks, marks and slight flan flaws on reverse. EF. Extremely rare for this year. ($3000)

Āzarmīg-duxt From WYHC Mint

587. SASANIAN KINGS. Āzarmīg-duxt (Āzarmīdokht). AD 631. AR Drachm (33mm, 4.14 g, 3h). WYHC (Weh-azAmid-Kavad) mint. Dated RY 1 (AD 631). Bearded bust right, wearing mural crown with frontal crescent, two wings, and starin-crescent, ribbons and crescents on shoulders; stars flanking crown; G (GDH monogram) and 02∑§ (’pzwt’ in Pahlavi) to left, 02V0ˆRˆM0¨Lfi (’wtwrmigduht in Pahlavi) to right; star-in-crescents in margin / Fire altar with ribbons; flanked by two attendants; star and crescent flanking flames; %kKUV (’ywky [RY date] in Pahlavi) to left, ¨HfiK (WYHC [mint signature] in Pahlavi) to right; star-in-crescents in margin. SC Tehran –; Mochiri 443 = 508; Sunrise –; SNS Schaaf 702: Zeno #100488. Lightly toned, with slight iridescence, areas of find patina/deposits, marks. VF. Extremely rare. ($7500)

End of Session 2

Session 3 – Tuesday, May 19, 2026 — 9 AM

ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINAGE

The Subjugation of Egypt

588. GAUL, Nemausus. Augustus, with Agrippa. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ Dupondius (27mm, 12.77 g, 7h). Struck circa 9/8-3 BC. Heads of Agrippa left, wearing rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus right, wearing laurel wreath, back to back / Crocodile right chained to palm frond with short fronds; wreath with long ties above, palms fronds below. RPC I 524; SNG Copenhagen 699. Dark green patina, flan preparation marks. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 127 (17 September 2024), lot 339; G. Hirsch 361 (24 September 2020), lot 2265; Guy Weill Goudchaux Collection (Triton XIII, 5 January 2010), lot 307; Classical Numismatic Group 72 (14 June 2006), lot 1129.

Marcus Agrippa was Octavian’s boyhood friend, lieutenant, and eventual chosen heir, adopted by the then-known Augustus in 17 BC to ensure a smooth succession. Agrippa’s prominence in political affairs was emphasized in 13 BC, when two of the three moneyers included Agrippa on their coin types. Succession was not to be, however, as Agrippa died the following year.

This coin commemorates the subjugation of Egypt after the Battle of Actium.

Tachev Cover Page Coin

589. THRACE, Pautalia. Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. Æ Pentassarion (31mm, 15.14 g, 1h). Struck under Septimius Severus, AD 205-209. Draped bust right / The Three Graces (Charites) standing, arms around each other’s shoulders; the outer two pouring wine from a kantharos. Tachev Pautalia 34 (O7/R34 – this coin); Ruzicka 449 var. (legends); Varbanov 4880 var. (same); Staal 18.1.1 var. (same). Green patina with some red, flan crack, smoothing. Good VF. Extremely rare, only this coin known to Tachev, two others in CoinArchives of inferior quality. ($500)

Ex Berk BBS 211 (30 June 2020), lot 434; Triton IX (10 January 2006), lot 1519.

The Three Graces (or Charites) were goddesses of beauty, charm, and amusement, the embodiment of loveliness in all its aspects. Although their names varied from place to place, the most commonly encountered are Aglaea (“Beauty”), Euphrosyne (“Cheer”), and Thalia (“Flowering”).

Over time an artistic convention of depicting the Graces developed: the three deities were typically shown undraped, each with one arm placed on the figure adjacent to them, the central figure standing facing the opposite direction as the others. They are typically depicted holding a cantharus but other items are often represented such as: wreathes, grain ears, flowers, and some, as at Anazarbus, sacrifice over altars. The reverse attributes varied based on the cities they represented.

Unique Medallion

590. THRACE, Perinthus. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ Medallion (40mm, 36.74 g, 7h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front, with gorgoneion on breastplate and wearing aegis on shoulder / Nike, standing left, holding palm frond and crowning Severus Alexander with wreath, who stands facing, holding spear. Cf. Schönert, Perinthos 784/740 (for obv. die/rev. type); RPC VI Online 1048.1 (this coin); Varbanov 462 var. (bust type). Green patina, flan crack, smoothing. VF. Extremely rare and unique, only this example recorded in RPC. ($1500)

From the John Wright Collection, purchased from Nilus Coins, January 2012. Ex Group CEM (Classical Numismatic Group 88, 14 September 2011), lot 761.

591. THRACE, Serdica. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Tetrassarion (30mm, 17.56 g, 1h). Laureate head right / Helios, radiate, advancing left, raising right hand and holding whip and chlamys in left. H&J 12.18.27.1; Ruzicka, Serdica 153; Varbanov 2318. Green patina, minor marks, short flan cracks. EF. Very rare, only two in CoinArchives. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 63 (21 May 2003), lot 998 (hammer $1000).

Very Rare – Ex BCD Collection

592. THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly. temp. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Tetrassarion (31mm, 20.26 g, 12h). Laouchos, strategos. Struck AD 66/7-67/8. Draped bust of Eirene right, wearing wreath of grain ears / Horse standing left, with reins held by Ennodia standing facing, head left. Burrer Em. 2, Series 2, Group 2, 63.1 corr. (A15/R41, rev. legend arrangement) = BCD Thessaly II 936 = Moustaka pl. 12, 129 = RPC I 1447.2 (this coin). Green patina, slight roughness. Near VF. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. Ex BCD Collection (Triton XV, 3 January 2012), lot 939.

Ennodia was a local Thessalian goddess and was included among their twelve principal deities. She is the goddess of protection, roads, city entrances, cemeteries, ghosts, and purification. She is most often depicted standing with or riding a horse, while holding one or two long torches. The worship of Ennodia fell out of favor after the Roman general and council Flaminius refounded the Thessalian League in 196 BC, although her image still appears sporadically on rare Roman provincial coins.

593. CORINTHIA, Corinth. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ (27mm, 13.92 g, 11h). Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, as co-emperors. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Tetrastyle temple of Aphrodite, seen in perspective, atop the Acrocorinth; to right, Pegasos leaping right; at base of mountain left; cypress tree to left of the fountain of Peirene; to right, distyle temple (Tomb of Melikertes?). RPC IV.4 9633.4 (this coin); BCD Korinth –; BMC–; NCP p. 26, pl. G, CXXXII. Redbrown patina, some roughness. Good VF. Extremely rare, only four recorded in RPC. ($2000)

RPC Online Feature Coin

594. BITHYNIA, Prusa ad Olympum. Macrinus. AD 217-218. Æ Diassarion (24.5mm, 7.77 g, 6h). Laureate head right / Ajax the Great, wearing helmet, falling on his sword to left; shield on ground before him. RG –; RPC V.2 Online 27419 (this coin). Green patina, light marks. Good VF. Extremely rare, one of two known. ($500)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Solidus 18 (15 July 2017), lot 169.

Ajax was regarded as the second greatest Greek warrior after Achilles. Following Achilles’ death in battle with Paris (who was assisted by Apollo), Ajax and Odysseus secured the hero’s body and armor from the Trojans. A feud erupted as to which of the two deserved Achilles’ armor and, after intense competition, the prize was awarded to Odysseus. Ajax, consumed with anger and disappointment, took his own life by falling on his sword.

RPC Online Feature Coin – Ex Niggeler Collection

595. BITHYNIA, Prusias ad Hypium. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Tetrassarion (32mm, 26.81 g, 6h). Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, as co-emperors. Bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Helios, radiate, advancing right, holding torch in each hand. RG 39; RPC IV.1 Online 4861.2 (this coin). Yellow-brown patina, slight roughness and scratches. VF. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC and the only one in private hands. ($1000)

Ex Münzen Gut-Lynt 17 (29 June 2024), lot 302; Poindessault (29 May 1972), lot 250; Walter Niggeler Collection (Part 2, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen AG, 21 October 1966), lot 598.

The Finest of Four Known

596. MYSIA, Parium. Julius Caesar. Circa 45 BC. Æ (9.5mm, 0.90 g, 1h). Publius Mucius and Pic –, quattuorviri quiquennali. Plow left; below, ear of grain / MVC/ PIC IIII/ D D D, legend in three lines. RPC I 2254A; BMC –; SNG BN –. Green patina, minor marks. Good VF. Extremely rare, finer than the three recorded in RPC. ($1500)

RPC Online Feature Coin

597. TROAS, Antandrus. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ (33mm, 19.70 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Aeneas advancing right, head left, carrying Anchises on his shoulders and leading Ascanius by the hand; to right, prow of galley. RPC V.2 Online 80319 (this coin cited). Earthen green patina, light porosity and deposits. Near VF. Unique, only this coin cited in RPC. ($750)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Numismatik Naumann 106 (1 August 2021), lot 398.

The city of Ilium was founded by the emperor Augustus on the site of the legendary city of Troy. According to Virgil (Aeneid, Book 2), Aeneas, the son of the goddess Venus and the Trojan Anchises, fled with some remnants of the inhabitants of Troy as it fell to the Greeks, taking with him his son, Ascanius, his elderly father, Anchises, and the Palladium, or ancient sacred statue of Athena.

598. TROAS, Ilium. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 26.38 g, 12h). Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, co-emperors, circa AD 161-161. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / EKTΩP, Hector standing in galloping biga left, brandishing shield and spear, about to hurl a stone in his raised right hand. Bellinger T147(1); RPC IV.2 Online 84; von Fritze, Ilion 59. Green patina, light roughness, scratches, edge bump. VF. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC, this coin is the only specimen in private hands. ($750)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Gadoury (1 December 2012), lot 257.

For nine years in the Trojan War, the fortunes of both sides ebbed and flowed. During the tenth year, Achilles, upset over the loss of the woman Chryseis to Agamemnon, the commander of the Greeks, withdrew to his tent and refused to fight. The loss of the greatest of the Greek warriors allowed the Trojans under the command of Hector, the eldest son of Priam, to gain the upper hand. At that point, Patroclus then offered to put on Achilles’ armor in order to rouse the Greeks to fight. Thinking that Achilles had returned to battle, Hector dashed out on to the field of battle in his chariot (Hom. Il. 16. 367-369):

(“But the swiftfooted horses did carry forth Hektor with his equipage, and he left behind the Trojan host, whom unwilling the excavated trench held back.”)

Hector killed the clearly ill-matched Patroclus, and, in order to avenge his friend, Achilles returned to the field to slay Hector

599. TROAS, Ilium. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 26.59 g, 6h). Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, co-emperors, circa AD 164-166. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / EKTΩP, Hector standing in galloping biga left, brandishing shield and spear, about to hurl a stone in his raised right hand. Bellinger T147(2); RPC IV.2 Online 3030; von Fritze, Ilion 59. Brown patina with earthen highlights, porosity and scattered marks, hammered edge. Near VF. Extremely rare, the second known. ($500)

Online Feature Coin

600. TROAS, Ilium. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 27.33 g, 12h). Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, co-emperors, circa AD 161-162. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Aeneas advancing right, head left, carrying Anchises on his shoulders and leading Ascanius by the hand. Bellinger T154; RPC IV.2 Online 91.3 (this coin); von Fritze, Ilion –. Brown patina, trace deposits, light cleaning marks. Good VF. Extremely rare, the finest of three recorded in RPC. ($3000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Edward J. Waddell inventory 21981; New York Sale 54 (11 January 2022), lot 319; Giessener Munzhandlung 76 (22 April 1996), lot 318.

Online Feature Coin – Unique

601. TROAS, Ilium. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Sestertius (35.5mm, 31.61 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / EKTΩP, Hector standing in galloping quadriga right, brandishing shield and spear. Bellinger –; RPC V.2 Online 28694 (this coin); von Fritze, Ilion –. Brown patina with earthen highlights, slight roughness, smoothing. VF. Unique, only this coin known to RPC. ($750)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Leu Nuumismatik AG 4 (25 May 2019), lot 432; Savoca 20 (1 January 2018), lot 257 (conserved since).

RPC

RPC

RPC

602. TROAS, Ilium. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ Medallion (38mm, 28.85 g, 7h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Tyche standing right, wearing kalathos, holding short scepter, behind Aeneas standing right, wearing Corinthian helmet and presenting the Palladium to Roma standing left, wearing Attic helmet and parazonium; between them, lighted altar. Bellinger –; RPC VI Online 3938.1 (this coin); von Fritze, Ilion –. Green patina with earthen highlights, slight roughness. VF. Unique. ($2000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Pecunem 24 (Gitbud & Naumann, 2 November 2014), lot 296. RPC Online Feature Coin

603. ISLANDS off IONIA, Samos. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (29mm, 12.88 g, 6h). Struck AD 261/2. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield, seen from behind / Hero standing facing, head left, holding shield and spear. Schultz, 1997, Samos 3 (V2/R2); RPC X Online 61254 (this coin cited). Brown patina, light porosity, centration circles. Near VF. Extremely rare, only four recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Leu Numismatik AG Web Auction 1 (25 June 2017), lot 749.

604. LYDIA, Magnesia ad Sipylum. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ (34mm, 21.60 g, 6h). Aurelius Theodotos II, strategos. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Cybele, turreted, seated left in biga drawn by lions, holding reins and resting arm on tympanum. Hochard 1121 (D80/R134); Kurth 196; RPC VII.1 286.8 (this coin). Dark brown patina with light earthen highlights, slight roughness. VF. Rare. ($750)

605. LYDIA, Sardis. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ (38mm, 27.80 g, 6h). Antonius Rufus, first archon for the third time Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front, wearing balteus over shoulder / Three agonistic prize crowns, each containing a palm frond, two purses between them; all set on prize table seen in perspective; below, vase with two whips flanking. Hochard 2010 (D223/R500); Kurth 503; RPC V.2 Online 74127 (this coin cited). Dark green patina with spots of red, light roughness. Good VF. Very rare. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Major Anthony F. Milavic Collection, USMC (Ret.) (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), lot 456; Münzen und Medaillen GmbH 12 (11 April 2003), lot 208; Mozelt 34 (November 1985), lot 176 .

Popular Zodiac Reverse

606. LYDIA, Sardis. temp. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ Medallion (39mm, 23.24 g, 12h). Aurelius Rufinus, first archon for the second time. Turreted, veiled, and draped bust of the Tyche of Sardis right / Zeus Lydios seated left, holding Nike and scepter; within zodiac circle; ZЄYC ΛYΔIOC across field. Hochard 2222 (D381/R807); Kurth 340; RPC VII.1. 244.3 (this coin). Brown patina, roughness, smoothing, once gilt with traces remaining. Near VF. Very rare, five recorded in RPC. ($750)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex J.-P. Righetti Collection (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), lot 470; Lanz 163 (7 December 2016), lot 435; Lanz 151 (30 June 2011), lot 857; Peus 366 (25 October 2000), lot 731.

A popular Zodiac reverse type. Lorber summarized the type as “...a symbolic map of the cosmos. Zeus, chief of the gods, is the central figure... Surrounding this scene is a broad band containing the twelve signs of the zodiac. The entire design reflects the common belief of third-century Romans that their lives were shaped by higher powers. This schema and variations on it were employed by numerous mints for different emperors from the mid-second through the mid-third centuries.”

607. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Æ (37mm, 24.32 g, 6h). Leon, son of Alcaios, prytanis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius, seen from behind vis-à-vis draped bust of Domna; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback right, holding scepter; at feet right, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 73638 (this coin cited); BMC 55; SNG von Aulock 2668. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown patina with earthen highlights, minor porosity, area of light weakness on reverse. Good VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 126 (28 May 2024), lot 445.

608. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Æ (39mm, 23.82 g, 12h). Tiberius Claudius Aristeas, epimaletes. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius, seen from behind vis-à-vis draped bust of Domna; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Cult statue of Artemis Ephesia, facing, wearing kalathos and having supports, flanked by stags; star and crescent in upper field. RPC V.2 Online 73616 (this coin cited); SNG von Aulock 2670. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown patina, flan adjustment marks, light roughness on reverse. VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 126 (28 May 2024), lot 446.

RPC Online Feature Coin

609. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Æ (36.5mm, 24.78 g, 12h). Leon, son of Alcaios, prytanis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius, seen from behind vis-à-vis draped bust of Domna; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Hekate standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding patera and torch; at feet left, dog standing left, looking right. RPC V.2 Online 73718 (this coin cited); BMC 56; SNG von Aulock 2674. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown patina with earthen highlights, flan adjustment marks, porosity on reverse. Good VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 126 (28 May 2024), lot 444.

610. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Æ (39mm, 28.61 g, 12h). Jason, son of Cleoros, grammateus. Struck circa AD 205-209. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius, seen from behind vis-à-vis draped bust of Domna; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Hekate standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding patera and torch; at feet left, dog standing left, looking right. RPC V.2 Online 73618 (this coin cited); SNG Copenhagen 507. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown patina with earthen highlights, minor pitting, flan adjustment marks, cleaning scratches, small flan crack, double struck on reverse. Good VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 126 (28 May 2024), lot 447.

Damnatio Memoriae of Geta

611. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Caracalla & Geta. AD 209-211. Æ (34mm, 21.85 g, 7h). Damnatio Memoriae. Iouliades, son of Hierokles, prytanis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla, from behind vis-à-vis [laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta]; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / Hekate standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding patera and torch; at feet left, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 85321 (this coin cited). For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown patina, light porosity, flan adjustment marks. Near EF. Very rare. Portrait of Geta erased, Caracalla’s damnatio memoriae of Geta applied after his murder in AD 211. ($750)

From the Gasvoda Collection.

Upon Septimius’ passing in AD 211, his sons Caracalla and Geta assumed joint rule of the empire. Their joint rule was a failure: the Imperial Palace was separated into two sections and they threatened to divide the empire between them. During the Festival of Saturnalia, December AD 211, Caracalla tried unsuccessfully to have his brother assassinated. But a week later, at an arranged meeting in their mother’s quarters, Geta was murdered by Caracalla’s centurions.

Caracalla immediately ordered a damnatio memoriae of his brother’s image: statues were removed, paintings were destroyed, or, as with the Severan Tondo, the portrait of Geta was erased, and coins were recalled to have his image carved out. This damnatio was especially apparent on the provincial coinage of Pergamum in Mysia and Stratonicaea in Caria. It is estimated that approximately 95% of the dual bust types at Stratonicea have had the portrait of Geta erased, many of them having a countermark of Roma or Caracalla stamped over his bust, or as on this coin, ΘEOY, or God, as Caracalla believed himself to be a god among men.

Proconsul of Asia

612. PHRYGIA, Hierapolis. Fabius Maximus. Proconsul, 10-9 BC. Æ (18mm, 5.12 g, 12h). Charax and Zosimos, philopatri. Struck under Augustus, 10/9 BC. Bare head of Fabius Maximus right / Labrys with fillet. RPC I 2930; SNG Copenhagen 447. Dark green patina, deposits, scratches. Near VF. ($500)

Paullus Fabius Maximus was a close friend and confidant of Augustus who appointed him as Proconsul of Asia around 10-9 BC. Interestingly, during this time he minted coins, like this one, which bore his portrait and name instead of Augustus’, which could show his status with the new emperor, or hubris on his part.

613. CILICIA, Tarsus. Trajan. AD 98-117. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 14.79 g, 7h). Struck AD 100. Laureate head right / Tyche, turreted and veiled, seated right on rocky outcropping, holding palm frond; below, half-length figure of river-god Kyndos swimming right; civic monogram to right; YΠAT Γ (date) in legend. RPC III 3254; SNG BN 1395; Prieur 752; SNG Levante 990. Lightly toned with traces of luster, minor scratches, small die break on obverse. Near EF. ($1000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Menlo Park Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 653, purchased from Frank Kovacs, 1999; Peus 332 (23 October 1991), lot 466.

Tetradrachms from the Deer Creek Collection

Lot 623

Lot 624 Lot 613 Lot 633

Lot 640

Lot 626

Lot 643

Lot 639

Lot 617

Lot 634

Lot 644 Lot 630

660

614. CILICIA, Tarsus. Hadrian. AD 117-138. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 9.50 g, 12h). Laureate head right within fillet border / Tyche, turreted and veiled, enthroned left, holding palm frond and cornucopia; below, half-length figure of river-god Kyndos swimming left; all within wreath. RPC III 3259.17 (this coin); SNG BN 1405 (same obv. die); Prieur 759; SNG Levante –. Attractive iridescent tone, scrape on obverse. Good VF. ($500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection (Triton XXVI, 10 January 2023), lot 555; Berk BBS 116 (17 October 2000), lot 729; Berk BBS 112 (13 January 2000), lot 416.

The Judgement of Paris

615. CILICIA, Tarsus. Maximinus I. AD 235-238. Æ (35mm, 28.05 g, 1h). Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / The Judgment of Paris: Paris seated left on rock, wearing Phrygian cap and holding apple and pedum, facing Aphrodite, nude, standing right, drawing drapery from shoulders, veiled Hera enthroned right, and Athena standing right, resting shield on ground before her and holding spear. RPC VI Online 7109; SNG BN 1587 (same dies); SNG Levante –. Earthen green patina, light porosity. Near VF. Rare. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 127 (17 September 2024), lot 364.

Before the birth of her second son, Hekaba, wife of King Priam of Troy, dreamed that she had brought forth a flaming firebrand that destroyed the city, and the newborn child was therefore exposed on Mount Ida. Brought up by a shepherd, he was called Paris, and later, by his courage, earned the name Alexander or ‘defender of men.’ He was beloved by the nymph Oenone, but he deserted her as a result of a tempting suggestion by Aphrodite which led to the Judgement of Paris. When Hermes came to Mount Ida with the three goddesses, he called Paris and said to him: “Come here and decide which is the more excellent beauty of face, and to the fairer give this apple’s lovely fruit.” (Colluthus, The Rape of Helen 130). While Paris reflected, the goddesses, who for the occasion had bathed their immortal bodies, offered him bribes in order to win the apple award of beauty: Athena offered him the command of Phrygia and the destruction of Hellas, or as some say, that he would be bravest of mortals and skilled in every craft. Likewise Hera offered him, besides wealth, the dominion over Asia and Europe. But Aphrodite offered him the hand of Helen, whose beauty was famous worldwide, and this bribe won the apple.

RPC Online Feature Coin – Unique

616. GALATIA, Ancyra. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ (29mm, 16.72 g, 7h). Asclepian Games issue. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Three nude athletes standing around balloting urn; two hold lots in their raised hands, the other casting his lot and holds a palm frond. Arslan, Coins –; RPC V.3 Online 96229 (this coin cited); SNG BN –. Brown patina with light earthen highlights, minor roughness. VF. Only this coin known to RPC. ($500)

617. CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea-Eusebia. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AR Drachm (18mm, 2.89 g, 1h). Dated RY 16 (AD 208/9). Laureate head right / Conical tower with window and door; to either side, columns surmounted by uncertain object; ЄT Iς (date) in exergue. Ganschow, Münzen 436; RPC V.3 Online 66295; Sydenham –. Deeply toned, light porosity. VF. Very rare. ($500)

618. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain. Mark Antony and Octavia. Summer-autumn 39 BC. AR Cistophorus (27mm, 12.07 g, 12h). Ephesus mint(?). Head of Antony right, wearing ivy wreath; lituus below; all within wreath of ivy and flowers / Draped bust of Octavia right above cista mystica, flanked by interlaced serpents with heads erect. Hiltmann, Type 1; RPC I 2201 (Cistophoric mint); CRI 262; Sydenham 1197; RSC 2. Toned, minor marks. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Sternberg XI (20 November 1981), lot 563.

Shortly after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, cracks began to appear in the Second Triumvirate. Antony’s affair with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, and his designs on Rome’s eastern holdings, prompted Octavian to formulate a binding agreement that would buy him time. At Brundisium a pact was signed, bringing about a reconciliation and some semblance of peace. As a condition of this reconciliation, Antony was married to Octavian’s widowed sister, Octavia. She stayed with him in Athens while he continued to prepare for a war against Parthia, and where, in 39 BC, he was associated with the “New Dionysus.” In 37 BC, she helped negotiate the Pact of Tarentum, which renewed the triumvirate until 33 BC. Antony, by this time, however, had renewed his affair with Cleopatra. He remained in the East, where he married the queen, and subsequently fathered several children. In 32 BC, as a renewal of civil war became imminent, Antony divorced Octavia. In the aftermath of Antony’s death, Octavia, known for her loyalty and nobility, brought Antony’s surviving children to Rome to live with her.

619. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Cistophorus (27mm, 11.87 g, 12h). Ephesus mint(?). Struck circa 25-20 BC. Bare head right / AVGV STVS, six grain ears bound together. Sutherland Group VIβ (O–/R– [both dies unrecorded]); RPC I 2214 (cistophoric mint); RSC 32b. Toned, light roughness and die breaks. Near EF. ($750)

620. ASIA MINOR, Uncertain. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Cistophorus (25.5mm, 11.84 g, 12h). Ephesus mint(?). Struck circa 25-20 BC. Bare head right / AVGVSTVS, garlanded and filleted altar decorated with stags standing vis-à-vis. Sutherland Group VIγ, – (unlisted dies); RPC I 2215 (Cistophoric mint); RSC 33. Toned, minor marks. VF. ($500)

Ex Collection of a Gentleman (Triton XXVIII – Session 5, 22 January 2025), lot 5376.

618

619

621. CYPRUS, Koinon of Cyprus. Claudius. AD 41-54. Æ Dupondius (24mm, 7.56 g, 6h). Titus Cominius Ptoculus, proconsul. Laureate head right / KYΠPI/ωN in two lines within legend. Parks 12a; RPC I 3933; BMC 16. Brown patina, slight porosity. Good Fine. Very rare, only three recorded in RPC. ($750)

Cassius, One of Caesar’s Assassins

622. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Gaius Cassius Longinus. 53-51 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 15.54 g, 1h).

In the name and types of the Seleucid king Philip I Philadelphus. Diademed head of Philip I right within fillet border / Zeus Nikephoros enthroned left, holding Nike and long scepter; thunderbolt above, ] (monogram of Cassius) to lower inner left, ù below throne. McAlee 3; RPC I 4126; SC 2489.3; Prieur 3. Toned with underlying luster, minor marks. Near EF. Rare. ($1000)

Gaius Cassius Longinus took part in the campaign against Parthia that culminated in the Battle of Carrhae, one of Rome’s most humiliating military losses, where he served as quaestor to the general Marcus Licinius Crassus. When Crassus was killed in the battle, Cassius retreated to Syria with the remaining Roman army and assumed the governorship from 53-51 BC, at which time this rare series of tetradrachms was struck. He returned to Rome in 50 BC amidst the growing conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey, choosing to serve as naval commander for the latter. Caesar eventually pardoned Cassius and even appointed him legate. Despite Caesar’s clemency, Cassius became one of the chief architects in the plot to assassinate the dictator perpetuo in March of 44 BC. Two years later, following his defeat at Philippi, Cassius took his own life.

RPC Online Feature Coin – Very Rare

623. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Gaius (Caligula), with Germanicus. AD 37-41. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 15.01 g, 12h). Laureate head of Caligula right / Laureate head of Germanicus right. McAlee 227; RPC I 4163.5 (this coin); Prieur 62; Trillmich 114. Lightly toned with underlying luster, minor marks. Near EF. Very rare. ($5000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 120 (6 October 2020), lot 706.

Ex Prieur Collection

624. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Nero, with Agrippina Junior. AD 54-68. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 14.00 g, 12h). Dated RY 3 and year 105 of the Caesarean Era (AD 56/7). Head of Nero right, wearing oak wreath / Head of Agrippina right, with hair tied in long braid at back, two strands of hair hanging down neck; in right field, Γ above EP (dates); • below bust. McAlee 254; RPC I 4175; Prieur 74a. Toned, minor porosity, a few light scratches. Good VF. ($500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Michel Prieur Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 112, 11 September 2019), lot 426; Group CEM (Classical Numismatic Group 91, 19 September 2012), lot 602 (further pedigree to Triton IV is erroneous).

When Nero, at the age of 17, became emperor after the suspicious death of Claudius, his mother, Agrippina Junior, took the reins. Because of this, she appears on numerous coins with and equal to her son, like on the present coin. As he got older, Agrippina’s overbearing nature became too much for him and Nero decided that she needed to be eliminated. According to several ancient accounts, Nero did not want to kill her directly so he concocted elaborate schemes to make her death look accidental. Each of these plans were thwarted.

First, he tried poisoning Agrippina three times but she took antidotes in advance. Next, he set up a contraption in her bedroom to drop tiles on her while she slept. However, she found out about his plan in advance and avoided it. Finally, he sent her a letter inviting her to Baiae and, when she boarded a ship to cross the bay it was rigged to collapse and drown her. Although the boat did as intended, Agrippina simply swam back to shore where she was met by a group of admirers.

Done with scheming and just wanting the deed done, Nero decided to send his own trusted assassins to finish the job. According to Cassius Dio when they came upon her, weapons in hand, she yelled pointing to her womb “Strike here, for this bore Nero” (Cassius Dio, Historia Romana LXIII.13.).

625. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Nero. AD 54-68. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 14.88 g, 11h). Dated RY 10 and year 112 of the Caesarean Era (AD 64). Laureate bust right, wearing aegis; • below bust / ETOYΣ BIP • I (dates), eagle standing right on thunderbolt, with wings displayed; • and palm frond to right. McAlee 264; RPC I 4190; Prieur 90. Toned with hints of luster. EF. ($750)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex El Medina Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 115, 17 September 2020), lot 443; Classical Numismatic Group 39 (18 September 1996), lot 975; Malter LXIX (3 June 1996), lot 425.

Attractive Portrait

626. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Galba. AD 68-69. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 14.91 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 68/9). Bare head right / Eagle standing left on wreath, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; palm frond to left, ЄTOYC B (date) in exergue. McAlee 308; RPC I 4198.18 (this coin); Prieur 100. Toned, light scratches, die break on obverse. Good VF. Attractive portrait. ($3000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 114 (13 May 2020), lot 520.

Considering the distance from Rome to Syria, it seems remarkable that Syrian mints were able to produce coin portraits of exceptional quality despite the brevity of reigns seen during the Year of the Four Emperors, AD 68-69. Galba, for example, ruled only a little more than seven months, only three of these from Rome. Yet in this time proper effigies of the elderly new Caesar were prepared and transported to widely dispersed imperial mints. McAlee attributes the Galba coinage normally assigned the Antioch to three different subsidiary mints. This issue, with the reverse of an eagle standing on a wreath, he assigns to a “wreath mint,” probably Tripolis, of which he notes the portraits “compare favorably with the best portraits of Galba on the coinage of Rome.”

627. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Otho. AD 69. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 15.49 g, 12h). Dated RY 1 (AD 69). Laureate head right / Eagle standing facing on wreath, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; to left, palm frond; ЄTOYC A (date) in exergue. McAlee 315; RPC I 4200.6 (this coin); Prieur 102. Scattered light marks. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 121 (6 October 2022), lot 699.

Ex Prieur Collection

628. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.48 g, 12h). Dated “New Holy Year” 1 (AD 69). Laureate head right / Eagle standing left on club, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; palm frond to left; A (date) in legend. McAlee 343; RPC II 1953.11 (this coin); Prieur 120; McAlee, VSPC 20. Toned, a hint of porosity. Good VF. Bold portrait. ($750)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Roma E-Sale 59 (11 July 2019), lot 625; Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 574; UBS 61 (14 September 2004), lot 4522; Auctiones AG 8 (27 June 1978), lot 487.

Flavian Dynastic Portraiture Issue

629. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Vespasian, with Titus as Caesar. AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 14.03 g, 12h). Dated “Holy Year” 2 (AD 69/70). Laureate head of Vespasian right / Laureate head of Titus right; to left, star; to right, barred B (date) above. McAlee 328 (same obv. die as illustration); RPC II 1940; Prieur 106; McAlee, VSPC 5. Lightly toned. Good VF. Overstruck on an uncertain undertype, faintly visible on reverse. ($750)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 118, 13 September 2021), lot 723, purchased from Antiqua, 7 December 2000.

Illustrated in Prieur, McAlee, and RPC

630. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.83 g, 12h). Dated “New Holy Year” 2 (AD 69/70). Laureate head right / Eagle standing left on club, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; palm frond to left; B (date) in legend. McAlee 345.3 = Prieur 122 = RPC II 1954.29 (this coin); McAlee, VSPC 21. Toned. Good VF. Fine style. ($1500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Roma XVIII (29 September 2019), lot 757; Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 578.

The Fall of Jerusalem – Ex Prieur Collection

631. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 15.06 g, 12h). Dated “New Holy Year” 3 (AD 70/1). Laureate head right / Eagle standing left on club, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; palm frond to left; Γ (date) in legend. McAlee 346; Prieur 124 = RPC III 1955.3 (this coin); McAlee, VSPC 23. Toned. VF. Fine style. Rare. ($1000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 580; Lanz 42 (23 November 1987), lot 478. The date “New Holy Year” 3 coincides with the fall of Jerusalem in August of AD 70.

Ex Prieur, McAlee, and Niggeler Collections

632. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Vespasian. AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 14.62 g, 12h). Dated “Holy Year” 4 (AD 71/2). Laureate head right / Eagle standing left on club, with wings displayed; palm frond to left; barred Δ (date) to upper left. McAlee 338 = McAlee, VSPC 15 = RPC II 1950.12 (this coin); Prieur 116. Toned, minor marks. Good VF. Fine Alexandrian-style portrait, superior to the specimen plated in Prieur. ($750)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 582; Richard McAlee Collection; Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 336 (July 1972), no. 31; Walter Niggeler Collection (Part 2, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen AG, 21 October 1966), lot 667.

Exceptional High Relief Portrait

633. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Nerva. AD 96-98. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 15.47 g, 11h). Dated “New Holy Year” 1 (AD 96/7). Laureate bust right, wearing aegis on left shoulder / Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, with wings displayed, palm frond to right; barred A (date) to upper right. McAlee 419; RPC III 3476; Prieur 149. Attractively toned, with hints of iridescence. EF. Choice high relief portrait. ($1500)

From the Deer Creek Collection, purchased from Sovereign Rarities, 2019. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 94 (18 September 2013), lot 907 (hammer $3250).

RPC Online Feature Coin – Extremely Rare

634. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Commodus. AD 177-192. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 13.40 g, 12h). Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, co-emperors, AD 177-180. Laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind / Tyche, turreted and veiled, seated right on rocky outcropping, holding grain ears; below, half-length figure of river-god Orontes swimming right, head left; ram’s head left above five-rayed star to right. McAlee 630; RPC IV Online 7166.2 (this coin); Prieur 176. Toned with luster. Near EF. Extremely rare, one of two cited in RPC. ($3000)

From the Deer Creek Collection.

Ex Prieur Collection

635. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Antioch. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (28mm, 12.07 g, 12h). Struck under Septimius Severus, AD 205. Laureate head right / Eagle standing facing on leg and thigh of animal, head right, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak. McAlee 667; Prieur 202 = RPC V.3 Online 84443 (this coin cited). Toned with hints of luster and iridescence. Near EF. ($500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Roma E-Sale 71 (28 May 2020), lot 750; Roma E-Sale 58 (20 June 2019), lot 925; Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 604; Kunst und Münzen XXIV (29 November 1984), lot 257.

636. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 10.76 g, 11h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Eagle standing facing on ground line, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; S C across field, ЄMICA in exergue. Baldus 7 (dies V/6); RPC IX 1870; Prieur 1025; Nurpetlian, Orontes 49. Deeply toned with some silvering remaining. Near EF. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC. ($750)

Uranius Antoninus is unknown from the ancient literary sources, although Zosimus perhaps confuses this usurper with two usurpers he names as Uranius and Antoninus during the reign of Severus Alexander. The little that is known about him comes entirely from his coinage. He came to power in the East in AD 253 during a period of great crisis and upheaval for the Roman Empire. At this time, the Sasanian king Shapur I made many incursions into Roman territory, even capturing the great city of Antioch, apparently just to show that he could: his armies burned and pillaged the communities in their path and took people and plunder back to their own territory. It may be that Uranius Antoninus came to power in order to defend his community from attack rather than out of any anti-Roman antipathy. He issued coins from the mint at Emesa, some of which feature the sacred stone of El-Gabal, which might indicate that Uranius was part of the Emesene royal family of priest-kings. The coins are dated in accordance with the Seleucid dating system, which is reflective of the region’s historical status as part of the Seleucid Empire. As with many usurpers, Uranius Antoninus’ reign did not last long, and he fell from power before Valerian I came eastwards in AD 254.

637. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 10.49 g, 12h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Eagle standing facing on ground line, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; S C below wings. Baldus Supp. III, 4 var. (S C in exergue); RPC IX 1884; Prieur 1053A; Nurpetlian, Orontes 49. Deeply toned with light porosity. VF. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC. ($750)

638. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Emesa. Uranius Antoninus. Usurper, AD 253-254. Æ (33mm, 22.52 g, 12h). Dated SE 565 (AD 253/4). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Baetyl of El-Gabal decorated with eagle facing, head left, with wings displayed, flanked by parasols, within hexastyle temple; crescent in pediment, ЄΞΦ (date) in exergue. Baldus 38-43 (dies I/5); Delbrueck Series I, 2; RPC IX 1927; Nurpetlian, Orontes 57. Red-brown surfaces, smoothing. Good VF. ($1000)

636

637

Extremely Rare Double Portrait Tetradrachm – RPC Online Feature Coin

639. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 11.34 g, 12h). Struck circa AD 205-207. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus right, seen from behind / Draped bust of Julia Domna right. Prieur & Amandry Group I, –; McAlee, Severan Group 1, – ; RPC V.3 Online 87277 (this coin cited); Prieur 1113. Lightly toned with underlying luster, a couple of light scratches. Good VF. Attractive. Extremely rare, only one cited by Prieur, this the only example in CoinArchives and RPC. The second known. ($5000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 117 (19 May 2021), lot 521 (hammer $9500).

Ex Krähenbühl Collection

640. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.72 g, 11h). Struck circa AD 205-207. Laureate head right / Eagle standing facing, head and tail right, with wings displayed; between legs, star. Prieur & Amandry –; McAlee, Severan Group 1, 1; RPC V.3 Online 87279 (this coin cited); Prieur 1116A. Toned with underlying luster. Choice EF. Very rare and among the finest known. ($2000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 120 (11 May 2022), lot 662; Leu Numismatik AG 8 (23 October 2021), lot 201; Hans Krähenbühl Collection, purchased from Bank Leu, 7 October 1971.

641. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.59 g, 12h). Struck circa AD 205-207. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Eagle standing facing, head and tail right, with wings displayed; between legs. Prieur & Amandry Group I, 6; McAlee, Severan, Group 1, 2; Prieur 1120 = RPC V.3 Online 87285 (this coin cited). Toned. EF. Very rare. ($1000)

From the Deer Creek Collection, purchased from Apollo Numismatics inventory 003257. Ex Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 659; Robert Gait Collection, 751.

642. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 12.85 g, 12h). Struck circa AD 208-209. Laureate and draped bust right / Eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, star. Prieur & Amandry Group III, 34a; McAlee, Severan, Group III, 25; RPC V.3 Online 87385 (this coin cited); Prieur 1149. Lustrous. EF. ($500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 121 (6 October 2022), lot 701.

643. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 15.74 g, 12h). Struck under Septimius Severus, AD 208-209. Laureate and cuirassed bust right, drapery on left shoulder, with gorgoneion on breastplate / Eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, star. Prieur & Amandry Group III, 39; McAlee, Severan, Group III, 27; RPC V.3 Online 87402 (this coin cited); Prieur 1154. Toned. EF. Rare and artistic bust type. ($3000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Roma XXII (7 October 2021), lot 545 (hammer £5,500); Michel Prieur Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 673; Robert Gait Collection, 664; Rynearson FPL (Spring 1988), no. 54.

Ex Prieur Collection

644. SELEUCIS and PIERIA, Laodicea ad Mare. Geta. As Caesar, AD 198-209. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.96 g, 12h). Struck under Septimius Severus, AD 205-207. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed; between legs, star. Prieur & Amandry Group I, 19; McAlee, Severan Group 3, 13; RPC V.3 Online 87314 (this coin cited); Prieur 1138. Toned, minor edge flaw. Near EF. Extremely rare, the finest of two recorded in RPC. ($3000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex MDC Monaco 6 (29 October 2020), lot 132.

645. COELESYRIA, Chalcis ad Belum. Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII of Egypt. 32-31 BC. Æ (20mm, 5.37 g, 12h). Dated RY 21 (Egyptian) and 6 (Phoenician) of Cleopatra (32/1 BC). Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, wearing pearl necklace / Bare head of Mark Antony right. RPC I 4771; Rouvier 440; Svoronos 1887; Sofaer 43. Earthen brown patina, light scratches. VF. Two excellent portraits of the power couple. ($750)

All of Cleopatra’s coinage from Chalcis is dated by her Egyptian and Phoenician regnal years (corresponding to 32/1 BC). While the larger denominations featured the portrait of Antony, smaller denominations were issued with Cleopatra’s portrait alone.

The Temple of Aphrodite

646. PHOENICIA, Byblus. Macrinus. AD 217-218. Æ (30mm, 18.33 g, 1h). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Temple of Aphrodite viewed in aerial perspective containing conical xoanon within colonnaded court, with stairway below leading to entrance; to left, lighted altar within distyle temple open to left, containing stairway below; to left of stairs, star. RPC V.3 Online 69450; Rouvier 697. Red-brown surfaces, minor edge flaws, scrape on obverse. VF. ($1000)

647. PHOENICIA, Tripolis. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.58 g, 1h). Struck circa AD 215-217. Laureate head right / Eagle standing facing, head and tail right, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs; two pilei surmounted by stars. RPC V.3 Online 87478; Prieur 1225 (Akko-Ptolemais). Toned with underlying luster, short flan crack. EF. Rare. ($500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Kenneth S. Abramowitz Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 678.

Cadmus Introduces the Alphabet to the Greeks

648. PHOENICIA, Tyre. Philip I. AD 244-249. Æ (31mm, 18.31 g, 7h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Cadmus presenting the alphabet to the Hellenes: Cadmus standing left, holding spear, presenting a tablet to the first of four Greeks standing right; murex shell at Cadmus’ feet, [ЄΛΛH, KAΔMOC in exergue]. RPC VIII Online 6505; Rouvier 2446. Brown patina with earthen highlights, flan flaw, flan preparation marks. Near VF. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC. ($750)

It is generally accepted that the Greeks adopted the Phoenician alphabet in the early 8th century BC, although Herodotus records that the Phoencian prince Cadmus introduced the alphabet to the Hellenes circa 2000 BC. This extremely rare and highly interesting issue explicitly names the figures and represents the legend as recorded in Herodotus 5.58:

The Phoenicians who came with Cadmus—amongst whom were the Gephyraei—introduced into Greece, after their settlement in the country, a number of accomplishments, of which the most important was writing, an art till then, I think, unknown to the Greeks. At first they used the same characters as all the other Phoenicians, but as time went on, and they changed their language, they also changed the shape of their letters. At that period most of the Greeks in the neighborhood were Ionians; they were taught these letters by the Phoenicians and adopted them, with a few alterations, for their own use, continuing to refer to them as the Phoenician characters—as was only right, as the Phoenicians had introduced them.

III

Unit

g,

mint. Dated RY 43 (39/40 CE). ΓAIΩ/ KAICA/ ΓEPMA/ NIKΩ in four lines within wreath / Palm frond; L MΓ (date) flanking. K&F Series F, Type 19, dies O–/R9 [obv. die unrecorded]; Meshorer 92; Hendin 6247; RPC I 4935. Earthen red surfaces, slight roughness. Good VF. ($1000)

649. JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod

Antipas. 4 BCE-39 CE. Æ Half

(18mm, 6.08

12h). Tiberias

Extremely Rare First Time Portrait of a Jewish Ruler

650. JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod IV Philip. 4 BCE-34 CE. Æ (19.5mm, 4.49 g, 11h). Caesarea Panias (Caesarea Philippi) mint. Dated RY 5 (1/2 CE). Bare head right; L E (date) across lower field / Tetrastyle temple (the Augusteum of Panias) set on high platform, lily in pediment. Meshorer 96; Hendin 6251; RPC I 4939; Sofaer –. Earthen red-brown surfaces. VF. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC. ($750)

Herod Philip was the first Jewish ruler to place his portrait on coins. Hendin (p. 257) notes: “Philip was able to immortalize his face on his coins largely because so few Jews lived in the territories over which he ruled. Jews would have taken this act as an insult and violation of the Mosaic Law against ‘graven images.’”

Very Rare and Taboo Jewish Portrait

651. JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod IV Philip. 4 BCE-34 CE. Æ (14mm, 1.57 g, 10h). Caesarea Panias (Caesarea Philippi) mint. Dated RY 34 (CE 30/1). Bare head right / l ¬d (date) within wreath. Meshorer 108; Hendin 6263; RPC I 4950; Sofaer 143. Earthen green and red patina, slight roughness. VF. Very rare. ($500)

652. JUDAEA, Herodians. Herod IV Philip, with Tiberius and Livia. 4 BCE-34 CE. Æ (22mm, 8.68 g, 12h). Caesarea Panias (Caesarea Philippi) mint. Undated but struck RY 34 of Herod IV (30/1 CE). Jugate heads of Tiberius, laureate, and Livia, draped, right / Tetrastyle temple façade (Augusteum of Paneas) set on high platform, clipeus between columns. Meshorer 100; Hendin 6260; RPC I 4951; Sofaer 128. Dark green patina with earthen highlights. VF. ($750)

653. JUDAEA, Herodians. Agrippa I, with Agrippa II. 37-43 CE. Æ (20mm, 6.58 g, 12h). Caesarea Panias (Caesarea Philippi) mint. Dated RY 2 of Agrippa I (37/8 CE). Diademed head of Agrippa I right / Agrippa II, holding reins and raising hand, on horse galloping right; LB (date) below. Burnett, Agrippa 4974; Meshorer 113; Hendin 6268; RPC I 4974; Sofaer 147-8. Earthen red surfaces, slight roughness. Near VF. Rare. ($1000)

Agrippa I had a close relationship with both Gaius (Caligula) and Claudius, in part helping to secure the rule of the latter in the uncertain days following his unexpected rise to the purple. Indeed, his relationship with Claudius was so close that Josephus (Ant. xix. 5.1) records that among the new emperor’s first acts was publishing an edict guaranteeing Agrippa’s kingdom (with the title “Great King”) and granting the territory of Chalcis to Agrippa’s elder brother Herod.

Extremely Rare

654. JUDAEA, Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem). Caracalla. 198-217 CE. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.40 g, 6h). Struck 215-217 CE. Laureate head right; below, eagle standing right, holding wreath in beak / Eagle standing facing on thyrsos, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, grape bunch. Meshorer, Aelia –; RPC V.3 Online 83658 (this coin cited); Prieur 1621/1622 (obv./rev.); Sofaer –; CNG 118, lot 831 (Galst). Toned, with light iridescence, underlying luster, a couple of laminations on reverse, obverse struck with a worn die. VF. Extremely rare, only two specimens in RPC and CoinArchives (the Galst coin hammered for $11,000). ($1000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Triton XXV (11 January 2022), lot 697. RPC Online Feature Coin

655. JUDAEA, Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem). Caracalla. 198-217 CE. BI Tetradrachm (27mm, 13.60 g, 6h). Struck 215-217 CE. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Eagle standing facing on filleted thyrsos, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, grape bunch. Meshorer, Aelia –; RPC V.3 Online 1756 (this coin cited); Prieur 1623; Sofaer –. Lightly toned with underlying luster. Good VF. Extremely rare, only two known to Prieur, four in RPC. ($500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 121 (6 October 2022), lot 709.

656. JUDAEA, Ascalon. Caracalla. 198-217 CE. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.04 g, 12h). Struck 215-217 CE. Laureate head right / Eagle standing facing on palm frond, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; in exergue, dove right with olive branch in beak. RPC V.3 Online 79232; Prieur 1654; Sofaer 177. Minor deposits, cleaning scratches. Near EF. Very rare. ($750)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 121 (6 October 2022), lot 710.

657. JUDAEA, Caesarea Maritima. Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 15.22 g, 12h). Dated “Holy Year” 3 of Vespasian (70/1 CE). Laureate bust right, wearing aegis at point of bust / Eagle standing left on palm branch, holding wreath in beak; club to left. McAlee 379; RPC II 1967; Prieur 140 and 142A; McAlee, VSPC 31. Lightly toned, trace deposits. Good VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Savoca 174 (17 September 2023), lot 151 (hammer €1,300).

The early coins of Vespasian and Titus have been traditionally attributed to the mint of Antioch but RPC has reattributed them to Caesarea Maritima. Kraay, Butcher, and McAlee have all recognized that multiple mints struck tetradrachms for the Flavians but identifying the mints has been something of a challenge. Vespasian was hailed emperor by his troops at Caesarea which seems to have become the primary mint for the tetradrachms for the early years in this series. Tetradrachms from the Antioch and Alexandrian mint are of a different style.

Extremely Rare

658. JUDAEA, Gaza. Caracalla. 198-217 CE. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 13.64 g, 2h). Struck 215-217 CE. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Heifer (Io) standing left, head facing; mem above; all within diadem being supported by eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak. RPC V.3 Online 79369 (this coin cited); Prieur 1684 corr. (rev. legend); Sofaer –; Triton XVIII, lot 903 (same dies). Toned. VF. Extremely rare, Prieur cites only two examples, three in RPC. ($1000)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 707; Leu 75 (25 October 1999), lot 1559; Robert Schonwalter Collection; Spink 60 (7 October 1987), lot 164 (hammer for £2600).

The heifer refers to Io, a nymph who was seduced by Zeus and transformed into the beast to escape the detection of his wife Hera. Io appears in anthropomorphic form fairly frequently on the bronze coinage of Gaza, since ancient tradition recorded that the city was also called Ione.

659. JUDAEA, Neapolis. Caracalla. 198-217 CE. BI Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 14.48 g, 12h). Struck 215-217 CE. Radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Eagle standing facing, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, three-horned altar. RPC V.3 Online 91487 (this coin cited); Kropp –; Prieur 1310 (Byblus). Lustrous, minor marks. Good VF. Extremely rare, only one known to Prieur, two in RPC. ($1500)

Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 516; Classical Numismatic Group 127 (17 September 2024), lot 385.

Dr. Kropp has reattributed this series, by die study, from Byblus to Neapolis in Judaea (see Dr. Andreas Kropp, “A Roman altar on Mt. Gerizim: Rediscovering a civic icon on tetradrachms of Neapolis (Samaria)” in JRA 34 [2021]. pp. 220-236).

RPC Online Feature Coin – Unique

660. JUDAEA, Neapolis. Caracalla. 198-217 CE. BI Tetradrachm (25mm, 11.82 g, 12h). Struck 215-217 CE. Laureate head right / Mount Gerizim within wreath, set on eagle standing right, head and tail left, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between eagle’s legs, lighted altar. RPC V.3 Online 79496 (this coin cited); Prieur 1700 var. (bust); Sofaer –; Galst, New Fig. 2 (this coin). Toned, light porosity, scratches. Near VF. Unique. ($1500)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 118 (13 September 2021), lot 860; Amon Carter Collection (Spink America 8786, 2 December 1997), lot 257.

The modern day city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, Neapolis was located in a strategic position between Mts. Ebal and Gerizim, the latter of which figured prominently on its coinage. This mountain, sacred to the Samaritans, was believed to have been the location chosen by Yahweh for a holy temple rather than the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, some 40 miles south.

661. MESOPOTAMIA, Edessa. Caracalla. AD 198-217. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 14.74 g, 11h). Struck AD 215-217. Laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding shield decorated with gorgoneion at shoulder / Eagle standing facing, head and tail right, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak; between legs, shrine with pediment. RPC V.3 Online 81944 (this coin cited); Prieur 847 (same obv. die as illustration). Lustrous, tiny metal flaws. Near EF. ($750)

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Triton XXV (11 January 2022), lot 713.

662. EGYPT, Alexandria. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. Æ Diobol – 80 Drachmai (27mm, 19.33 g, 11h). First series, struck circa 30-28 BC. Bare head right / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left, Π (mark of value) to right. Köln 1; Dattari (Savio) 2; K&G 2.5; RPC I 5001; Emmett 1. Dark brown patina, minor deposits. Good VF. Rare, one of the finest known specimens. ($750)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 126 (28 May 2024), lot 509.

The first coinage of the new province of Egypt was a direct copy of the bronze issues of Cleopatra, the last Ptolemaic ruler, with the portrait of Augustus replacing the Queen’s. Egypt, wealthy and a vital source of grain for the empire, was to be never allowed again as a potential leaping-off point for a rival emperor. The new province was held under tight control by the emperor. Its governor was to be an equestrian prefect answerable to Augustus, with a legion under his direct command. The Senate would have no say in the administration of the province, and in fact, senators were forbidden to travel there without permission.

Unique and High Grade

663. EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Hemidrachm (28mm, 12.65 g, 12h). Dated RY 11 (AD 91/2). Bust left wearing wreath of grain, aegis at point of bust / Nilus reclining left on crocodile, holding reed and cornucopia; L IA (date) above. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 521 var. (bust right); K&G 24.140 var. (same); RPC II 2611A (this coin); Emmett 271.11 (R5). Brown patina, minor edge flaw, light scratches, holed twice. EF. Unique variety with bust left. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Naville Numismatics 84 (8 October 2023), lot 247.

This hemidrachm has been pierced twice, likely serving as a funerary piece on a Romano-Egyptian mummy. Coins and other amulets were woven into the fabric of the mummies to serve as talismans against the spirits that would try to harm them on their way to the afterlife, the coin would pay the toll to Charon, the Greco-Roman tradition of paying the ferryman, which had been absorbed into Egyptian customs. Mummification was still practiced by the Egyptians through the third century AD until Christianity became the dominant religion of the empire.

One of the Seven Wonders - The Pharos of Alexandria

664. EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Hemidrachm (27.5mm, 16.54 g, 12h). Dated RY 12 (AD 92/3). Laureate bust right, aegis at point of bust / Pharos surmounted by two Tritons, each blowing a trumpet; between them is a lantern surmounted by a statue, holding situla and scepter; L IB (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 550 var. (bust); K&G 24.190; RPC II 2676.2 (this coin); Emmett 273.12 (R3). Dark green surfaces with some light earthen deposits. VF. Extremely rare, the finest of two recorded in RPC. ($1000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 120 (11 May 2022), lot 670; Goldberg 120 (2 February 2021), lot 1124.

The reverse of this bronze hemidrachm celebrates the lighthouse that guided sailors to the safety of Alexandria’s bustling harbor. This impressive building was erected on the island of Pharos at the western edge of the Nile Delta during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphos (280247 BC) and was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Consisting of four stories with a total height of over 350 feet, the lighthouse remained the tallest manmade structure for many centuries. A large mirror was used to create a beacon in the daytime by reflecting the Mediterranean sun while a great fire provided a guiding light at night. In addition, the lighthouse was adorned with decorative statues, including Tritons at its four corners, and a center statue placed at its pinnacle. The Pharos lighthouse stood until earthquake damage over the centuries led to structural collapse during a powerful earthquake in AD 956. What remained standing was destroyed later during earthquakes in the fourteenth century. Its submerged remains were rediscovered by underwater archaeologists in 1968 and additional exploration of the ruins was made in 1994 with plans to develop the site as an underwater museum.

RPC and W&G Plate Coin – Unique

665. EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (35.5mm, 22.22 g, 12h). Herakleopolite nome. Dated RY 12 (AD 108/9). Laureate head right / HPAKΛEωΠ O ΛEITHC, Herishef-Herakles standing left, holding griffin and club, lion’s skin draped over arm; L IB (date) to left. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 6251 var. (rev. legend); K&G N16.2 var. (same); RPC III 6360 = W&G p. 181, II.1, pl. VII, 81 corr. (rev. legend, this coin); Emmett 752.13 (R5). Brown patina with red, short flan crack, light roughness, scrape on reverse. Near VF. Unique. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, 8 December 1999; Dürr & Michel (16 November 1998), lot 749.

Exceptional Artistic Merit and Quality

666. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 27.15 g, 12h). Dated RY 13 (AD 128/9). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Nilus reclining left on crocodile, holding cornucopia and reed; Iς (for 16 cubits) above, L TPICKAI (date) in exergue. Köln 1001; Dattari (Savio) 1808; K&G 32.470; RPC III 5730; Emmett 1014.13. Brown patina with earthen highlights, short flan crack. EF. Struck with dies of fine style. ($3000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XI (7 January 2008), lot 525.

The “Iς” on the reverse represents 16 cubits on the Nilometer, the gauge which measured the annual flood crest of the Nile, with 16 being the ideal point for the agriculture of the Nile valley. Lower than 16 cubits brought the danger of drought conditions, much higher and there was the possibility of damaging floods.

667. EGYPT, Alexandria. Sabina. Augusta, AD 128-136/7. Æ Hemidrachm (28.5mm, 15.09 g, 12h). Dated RY 19 of Hadrian (AD 134/5). Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Pharos surmounted by two Tritons, each blowing a trumpet, between a lantern surmounted by a statue, holding situla and scepter; entryway below; L ЄNN ЄAKΔ (date) around. Köln 1270; Dattari (Savio) 2073; K&G 33.11; RPC III 6072.12 (this coin); Emmett 1343.19 (R4). Brown patina, with blue-green deposits, some porosity. VF. ($500)

Ex Mark Staal Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 123, 23 May 2023), lot 443.

Rare Altar of Agathodaemon – RPC Plate Coin

668. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 29.45 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 138/9). Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Altar of Agathodaemon: monumental hexastyle altar; within, uncertain deity sacrificing to left; to either side of altar, a coiled serpent; above; four serpents rise from rocks, with aphlasta as acroteria; below, L B (date). Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3007; K&G –; RPC IV.4 96.5 (this coin); Emmett 1449.2 (R4). Dark green patina, flan void on reverse, edge chip. Good VF. Fine style portrait. Very rare. ($2000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 523; Künker 347 (22 March 2021), lot 154.

Ex Dattari Collection – W&G Plate Coin

669. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 24.98 g, 11h). Oxyrhynchite nome Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). Laureate head right / OΞVPV N XITHC, Thoeris-Athena standing facing, head left, holding Nike and double-axe; L H (date) in lower field. Köln 3440-1 var. (Athena right); Dattari (Savio) 6341 = RPC IV.4 790.28 = W&G p. 171, IV.1b, pl. VIII, 77 (this coin); K&G N38.6; Emmett 1812.8 (R3). Dark brown and red patina, edge split, smoothing with cleaning scratches, details enhanced. VF. Rare with left facing Athena. ($750)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection; Numismatica Ars Classica N (26 June 2003), lot 2004; Giovanni Dattari (†1923) Collection.

670. EGYPT, Alexandria. Crispina. Augusta, AD 178-182. Æ Diobol (23mm, 5.92 g, 12h). Dated RY 22 of Commodus (AD 181/2). Draped bust right / Ares (or Roma?) standing facing in military attire, head left, raising right hand and holding spear; [L] K [B] (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3976; K&G 42.11; RPC IV.4 3397.4 (this coin); Emmett 2637.22 (R5). Red-brown patina, minor roughness. Good Fine. Extremely rare, only four recorded in RPC. ($500)

Ex New Orleans Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 109, 12 September 2018), lot 490; Classical Numismatic Group 75 (23 May 2007), lot 884.

RPC Online Feature Coin and Figari & Mosconi Plate Coin

671. EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. BI Tetradrachm (23mm, 13.83 g, 12h). Dated RY 9 (AD 229/30). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Draped bust of Selene right; crescent moon before; L Ө (date) behind. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 4371 = RPC VI Online 10404.1 = Figari & Mosconi 1206 (this coin); K&G 62.111; Emmett 3137.9 (R5 – this coin cited). Brown patina. In NGC encapsulation 3819178-026, graded XF★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style. Unique. ($1000)

Ex Syracuse Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 100, 7 October 2015), lot 1787, purchased from Edward J. Waddell; Gorny & Mosch 196 (7 March 2011), lot 2324; Giovanni Dattari (†1923) Collection.

A rarity in the Alexandrian series is any coin with the regnal year of 9, written with the Greek numeral Θ. The ancients were very superstitious and avoided the use of Θ as it was the first letter of Thanatos (Θανατοσ), the Greek personification of “death.” Most Alexandrian coins for regnal year 9 used the entire Greek word for nine (ΕΝΑΤΟΥ).

672. EGYPT, Alexandria. Julia Mamaea. Augusta, AD 222-235. Æ Drachm (33mm, 15.40 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 of Severus Alexander (AD 230/1). Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Bust of Hermanubis right, wearing kalathos and lotus petal; behind, palm frond; before, winged caduceus with palm frond; L I (date) to left. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 4547; K&G 64.45; RPC VI Online 10486 (this coin); Emmett 3249.10 (R5). Brown patina with earthen highlights, light porosity. VF. Very rare. ($500)

Hermanubis became a dominant figure in the Greco-Egyptian pantheon during the Ptolemaic period, combining the features of Anubis and Hermes. Both guided souls to the afterlife and were messengers between the worlds of the living and the dead.

673. EGYPT, Alexandria. Aemilian. AD 253. Potin Tetradrachm (22mm, 10.56 g, 11h). Dated RY 2 (AD 253). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Laureate bust of Zeus right, slight drapery on shoulders. DBM, Aemilianus 100; Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 5138; K&G 85.8; RPC IX 2333; Emmett 3701.2 (R3). Brown patina, slight roughness. Good VF. Very rare. ($500)

Ex Nilus Coins inventory 24131.

The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage

Lot 674

Lot 683

Lot 685

Lot 687

Lot 689

Lot 691

THE BENIAK COLLECTION OF ALEXANDRIAN COINAGE

Nero’s First Provincial Drachm

674. EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Drachm (38mm, 39.80 g, 12h). Dated RY 14 (AD 67/8). Laureate head right; L I∆ (date) below chin / [ΖΕ]VΣ ΚΑ

Zeus Capitolias enthroned left, holding long scepter in right hand and thunderbolt in left; at feet left, eagle standing left, head right. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 281; K&G 14.118 corr. (obv. legend); RPC I 5318A; Emmett 140.14 (R5); R. Pincock, “Nero’s Large Bronze Coinage For Egypt” in NC 155 (1995), Type II. Dark brown patina, slight roughness, edge marks. Near VF. Extremely rare. ($1500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, 18 November 1997. Ex Malter XLV (28 May 1991), lot 278; George Bauer Collection.

This coin is one of the great rarities of the Alexandrian series. Nero issued a prodigious amount of billon tetradrachms at the Alexandria mint. It has been speculated that this was part of his fund-raising campaign to rebuild Rome after the devastating fire of AD 64 (he melted down the higher silver content tetradrachms already in circulation, and replaced them with the lower silver content billon tetradrachms). As a result, bronze coinage in general was neglected during Nero’s reign in Alexandria, especially the larger denominations – hemidrachm and drachm.

Unique

675. EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (34mm, 19.73 g, 12h). Dated RY 12 (AD 108/9). AYT TPAIAN CЄB Γ[ЄPM ΔAKIK], laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind / Nilus reclining left on crocodile climbing rocks, holding reed and cornucopia; at feet left, Euthenia kneeling right, holding grain ears; above left, genius and nilometer; L IB (date) across field. Unpublished. Brown patina, some roughness and deposits, smoothing. VF. Unique. This reverse type with the combination of Nilus, Euthenia, crocodile, and genius with the nilometer is not known for any emperor. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Nilus Coins, 6 December 1997.

Nilus with the nilometer first appears under the reign of Trajan and was a common motif on his drachms. It disappears until a couple of rare drachms of Caracalla and becomes a common theme again on the tetradrachms of Elagabalus, typically depicted with multiple genii.

676. EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (33mm, 19.89 g, 12h). Dated RY 17 (AD 113/4). Heroic bust right, wearing wreath of grain, aegis on left shoulder / Tyche, wearing kalathos and reclining left on lectisternium, holding rudder, resting elbow on pile of pillows and propping head on hand; L IZ (date) above. Köln 656; Dattari (Savio) 1052; K&G 74.565; RPC III 4813.1; Emmett 607.17. Brown patina, find patina, minor marks, edge scuff. VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Gilbert Steinberg Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica/Spink Tasei, 16 November 1994), lot 822.

Ex Wetterstrom Collection

677. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (33mm, 22.42 g, 12h). Dated RY 19 (AD 134/5). Laureate head left / Apis bull, standing right, with crescent on flank; altar before; L ЄNN ЄAK Δ (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2013; K&G 32.631; RPC III 5947; Emmett 912.19. Brown patina, some roughness. Near VF. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions XIII, 4 December 1990), lot 66; Harvey J. Hoffer Collection (Harmer Rooke, 12 December 1986), lot 1004 (part of).

In Egyptian mythology, Apis is a sacred bull worshipped primarily in Memphis. Identified as the son of Hathor, he served as an intermediary between humans and other powerful deities (first Ptah, later Osiris, then Atum). During the colonization of Egypt, Greek and Roman authors had much to say about the Apis bull: the markings by which the black calf was recognized, the manner of his conception by a ray from heaven, his house at Memphis with a court for his amusement, the mode of prognostication from his actions, his death, the mourning at his death, his costly burial, and the rejoicings throughout the country when a new Apis was found. Auguste Mariette’s excavation of the Serapeum of Saqqara revealed the tombs of more than sixty animals, ranging from the time of Amenhotep III to the Ptolemaic dynasty

Ex Wetterstrom & Johns Hopkins University Collection

678. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (33mm, 25.48 g, 12h). Dated RY 19 (AD 134/5). Laureate head left / Column surmounted by serpent coiled right, wearing skhent crown; to right, Hygieia(?) standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding wreath; L ЄN N ЄA K Δ (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 7689; K&G –; Matthijs 991A = RPC III 5978.4 (this coin); Emmett 991.19 (R5). Brown patina, deposits, light porosity. Good Fine. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions XII, 26 September 1990), lot 139; Johns Hopkins University Collection [inv. 31.1.320] (Part III, Bank Leu & Numismatic Fine Arts, 29 March 1984), lot 484j (part of).

Ex Wetterstrom and Hoffer Collections

679. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (35mm, 23.17 g, 12h). Dated RY 21 (AD 136/7). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Artemis advancing right, holding a bow and grasping the forelegs of a stag; L K A (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 7549 var. (date arrangement); K&G –; RPC III 6149; Emmett 916.21 (R5). Brown surfaces, smoothing, details enhanced. Good VF. Rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions XII, 26 September 1990), lot 145 (conserved since); Harvey J. Hoffer Collection (Harmer Rooke, 12 December 1986), lot 1010.

Ex Wetterstrom and Duke of Argyll Collections – Unpublished Bust Type

680. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 24.03 g, 12h). Dated RY 21 (AD 136/7). AVT KAIC TPAIAN A∆PIANOC CЄB, bareheaded bust left, draped right shoulder / Serapis, holding grain ears and scepter, reclining left on eagle standing facing, head left, with wings displayed; L K A (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 1840 var. (bust); K&G 32.748 var. (same); RPC III 6199A var. (same); Emmett 1034.21. Red-brown patina with green highlights, light porosity. Near VF. Very rare, unpublished with this bust type. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, 28 April 2001. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions XII, 26 September 1990), lot 146; Duke of Argyll Collection, purchased from Baldwin’s.

681. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (35mm, 24.10 g, 1h). Dated RY 2 (AD 138/9). Bareheaded bust right, slight drapery on shoulders / Laureate and draped bust of Serapis right, wearing ornate kalathos; ЄTOYC B (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; RPC IV.4 87.1 (this coin); Emmett 1647.2 (RY 2 unrecorded). Green patina, light roughness, edge split. Near VF. Unique. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Autumn Sale 95 (26 October 1995), lot 609; Spink-Taisei 49 (27 October 1993, lot 34.

682. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 27.08 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 138/9). Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Serapis, seated facing, head right, wearing kalathos, holding scepter, on back of ram advancing right, head left, wearing headdress of solar disk and horns; to right, altar; L B (date) in exergue. Köln 3482; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; RPC IV.4 95.4 (this coin); Emmett 1666.2 (R5). Green patina, roughness, smoothing. Fine. Extremely rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 41 (19 March 1997), lot 1283.

681

682

Extremely Rare Kronos – RPC Plate Coin

683. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34.5mm, 25.01 g, 12h). Dated RY 4 (AD 140/1). Laureate head right / Sobek/Kronos standing facing, head left, veiled and wearing solar disk, holding crocodile and sickle, L TЄT A PTOV Δ (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2686 = RPC IV.4 230.2 = Figari & Mosconi 656 (this coin); K&G 35.92-93 var. (bust type; this rev. illustrated for 35.93); Emmett 1599.4 (R3). Brown patina, minor marks. Near VF. Extremely rare, the finest of two recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Astarte XXIII (28 October 2024), lot 373; Auctiones AG 26 (16 September 1996), lot 415; Kölner Münzkabinet 26 (23 November 1979), lot 316; Giovanni Dattari (†1923) Collection.

Kampmann & Ganschow record two variations of the Kronos reverse type for Antoninus Pius, both with different obverse legends and bust types, but the coin illustrated for 35.93 is Dattari 2686, paired with a laureate head right, is not recorded in K&G.

Sobek/Kronos gained prominent stature among the Egyptian pantheon during the Middle Kingdom, under the 12th Dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat III. His position was further strengthened during the waning years of the Ptolemaic and Roman era. The Faiyum region, including the cities of Shedet, the capital of the Arsinoite nome, also known as Crocodilopolis, and Kom Ombo, located near the important city of Aswan, was the religious center of the cult. The deity was closely associated with the crocodile, sharing the animal’s aggressive and unpredictable temperament. He became known as a benevolent god, his fierceness warded off evil while defending the innocent. Mummified crocodiles, many with eggs or hatchlings, are common finds in the Faiyum region. The ‘Book of the Faiyum’ centered on the sun god SobekRe’s journey throughout the day, beginning at Lake Moeris (unlike the underworld in ‘The Book of The Dead’); growing old during the day, and waking reborn at sunrise. The book incorporates several local creation myths and also serves as a map to the Faiyum region. It was written by Sobek priests during the Ptolemaic era.

684. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (35mm, 25.12 g, 12h). Dated RY 5 (AD 141/2). Laureate head right / Two canopi right above eagle standing facing, head left, with wings displayed; L Є (date) across field. Köln 1387; Dattari (Savio) 2503; K&G 35.148; RPC IV.4 425; Emmett 1483.5 (R5). Red-brown patina, trace deposits, flan crack, light smoothing. Near VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection.

The Constellation Boötes?

685. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 21.83 g, 12h). Dated RY 5 (AD 141/2). Laureate head right / Plowman (constellation Boötes?), wearing short kirtle (tunic) and pileus, holding goad in raised right hand, sowing with bag of seeds in left, driving team of oxen left; L Є (date) in exergue. Köln 1407; Dattari (Savio) 2985; K&G 35.153; RPC IV.4 526.10 (this coin); Emmett 1639.5 (R4). Brown and red surfaces, some roughness, light smoothing. Near VF. Rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Astarte XXIII (28 October 2024), lot 379; Roma E-Sale 62 (17 October 2019), lot 653.

In the third year of the reign of Antoninus Pius (AD 139/140), a new Great Sothic Cycle began. To mark this event, the mint of Alexandria struck an extensive series of coinage, especially in large bronze drachms, each related in some astrological way to the reordering of the heavens during the advent of the new Great Sothic Cycle. By the time that these coins were issued, the Egyptian names for the various constellations had been replaced by those more familiar to the Greeks and Romans. Among the issues struck during this time was this extremely rare type depicting a plowman, which may refer to the constellation Boötes, the mythological figure who invented the plow. Since the appearance of Sirius heralded the beginning of the Nile’s flooding, which deposited a rich alluvial layer of mud on the fields, necessary for the growing of grain, the inclusion of the constellation associated with the originator of the plow would have made perfect sense, given the agricultural significance of the Great Sothic Cycle and the importance of Egypt in providing grain to the rest of the empire.

686. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 23.53 g, 12h). Dated RY 5 (AD 141/2). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Barge of Serapis: Serapis enthroned left on the middle of a galley left, holding long scepter and extending right hand over Kerberos, seated at his feet left; to the left, Demeter standing facing, head right, holding long torch and grain ears; to right, Tyche standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder and cornucopia; L Є (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2860; K&G –; RPC IV.4 423.4 (this coin); Emmett 1672.5 (R5). Green and brown patina, minor roughness, short edge flaw. Near VF. Rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex John A. Seeger Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 76, 12 September 2007), lot 3156.

687. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. g, 12 h). Zodiac series. Dated RY 8 (AD 144/145). Laureate head right / Zodiac wheel, with “Aries” at the top, around an inner circle with the conjoined and draped busts left of Helios, radiate, and Selene, crescent to left; L H (date) below. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2984 var. (bust); K&G 35.257 var. (same); RPC IV.4 833; Emmett 1705.8 (R5). Brown and red patina, roughness. Good Fine. Extremely rare, only two recorded in RPC. ($1000)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from David Vagi, 25 April 2008.

688. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 26.73 g, 12h). Dated RY 16 (AD 152/3). Laureate head right / Nike advancing right, holding palm frond and wreath; L Iς (date) across field. Köln 1689; Dattari 2696; K&G 35.560 corr. (Nike listed as advancing left); RPC IV.4 1443; Emmett 1608. Brown and green patina, granular surfaces. Good VF. Very rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 917083 (29 January 2013); Classical Numismatic Auctions XX (25 March 1992), lot 487; Coin Galleries (23 May 1990), lot 544; Coin Galleries (23 August 1989), lot 412; Coin Galleries (11 February 1987), lot 379; Duke of Argyll Collection.

Rare Depiction of Eos – RPC Plate Coin

689. EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Drachm (32.5mm, 28.87 g, 12h). Dated RY 4 (AD 163/4). Laureate bust right, drapery on shoulders, seen from the front / HωC, Eos advancing left, head right with billowing veil, holding torch and bridle of horse prancing right, head left; L Δ (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3540 corr. (rev.); K&G –; RPC IV.4 2642.7 (this coin); Emmett 2128.4 (R5). Dark brown patina, slight roughness, edge splits. Near VF. ($1000)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Astarte XXIII (28 October 2024), lot 421; Triton VI (14 January 2003), lot 598; Classical Numismatic Group 41 (19 March 1997), lot 1193; Nicholas V. Jamgochian Collection.

Eos was the Greek goddess of morning or dawn, and Homer describes her as accompanying Helios on his course through the heavens. She is shown holding one of the horses of Helios on this coin type, and as she was not known to the native Egyptians, her name is usually spelled out on the reverse. Eos is only depicted on drachms of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.

690. EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Drachm (33mm, 28.83 g, 11h). Dated RY 4 (AD 163/4). Laureate bust left, drapery on shoulders, seen from the front / Eos advancing left, head right, holding torch and bridle of horse prancing right, head left, pile of rocks below; L Δ (date) across field. Köln 2186; Dattari (Savio) 3721; K&G 39.93; RPC IV.4 2658; Emmett 2391.4. Red-brown patina, slight roughness, trace deposits. Fine. Very rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Nilus Coins, 4 December 1998.

Unpublished Banquet of the Gods

691. EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Drachm (32mm, 26.38 g, 12h). Dated RY 6 of Marcus Aurelius (AD 165/6). Λ AYPHΛIOC OYHPOC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Banquet of the Gods: lectisternium (couch) with curved arms; from right to left: Serapis seated left, wearing kalathos, holding wreath above Harpocrates kneeling right before him; before, Isis seated right wearing headdress, holding scepter and uraeus; to left, Demeter seated left, wearing kalathos and holding grain ears; far to left, Hermanubis seated left, holding caduceus; beneath the kline in three niches: on each side, a canopic jar, in the middle, Tyche reclines left on lectisternium, holding rudder and propping up head with hand; L ς (date) in exergue. Unpublished. Brown patina, roughness, edge splits. Good Fine. Extremely rare. Similar types are known for Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Caracalla, all are extremely rare. ($750)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Frank L. Kovacs, 1 July 1997. Reportedly ex English Civil Servant’s Collection.

692. EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ Drachm (33mm, 23.78 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 230/1). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Eagle standing right, head left with wreath in beak, wings gathered; to left, palm frond; L I (date) to right. Köln 2453; Dattari (Savio) 4444 & 10011; K&G 62.127; RPC VI Online 10448; Emmett 3158.10 (R4). Brown patina, some roughness. VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Tom Cederlind, 14 July 2005.

The palm frond on Severus Alexander’s regnal year 10 coinage alludes to the decennalia ludi, public games celebrating the completion of a ten-year reign. He would continue to use the palm frond on his coinage through the end of his reign.

693. EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ Drachm (33mm, 24.70 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 230/1). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Alexandria standing facing, head left, wearing mural crown, raising right hand and holding long scepter; to left, palm frond; L I (date) to right. Köln 2454; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 62.128; RPC VI Online 10437; Emmett 3148.10 (R4). Brown surfaces, slight roughness, smoothing on reverse. VF. Very rare. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Coin Galleries (15 February 1995), lot 1706.

694. EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ Drachm (34mm, 25.17 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 230/1). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm frond; to right, palm frond; L I (date) to left. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 4434; K&G 62.144; RPC VI Online 10459; Emmett 3169.10 (R4). Green patina, some roughness, scrapes. VF. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex M&M Numismatics 1 (7 December 1997), lot 305.

695. EGYPT, Alexandria. Julia Mamaea. Augusta, AD 222-235. Æ Drachm (34mm, 25.47 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 of Severus Alexander (AD 230/1). Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Draped bust of Serapis right, wearing ornate kalathos; to right, palm frond; L I (date) to left. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 4552; K&G 64.50; RPC VI Online 10498; Emmett 3256.10. Brown patina, trace deposits. Near VF. Very rare, only four recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Triton I (2 December 1997), lot 743.

696. EGYPT, Alexandria. Philip II. AD 247-249. Æ Drachm (31mm, 18.65 g, 12h). Dated RY 6 of Philip I (AD 248/9). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Alexandria standing facing, head left, wearing mural crown, holding bust of Serapis and long scepter; to left, palm frond; L ς (date) to right. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 76.68; RPC VIII Online 2882 (this coin cited); Emmett 3617.6 (R5). Brown patina, porosity. Near VF. Extremely rare, the finest of two recorded in RPC. ($500)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXIX (30 March 1994), lot 1039; Malloy 13 (9 December 1978), lot 144; Thomas Ollive Mabbott Collection (H. Schulman, 6 June 1969), lot 3608 (conserved since).

RPC Online Feature Coin – Extremely Rare Late Drachm

697. EGYPT, Alexandria. Claudius II Gothicus. AD 268-270. Æ Drachm (27mm, 11.10 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 269/70). Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front / Eagle standing right, with wreath in beak, wings gathered; palm frond behind; L B (date) across field. Burnett, Sestertius 5 corr. (date); Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 5418; K&G –; RPC X Online 78182 (this coin cited); Emmett 3902 (R5). Rough brown patina, spots of verdigris. Near VF. Extremely rare, one of two cited in RPC, the only one with a clear date. ($1000)

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Ex Berk BBS 216 (27 July 2021), lot 606 (hammer $2000).

Burnett records five drachm reverse types for Claudius II, all of them are extremely rare.

ROMAN REPUBLICAN COINAGE

The First Silver Coin of the Romans

698. Anonymous. Circa 300/280-276 BC. AR Didrachm (19mm, 6.82 g, 5h). Uncertain mint (Neapolis?). Helmeted head of Mars left; oak spray to right / Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed rOÂANO; stalk of grain to left. Crawford 13/1; Burnett (O22/R15); Sydenham 1; RSC 4; RBW 3. Deep old collection tone, scratches, scrape on obverse, edge marks. VF. ($1000)

Ex Goldberg 28 (20 February 2005), lot 692.

The first Roman silver coins were produced about the time of King Pyrrhus’ invasion of Italy at the behest of the Tarentines (280 BC) and were struck on a weight standard derived from the currency of the Campanian city of Neapolis. This initial issue (Mars/horse’s head) seems to have been produced at the Greek mint of Metapontum, an attribution strongly suggested by the ear of barley appearing behind the horse’s head on the reverse. The dies for this first issue of Roman didrachms display the fine Greek style for which the Metapontine coinage was renowned. The head of Mars on the obverse is inspired by the portrait of Leukippos, the founder of Metapontum when it was resettled from Sybaris, which had appeared regularly on the Metapontine coinage in the latter part of the 4th century.

699. Anonymous. Circa 270 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (66mm, 326.0 g, 12h). Rome mint. Diademed head of Apollo right; | (mark of value) above; all on raised disk / Diademed head of Apollo left; | (mark of value) above; all on raised disk. Crawford 18/1; Sydenham 15; HN Italy 279; ICC 33; Haeberlin pl. 34, 1-10; RBW 20. Beautiful green patina with patches of red, small casting voids. Good VF. Impressive cast in high relief giving a sculptural appearance. Rare. ($5000)

From the D. K. Collection.

Bronze was, from very early times, the traditional medium of exchange for the peoples of central Italy. Economically and artistically the region was behind when compared with the highly developed monetary systems of the Greek colonies in the south. Initially, the population of this area, including the Romans, made do with irregular lumps of bronze, known as Aes Rude, for their currency requirements. Toward the close of the 4th century BC, they advanced to producing cast bronze bars with designs on both sides. These large and cumbersome pieces are known today by the term Aes Signatum. Later still, probably around 280 BC, cast bronze coinage on circular flans (Aes Grave) was introduced and gradually superseded the bars as the 3rd century progressed, the transition being complete by about the time of the end of the First Punic War (241 BC). Aes Grave was produced in a range of denominations, initially from the As (weighing approximately 324 grams or one Roman pound) down to its twenty-fourth part, the Semuncia. The large Aes Grave issues commencing circa 225 BC, this specimen included, were on a somewhat reduced standard, with the As weighing in at abut 275 grams, although they were still quite massive and likely inconvenient for use in everyday commerce. For convenience introduced a bimetallic system with inclusion of silver and began to circulate silver didrachms known as quadrigati, which also featured the two-faced god Janus, albeit in a more youthful form. As inflation took its toll the Romans replaced the smaller bronze denominations with struck coins, introducing new bronze and silver denominations when they reform circa 212-211 BC.

700. Anonymous. Circa 270 BC. Æ Aes Grave Semis (55mm, 148 g, 12h). Rome mint. Pegasus flying right; Í (mark of value) below / Pegasus flying left; Í (mark of value) below. Crawford 18/2; ICC 34; HN Italy 280; RBW –. Earthen greenbrown patina, flan void. VF. ($1000)

Purchased from Colosseum Coin Exchange. Ex Stack’s (2 May 1995), lot 2100.

701. Anonymous. Circa 270 BC. Æ Aes Grave Quadrans (41mm, 77.35 g, 12h). Rome mint. Boar advancing right; ••• (mark of value) below; all on a raised disk / Boar advancing left; ••• (mark of value) below; all on a raised disk. Crawford 18/4; ICC 36; HN Italy 282; RBW 21. Red-brown patina, casting voids. VF. ($500)

Ex Bruce Antonelli Collection (Stack’s, 22 April 2009), lot 1202; John A. Seeger Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 172, 5 September 2007), lot 143.

702. Anonymous. Circa 230 BC. Æ Aes Grave Sextans (32mm, 44.84 g, 12h). Rome mint. Tortoise on a raised disk / Wheel of six spokes; •• (mark of value); all on a raised disk. Crawford 24/7; ICC 71; Sydenham 63a; HN Italy 330; RBW 37. Green and red-brown patina, light earthen highlights. Near VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 88 (14 September 2011), lot 712.

703. Anonymous. Circa 225-217 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (65mm, 274 g, 12h). Rome mint. Head of bearded Janus; – (mark of value) below; all on a raised disk / Prow of galley right; i (mark of value) above; all on a raised disk. Crawford 35/1; ICC 74; Sydenham 71; HN Italy 337; RBW 83. Earthen red and green patina, slight roughness. VF. ($1500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Harlan J. Berk, March 1990. Ex Classical Numismatic Auctions IX (7 December 1989), lot 222.

704. Anonymous. Circa 225-217 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (60mm, 242 g, 12h). Rome mint. Head of bearded Janus; – (mark of value) below; all on a raised disk / Prow of galley right; i (mark of value) above; all on a raised disk. Crawford 35/1; ICC 74; Sydenham 71; HN Italy 337; RBW 83. Brown and green patina with natural earthen deposits, casting void. VF. ($1000)

Ex Bruce Antonelli Collection (Stack’s, 22 April 2009), lot 1221; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection.

702

703

Photo reduced

Photo reduced

704 700

Unique Aes Grave Tressis – Unique and

705. Anonymous. Third century BC. Æ Aes Grave Tressis or Triple-Nummus(?) (85mm, 948 g, 12h). Northern Apulia, Venusia(?) mint. Head of young Bacchus left, wearing ivy wreath with berries / Head and neck of antelope left. Unpublished in the standard references, but for similar reverse type Cf. ICC 268 (janiform head of maenad with Silenus); cf. Thurlow-Vecchi Addendum 288 (same); cf. Haeberlin p. 280, tx. A, 1 (same); HN Italy p. 51 (Uncertain aes grave, introductory paragraph); cf. Sydenham, Aes Grave 1926, 349 (Tressis or Tripondius). Brown and green patina with natural earthen deposits. VF. Unique. ($3000)

CNG would like to extend our thanks to Italo Vecchi, author of Italian Cast Coinage, who assisted with attribution of this unique piece and will add this coin to the next version of ICC. Italo writes: “The tentative identification of this extraordinary cast Tressis/Triple-nummus to the mint of Venusia, originally a settlement of the Peucetti, which became a Latin colony in 291 BC following the Third Samnite War, is based on several factors apart from its obvious similarity to the Tressis now in the Münzkabinett of Berlin Staatliche Museem (Haeberlin p. 280, pl. A, 1). According to Haeberlin it was acquired by the Berlin museum from a private collection in Naples, just before the printing in 1910 of his magnum opus, Aes Grave, only 180km from the ancient site of Venusia, near modern Venosa, and the most southerly mint of all Italic Cast Coinages. The weight standard is that of the earliest coinage of Venusia based on a Nummus of about 321g, comfortably accommodating the metrology of the above and Berlin examples. The large standard cast and struck bronze denominations at Luceria and Venusia were defined as Nummi (singular Nummus), the Latin equivalent of the Greek nomós (Varro, Ling. 5.173; Melville Jones TNR, p. 939), meaning ‘custom, habit, practice, rule, law,’ in this case: ‘regular or statutory unit of currency,’ cf. ICC Venusia 354. The bulging bronze fabric of the cast flan is similar to those of Venusia Æ Nummus ICC 351 as well as Tressis ICC 268. A third important element is the general similarity in portrait style of the obverse head of a young Bacchus, again from the city of Venusia, cf. Æ Nummus, HN Italy 719.”

Extremely rare

706. Anonymous. Third century BC. Æ Aes Grave As (65mm, 151 g, 12h). Etruria mint. Archaic wheel with • at center, within double linear border / Three crescents with • at center, within double linear border; •••••••••••• (mark of value) around. ICC 185; Haeberlin p. 265, tf. 91. 1; HN Italy 64a; RBW –. Green and brown patina, scratches. VF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives, two of a smaller denomination. ($1000)

Wonderful Janus Portrait

707. Anonymous. Circa 225-212 BC. AR Didrachm – Quadrigatus (22mm, 6.65 g, 5h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Janus, no annulets at top of head, curved truncation / Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter, in galloping quadriga driven right by Victory; rOÂa incuse on raised tablet in exergue. Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64a; HN Italy 334; RSC 23; RBW 65. Lovely old cabinet toning. EF. Fine style Janus portrait. ($3000)

From the PLZ Collection. Ex Gasvoda Collection (Triton XXII, 8 January 2019), lot 780; Nomos FPL (Winter-Spring 2014), lot 34; Goldberg 72 (5 February 2013), lot 4116; Roma II (2 October 2011), lot 380; Hess-Divo 317 (27 October 2010), lot 417.

This, the first truly extensive Roman coinage in silver, began shortly before the outbreak of the Second Punic War and continued until it was superseded by the denarius reform of circa 211 BC. Some early Roman imperial texts refer to a coin called a “quadrigatus” that was used to make payments during the war against Hannibal; this is clearly the type that commenced circa 225 BC, bearing a youthful, laureate janiform head (likely representing the Dioscuri) on the obverse and a quadriga carrying Jupiter and Victory on the reverse. The issue was quite large and included a number of variant subtypes, indicating several mints were involved in the production. Later issues were struck on smaller flans in debased silver, no doubt due to wartime shortages. The splendid example offered here is one of the early varieties, struck in sound silver from dies of good style.

708. Anonymous. Circa 225-212 BC. AR Didrachm – Quadrigatus (22mm, 6.69 g, 12h). Uncertain mint. Laureate head of Janus, no annulets at top of head, curved truncation / Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter, in galloping quadriga driven right by Victory; rOÂa incuse on raised tablet in exergue. Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64a; RSC 23; RBW 67. Deeply toned with hints of iridescence, small scuff on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Tony Hardy Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 61, 25 September 2002), lot 1104.

Ex Leo Benz Collection – Pedigreed to 1965

709. Anonymous. Circa 225-212 BC. AR Didrachm – Quadrigatus (26mm, 6.65 g, 6h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Janus, annulets at top of head, curved truncation / Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter, in galloping quadriga driven right by Victory; ROMA incuse on raised tablet in exergue. Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64a; RSC 23; RBW 63. Toned with hints of iridescence. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, 2006. Ex A. Lynn Collection (Coin Galleries, 16 February 2000), lot 125; Leo Benz Collection (Lanz 88, 23 November 1998), lot 39; Münzen und Medaillen AG FPL 260 (December 1965/January 1966), lot 22.

Counterfeiter’s Die for a Vibius Pansa Denarius

710. C. Vibius C.f. Pansa. 90 BC. Counterfeiter’s Denarius Die (36x33x31mm, 183.5 g). Bronze die set in square iron shank. In intaglio on die face: Laureate head of Apollo right; control mark below chin. Cf. Crawford 342/5b; cf. Sydenham 684; cf. Vibia 2e; RBW – (all references for official denarius); cf. N. Lupu, “Aspekte des Münzumlaufs im vorrömischen Dakien” in JNG XVII (1967), tf. 7 (for similar counterfeiters’ dies); cf. W. Malkmus, “Addenda to Vermuele’s catalog of ancient coin dies: Part 1” in SAN XVII.4 (September 1989), p. 82 (same). Brown patina with earthen highlights, die breaks. VF. Rare counterfeiter’s die of a Roman Republican denarius. ($2000)

711. L. Procilius. 80 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (19mm, 3.65 g, 6h). Rome mint. Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat-skin headdress / Juno Sospita, hurling spear and holding shield and reins, driving galloping biga right; serpent below. Crawford 379/2; Sydenham 772; Procilia 2; RBW 1407. Toned, with hints of iridescence, minor marks, collector’s inventory number 875 in margin on reverse. Near EF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan; Helbing 63 (29 April 1931), lot 229 (collector’s ink added since).

712. C. Naevius Balbus. 79 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (18mm, 3.66 g, 6h). Rome mint. Diademed head of Venus right; Í•C behind head / Victory, holding reins, driving galloping triga right; Lxxii above. Crawford 382/1b; Sydenham 769b; Naevia 6; RBW 1410. Lustrous with iridescence, trace deposits, short flan crack. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection.

Counterfeiter’s Die for a Lucretius Trio Denarius

713. L. Lucretius Trio. 74 BC. Counterfeiter’s Denarius Die (37x37x15mm, 119.0 g). Bronze die set in square iron shank. In intaglio on die face: Radiate head of Sol right. Cf. Crawford 390/1; cf. Sydenham 783; cf. Lucretia 2; cf. RBW 1424 (all references for official denarius); cf. N. Lupu, “Aspekte des Münzumlaufs im vorrömischen Dakien” in JNG XVII (1967), tf. 7 (for other counterfeiters’ dies); cf. W. Malkmus, “Addenda to Vermuele’s catalog of ancient coin dies: Part 1” in SAN XVII.4 (September 1989), p. 82 (same). Brown and red patina. VF. Rare counterfeiter’s die of a Roman Republican denarius. ($2000) 711 712

Biga of Hippocamps

714. Q. Creperius M.f. Rocus. 69 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (18mm, 3.81 g, 6h). Rome mint. Draped bust of Amphitrite right, seen from behind; dolphin downward to left, A upward to right / Neptune, brandishing trident and holding reins, driving sea-chariot drawn by two hippocamps right; A above. Crawford 399/1a; Sydenham 796; Crepereia 1; RBW 1440 var. (controls). Lightly toned and lustrous. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Artemide XVII (30 April 2022), lot 369.

This reverse type is part of the “not horses” series of Roman coinage which depict something other than horses pulling a biga, triga or quadriga. With the exception of elephants, these are fictional depictions that never happened in real life. The series includes: elephants; stags; cupids; seahorses; hippocamps; snakes; and lions. All are depicted as bigas with the exception of the elephant issues which are usually quadrigas with a “Divus” reference.

Illustrated in CNR – Pedigreed to 1949

715. L. Furius Cn.f. Brocchus. 63 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.83 g, 6h). Rome mint. Wreathed and draped bust of Ceres right; stalk of grain to left, barley grain to right / Curule chair between two fasces. Crawford 414/1; Sydenham 902; Furia 23; RBW 1495; CNR Furia 35/1 (this coin). Toned, with iridescence, short flan crack, scrape on reverse. Near EF. ($500)

Ex Conte Alessandro Magnaguti Collection (Part I, Santamaria, 12 October 1949), lot 241.

The year 63 BC was significant historically as this year was the consulship of Cicero and the thwarting of the unsuccessful Catiline Conspiracy.

716. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.92 g, 6h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right; plectrum to left / Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry, standing right, playing lyre which rests on column to right. Crawford 410/2a; Sydenham 811; Pomponia 9; RBW –. Iridescent toning, hairlines, trace deposits, graffito on obverse. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Dr. E. P. Nicolas Collection (Leu 17, 3 May 1977), lot 553.

Calliope was the eldest of the nine muses. She was the goddess of Epic Poetry as well as music, song, and dance. She also had the gift of eloquence which she conferred upon kings and princes, anointing their lips with honey. She is typically depicted with a lyre, as on this coin, but can also be seen holding a tablet and stylus or a scroll. She is the mother of the bard Orpheus and served as judge between Aphrodite and Persephone over Adonis’ fate. Calliope’s name means “beautiful voice” from the Greek words “kallos and ops

Calliope – The Muse of Epic Poetry

Urania – The Muse of Astronomy – Pedigreed to 1933

717. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.94 g, 7h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right; star of seven rays to left / Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, standing left, touching globe set on base with a wand. Crawford 410/8; Sydenham 823; Pomponia 22; RBW 1488. Deeply toned with iridescence, minor marks. Good VF. ($500)

Ex M. Ratto 5 (6 December 1933), lot 72.

Urania was the youngest of the nine muses. She was the muse of Astronomy, mathematics, and assisted sailors in their ocean voyages. She was said to be able to predict the future by reading the arrangement of the stars, thus, she was also the muse of Astrology.

Illustrated in CNR – Pedigreed to 1933

718. Faustus Cornelius Sulla. 56 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.97 g, 6h). Rome mint. Diademed bust of young Hercules right, wearing lion skin headdress tied around his neck / Diana driving galloping biga right, holding reins and lituus; crescent above her head; two stars above, two stars below horses. Crawford 426/2; Sydenham 880; Cornelia 60; RBW 1527; CNR Cornelia 81/6. Deep cabinet toning, edge flaw and filing. Near EF. ($750)

Ex Dr. E. P. Nicolas Collection (Leu 17, 3 May 1977), lot 603; R. Laughlin Collection (A. Hess, 18 December 1933), lot 166.

Ancestral Tyrant Killers – Pedigreed to 1937

719. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus. 54 BC. AR Denarius (21mm, 4.10 g, 6h). Rome mint. Bare head of L. Junius Brutus right / Bare head of C. Servilius Ahala right. Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; Junia 30; RBW 1543. Toned, minor marks, die break on reverse. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Münzhandlung Basel 8 (22 March 1937), lot 507.

This early coin of Marcus Junius Brutus, struck during his term as moneyer in 54 BC, refers to his illustrious ancestry, which included L. Junius Brutus, one of the legendary first consuls of the nascent Roman Republic, and C. Servilius Ahala, who slew the prospective tyrant Spurius Maelius. Celebrating his connection to the tyrannicide, Ahala proved eerily prophetic 10 years later, when, because of his name and reputation for integrity, Brutus was recruited by conspirators against Julius Caesar and became the figurehead leader of the assassins.

720. The Pompeians. L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus. Summer 49 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.98 g, 3h). Military mint in the East. Triskeles, with winged head of Medusa facing at center; stalk of grain between each leg / Jupiter standing facing, head right, holding thunderbolt and eagle; harpa right. Crawford 445/1a; CRI 4; Sydenham 1029a; Cornelia 64; BMCRR Sicily 3-4; Kestner 3528; RBW 1561. Iridescent cabinet tone, minor edge cut, hairlines. VF. ($500)

Purchased by the consignor from Sovereign Rarities Ltd. Ex E. E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection.

721. The Pompeians. Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and P. Licinius Crassus Junianus. 47- Spring 46 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.75 g, 11h). Utica mint. Head of Jupiter right; below, eagle’s head left above scepter / Cornucopia, supporting scales, set on curule chair, itself set on ground line; grain ear and head of cetus flanking chair. Crawford 460/2; CRI 41; Sydenham 1048; Caecilia 49; RBW 1602. Lightly toned, hairlines, trace deposits. Near VF. Very rare. ($750)

This rare type is full of symbolism and propaganda. The obverse depicts an archaic head of Jupiter, with his eagle and scepter below, similar to the coinage of Pompey the Great (CRI 8). The cornucopia, scales, and grain on the reverse pays homage to the fertility of Africa, the curule chair refers to Scipio’s consulship in 52 BC in which he was a colleague of Pompey, and the head of Cetus implies the Pompeian cause would triumph over Rome.

Spanish Support for Pompeians

722. The Pompeians. Cnaeus Pompey Jr. Summer 46-Spring 45 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.71 g, 3h). Corduba (Cordoba) mint. M. Minatius Sabinus, pro quaestor. Bare head of Pompey the Great right / Spanish city-goddess, wearing mural crown and holding caduceus, advancing right, presenting wreath to Pompeian soldier holding spear, standing facing; to right, another city-goddess, wearing mural crown and holding trophy over left shoulder, advancing left. Crawford 470/1c; Buttrey, Denarii, Type C, (dies O7/Rh); CRI 50; Sydenham 1039; RSC 11 (Pompey the Great); RBW 1644. Toned, bankers’ marks. Good Fine. Very rare. ($750)

This type was likely issued shortly before the Battle of Munda. It is part of a series of denarii struck under M. Minatius Sabinus advertising the support of the Spanish cities for the Pompeian cause.

Pompey’s “Victory” at Messana

723. The Pompeians. Sextus Pompey. 40-39 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.70 g, 6h). Uncertain Sicilian mint. The Pharos of Messana surmounted by statue of Neptune standing right, with foot on prow, holding trident and rudder; in foreground, galley to left, with aquila on prow and scepter, trident, and grappling-iron in stern / The monster Scylla left, her torso of dogs and fishes, wielding a rudder as a club with both hands. Crawford 511/4a; CRI 335; Sydenham 1348; RSC 2; RBW –. Lightly toned, hairlines, trace deposits. VF. ($750)

It seems beyond doubt that this coin marks Pompey’s “victory” over Octavian’s fleet, which was mainly accomplished by an unfavorable wind that drove the latter’s ships onto the rocks known as Scylleum near the harbor of Messana. Therefore the dates given for this issue in RSC and Crawford (42-40 BC) are too early; the disaster at Messana occured circa 38 BC.

Magnificent Sextus Pompey Aureus

724. The Pompeians. Sextus Pompey. 37/6 BC. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 8.22 g, 8h). Uncertain Sicilian mint. Bare head of Sextus Pompey right; ÂAg • piuÍ • iÂp • iTer around; all within oak wreath / Bare heads of Pompey the Great right visà-vis Cnaeus Pompey Junior left; lituus to left, tripod to right, pr‰F above, [C]LAÍ • eT • Or‰/ºiT • ex • Í • C in two lines below. Crawford 511/1; Evans dies O2/R1 (unlisted die pair); CRI 332; Sydenham 1346; Bahrfeldt 87; Calicó 71a; Biaggi 48; BMCRR Sicily 13; Kestner –; RBW 1783. Lustrous, some light hairlines. Superb EF. Wonderful portraits. Very rare. ($100,000)

Ex Collection of Professor David R. Beatty, C.M., O.B.E (Triton XXIV, 19 January 2021), lot 965; Triton IX (10 January 2006), lot 1357.

Sextus Pompey, the younger son of Pompey the Great, inherited his father’s vast influence and personal following. He first established himself in Spain in 44 BC as the successful leader of the anti-Caesarian forces and following the death of Caesar, the Senate, believing itself freed from the domination of the Caesarians, bestowed on Sextus the title of praefectus classis et orae maritimae (Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet and of the Sea Coasts). However, four months later the Senate was forced by Octavian and the second triumvirate to rescind this title, and Sextus was proscribed. Upon receiving word of the Senate’s abrogation of his commission and seeing the hostilities the Caesarians were exacting on the leading figures in Rome, Sextus set sail from Massilia in Gaul and headed for Sicily. Here he established a powerful base from which he could blockade Italy and provide a safe haven for those fleeing the proscriptions. Alarmed at the developments, Octavian sent a naval squadron under the command of Salvidienus Rufus to handle the situation, but Salvidienus was defeated off the coast of Rhegium. Following this battle, Sextus took the title of imperator iterum. Sextus would continue the republican struggle against the second triumvirate until his death in 36 BC. This remarkable dynastic aureus provides us with the most life-like portraits of Pompey’s two sons and records many of the events of 4342 BC. The oak wreath (corona civica) and the title IMP ITER on the obverse commemorate Sextus’ defeat of Salvidienus, while the reverse legend records the title bestowed on him by the Senate in 43 BC. The lituus behind Pompey’s head signifies Pompey’s membership in the college of augurs, while the tripod behind Cnaeus’ head represents his affiliation with the quindecimviri sacris faciundis.

Military Pay for Julius Caesar’s Army

725. The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. April-August 49 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 4.00 g, 8h). Military mint traveling with Caesar. Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis, and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49; RBW 1557. Toned with hints of iridescence, minor marks. Near EF. ($1000)

Ex Ceresio 3 (3 October 1992), lot 246.

Julius Caesar and his armies assembled on the banks of the Rubicon River on 10 January 49 BC, ready to invade Italy. Since large quantities of denarii were necessary to pay Caesar’s military expenses, the mint traveled with them. This issue was ordered, not by a moneyer, as was usual, but by Julius Caesar himself. The obverse clearly depicts the triumph of good over evil, numismatic propaganda designed to encourage Caesar’s soldiers during the long, intense campaign. The reverse, depicting priestly emblems, tells of Caesar’s office as Pontifex Maximus, high priest. In all likelihood, this type was used by Caesar’s military forces at least until the decisive battle of Pharsalus.

Excellent Julius Caesar Portrait

726. The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. January-February 44 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.01 g, 11h). Lifetime issue. Rome mint; P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Laureate head right; star of eight rays to left / Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory and scepter resting on star. Crawford 480/5b; Alföldi Type V, – (A–/R28 [unlisted obv. die]); CRI 106a; Sydenham 1071; RSC 41; RBW 1679. Deep cabinet toning, minor marks and scratches, edge filing. Good VF. ($5000)

Ex Hess-Leu 49 (27 April 1971), lot 315.

Before 44 BC, Roman coin portraiture had been confined to various deities and historic figures of renown, these usually ancestors of the moneyers appointed each year to strike coins. The very few portraits of living Romans were reserved for coins minted and circulating outside of Italy. But early in 44 BC, the Senate granted Julius Caesar, recently appointed dictator for the fourth time, the honor of having his portrait placed on silver coinage struck in Rome. The break with tradition was sudden, startling and, as it turned out, enduring, for Caesar’s successors (and even his assassins!) soon adopted the practice. Shortly thereafter, Caesar was named Dictator Perpetuo, “Dictator in Perpetuity,” though Caesar would bear the title for only a month before his assassination on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC.

Pedigreed to 1931

727. The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. February-March 44 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.93 g, 3h). Lifetime issue. Rome mint; P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Laureate and veiled head right / Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory and scepter; shield set on ground to right. Crawford 480/13; Alföldi Type IX, 1-6 (A23/R9); CRI 107d; Sydenham 1074; RSC 39; RBW 1685. Lightly toned, porosity, minor marks. Near VF. ($750)

Ex 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan (Classical Numismatic Group 127, 17 September 2024), lot 453; Helbing 63 (29 April 1931), lot 284.

Rare Caesarian Brockage

728. The Caesarians. Divus Julius Caesar. 40 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.54 g). Obverse brockage. Rome mint; Q. Voconius Vitulus, moneyer. Laureate head right; lituus to left / Incuse and reverse of obverse. Cf. Crawford 526/2; cf. CRI 329; cf. Sydenham 1132; cf. RSC 46; RBW –. Toned, scratches, test cut, banker’s mark on reverse. Near VF. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from Ancient Delights, 20 April 2004.

Little is known about this moneyer, in the chaos of the Imperatorial period, aside from a few coin types that feature his name. His coins were clearly minted to show his alliance with the Second Triumvirate and specifically to Octavian, as his coins began to display his portraiture on the obverse. The missing reverse of this coin continues the tradition of showcasing canting puns, a play on words with the moneyers name. Other examples are Musa with the Muses, Lucius Appuleius Saturninus with Saturn in a quadriga, and D. Silanus L.f. with a mask of Silenus. In this case a Vitulus means calf.

Priestly Symbology

729. The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.80 g, 12h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Emblems of the pontificate: securis, simpulum, and secespita / Capis and lituus. Crawford 500/7; CRI 198; Sydenham 1310; RSC 6; RBW 1766. Lightly toned, hairlines, multiple die breaks. Good VF. ($750)

The obverse depicts the symbols of the college of pontifices to which Brutus belonged, while the reverse bears the symbols of the augeres, the priestly college to which P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther was elected in 57 BC.

730. The Republicans. Brutus. Early summer 42 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.77 g, 12h). Military mint traveling with Brutus in Lycia. Draped bust of Apollo right; lyre to right / Trophy composed of helmet, cuirass, shield with incurved sides, and two swords, being crowned with wreath by Victory standing left, holding palm frond over left shoulder. Crawford 504/1; CRI 205; Sydenham 1294; RSC 7; RBW 1771. Toned, porosity, light scratches. VF. ($750)

Brutus is best known for his role in the assassination of Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC. This action, while often thought as an attempt to save liberty and justice, was actually meant to try to preserve aristocracy and privilege. Brutus and the other conspirators wanted to restore power to the Senate, comprised of the wealthiest and most powerful of Roman citizens. This brought him in conflict with Julius Caesar, who wanted to break the old power holds in the Senate, populating it with men of lower rank and birth. In a way, Julius Caesar could be seen as promoting a dictatorship with some flavor of a democracy, whereas Brutus and the other conspirators were attempting to save the aristocracy.

After their assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius occupied Rome but had to flee when a funeral oration delivered by Caesar’s protégé, Marc Antony, turned public opinion against them. Brutus and Cassius went their separate ways but met again in early 42 BC in Smyrna, Ionia, where they began preparations for the inevitable conflict that would ensue between them and Marc Antony and Octavian, Caesar’s grandnephew. They began using their armies to conquer cities, for which this series of coins was undoubtedly issued. The title IMP on the reverse shows that Brutus still styled himself the savior of the Republic, as that was a title only the Senate could award.

731. The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Autumn 42 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.76 g, 12h). Military mint traveling with Antony in Greece and Asia. Bare head of Antony right; lituus to left / Radiate head of Sol right. Crawford 496/3; CRI 129; Sydenham 1169; RSC 70; RBW 1755. Lightly toned and lustrous, some signs of light crystallization, flan crack. Near EF. ($1000)

732. The Triumvirs. Mark Antony. Autumn 37 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.81 g, 9h). Antioch or military mint traveling with Canidius Crassus in Armenia. Bare head right / Seven-pointed Armenian tiara right, decorated with three stars; crossed bow and arrow to left. Crawford 539/1; CRI 297; Sydenham 1205; RSC 19; RBW 1828. Toned, light porosity, minor metal flaws. Good VF. ($750)

This coin celebrates a victory by Canidius Crassus, on behalf of Mark Antony, over the King of Iberia, Pharnabazus II. Crassus forced Pharnabazus into alliance and campaign against the King of Albania, Zober (Cassius Dio, XLIX 24.1).

“Donations

of Alexandria” Denarius

733. The Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Autumn 34 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.64 g, 1h). Alexandria mint(?). Bare head of Mark Antony right; Armenian tiara to left / Diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right; at point of bust, prow right. Crawford 543/1; CRI 345; Sydenham 1210; RSC 1; RBW 1832. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8243312-002, graded Ch F, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5. ($2000)

The consensus of opinion on the date and mint of this coin was relatively uniform until the publication by R. Newman, “A Dialogue of Power in the Coinage of Antony and Octavian” in AJN 2 (1990), pp. 37-64. Sear (CRI) follows Newman in calling it an issue from Alexandria struck for Antony’s Armenian triumph of the autumn of 34 BC, when the “celebrated and enigmatic” (per Sear) “Donations of Alexandria” took place. Newman states the minting of this coin “must have taken place in 34, the year of Antony’s Alexandrian triumph, since it would otherwise be without context.” The legends on this coin could be translated as “[coin] of Antony, with Armenia being Conquered, for Cleopatra, Queen of Kings and of her Sons, being Kings.” The Armenian crown behind Antony represents his victorious Roman army, the prow beneath Cleopatra (which appears on no other Roman coin of hers) stands for the mighty Egyptian fleet; combined they symbolize the full array of forces that Antony would soon marshal against Octavian.

An Important Architectural Type

734. The Triumvirs. Octavian. Autumn 30-summer 29 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.91 g, 1h). Uncertain mint in Italy (Rome?). Bare head right / Octavian’s Actian arch (arcus Octaviani), showing a single span surmounted by Octavian in facing triumphal quadriga; iÂp • CAeÍAr on the architrave. CRI 422; RIC I 267; RSC 123; Elkins, Monuments, Figure 44. Lightly toned with hints of iridescence. Good VF. ($500)

The single-span Arcus Octaviani, celebrating Octavian’s victory at Actium, consisted of a single arcade and surmounted by a sculptural group of Octavian in a triumphal quadriga. It was replaced in 19 BC by the arcus Augusti, a triple-span arch built to celebrate the recovery by Augustus of the famous standards lost by Antony and Crassus.

AEGYPTO CAPTA

735. The Triumvirs. Octavian. 28 BC. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.67 g, 1h). “Aegypto Capta” commemorative. Uncertain mint in Italy (Rome?). Bare head right; lituus behind neck / Crocodile standing right with jaws open; AegupTO above, CApTA below. CRI 430; RIC I 275a; RSC 2. Lightly toned with hints of iridescence, banker’s mark and scrapes on obverse. Near VF. ($1500)

Following the decisive battle of Actium in August of 30 BC, Octavian invaded Egypt and founded the Prefecture of Egypt, leaving intact the Ptolemaic cultural and administrative structures. Octavian struck this issue to commemorate that event; the reverse depicts a crocodile, the symbol of the country and, locally, an important deity. The reverse legend communicates clearly that the once proud nation of Egypt had been captured and reduced to the status of a Roman province.

ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE

736. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (21mm, 3.80 g, 6h). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta?). Struck circa 19-18 BC. Head right, wearing oak wreath / DIVVS • IVLIVS across field, comet with eight rays and tail. RIC I 37a; RSC 98. Lightly toned, hairlines. Near EF. Struck on a broad flan with full legends. ($1500)

This denarius reflects Augustus’ use of his coinage to convey a political message. The obverse shows him wearing the corona civica, an oak wreath awarded to an individual who had personally saved a citizen (in Augustus’ case it was the citizen body of the Roman world). The reverse depicts the comet which made a continuous daylight appearance during July 44 BC, and was associated with the deification of Julius Caesar.

737. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.91 g, 5h). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck circa 20/19-17/6 BC. Laureate head right / CAESAR above, AVGVSTVS below, S P Q R around, round shield inscribed CL • V; two laurel branches (or trees) flanking. RIC I 52a; Calicó 182. In NGC encapsulation 8213969-001, graded Ch F, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5, ex-jewelry, edge bend. Rare. ($4000)

Ex Heritage 3121 (13 January 2025), lot 33052.

The reverse of this aureus depicts both the Clippus Virtutis, or “shield of Valor,” a golden shield awarded to Augustus as the savior of the state, by the Senate. The laurel trees represent those planted outside the entrance to Augustus’ home, and symbolize honor and respect.

The Temple of Jupiter Tonans – Pedigreed to 1969

738. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.73 g, 6h). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck circa 19 BC. Bare head right / Temple of Jupiter Tonans: hexastyle temple set on podium of three steps; Jupiter standing left within, holding thunderbolt and scepter. Cf. RIC I 63a (aureus); RSC 179; BMCRE 363; Elkins, Monuments Figure 59; CNR V 614/7 (this coin). Attractive iridescent toning, porosity on reverse. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Lanz 161 (7 December 2015), lot 222; Peus 343 (26 April 1995), lot 345; Kress 147 (5 May 1969), lot 327.

According to Suetonius, the Temple of Jupiter Tonans was erected near the Capitol and dedicated in about 22 BC. It commemorates Augustus being barely missed by a lightning strike during his Cantabrian campaign.

Very Rare Augustus Aureus Depicting The Parthian Arch

739. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.85 g, 6h). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck 1817 BC. S • P • Q • R • IMP • CAESARI • AVG • COS • XI • TRI • POT • VI •, bare head right / CIVIB • ET • SIGN • MILIT • A [• PART • RECVP •], triumphal arch of Augustus: central arch surmounted by a facing quadriga; side arches, on each of which is a standing figure; on left, figure standing right, holding a signum in raised right hand; on right, figure standing left, holding an aquila in raised right hand and bow at side in left. Cf. RIC I 135; cf. Calicó 192, 194-5; BMCRE –; BN –; Adda –; cf. Biaggi 100; Jameson –; Mazzini –; cf. Elkins, Monuments Figure 56 (for rev. type). In NGC encapsulation 6156281-003, graded Ch XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5, Banker’s mark, scuffs. Very rare. ($7500)

Ex Heritage 3118 (17 August 2024), lot 33042.

740. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.83 g, 5h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 15 BC. Bare head right / Augustus seated left on curule chair set on daïs, extending hand toward two soldiers, each carrying parazonium and presenting laurel branches. RIC I 165a; Lyon 13; RSC 133. Lightly toned, bankers’ marks on obverse, some hairlines. VF. ($500)

741. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.84 g, 7h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 8 BC. Laureate head right / Caius Caesar on horseback galloping right, holding sword and reins; to left, aquila right between two signa. RIC I 199; Lyon 69; RSC 40. Underlying luster. Good VF. ($500)

742. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (21mm, 3.80 g, 12h). Rome mint; L. Caninius Gallus, moneyer. Struck 12 BC. Bare head right / German kneeling right in attitude of submission, offering up vexillum and extending hand. RIC I 416; RSC 383. Lightly toned, some underlying luster. Good VF. Struck on a broad flan. ($500)

743. Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.83 g, 12h). Pergamum mint. Struck 27 BC. Bare head right / Bull standing right. RIC I 475; RSC 28. Lightly toned, faint hairlines. Good VF. ($1000)

Pedigreed to 1912

744. Julia Augusta (Livia). Augusta, AD 14-29. Æ Dupondius (29.5mm, 14.24 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Tiberius, circa AD 22-23. Bareheaded and draped bust of Julia Augusta (Livia) as Salus Augusta right, wearing waved hair and fastened in a knot at the back / Legend around large S • C. RIC I 47 (Tiberius). Dark brown surfaces, smoothing. Good VF. ($500)

Ex J. Hirsch XXXI (6 May 1912), lot 1045.

745. Tiberius. AD 14-37. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.81 g, 8h). “Tribute Penny” type. Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Group 4, AD 18-35. Laureate head right, one ribbon on shoulder / Livia (as Pax) seated right on chair, feet on footstool, holding scepter and olive branch; ornate chair legs, single line below. RIC I 30; Lyon 150; RSC 16a. Lustrous. EF. Beautiful portrait. ($750)

From the Bem Jamin Collection.

Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give. But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, “Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it.” And they brought it. And he saith unto them, “whose is this image and superscription?” And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:14-17)

Since Tiberius was the reigning Caesar at the time this famous incident took place in Jerusalem, it is believed by many that the famous “penny” (a King James-era English translation of “denarius”) was a silver denarius of Tiberius.

746. Agrippina Senior. Died AD 33. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 28.08 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Gaius (Caligula), AD 37-41. Draped bust right, hair falling in queue down her neck / Carpentum drawn left by two mules, the cover supported by standing figures at the corners, and with ornamented side; six spokes in wheel. RIC I 55 (Gaius); Trillmich Group III. Attractive brown patina, smoothing, tooling. Near EF. Not suitable for encapsulation. ($3000)

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Autumn Sale 2024 (30 September 2024), lot 825; Tauler & Fau 30 (29 May 2019), lot 150.

Vipsania Agrippina was born in 14 BC to Julia the Elder, daughter of Caesar Augustus, and his right-hand-man Marcus Agrippa. Though immensely rich and powerful, her Julio-Claudian family was shot through with intrigue, tension and untimely death. Her father died when she was only two. A few years later, Augustus exiled her mother Julia for adultery, effectively orphaning her and her three brothers, who were all taken into the imperial household and raised by the emperor and his wife, the arch-manipulator Livia Drusilla. In the drama-filled last decade of Augustus’s reign, all three of her brothers died young, or were murdered, clearing the path for the succession of Livia’s son Tiberius. Agrippina was also married during this span, sometime between 1 BC and AD 5, to Germanicus, the charismatic nephew of Tiberius and her second maternal cousin. Though political, the union was also a very happy one and the couple eventually had nine children, including the future emperor Gaius ‘Caligula’ and empress Agrippina the Younger. All ancient historians call Agrippina a model of rectitude and matronly virtue. Yet she also went beyond the traditional role of a Roman wife and mother in accompanying Germanicus on dangerous military campaigns and foreign postings. Admired for her courage, she also had an imperious nature and longed for the day when her husband would inherit supreme power. The mysterious death of Germanicus while on a diplomatic mission in the East in AD 19 dashed these hopes. Agrippina believed Tiberius and/or Livia orchestrated her husband’s demise and made no secret of her suspicions. This put her squarely in the crosshairs of Sejanus, Tiberius’s unscrupulous Praetorian prefect, who waged a patient campaign to undermine her. In AD 29 she was charged with treason and banished to a remote island. Repeatedly abused and starved, she died four years later. Upon the death of Tiberius, her son Gaius ‘Caligula’ became emperor and rehabilitated his mother’s reputation. Caligula further honored her with this impressive sestertius, struck a decade after her death.

747. Gaius (Caligula), with Agrippina Senior. AD 37-41. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.68 g, 9h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 37. Bare head of Gaius (Caligula) right / Draped bust of Agrippina right. RIC I 8; Lyon 162; RSC 4. Toned, minor porosity, hairline flan crack, a few minor marks under tone. VF. ($3000)

Ex Thomas Bentley Cederlind Estate (Classical Numismatic Group 102, 18 May 2016), lot 860; Gorny & Mosch 195 (7 March 2011), lot 401A.

The accession of Gaius (Caligula) to the imperial throne on the death of his great-uncle Tiberius signaled a kind of “golden age” in that for the first time, not only did a direct biological descendant of Augustus become emperor, but one who could also claim a direct link with several important Republican figures. Through his mother, Agrippina Sr., Gaius was descended from Augustus, and also Agrippa, the victor of Actium. Gaius’ father Germanaicus was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus and nephew of Tiberius, sons of Augustus’ widow, Livia. Through his mother Antonia, Germanicus was the grandson of Mark Antony and Octavia, the sister of Augustus. Accordingly, many of his coins recall his dynastic connections to both the Julians and the Claudians as well as his own family, and included in their designs his mother and his three sisters.

Three Sisters Sestertius

748. Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 23.02 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / Gaius’ three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas), head right, holding cornucopia and leaning on column, placing hand on shoulder of Drusilla (as Concordia), head left, holding patera and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna), head left, holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. Dark green patina, some roughness and smoothing. Good Fine. ($1000)

From the D. K. Collection.

On this popular and beautiful reverse, the three sisters of Gaius “Caligula”–Drusilla, Julia Livilla, and Agrippina the Younger–are honored and portrayed as goddesses. All three were deeply involved in deadly Julio-Claudian politics. Caligula’s hostile biographers depict him as excessively and unnaturally fond of his sisters, Drusilla in particular, whom he named as his primary heir in AD 37, while he was suffering from a near-fatal illness. Drusilla herself died of a virulent plague in AD 38 at the age of 22, plunging Caligula into violent grief. He gave her a state funeral befitting an Augusta and ordered the Senate to deify her. In his depression, Caligula’s affections for his remaining sisters cooled and they took to plotting against him, for which he ultimately banished them to the Pontian Islands. After Caligula’s assassination in AD 41, the new emperor, his uncle Claudius, rescinded his nieces’ exile. Julia Livilla soon fell afoul of Claudius’ wife Messalina, who had her imprisoned and starved to death in AD 42. Messalina herself overreached and was executed in AD 48. The following year, Claudius married his surviving niece Agrippina and she quickly became the most powerful woman the Roman Empire had yet seen.

749. Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ As (28mm, 11.05 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Bare head left / Vesta seated left on ornamental throne, holding patera and scepter. RIC I 38. Green-brown patina. Near EF. ($750)

Ex Gorny & Mosch 186 (8 March 2010), lot 1893.

Ex Mazzini Collection – Pedigreed to 1908

750. Divus Claudius. Died AD 54. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.56 g, 11h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck under Nero, AD 54-55. Laureate head left / Ornamental slow quadriga right, surmounted by four miniature horses flanked by Victories. RIC I 5 (Nero); WCN 35 (Nero); Lyon 2 (Nero); RSC 32; Mazzini 32* (this coin). Deep old cabinet toning, a couple of edge test cuts. VF. Very rare. ($1500)

Ex Giuseppe Mazzini Collection (publ. 1957); Naville II (12 June 1922), lot 279; Joseph Hamburger VII (17 June 1908), lot 1069.

The reverse commemorates the triumph that Claudius celebrated in AD 44 on the occasion of the conquest of Britain. A tensa was a carriage or chariot on which depictions of the gods were brought to the Games in the Circus in Rome (the Ludi Circenses). The consecration coins of Divus Claudius and a similar type on the coins of Divus Vespasian (RIC II 360 [Titus]) prove that the same honor was sometimes accorded to deified emperors.

Pedigreed to 1913

751. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 27.37 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 65. Laureate head right, globe at point of neck / Annona standing right, holding cornucopia, facing Ceres seated left, holding grain ears and torch; between them, modius on garlanded altar, ship’s stern in background. RIC I 390; WCN 406; Lyon 65. Dark green patina, some roughness, smoothing. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Helbing [37] (9 April 1913), lot 1027.

The Temple of Janus Geminus

752. Nero. AD 54-68. AV Aureus (18mm, 7.36 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64-66. Laureate head right / Closed doors of the Temple of Janus. RIC I 50 and 58; Calicó 409; Elkins, Monuments Figure 76. Good VF. Wonderful violet-red toning, characteristic of aurei from the Boscoreale Hoard of 1895. ($3000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from Tom Cederlind, late 1980s to early 1990s.

On April 13, 1895, excavators working on a Roman villa near Pompeii unearthed a vaulted box containing more than 1,000 gold aurei. The coins were dispersed to local collectors before any records could be compiled, so today it is impossible to tell for certain whether any particular coin was from the Boscoreale Hoard. However, the presence of deep reddish toning on an aureus dating to before the eruption is regarded as highly suggestive that the coin was from this hoard.

753. Nero. AD 54-68. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.27 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64-65. Laureate head right / Nero, holding patera and scepter, and Messalina, holding patera and cornucopia, standing left. RIC I 45; RSC 43. Lightly toned, a few scratches, shallow cleaning marks. Good VF. Struck on a broad flan with complete legends and types. ($750)

Statilia Messalina was Nero’s third wife, after Octavia and Poppaea Sabina. She was descended from a prominent senatorial family and was married to an ex-consul, Marcus Julius Vestinus Atticus, who was originally one of Nero’s sycophants. Nero, after the death of his wife Poppaea, fixed his eye upon Messalina and decided he must wed her, so Atticus was induced to commit suicide. Messalina managed to survive Nero’s downfall and Otho even planned to marry her before his own rapid demise. Her eventual fate is unknown.

Pedigreed to 1957

754. Nero. AD 54-68. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.54 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64-65. Laureate head right / Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium, foot on helmet; a greave to right. RIC I 55; RSC 258. Toned, traces of deposits. Good VF. ($750)

Ex Münzen und Medaillen AG XVII (2 December 1957), lot 395.

Pedigreed to 1961

755. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Dupondius (28mm, 14.62 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64. Radiate head right / Securitas seated right, holding scepter; lighted and garlanded altar to right, against which leans torch resting on bucranium; II (mark of value) in exergue. RIC I 191; WCN 193. Deep green patina. Near EF. Struck in high relief with dies of artistic merit. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Hess-Divo 307 (7 June 2007), lot 1573; Münzen und Medaillen AG 79 (28 February 1994), lot 471; Dr. E. P. Nicolas Collection (Kampmann, 9 March 1982), lot 180; Santamaria (4 May 1961), lot 206.

756. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (36mm, 27.38 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 65. Laureate bust right, wearing aegis / Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium, right foot on helmet; shields behind. RIC I 273; WCN 145. Dark green-brown patina. Near EF. ($2000)

From the Denis P. Barrett Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 88 (14 September 2011), lot 1245 (professionally conserved since).

Fine Style Portrait

757. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ As (27mm, 11.45 g, 4h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 65. Laureate head right / Victory flying left, holding shield inscribed S P Q R. RIC I 312; WCN 285, 290. Green-brown patina. Near EF. Portrait of exceptionally fine style with sharp detail. ($500)

Ex Triton XIII (4 January 2010), lot 1436 (hammer $2200).

The line of the Julio-Claudian emperors died out with the assassination of Nero, propelling the empire into chaos.

Extremely Rare Civil War Denarius

758. Civil War. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (16mm, 3.67 g, 6h). ‘G P R Group II’. Uncertain mint in Gaul or in the Rhine Valley. Diademed and bearded bust of Genius of the Roman people, scepter over shoulder / Mars Ultor, naked but for helmet, advancing right, brandishing spear and holding shield, parazonium at side. RIC I 48; AM 25; RSC –. Toned, trace deposits. Good VF. Portrait of artistic merit. Well struck for the issue. Extremely rare. ($1000)

The civil wars at the end of Nero’s reign began with the revolt of the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, probably around the beginning of March of AD 68. Vindex offered the leadership of the revolt to Servius Sulpicius Galba, then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, who was hailed imperator by the Spanish legions at Carthago Nova in April of the same year. The title was cautiously refused, but Galba did declare himself the legatus of the senate and people of Rome. Just a month later, Galba’s confidence would be shaken by the crushing defeat of Vindex near Besançon by the general Lucius Verginius Rufus, governor of Germania Superior. But in another twist of fate, by 9 June, Nero was dead, having taken his own life. Galba began his march to Rome, and his brief reign was underway. Coinage, of course, was needed during these precarious months of revolt and without an emperor to strike in the name of (save for that in honor of the “model emperor” of Roman history, Augustus) the coinage was struck with messages suiting the political climate. The issues struck under Vindex possess a more aggressive air that underscores the militant nature of his revolt, while Galba’s tend to be more constitutional and optimistic in tone.

Purchased by the consignor from Zuzim Coins.

By AD 68, Servius Sulpicius Galba had governed Hispania for nearly eight years with a single Roman legion, VI Victrix, under his command. In April of that year, with Nero’s support crumbling, Galba proclaimed himself as representing the Senate and People of Rome, in opposition to Nero, thus taking the first steps that would lead to his brief, chaotic reign as emperor. However, the final collapse of Nero’s regime took several months, during which the Roman coinage reflected the uncertain political climate.

759. Galba. AD 68-69. Æ Sestertius (34.5mm, 26.19 g, 6h). Rome mint, 1st officina. Struck circa November AD 68. Laureate head right / Victory advancing left, holding palladium and palm frond. RIC I 456; ACG –. Dark green surfaces. VF. ($500)

760. Galba. AD 68-69. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 27.81 g, 6h). Rome mint, 3rd officina. Struck circa October AD 68. Laureate head right / Concordia seated left, holding branch and transverse scepter. RIC I 380; ACG – (A60/P146). Green patina, light smoothing. VF. Bold, scowling portrait. ($1500)

From the John Wright Collection, purchased from Jonathan Kern, May 1994. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXVI (11 June 1993), lot 445; Classical Numismatic Auctions IX (7 December 1989), lot 402.

761. Vitellius. AD 69. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.07 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa late April–20 December. Laureate head right / Libertas standing right, holding pileus and vindicta. RIC I 104; Calicó 562. Minor marks, a few small edge marks. Good Fine. Rare. ($3000)

The last of Nero’s immediate three successors, Vitellius was declared emperor by his troops while campaigning in lower Germania in January, AD 69. His reign was short lived however, as Vespasian was hailed emperor in Judaea only a few months later. Vitellius’ troops gave little resistance as Vespasian entered Italy. As Vespasian’s army approached Rome, Vitellius attempted to abdicate but was prevented by the Praetorians and his backers, who rioted and burned down the Temple of Jupiter. Vitellius was ultimately dragged out of his hiding place and brutally murdered, his body thrown down the Gemonian Stairs.

762. Divus Vespasian. Died AD 79. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 22.86 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Titus, AD 80-81. Divus Vespasian seated left on curule chair, holding branch and scepter / Legend around large S C. RIC II.1 261 (Titus). Olive-green patina, scattered light deposits, lightly smoothed. VF. Rare. ($750)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Artemide LIII (2 May 2020), lot 299.

763. Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 23.70 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Vespasian, 1 July AD 72–30 June 73. Laureate head right / Mars advancing right, holding spear and trophy. RIC II.1 500 (Vespasian). Green patina, smoothing, some details enhanced, minor doubling on reverse. Good VF. Not suitable for encapsulation. ($1500)

Ex Leu Numismatik AG 17 (31 May 2025), lot 428 (hammer 3,400 CHF).

Flavius Titus Vespasianus was born in AD 41, as son of the successful general Vespasian. Titus had the honor of being raised and educated at court alongside the emperor Claudius’ son, Britannicus. He grew into an intelligent, handsome, and charming young man who became his father’s second in command for the Judaean campaign of AD 66-69. When Nero’s regime collapsed, Titus played a key role in the negotiations with other provincial governors that led to Vespasian’s acclamation as emperor. While Vespasian marched on Rome to confront his rivals, Titus took over direction of the Judaean war. He led his legions with dash, verve and personal courage, thus becoming an idol to his men. The Judaean campaign culminated in the brutal storming of Jerusalem in AD 70. Titus was granted a Triumph and the victory was celebrated with a widespread issue of coinage for Vespasian, Titus and his brother Domitian, both “Judaea Capta” types and simple Victory issues. These types include this Victory aureus of Titus as Caesar, struck cira AD 72-73. Though still theoretically subordinate to his father, Titus is shown wearing the laurel wreath or radiate usually reserved only for the emperor, visually signaling his status as virtual co-ruler with Vespasian.

From

764. Titus. AD 79-81. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 24.06 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 79. Laureate head right / Vesta seated left, holding Palladium and scepter. RIC II.1 66. Brown surfaces, shallow scratches, lightly smoothed. Good VF. ($1500)

the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Numismatik Naumann 128 (7 May 2023), lot 750; Numismatik Naumann 126 (5 March 2023), lot 845; Bertolami Fine Arts 29 (22 March 2017), lot 459.

Ex Prince of Waldeck Collection – Pedigreed to 1935

765. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 27.36 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 85. Laureate bust right, wearing aegis / Domitian standing left, holding spear; on left, German kneeling right, extending right hand in supplication, with left holding hexagonal shield; helmet laid at Domitian’s feet. RIC II.1 357. Green surfaces, smoothing, some details strengthened. VF. Struck on a broad flan. ($750)

Ex Prince of Waldeck Collection (Münzhandlung Basel 3, 4 March 1935), lot 291.

Domitian pursued military actions in Germany and Dacia in an effort to shorten Rome’s frontier with the barbarian tribes to the East. Success was only achieved by Domitian’s formidable successor, Trajan, yet such competent strategic efforts by Domitian run counter to the typical derogatory bias found in the ancient authors concerning Domitian’s reign. This coin likely commemorates victory over the Chatti, a German tribe which had been invading the Roman boundary, with the newly self-bestowed Germanicus title.

Pedigreed to 1913

766. Domitian. AD 81-96. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.58 g, 6h). Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) issue. Rome mint. Struck 14 September-31 December AD 88. Laureate head right / Herald, wearing feathered cap, advancing left, holding wand and round shield. RIC II.1 596; RSC 76/77. Attractive old collection toning. EF. ($750)

Ex Patrick A. Doheny Collection (Sotheby’s, 20 June 1979), lot 211; Manuel Vidal Quadras y Ramón Collection (Part 2, Bourgey, 16 December 1913), lot 180.

Honoring the original system for the celebration of the games, Domitian held the Ludi Saeculares in October AD 88, coming close to the traditional 110-year standard.

Sestertii from the Gasvoda Collection

Lot 764

Lot 796

Lot 824

Lot 818

Lot 803 Lot 809

Lot 812

Lot 830

Two Military Diplomas from the Time of Domitian

This, and the following lot, are examples of military diplomas – official documents of discharge from Roman military service of 25 years. As a condition of honorable discharge, foreign-born auxiliary troops were granted Roman citizenship for themselves, their now-legal wives and children, and their grandchildren. To prevent fraud, the constitution along with the name of the individual or group (as well as the ruling emperor by the time of the Empire), were engraved on both sides of the plates, sealed, and then presented to the veteran. An exact copy was sent to Rome, where it was mounted on one of the walls of one of the temples, as noted in the text. In this way, the Roman Empire extended citizenship to non-Romans serving in the military, paving the way for many to serve in the Roman bureucracy as equites, senators, generals, governors, and even emperors. The names and units listed provide the historian with information not available in the extant literature. Through such information, the deployment of units and well-known individuals can be traced, while names otherwise lost are recorded for posterity

Lot 767: EXTERIOR OF THE FIRST TABLET (photo reduced)

Lot 767: EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (photo reduced)

Lot 767: INTERIOR OF THE FIRST TABLET (photo reduced)

767. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Military Diploma (Tabula I and Tabula II incomplete and fragmentary). Dated 13 November 82 CE. Incomplete and fragmentary engraved pair of diploma tablets, originally complete, with the external texts of the plates engraved vebatim on the interior of each respective plate, and then sealed. The bronze lengths which formed the base of the original attached seal box are missing, but it can be seen where they joined to the second tablet, which contains the signatories.

See W. Eck, “A Second Constitution for the Auxiliary Troops in Judaea in 86 AD,” Scripta Classica Israelica XXIX (2010), pp. 21-31; H.M. Cotton, W. Eck, and B. Issac, “A Newly Discovered Governor of Judaea in a Military Diploma from 90 CE,” Israel Museum Studies in Archaeology 2 (2003), Fig. 3. Earthen green and red patina, some green deposits, minor smoothing, incomplete. As made. ($10,000)

Tabula I of this diploma, dated to 13 November 82 CE, is similar to an example in the Israel Museum (Accession number 2002.42.18). That object, a Tabula I, dated to 90 CE and published in Israel Museum Studies in Archaeology in 2003, is similar to our diploma, in that the same units are the subject of honorable discharge. Like the 90 CE example, ours notes that these veterans were, at the time, stationed in Judaea under the command of Tiberius Julius Candidus Marius Celsus. Known from contemporary epigraphic sources and a mention in a letter of Pliny the Younger, there is no current evidence to name him as a governor of Judaea at the time. The Roman historian Sir Ronald Syme points out that Candidus was absent from Rome after 81 CE (as evidenced by the records of the Arval Bretheran), when our diploma indicates that by early November 82 CE, he was in command of troops in Judaea. It is possible that Candidus had been sent to oversee the Roman administration in the province following the First Roman-Jewish War (66-70 CE) and the Fall of Masada (73/74 CE), where he discharged troops there who may have served in the conflict.

Lot 767: INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (photo reduced)

Transcription and Translation:

EXTERIOR OF THE FIRST TABLET (larger fragment):

IMP(erator) CAESAR DIVI VESPASIANI F(ilius) DOMITIANVS AV/GVSTVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS TRIBVNIC(ia) POTESTAT(e)/II IMP(erator) III P(ater) P(atriae) CO(n)S(ul) VIII DE[S]IGNAT(us) VIIII/IIS QVI MILITAVERVNT EQVITES ET PEDITES IN ALIS/TRIBVS ET COHORTIBVS [S]E[PT]EM QVAE APPELLANT/VR VOCONTIORVM ET VETERANA GAETVLORVM/ET II THRACVM MAVRETAN[A] ET I AVGVSTA LVS/ITANOR[VM ET ...] DAMASCENA ARMENIACA ET I/MILIA[RIA S]AGITTARIORVM ET II THRA/CVM ET II CANTABRICORVM ET II[I] CALLAECORVM/BRACARAVGVSTANORVM ET SVNT IN IVDAEA/[SVB] T IVLIO CANDIDO MARIO CELSO QVINIS/[ET VI]CENIS PLVRIBVS [...] STIPENDIS EMERI/[TIS] DIMISSIS HONESTA MISSIONE QVO/[RV]M NOMINA SVBSCRIPTA SVNT IS (broken here)

TRANSLATION OF THE EXTERIOR THE FIRST TABLET (larger fragment):

Emperor Caesar son of the Divus Vespasian Domitian Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holding tribunician power for the second time, acclaimed supreme commander for the third time, Father of the Nation, consul for the eighth time, consul designate for the ninth time, has granted citizenship to those cavalry and infantry serving in three wings and seven cohorts which are called ala I Thracum Victrix and two cohorts, Vocontiorum and veterana Gaetulorum and II Thracum Mauretana and I Augusta Lusitanorum and Damascena Armeniaca and I Milliaria Sagittariorum and II Thracum and II Cantabricorum and III Callaecorum Bracaraugustanorum, and are in Judaea under the command of T. Julius Candidus Marius Celsus, who have received payment for twenty-five years, or more, and whose names are attached below, to their children (broken here).

INTERIOR OF THE FIRST TABLET (larger fragment):

IMP CAESAR DIVI VESPASIANI F DOMITIANVS AVGVSTVS]/PONTIFEX MAXIM[VS TRIBVNIC POTESTAT II

IMP III/P P COS VIII [DESIGNAT VIIII]/IIS QVI MILITAVERVNT EQ[VITES ET PEDITES IN ALIS]/TRIBVS ET COHORTIBVS S/EPTEM QVAE APPELLANTVR]/VOCONTIORVM ET VETER[ANA GAETVLORVM ET II THRA]/ CVM MAVRETANA ET I A[VGVSTA LVSITANORVM ET ...]/DAMASCENA ARMENIACA [ET I MILIA RIA S]AGITTA]/ RIORVM ET II THRACVM ET II CANTABRICORVM]/ET III CALLAECORVM BR[ACARAVGVSTANORVM]/ ET SVNT IN IVDAEA SVB [T IVLIO CANDIDO MARIO]/CELSO QVINIS ET VICEN[IS PLVRIBVS [...] STIPENDIS]/EMERITIS

DIMISSIS HO[NESTA MISSIONE QVO]/RVM NOMINA SVBSC[RIPTA SVNT]/RIS POSTERISQVE EO[RVM]

TRANSLATION OF THE INTERIOR THE FIRST TABLET (larger fragment): (same as exterior, but includes) to their children and the descendants of them

EXTERIOR OF THE FIRST TABLET (smaller fragment): [POSTERISQVE EORVM] CIVITATEM/[...]VXORIBVSQVE/CIVITAS/(remainder partially legible)

TRANSLATION OF THE EXTERIOR THE FIRST TABLET (smaller fragment): [and the descendants of them] citizenshp [has been granted, and [the rights of conubium] with the wives [they now possess when] citizenship

EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments): [...] AVGVSTALIS[...] EVTRAPEIIC(aii) · LVCRETI[I] MODESTIP(ublii) CAVLI GEMELLIP(ublii) · ATINI RVFIL(ucii) PVLLI [hole for sealing the document] SP[...]IP(ublii) · [...]

TRANSLATION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments): (Seal of) [...] | | Augustalis(Seal of) […] | | Eutrapeius(Seal of) C. Lucretius | | Modestus(Seal of) P. Caulus | | Gemellus(Seal of) P. Atinius | | Rufus(Seal of) L. Pullius |•| Sp[inther?](Seal of) P. [...] | | [...]

INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments):

ET CONVBIVM CVM VXORIBVS QVAS TVN[C HA]BVISSENT CVM EST CIVITAS IIS [DATA AVT SI QVI] CAELIBES ESSENT [hole for sealing the document] CVM IIS QVAS DV/XISSENT DVMTAXAT SINGVLI SINGVLAS/ IDIB A NOVEMBRITREBATIO PRISCO/COS/MARIO PRISCOCOHORT · II · CANTABRORVM · CVI · PRAEST/T FLAVIVS FRONTO/EX CENTIBVS(?)/C · PROSIO T · ARIMEN[...]SCRIPTVM EX TABVLA AENA/[QV]AE FIXA [...] IN [...]CAPITOLIO

TRANSLATION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments):

and the rights of conubium with the wives they now possess when citizenshp [was granted] to them, [or those (now)] single when they do marry – naturally one man to one wife. (Dated) the Ides of November while Trebatius Priscus and Marius Priscus were consuls (13 November 82 CE). Cohors II Cantabrorum – under the command of T. Flavius Fronto. From that unit for C. Prosius T. Arimenius. [A transcribed copy] from the bronze tablet which has been affixed [at Rome] on the Capitol.

An Egyptian Connection

768. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Military Diploma (Tabula I [incomplete and fragmentary] and Tabula II). Dated 28 July 95 CE. Incomplete and fragmentary engraved pair of diploma tablets, originally complete, with the external texts of the plates engraved vebatim on the interior of each respective plate and then sealed. The bronze lengths which formed the base of the original attached seal box are missing, but it can be seen where they joined to the second tablet, which contains the signatories. See W. Eck, “A Second Constitution for the Auxiliary Troops in Judaea in 86 AD,” Scripta Classica Israelica XXIX (2010), pp. 21-31. Earthen green patina, some green deposits, fragmentary, but mostly complete. As made. Includes four fragments, possibly of Tabula I. ($3000)

Tabula II of this diploma (only four fragments of Tabula I remain and are also included) is dated 28 July 95 CE, based on the consuls listed who served from May to August of that year. It lists the honorable discharge for a veteran of the Cohort I Augusta (Praetoria) Lusitanorum. This unit, which was stationed widely during its service and is also listed on the previous diploma, suggests that the veteran listed certainly served in Judaea during the Roman administration, but it is unceratain whether he was there or in Egypt at the time of discharge. The recipient, named Herennius L.f. Rufus, is listed as a former infantryman (ex pedite). He is also listed as being of Egyptian origin, a fact not unusual, since Roman auxiliary policy prevented natives from serving in local units. His nomen, Herennius (the praenomen is missing) supports this Egyptian usage. A cache of ostraka found in Edfu in Upper Egypt and published by Roger S. Bagnall included one letter (O. Florida 8) written around 150 CE by a Herennius. A birth declaration from the Arsinoite nome and dated to AD 128 (P. Mich. 3 166), names Herennia Gemella, the daughter of C. Herennius Geminianus and Diogenis Thermoutharion.

The unit commander, a Ti. Claudius, who may or may not have been one of the two signatories of that name – unclear, due to the state of preservation – does include the the word Alexan[der] or possibly [dria] – again suggesting an Egyptian origin. If the word is intended to show him hailing from the great Hellenistic metropolis, thereby it reflects the growing synthesis of Greco-Roman culture in the imperial army. More attractive, though completely speculative at this point –if Alexan[der] is a cognomen, it recalls the famous Egyptian Jew, Tiberius Julius Alexander, whose storied career included serving as procurator of Judaea under Claudius and Prefect of Egypt (66-69 CE). At the siege of Jerusalem, he served as second-in-command under Titus. Perhaps, then our auxiliary commander was a well-placed individual of GrecoEgyptian origin.

Transcription and Translation:

EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments):

[...] || SEL[...][...] || [...]TI(berii) · CLAVDI || PRO[...]TI(berii) CLAVDI || PRIA[...]A(uli) · NAEVI PI[...]C(aii) · VETTI |•| PON[...]P(ublii) · POL[...] ADAVO

TRANSLATION OF THE EXTERIOR OF THE TABLET:

(Seal of) [...] Sel[...](Seal of) […](Seal of) Ti. Claudius | | Pro [...](Seal of) Ti. Claudius | | Pria [...](Seal of) A. Naevius | | Pi[...] (Seal of) C. Vettius |•| Pon[...](Seal of) P. Pol |•| Adavo[...]

INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (reconstructed from extant fragments): |•| TEM DEDIT ET CONVBIVM CVM VXORIB[VS]/QVAS TVNC HABVISSENT CVM EST CIVITAS [IIS]/DATA AVT SIQVI CAELIBES ESSENT CVM I[IS QVAS/POSTEA DVXISSENT |•| DVMTAXAT SINGV[LI SIN]/GVLAS A.D. V K AVGV[STI]/P DVCENIO VERRE A BVCIO [LAPP]IO M[AXIMO COS]/COHORT I AVGVSTA LV[SI]TANOR[VM]/CVI PRAEST/TI CLAVDIVS TI F QV[...] ALEXAN[...]/EX PEDITE/[...] HERENNI[O] L F RVFO AEG[(...)/DESCRIPTVM] ET RECOGNITVM EX TA[BVLA AENA/QV]AE FIXA |•| EST ROM[AE IN MV]RO/ POST TE]MPLVM DIVI AVG[VST] I AD/MINERVAM

TRANSLATION OF INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET:

[citizen]ship has been granted, and the rights of conubium with the wives they now possess when citizenship was granted to them, or those (now) single when they do marry – naturally one man to one wife. (Dated) the fifth day before the Kalends of August while P. Ducenius Verres and A. Bucius Lappius Maximus were consuls (28 July 95 CE). Cohors I Augusta Lusitanorum – under the command of Ti. Claudius Ti.f. Qu[...] Alexan[...]. For former infantry soldier [...] Herennius L.f. Aeg[...]. A transcribed copy from the bronze tablet which has been affixed at Rome on the wall behind the Temple of Augustus in the vicinity of Minerva.

Lot 768: EXTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (photo reduced)

Lot 768: INTERIOR OF THE SECOND TABLET (photo reduced)

769. Nerva. AD 96-98. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 26.99 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 97. Laureate head right / Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC II 83; Banti 21. Green-brown patina, light smoothing in fields, minor cleaning marks along edge. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), 741; Berk BBS 125 (27 February 2002), lot 719.

In order to counteract the public discord engendered by Domitian’s assassination and secure his own position on the throne, Nerva embarked on implementing a number of reforms and methods of alleviating the distress of the citizens of Rome. One of these was the special distribution of grain (frumento constituto) to the populace (plebes urbanae) in addition to that which they were already receiving from the annona, a long-standing public institution that had been subsidizing handouts since the time of Augustus. By Nerva’s day, this regular distribution had become so important that any temporary cessation of the supply could result in urban riots. In order to show his good intentions toward the capital and its people and demonstrate that the grain would continue to flow in an unceasing supply, Nerva made this special distribution. The commemoration of the event on this coin further reminded everyone of the “good emperor” who now ruled.

Pedigreed to 1922

Ex Cahn 80 (27 February 1933), lot

H. C.

Magnificent Portrait

AVG GERM P M, laureate bust right, slight drapery / TR POT COS IIII P P, S C in exergue, Pax, draped, seated left on throne, holding olive branch in extended right hand and transverse scepter in left. RIC II 432 var. (bust type); Woytek

EF. Boldly struck, with a magnificent portrait. ($7500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 117 (19 May 2021), lot 521 (hammer $22,000).

When Trajan entered his fourth consulship in AD 101, the Roman Empire seemed securely at peace, as celebrated by the figure of Pax on the reverse of this attractive sestertius. This peace, however, was not to be sustained as Trajan was already planning a massive campaign against the Dacian King Decebalus, who had humiliated Roman armies on two occasions during Domitian’s reign.

770. Nerva. AD 96-98. Æ Dupondius (28mm, 12.99 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 97. Radiate head right / Fortuna standing left, holding rudder set on ground and cornucopia. RIC II 84. Attractive dark green patina, light smoothing on obverse. Near EF. Well struck. ($750)

649;

Levis Collection (Ars Classica XI, 18 June 1925), lot 494; Naville II (12 June 1922), lot 601.

771. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (34.5mm, 23.91 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 101-102. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN

107b; Strack 338; Banti 337; BMCRE 745, note; BN 144-5. Glossy green patina, minor smoothing.

Extremely Rare with this Bust Type

772. Trajan. AD 98-117. AV Aureus (18mm, 7.07 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck mid AD 107-108. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, wearing aegis / Eagle standing front on thunderbolt, head left, wings spread. RIC II 144 var. (bust type); Allen Series 41, Type IV, 3 (dies 17/iv.2) [unlisted obv. die]); Woytek 261r; Calicó 1009 var. (same). Good Fine. Woytek cites three examples with this bust type. Extremely rare. ($2000)

Marcus Ulpius Traianus was one of the greatest of all Roman emperors and came from a family that had long been settled in Italica, Spain. His father had a distinguished senatorial career, becoming consul in AD 70 and proconsul of Asia in AD 79/80. His son was born in Italica on 18 September AD 53 and followed a military career, rising to high rank under Domitian. After Domitian’s assassination the elderly emperor Nerva realized his position was insecure and adopted Trajan as his successor in fall AD 97 to preclude any military moves against him. When Nerva died on 27 January AD 98, Trajan became emperor without any opposition.

Pedigreed to 1912

773. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ As (30mm, 11.27 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck mid AD 107-108. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Aquila between two signa. RIC II 588 var. (no drapery); Woytek 295b. Green and brown surfaces, flan flaw on obverse, smoothing. Near EF. ($500)

Ex Superior (15 June 1972), lot 451; Cahn 80 (27 February 1933), lot 664; A. Hess 209 (12 April 1932), lot 98; J. Hirsch XXXI (6 May 1912), lot 1290.

774. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 27.60 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 112/3-114. Laureate and draped bust right / Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC II 627; Woytek 483v; Banti 68. Glossy green and brown patina, smoothing, light roughness. Good VF. ($500)

775. Trajan. AD 98-117. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.04 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck winter AD 114-spring 115. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Jupiter, naked except for cloak on right and left arms, standing left, holding scepter and thunderbolt, protecting Trajan, togate, standing to lower left, holding laurel branch. RIC II 336 var. (bust type); Beckmann, Trajan, Group D (dies d10/J– [unlisted rev. die]); Woytek 512f; Calicó 1065; Spink 24005, lot 125 (same rev. die). Scratch on reverse. Near VF. ($2500)

776. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 26.61 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck late summer-autumn AD 114. Laureate and draped bust right / Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC II 651; Woytek 505v–1; Banti 63. Attractive green patina, areas of light roughness on obverse. Good VF. ($750)

777. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (36mm, 27.92 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck winter AD 114-early 116. Laureate and draped bust right / Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia. RIC II 672; Woytek 534v; Banti 106. Dark green and brown surfaces, smoothing. Good VF. ($500)

778. Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 6.96 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck late AD 121-123. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and spear; shield, bow and quiver to right. RIC II.3 538; Calicó 1334. Lightly toned, mark on reverse, a few tiny edge marks. Near VF. ($2000)

Publius Aelius Hadrianus, born to an aristocratic family in Roman Spain, lost his biological parents by AD 86 and became the ward of the future emperor Trajan, another Spaniard. As a young man, Hadrian began a career in the Roman government and military, and in about AD 100 married Sabina, a favored great-niece of Trajan. He also cultivated the friendship of Trajan’s wife Plotina. Though widely regarded as a favorite for the succession, Hadrian was not formally named Caesar until Trajan fell fatally ill in Cilicia while returning from his great eastern campaign. It was not a universally popular choice and rumors immediately spread that Hadrian’s adoption was stage-managed by Plotina after Trajan had already died. Hadrian, serving as governor of Syria, took immediate action to secure the throne, inducing the eastern legions to acclaim him as emperor by means of a hefty bonus. He then wrote to the Senate declaring his accession a fait accompli, but requesting his formal designation as emperor along with the deification of Trajan. With no real alternative, both requests were readily granted.

Ex Magnaguti Collection – Pedigreed to 1950

779. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 23.53 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck late AD 121-123. Laureate and cuirassed bust right, cropped of its pteryges shoulder straps, wearing gorgoneion on breastplate / Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt. RIC II.3 680; Banti 595. Dark green patina, smoothed. Good VF. Wonderful portrait. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII – Sesstion 6, 18 January 2024), lot 6143; Conte Alessandro Magnaguti Collection (Part III, Santamaria, 26 June 1950), lot 230.

780. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Sestertius (32.5mm, 25.60 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 125-126/7. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Aequitas-Moneta standing left, holding scales and pertica. RIC II.3 834; Banti 200. Attractive brown patina. Near EF. ($500)

From the Denis P. Barrett Collection. Ex David Heuer Collection (Baldwin’s Argentum, 4 June 2011), lot 93 (hammer £2100).

781. Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.06 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 130 or 132. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Spes advancing left, holding up flower and raising hem of skirt. RIC II.3 2356; Beckmann, Gold, dies g2/S3; Calicó 1382. Toned, shallow “x” graffito on reverse. VF. ($2000)

782. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 28.82 g, 11h). “Travel series” issue (“Provinces cycle”) – The province alone. Rome mint. Struck circa AD 130-133. Bareheaded and draped bust right / Hispania reclining left, holding branch and resting elbow on rock; to left, rabbit left. RIC II.3 1665; Banti 447. Green and brown surfaces, smoothing. VF. ($500)

Hadrian is considered a Spaniard, like his predecessor Trajan. His family, the Aelii, had risen to prominence in Italica, a city in Roman Spain near modern Seville. Hadrian spent much of his youth on family estates in Baetica and enjoyed the aristocratic lifestyle there. But upon entering public life, his peers laughed at his Latin, inflected as it was with a provincial Spanish accent. He responded by working hard on his pronunciation to erase any hint of provincial origins.

783. Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.12 g, 6h). “Travel series” issue (“Provinces cycle”) – The province alone. Rome mint. Struck AD 132. Bareheaded bust left, slight drapery / AEGYPTOS, Aegyptos, draped, reclining left, holding up sistrum in right hand and resting left arm on basket, snake to right of basket; to left, ibis standing right (not on column). RIC II.3 1476; Beckmann, Gold dies k1/AE1; Calicó 1185 (same dies as illustration). Toned, graffiti on obverse. VF. ($3000)

Arriving in August of AD 130, the ever-curious Hadrian reveled in the sights and mysterious rites of Egypt and the whole imperial entourage undertook a barge trip up the Nile. Alas, this trip ended in tragedy when his beloved companion, the Bithynian youth Antinoüs, drowned in the Nile’s dark waters. Hadrian “wept like a woman,” according to the Historia Augusta, and ordered the city of Antinoöpolis founded along the Nile near the spot of the drowning.

784. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ As (26mm, 11.93 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 133-circa 135. Laureate and draped bust right / Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopia. RIC II.3 2114. Dark green patina. Near EF. Rare. ($500)

Distinguished Aelius Portrait

785. Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 30.20 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. Bare head right / Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting arm on cornucopia set on ground. RIC II.3 2650; Banti 3. Dark brown patina, light smoothing, earthen deposits. VF. Portrait of artistic merit. Struck on a heavy flan. ($1000)

Ex John Wright Collection; Berk BBS 138 (1 June 2004), lot 441.

Aelius Caesar began life as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, son of a distinguished senator. Handsome and affable, Lucius entered public service in his 20s and rose steadily until he attracted the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who by the early AD 130s was searching for a suitable heir. In 136, Aelius was formally adopted by Hadrian and took the name Lucius Aelius Caesar, marking him out as successor to the throne. This beautifully engraved sestertius depicts Aelius with a luxuriant head of curls and a longer beard than Hadrian’s, setting the style for the Antonine rulers that followed.

786. Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Æ Sestertius (31.5mm, 25.70 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. Bare head right / Pannonia standing left, holding vexillum and hitching robe. RIC II.3 2656; Banti 14. Green patina, traces of earthen deposits. VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Tauler & Fau 103 (1 February 2022), lot 1574.

Extremely Rare Mythological Type in Gold

787. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.23 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 140. Bareheaded and draped bust right / Aeneas advancing right, carrying Anchises on his shoulder who holds cista and leading Ascanius by the hand who holds pedum. RIC III 91 corr. (obv. legend); Calicó 1649 (same dies as illustration); BMCRE 237 (same dies); Biaggi –; Mazzini –. Toned, minor deposits, edge marks. VF. Extremely rare. A very desirable type. ($3000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Golden Horn Collection (Stack’s, 12 January 2009), lot 2303.

According to Virgil (Aeneid, Book 2), Aeneas, the son of the goddess Venus and the Trojan Anchises, fled with some remnants of the inhabitants of Troy as it fell to the Greeks, taking with him his son, Ascanius, his elderly father, Anchises, and the Palladium, or ancient sacred statue of Athena. The Trojans eventually made their way west to resettle in Italy. There they intermarried with the local inhabitants and founded the town of Lavinium, and thereby became the nucleus of the future Roman people.

788. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 6.63 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 145-147. Laureate and draped bust right / Roma seated left on throne, holding palladium on extended hand and spear; round shield at side of throne. RIC III 147d; Calicó 1657a; BMCRE 558-9; Biaggi 765 var. (bust type); Mazzini 934 and 937 var. (bust type). Toned with some luster, light scuff, a couple of light scratches. Good VF. Rare. ($2500)

Antoninus Pius and his successor, Marcus Aurelius, ruled over one of the most prosperous epochs in the history of the Roman Empire. And yet it was Hadrian, for all of his controversy, who made this historic succession possible. Childless and with his health declining in AD 136, Hadrian sought to secure the peaceful continuity of power (as well as his legacy) by adopting an heir. His short-lived choice as Caesar was the consul Lucius Ceionius Commodus, the father of Marcus Aurelius’ eventual co-emperor, Lucius Verus. After the consul’s death from illness in AD 138, Hadrian chose Antoninus, by that time a capable and experienced administrator and public servant, on the condition that he adopt Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus as his future heirs.

789. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 6.84 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 148. Laureate head right / Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopia. RIC III 169a; Calicó 1577 (same obv. die as illustration); BMCRE 628; Biaggi 740 var. (bust type); Mazzini 504. Toned, scratch. Good VF. Rare. ($2000)

790. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 6.93 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 150. Laureate head right, slight drapery / Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC III 192d; Calicó 1509; BMCRE p. 103 †; Biaggi 708 = Mazzini 245 (same dies); Sir Hyman Montagu Collection (Rollin & Feuardent, 20 April 1896), lot 331 (same obv. die). Toned with some luster. Good VF. Rare. ($2000)

791. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AV Aureus (18mm, 6.59 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 154. Laureate head right / Pius, togate, standing left, holding globe on extended hand and volumen. RIC III 241; Calicó 1531 (illustrating the Biaggi/ Mazzini coin); BMCRE 835; Biaggi 721 = Mazzini 316; Cookie Family Collection (Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 25 August 2025), lot 40232 (same dies); CNG 103, 845 = CNG 100, 1880 (same dies); Pecunem 20 (Gitbud & Naumann, 3 August 2014), lot 649 (same dies). Toned. Good VF. ($2000)

The mild, civilian nature of Antoninus’ government is exemplified by this aureus, which depicts him on the reverse wearing the toga, traditional garb of a Roman civil magistrate, and holding a globe and volumen, or scroll. The globe had been a symbol of universal rule since the emergence of classical Greece.

792. Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. AV Aureus (18mm, 6.76 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 146-161. Draped bust right, wearing hair bound in pearls on top of her head / Fortuna, veiled, standing left, holding patera and rudder set on globe to right. RIC III 349a (Pius); Beckmann dies df33/AC14 (unlisted die combination); Calicó 1743b; BMCRE 371 (Pius) and 372 var. (bust type; same rev. die); Biaggi –; Mazzini 2. Toned with some luster, minor marks. Near EF. Fine style. ($2500)

Born into an aristocratic Roman senatorial family of Spanish descent, Annia Galeria Faustina was distantly related to the Emperor Hadrian. In about AD 115, she married Titus Fulvius Antoninus, a respected senator, and through her connections he was drawn into Hadrian’s inner circle and eventually chosen as his successor, achieving the throne in AD 138. Faustina was acclaimed Augusta, or Empress, and Antoninus honored her extensively on the coinage. Her vivacity and compassion for the poor made her popular with the Roman people. Her distinctive hairstyle, with a tight coil atop her head, was adopted by women throughout the Empire. Only two years into the reign, Faustina died of an unknown illness. The grief-stricken Antoninus secured her deification and issued an immense coinage in her name, the largest for any Roman woman to that point. This attractive aureus and the following examples were minted as part of the posthumous series.

793. Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. AV Aureus (17.5mm, 6.61 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 146-161. Veiled and draped bust left, wearing wreath of grain ears, hair bound in pearls on top of her head / Ceres, veiled, standing left, holding up a lighted torch in each hand. RIC III 357b (Pius); Beckmann dies df37/CB13; Calicó 1759 (same obv. die as illustration); BMCRE 407 (Pius); Biaggi 809 (same obv. die); Mazzini 76 (same dies). Toned, light hairlines, tiny edge mark. Good VF. Rare. ($2500)

794. Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 7.32 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 146-161. Draped bust right, wearing hair bound in pearls on top of her head / Venus, standing left, extending hand and raising hem of skirt. RIC III 367 (Pius); Beckmann dies df57/AG1; Calicó 1767 (same rev. die as illustration); BMCRE p. 61, note ‡ (Pius); Biaggi 814 (same rev. die); Mazzini –. Toned, light hairlines on reverse, a couple of edge marks. Near EF. Rare. ($5000)

Ex Savoca 121 (19 December 2021), lot 44.

795. Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 26.27 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 140-144. Bare head right / Emblems of the pontificate: secespita, aspergillum, guttus, lituus, and simpulum. RIC III 1234a (Pius); Banti 230. Attractive, mottled green and brown patina. Near EF. Portrait of artistic merit. ($750)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 124 (19 September 2023), lot 655; Jonathan K. Kern Collection.

Struck between 140-144 AD, while Marcus Aurelius was Caesar, the reverse of this coin dwells on the responsibilities of the Pontifex Maximus, leader of the four great Roman priesthoods and the most prominent and influential of priests within the Roman Empire. Originally a position chosen by popular vote, it wasn’t until the reign of Augustus that the role of Pontifex Maximus was merged with the other priesthoods to become a position held by the reigning emperor. The two main priestly colleges were those of the Augurate and Pontificate, whose emblems are displayed on the reverse we see here. The sacrificial knife or secespita, used for opening the body of the sacrificial victim, the aspergillum, used for sprinkling either blood or water. The guttus, a sacrificial jug with a narrow neck from which liquid could be poured in drops, the lituus, a distinctively crooked staff used by augurs for the divination of the heavens and finally, the simpulum, a small vessel, or ladle with a long handle used at sacrifices to make libations or for pouring onto the head of the sacrificial victims. All of these emblems would have been highly symbolic, signifying the immense power the Pontifex Maximus held, as such they formed part of a commonly used motif, frequently employed by emperors during the early imperial period.

Wonderful Portrait: Banti Plate Coin – Pedigreed to 1965

796. Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 25.88 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 159-160. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Mars advancing right, holding spear and trophy over shoulder. RIC III 1352Bb; Banti 391 (this coin illustrated). Even brown patina. Near EF. Wonderful portrait. ($3000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII – Session 6, 18 January 2024), lot 6167; Stack’s (10 December 1986), lot 1674; Glendining (10 March 1965), lot 80.

797. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.18 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 161. Bare head right / Marcus Aurelius, togate, and Lucius Verus, togate, standing vis-à-vis, clasping hands and each holding a volumen. RIC III 8; MIR 18, 15-2/10; Calicó 1822 (this coin illustrated); BMCRE 7; Biaggi 842 var. (bust type); Mazzini –. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 4372904-071, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($7500)

Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XIV (29 November 1984), lot 426.

Hadrian, childless and without either a successor or heir, chose Lucius Ceionius Commodus as his adopted son in AD 136 and renamed him Lucius Aelius Caesar. Aelius was sent to the Roman province of Pannonia to serve as governor, where he unexpectedly died in AD 138. Hadrian now made his second choice for his heir, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Antoninus. Hadrian actually wanted Marcus Aurelius to succeed him on the throne but realized that Aurelius was far too young, so instead he went with the highly respected Antoninus. As a condition of his adoption, and to ensure an orderly line of succession, Antoninus Pius adopted both his nephew, Marcus Aurelius, and Aelius Caesar’s son, Lucius. The relatively young Lucius would change his name to Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus, but he would later drop Commodus and add Verus after ascending to the throne, along with his adoptive brother and co-ruler Marcus Aurelius.

798. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 7.33 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck AD 162. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Marcus Aurelius, togate, and Lucius Verus, togate, standing vis-à-vis, clasping hands and each holding a volumen. RIC III 45; MIR 18, 31-2/17; Calicó 1830 (same obv. die as illustration); BMCRE 187 note; Biaggi –; Mazzini 72 (same obv. die). Toned, hairlines. Near EF. ($4000)

799. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 22.32 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 169. Laureate head right / Salus standing left, holding scepter and feeding from patera a serpent coiled around and rising from altar to left. RIC III 964; MIR 18, 182-6/30; Banti 267. Attractive brown patina, minor deposits. Good VF. Expressive portrait. ($500)

Ex John Wright Collection; Heritage 231252 (27 December 2012), lot 61017.

800. Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 22.44 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 147-150. Draped bust right, wearing single band of pearls around head, hair drawn into chignon at back of head with locks on forehead / Venus standing left, holding apple and anchor, around which a dolphin is coiled. RIC III 1388c (Pius); Banti 137. Dark green-brown patina, minor deposits, light smoothing. Near EF. An attractive portrait ($500)

Ex Lanz 163 (7 December 2016), lot 330 (since conserved).

Annia Galeria Faustina the Younger was born in about AD 129 to Antoninus Pius and his wife, Faustina the Elder. In AD 138, the emperor Hadrian arranged for her betrothal to Lucius Verus, also about eight. After Antoninus inherited the throne, he broke the engagement and instead betrothed her to his other adoptive son, Marcus Aurelius. The couple were wed in AD 145 to great rejoicing. Faustina was named Augusta in AD 147, replacing her late mother. Her coinage commences that year and continues for the next three decades, showing her passage from a fresh-faced princess to a mature matron, and providing a pageant of Roman feminine hairstyles over that span.

Extremely Rare Aureus With Venus Holding the Three Graces

801. Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.18 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius, circa AD 161-circa 175. Draped bust right, hair arranged in parallel plaits drawn into small chignon at nape of neck / Venus seated left on throned, holding the Three Graces in extended hand and transverse scepter. RIC III 732; Beckmann, Faustina (dies fm50/VF1 – this coin); MIR 18 –; Calicó 2099 (illustrating the Biaggi coin); BMCRE –; Biaggi 945; Mazzini –. Toned, hairlines, light scratch, area of expert repair. Near EF. Extremely rare with Venus holding the Three Graces. One of two known. Not suitable for encapsulation. ($2000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Nomos 20 (10 July 2020), lot 331; Lanz 165 (9 December 2017), lot 227; Goldberg 93 (6 September 2016), lot 1611 (repaired since); Goldberg 91 (7 June 2016), lot 2027; Heritage 3033 (8 August 2014), lot 23086; Hess-Divo 308 (24 October 2007), lot 218.

This extremely rare aureus with Venus holding the Three Graces is attested to by just two examples. Szaivert in MIR 18 (1986) doubted that this type existed and did not include an entry for it. The only authority cited in the RIC entry is for Revue Belge de Numismatique 36 (1880), p. 59, no. 9. This type, however, is not included in those illustrated on pl. VI. The other known example is the Biaggi coin which serves as the illustration in Calicó and has made two auction appearances in Numismatica Ars Classica 52 (7 October 2009), lot 470 and Numismatica Ars Classica 49 (21 October 2008), lot 285. Beckmann in his recent 2021 study likewise knew of only these two examples.

Pleasing Portrait

802. Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. Æ Sestertius (31.5mm, 27.80 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AD 161-164. Draped bust right, wearing double band of pearls around head, chignon adorned with pearls / Fecunditas standing right, holding scepter and infant. RIC III 1638 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 9-6b; Banti 61. Beautiful deep green patina. Good VF. Struck on a broad, heavy flan. Pleasing portrait. ($1000)

Ex John Wright Collection.

803. Lucilla. Augusta, AD 164-182. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 29.23 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AD 161-162. Draped bust right, hair waved and coiled at back of head, chignon adorned with pearls / Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter. RIC III 1763 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 16-6a; Banti 39. Red-brown and green patina. Superb EF. Excellent portrait. ($2000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 788; Gemini IX (8 January 2012), lot 498; Astarte XXII (12 June 2010), lot 183.

The second of six daughters born to Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, Lucilla grew up as an imperial princess, with the strange mix of power and helplessness such a position entailed in ancient Rome. In AD 161, at the age of 12, she was betrothed to Lucius Verus, her father’s co-emperor, who was 18 years her senior and had many years earlier actually been betrothed to her mother. Lucilla lost the title of Augusta after the sudden death of Verus in AD 169 and her subsequent forced marriage to the elderly senator Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus. This loss of status led her into an unsuccessful plot against Commodus in AD 182, with fatal results.

804. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 29.14 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 184. Laureate head right / Fides standing right, holding two stalks of grain and raising plate of fruits. RIC III 413; MIR 18, 598-6/30; Banti 478. Dark brown patina. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 791; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 902141 (August 2011).

Because of the high infant mortality within the family, no clear successors to Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus existed. The arrival of Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus and his twin, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus in AD 161 was viewed as a particularly fortuitous event. The early death of Titus left only his brother Lucius to survive to adulthood. Lucius Verus and his wife Lucilla, one of the two surviving daughters of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, had their own misfortunes, as all their children died shortly after birth. Thus, by the time Verus himself died in AD 169, the only viable successor remained Aurelius’ son Commodus, who had been granted the title of Caesar in AD 166.

Between his appointment as Caesar and his subsequent appointment as Augustus in AD 177, Commodus accompanied his father on campaign in order to familiarize himself with the necessities of governance and military command. This was a critical time for Marcus Aurelius, whose sole rule at this time was beset both by revolt in Egypt under Avidius Cassius and a long, protracted war with the Marcomanni and Quadi. Commodus’ assumption of his first consulship in January AD 177 and appointment as Augustus in mid-year must have come as welcome relief. In the summer of AD 178, Commodus married Bruttia Crispina to whom he had been betrothed for some time and for which event Marcus Aurelius had made a public sacrifice. These were heady days for the dynasty in that misfortune had been averted and it seemed that the Antonine legacy of calm peaceful rule was to continue. This, however, was not to be as Marcus Aurelius spent the remainder of his reign on campaign in Germania, dying on the frontier in AD 180. The hope inspired in the early days of Commodus’ reign grew dark as apparent megalomania set in, resulting in Commodus’ belief in himself as Hercules reincarnate, a belief that led to his assassination on the last day of December AD 192.

805. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ As (24mm, 6.82 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 191. Laureate head right / Apollo standing left, head right, holding plectrum and resting hand on lyre set on cippus to right. RIC III 588; MIR 18, 806-9/30; BMCRE 675. Dark brown and green patina. EF. Rare. An excellent example with full legends. ($500)

Ex Gemini III (9 January 2007), lot 416; Classical Numismatic Group 60 (22 May 2002), lot 1728; Lanz 106 (27 November 2001), lot 504; Leo Benz Collection (Lanz 94, 22 November 1999), lot 685.

Rare Obverse Legend

806. Crispina. Augusta, AD 178-182. Æ Sestertius (29.5mm, 25.02 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Commodus. CRISPINA AVG IMP COMMODI AVG, draped bust right / Salus seated left, resting elbow on chair and feeding out of patera a serpent coiled around and rising from altar to left. RIC III 672b (Commodus); MIR 18, 18-6(a); Banti 17. Good VF. Rare obverse legend. ($500)

Ex John Wright Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, August 2003; Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 597.

Bruttia Crispina was the daughter of Gaius Bruttius Praesens, an influential Roman nobleman from Lucania. Her marriage to the teenaged Commodus was arranged in AD 178 by his father, Marcus Aurelius, to shore up support among the Roman gentry. Crispina was a legendary beauty but this probably had little effect on the egocentric Commodus, who took a succession of lovers of both sexes. Her inability to produce an heir led Commodus to tire of her; accordingly, she was charged with adultery and banished to the island of Capri in AD 188, where she was later executed. It is sometimes asserted she died much earlier in the reign, after the conspiracy of Lucilla in AD 182, but this is due to a faulty reading of the main sources for the era, the Historia Augusta and Cassius Dio. Indeed, inscriptions record her as still being empress in the late AD 180s. Her coinage is not as extensive as that of previous empresses, probably due to her husband’s indifference.

807. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Sestertius (28.5mm, 19.65 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 195-196. Laureate and cuirassed bust right / Mars standing right, holding spear and resting hand on shield set on ground; cuirass to left. RIC IV 708; Banti 99. Green and red patina, some roughness, smoothing. Good VF. ($500)

Ex Sotheby’s Zürich (7 May 1975), lot 245.

Although Septimius Severus is often described as first of the “soldier emperors,” his early career was almost entirely civilian, rising steadily through the ladder of Roman magistracies, much like his predecessors. Nevertheless, his reign proved a major step in militarizing Roman government and life. He entered the Senate in AD 173 and gained some early military experience as a legionary officer in Africa and Syria, where he served under the later Emperor Pertinax. After reaching the consulship in AD 190, he was appointed as governor of Pannonia Superior, which placed him in command of Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix, strategically located within easy march of Italy and Rome. With the assassination of Commodus in AD 193, followed within weeks by the murder of his mentor Pertinax, Severus was hailed as emperor by the XIIIIth at Carnuntum. A lightning march to Rome deposed the pathetic Didius Julianus and placed Severus in firm control of the capital, whereupon he immediately prepared for civil war against two rivals who had likewise been proclaimed in the provinces, Clodius Albinus and Pescinnius Niger. Though wealthy and connected, Severus was from a “new” family and relied heavily on the army to cement his power. He raised military pay and showed his troops many preferments, including ending the longtime ban on marriage for regular soldiers. The army began to think of him as one of their own and, after disposing of Niger and Albinus, he suffered no revolts or serious internal threats for the rest of his reign.

808. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. AV Aureus (20mm, 6.99 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 207. Laureate head right / Head of the Gorgoneion Medusa facing slightly left. RIC IV 285 (same rev. die as illustration on pl. VII); Calicó 2523 (same dies as illustration); BMCRE 355 (same rev. die as illustration on pl. 36); Biaggi –; Mazzini –. In NGC encapsulation 6159205-001, graded VF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 1/5, pierced. Very rare. ($2000)

From the Dr. Mark Staal Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica (25 May 2020), lot 1122; Warszawskie Centrum Numizmatyczne 59e (14 February 2015), lot 17.

British Victory Sestertius

809. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Sestertius (32.5mm, 29.61 g, 12h). British Victory type. Rome mint. Struck AD 210. Laureate head right / VICTORIAE BRITANNICAE, two Victories, both draped, standing vis-à-vis, holding between them a shield and placing it on palm tree in center; at base of palm tree flanking, two seated captives, both with hands bound behind back; S C in exergue. RIC IV 818; BMCRE 811 (same obv. die); Banti 167; SCBC 652. Dark brown-green patina with some red, some light smoothing. Good VF. ($2000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), lot 814; Classical Numismatic Group 67 (22 September 2004), lot 1621; Sternberg XXVIII (with Freeman & Sear, 30 October 1995), lot 174.

In AD 208, Septimius Severus together with the entire imperial family (his wife Julia Domna and their sons Caracalla and Geta) set out for Britain where the situation on the northern frontier demanded urgent attention. He was to spend the last two and a half years of his life in the island province and was destined never to return to Rome. Together with his elder son, the co-emperor Caracalla, he campaigned vigorously beyond the imperial frontier, penetrating far into Scotland. The line of their marching-camps can still be detected today by aerial photography. Severus also restored Hadrian’s Wall, the northern frontier of the province, which was in serious need of renovation now that more than eighty years had elapsed since its original construction. Little is known of the success of these military operations, though they were to bring peace to the area for the remainder of the third century and an extensive issue of coinage in all metals was produced to commemorate the British victory.

Ex Lockett & Sydenham Collections – Pedigreed to 1941

810. Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 28.40 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Caracalla, circa AD 211-215. Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Vesta seated left, holding simpulum and scepter. RIC IV 593 (Caracalla); Banti 52. Brown patina, area of red on reverse. Good VF. ($500)

Ex John Wright Collection; Classical Numismatic Group 50 (23 June 1999), lot 1592; Richard Cyril Lockett Collection (Part VIII, Glendining, 26 May 1959), lot 71; Rev. Edward A. Sydenham Collection (Glendining, 10 December 1941), lot 236 (part of).

Julia Domna was of Syrian-Arab ancestry, the daughter of the hereditary high priest of Elagabal at Emesa, a wealthy caravan city in the Syrian desert. Beautiful, cultured, and highly educated, she was made even more of a prize by a horoscope that proclaimed she would marry a king. Septimius Severus probably encountered her family while serving as a general in Syria in the AD 180s. When he learned of the horoscope, the recently widowed Severus, then serving as governor of Gaul in Lugdunum, immediately wrote to Julia’s father and secured her hand in marriage. She gave him two sons, Bassianus (later renamed Antoninus and known to history as Caracalla) in AD 188, and Geta the following year. Upon Severus’ ascension as Roman Emperor in AD 193, Julia was named Augusta and became his closest advisor and confidant. She frequently accompanied Severus and their sons on military campaigns, for which the soldiers granted her the title Mater Castrorum (“mother of the camp”). Her love of art, learning, and philosophy fostered a cultural revival in Rome, with Julia serving as patroness of a diverse salon circle.

Julia Domna’s coinage was more vast and diverse than any previous Roman empress, beginning soon after her acclamation as Augusta in AD 193.

Beautiful Severan Dynastic Aureus

811. Caracalla, with Septimius Severus and Julia Domna. AD 198-217. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.32 g, 12h). Dynastic issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 201. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PON TR P IIII, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right / CONCORDIAE A ETERNAE, jugate busts right of Septimius Severus, radiate and draped, and Julia Domna, draped, wearing stephane, set on crescent. RIC I 52; Calicó 2849 (same obv. die as illustration); BMCRE 260; Adda 430 (same obv. die); Biaggi 1163 (same obv. die); Mazzini 1; Triton XXV, lot 950 (same dies). Toned, minor deposits. EF. Three superb portaits on this impressive dynastic issue. ($30,000)

Without an heir to take up the throne, the possibility of a civil war erupting after the death of an emperor was an enormous threat to public safety. This issue celebrates the harmony – even the eternity – of the dynasty, depicting both father and son. In furtherance of this theme, Julia Domna was associated with Luna Lucifera, “the light-bearing Moon,” while Septimius Severus associated himself with Sol, god of the Sun, a natural and immortal pair.

The Circus Maximus – Pedigreed to 1958

812. Caracalla. AD 198-217. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 30.70 g, 1h). Rome mint. Struck AD 213. Laureate and cuirassed bust right / View of the Circus Maximus: the front consists of an arcade of arches and a large arch on right; just behind on left, driver and quadriga right on arch, spina in center, three quadrigae driving left around, spectators in gallery to right; in background, on left, temple and colonnade of three tiers of arches, upon which is a quadriga. RIC IV 500b; BMCRE 252; Banti 47. Dark green patina, smoothing, minor pitting, a few light scratches. Near EF. Rare. ($5000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), lot 821; Harlan J. Berk inventory cc56499; Leu 100 (23 April 2007), lot 528 (hammer CHF 8000); Hess-Leu [9] (2 April 1958), lot 360.

The oldest and largest of Rome’s huge public stadiums, the Circus Maximus was situated in a natural valley between the Aventine and Palatine Hills and was continuously enlarged and embellished for nearly 1,000 years from circa 494 BC forward. This sestertius marks a renovation under Caracalla that added a new starting gate to the grand old racetrack.

813. Caracalla. AD 198-217. AR Antoninianus (25mm, 4.62 g, 12h). Parthian victory issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 217. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory seated right on cuirass, holding wreath inscribed VO/XX in two lines; to right trophy with bound captive seated on ground on either side; VIC PART in exergue. RIC IV 297d; BMCRE 199; RSC 648. Iridescent toning, underlying luster. EF. ($500)

814. Diadumenian. As Caesar, AD 217-218. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 26.31 g, 12h). Rome mint. 2nd emission of Macrinus. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Diadumenian, bareheaded and wearing military attire, standing left, holding signa and cradling scepter; two signa to right; S C in exergue. RIC IV 211 (Macrinus); Clay Issue 2; Banti 3; BMCRE 151. Green-brown patina with some red, slight roughness. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), lot 827; Numismatica Ars Classica 11 (29 April 1998), lot 483; Numismatica Ars Classica 8 (3 April 1995), lot 888.

In response to Elagabalus being declared Augustus by the soldiers at Emesa on 15 May AD 218, Macrinus elevated his son Diadumenian to Augustus shortly thereafter at Apamea, while on his way to meet the rebellion. Diadumenian did not remain Augustus for long. Following his defeat on 8 June AD 218, Macrinus entrusted Diadumenian to some loyal soldiers, who were to transport the boy to refuge with the Parthians. Near Zeugma, however, Diadumenian was captured and executed shortly thereafter. He was 10 years old and reigned as Augustus for less than three weeks.

Extremely Rare Distribution Scene Aureus of Elagabalus

815. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. AV Aureus (20mm, 6.39 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck end of AD 219. IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / P M T R P II COS II P P, distribution scene: Elagabalus, togate, seated left on curule chair on platform, extending hand and holding scepter; to left, Liberalitas, holding abacus and cornucopia, standing left; at base of platform, citizen mounting steps, raising hand; LIB AVG II in exergue. RIC IV 9c; Thirion 142 (citing the same sale); BMCRE pp. 545-6 and pl. 87, 3 var. (bust type; same rev. die); Calicó 3000 (same dies); Biaggi 1286 var. (same; same rev. die); Mazzini –; Don Manuel Vidal Quadras Collection (Part 2, E. Bourgey, 16 December 1913), lot 416 (same dies). Toned. Good VF. Extremely rare. R.3 in Calicó. One of four known to this cataloger. ($10,000)

Struck on the occasion of the marriage of Elagabalus and Julia Paula coinciding with the arrival of the sacred stone of Emesa in Rome.

Ex Mazzini & Laughlin Collections – Pedigreed to 1933

816. Elagabalus. AD 218-222. Æ Sestertius (28mm, 18.69 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck AD 221. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Elagabalus in sacerdotal dress, standing left, holding cypress branch and sacrificing out of patera over lighted and garlanded altar to left. RIC IV 326 var. (horned); Banti 34 (this coin cited and illustrated); Mazzini 200 v. (this coin). Attractive green patina, minor flan flaws, hairline flan crack. VF. ($500)

From the Heather Howard Collection. Ex Giuseppe Mazzini Collection (publ. 1957); R. Laughlin Collection (A. Hess, 18 December 1933), lot 771.

At the age of fourteen, Varius Avitus Bassianus (better known as Elagabalus or Heliogabalus) inherited the office of high priest of the sun god El-Gabal at Emesa in Syria. The deity was worshipped in the form of a conical sacred stone, or baetyl, likely a large meteorite. When an unlikely coup made him emperor in June of AD 218, Elagabalus determined to take the stone with him to Rome and introduce its worship to the whole empire. During his reign, the emperor was devoted to promoting the cult of El-Gabal, building a lavish temple on the Palatine Hill to house the stone. For a brief period, the exotic eastern deity nearly came to dominate the Roman Pantheon.

817. Julia Paula. Augusta, AD 219-220. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 22.97 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, AD 220. Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia; star to left. RIC IV 381 (Elagabalus); Thirion 459; Banti 7. Olive and brown patina with traces of red. VF. Rare. ($1000)

Ex John Wright Collection; Tony Hardy Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 67, 22 September 2004), lot 1641.

Julia Cornelia Paula was the daughter of Julius Paulus, Praetorian prefect and a member of one of Rome’s most influential families. When 14-year-old Elagabalus seized the throne in AD 218, his grandmother Julia Maesa, the real power behind the throne, decided he must marry quickly to cement ties with Rome’s ruling classes. Maesa chose Julia Paula, likely about 20 years of age, to be her grandson’s mate and empress. The wedding in mid AD 219 was accompanied by the appropriate pomp and games, but the new emperor, later known as Elagabalus, was high priest of a Syrian sun cult whose ways were quite alien to Rome. Moreover, his sexual preference tended toward males and he took no interest in his new wife. The marriage quickly disintegrated within a year and the couple quietly divorced in mid-AD 220. Julia Paula’s fate after her brief stint as empress is unknown.

Stunning Severus Alexander Portrait

818. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 20.30 g, 12h). Rome mint. 16th emission, AD 233. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Sol advancing left, raising hand and holding whip. RIC IV 535; BMCRE 937 corr. (bust type); Banti 119. Even brown patina. EF. Exceptional portrait. ($1000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII – Session 6, 18 January 2024), lot 6251; CNG Inventory 702244 (November 1997); Spink 120 (9 July 1997), lot 173.

The reign of Severus Alexander presents the last relatively tranquil interlude before the mid-third century storm swept away the Pax Romana. Mild-mannered and affable, the youth was really never more than a figurehead ruler, first for his grandmother, the formidable Julia Maesa, and then, after her death in AD 225/6, for his mother Julia Mamaea. As long as the Empire remained at peace, the government functioned smoothly and prosperity reigned. Later generations would view Alexander’s reign as the last episode of a Golden Age and imbued him with all the attributes of an ideal prince.

819. Orbiana. Augusta, AD 225-227. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.29 g, 12h). Rome mint. Special marriage emission of Severus Alexander, AD 225. Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopia. RIC IV 319 (Alexander); BMCRE 287-9 (Alexander); RSC 1. Lustrous. EF. ($500)

Sallustia Barbia Orbiana was the daughter of Lucius Seius Herennius Sallustius, an influential Roman senator. In AD 225, when she was about 16, she married the young emperor Severus Alexander, who was about the same age. Their marriage gave every appearance of being tranquil for two years; however, her position theoretically equaled that of the emperor’s mother, Julia Mamaea, the true power behind the throne. Unfortunately, Mamaea could not countenance this. In AD 227, Sallustius was abruptly charged with trying to foment a rebellion with the Praetorian guards, arrested, and executed. The marriage of Alexander and Orbiana was annulled, and she was stripped of her titles and exiled to Libya. Her final fate is unknown. Such were the risks of challenging a jealous mother-in-law

820. Maximinus I. AD 235-238. AR Denarius (21mm, 2.60 g, 12h). Rome mint. 3rd emission, late AD 236-237. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Maximinus I standing left between two signa, raising hand and holding spear. RIC IV 5; BMCRE 161-3; RSC 64. Iridescent toning with much luster. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection.

821. Diva Paulina. Died before AD 235. AR Denarius (20.5mm, 3.33 g, 12h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. 2nd emission of Maximinus I, AD 236. Veiled and draped bust right / Paulina raising hand and holding transverse scepter, reclining left on peacock flying upward to right. RIC IV 2 (Maximinus I); BMCRE 127-8 (Maximinus I); RSC 2. Lightly toned with some luster. EF. ($750)

As with many other empresses of the later Roman Empire, very little is known about Caecilia Paulina, wife of Maximinus I Thrax. Maximinus is said to have worn his wife’s bracelet as a ring on his thumb, an anecdote intended to emphasize his enormous size. Paulina died either before her husband’s accession or shortly thereafter, as all her coins are posthumous and name her as Diva, or goddess. Some of her portraits appear to be feminized versions of her husband, although this example has a more delicate and distinctive visage.

Diva Paulina. Died before AD 235. AR Denarius (20.5mm, 3.37 g, 6h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. 2nd emission of Maximinus I, AD 236. Veiled and draped bust right / Peacock standing facing, head left, tail in splendor. RIC IV 1 (Maximinus I); BMCRE 135 (Maximinus I); RSC 1. Lustrous. Superb EF. ($750)

822.

Extensive Pedigree to 1901

823. Diva Paulina. Died before AD 235. Æ Sestertius (31.5mm, 23.86 g, 12h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. 2nd emission of Maximinus I, AD 236. Veiled and draped bust right / Paulina raising hand and holding transverse scepter, reclining left on peacock flying upward to right. RIC IV 3; BMCRE 132 (Maximinus I); Banti 1. Dark green patina, a few shallow edge splits. Good VF. ($750)

Ex John Wright Collection, purchased from John Gomer, June 2003; Classical Numismatic Group XXXIII (15 March 1995), lot 925; Classical Numismatic Auctions XVI (16 August 1991), lot 530; Leu 10 (29 May 1974), lot 294; A. Bougon Collection (Platt 9, 18 November 1935), lot 322; Robert Carfrae Collection (Part 2, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 8 July 1901), lot 213.

824. Balbinus. AD 238. Æ Sestertius (30.5mm, 22.00 g, 1h). Rome mint. 1st emission, 22 April-29 July. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Concordia, draped, seated left on throne, holding patera in outstretched hand and double cornucopia. RIC IV 22; BMCRE 18-21; Banti 1. Dark brown and green patina. Near EF. A wonderful coin in hand. ($1500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Wayne Scheible Collection (Triton XXVII, 9 January 2024), lot 837, purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.

With the deaths of the Gordians in Carthage, the Roman Senate faced a difficult situation. A vengeful Maximinus was headed to Rome (for the first time in his reign), and there was no center of opposition to his onslaught. The desperate senators called upon two of their number, Balbinus and Pupienus, to become joint emperors in the face of the threat, with Balbinus to organize Rome, while Pupienus marched out to confront Maximinus. Whether the two inexperienced emperors could have successfully met the challenge would never be known, because Maximinus was assassinated by his own troops before Aquileia in early April. The victory of the two emperors would be short-lived; they fell to bickering, and on 29 April disgusted Praetorian guards dragged them out of the palace and murdered them. Their replacement was the young Caesar, Gordian, nephew of Gordian II. In the space of a few short months the Roman Empire had been ruled by a barbarian giant, an elderly provincial governor and his headstrong son, two incompetent senators, and a thirteen year old boy

825. Balbinus. AD 238. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 19.56 g, 12h). Rome mint. 1st emission, 22 April-29 July. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Balbinus, togate, standing left, holding branch and parazonium. RIC IV 16; BMCRE 28; Banti 7. Dark brown patina. Good VF. ($2000)

Ex Triton XXVI (10 January 2023), lot 799; Classical Numismatic Group 87 (18 May 2011), lot 1055.

826. Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 4.85 g, 6h). Rome mint, 6th officina. 7th emission, mid AD 240. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Gordian on horseback riding left, raising hand and holding transverse scepter. RIC IV 80 (same dies as illustration on pl. 2); Calicó 3220; Biaggi –; Mazzini –. Toned, light hairlines. Good VF. Rare. ($2500)

Gordian III’s six year reign was period of relative tranquility in the turbulent mid-third century AD. He was the grandson of Gordian I Africanus, patriarch of an immensely wealthy and influential family, who in AD 238 was proclaimed emperor in revolt against the cruel Maximinus I Thrax. The regime collapsed almost immediately, and, through an improbable series of events, the 13-year-old Gordian III was eventually saluted as emperor, the only one of AD 238’s six Roman rulers to survive the year. Due to his youth, he was at first dominated by his mother and a board of senators, who had to walk a tightrope to avoid the fate of previous short-lived regimes. In AD 241, Gordian appointed as Praetorian Prefect the capable Timesitheus, whose daughter Tranquillina became his bride. Timesitheus became a beneficent mentor who kept Gordian’s weak government on an even keel. But in the same year, the Sasanian Persians under Shapur I crossed Rome’s desert frontier and threatened Antioch, forcing young Gordian to take up arms. His army engaged Shapur at Rhesaena in Syria and won a signal victory early in AD 243. But the death of Timesitheus that winter brought Roman progress to a grinding halt. Supplies dwindled, and the new prefect, Philip, blamed the shortage on Gordian’s incompetence. The soldiers grew rebellious. Gordian reportedly offered to abdicate in Philip’s favor, but Philip instead simply seized the throne and had Gordian quietly murdered early in AD 244. Gordian’s youth and gentle nature had proven unsuited to the demands of hard times.

827. Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 4.46 g, 12h). Rome mint, 4th officina. 8th-11th emissions, end of AD 240-early 243. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / The “Farnese” Hercules standing right, holding the Apples of the Hesperides behind back, club set on rock to right, and lion skin. RIC IV 108; Calicó 3242; Biaggi 1373-4; Mazzini 401. Toned, light hairlines, tiny edge mark. Near EF. ($2500)

Very Rare Philip II Aureus

828. Philip II. As Caesar, AD 244-247. AV Aureus (20mm, 4.43 g, 6h). Rome mint. 2nd emission of Philip I, AD 245. Bareheaded and draped bust right / Philip II, wearing military attire, standing right, holding transverse spear and globe. RIC IV 216a; Bland, Gold 22 (dies PII 07/– [unlisted rev. die]); Calicó 3276 (same obv. die as illustration; illustrating the Biaggi coin); Biaggi 1390 (same obv. die); Mazzini 52 (same obv. die). Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8559713-001, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Edge marks, brushed. Very rare. ($10,000)

A Highly Detailed Elephant

829. Philip II. AD 247-249. AR Antoninianus (23mm, 5.47 g, 12h). Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) issue, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Rome. Antioch mint. Struck AD 247-248. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / AETERNITAS AVGG, elephant adorned with saddle-cloth walking left, guided by mahout, holding goad and wand. RIC IV 246Aa corr. (rev. legend); Bland Study 68; RSC 5 corr. (same); Mazzini 5 (same rev. die). Toned with some luster. Superb EF. Struck from highly detailed dies. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Numismatic Fine Arts, June 1991.

Continuing the tradition of Claudius and Antoninus Pius before them, the celebration of the Secular Games at the end of every century since the founding of Rome culminated during the joint reign of Philip I and II, as the city celebrated her 1,000th anniversary in AD 248.

830. Trajan Decius. AD 249-251. Æ Double Sestertius (32.5mm, 35.86 g, 12h). Rome mint, 4th officina. 3rd emission, early-mid AD 250. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding long caduceus and cornucopia. RIC IV 115c; Banti 10. Dark green patina, a couple of tiny flan cracks, some minor smoothing. Near EF. ($3000)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 841; Goldberg 128 (28 June 2022), lot 1061; James Fox Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 40, 4 December 1996), lot 1647; Giessener Münzhandlung 44 (3 April 1989), lot 950.

Born in an obscure provincial city on the Danubian frontier, Gaius Messius Quintus Decius gained entrance to the Roman elite via his marriage to Herennia Etruscilla, descended from a noble Etruscan family. Decius rapidly rose to a series of important positions, where he earned a reputation as an old-fashioned disciplinarian who revered Roman institutions. In AD 248-249, when the Emperor Philip I faced a series of revolts, Decius convinced him not to abdicate. Philip instead placed Decius at the head of an army sent to the Danubian front to deal with usurpers and Gothic invaders. With these tasks accomplished by June of AD 249, Decius’s soldiers proclaimed him emperor, against his wishes (or so he claimed). His army defeated Philip in battle near Verona in September. They entered Rome the following month. The Senate enthusiastically approved his elevation and gave him the additional name of Trajan in honor of the great second-century emperor. He appointed his sons Herennius Etruscus and Hostilian as Caesars and named his wife Augusta. Decius seems to have come to the throne with a ready-made agenda for the restoration of Rome’s fading glory. Christianity was particularly singled out, and thousands of Christians were forced to either make sacrifice to Rome’s gods or face execution. Renewed barbarian invasions late in AD 250 took his attention away from domestic affairs. Seeking a decisive battle, Decius pursued the Goths into the marshes of Abrittus and straight into an ambush. Decius, Herennius and about half of their army perished in the debacle, the first time a Roman emperor had fallen to a foreign enemy. The Christians claimed it was God’s revenge on an arch-persecutor.

Ex Vierordt Collection – Pedigreed to 1923

831. Herennia Etruscilla. Augusta, AD 249-251. Æ Double Sestertius (34mm, 28.11 g, 12h). Rome mint, 6th officina. 3rd emission of Trajan Decius, early-mid AD 250. Draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent / Pudicitia seated left on throne, drawing veil and holding transverse scepter. RIC IV 136a (same rev. die as illustration on pl. 12; Decius); Banti 6. Dark brown-green patina with some red, smoothing and some tooling. VF. Rare. ($2000)

Ex John Wright Collection; Peus 277 (25 October 1971), lot 325; Vierordt Collection (Part I, J. Schulman, 5 March 1923), lot 2254.

As with most third century Roman empresses, little is known about Herennia Cupressennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius. Her name (Cupressennia appears on her provincial coins, not on Roman issues) indicates her family was of Etruscan origin, and some historians have concluded that it was through her ancestral titles that her husband Decius, of humble provincial origins, was able to enter the Senate and ultimately achieve the throne. The names of their sons, Herennius Estruscus and Hostilian, suggest the couple revered her family’s ancestry. After the deaths of Decius and Herennius in battle, Herennia Etruscilla continued to bear the title of Augusta and apparently served as regent for the adolescent Hostilian for some months until his death of the plague in November of AD 251, after which she retired into obscurity

Attractive & Very Rare Late Sestertius

832. Herennius Etruscus. As Caesar, AD 249-251. Æ Sestertius (29mm, 21.65 g, 12h). Rome mint, 2nd officina. 3rd-4th emissions of Trajan Decius, AD 250. Bareheaded and draped bust right, seen from behind / Herennius, wearing military attire, standing left, holding signum and scepter. RIC 172 corr. (bust type); Banti 11 (same rev. die as illustrated example). Dark brown patina, doubling on both sides. Near EF. Very rare and attractive. ($1000)

Ex John Wright Collection; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 862568 (January 2010).

Unique Volusian Aureus – RIC IV.3 Plate Coin (2026)

833. Volusian. AD 251-253. AV Aureus (18.5mm, 3.46 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 251. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / SALVS AVGG, Salus standing left, feeding serpent out of patera rising from altar set at her feet to left and holding long scepter. RIC IV.3 78A (this coin cited and illustrated; forthcoming); RIC IV –; Calicó –; Biaggi –. Toned, attempted piercing, light hairlines. Good VF. Unique. The only example noted in RIC IV.3 (2026). ($4000)

Superb Example of a Very Rare Issue

834. Volusian. AD 251-253. AR Antoninianus (21mm, 3.69 g, 12h). Antioch mint, 6th officina. Special emission, AugustOctober AD 251. Radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind; VI below / Volusian on horseback riding left, raising hand and holding transverse scepter. RIC IV 224a corr. (bust type); RSC 2c corr. (same). Lightly toned, some luster. Superb EF. Very rare. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 90 (23 May 2012), lot 1682.

This type was struck as part of the special emission celebrating the elevation of Volusian to the rank of Augustus alongside his father, Trebonianus Gallus, upon arriving in Rome after the death of Hostilian.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

835. Valerian I. AD 253-260. AR Antoninianus (21.5mm, 3.73 g, 12h). Viminacium mint. 2nd emission, AD 253-254. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Fides standing facing, head right, holding two signa, one vertical and one transverse. RIC V 241 corr. (bust type; Milan); MIR 36, 807d; RSC 71 corr. (same; Milan); S 9939 (this coin illustrated). Toned, some luster. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XX (9 March 1988), lot 396.

During the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus, a pragmatic approach to ruling the vast empire was adopted, hoping to abate the difficulties of governing such vast territories by the previous emperors. The novel mechanism was to split the empire between the two Augusti, with Gallienus ruling in the West while Valerian campaigned (and ruled) in the East. The Persians were the most pervasive threat to the Empire at the beginning of Valerian’s reign, and it was obvious that Valerian would have to personally lead an army to combat them. Unfortunately for the Romans, Valerian’s army arrived too late to stop the Sasanians under Shahpur I from devastating the eastern provinces. The Sasanians at the time typically did not extensively occupy territory but rather raided it for gain. Valerian stayed in the East to mop-up and rebuild while Gallienus faced threats along the Rhine and Danube. During his Danube campaign, Gallienus opened the mint of Viminacium to have a mint located close to the imperial headquarters along the war front. In AD 257, Valerian joined Gallienus there. Not long after, word reached him that the Sasanians were once again invading, and Valerian left for the east in the spring of AD 258. This issue was likely made in anticipation of a hopeful upcoming victorious conclusion to the conflict. But such optimism was in vain. Valerian was captured by Shahpur in AD 260, becoming the first Roman emperor to ever be captured by a foreign enemy. News of his capture gave impetus for massive invasions by Alamanni, Franks, and Juthungi across the Rhine and Danube frontiers, and emboldened the Goths’ sea raids. These events prevented Gallienus from ever attempting to lead an army east to rescue his father, who died as a captive in a foreign state.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

836. Gallienus. AD 253-268. AR Antoninianus (21.5mm, 3.35 g, 6h). Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. 1st emission, AD 257-258. Radiate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over right shoulder and shield / Trophy flanked by bound seated captives. RIC V 18; MIR 36, 872m; RSC 310; S 10225 (this coin illustrated). Toned. EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from William Warden, June 1995.

837. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ Sestertius (25mm, 14.99 g, 6h). Rome mint. 1st emission, AD 253-254. Laureate and cuirassed bust right, slight drapery / Concordia standing left, holding patera and cornucopia. RIC V 209; MIR 36, 15cc; Banti 12 corr. (bust type). Brown patina. Good VF. ($500)

Ex John Wright Collection.

Very Rare Issue of Saloninus as Augustus

838. Saloninus. AD 260. AR Antoninianus (20.5mm, 2.49 g, 6h). Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint. Radiate and draped bust right / Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt. RIC V 14 (Lyon) corr. (Spes advancing left, not right); MIR 36, 917f; RSC 94. Lightly toned, some die wear. VF. Very rare. ($750)

After the death of his brother Valerian II, Saloninus was given the rank of Caesar and sent to Cologne to oversee the western provinces. He was aided by Silvanus, the praetorian prefect, and Postumus, the governor of Upper (or Lower) Germany. But after the death of Valerian I, Postumus usurped power by being hailed as emperor by his troops, and he laid siege to Cologne, the site of Saloninus’ court. After holding the rank of Augustus for a very brief period, in which this coin was struck, the unfortunate Saloninus was executed by Postumus.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

839. Victorinus. Romano-Gallic Emperor, AD 269-271. Antoninianus (19mm, 3.59 g, 12h). Treveri (Trier) mint. 1st emission, circa mid AD 269. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Fides standing left, holding a signum in each hand. RIC V.4 500; AGK 5a; S 11168 (this coin illustrated). Dark brown-green patina with some toned trace silvering. Superb EF. An attractive example from Victorinus’ first emission with a long obverse legend. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XX (9 March 1988), lot 418.

Victorinus hailed from a wealthy Gallic family, serving in the army and eventually becoming praetorian tribune and consul of the Gallic Empire under Postumus. Assuming the purple after the murder of Postumus, Victorinus initially met with limited support. The province of Hispania broke away, returning to the fold of the central Roman Empire, while southern Gaul threatened to do the same. Victorinus managed to hold onto Gaul only to meet his death a few years later, at the hands of a jealous general whose wife he was rumored to have seduced.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

840. Claudius II Gothicus. AD 268-270. Antoninianus (20mm, 4.43 g, 6h). Antioch mint, 5th officina. 1st emission, circa end of AD 268-end of 269. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Isis standing left, holding sistrum and situla; Є. RIC V Online 1024; RIC V 217; Huvelin, Antioche 10; S 11370 (this coin illustrated). Toned, complete silvering, lustrous. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Empire Coins, June 1989.

841. Third Century Hoard from Britain. Lot of approximately two hundred ninety (290) 3rd century Antoniniani. Includes various types of Gallienus, Salonina, Claudius II Gothicus, Divus Claudius II Gothicus, Victorinus, Tetricus I, and Tetricus II. Some animal/mythical types of Gallienus. Various patinas and surfaces, some chipped, some broken. Average Fine - VF. ($3000)

With U.K. export license PAU/20008117/26.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

842. Aurelian. AD 270-275. Antoninianus (23.5mm, 4.51 g, 12h). Siscia mint, 1st officina. 2nd emission, November AD 270. Radiate and cuirassed bust right / Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia; signum to right; d|–//P. RIC V Online 2013; RIC V 223; BN 718; S 11541 (this coin illustrated). Toned partial silvering and dark brown patina. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Kelly Ramage, January 2001.

After decades of disaster and dissolution, the reign of Aurelian (AD 270-275) witnessed a remarkable revival in Roman fortunes. A formidable general, Aurelian led the legions to victories over barbarian foes and secessionist states alike, restoring the empire’s unity and military reputation. Aurelian also paid close attention to the coinage and, AD circa 273-275, instituted a monetary reform with new weight and purity standards and in hopes that it would stabilize the economy.

843. Aurelian. AD 270-275. Antoninianus (23mm, 4.19 g, 12h). Siscia mint, 3rd officina. 3rd emission, spring-summer AD 271. Radiate and bare-chested bust right, chlamys draped over shoulder, holding caduceus over shoulder / Fortuna seated left on wheel, holding rudder set on the ground to left and cornucopia; dT. RIC V Online 2058; RIC V 221; BN – but cf. p. 191 (for emission). Dark green-brown patina, light roughness. Near EF. Very rare. ($500)

844. Zenobia. Usurper, AD 268-272. Antoninianus (19mm, 3.53 g, 3h). Antioch mint, 8th officina. 2nd emission, MarchMay AD 272. Draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent / Juno, standing left, holding patera and scepter; at feet to left, peacock standing left, head right; d to left. RIC V 2 corr. (star not noted); RIC V Online 3122; Bland, Coinage 29, e–k, (dies 45/Jun ii); Carson, Zenobia 3 (same dies); MIR 47, 360b/0; BN 1267a and pl. 86, 288 (same obv. die). Thick dark earthen patina, some roughness. Near VF. ($2000)

While a nominal ally of Rome, Odaenathus, ruler of the wealthy eastern trade center of Palmyra and husband of Septimia Zenobia, took full advantage of Rome’s internal and external conflicts to expand his territories. The circumstances surrounding the assassination of Odaenathus around AD 267 are uncertain, but we do know that Zenobia soon after took the title of Augusta and bestowed on her infant son Vaballathus the title of Augustus. Zenobia continued to expand the Palmyrene kingdom, seizing control of Egypt in AD 269 and, with it, the Roman grain supply. To further bolster her position, Zenobia claimed to be the descendent of such illustrious figures as Cleopatra VII of Egypt and legendary Queen Dido of Carthage.

When Aurelian rose to the purple in AD 270, he pragmatically acquiesced to Zenobia and Vaballathus’ rule in the east while he concerned himself with stabilizing the situation in the west. By AD 272, he was prepared to campaign against the usurpers. Palmyra was sacked, and both Zenobia and Vabalathus were captured as they tried to make their way to Persia. Zenobia was brought to Rome and paraded in Aurelian’s triumph in AD 274. According to a later tradition, Aurelian, impressed by her beauty and dignity, reportedly later freed her and granted her a villa in Tibur, where she spent the rest of her life.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

845. Probus. AD 276-282. Antoninianus (22.5mm, 3.65 g, 12h). Ticinum mint, 2nd officina. 3rd emission, AD 277. Radiate, helmeted, and cuirassed bust left, holding spear pointing forward and shield, seen from behind / Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopia; SXXT. RIC V 361; Pink VI/1 p. 61; S 11977 (this coin illustrated on p. 474). Dark brown patina. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, April 1992.

Marcus Aurelius Probus was one of a series of tough Balkan military men who rescued the Roman Empire from certain destruction in the late third century. He was the son of a peasant gardener who entered the army as a teenager and rose steadily through the ranks. By AD 276, he had achieved command of the Roman field armies in Syria and Egypt and was well-positioned to seize the throne when the elderly emperor Tacitus died. His reign was one of constant, frenetic military activity, racing from one frontier to the other to confront and defeat enemy invaders or internal usurpers.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

846. Numerian. As Caesar, AD 282-283. Antoninianus (20mm, 4.03 g, 6h). Rome mint, 6th officina. 2nd emission of Carus, beginning of December AD 282. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Numerian, wearing military attire, standing left, holding globe and scepter; KAς. RIC V 360; Pink VI/2 p. 33; S 12217 (this coin illustrated). Dark brown patina and some toned trace silvering. EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts Publication No. 24 (Summer 1982), no. 50.

When the emperor Carus assumed the purple, he elevated his sons, Carinus and Numerian to the rank of Caesar. Carus left Carinus in command of the western half of the empire, while he and Numerian traveled east to campaign against the Sasanian Persians.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values III

847. Divus Numerian. Died AD 284. Antoninianus (23mm, 3.55 g, 12h). Consecration issue. Rome mint, 1st officina. 6th emission of Carinus, beginning AD 285. Radiate head right / Lighted and garlanded altar; KAfA. RIC V 426; Pink VI/2 p. 39; S 12409 (this coin illustrated). Toned partial silvering and dark brown patina. Near EF. Rare. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Freeman & Sear 1 (10 March 1995), lot 761.

Extremely Rare – Wonderful Martial Bust

848. Diocletian. AD 284-305. AV Aureus (21.5mm, 5.19 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 287. VIRT VS DIOCLETIANI

AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed half-length bust right, holding hasta and two plumbatae; shield on shoulder / IOVI CO NSER VAT AVGG, Jupiter, nude but for chlamys draped over shoulders, standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter; PR. RIC V 140; Depeyrot 4A/2; Calicó 4475 (no illustration); Biaggi –; Mazzini –; S. Estiot, “Sine Arcu Sagittae : La Représentation Numismatique de Plumbatae / Mattiobarbuli aux IIIE-IVE Siècles (279-307 de N. È.)” in NZ 116/117 (2008), 10. Toned, minor marks, edge marks, graffito and scrape professionally removed on reverse. Good VF. Extremely rare. Depeyrot and Estiot cite three examples, all in public collections. ($15,000)

Ex Triton XXI (8 January 2018), lot 837 (graffito and scrape professionally removed on reverse since).

This extremely rare early pre-reform aureus featuring a magnificent martial bust of Diocletian is known from very few specimens. All three of the examples recorded by Depeyrot reside in public collections making this a rare opportunity to acquire the only example in private hands.

Diocletian’s elaborate suit of armor and weaponry displayed on the portrait of this aureus illustrate the revolution in Roman arms and tactics that had rescued the empire from destruction in the later third century AD. The Roman army had suffered numerous catastrophic defeats between AD 232 and 268, both to the rampant Sasanian Persians in the east and the Germanic tribes along the Rhine-Danube frontier, that had caused the Empire’s near-dismemberment and a death-spiral of usurpation and civil war. Starting with the Battle of Naissus in AD 268 or 269 under Gallienus or Claudius II (the historical record is oddly unclear for such an important event), the Roman army swiftly regained the initiative, enabled by a newfound tactical flexibility and a spate of technological innovations in armor and weaponry. On this aureus, Diocletian carries a thrusting spear or hasta in his right hand; on his left shoulder he sports an oval cavalry shield, and in his left hand he clutches two smaller lightweight fletched and weighted darts called plumbata with barbed heads. This type of hand-thrown missile (along with the spiculum) augmented or replaced the heavier pilum which had been a staple of Roman arms for more than four centuries. These plumbata would be clipped to the inside of soldiers’ shields and then removed and held in the bearer’s hand prior to being deployed. This ready stance is depicted here.

Another development within the soldiery was that both infantry and cavalry also received archery training. Thus, on command, the Romans could fill the air with deadly missiles, forcing their enemies to duck and cover and softening them up for a decisive charge. Heavy cavalry also began to play a much greater tactical role than in previous centuries. However, the new emphasis for the military was generally based on speed, maneuverability, and striking power at a distance. These innovations are often credited to the era’s “Soldier Emperors” themselves, but they were largely the work of a class of professional officers, many hailing from the Danubian provinces that had become the Empire’s prime recruiting grounds. The military reform movement gained momentum during the troubled reign of Gallienus (AD 253-268) and came into full fruition under his successors, Claudius II (AD 268-270), Aurelian (AD 270-275), and Probus (AD 276-282). By the early joint reign of Diocletian and Maximian, Rome’s enemies had been pushed back, its breakaway states restored to central rule, the Germanic raiders ejected, and the frontiers mostly secured, gaining the Empire a new centuries-long lease on life.

Pedigreed to 1953

849. Maximianus. First reign, AD 286-305. AR Argenteus (18mm, 3.28 g, 6h). Siscia mint. 1st unsigned emission, 2nd series, autumn AD 294-295. Laureate head right / The tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city gate with eight turrets. RIC VI 34b; Gautier, Argent 7c (this coin, illustrated); RSC 550b. Attractive iridescent toning. EF. ($750)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex New York Sale XXX (9 January 2013), lot 310; 6 May 1953 Sisak Hoard.

In AD 294-295, the newly formed Tetrarchy introduced a new silver coin with a high purity that was the same size and weight as the denarii of Nero struck 230 years earlier. The new coin, called an argenteus nummus, was a critical part of Diocletian’s plan to restore confidence in the economy and government. These argentei were issued with the names and portraits of all four rulers of the First Tetrarchy—the senior emperors (Augusti) Diocletian and Maximianus, and the junior emperors (Caesares) Galerius and Constantius Chlorus. Rendered in the “hard” artistic style of the time, the portraits appear very similar, creating a visual representation that emphasized the government’s unity. Their portraits were portrayed with subtle differences that distinguish the four rulers while maintaining cohesion. Reverses stressed the Empire’s new status as a secure fortress, showing either the four Tetrarchs sacrificing before a circuit of walls, or a military camp gate surmounted by turrets. Intended to stabilize the Roman economy and eliminate inflation, the argenteus seems to have had the opposite effect, as the coins were widely hoarded for their silver content, rather than circulating in daily commerce.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values IV

850. Carausius. Romano-British Emperor, AD 286-293. Antoninianus (23mm, 4.55 g, 9h). Londinium (London) mint. Struck circa AD 288-290. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Pax standing left, holding olive branch and vertical scepter; F|O//ML. RIC V.5 2045; S 13639A (this coin illustrated). Dark olive brown-green patina. Near EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Harlan J. Berk, January 1988.

851. Domitius Domitianus. Usurper, AD 297-298. Æ Follis (27mm, 8.36 g, 12h). Alexandria mint, 3rd officina. 2nd emission. IMP C L DOMITIVS DOMITIANVS AVG, laureate head right / GENIO POPV L I ROMAN[I], Genius standing left, nude but for chlamys draped over shoulders, holding patera from which liquor flows, and cornucopia; eagle at feet to left, standing left, head right, with wings spread; –|Γ//ALE. RIC VI 20. Earthen dark brown patina. VF. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 354 (1 July 2015), lot 586; Gemini XII (11 January 2015), lot 429; Roma 6 (Session 2, 29 September 2013), lot 993; Roma 4 (30 September 2012), lot 661; Roma 2 (2 October 2011), lot 754; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 131 (18 January 2006), lot 186.

The revolt of Domitius Domitianus in Egypt destabilized a vitally strategic region by interrupting the grain supply to the eastern provinces and opening the possibility of a Sasanian invasion. For almost a year, Domitius Domitianus controlled Alexandria and its mint, striking aurei, argentei, and folles, as well as a series of pre-reform provincial denominations. Diocletian regained control of Alexandria probably sometime in AD 298 and shortly thereafter ended the long tradition of provincial coinage. From this point forward, only imperial denominations were struck at Alexandria, and indeed everywhere else in the empire, until its fall.

Extremely Rare & Superb Argenteus

852. Constantius I. As Caesar, AD 293-305. AR Argenteus (19.5mm, 3.27 g, 12h). Siscia mint. 7th emission, AD 303304. Laureate head right / City gate with four turrets, no doors; SIS. RIC VI –; Gautier, Argent 185; RSC –. Deeply toned, minor metal flaws. Superb EF. Extremely rare. Only two examples cited by Gautier. ($750)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Artemide LXIII (3 May 2025), lot 659 (hammer €1800).

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values IV

853. Severus II. As Caesar, AD 305-306. Æ Follis (28.5mm, 10.17 g, 12h). Carthage mint, 3rd officina. Laureate head right / Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H|–//Γ. RIC VI 40a; S 14640 (this coin illustrated). Dark brown-green patina. EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from William Warden, August 1991.

Coins of the Carthage mint under the tetrarchy provide a rare window into the ever-changing and expanding hierarchy of emperors. Carthage assigned one officina to each emperor, and they were ranked by seniority. This coin was minted by the 3rd officina, indicating that the mint viewed Severus as the senior Caesar. After the death of Constantius I and the elevation of Severus to Augustus, the 2nd officina was assigned to Severus. He was only junior now to Galerius, who was given the 1st officina. See the following lot for an example.

When Maxentius took over the mint, it stopped producing coins for both Severus and Galerius. Maximianus, now out of retirement, was given the 1st officina. Maximinus II, the most senior active emperor recognized by Maxentius, albeit a Caesar, was given the 2nd officina. The rival upstart Constantine I was assigned the 3rd officina. Maxentius, who unlike Constantine proclaimed himself Caesar from the outset, humbly charged the 4th and last officina with striking his coins.

The other notable feature of coins from Carthage is the presence of I or H in the reverse fields. The letters indicate whether the emperors depicted are Jovian or Herculian.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values IV

854. Severus II. AD 306-307. Æ Follis (26.5mm, 10.76 g, 12h). Carthage mint, 2nd officina. Struck AD 306. Laureate head right / Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H|–//B. RIC VI 43b; S 14679 (this coin illustrated). Dark brown patina. Near EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 76 (22 April 1996), lot 568.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values IV – Superb

855. Maxentius. AD 307-312. Æ Half Follis (17.5mm, 3.06 g, 12h). Rome mint, 3rd officina. 5th emission, end AD 308/ early 309-early 310. Head right, wearing lion skin / VOT/ X/ FEL/ RT in four lines within wreath with large central jewel. RIC VI 241; Drost 91; S 15044 (this coin illustrated). Glossy dark brown patina. Superb EF. ($750)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Dr. Paul Rynearson, June 1988.

Very Rare Constantine I Medallion

856. Constantine I. AD 307/310-337. AV Medallion (21mm, 3.44 g). Uncertain mint. Struck AD 318. Helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Pellet within border. G. Depeyrot, “Les médaillons d’or unifaces du quatrième siècle (318–340)” in IFP, p. 165, Type 1c. Toned, minor damage from missing suspension loop, minor scratches and hairlines. Good VF. Very rare. ($4000)

It has been suggested that these medals were issued for the soldiery and were intended to be worn rather than circulated. Many examples found do indeed have ancient suspension loops.

857. Crispus. Caesar, AD 316-326. Æ Follis (20.5mm, 2.37 g, 6h). Treveri (Trier) mint, 1st officina. Struck under Constantine I, AD 322-323. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed half-length bust right, holding spear pointing forward and holding horse’s head by the bridle / Banded globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/ XX in three lines; three stars above; •PTR•. RIC VII – but cf. pp. 197-8 (for emission); A&Z 163; Gemini IV, 513 (same obv. die; hammer $2800). Dark brown-green patina. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($1000)

From the Denis P. Barrett Collection. Ex Triton XIII (5 January 2010), lot 385 (hammer $1400).

For reasons unclear, the Trier mint starting with the post-reform coinage minted an enormous variety of bust types and obverse legends not seen at any other mint. By the time of Constantine I and Licinius I, the busts had become extremely ornate, with complex scenes depicted on shields and impressive martial depictions such as on this coin.

858. Constantine II. As Caesar, AD 316-337. Æ Follis (19mm, 2.66 g, 12h). Treveri (Trier) mint, 1st officina. Struck under Constantine I, AD 322-323. Laureate and cuirassed half-length bust left, ornate shield on shoulder, holding horse’s head by the bridle / Banded globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/ XX in three lines; three stars above; •PTR•. RIC VII 388 note; A&Z 124. Dark brown-green patina. VF. Extremely rare. ($500)

From the Denis P. Barrett Collection.

859. Constans. AD 337-350. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.59 g, 6h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 345. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Two Victories standing vis-à-vis, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT/ X/ MVLT/ XX in four lines; TR. RIC VIII 135; Depeyrot 6/3; Biaggi 2123. Toned. EF. ($1500)

From the Denis P. Barrett Collection. Ex Roma XXI (24 March 2021), lot 751, purchased from Morton & Eden.

860. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.42 g, 1h). Rome mint, 4th officina. Struck AD 355-357. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; RSMQS. RIC VIII 293; Depeyrot 14/1; Biaggi 2143. Lightly toned with some luster. EF. ($1500)

High Relief and Extremely Rare

861. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.42 g, 12h). Sirmium mint. Struck AD 355-361. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXXV/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; •SIRM. RIC VIII 56; Depeyrot 9/1; Biaggi –. Toned, some faint hairlines. EF. High relief. Extremely rare. Both references citing the same coin in Santamaria [2] (1910). Three in CoinArchives. ($2000)

862. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Sirmium mint. Struck AD 355-361. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXXV/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; •SIRMd. RIC VIII 58; Depeyrot 11/1; Biaggi –. Toned, minor marks. Good VF. Very rare. ($750)

863. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.45 g, 8h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 351-355. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; CONS. RIC VIII 96; Depeyrot 3/3; Biaggi 2144. Toned with some luster. EF. ($1500)

864. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 351-355. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with emperor dragging captive motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; CONS. RIC VIII 96; Depeyrot 3/4; Biaggi 2141. Toned. EF. High relief. Rare. ($2000)

865. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.54 g, 6h). Nicomedia mint, 4th officina. Struck AD 340-351. Laurel and rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XX/ MVLT/ XXX in four lines; SMNC. RIC VIII 33; Depeyrot 3/4; Biaggi –. Toned, minor marks and deposits. Near EF. ($1000)

From the David C. Bianchi II Collection. Ex Freeman & Sear 10 (11 February 2004), lot 492.

866. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.39 g, 12h). Nicomedia mint, 6th officina. Struck AD 351-355. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; SMNS. RIC VIII 74; Depeyrot 5/2; Biaggi –. Toned, lustrous. EF. ($2000)

867. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.52 g, 12h). Nicomedia mint, 6th officina. Struck AD 355361. Pearl-diademed head right / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXXX in two lines; SMNS. RIC VIII 100; Depeyrot 6/1; Biaggi 2151 var. (officina). Toned with some luster. Superb EF. Very rare. ($2000)

868. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.51 g, 6h). Antioch mint, 3rd officina. Struck AD 337-347. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory, draped at waist, seated right on cuirass, supporting shield set on knee with hand and inscribing VOT/ XV/ MVLT/ XX on it in four lines with stylus; to right, small nude genius standing left supporting the shield with both hands; an additional shield resting beside the cuirass to left; SMANΓ. RIC VIII 25; Depeyrot 5/3; Biaggi 2168 var. (officina). Toned, some luster. EF. ($2000)

869. Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.44 g, 6h). Antioch mint, 7th officina. Struck AD 355-361. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; SMANZ. RIC VIII 165; Depeyrot 10/1; Biaggi –. Toned, some luster, slight weakness. EF. ($2000)

870. Vetranio. AD 350. Æ (21.5mm, 6.48 g, 12h). Obverse brockage. Siscia mint. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; A to left, star to right / Incuse and reverse of obverse. Cf. RIC VIII p. 369 (for emission). Earthen dark brown and green patina, light cleaning scratches. Good VF. A bold brockage. ($750)

Following the overthrow and death of Constans early in 350 AD, the usurper Magnentius was prevented from extending his rule any further east than Italy by the elevation of a rival emperor, the elderly general Vetranio, by the army of Illyricum on 1 March. Throughout his brief rule Vetranio steadfastly maintained that he was acting solely in the interests of the ruling dynasty and that he had no personal imperial ambitions. The truth of this claim was ultimately proven by his abdication on 25 December in the presence of the eastern emperor Constantius II after a reign of less than ten months. The ex-emperor then retired from public life and lived out his remaining years on an estate at Prusa in Bithynia granted to him by Constantius. The coinage of Vetranio was all produced at the Balkan mints of Siscia and Thessalonica and substantial issues were made in the name of his eastern ‘colleague’ Constantius.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

871. Julian II. As Caesar, AD 355-360. AR Siliqua (18mm, 1.97 g, 12h). Arelate (Arles) mint, 3rd officina. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VOTIS/ V/ MVLTIS/ X in four lines within wreath with large central jewel; TCON. RIC VIII 263; Ferrando 1215; RSC 154b; S 19046 (this coin illustrated). Deep and iridescent toning. EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 41 (19 March 1997), lot 2331.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

872. Julian II. AD 360-363. Æ (26.5mm, 9.39 g, 12h). Antioch mint, 4th officina. Struck AD 361-363. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Bull standing right; two stars above; RANTΔS. RIC VIII 216; LRBC 2640; S 19162 (this coin illustrated). Dark brown patina. Superb EF. ($750)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 41 (19 March 1997), lot 2334.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

873. Valentinian I. AD 364-375. AR Siliqua (18.5mm, 2.21 g, 12h). Antioch mint. Struck AD 367-375. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VOT/ X/ MVL/ XX in four lines within wreath with large central jewel decorated with a cross; ANT. RIC IX 33a.1; RSC 72Aa; S 19386 (this coin illustrated). Toned. Near EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

874. Valens. AD 364-378. AR Siliqua (18.5mm, 2.26 g, 12h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 367-375. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VOT/ X/ MVLT/ X X in four lines within laurel wreath with large central jewel; RC6S8 RIC IX 37b; RSC 96†d; S 19697 (this coin illustrated). Toned. EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

875. Valentinian II. AD 375-392. AR Siliqua (18mm, 2.03 g, 7h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 375-383. Pearldiademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm frond; TRPS. RIC IX 43 and 57a; RSC 40†a; S 20235 (this coin illustrated). Toned, hairlines. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection, purchased from Owl Ltd., July 1984.

876. Valentinian II. AD 375-392. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 8th officina. Struck AD 388-392. Rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Constantinopolis enthroned facing, head right, foot on prow, holding scepter and globe; H//CONOB. RIC IX 46d.2; Depeyrot 45/2 var. (unlisted officina); Biaggi –. Toned. Good VF. ($750)

877. Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint. Struck AD 395-402. Pearldiademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Arcadius standing right, foot spurning captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe left; M|D//COMOB. RIC IX 35b and RIC X 1205; Toffanin 500/2; Depeyrot 16/1; Biaggi –. Toned, light hairlines. EF. ($750)

878. Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople (or uncertain eastern) mint, 5th officina. Struck AD 402-408. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Arcadius standing right, foot spurning captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe left; S|M/Є//COMOB. RIC IX 14b.3 (Sirmium); Depeyrot 34/1 (Sirmium); Biaggi –. Toned. Near EF. ($1000)

The attribution of the mint for this series of solidi has been the matter of some scholarly debate. J.W.E. Pearce likely dates the issue correctly in RIC IX, however, he somewhat controversially identifies the mint as Sirmium. While this may seem reasonable given the S M across the field (which is found on many earlier issues of that mint), there are significant issues with claiming that this series (known also for Theodosius I and Honorius) belongs to the Sirmium mint. Ulrich-Bansa suggested that the S M on this issue refers not to Sirmium but to Sacra Moneta and that the coinage was a product of either Constantinople or Thessalonica (or a combination of the two). This attribution was followed by Grierson and Mays in DOCLR (1992) and later by Kent in RIC X. Kent explains that: “The attribution to Sirmium ... is difficult to accept historically... since the eastern court was certainly at Constantinople during most of the period of issue, it is simpler to recognize it as a coinage of that city ... The possibility that the palatine moneyers were out-stationed for at least part of the time should however be retained” (Kent, 1994, p. 36).

879. Arcadius. AD 383-408. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 402. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Victory, draped at waist, seated right on cuirass, supporting shield set on knee with hand and inscribing XX/ XXX in two lines on it with stylus; CONOB. RIC X 23; Depeyrot 54/1; Biaggi –; Mazzini –. Toned. EF. R2 in RIC X. ($750)

880. Aelia Eudoxia. Augusta, AD 400-404. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck under Arcadius, AD 402-circa 403. Pearl-diademed and draped bust right, wearing earring and necklace; being crowned by manus Dei above / Victory, draped, seated right on cuirass, supporting shield set on knee with hand and inscribing a Christogram on it with stylus; an additional shield resting beside the cuirass to left; CONOB. RIC X 28 (Arcadius); Depeyrot –; Füeg, Corpus 10; Biaggi –. Toned. EF. Very rare. ($3000)

Aelia Eudoxia was a devout Christian and opponent of the heretical Arians. Nonetheless, Eudoxia sometimes found herself at odds with other Christian leaders. Her husband, the emperor Arcadius, showed little interest in serving as the benefactor of Christianity in the empire. Eudoxia subsequently stepped in to fill the void and became quite active in Church patronage. However, after the consul Eutropius was banished from the imperial court and subsequently executed, a friction developed between Eudoxia and the beheaded consul’s ally, the Patriarch of Constantinople, John Chrysostom. Eutropius had initially helped install Eudoxia as empress by arranging her marriage to Arcadius. However, the consul fell out of favor with Eudoxia and other officials and additionally developed a bad reputation leading to his downfall. John Chrysostom’s efforts delayed Eutropius’ execution, but within a year the consul lost his head. A damnatio memoriae was additionally issued against the disliked consul.

Tensions worsened between the two major figures in Constantinople’s church life, the Empress and the Patriarch, when Eudoxia took umbrage at comments made by John in his sermons condemning women’s elaborate dress, which Eudoxia took as aimed at herself. Eudoxia found cause against John on account of his failure to rebut Origen, the famous scholar from Alexandria whose teachings had found him out of favor with a number of church officials. Eventually, Eudoxia and her allies succeeded in ousting the Patriarch. However, his exile was short-lived. The populace threatened revolt and an earthquake suddenly struck, which Eudoxia interpreted as a sign of God’s displeasure. The reconciliation was not to last. Not long thereafter John denounced the dedication of a statue of Eudoxia (one pillar of which survives to this day) and compared her to Herodias demanding the head of John the Baptist. The lawyer and historian Salamanes Hermias Sozomenos, or Sozomen, recounts the incident in his Historia Ecclesiastica, writing, “Herodias is again enraged; again she dances; again she demands the head of John in a basin” (Sozomen, Book VIII, Chapter 20). This led to a second trial of John. After the second trial “John held no more assemblies in the church, but quietly remained in the episcopal dwelling-house” (ibid, Chapter 21). He subsequently survived an assassination attempt before being ordered into exile. Once the people discovered his exile, a riot broke out and amidst the chaos “the church was suddenly discovered to be on fire.” Subsequently, “[both] parties mutually accused each other of incendiarism” (ibid, Chapter 22). A mass arrest of John’s allies followed. Eudoxia’s victory was not to last, however, and she died shortly thereafter from an infection due to a failed seventh pregnancy.

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

881. Magnus Maximus. AD 383-388. Æ (23.5mm, 4.31 g, 12h). Arelate (Arles) mint, 1st officina. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Magnus Maximus standing left, raising turreted kneeling female figure by the hand and holding Victory on globe left; PCON. RIC IX 26a.1; Ferrando 1669; LRBC 553; S 20650 (this coin illustrated). Dark green patina. EF. ($500)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXII (7 December 1994), lot 467.

A capable general of Spanish birth, Flavius Magnus Clemens Maximus was appointed military commander of Britain in AD 380. Three years later, Maximus made a bid for the throne of the Western Roman Empire, then ruled by the young Gratian and his brother Valentinian II. After disposing of Gratian, Maximus proposed a three-way division of the Empire, with himself ruling Britain, Gaul, Germany and Spain, Valentinian II ruling Italy and Africa, and Theodosius I, another Spaniard, holding the East. Maximus was a zealous Christian who persecuted those whom he perceived as heretics, including the Spanish ascetic Priscillian and his followers; however, he showed respect for the Jewish faith. The uneasy equilibrium lasted about three years but, in AD 387, Maximus launched an invasion of Italy, provoking a final showdown with Theodosius. In a lightning campaign, Theodosius struck westward and defeated Maximus before he could fully marshal his forces. Both Maximus and his son Victor were summarily executed by Theodosius, who restored Valentinian II to the Western throne. Maximus’ grab for power proved ill-advised, igniting a destructive civil war and fatally weakening the Western Empire, particularly in Britain and northern Gaul. It is claimed, however, that a descendent of his ended up marrying Vortigern, king of the Britons, and is it through this union that several Welsh kings claimed Maximus as an ancestor.

882. Honorius. AD 393-423. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Ravenna mint. Struck AD 402-406. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Honorius standing right, foot spurning captive, holding labarum and Victory on globe left; R|V//COMOB. RIC X 1287; Ranieri 11; Depeyrot 7/1; Biaggi 2319. Toned. Good VF. ($750)

Ex “An Important Private Collection of Byzantine Coins” (Sotheby’s New York, 2 November 1998), lot 12.

883. Theodosius II. AD 402-450. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.35 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 415. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield / Roma and Constantinopolis enthroned facing, heads turned towards each other, Constantinopolis with foot on prow, both holding scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XV/ MVL/ XX in four lines; d to left; CONOB. RIC X 207; Depeyrot 61/1; Biaggi –. Toned, scattered marks, small edge mark. VF. Rare. ($1000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 64 (24 September 2003), lot 1229.

884. Theodosius II. AD 402-450. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 443-450. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding globus cruciger and scepter; shield to right side of throne; d to left; COMOB. RIC X 300; Depeyrot 84/1; Biaggi –. Toned with some luster. Near EF. ($750)

Illustrated in Roman Coins and Their Values V

885. Constantine III. AD 407-411. AR Siliqua (17.5mm, 1.80 g, 12h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 408-411. Pearldiademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Roma seated left on cuirass and throne, holding Victory on globe right and reversed spear; TRMS. RIC X 1532; RSC 4A; S 21070 (this coin illustrated). Toned with some iridescence. Good VF. ($750)

From the Barry N. Rightman Collection. Ex Auctiones AG 16 (1 October 1986), lot 469; Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung 25 (1 December 1983), lot 387.

Constantine III was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain following the assassinations of the usurpers Marcus and Gratianus. Hoping to secure his position, he sailed to Gaul where he met little opposition. Constantine was officially recognized by Honorius, although Theodosius II and Arcadius failed to follow his lead. Constantine had early successes, defeating the local barbarians and negotiating agreements with the Alamanni and Burgundians, but his attempt to enter Italy failed. Attacked by his own general, Gerontius, and soon afterwards the troops of Honorius, Constantine was killed in AD 411.

886. Aelia Verina. Augusta, AD 457-484. Æ (22mm, 6.00 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 5th officina. Struck under Leo I. Pearl-diademed and draped bust right / Victory seated right, supporting and inscribing shield with a Christogram set on a cippus; CONЄ. RIC X 656; LRBC 2253. Dark green-brown patina, some cleaning scratches. VF. A wonderful example of this difficult type. ($500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 96 (14 May 2014), lot 943.

Aelia Verina, the wife of Leo I, had an extraordinary personal history. She was engaged in numerous plots both for and against her relatives in various intrigues either to control the succession or seize the throne. From the limited historical sources available, Verina appears to have been the consummate imperial schemer who regularly instigated and switched sides in deadly dynastic disputes. She notably conspired after the death of her husband Leo I against her son-in-law, the Isaurian Zeno, who became emperor after the death of his son (Verina’s grandson), Leo II. During the short reign of Leo II, the young ruler raised his father to the rank of co-augustus alongside him. But upon Leo II’s untimely death, Verina took part in a conspiracy in which her brother Basiliscus successfully usurped the lawful emperor Zeno. The deposed emperor escaped the capital with his wife and fled to his native region of Isauria. This conspiracy, however, ultimately failed and Zeno orchestrated a successful return to power. Zeno’s second reign lasted another fifteen years until his death in AD 491. However, his second reign was not without incident. Verina, not dissuaded, emerged again in AD 484 for one last intrigue against her son-in-law, this time conspiring with the general Illus (who was also an Isaurian soldier). Zeno crushed the revolt, and Verina died during the siege of Papyrius, the last holdout of the rebel forces.

887. Julius Nepos. AD 474-475/480. AV Solidus (18.5mm, 4.13 g, 6h). Ravenna mint. Struck AD 474-475. Pearldiademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; R|V//COMOB. RIC X 3212; Lacam pl. 37, 9; Depeyrot 41/1; Ranieri 181; Biaggi 2388. Toned, clipped, edge marks. Good VF. Very rare. ($1500)

After the assassination of Valentinian III, the western Roman empire endured 20 years of chaos under a succession of ephemeral emperors, usurpers, and puppet rulers. Nominally the appointee and co-ruler with the emperor at Constantinople, the Roman emperors were in fact at the mercy of the Germans, Goths and Huns who, as magistri militum, or Masters of Soldiers, held the true reins of power. Emperors were deposed at will; Petronius Maximus in AD 455, Avitus the following year, Majorian in AD 461, Libius Severus in AD 465, Anthemius in AD 472, Olybrius the same year, and Glycerius in AD 474. Only Majorian and Anthemius had the blessings of the monarch of the east. Glycerius, although a moderately successful ruler, was replaced by Julius Nepos, the nephew of Leo I, and ordained bishop of Salona. Nepos was unable to restore order in Italy, and Leo’s death later in AD 474 left him in an exposed position. The magister militum Orestes elevated his own son Romulus (Augustulus) to the purple, and Nepos fled Ravenna, his last outpost in Italy, and into exile in Dalmatia. The presumptive emperor came to know intense frustration when, in AD 476, Orestes and Romulus were overthrown by Odoacer, who declared the western kingdom no longer required a separate emperor. Nepos’s entreaties for his restoration were ignored, although Zeno expressed his sympathy, and urged Odovacar to allow him to return to Ravenna. In fact, the true last “Roman” emperor lived in exile until AD 480, when he was murdered, supposedly on the orders of the bishop of Salona, the same Glycerius who had been deposed by Nepos in AD 474.

888. Aelia Zenonis. Augusta, AD 475-476. Æ (9mm, 1.00 g, 12h). Constantinople mint. Struck under Basiliscus. Pearldiademed and draped bust right / Zenonis monogram. RIC X 1017; LRBC 2287. Dark brown-green patina. VF. ($750) Ex Bramhall Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 96, 14 May 2014), lot 949, purchased from Baldwin’s, 1987.

End of Session 3

Session 4 – Tuesday, May 19, 2026 — 2 PM

BYZANTINE COINAGE

889. Justin II. 565-578. AR Third Siliqua (12mm, 0.71 g, 6h). Ravenna mint. Struck circa 567-578. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Staurogram flanked by stars in lower two quarters all within wreath with central jewel. DOC 215 (Half Siliqua?); MIBE 41; Ranieri 424-9 (Half Siliqua); SB 412 (Half Siliqua?). Deeply toned. Good VF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

890. Heraclius. 610-641. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.48 g, 7h). Constantinople mint, 5th officina. Struck 610-613. Draped and cuirassed facing bust, wearing plumed helmet, holding cross / Cross potent set on three steps; Є//CONOB. DOC 3b; MIB 5; SB 731. Toned with some luster, faint hairlines. EF. ($750)

Interesting Strike

891. Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine. 610-641. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.46 g, 7h). Constantinople mint, 5th officina. Struck 613-circa 616. Crowned facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, both wearing chlamys; cross above / Cross potent set on three steps; Є//CONOB. DOC 8e; MIB 8a; SB 734; Dow, ACTTB, p. 306 (this coin). Toned, rotated double strike on obverse, strong clashing from both strikes on reverse, faint hairlines. Near EF ($750)

From the Joseph A. Dow Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 50 (23 June 1999), lot 1808.

The present coin is published in Joseph A. Dow, Ancient Coins Through the Bible (Mustang, OK: Tate, 2011), in the chapter The Byzantine Empire. CNG is pleased to offer coins from the collection of the author here, and in subsequent electronic auctions.

892. Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas. 610-641. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.47 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 4th officina. Dated IY 11 (AD 637/8). Crowned facing figures of Heraclonas, Heraclius, and Heraclius Constantine, each wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger / Cross potent set on three steps; â to left, ê (date) to right; Δ//CONOB. DOC 39c; MIB 45; SB 764. Lightly toned, very lustrous. Superb EF. ($500)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection, purchased from William Warden, circa 1992.

893. Justinian II. First reign, 685-695. Æ Half Follis (18.5mm, 3.80 g, 6h). Uncertain Sardinian mint. Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger / Large K between two crosses, additional cross above; PAX below. DOC 39; MIB 63; SB 1279. Dark brown-green patina with some red, overstruck. VF. Very rare Sardinian issue. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Sotheby’s (6 November 1997), lot 228.

Very Rare Papal Related Eighth Siliqua

894. Justinian II. First reign, 685-695. AR Eighth Siliqua – 30 Nummi (8mm, 0.29 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Pope John V and Pope Conon, 685-687. Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger / Large Rm; cross above; all within border. DOC 68; MIB 43; Aue, Silbermünzen, p. 113, 13-18; M. D. O’Hara, “A Find of Byzantine Silver from the Mint of Rome for the Period A.D. 641-752” in SNR 64 (1985), p. 122, Type 10; SB 1308; MIR 20/2; (Constantine V); Berman –. Attractive light iridescent toning. Near EF. Very rare. Approximately 10-15 known. The last example to sell in CoinArchives hammered for ($13,000) in Gemini XII. An exceptional example. ($5000)

Ex James A. Lock Collection.

Extremely Rare Italian Mint Solidus

895. Justinian II. First reign, 685-695. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.29 g, 6h). Uncertain Italian mint (Naples?). Dated IY 6 (AD 692/3) (?). Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger / Cross potent set on three steps; S//CONOB. Cf. DOC 80 and 80 note (for similar dated IY 8 and 7); cf. MIB 28 and 29 (2nd reign; same); cf. SB 1318 and 1319 (same). Toned, minor scratches. EF. Extremely rare. The only example known to this cataloger for IY 6. ($3000)

Ex Sotheby’s (6 November 1997), lot 228.

Both Grierson and Hahn suggested Naples as the mint for the concurrent examples of this series ending in Z and H. It is highly likely that these marks at the end of the reverse legend represent indiction years rather than officinae. This example, ending in an S placed vertically, would fit within this series before those ending in Z and H and would represent IY (or possibly but less likely regnal year) 6.

The End of the Heraclian Dynasty

896. Justinian II. Second reign, 705-711. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.34 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 705. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Justinian, wearing loros, holding cross potent set on three steps and patriarchal globus cruciger inscribed PAX. DOC 1; MIB 1; SB 1413. Lustrous, clipped. EF. An excellent strike. ($2000)

Justinian II returned to power with a vengeance and, rather than attending to urgent matters of state, such as the Arab threat, was more preoccupied with settling scores from his initial overthrow. His second reign devolved into a reign of terror full of reprisals and revenge. Amidst these reprisals, Justinian dispatched an army to punish Cherson, were he had been initially imprisoned. The army, however, rebelled and proclaimed its general Bardanes as Emperor. Bardanes successfully took Constantinople and executed Justinian and his son Tiberius, thus ending the Heraclian dynasty.

897. Justinian II, with Tiberius. Second reign, 705-711. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.37 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length busts of Justinian and Tiberius, both wearing chlamys, together holding cross potent set on two steps between them. DOC 2a; MIB 2a; SB 1414. Toned, some luster, lightly clipped. EF. ($2000)

898. Justinian II, with Tiberius. Second reign, 705-711. AV Solidus (18.5mm, 4.32 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length busts of Justinian and Tiberius, both wearing chlamys, together holding cross potent set on two steps between them. DOC 2a; MIB 2a; SB 1414. Toned, clipped. Good VF. ($1500)

Ex Roma XIV (21 September 2017), lot 877; Hess-Divo eLive 14 (25 May 2016), lot 1101.

The Rise & Fall of Philippicus – Superb Example

899. Philippicus (Bardanes). 711-713. AV Solidus (18.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 8th officina. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and eagle-tipped scepter / Cross potent set on three steps; H//CONOB. DOC 1h; MIB 1; SB 1447. Toned, lustrous. Superb EF. ($1500)

During the first overthrow of Justinian II in 695, Bardanes made a tacit play for the throne. However, Leontius successfully took the purple before he could solidify his position. Under Tiberius III Apsimar, Bardanes was reassigned far away from the political scene at Constantinople and sent to the Ionian island of Cephalonia. However, Justinian later reassigned him to Cherson during his second reign following his resumption of power. It was during this campaign that the army revolted and proclaimed Bardanes as Emperor. Following his overthrow of Justinian, Bardanes (who took the regnal name Philippicus) attempted to assert control over all of Byzantium’s possessions. However, he failed to secure the support of the Pope in Italy which led to a continuing deterioration of the untenable situation in Italy. Harboring heretical monophysite beliefs, Philippicus was additionally not readily accepted in Orthodox circles and went so far as to remove the Patriarch in favor of one favoring the monothelete heresy. His precarious position as Emperor was ultimately undone when the Bulgar Khanate under Khan Tervel invaded with the casus belli of avenging his ally Justinian. A military revolt broke out from the Opsikion theme in Thrace and Philippicus was overthrown.

900. Anastasius II Artemius. 713-715. AV Solidus (17.5mm, 4.26 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 8th officina. Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia / Cross potent set on three steps; H//CONOB. DOC 2g; MIB 2; Füeg 2.H.1 (this coin cited in corpus); SB 1463. Toned, clipped, edge mark. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Künker 24 (10 March 1993), lot 695; Superior (10 December 1988), lot 2650; California Collection (Superior, 3 October 1978), lot 242; Galerie des Monnaies (9 June 1978), lot 1983; J. Schulman 265 (28 September 1976), lot 938; Superior (19 August 1975), lot 3187. Reportedly also Baldwin’s “A Selection of Byzantine Coins” (February 1991), no. 27.

An effective court bureaucrat, Artemius was elevated to the throne following a revolt by the Opsikion theme against Philippicus. Many of the policies adopted by Artemius, who took the regnal name Anastasius II, were wise and helped stabilize the empire following two decades of tumult. He was additionally Orthodox and removed Philippicus’ heretical appointee as Patriarch, John VI. However, during his campaigns against the Arabs (which included dispatching future emperor Leo III to Syria), the Opsikion theme revolted a second subsequent time while on campaign at Rhodes. Anastasius was deposed and fled to Nicaea but was allowed to live and retire to a monastery at Thessalonica. However, in 719, Anastasius revolted against then Emperor Leo III from Thessalonica in an effort to retake the throne. Receiving support from the Bulgars, Anastasius orchestrated a plot to have the gates of Constantinople opened for his mercenary army; for, the walls and defenses that Anastasius himself had rebuilt and constructed during his reign would have been an immense obstacle to overcome in taking the city. Unfortunately for him, his message was intercepted, the plot exposed, and his conspirators in Constantinople were executed. With the siege unsuccessful, Anastasius was handed over to Leo by his Bulgar army. He was then executed along with the chief coconspirators of his revolt including the archbishop of Thessalonica, Niketas Xylinitas.

901. Leo III the “Isaurian”, with Constantine V. 717-741. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.48 g, 7h). Constantinople mint. Struck circa 737-741. Crowned facing bust of Leo, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; H at end of legend / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 7f.1-2; Füeg 7.H.3 (same rev. die as illustration); SB 1504. Toned, both sides flip over double strike, minor marks. Near EF. ($750)

902. Nicolas. Exkoubitor, circa 6th-11th centuries. PB Seal (30mm, 21.04 g, 12h). NI KO ΛAOV around, gryllos with features of a horse, rooster, and a man standing right, treading down an uncertain animal / EZ/KOVRITȢ/ CΦPAΓIC/MA in four lines. Even brown-tan patina. EF. ($500)

Seals of the exkoubitoi (the imperial palace guards), an order founded by Emperor Leo I, are generally quite rare. This particular example is especially high grade and features a curious and well-preserved gryllos.

903. Leo IV the Khazar, with Constantine VI, Leo III, and Constantine V. 775-780. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 776-778. Crowned facing busts of Leo IV and Constantine VI, both wearing chlamys; cross above, • between / Crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V, both wearing loros; cross above, • between; X at end of legend. DOC – but cf. 1 (for issue ending in Θ); Füeg 2.B.1; SB 1583. Toned. Good VF. Only three examples with the legend ending in X recorded by Füeg across both varieties. ($750)

904. Leo IV the Khazar, with Constantine VI, Leo III, and Constantine V. 775-780. AV Solidus (22.5mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 778-780. Leo IV and Constantine VI enthroned facing on suppedion, both wearing crown and chlamys; cross above / Crowned facing busts of Leo III and Constantine V, both wearing loros; cross above, • between. DOC 2; Füeg 1.C.2 (Constantine VI); SB 1584. Toned. Near EF. ($600)

905. Constantine VI & Irene. 780-797. AV Solidus (19mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 792-797. Crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; Θ at end of legend. DOC 3a; Füeg 5.A; SB 1594. Toned, lustrous, faint hairlines. EF. ($1500)

906. Constantine VI & Irene. 780-797. AV Solidus (18mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 792-797. Crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; Θ at end of legend. DOC 3a; Füeg 5.A; SB 1594. Lightly toned, lustrous, faint hairlines, deposits. EF. ($1500)

907. Constantine VI & Irene. 780-797. AV Solidus (18mm, 4.40 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 792-797. Crowned facing bust of Irene, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; Θ at end of legend. DOC 3a; Füeg 5.A; SB 1594. Toned, some luster. Good VF. ($750)

908. Irene. 797-802. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.37 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter / Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter;  at end of legend. DOC 1a.2 and 1a.4-5; Füeg 2.B.1; SB 1599. Toned and lustrous, deposits. EF. ($3000)

909. Irene. 797-802. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.35 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter / Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and cruciform scepter;  at end of legend. DOC 1a.2 and 1a.4-5; Füeg 2.B.1; SB 1599. Toned, lustrous, deposits. EF. ($2000)

910. Nicephorus I. 802-811. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 802-803. Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / Cross potent set upon three steps; X at end of legend. DOC 1b; Füeg 1.B; SB 1603. Toned, lustrous, some weakness, minor deposits. EF. ($1000)

911. Nicephorus I, with Stauracius. 802-811. AV Solidus (19mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 803-811. Crowned facing bust of Nicephorus, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / Crowned facing bust of Stauracius, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; Θ at end of legend. DOC 2b.3; Füeg 2.A.1; SB 1604. Toned, lustrous. EF. ($1500)

Very

Rare Sole Reign Solidus

912. Leo V the Armenian. 813-820. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.40 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 11 July-25 December 813. Crowned facing bust of Leo, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / Crowned facing bust of Leo, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger; *X at end of legend. DOC (1); Füeg 1.A (same dies as illustrated example); SB 1626. Toned. F. An exceptional example of this very rare issue of Leo V before his association with his son Constantine (Smbat). Among the finest known. Very rare. ($20,000)

Following the disastrous battle of Pliska in 811, in which Emperor Nicephorus I was slain and his son Stauracius mortally wounded, Straucius’ bother-in-law Michael I assumed the throne. Michael’s reign, however, was short lived as his regime was also toppled following a failed military venture against the Bulgar Khan Krum, this time at the battle of Versinikia in 813. Consequently, Leo V, strategos of the Anatolic Theme, came to power. He achieved more success against the Bulgars than his two direct predecessors, however, the real diminishment of Bulgar power came with the death of the formidable Khan Krum during Leo’s reign in 814. This allowed Leo to focus his attention on domestic issues; namely, a renewed prosecution of iconoclasm. At this point, however, enthusiasm for the iconoclastic controversy was diminishing and Leo’s zealous persecution of this policy led to sentiment shifting against him. He was ultimately assassinated before the high altar of the Hagia Sophia on Christmas Day 820.

913. Leo V the Armenian, with Constantine. 813-820. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.47 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Crowned facing bust of Leo, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger and akakia; Λ at end of legend. DOC 2c; Füeg 2.B.3; SB 1627. Toned, some luster. EF. Very rare with the Λ at the end of the legend. ($1500)

914. Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus II. 913-959. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 945-959. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing half-length busts of Constantine, wearing loros, and Romanus, wearing chlamys, together holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 15; Füeg 3.A.1 (Romanus II with Constantine VII); SB 1751. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 4372860013, graded Ch AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. ($750)

Füeg considered that this class of SB 1751’s with these features should belong to the period following Constantine VII’s death as a posthumous continuation of the series into Romanus II’s sole reign. While this coin certainly belongs to this group using Füeg’s criteria, recent scholarship has generally not accepted this reattribution. Solidi from the brief sole reign of Romanus II remain unobtainable and known from only two examples that reside in DOC. The other coins sometimes attributed to Romanus II’s sole reign are two Cherson mint bronzes of disputed attribution (SB 1767 and SB 1775).

915. Nicephorus II Phocas. 963-969. AV Histamenon Nomisma (20mm, 4.45 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Facing half-length busts of the Theotokos and Nicephorus, wearing crown and loros, together holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 4; Füeg 3.B.11; SB 1778. Toned. Near EF. ($750)

Extremely Rare Issue of Basil II the ‘Bulgar-Slayer’

916. Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AV Histamenon Nomisma (22mm, 4.23 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 977-circa 989. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; • within circle in quarters of nimbus / Crowned facing half-length busts of Basil, wearing loros, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, together holding long patriarchal cross between them; crossbar with • beneath on shaft of patriarchal cross. DOC – but cf. 2j (for similar); Füeg II 2.JJ; cf. SB 1796 (same). Toned. Near EF. Extremely rare. Only one known to Füeg. This and the following coin are both extremely rare examples from early emissions of Basil II and Constantine VIII issued before the much more prevalent SB 1800’s. These early issues are very rarely encountered. ($4000)

The son of Romanus II, Basil II theoretically inherited the purple at the age of five when his father died in AD 963. However, he was overshadowed by regents and co-emperors until AD 976. He had to fight off several challenges to his rule and was not fully secure until AD 989. The experience made a hard, austere man of him. Monastic in tastes and militant in manners, he never married and devoted his whole reign to administering the state and leading armies into battle. He expended enormous efforts toward destroying the Bulgarian menace once and for all. At the Battle of Kleidion in 1014, he acquired his nickname “Bulgar–slayer” (Bulgaroktonos) when he captured and blinded 15,000 Bulgarians; the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel reportedly died of a heart attack when he beheld the fate of his men. The Fatamids and Arabs also felt Basil’s wrath, and he oversaw the annexation of Georgia to the Empire. He kept wealthy aristocrats on a short leash and favored peasants and small farmers, the backbone of the army. By Basil’s death in 1025, the medieval Byzantine Empire had reached its greatest size, power, and prestige. Maintaining it would require rulers possessing similar devotion to duty; regrettably, this character was lacking from many of his successors who proceeded to squander away his legacy with astonishing speed.

A Second Extremely Rare Issue of Basil II

917. Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (21.5mm, 4.19 g, 7h). Constantinople mint. Struck 977-circa 989. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; – within quarters of nimbus and • at end of each extremity / Crowned facing half-length busts of Basil, wearing loros, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, together holding long patriarchal cross between them; triangle ornament on shaft of patriarchal cross. DOC –, but cf. 8g and 11 (for similar); Füeg II 8.GG (this coin cited in corpus and illustrated); cf. SB 1802 (same). Toned, minor doubling. Near EF. Extremely rare. The only example known to Füeg. This Tetarteron is somewhat heavy but was nonetheless classified by Füeg as a Tetarteron rather than a Histamenon. ($1000)

Ex Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 844; Vinchon (25 May 1998), lot 246; Vinchon (30 November 1993), lot 86.

918. Basil II Bulgaroktonos, with Constantine VIII. 976-1025. AV Histamenon Nomisma (23.5mm, 4.34 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 1005-1025. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, upturned crescents in upper two quarters of nimbus / Crowned facing half-length busts of Basil, wearing loros, with suspended crown above head, and Constantine, wearing chlamys, together holding long cross between them. DOC 6a; Füeg II 6.D; SB 1800. Toned, minor marks. Near EF. ($1000)

919. Constantine VIII. 1025-1028. AV Histamenon Nomisma (24.5mm, 4..41 g, 7h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; upturned crescents in upper two quarters of nimbus / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing jeweled loros, holding labarum with pellet on shaft and akakia. DOC 2; Füeg II 2.A.7; SB 1815. Toned, minor marks and deposits. Near EF. ($750)

920. Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AV Histamenon Nomisma (26.5mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing loros, holding labarum and globus cruciger. DOC 2a; Füeg II 2.A; SB 1829. Toned with some luster. Near EF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from James Beach.

921. Constantine IX Monomachus. 1042-1055. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (18mm, 4.04 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing jeweled chlamys, holding scepter surmounted by trefoil and globus cruciger. DOC 5a; Füeg II 5.A.2; SB 1832. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8568694-008, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. ($1000)

Unique & Unpublished Seal of Maria Skleraina

922. Maria Skleraina. Augusta, circa 1042-1045. PB Seal (29mm, 19.39 g, 12h). Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; nimbus decorated with larger central pellet surrounded by four smaller pellets; Gospels decorated with rayed star motif / + MAPIA [...]AV[...](Ч retrograde), Crowned facing bust of Maria, wearing jeweled loros, holding scepter surmounted by trefoil and globus surmounted by trefoil. BLS I –; DOCBS 6, –; BZS –. Tan surfaces, minor marks. Good VF. Unique and unpublished. ($500)

This fascinating imperial seal belongs to an empress identified clearly on the seal as Maria. There are similarities in this seal in the dress and the Empress’ pinnacled crown to imperial seals of Theodora from the mid 11th century (see Triton XXVIII, 820 for an example) as well as the only example attributed convincingly to Zoe & Theodora’s sole reign in 1042 (CNG 587, 957). There are limited options for attribution to a Maria Augusta for the 11th century. The wife of Michael VII, Maria of Alania (1071/3-1081), is represented by a dissimilar seal that was sold in Triton XI, 1171. Maria of Antioch, Augusta from 1161-1180, the wife of emperor Manuel I, belongs to too late of a date to be a reasonable suggestion. As such, the next most likely candidate is Maria Skleraina, the mistress made second-Augusta of Emperor Constantine IX (1042-1055).

Maria Skleraina is a fascinating historical figure. Her eventual elevation to Augusta was quite unusual, especially since it occurred whilst Emperor Constantine IX was still formally married to Empress Zoe (who had selected Constantine as Emperor). The court official, philosopher, and historian, Michael Psellos, details Maria’s unusual history and elevation in his Chronographia (also known as Fourteen Byzantine Rulers), where he regularly refers to Maria Skleraina as Augusta repeatedly. He details how, following the death of his second wife, Constantine was forbidden from marrying a third time as it was against Roman law and he was, at this time, still a private citizen. Psellos writes that Constantine “substituted a less reputable condition for the marriage – a secret affaire. The lady in question was the niece of his late wife, a beautiful and normally a discreet woman” (Psellos, 180). Following Zoe’s selection of Constantine to be emperor (and her husband), Psellos continues and details that upon his elevation to emperor, Constantine “did not forget his beloved, even after his accession. With his physical eyes he beheld Zoe, but in his mind’s eye was the image of his mistress” (Ibid, 181). Consequently, and “Regardless of the consequences, regardless of Zoe’s jealousy, turning a deaf ear to all entreaty, he brushed aside every counsel that would frustrate his wishes … and at his very first meeting with the empress spoke to her of this woman. He referred to her, not as a wife, nor as a prospective mistress, but as one who had suffered much at the hands of the imperial family. Moreover, she had endured, he said, much for his sake, and he begged Zoe to recall her from exile and grant her reasonable privileges” (Ibid, 181-2). Psellos writes that Zoe, “at once have her consent” (Ibid, 182), for, according to him, “[she] was no longer jealous” (Ibid, 182).

Ultimately, while Constantine at first tried to be discreet about his mistress and avoid an open scandal, over time he lost all sense of propriety. Consequently, Constantine has Zoe and Maria publicly sign a “treaty of friendship.” Psellos details that, “A treaty of friendship was set out in a document and an imperial pavilion built for the ceremony of ratification. In front sat Zoe, Constantine, and Sclerena, while the Senate filed in to witness this extraordinary contract, blushing and for the most part talking in undertones. Despite their embarrassment, the senators still praised the agreement as if it were a document sent down from heaven. They called it a ‘loving-cup’ and lavished on it all the other flattering epithets… The contract being signed and the oaths administered, she who had hitherto been only a lover, was now introduced to the private apartments of the palace, no longer called ‘mistress’, but ‘My Lady’ and ‘Empress,’ officially.” (Ibid, 183-4).

This is the extraordinary way that Maria Skleraina came be an official Augusta during the early days of Constantine IX’s reign. Consequently, it is not unreasonable that Maria would have had a seal or seals made for her during time. However, Maria died after a stomach ailment in 1045 after being Empress for only approximately three years from circa 1042-1045. The distraught Constantine IX had her lavishly entombed and was ultimately buried alongside her when he later died.

923. Theodora. 1055-1056. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (18.5mm, 4.06 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing bust of Theodora, wearing loros, holding jeweled scepter and globus cruciger. DOC 2; Füeg II 2.x; SB 1838. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8568691-006, graded AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5, die shift. ($1500)

924. Isaac I Comnenus. 1057-1059. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (19.5mm, 4.03 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Nimbate facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing figure of Isaac, wearing military attire, holding globus cruciger and resting hand on sword in scabbard. DOC 3; Füeg II 3.x; SB 1845. Toned with some luster. In NGC encapsulation 8568964-003, graded Ch AU★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. ($3000)

925. Constantine X Ducas. 1059-1067. AV Histamenon Nomisma (26.5mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing on suppedion, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Constantine standing facing, wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with pellet on shaft and globus cruciger with droplet below. DOC 1b.4; Füeg II 1.C; SB 1847. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8568694-015, graded MS, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, brushed. ($500)

926. Constantine X Ducas. 1059-1067. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (20mm, 4.06 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Half-length facing bust of the Theotokos, orans / Crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing loros, holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 3a; Füeg II 3.B; SB 1849. Toned with some luster. In NGC encapsulation 8568694-011, graded Ch AU, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 5/5. ($750)

927. Romanus IV Diogenes. 1068-1071. AV Tetarteron Nomisma (18.5mm, 4.09 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Facing bust of the Theotokos, holding medallion containing nimbate facing bust of the Holy Infant / Crowned facing half-length figures of Romanus and Eudocia, both wearing loros and holding globus surmounted by jeweled long cross between them. DOC 3; SB 1862. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8568694-001, graded Ch AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5. ($1000)

928. John III Ducas (Vatatzes). Emperor of Nicaea, 1222-1254. AR Trachy (23mm, 1.55 g, 6h). Magnesia mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing figures of John, holding cruciform scepter, and St. Constantine, holding akakia, both wearing loros, together holding long patriarchal cross surmounted by star ornament between them. DOC 20; SB 2074. Toned, crystallized, edge chips, fragile. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($500)

929. John III Ducas (Vatatzes). Emperor of Nicaea, 1222-1254. AR Trachy (22mm, 1.50 g, 6h). Magnesia mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, nimbate, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Crowned facing figures of John, holding cruciform scepter, and St. Constantine, holding akakia, both wearing loros, together holding long patriarchal cross surmounted by star ornament between them. DOC 20; SB 2074. Toned, crystallized, edge chips, fragile. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($500)

One of Four Known Coins of John V with Andronicus IV

930. John V Palaeologus, with Andronicus IV. 1341-1391. AR Basilikon(?) (18.5mm, 0.50 g, 6h). Constantinople mint(?). Struck circa 1382. Half-length facing bust of St. Michael the Archangel holding scepter and globe / Crowned halflength facing busts of John V and Andronicus IV, both wearing loros, both holding cruciform scepter, together holding labarum between them. DOC –; T. Popov, “ВИЗАНТИЙСКИ

ГОДИНИ НА XIV В. ВЪВ ВИЗАНТИЯ” in Numismatics, Silligraphy and Epigraphy 21 (2025), pp. 134–5, fig. 10 (this coin cited and illustrated); SB –. Toned, minor deposits. VF. Extremely rare. One of four examples known. ($750)

It has been suggested that this coin represents an extremely rare issue with Andronicus IV associated with John V. This coin, and the other known examples, are the only four coins known for John V with his rebel son Andronicus IV. John removed Andronicus from the line of succession but Andronicus rebelled numerous times and John was forced to re-associate him. Their association was reiterated in 1382 and it is possible that this was the occasion for the striking of this extremely rare issue as suggested by Popov (p. 135).

Extremely Rare Late Bronze Issue of Andronicus IV

931. Andronicus IV Palaeologus. Usurper, 1376-1379. CU Assarion (14mm, 0.70 g, 12h). Uncertain provincial mint. (AN) within star pattern / Π within star pattern. DOC –; SB –. Dark brown and green patina. Near VF. Extremely rare. One of three known. ($500)

There is no other satisfactory Andronicus to attribute this extremely rare issue to for this period. Given the weight and fabric of this issue and the AN and Π monogram identifiers, the attribution to Andronicus IV (a rare ruler) has been made in conjunction with the input of a late Byzantine scholar.

EARLY MEDIEVAL COINAGE

932. VANDALS. Gelimer. 530-534. AR 500 Nummi – 50 Denarii (16mm, 1.22 g, 4h). Carthage mint. D N REX G EILAMIR, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / D • N/L in two lines across field; cross above; all within wreath with large central jewel. Hahn, Wertsystem 8; MIB 12; BMC Vandals 26; MEC 1, 26. Iridescent toning, slight porosity, deposits, die breaks on reverse. VF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

933. VANDALS. Gelimer. 530-534. AR 250 Nummi – 25 Denarii (12mm, 0.60 g, 3h). [D N] REX G EILAMER, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / +/XX/V in three lines; all within wreath [with large central jewel]. Hahn, Wertsystem 9; MIB N12; BMC Vandals –; MEC 1, –. Deeply toned with iridescence. Good VF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Exceptional for Issue

934. OSTROGOTHS. Athalaric. 526-534. AR Half Siliqua (14mm, 1.44 g, 6h). In the name of the Byzantine emperor Justinan I. Ravenna mint. D N IVSTI NIAN ΛVC, pearl-diademed and mantled bust right / Athalaricus monogram, D N flanking; cross above, star below; all within wreath with large central jewel. COI 58a-b var. (obv. legend); Ranieri 280-1 var. (same); MIB 53a-b var. (same; Rome); MEC 1, 125 (same obv. die). Deeply toned, with iridescence. VF. Exceptional for issue. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts X (17 September 1981), lot 441.

Athalaric was the grandson of the great Ostrogothic king, Theoderic, and succeeded him upon his death around 516, at the age of ten. Doomed to fail, Athalaric’s childhood was chaotic, marked by tension between his regent, overbearing mother, Amalasuntha and the Goth aristocracy, as well as the consequences of poor health. Amalasuntha wanted him to receive a Roman education to become a man of letters, taught in the palace with tutors, while the aristocracy wanted him to have a more aggressive military education with peers his own age, which they believed was required to make a strong Ostrogothic leader. However, the young boys he grew up with steered him toward what his mother would consider depraved and, unfortunately for him fatal. In retrospect it seems that the young king likely suffered from diabetes, based on Procopius’ account, his symptoms included excessive drinking, excessive urination, and weight loss. He seemingly wasted away and died at the age of 18, leaving the kingdom under his mother’s control.

Last King of the Ostrogoths – Extremely Rare

935. OSTROGOTHS. Theia. 552. AR Half Siliqua (13.5mm, 1.28 g, 6h). In the name of the Byzantine emperor

Anastasius I. Ticinum mint. D N ΛNΛS TASIVS P ΛC, pearl-diademed and mantled bust right / DOM/NVS TH/EIΛ P/REX in four lines within wreath with large central jewel. COI 74b (same dies as illustrated coin); MIB 12; MEC 1, –. Deeply toned with iridescence, holed for suspension. VF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives. ($2000)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

The last king of the Ostrogoths, Theia was first a crucial military commander and the chosen successor to King Baduila. In the heat of the Battle of Busta Gallorum, Baduila was mortally wounded near Sentinum, which is in the modern day Umbrian region, passing power to Theia, who was immediately proclaimed king by his troops. Prior to his death Baduila had taken 300 children from the Roman nobles, telling the parents he would care for them, but instead he held them as hostages. Upon his death, Theia, a brutal man, hunted down these children and killed them all in revenge. Then he fled to the Bay of Naples to gather support. According to Procopius, Theia failed to secure the support of the Franks, who wished to stay out of the conflict all together, and he failed to secure more provisions for his troops. They decided to retreat and take refuge on Mons Lactarius (Milk Mountain) because the difficult terrain prevented the Roman soldiers from pursuing them. However, he heroically or foolishly decided to attack the enemy, preferring to die in battle rather than starve. He got his wish: in the fury of combat his chest was momentarily exposed allowing a javelin to stab and kill him instantly. Even though their king had been slain his soldiers knew that to survive as free men they could not lose and continued to fight for their lives. To end the war, the two sides came to an agreement. The Romans would let them withdraw from the fight with their lives if they were paid handsomely and agreed to immediately leave Italy forever. This marked the end of the Ostrogoths and their illustrious kings.

936. LOMBARDS, Beneventum. Sico. 817-832. AR Denaro (19mm, 1.25 g, 6h). (triple pellets) PRINCES BENEBЄNTI, Sico monogram / ARCHANGЄLVS HICNACL •, cross potent on two steps; pellet in fields. MIR 210; BMC Vandals 7; MEC 1, 1105/1106 (obv./rev.). Deeply toned, with iridescence. EF. Rare. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

937. BURGUNDIANS. Gundomar II. 524-532. AV Tremissis (13mm, 1.43 g, 6h). In the name of Justinian I. Lyon mint; 1st officina. Struck 527-532. D N IVSTINIΛИVS P P Λ, pearl-diademed and draped bust right / VICTORI + Λ ΛVCCCΛ, Victory standing right, holding wreath; ς to left, star to right; CONOB. Lafaurie, Monnaies 32 (same dies); Alise-SainteReine Hoard 17-20; cf. Tomasini Group JAN IIa, 401-2; MEC I, –; Belfort 2277. Toned, traces of deposits in letters, die rust. VF. ($1000)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 427 (22 August 2018), lot 494 (there as Uncertain Germanic Tribes).

Rare Childebert Bronze

938. MEROVINGIANS, Royal series. Childbert. King of Paris, 511-558. Æ Pentanummium(?) (15mm, 0.88 g, 12h). Marseilles mint. Christogram within wreath / Cross within wreath. NM –; Belfort 5459; MEC 1, –. Brown patina with spots of thick green deposits, some roughness, a few marks. VF. Rare. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

939. MEROVINGIANS, Royal series. Childbert. King of Paris, 511-558. Æ Pentanummium(?) (15mm, 1.09 g, 5h). Marseilles mint. Christogram within wreath / Cross within wreath. NM –; Belfort 5459; MEC 1, –. Brown earthen surfaces, some roughness, spot of green corrosion. VF. Rare. ($500)

Extremely Rare Argenteus Minutus

940. MEROVINGIANS, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. temp. Childeric I - Clovis I, late 5th-early 6th centuries AD. AR Argenteus Minutus (12mm, 0.26 g, 12h). Imitating an issue of Valentinian III. Colonia (Cologne) mint. VΛNIV ITAVC, diademed, cuirassed, and draped bust right / VИVI VИV, Roma seated left, holding small Victory in right hand and long cross in left; star to left, three pellets to right. Cf. J. Lafaurie, “Les dernières émissions impériales de Trèves au Ve siècle” in Mélanges Bastien, pl. 25, 3 and 16; MEC I pp. 90, 105, & 111-2; CNG 106, lot 915 (hammer $2200); Künker 236, lot 1321. Toned, deposits, wavy flan, edge splits, holed (as are most all related issues). Near EF. Extremely rare – only three examples on CoinArchives, this finer. ($1000)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

The argentei minuti are the earliest silver coinage attributed to the Merovingian period. They are all copies of late 5th century Roman siliquae, with weights ranging from 0.40 to 0.20 grams, and are found primarily in the region between the Seine and Moselle rivers in northern Francia, with a particular focus around Cologne, the likely mint site for this and other contemporary pseudo-Imperial silver issues. Most examples have been found in graves, and were holed and worn on a necklace or bracelet, and, while some pieces bear good Latin legends, many are partially or completely degraded as on the present piece. Scholarly debate as to the exact role of these and other silver coins in Francia is ongoing, with disagreement as to whether they served a primarily ceremonial purpose, either as a donative or produced explicitly for grave goods, or they circulated more broadly in the economy. For further discussion, see J. Chameroy and P.-M. Guihard, eds, Argentum Romanorum sive Barbarorum : Tradition und Entwicklung im Gebrauch des Silbergeldes im römischen Westen (4.-6. Jh.) (Mainz, 2020).

Extremely Rare Early Pseudo-Imperial Merovingian Issue

941. MEROVINGIANS, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Circa 530-560. AV Tremissis (23mm, 1.42 g, 6h). Imitating an issue in the name of Justinian I. DN IV STINIAN, diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / OTOD å a И OTIV, Victory advancing right, head left, holding wreath in each hand; CON. Belfort 5282 var. (rev. legend; same obv. die?); MEC 1, –. VF. Wonderful style. Extremely rare, only three examples known with this reverse. ($1000)

The style of the bust and the drapery on the Victory is quite unusual in the Merovingian series and surprisingly close to what must be an Ostrogothic prototype. CNG thanks Arent Pol for providing information on the rarity. Only six examples are known with this obverse and only three with this reverse. Our thanks to Arent Pol for providing further information.

942. MEROVINGIANS, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Circa 560-585. AV Tremissis (14mm, 1.00 g, 6h). Imitating an issue in the name of Justinian I. Uncertain mint in the Lyon region(?). VTSςIV NTS VN, crude diademed bust left / IVOCΛΛTOCVM, Victory advancing left, holding wreath in left hand and cross in right; N. H. Geiger, “Die Merowingischen Münzen in der Schweiz,” in SNR 58 (1979), no. 170 = Jahrbuch der Scheizerischen Gesellschaft für’Urgeschichte 26 (1934), p. 80 (this coin); cf. Belfort 5229-5231, 5334, 5424, 5869 (for type); cf. MEC 1, 368 (for type); Stahl, Merovingiens –; cf. Adams I 456 (for type). Toned, light marks, holed. VF. Rare. (Lot withdrawn)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Found in Payerne, Switzerland, 1933.

This coin was found in a 6th century grave of a young woman during excavations in Payerne, Switzerland in 1933. Alongside this tremissis was found a pierced fourée imitative solidus of Justinian I, as well as garnet earrings, a bronze pin, two fibulae, an amber necklace, two bracelets of clay beads, and three rings.

This lot has been withdrawn at the request of the consignor to be donated to Museé Cantonal d’Art et d’Histoire in Lausanne. CNG extends our thanks to the museum and to Arent Pol for help in facilitating the donation.

943. MEROVINGIANS, Banassac. Circa 675-700. AR Denier (11mm, 1.33 g, 1h). Chalice; cross and four pellets above / Cross; V R A R in quarters. NM 2; cf. Belfort 776 (for type); MEC 1, –; Bais Hoard 280. Find patina, light marks. Good VF. Rare. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Struck from Church Revenues

944. MEROVINGIANS, Bourges. Ecclesiastic issue. AR Denier (11mm, 1.15 g, 5h). Rodor[...?], moneyer. [...] RODOR[...], diademed bust right / [+ R]ACIO ECLIS[SIAE], five cruciform pellets. Cf. NM 2-3 (for issues of moneyer Villobertus); cf. Belfort 4393 (same); MEC 1, –. Toned, light deposits. VF. Extremely rare. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

The legend racio eclesiae (or ratio ecclesiae) indicates that this coin was struck by the church using metal from their own revenues. (See Prou p. LI-LIII)

945. MEROVINGIANS, Chalon-sur-Saône. Circa 675-700. Pale AV Tremissis (12mm, 1.23 g, 6h). Contemporary imitation. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Cross potent with pellet at lower terminal; C A flanking; all within pelleted border with pendant at bottom. Cf. Nomos Obolos 32, lot 114 (for very similar example). Find patina, edge marks, bent. VF. Extremely rare. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection, purchased from Andy Singer.

Extremely Rare Denier of Abbo, Ally to Charles Martel

946. MEROVINGIANS, Marseille. Abbo. Patrician of Provence, fl. 730s. AR Denier (11mm, 1.04 g, 9h). + ABO + monogram / MAS monogram. M. Hourlier and P. Schiesser, “Quatre deniers inédits due dernier Patrice de Provence Abbon (vers 732-739),” in BSFN 67.7 (September 2012), no. 1-4; P. Schiesser, “Les deniers d’Abbon et de Mauronte frappés à Arles,” in Monnaies et Monnayages en Avignon entre Provence et Papauté: Actes du colloque des 25-28 mai 2017 au Musée Calvet –Avignon (Paris, 2022), fig. 2-3; NM –; Belfort –; Prou –; MEC 1, –. Toned, deposit. Good Fine. Struck in low grade silver, as all examples appear to be. Extremely rare. The seventh known denier of Abbo from Marseille. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Around 733, set against a backdrop of collapsing Merovingian authority and rising Arab raids from Spain, the Patrician of Provence, Maurontus, rose in revolt. The patrician knew he would be unable to resist the inevitable reprisal from majordomo Charles Martel and sought an ally in the very force that the general had defeated only a few months earlier at the famous Battle of Tours: the Umayyad Caliphate. Maurontus called on Yusuf ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Fihri, then the Wali of Narbonne and the future governor of al-Andalus. In about 736, Arles and Avignon were both briefly conquered by the rebels and their Arab allies, and control of the region would oscillate between Maurontus and Martel until the rebel’s ultimate defeat in 739. Throughout the conflict, Abbo, rector of Maurienne and Susa, remained loyal to Martel. For this he was awarded the title of Patrician of Provence in 732. Abbo would be the last to hold that title, as the position would be reduced to missus dominicus during the rise of the Carolingian dynasty under Pepin the Short.

Ex 1904 Bais Hoard

947. MEROVINGIANS, Poitiers. Circa 700-740. AR Denier (11mm, 1.04 g, 9h). PICTAVIS C, radiate head left / ILVDRAMNOX, cross set on curled device. NM 25 = Bais Hoard 160 (this coin); Belfort –; MEC 1, –. Old cabinet toning, minor deposits, scratch, edge cut. Good VF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex J.-M. Chouters Collection (Elsen 125, 13 June 2015), lot 1036; 1904 Bais Hoard.

948. MEROVINGIANS, Poitiers (region). Circa 725-745. AR Denier (12mm, 1.05 g, 8h). Crude bust left; triple pellets flanking / A surmounted by cross; pellets around. Schiesser, Touraine 1029; cf. NM 49 (for higher quality issue); cf. Belfort 3528 (same); MEC 1, –. Richly toned. Near EF. Rare. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

949. MEROVINGIANS, Rouen. Circa 600-675. Pale AV Tremissis (14mm, 0.92 g, 12h). Cilmo[...]rom, moneyer. + ROTO MO CI, highly schematized diademed and draped bust right / + CILMO[...]ROM, cross pattée set on globe; all within pelleted border. Cf. NM 13 (for type); cf. Belfort 3830 (same); cf. Stahl, Merovingiens, 259 (same); MEC 1, –; cf. Elsen 92, lot 557 (same). Lightly toned, a few minor cleaning marks. VF. Very rare. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 375 (1 June 2016), lot 745; Classical Numismatic Group 100 (7 October 2015), lot 2088.

This specimen is possibly an issue from another site in the Rouen region, perhaps imitating a Rouen issue of the moneyer Chagnoaldus.

950. MEROVINGIANS, Rouen. Circa 725-750. AR Denier (12mm, 1.14 g, 12h). Ermobertus, moneyer. [ROTOMO CI... (or similar)], facing bust / [...]EBERR, flower. NM 6; cf. Belfort 3843-4 (for type); MEC 1, –; cf. Bais Hoard 8-10 (same). Deeply toned with hints of iridescence. Near EF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 441 (3 April 2019), lot 527; Compagnie Général de Bourse e-Monnaies 3 (30 June 2015), lot 209.

951. MEROVINGIANS, Rouen. Ecclesiastic issue. Circa 725-750. AR Denier (14mm, 1.03 g, 4h). Siggoinus, moneyer. [+ROTO] ECLI[...], bust right / + SIGG[...], flower. NM 5 (Saint-Ouen); cf. Befort 3848-51 (for type); MEC 1, –; cf. Plassac Hoard 5-7 (same). Find patina, porosity. Near EF. Rare. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

952. MEROVINGIANS, Rouen (region). Circa 725-750. AR Denier (13mm, 1.31 g). Schematized bust right composed of C, cross, and square; uncertain legend around / [...]ROBERO[...], flower. NM –; Belfort –; MEC 1, –; cf. Saint-PierrelesÉtieux Hoard 11 (for type). Deposits. Good VF. Rare. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection, purchased from Andy Singer.

953. MEROVINGIANS, Viviers. Circa 560-585. AV Tremissis (15mm, 1.21 g, 6h). Diademed and draped bust right / Cross potent set on globe; IV VΛ flanking globe; COИO[B]. NM 2; Belfort 4912; MEC 1, –. Deposits, marks and scuffs, edge bumps. VF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 436 (23 January 2019), lot 754.

954. MEROVINGIANS, Uncertain. Circa 725-750. AR Denier (10mm, 1.13 g, 2h). Facing bust / Cross pattée with pellets in quarters; TΘΓ below. Unpublished in the standard references, but cf. Maison Palombo 9, lot 90 and Nomos Obolos 32, lot 143 for similar. Find patina. Near EF. Very rare. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

The obverse is clearly derived from the issues of Rouen, while the reverse is reminiscent of the vast series of continental sceattas from Frisia.

Extremely Rare Published Denier

955. MEROVINGIANS, Uncertain. Circa 725-750. AR Denier (11mm, 0.66 g). Cross-crosslet on cross saltire with pellets at base and flanking terminals / Cross pattée in circle; pellets in angles. P. Schiesser, “Les trouvailles de deniers mérovingiens (vers 670 - vers 750) dans l’Aube” in Le monnayage à Troyes et en Champagne de l’antiquité à nos jours: Actes du colloque des 11-14 novembre 2021 au Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologies de Troyes (Paris, 2022), no. 161 = Lafaurie & Pilet-Lemière, Monnaies du haut moyen âge découvertes en France (Ve-VIIIe siècle) (Paris, 2003), no. 10.000.2 = Chevalier et al, “Trouvailles récentes de monnaies mérovingiennes dans le département de l’Aube” in BSFN (June 1988), no. 5 (this coin); NM –; Belfort –; MEC 1, –. Toned, minor deposits. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Found in the Aube region before 1988.

956. CAROLINGIANS. temp. Robert I. King of West Francia, 922-923. AR Denier (20mm, 1.32 g, 9h). Crinon Group 1, Series 1, Variety 1. Chinon mint. Diademed and mantled bust right / Cross pattée; pellet in first quarter. Crinon, Catalogue, p. 73, 1-4/2 (same dies); Poey d’Avant 1670; Fécamp pl. XIV = Crinon, “À propos de deniers inédits de Blois (Xe siècle): le monnayage à la tête dans les domaines de Thibaud de Tours et Thibaud Ier (durant les deux premiers tiers du Xe s.)” in BSFN 48.1 (January 1993), p. 469. Toned, minor marks, worn and rusted dies. VF. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 389 (18 January 2017), lot 865.

Extremely Rare Gold Bezant

957. CRUSADERS, Uncertain. 12th-13th centuries AD. AV Dinar or Bezant (23.5mm, 3.76 g). Apparently imitating an Almoravid dinar, possibly of Abu Bakr b. ‘Umar (AD 1056-1087). Possibly Tripoli mint. Undated. Stylised pseudo-Kufic legend, apparently including TPII - 8 - ΠOIIE (for ‘Tripolie’?) anticlockwise from 11h to 8h, triangle with annulet at each vertex at 6h, Cross potent, flanked by annulets, above CRVCEM, two lines of stylised and inverted Kufic below (possibly derived from al-Imam ‘Abd Allah / Pseudo-Kufic legend, triangle with annulet at each vertex at 6h and 10h, Pseudo-Kufic legend. Cf. Lavoix 1123 (similar obverse field but different margins and reverse); Heritage 3101 (25 August 2022), lot 35887 (same dies); VIA GmbH 1 (November 2021), lot 202 (same dies). Faint edge marks, slightly wavy flan. Near EF. Extremely rare. ($10,000)

Describing a similar example in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Lavoix suggested that the legends might be derived from Spanish Umayyad dinars issued by Hisham III (AD 976-1009). In our opinion, however, the present coin is more similar to the Almoravid dinars issued by Abu Bakr b. ‘Umar and his successors. These were also copied by Béla III of Hungary (AD 1172-1196) for his copper rézpénz coinage.

ISLAMIC COINAGE

958. Isma’ilis of Alamut (Batinids). ‘Ala’ al-Din Muhammad III. AH 618-653 / AD 1221-1255. Æ Fals (16mm, 1.92 g, 8h). Without mint-name. Dated AH 62[...]. al-mawla / al-a‘zam in two lines / Bird formed out of the words Muhammad bin alHasan. Cf. Album Auction 49, lot 554; Hamdan & Vardanyan –; Album –. Brown patina, some porosity. VF. ($1000)

Chingiz (Genghis) Khan

959. Great Mongols. Chingiz (Genghis). AH 602-624 / AD 1206-1227. AV Dinar (21.1mm, 2.29 g, 5h). Bukhara mint. Undated. SNAT XVa, 267; Album 1964. Ragged flan, typical weak striking. Good Fine for issue. ($1000)

960. Great Mongols. temp. Chingiz (Genghis). AH 602-624 / AD 1206-1227. BI Jital (16mm, 6h). Citing the ‘Abbasid caliph al-Nasir on obverse, and the Mongol Great Khan as al-’Adil al-Khaqan al-A’zam on reverse. Ghazna mint. Undated issue, but struck circa 1221-1222. Tye 329; Album 1969. In NGC encapsulation 6676669-002, graded AU 53. ($500)

WORLD COINAGE

961. AUSTRIA, Holy Roman Empire. Leopold I. Emperor, 1658-1705. AR Doppeltaler (47mm, 57.45 g, 12h). Hall mint. Struck 1686-1696. Laureate and armored bust right; all within wreath / Crowned eagle facing with wings spread, head left; all within wreath. Moser & Turskey 762; Davenport 3252; KM 657. Iridescent toning, faint old hairlines. EF. ($500)

Extremely Rare Mintmark

962. BOHEMIA, Kingdom of Bohemia. Rudolf II. Emperor, 1576-1612. AV Dukat (21mm, 3.37 g, 1h). Praha (Prague) mint; mm: crowned lion. Dated 1599. Rudolf standing right, holding scepter and globus cruciger; crowned coats-of-arms flanking / Crowned double-headed eagle with wings spread; crowned coat-of-arms on breast. Dieteker 434 (unlisted date); Friedberg 11a. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-004, graded AU Details, edge filing. Extremely rare – this mintmark not recorded by Dieteker for 1599. ($1500)

963. BULGARIA, Principality. Ferdinand I. 1887-1908. AR 5 Leva (37mm, 25.00 g, 6h). Kremnitz mint. Dated 1894 KБ. Bare head left / Denomination and date within wreath. CBC p. 16; KM 18. In NGC encapsulation 6909480-012, graded MS 60. ($750)

Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.

Brugmansia – Among the Most Toxic of Ornamental Plants

964. CHILE, Republic. 1818-present. Pattern AR 5 Pesos (37mm, 27.87 g, 6h). Santiago mint. Dated 1926 So. CHILE, native bust left, wearing feathered headdress; 072 in right field / Star; 5 above, CINCO PESOS below; all within wreath of brugmansia (angel’s trumpet); So below. KM Pn46. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6924486-014, graded AU 58. ($1500) Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.

965. CHINA, Qīng dynasty. Provincial issues. Zhílì. AR 7 Mace 2 Candareens – Dollar (38mm, 12h). Běiyáng Arsenal (Tiānjīn) mint. Dated RY 25 of Dézōng (Guāngxù) (AD 1899). Legend in Hànzì characters and Manchu script / Flying imperial dragon facing, coiled leftward around fireball and surrounded by stylized clouds. L&M 454; KM (Y) 73. In NGC encapsulation 3300116-017, graded AU 55. ($2000)

966. COLOMBIA, Colonial. Felipe IV. King of Spain, 1621-1665. AV 2 Escudos (17mm, 6.76 g, 1h). Cob issue. Cartagenas de Indias (Cartagena) mint. Dated 1632 C E. Crowned coat-of-arms / Cross potent with pellets at terminals; all within ornate double linear quadrilobe with leaves at cusps, annulets in spandrels. Lasser & Restrepo type M52, 17 var. (rev. type); Menzel Ca-19; KM 4.4; Friedberg 2a. Near EF. Rare. ($1500)

967. FRANCE, Royal. Charles VI le Bien-Aimé/le Fol (the Well-Beloved/the Mad). 1380-1422. AV Écu d’or à la couronne (29mm, 3.71 g, 8h). Montpellier mint; différent: pellet under 4th letter. 4th emission, authorized 2 July 1394. Crowned coat-of-arms / Cross fleurdelisée and feuillue; star in center; all within quadrilobe; lis at end of each arc, crowns in spandrels. Duplessy 369D; Ciani 489; Friedberg 291. A few minor marks, slight double strike. EF. ($750)

Ex Elsen 90 (9 December 2005), lot 565.

968. FRANCE, Royal. Charles VII le Victorieux (the Victorious). 1422-1461. AV Écu d’or à la couronne (27mm, 3.33 g, 7h). Second period. Tournai mint; différent: pellet under 16th letter. 2nd emission, authorized 12 August 1445. Crowned coatof-arms; crowned lis flanking / Cross fleurée with quadrilobe at center; crown in quarters; all within double linear quadrilobe. Duplessy 513A; Ciani 643; Friedberg 308. In NGC encapsulation 6639729-004, graded MS 63. ($1000)

969. FRANCE, Royal (Restored). Charles X. 1824-1830. AR Monnaies de visite – 5 Franc (35mm, 25.07 g, 6h). Visit of Leopold, Prince of Salerno, and Marie-Caroline, Duchess of Berry, to the Paris Mint. Paris mint. Dies by Tiolier. Dated 22 July 1825. CHARLES X ROI DE FRANCE, bare head left / LL · AA · RR ·/ LE PRINCE DE SALERNE,/ MADAME,/ DUCHESSE DE BERRY/ VISITENT LA MONNAIE/ DE PARIS/ LE 22 JUIL · 1825. Le Franc 3701.2; Mazard 900; KM (X) M16a. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6924407-004, graded MS 63. ($500)

Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.

970. FRANCE, Royal (Restored). Louis Philippe. 1830-1848. AV 40 Francs (25mm, 6h). Rouen mint; différent: Agnus Dei. Dated 1832 B. Laureate head left / Denomination and date within wreath. VG 1106; KM 747.2; Friedberg 558. In NGC encapsulation 6771849-001, graded MS 60. Low mintage. ($1000)

967

968

971. FRANCE, Third Republic. 1870-1940. AV 100 Francs (35mm, 6h). Paris mint; différents: cornucopia & fasces. Dated 1882 A. Winged Genius standing right, inscribing tablet set on plinth; to left, fasces surmounted by Hand of Justice; to right, rooster standing left / Denomination and date within wreath. VG 1137; KM 832; Friedberg 590. Iridescent toning. In NGC encapsulation 1908614-010, graded MS 63. ($4000)

Ex Triton XI (8 January 2008), lot 1416.

972. GERMANY, Aachen (City). nomine Ferdinand III. Holy Roman Emperor, 1637-1657. AV Dukat (23mm, 3.43 g, 5h). Mm: eagle. Dated 1646. Ferdinand standing right, holding scepter and globus cruciger / Legend in four lines within tablet. Menadier 207b; KM 28; Friedberg 8. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-007, graded AU 53. ($2000)

973. GERMANY, Augsburg (city). Gustav II Adolf der Große (the Great). As King of Sweden, 1611-1632. AV Dukat (22mm, 3.42 g, 11h). Swedish occupation. Dated 1633. Laureate, draped, and armored bust facing slightly right / Crowned coat-of-arms. Forster 242; AAJ 4; KM 38; Friedberg 112. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-001, graded AU Details, damaged. Rare. ($1000)

Augsburg’s coinage vividly records changes in the city’s leadership during the Thirty Years’ War. This taler was minted in the name of Gustavus Adolphus, the Swedish king who occupied the predominantly Protestant city beginning in 1632. Only a few years after this coin was produced, the Habsburgs recaptured Augsburg, and the city resumed producing coins in the name of the Holy Roman Emperor.

974. GERMANY, Köln (Archbishophric). Hermann IV von Hessen. 1480-1508. AV Goldgulden (22mm, 3.11 g, 8h). Bonn mint. Struck 1480. Half-length bust of St. Peter facing, holding key and gospel; coat-of-arms below / Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchée. Felke 1488; Noss 467a-b; Friedberg 802. A few marks. VF. ($500)

Top Pop and Very Rare

975. GERMANY, Lübeck (Free and Hanseatic City). AV Dukat (21mm, 3.44 g, 10h). Dated 1636. Armored figure standing right, holding scepter and globus cruciger / Crowned double-headed eagle with wings spread; coat-of-arms on breast. Behrens 610; KM A36; Friedberg 1486. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-008, graded AU 55. Top Pop. Very rare – only one example in CoinArchives. ($750)

Very Rare Variety – Top Pop

976. GUATEMALA, Colonial. Carlos III. King of Spain, 1759-1788. AR 8 Reales (37mm, 12h). Columnario issue. Guatemala City mint. Dated 1769 G P. Crowned coat-of-arms / Crowned hemispheres between crowned pillars ornamented with banners; all set on waves. Yonaka G8-69b2 (same dies as illustration); Gilboy –; KM 27.1. Iridescent toning. In PCGS encapsulation 56804459, graded MS 62. Top Pop. Very rare variety with ETIND as one word and an inverted N in VNVM. ($5000)

From the Alexander Christopher Collection.

977. HUNGARY, Kingdom of Hungary. Mátyás Hunyadi. 1458-1490. AV Dukát (20mm, 3.55 g, 11h). Nagybánya (Frauenbach / Baia Mare) mint. Struck 1467. Coat-of-arms / St. Ladislaus I standing facing, holding ax and globus cruciger; n to left, coat-of-arms to right. Lengyel 36/24; Frynas H.34.2; Huszár 674; Friedberg 20. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-009, graded AU Details, damaged. ($2000)

978. HUNGARY, Holy Roman Empire. Ferdinánd III. 1637-1657. AV Dukat (22mm, 3.46 g, 7h). Körmöcbánya (Kremnitz) mint. Dated 1657 KB. Ferdinánd standing right, holding globus cruciger and scepter / Crowned Virgin and Child seated facing in glory of rays, crowned coat-of-arms below. Huszár 1216; KM 114; Friedberg 109. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-006, graded MS 62. ($2000)

979. HUNGARY, Holy Roman Empire. Lipót I. 1657-1705. AV Dukat (22mm, 3.47 g, 8h). Körmöcbánya (Kremnitz) mint. Dated 1667 KB. Lipót standing right, holding globus cruciger and scepter / Madonna seated facing, holding scepter and infant Christ; all within glory of rays, crowned coat-of-arms below. Huszár 1320; KM 151; Friedberg 128. In NGC encapsulation 8414822-001, graded MS 62. ($2500)

980. HUNGARY, Holy Roman Empire. Lipót I. 1657-1705. AV Dukat (22mm, 3.45 g, 6h). Körmöcbánya (Kremnitz) mint. Dated 1668 KB. Lipót standing right, holding globus cruciger and scepter / Madonna seated facing, holding scepter and infant Christ; all within glory of rays, crowned coat-of-arms below. Huszár 1320; KM 151; Friedberg 128. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-005, graded MS 63. ($3000)

Top Pop

981. HUNGARY, Holy Roman Empire. Lipót I. 1657-1705. AV Dukat (22mm, 3.48 g, 12h). Körmöcbánya (Kremnitz) mint. Dated 1669 KB. Lipót standing right, holding globus cruciger and scepter / Madonna seated facing, holding scepter and infant Christ; all within glory of rays, crowned coat-of-arms below. Huszár 1320; KM 151; Friedberg 128. In NGC encapsulation 8414602-003, graded MS 63. Top Pop ($3000)

982. INDIA, Mughal Empire. Shihab al-Din Muhammad Shah Jahan. AH 1037-1068 / AD 1627-1658. AV Mohur (22mm, 4h). Surat mint. Dated Azar Ilahi year 2 (23 November-21 December AD 1628). Kalima, mint formula, Ilahi month and year, and mint formula / Couplet citing Shah Jahan. M.K. Hussain, “Gold Coins of Shahjahan from River Bordi,” JNSI Vol. 1, Part II (December 1977), 3; IMC (Wright) –; Hull –; KM 255.6; CNG 91, lot 1302 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 2139050-001, graded MS 63. ($1500)

983. INDIA, Independent States. Sikh Empire. temp. Duleep Singh. VS 1900-1906 / AD 1843-1849. AR Rupee (24mm, 11.02 g, 6h). Amritsar mint. Dated VS 1884/1905 (AD 1848). Gobindshahi couplet Ib / Mint and date formula; pipal leaf in field. SS AM 245a; Wiggins & Goron Type B; Herrli 01.22.04. Iridescent toning. Near EF. ($1000)

984. INDIA, Princely States. Kutch. Madansinhji. VS 2004-2005 / AD 1947-1948. AV Kori (17mm, 4.69 g, 12h). Coronation issue. Bhuj mint. Dated VS 2004 (AD 1947). jai hind (Long Live India)/kori ek (one kori)/Bhuj in Nagari in three lines, separated by floral ornament; stars flanking lowest ornament / maharao śri madansinhji · kutch · in Nagari, crescent, trisul, kotah above date. Edge: plain. CKS 275.1; KM (Y) 84; Friedberg 1281. In NGC encapsulation 8439129-001, graded MS 66. ($500)

985. ITALY, Genova. The Biennial Doges. 1528-1797. AR Due Scudi (58mm, 76.32 g, 11h). Dated 1652 IAB. The Madonna seated facing among the clouds, head upturned right, holding scepter and infant Christ; two cherubim above, holding halo of stars / Short cross pattée with floral scrolls ends; winged head of cherubim above floral scroll in each quarter. MIR 290/7; KM 82; Davenport LS553. Deeply toned, light marks, edge split, hairlines. VF. An attractive example. ($750)

986. ITALY, Genova. The Biennial Doges. 1528-1797. AR Due Scudi (56mm, 37.79 g, 9h). Dated 1666 AB. The Madonna seated facing among the clouds, head upturned right, holding scepter and infant Christ; two cherubim above, holding halo of stars / Short cross pattée with floral scrolls ends; winged head of cherubim above floral scroll in each quarter. MIR 292/7; KM 113; Davenport LS555. Deeply toned, a few marks, flan crack, hairlines. VF. ($750) Ex Village Estate Collection (Heritage 3005, 26 May 2009), lot 21526.

987. ITALY, Milano (Duchy). Filippo Maria Visconti. 1412-1447. AV Ducato – Fiorino (20mm, 3.43 g, 5h). Third period. Struck 1436-1447. Armored figure of duke on caparisoned horse right, holding sword and reins / Ornately crested helmet left surmounting coat-of-arms; crowned fƩ ⍴ª flanking; all within arched and angled quadrilobe with annulets in spandrels. MIR 150/1; Crippa 1/C; MEC 12, 672; Friedberg 681. Clipped. Good VF. ($1000)

Early Neapolitan Follis

988. ITALY, Napoli (Duchy). Stefano III. 821-832. Æ Light Follis (19mm, 2.23 g, 10h). Class 1. Facing bust of St. Gennaro (Januarius) / Cross potent set on two steps; S T across field; all within wreath. MIR 8 (Stefano II); Pannuti-Riccio 1 (Stefano II); MEC 14, 1-3. Brown patina, minor marks and deposits. Near EF. Lovely example. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

989. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Bartolomeo Gradenigo. 1339-1342. AV Ducato (20mm, 6h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding banner between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing nine stars. Paolucci 1; Friedberg 1220. In NGC encapsulation 2177088-010, graded MS 61. ($750)

990. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Francesco Foscari. 1423-1457. AV Ducato (21mm, 3.53 g, 11h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding banner between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing nine stars. Paolucci 1; Friedberg 1232. In NGC encapsulation 2177086-011, graded MS 62. ($500)

991. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Pasqual Malipiero. 1457-1462. AV Ducato (20mm, 3.52 g, 2h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding banner between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing nine stars. Paolucci 1; Friedberg 1233. In NGC encapsulation 2177088-008, graded MS 65. ($1000)

992. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Andrea Gritti. 1523-1538. AV Mezzo scudo d’oro (18mm, 7h). Cross fleurée with pinecones at terminals / Coat-of-arms. Paolucci 4; Friedberg 1449. In NGC encapsulation 2789370-008, graded MS 64. Top Pop. ($1000)

Ex Aurora 32 (9 October 2024), lot 233.

993. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Francesco Morosini. 1688-1694. AV Zecchino (20mm, 3.47 g, 2h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding long cross between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing sixteen stars. Paolucci 4; Friedberg 1347; KM 402. In NGC encapsulation 2177088-007, graded MS 62. ($500)

994. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Alvise IV Giovanni Mocenigo. 1763-1779. AV Zecchino (21mm, 3.4 g, 10h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding long cross between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing sixteen stars. Paolucci 13; Friedberg 1421; KM 671. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 2177086-004, graded MS 63. ($500)

995. ITALY, Venezia (Venice). Ludovico Manin. 1789-1797. AV Zecchino (21mm, 3.49 g, 1h). St. Mark standing right and Doge kneeling left, holding long cross between them / Christ standing facing within mandorla containing sixteen stars. Paolucci 14; KM (C) 140; Friedberg 1445. In NGC encapsulation 2177088-012, graded MS 63. ($500)

996. ITALY, Ligurian Republic. 1798-1805. AR 8 Lire (40mm, 12h). Genova mint. Dated 1798 and year 1. Liberty, standing right, holding liberty cap set on inverted spear, embracing Liguria standing left, holding level / Coat-of-arms on fasces surmounted by liberty cap; all within wreath. MIR 379/1; KM 266.1. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 4337079-002, graded AU 53. ($500)

Ex Heritage 3063 (16 January 2018), lot 35264.

994

995

997. JAPAN, Edo Period. Ansei Era. 1854-1860. AV Koban (30x56mm, 9.04 g, 12h). Edo mint. Struck 1859. Ichi Ryo in Hanji within rectangular panel over Mitsutsugu in Hanji within rectangular panel; paulownia flowers above and below / Four official punchmarks. Hartill, Japanese 8.25; JNDA 09-22. Light scratches on reverse. Good VF. ($3000)

Ex Dr. Patrick H. C. Tan Collection (Triton XX, 10 January 2017), lot 1315; Heritage 3040 (9 April 2015), lot 30208; Norman Jacobs Collection (Heritage 3015, 8 September 2011), lot 24243.

998. MEXICO, United States of Mexico. 1905-pres. AV 50 Pesos (37mm. 6h). Mexico City mint. Dated 1821 and 1944 Eagle standing facing on cactus, wings spread, head right, grasping snake in beak and right talon; all atop laurel and oak wreath / Victory advancing forward, holding wreath in raised hand; mountains in background. BW 656; KM 481; Friedberg 172. In NGC encapsulation 2796403-006, graded MS 65. ($4000)

999. MEXICO, United States of Mexico. 1905-pres. AV 20 Pesos (27mm, 6h). Mexico City mint. Dated 1917. Eagle standing left on cactus in lake, wings spread, grasping snake in beak and right talon; all atop laurel and oak wreath / Aztec Sun Stone. BW 655; KM 478; Friedberg 171. In PCGS encapsulation 26288503, graded MS 62. ($1500)

Very Rare Jacob Heraclides Issue

1000. MOLDAVIA. Ioan Iacob Heraclid (Jacob Heraclides). 1561-1563. AR Dinar (15mm, 0.23 g, 10h). Suceava mint. Dated 1563 M S. Coat-of-arms / Madonna seated facing, holding infant Christ; M S flanking. MBR 790. VF. ($1000)

Iacob Heraclid was a professional charlatan who captured the imagination of many powerful figures across Europe, ultimately gaining a throne through them. An ethnic Greek, his exact place of birth is uncertain because he repeatedly forged his genealogy. He quickly ingratiated himself with Protestant rulers, accepting a vague and undefined form of Protestantism himself. He served as a soldier in the army of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1554-1555.

At Vilnius, he met deposed Moldavian boyars and formulated a plan to take control of Moldavia justified by a forged genealogical connection. In November of 1561, he gathered a large mercenary force and took control of the capital, Suceava. He then embarked on a plan to make Moldavia a center of Protestant learning by establishing a Calvinist seminary in Cotnari. Despite his Protestant faith, he performed the duties of a standard Orthodox monarch, though this was broken by actions like appropriating monastic treasures and turning them into coinage. Territorially, Heraclid planned to unify Transylvania and Wallachia with Moldavia and assist the Habsburgs to achieve full control of Eastern Hungary.

He ultimately met his end in 1563 through a complicated series of events that involved the Zaporizhian Hetman Dmytro Vyshnevetsky invading Moldavia, who was defeated by a rival Moldavian claimant, Ștefan Tomșa, who in turn besieged Suceava for three months. By rashly killing the leader of his infantry who he thought was inciting a revolt, Heraclid incited a real one, which forced his hand into surrender on November 5, 1563. After he stepped out of the citadel, he was promptly killed, possibly by Ștefan Tomșa himself. Heraclid’s dinars specifically resemble the Hungarian Hunyadi dinars of earlier centuries, down to the raven on the coat-of-arms.

1001. NEPAL, Kingdom of Kathmandu. Malla Dynasty. Prakash Malla. First reign, NS 855-866 / AD 1735-1746. AR Half Mohur (22mm, 2.85 g, 12h). Dated NS 856 (AD 1736). Trident in center; legend in four polylobes around / Sword in center; legend in three lines. KM 255. Lightly toned. VF. ($1500)

Ex Norman Frank Collection.

1002. ROMANIA, Principality. Carol I. As Domnitor, 1866-1881. AR Leu (21mm, 4.98 g, 6h). Brussels mint. Dated 1876. Crowned coat-of-arms with leonine supporters; all crowned and mantled / Denomination and date within wreath. MBR 14; KM 10. In NGC encapsulation 8378314-001, graded AU Details, cleaned. ($1000)

Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.

1003. RUSSIA, Empire. Ekaterina II Velikaya (the Great). 1762-1796. AV 10 Roubles (29mm, 13.04 g, 12h). St. Petersburg mint. Dated 1773 СПБ TI. Crowned bust right / Crowned cruciform coats-of-arms with crowned double-headed eagle at center. Diakov 287; Bitkin 28; KM 79a; Friedberg 129b. Mount marks, cleaned. VF. ($2500)

1004. RUSSIA, Empire. Nikolai II Aleksandrovich. 1894-1917. AV 5 Roubles (18mm, 12h). St. Petersburg mint. Dated 1904 АP. Bare head right / Crowned double-headed eagle facing with wings spread, holding scepter and globus cruciger; collared coat-of-arms on breast; coats-of-arms on wings. Bitkin 32; KM (Y) 62; Friedberg 180. In NGC encapsulation 262744032, graded MS 65. ($500)

1005. SPAIN, Kingdom. Isabel II. 1833-1868. AR 2 Escudos (36mm, 12h). Second decimal coinage. Madrid mint; mm: six-pointed stars. Dated 1867. Laureate head right / Crowned coat-of-arms between Pillars of Hercules. Calicó 204; ME 17240; KM 629. Lustrous. In PCGS encapsulation 56804460, graded MS 63+. ($750)

From the Alexander Christopher Collection.

1006. SWEDEN. Erik XIV. 1560–1568. AR 16 Öre Klippe (24x25mm, 23.63 g, 3h). Nordic Seven Years’ War issue. Stockholm mint. Dated 1564. Crowned coat-of-arms / Crowned coat-of-arms. AAH 45; cf. Tingström 22 (for type); Antell 572. Toned. VF. ($500)

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex DMS Collection (11 January 2022), lot 1255, purchased from Pegasi, August 2010.

Top Pop 2 Marks

1007. SWEDEN. Karl XII. 1697–1718. AR 2 Marks (31mm, 10.61 g, 12h). Stockholm mint. Dated 1714 LC. Armored and draped bust right / Three crowns. Delzanno 60; KM 339. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 6916566-006, graded MS 64. Top Pop. ($1000)

Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.

1008. SWITZERLAND, Swiss Confederation. 1848-present. AV 20 Francs (22mm, 6h). Bern mint. Dated 1926 B. Bust of Helvetia left; Alps in background / Coat-of-arms over oak branch. HMZ 2-1195x; KM 35.1; Friedberg 499. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 1524867-009, graded MS 65. ($1000)

Extremely Rare Transylvanian Taler Variety

1009. TRANSYLVANIA, Principality. Zsigmond Báthory. First and second reigns, 1581-1599. AR Talar – Taler (40mm, 29.29 g, 6h). Nagybánya (Frauenbach / Baia Mare) mint. Dated 1597. Armored half-length bust right, holding mace over shoulder and resting hand on hilt of sword; cross pattée to right; faint IV in upper right field(?) / Crowned coat-of-arms on cross. Resch 221 var. (different dies); MBR 563 var. (same); cf. Nemzeti 103 (for similar); Davenport 8807; Sincona 66, lot 2089 (same dies; hammer 15,000 CHF). Cleaned, a few marks. Near EF. Extremely rare. ($4000)

Transylvanian Abrud Mint Denar

1010. TRANSYLVANIA, Principality. Zsigmond Báthory. First and second reigns, 1581-1599. AR Dinar (15mm, 0.45 g, 6h). Abrud (Großschlatten/Abrudbánya) mint. Dated 1590 AB. Coat-of-arms / Madonna seated facing, holding infant Christ; A B flanking. Resch 69; MBR 399. EF. Very rare mint. ($1000)

1011. TURKEY, Republic. 1923-present. AV 500 Kurush (50mm, 34.87 g, 12h). Istanbul mint. Dated 1928 (in Eastern Arabic numerals). KM 848; Friedberg 79 (500 Piastres de luxe); Adams I 1013 (this coin). In NGC encapsulation 8440190001, graded AU Details, removed from jewelry. ($5000)

Ex Dr. Lawrence A. Adams Collection (Part I, Classical Numismatic Group 100, 7 October 2015), lot 1013; Bowers & Ruddy (9 June 1980), lot 1290.

1012. VIETNAM (ANNAM), Nguyễn dynasty. Hiến Tổ (Thiệu Trị). 1841-1847. AR 7 Tìên (51mm, 27.23 g, 12h). Thiu Tri Thong Bao in Han-nom characters around central radiant sun / Two dragons flying upward; flaming pearl above, cloud below. Schroeder 238; BN, Vietnamiennes Supp. 447; KM 238. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 6928245-005, graded AU Details, plugged. ($1000)

Ex Drewry Family Collection; H. Christensen 88 (7 September 1984), lot 737.

WORLD MEDALS

1013. GERMANY, Hamburg. 17th century. AR Medal – Doppelter Hochzeitstaler (59mm, 56.73 g, 12h). Struck 16201634. (name of God in Hebrew) QUOS + DEUS + CONNIUNXIT HOMO + NON + SEPARET + (rosette), Christ standing facing between man and woman standing facing one another and clasping hands / * IESUS CHRISTUS · MACHET · WASSER · Z : WEIN : IN CANA · GAL : IOH : II, marriage at Cana: Christ seated right at table, Mary seated to back left beside woman, man seated left; to right, man standing left, pouring wine from jug to cup; at Christ’s feet, five water jugs; curtain above. Gaedechens 1543/1544 (obv./rev.); KM 142/143 (obv./rev.). Toned, a few marks, hairlines, slightly double struck, edge marks. Good VF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Album 43 (12 May 2022), lot 1263.

Top Pop

1014. GUATEMALA, Colonial. Carlos IV. King of Spain, 1788-1808. AR Medal (28mm, 12h). Proclamation in Nueva Guatemala. Dated 18 November 1789. CAROL . IV . D . G . HISP . ET IND . REG ., laureate head right / . S . P . Q . NG . PROCLAMAT . 18 NOV . 1789 ., rider on horseback left, raising sword, leaping over two mountains. Herrera 146; Medina 169. Toned. In PCGS encapsulation 56804461, graded AU 55. Top Pop. Rare. ($1500)

From the Alexander Christopher Collection.

UNITED STATES COINAGE

1015. Post-Colonial. Undated (circa 1793-1795) Kentucky Cent Token. Lettered Edge: PAYABLE IN LANCASTER LONDON OR BRISTOL. W-8810. PCGS MS 64RD LANCASTER. 6597990. A quality example of this popular type. Produced in large quantities in England as part of the Conder token series, the Kentucky tokens of the early to mid 1790s derive their popular name from the letter K at the top of the pyramid on the reverse, a reference to Kentucky, which was admitted to the Union as the 15th state on June 1, 1792. ($1000)

1016. Post-Colonial. 1791 Washington Large Eagle Cent. Lettered Edge: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA X. Musante GW-15; W-10610. PCGS MS62BN. 3701609. An attractive example. ($1000)

1017. Post-Colonial. 1791 Washington Large Eagle Cent. Lettered Edge: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA X. Musante GW-15; W-10610. ANACS AU 55 Details. 7512761. Scratched, Corroded. ($750)

1018. Post-Colonial. Undated (circa late 1792 or early 1793) Washington Success Token. Small Size. Reeded Edge. Silvered. Musante GW-44; W-10875. PCGS AU58. 21982594. Considerable silvering intact. ($750)

Rarest Die Marriage 1836 Quarter

1019. 1836 Capped Bust Quarter. B-5. High Rarity 6. NGC VG 10. 8409887-002. The rarest die marriage for the date. The late state of the shattered obverse die with multiple cracks clearly explains the rarity of this variety. Die crack on reverse through D STATE. Diagnostics confirm this coveted variety for the date. ($500)

1020. 1863 Liberty Seated Dollar. NGC XF Details. 8436338-001. Cleaned. A Civil War-Era silver dollar with a mintage of 27,200 pieces. ($1000)

From the Samuel K. Clark Collection.

1021. 1890-CC Liberty Head Half Eagle. PCGS MS62. 18200071. A lustrous Carson City Mint example. ($2000)

UNITED STATES INGOTS

1022. SSA/ South Side Associates. Silver Ingot. Undated. SSA/ .999/ 2.78 T.O. in three lines on the face. Serial number 1673 on the back. Poured. Machined. The ingot itself measures 30mm wide, 23.5mm tall, 8mm deep. A scarcely seen refiner out of Hazelton, Pennsylvania. According to the website www.vintagesilver.com/hallmark-library/ssa-southside-associates the Occurrence Frequency is Very Rare. ($500)

1023. Silver Ingot. Unnamed and undated. CA/ $1 in two lines on the face. .835 on the back. Poured. A round functional ingot, used as currency. The ingot itself measures 25mm across, 5mm deep, 26.84g. In areas of the American West where hard currency was in short supply, ingots served as a medium of exchange for miners and settlers. The value and silver purity are listed on this ingot, facilitating its use in transactions. ($500)

From the Alexander Christopher Collection.

BRITISH COINAGE

1024. CELTIC, North-Eastern Thames area. Circa 60-20 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 5.59 g, 2h). SS type (Trinovantian F). ∞ ∞ in slightly banded fields / Disjointed horse right with annulet on shoulder and beaded mane; wing motif above, wheel below, pellet-in-pelleted annulet to right. ABC 2237; Van Arsdell 1509-1; SCBC 34. Light scratches, edge splits. Near EF. ($2000)

1025. CELTIC, Belgae. Uninscribed. Circa 60-20 BC. AV Stater (16mm, 5.28 g, 8h). Cheriton Smiler type (Durotrigan D). Devolved head of Apollo right with large crescent face / Disjointed horse with multiple tails; pellets around, crab-like motif below. CCI 97.0403 (this coin); ABC 755; Van Arsdell 1215-1 (Durotriges); SCBC 24. Toned. VF. ($750)

Ex Edward J. Waddell FPL 52 (ND), no. 1; Edward J. Waddell FPL 46 (ND), no. 1; Edward J. Waddell FPL 43 (ND), no. 1.

Well Struck and Centered Corieltauvi Stater

1026. CELTIC, North-Eastern series (‘Corieltauvi’). Uninscribed. Circa 60-20 BC. AV Stater (19mm, 6.17 g, 12h). North East Coast, left type (Corieltauvian A). Devolved head of Apollo right / Disjointed horse left; below, pelleted sun over zig-zag line; pellets around. PAS NLM-F228C1 (this coin); ABC 1722; Van Arsdell 804-1; SCBC 29. EF. A remarkably well struck and centered example. ($2000)

From the PLZ Collection. Ex Roma XXV (22 September 2022), lot 1; Chris Rudd FPL 160 (13 August 2018), no. 21. Found Burwell, Lincolnshire, 7 February 2015.

Published Iceni Stater

1027. CELTIC, Iceni. Uninscribed. Circa 50-20 BC. AV Stater (20mm, 5.71 g, 5h). Norfolk Wolf, left type (Icenian A). Devolved head of Apollo right / Disjointed wolf left; bird to upper right; crescent and pellets above, pellet over crescent below. CCI 99.0086 = J. Davies, Land of the Iceni: The Iron Age in Northern East Anglia (1999), p. 29, fig 2.13 (this coin); MfT Norfolk Wolf B, sub-type A, die group 4, dies D/11; ABC 1399 var. (no pellets below wolf); Van Arsdell 610-3 var. (same); SCBC 31. Edge splits, a few minor scratches. Good VF. Extremely rare variety lacking the triple pellets below the wolf. ($1000)

Ex Chris Rudd FPL 138 (November 2014), no. 22; Bernard Winstanley Collection; 1997 Heacham, Norfolk Hoard.

1028. ANGLO-SAXON, Continental Sceattas. Circa 715-800/20. AR Sceatt (12mm, 1.12 g, 3h). Series X, type 31. Ribe mint. ‘Wodan’ head facing; pellet above, short cross pommée to left and right / Fantastic creature flying left, head right, with tail coiled leftward; two pellets below head. Abramson 104-10; MEC 8 Series X; North 116; SCBC 797. Toned. Good VF. ($750)

1029. ANGLO-SAXON, Continental Sceattas. Circa 715-800/20. AR Sceatt (11mm, 1.01 g, 3h). Series X, type 31. Ribe mint. ‘Wodan’ head facing; pellet above, short cross pommée to left and right / Fantastic creature flying left, head right, with tail coiled leftward; two pellets below head. Abramson 104-10; MEC 8 Series X; North 116; SCBC 797. Find patina, some porosity. VF. ($500)

1030. ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 710/5-720/5. AR Sceatt (12mm, 0.93 g, 6h). Series N, type 41b. Mint in east Kent or lower Thames region. Two figures standing facing, each holding long cross; cross of pellets between / Fantastic creature in flight left, head right. Abramson 52-40 (same dies as second example illustrated); MEC 8 Series Nb; North 99; SCBC 806. Toned. Good VF. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

1031. ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 720-725. AR Sceatt (11mm, 0.87 g, 5h). Series J, type 36. Mint in Lincolnshire. Diademed bust right; cross before / Bird standing right; bird standing on back, cross to right. Abramson 20-10; MEC 8 Series JM; North 134; SCBC 802D. Find patina, slightly ragged spot at edge. EF. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Beautiful Series K Sceatt

1032. ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 720-735. AR Sceatt (11mm, 0.83 g, 2h). Series K, type 32a. Mint in Essex or Kent. Diademed and draped bust right, holding cross, knot behind head / Serpent-headed wolf coiled clockwise. Abramson 39-10; MEC 8 Series Kb; North 89; SCBC 803D. Find patina. EF. A beautiful example. ($1500)

Coiled, serpent-like creatures were a common protective motif in pre-Christian artwork. This symbol was assimilated into Christianity as a representation of Christ’s Resurrection (Gannon, pp. 137-8).

Extremely Rare Type 51 Sceatt

1033. ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 730-735. AR Sceatt (12mm, 1.03 g). Type 51. Mint in the east Midlands. Saltire with triple pellets in angles; all within double square border with straight tufas on each side / Annulet cross within square border; three pellets on each side. Abramson 14-120; MEC 8 Series SS; North 56; SCBC 833B. Toned, die break in reverse device. Near EF. Extremely rare. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Exceptional R/QII Mule

1034. ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 730-750. AR Sceat (12mm, 0.87 g, 1h). Series R/QII mule, type 73. Mint in East Anglia (Northwest Norfolk). Radiate bust right; blundered legend to right / Quadruped advancing right, with mouth open and triple-forked tail; pellets and trefoils around. Abramson 12-70; MEC 8 Series RQ; SCBI 67 (Abramson), 706; North 147; SCBC 812. Deeply toned. Near EF. An exceptional example. ($500)

From the James A. Lock Collection.

1035. ANGLO-SAXON, Secondary Sceattas. Circa 730-750. AR Sceatt (12mm, 0.82 g, 11h). Series QIID. Mint East Anglia (Mid-Suffolk). Quadruped standing left, with raised trident-tipped tail; pellets around / Bird standing left; pellets around. Abramson 64-10 var. (no crosses); MEC 8 Series type QIIb; North –; SCBC 809; CNG E-522, lot 711 (same dies). Find patina, slight porosity. Near EF. Rare variety. ($1000)

Well Preserved Aldfrith Sceatt

1036. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Northumbria. Aldfrith. 685-705. AR Sceatt (11mm, 1.22 g, 2h). York mint. ม aዢčŊ l ዢčк˝ , pellet-in-annulet / Quadruped with forked tail standing left. EMC 2015.0319 (this coin); Chapman 1-8; Pirie, Guide 1.2; North 176; SCBC 846. Dark find patina. Near EF. Rare this fine. ($2000)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 120 (11 May 2022), lot 1099. Found near Louth, Lincolnshire, 1 November 2015.

Æthelred ‘Shrine’ Type

1037. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Northumbria. Æthelred I. First reign, 774-779/80. BI Sceatt (12mm, 1.06 g, 8h). York mint; Cuthgils, moneyer. ED + ΓRED around short cross pattée / CVD CLS, ‘shrine’: cross potent on pelleted triangular base. Booth, Sceattas 34-8; Pirie, Guide 3.1f; North 184; SCBC 857. Lightly toned, some porosity, rim bend with subsequent fractures. VF. Very rare. ($750)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 483 (6 January 2021), lot 690.

This exceptional type was once thought to depict the Shrine of St. Cuthbert, based on an interpretation of the reverse legend as SCT CVÐ. However, current scholarship agrees that the type belongs firmly to the series of small bronze stycas bearing the names of moneyers, and that the legend is more properly interpreted as the CVD CLS, for the moneyer Cuthgils (or Cudcils, depending on the transliteration). In this context, the coin should be appreciated as an intriguing and novel type issued by a moneyer with an experimental bent. In SCBI 68, Stewart Lyon suggests this ‘shrine’ type could have been issued to commemorate the attack on Lindisfarne, and therefore date to 793-6.

1038. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Kent. Cuthred. 798-807. AR Penny (18mm, 1.31 g, 4h). Tribrach type. Canterbury mint; Sigebeorht, moneyer. Struck 798-805. ü⎍ T ʼዞዝ ʼዞҟ in angles of tribrach with circles at terminals and annulet at center containing three pellets in angles of small tribrach / SዢŲዞዛዞ ʼ h in angles tribrach moline with small annulet at center containing three pellets. Naismith C20.2; SCBI 67 (BM), 678; North 210/2; SCBC 876. Find patina, slight edge loss, bent. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Dix Noonan Webb 199 (1 December 2021), lot 47. Found near West Hendred, Berkshire, before 2021.

1039. ANGLO-SAXON, Archbishops of Canterbury. Æthelheard, with Offa of Mercia as overlord. 792/3-805. AR Penny (19mm, 1.30 g, 6h). Three-line type. Canterbury mint. Struck 796-797/8. ¨ዞዝዢ⌦ / Hዞ¨ʼዝ / ¨ʼæዞዩ in three lines / (triangle) Ȯ (triangle)/ ḦมḦ ℽዟዟ¨ / Ḩ ʼዞҢ / in three lines. Chick 247b (same rev. die); SCBI 67 (BM), 747-8; North 229; SCBC 885. Find patina, wavy flan, small edge splits, edge chip. VF. ($1000)

Ex Allan Williams Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 480, 11 November 2020), lot 868; Spink 211 (3 December 2011), lot 6.

In 792 Offa of Mercia increased the weight of the Penny following a similar reform to the Denier by Charlemagne in France. This superb coin was struck for Archbishop Aethelheard acknowledging Offa’s overlordship. Kent had been the first Anglo-Saxon kingdom to convert to Christianity and the bishop of Canterbury, the capital of Kent, gained a primacy in the early English church. This was recognized by the award of minting rights to Archbishops by successive monarchs.

1040. ANGLO-SAXON, Archbishops of Canterbury. Plegmund. 890-914. AR Penny (22mm, 1.43 g, 8h). HorizontalTrefoil 1 (HT 1) type. Canterbury mint; Wilric, moneyer. Small cross pattée / ⎍⎍ዢ⌦ʼ / ዢü ዦɭn in two lines; three crosses pattée between, trefoils above and below. EMC 2015.0143 (this coin); CTCE P.8; SCBI 68 (Lyon), 675; North 256; SCBC 900. Deposits, porous, ragged flan, cracks, scrapes. VF. Very rare. Only eight recorded in CTCE. ($1500)

Found in Brookland, Kent before December 2014.

Ex Stack, Ryan, Grantley, and Lawrence Collections

1041. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Offa. 757-796. AR Penny (16.5mm, 1.11 g, 7h). Light coinage, portrait type. Canterbury mint; Æthelweald, moneyer. Struck circa 785-792/3. Diademed bust right / ģč ዢ⌦ ⎍² ⌦č divided by four jewellike lobes, cross botonée with four petals in saltire. Chick 10f (this coin); SCBI 30 (American), 187 = SCBI 20 (Mack), 562 (same dies); North 310; SCBC 905. Porous, surface flan cracks, minor flan split. Fine. ($500)

Ex Londinium Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 434, 12 December 2018), lot 560; Lawrence R. Stack Collection (Sotheby’s, 22 April 1999), lot 287; Finn FPL (Spring 1994), no. 22; V. J. E. Ryan Collection (Part I, Glendining, 28 June 1950), lot 615; Lord Grantley Collection (Part III, Glendining, 22 March 1944), lot 824; L. A. Lawrence Collection (first collection, sold privately to Lord Grantley).

1042. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Offa. 757-796. AR Penny (17mm, 1.19 g, 8h). Light coinage, non-portrait type. Canterbury mint; Peohtweald, moneyer. Struck circa 785-792/3. มɭ ŖŖ ⍒⎀ ⌓ҟ in angles of long cross botonnée with small lobe in each angle / P⌓ h ќ⍒ ⌦č in angles of a Celtic cross with long cross fleury on limbs, small saltire in center. Chick 130e = EMC 1992.0257 = Coin Register 1992, no. 257 (this coin); SCBI 20 (Mack), 565 (same dies); North 277; SCBC 904. Golden toning, porous, edge loss. EF. An attractive example. ($750)

From the James A. Lock Collection. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular CI.4 (May 1993), no. 2574.

Queen Cynethryth

1043. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Cynethryth. Wife of Offa, 757-796. AR Penny (16mm, 1.08 g, 12h). Light coinage, portrait type. Canterbury mint; Eoba, moneyer. Struck 784/5. Draped bust right; Ḩ Ḩ ⌓/ℽḨዛ/±/ around / ม üY⌭⌓ D ⎀Y/ D Ḩ ⎀⌓ŻƗn around M; pellets around; all in pelleted circle. Chick 143i (same obv. die); SCBI 67 (BM), 658 (same obv.); North 339; SCBC 909. Find patina, some horn silver, porosity. Good VF. Very rare, the only portrait of an AngloSaxon queen. ($7500)

Ex Dix Noonan Webb 192 (2 June 2021), lot 14.

Cynethryth, the wife of King Offa of Mercia, was the first and only Anglo-Saxon queen to have her name and image placed on coins. While it has been suggested that these coins were inspired by the appearance of the empress Irene on Byzantine issues, the profile portrait harkens back to coinage of Roman augustae. Many details of Cynethryth’s life, such as the date of her marriage, are unknown. She appears to have been active in political affairs until Offa’s death. After her husband’s passing, she became abbess of the monastery of Cookham, where she remained until her death sometime after 798. Cynethryth appears in the hagiography of St. Aethelbert, where she is portrayed as a jealous villain who incites Offa to kill the saint.

Charming East Anglian Style

1044. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Coenwulf. 796-821. AR Penny (20mm, 1.19 g, 6h). Portrait type. Mint in East Anglia (Ipswich?); Wihtræd, moneyer. Struck circa 800-821. Diademed and draped bust right / ม ዩዢዡ˸ያዞዝ , short cross with lozenges in angles. Naismith E12.1c (this coin); SCBI –; North 367; SCBC 920. Find patina, slightly wavy flan. Good VF. A charming example of the crude East Anglian style. ($1000)

Ex Williams Collection (Part IV, Spink 259, 29 January 2019), lot 476; Mike Vosper FPL 110 (September-October 2001), no. 211.

1045. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Beornwulf. 823-825. AR Penny (16mm, 0.73 g, 10h). Portrait type. Mint in East Anglia (Ipswich?); Monna, moneyer. Diademed and draped bust right / [ ม ḨȮ/ ] ɭ/ዡ/ [ ዡ / ² / ], cross-crosslet. EMC 2020.0095 (this coin); Naismith E24c = SCBI 67 (BM), 274 (same dies); North 397; SCBC 929. Find patina, fragment. VF. Very rare. ($500)

Found near Great Dunmow, Essex, 22 February 2020.

Ex R.C. Lockett Collection

1046. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Burgred. 852-874. AR Penny (20mm, 1.30 g, 12h). Lunette type A (BMC a). London mint; Ciallaf, moneyer. Phase IIa, circa 858/60-866. Diademed bust right; lips omitted / ม üዢ¨⌦⌦¨ across central field; 1 ዦɭn ዞ˶¨ in lunettes above and below. MacKay H1.7 (dies O3/R3; this coin); SCBI 20 (Mack), 631; North 423; SCBC 940A. Toned, minor edge loss, scratches. Good VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Sovereign Rarities, May 2020. Ex R.C. Lockett Collection (Part I, 6 June 1955), lot 392 (part of).

1047. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of East Anglia. Eadwald. Circa 796-800. AR Penny (19mm, 1.30 g, 9h). Three-line type. Mint in East Anglia (Ipswich?); Eadnoth, moneyer. Struck 796-circa 800. ቤ¥ቺќ between two pelleted lines; ¥ቢቺ above, ʼቤҏ below; all within border of pellets / Long beaded cross with ቤ ¥ቺ Ƀℽ T in quarters; all within quatrefoil. EMC 2021.0038 (this coin); Naismith E2.1a-e (same dies); SCBI 67 (BM), 828 (same dies); BMC –; North 432; SCBC 947. Find patina, wavy flan. Near VF. Very rare. ($1500)

Ex Dix Noonan Webb 190 (6 April 2021), lot 458. Found near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, 2 February 2021.

Extensively Pedigreed Æthelstan Penny – Ex 1834 Sevington

Hoard

1048. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of East Anglia. Æthelstan I. Circa 827-845. AR Penny (20mm, 1.36 g, 10h). Late Nonportrait type. Mint in East Anglia (Ipswich?); Tuduwine, moneyer. Struck circa 837/8-845. _ዞ î ዞ⌦/ӲͿ_/ዡ ʼዞ , short cross pattée / Ϳ⎍ዝ⎍ዩዢnዞ Ȳ , short cross pattée. Naismith E47.5 = Pagan, Coinage p. 64, I, 1 = C.E. Blunt, “The Sevington Hoard of 1834” in BNJ 41 (1970), no. 24 = D.H. Haigh, An Essay on the Numismatic History of the Ancient Kingdom of the East Angles (Leeds, 1845), 16 and pl. II, 4 ( this coin); SCBI –; North 446/1; SCBC 951. Old cabinet toning. Good VF. Very rare and with an excellent pedigree. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from AMR Coins, May 2020. Ex Dix Noonan Webb 146 (25 April 2018), lot 209; Clonterbrook Trust (Glendining, 7 June 1974), lot 17; R.C. Lockett Collection (Part IV, 26 April 1960), lot 3604; A.S. Napier Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 3 August 1916), lot 19; H.M. Reynolds Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 4 May 1914), lot 15; E.W. Ashleigh Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 21 June 1909), lot 112; C.W. Loscombe Collection (Sotheby & Wilkinson, 30 March 1855), lot 1042; 1834 Sevington, Wiltshire Hoard.

1049. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of East Anglia. Edmund. 855-869. AR Penny (20.5mm, 1.29 g, 12h). Mint in East Anglia (Ipswich?); Æthelwulf, moneyer. Struck 855-circa 862. มዞ¥ዝዦ⎍nዝ

⍒/nḪ , cross pattée with crescents in angles; all within beaded circle / ዞ î ዞ ± ባ/⌦/ ≤ ม Ȳɭu , cross pattée with wedges in angles; all within beaded circle. Naismith E55.1h = SCBI 67 (BM), 923 (same dies); North 457; SCBC 955. Iridescent toning, thin flan crack. Good VF. ($1000)

Purchased by the consignor from Silbury Coins, August 2020. Ex James & Martha Robertson Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 114, 13 May 2020), lot 1262; Stack’s (15 January 2003), lot 377.

1050. ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Danish Northumbria). Cnut. Circa 900-905. AR Penny (20mm, 1.30 g, 4h). Class IIe/Cunneti type. York mint. Legend arranged around inverted patriarchal cross with pellets in upper angles / Short cross pattée with pellets in second and third quarters. North 501; SCBC 993. Old cabinet toning, very slight double strike. EF. ($750)

1051. ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Danish Northumbria). Cnut. Circa 900-905. AR Penny (20mm, 1.35 g, 10h). Class IIe/Cunneti type. York mint. Inverted patriarchal cross with pellets in upper angles / Short cross pattée with pellets in second and third quarters. North 501; SCBC 993. Rich old iridescent toning. Good VF. ($1000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 123 (23 May 2023), lot 937; Spink 236 (22 March 2016), lot 595.

1052. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Ecgberht. 802-839. AR Penny (15mm, 0.66 g). Portrait type. Rochester mint; uncertain moneyer. Struck 855-circa 862. Diademed and draped bust right / [...] Ȯɭɉ , circle containing cross surrounded by four crescents with pellets between. Cf. Naismith R12.3a (for type); SCBI –; North 578; SCBC 1039. Find patina, fragment. Near VF. ($500)

Purchased from Ingram Coins, July 2020. Ex Dix Noonan Webb 129 (18 March 2015), lot 383.

1053. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Æthelwulf. 839-858. AR Penny (20mm, 1.15 g, 10h). Inscribed Cross type. Canterbury mint; Hunbearht, moneyer. Struck circa 854-858. Draped bust right / ม ዡ⎍nዛዞ¨

© arranged on limbs of, and around, beaded cross. EMC 2019.0260 (this coin); Naismith C144f (same obv. die); SCBI 67 (BM), 1221-2; North 618; SCBC 1051. Find patina, scratches, minor porosity. VF. ($1000)

Purchased by the consignor from Chiltern Coins, June 2020. Found near Didcot, Oxfordshire, September 2019.

1054. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Æthelberht. 858-865/6. AR Penny (20mm, 1.07 g, 6h). Inscribed Cross type. Canterbury mint; Heregeard, moneyer. Struck circa 858-864. Draped bust right / ม H ዞʼዞűዞa ʼዝ ዦɭ n ዞ Ϳ © arranged on limbs of, and around, beaded cross. Naismith C189a (same dies); SCBI 67 (BM), 1221-2; North 620; SCBC 1053. Find patina, some roughness, ragged edge. Good VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Keith Chapman. Ex Spink 249 (6 December 2017), lot 22.

Unusual Runic-like Pecks

1055. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Alfred the Great. 871-899. AR Penny (19mm, 1.30 g, 12h). Two-line (’Guthram’) type (BMC xiv). Mercian dies; Ludig, moneyer. Struck circa 880-899. ม ዞ⌦ ዟʼ ዞዝ ʼዞ , small cross pattée; pellet in fourth quarter / ⌦⎍ዝዢ / ű ዦɭ in two lines; pellet between. SCBI 2 (Hunterian), 573 var. (no pellet on obv.); North 636; SCBC 1066. Toned, peck marks, with unusual series of pecks on reverse. VF. ($2000)

Purchased by the consignor from Silbury Coins, August 2020. Ex Classical Numismatic Group inventory 521966 (April 2020); Allan Williams Collection (Part IV, Spink 259, 29 January 2019), lot 487; Noble 50 (21 March 1996), lot 2528; Spink Australia 19 (16 July 1986), lot 1854. The curious array of peck marks on the reverse bears a vague resemblance to a runic inscription.

Ex Grantley, Murdoch, Montagu, & Marsham-Townsend – Pedigreed to 1888

1056. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Alfred the Great. 871-899. AR Penny (20mm, 1.49 g, 12h). Two-line (’Guthram’) type (BMC xiv). Winchester dies; Æthelræd, moneyer. Struck circa 880-899. ©ዞ⌦ ዟʼዞ ዝ ʼዞҟ , small cross pattée / ®T ዞʼ / ዞዝ ዦɭ in two lines; three crosses between. SCBI 26 (East Anglia), 66 (same dies); North 639; SCBC 1067. Richly toned, peck mark. Good VF. Rare. ($5000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection (Triton XXVIII, 14 January 2025), lot 1049 (hammer $14,000), purchased from C.H. Wolfe, August 1975; Lord Grantley Collection (Part III, 22 March 1944), lot 1011; J.G. Murdoch Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 11 May 1903), lot 90; H. Montagu (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 18 November 1895), lot 560; R.W. MarshamTownsend Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 19 November 1888), lot 150.

Extremely Rare Moneyer

1057. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Edward the Elder. 899-924. AR Penny (22mm, 1.66 g, 12h). Horizontal-Trefoil 1 (HT 1) type (BMC ii). Uncertain mint; Wigbald, moneyer. Small cross pattée / ʏዢűBɭ / Ǯዝ ⍵!ɭ in two lines; three crosses pattée between, trefoils above and below. EMC 2016.0022 (this coin); CTCE –; SCBI –; BMC –; North 649; SCBC 1087. Toned. VF. An extremely rare moneyer, with this only one of two instances of the name across all series in SCBI. ($1000)

Purchased by the consignor from Chiltern Coins. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 100 (7 October 2015), lot 2261. Found near Barnstaple, North Devon, 2015.

1058. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Æthelstan. 924-939. AR Penny (20mm, 1.29 g, 9h). Horizontal-Trefoil 1 (HT 1) type (BMC i). North East I mint; Manna, moneyer. Small cross pattée / มዦ²Ƀ / Ƀ² Ƀɭ in two lines; three crosses pattée between, trefoil above, pellet below. Blunt, Aethelstan 395; SCBI 34 (BM), 224; North 668; SCBC 1089. Toned. Good VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Silbury Coins, May 2020.

1059. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Eadred. 946-955. AR Penny (21mm, 1.32 g, 10h). Horizontal-Rosette 1 (HR 1) type (BMC i). Uncertain mint; Hreitharr, moneyer. Small cross pattée / ʽዞዞ î ዞ / ʽዞZ ȵɭ˶ in two lines; three crosses pattée between, rosettes above and below. CTCE 168; SCBI 34 (BM), 630; North 707; SCBC 1113. Old cabinet toning, wavy flan, central flan cracks. Good VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Baldwin’s. Ex William C. Wells Collection (purchased en bloc by Baldwin’s, 1949).

1060. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Eadwig. 955-959. AR Penny (21mm, 1.41 g, 3h). Horizontal-Trefoil 1 (HT 1) type (BMC i). Uncertain mint in the Midlands or south; Man, moneyer. Small cross pattée / ዦ_nዡ / Ḩ e nɭዡ in two lines, three crosses pattée between, trefoils above and below. CTCE 25; SCBI 34 (BM), 738 var. (rev. legend); North 724; SCBC 1122. Toned, some deposits, creased with associated surface cracks. Good Fine. Rare. ($750)

Ex Allan Williams Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 480, 11 November 2020), lot 876; Superior (11 December 1992), lot 1390.

Very Rare HT 3 Penny

1061. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Eadwig. 955-959. AR Penny (22.5mm, 1.17 g, 12h). Horizontal-Trefoil 3 (HT 3) type (BMC ii). Northampton mint; Warin, moneyer. Small cross pattée / ќќ ® ʽ / Ʃn ⍵ɭḨ in two lines; H⍒ ⍵ within three crosses pattée between, trefoils above and below. CTCE 85; SCBI 2 (Hunterian), 667 (same dies); North 727; SCBC 1123. Find patina, rough. VF. Very rare. ($2000)

Ex Todd Hansen Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 115, 16 September 2020), lot 1041; Baldwin’s FPL (Winter 2012-2013), no. AS019.

1062. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Eadgar. 959-975. AR Penny (22mm, 1.26 g, 4h). Horizontal-Rosette 2 (HR 2) type (BMC i). Uncertain mint; Aldwine, moneyer. Small cross pattée / ©⌦ዝዞ / ዩዢɃዞ in two lines, three crosses pattée between, rosettes above and below. CTCE 136; SCBI 34 (BM), 1188-9; North 745; SCBC 1131. Old cabinet toning. VF. Struck on a broad flan. ($500)

Purchased by the consignor from AMR Coins, April 2020. Ex Baldwin’s inventory.

Edward the Martyr Penny

1063. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Edward the Martyr. 975-978. AR Penny (21mm, 1.22 g, 4h). Sole type (BMC i). Stamford mint; Wufgar, moneyer. Diademed and draped bust left / ม ዩ⎍⌦ű©ʽ ዦ!ɭ Ӳ˸© á / , small cross pattée. SCBI 27 (Lincolnshire), 1097 (same dies); North 763; SCBC 1142. Toned, deposits, a few thin edge cracks, slight porosity. Good VF. Well struck. Rare. ($3000)

Purchased by the consignor from Silbury Coins, August 2020.

1064. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold I Harefoot. 1035-1040. AR Penny (18mm, 1.10 g, 4h). Jewel Cross type (BMC i, Hild. A). Lincoln mint; Matathan, moneyer. Struck 1035-circa 1038. Diademed bust left / ม n² T ²ዡn ɭn ⌦ዢnüɭ⌦ , cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles enclosing a pellet. Mossop pl. LVIII, 26 (dies B/b); North 802; SCBC 1163. Toned, peck marks, minor areas of weak strike. VF. ($750)

Purchased by the consignor from Baldwin’s, April 2020.

1065. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold I Harefoot. 1035-1040. AR Penny (16mm, 1.11 g, 12h). Jewel Cross type (BMC i, Hild. A). Norwich mint; Manna, moneyer. Struck 1035-circa 1038. Diademed bust left / ม ዡ©nn/©/ ɭn nɭʽ T ዩዢü , cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles enclosing a pellet. SCBI 18 (Copenhagen), 468 = Bruun 1141 (this coin); North 802; SCBC 1163. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8223349-041, graded MS 62. ($750) Ex L.E. Bruun (1852-1923) Collection; Countship of Brahesminde Collection (purchased en bloc by Bruun, 1922).

High Grade Harold I Penny

1066. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold I Harefoot. 1035-1040. AR Penny (17mm, 0.99 g, 2h). Jewel Cross type (BMC i, Hild. A). Stamford mint; Eadwine, moneyer. Struck 1035-circa 1038. Diademed bust left / ҟ űɭዝዩዢnዞ ɭn ⎄˸©n , cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles enclosing a pellet. North 802; SCBC 1163. Lightly toned, lustrous. EF. A superb portrait. Struck on a full flan. ($1000)

Rare Totnes Mint Harthacnut

1067. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harthacnut. 1035-1042. AR Penny (17.5mm, 1.14 g, 6h). Jewel Cross type (BMC [Cnut] xx, Hild. [Cnut] K). Totnes mint; Farmann, moneyer. Struck in the name of Cnut, circa 1036-1037. Diademed bust left / ม ዟዞʽዞዦ©n ɭn ˸ɭ˸ዞ , cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles. North 797; SCBC 1160. Lightly toned. Near EF. Well struck. Rare mint and moneyer. ($3000)

Extremely Rare Moneyer Eadsige Ware at Exeter

1068. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harthacnut. 1035-1042. AR Penny (17mm, 1.10 g, 10h). Jewel Cross type (BMC ia, Hild. Aa). Exeter mint; Eadsige Ware, moneyer. Struck circa 1036-1037. Diademed bust right / ม ዞዝ⎄ዢű ዩ©ʽ© ɭn ዞҟ Ḩ , cross composed of four ovals united at base by two concentric circles. SCBI –; North 809; SCBC 1167. Lightly toned, hairlines, surface cracks. EF. Well struck. Extremely rare mint and moneyer. No examples in SCBI or CoinArchives. ($3000)

1069. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harthacnut. 1035-1042. AR Penny (18mm, 1.14 g, 6h). Arm and Scepter type (BMC [Cnut] xvii, Hild. [Cnut] I). York mint; Witherwine, moneyer. Struck in the name of Cnut, 1040-1042. Diademed bust left, holding trefoil-tipped scepter / ม ዩዢ T

ó ɭn

Ḧ , quadrilateral, with pellet in center and angles, over voided short cross. North 799; SCBC 1169. Light iridescent toning. EF. An attractive coin in hand. Rare. ($1500)

Coins of Harthacnut of the Jewel Cross type are very seldom encountered from mints north of the river Thames. This was the territory assigned to his half brother Harold I following the division of the kingdom after the death of their father Cnut.

1070. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold II. 1066. AR Penny (19mm, 1.28 g, 6h). Pax type (BMC i, Hild. A). Lewes mint; Oswold, moneyer. Crowned head left; scepter before / ม ɭәዩɭ⌦ዝ

,

a ҟ across central field. North 836; SCBC 1186. Richly toned. Good VF. Rare. ($4000)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex St. George Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 124, 19 September 2023), lot 1016; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 505827 (February 2019).

Rare York Mint Harthacnut

1071. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold II. 1066. AR Penny (19mm, 1.30 g, 3h). Pax type (BMC i, Hild. A). Steyning mint; Deorman, moneyer. Crowned head left; scepter to left / ม ዝዞያዦɭn ɭዦ ˨˸ዞnዢ , ዩ a ҟ across central field. North 836; SCBC 1186. Attractive deep toning with golden hues. Near EF. Rare. ($4000)

Ex Maxwell Collection (Triton XXIV, 19 January 2021), lot 1380; Stack’s (1 December 1999), lot 835.

1072. NORMAN. William I ‘the Conqueror’. 1066-1087. AR Penny (19mm, 1.41 g, 9h). Paxs type (BMC viii). Cambridge mint; Ulfketill, moneyer. Struck circa 1083-1086. Crowned facing bust, holding scepter; annulet on right shoulder / ม ዢዢ⌦ዟüዢ⌦ ɭn űʽዢ ó ˸ , cross pattée; letters of ዩ a ҟ S in annulets within quarters. BMC 534-5 (same dies); North 850; SCBC 1257. Toned, wavy flan. VF. ($750)

Ex Baldwin’s stock; Philip Ziegler (1863-1943) Collection (purchased en bloc by Spink, 1947).

1073. NORMAN. William I ‘the Conqueror’. 1066-1087. AR Penny (19mm, 1.38 g, 9h). Paxs type (BMC viii). Salisbury mint; Godwine, moneyer. Struck circa 1083-1086. Crowned facing bust, holding scepter; pellet on right shoulder / ม ű∂ዝዩዢnዞ ∂n Sዢዞʼ , cross pattée; letters of ዩ a ҟ S in annulets within quarters. BMC 904; North 848; SCBC 1257. Deep golden toning, usual areas of weak strike, slight double strike. Good VF. ($1000)

Ex Haddenham Collecton, purchased from T. Matthews, 1984.

1074. NORMAN. William I ‘the Conqueror’. 1066-1087. AR Penny (20mm, 1.44 g, 6h). Paxs type (BMC viii). Winchester mint; Leofweald, moneyer. Struck circa 1083-1086. Crowned facing bust, holding scepter; pellets on right shoulder / ม ⌦ዢዟዩɭ⌦ዝ ɭn ዩዢnüዢ , cross pattée; letters of ዩ a ҟ S in annulets within quarters. Harvey 2066 (dies G/h); BMC 1105 (same dies); North 848; SCBC 1257. Old cabinet toning. EF. ($750)

From the Thomas Palmer Collection. Ex Victor England inventory 70333 (mid 1980s).

1075. NORMAN. William II Rufus. 1087-1100. AR Penny (19mm, 1.49 g, 9h). Cross in Quatrefoil type (BMC II). London mint; Eadwine, moneyer. Struck circa 1089-1092. Crowned facing bust, holding sword / ม ዞዝዩዢnዞ ɭn ⌦ዢዢnዝዞ , cross pattée within quatrefoil with pellets in angles. BMC 110 var. (rev. legend); North 852; SCBC 1259. Toned, slight doubling on obverse. Good VF. Rare. ($1500)

Purchased by the consignor from Arthur Bryant Coins. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 85 (15 September 2010), lot 1531.

1076. NORMAN. Henry I. 1100-1135. AR Penny (20mm, 1.36 g, 9h). Large Profile/Cross and Annulets type (BMC viii). Shaftesbury mint; Godred, moneyer. Struck circa 1113. Crowned bust left; scepter to left / ม űɭዝʽዞዝ ɭn [ ⎄

cross pattée, with annulet at center and pellet-in-annulet in each quarter. BMC –; North 864; SCBC 1269. Usual areas of weak strike, bent and straightened with associated fractures, official edge snick. Near VF. Extremely rare. Allen records the moneyer Godred only for type iv and only at the mint of Shaftesbury for Henry ($1000)

Purchased by the consignor from Halls Hammered Coins.

Very Rare Stephen and Matilda Penny

1077. NORMAN, Civil War. Stephen and Queen Matilda. Circa 1150-1153/4. AR Penny (19mm, 1.12 g). Two-Figure type, ‘York Group’ (Mack 5). York mint. Stephen and Matilda standing facing one another, holding between them long scepter fleurée / Cross fleurée over cross pommée in saltire; various ornaments around. Allen, York 69-85 (unlisted dies); Mack 220; North 922; SCBC 1315. Lightly toned, some porosity, bent and straightened with associated cracks. VF. Very rare. ($7500) Stephen, Count of Blois, and son of the reluctant Crusader and namesake and Adela, the strong-willed daughter of William the Conqueror, seized the English throne upon the death of his uncle Henry I. Stephen, however, was opposed by Henry’s only surviving daughter Matilda, the “Empress” and widow of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. The ensuing wars of succession known as the Anarchy (1139-1154) saw the final breakdown of the system of Anglo-Saxon currency as barons asserted regional power and coined in their names. By the Treaty of Wallingford (1154), Stephen recognized as his heir the future Henry II, son of Matilda the Empress and her second husband Count Geoffrey V of Anjou. Upon the death of Stephen (October 25, 1154), Henry II succeeded the English throne.

Struck from an Altered Richard II Die – Pedigreed to 1937

1078. LANCASTER. Henry IV. 1399-1413. AR Groat (25mm, 3.18 g, 8h). Light coinage. London (Tower) mint. Struck 1412-1413. Crowned facing bust within tressure of ten arches; lis at cusps, annulet to left of crown, pellet to right. ƌĚɀˊƩý over ˊƩý¨ˊዝ / Long cross pattée; triple pellets in quarters. Potter p. 132, Type I, die I-3; North 1358; SCBC 1726. Toned, wiped, scratches, clipped. Fine. Very rare. ($1000)

Purchased by the consignor from Mark Winiger (Hammered Coinage). Ex Dix Noonan Webb (3 July 2019), lot 657; Spink Numismatic Circular CXIV.3 (June 2006), no. 2360; R.S. James Collection (Spink 31, 12 October 1983), lot 112; G.W. Bower Collection (Glendining, 16 June 1977), lot 310; T.B. Clarke-Thornhill Collection (Glendining, 24 May 1937), lot 419.

Very

Rare Richard III Angel

1079. YORK (Restored). Richard III. 1483-1485. AV Angel (27mm, 5.15 g, 8h). Type 1. Tower (London) mint; im: boars head 1 (over sun and rose 1)/boar’s head 2. Struck 20 July 1483-June 1484. Archangel Michael slaying dragon / Ship bearing coat-of-arms and cross, R and rose flanking cross. Schneider 486 (same dies); North 1676; SCBC 2151. Slightly wavy flan, edge marks, a few creases, small areas of edge crimping. VF. Very rare. ($10,000)

1080. YORK (Restored). Richard III. 1483-1485. AR Groat (24mm, 2.20 g, 5h). Type 1. Tower (London) mint; im: sun and rose 1. Struck 26 June 1483-20 July 1483. Crowned facing bust within tressure of arches / Long cross pattée; triple pellets in quarters. MEG type 1; North 1679; SCBC 2154. Iridescent toning, edge split, clipped, crude scratches and scrapes. Near VF. Rare. ($1000)

Ex Dix Noonan Webb 178 (8 July 2020), lot 98.

1081. TUDOR. Henry VIII. 1509-1547. AV Quarter Angel (18mm, 1.18 g, 3h). Third coinage. Tower (London) mint; im: lis. Struck 1544-1547. Archangel Michael slaying dragon / Ship bearing coat-of-arms and cross, h and rose flanking cross. Schneider 628-30; North 1832; SCBC 2304. A few light scuffs, straightened. Near VF. ($1000)

Ex Hosker Haynes 2 (12 September 2023), lot 127.

1082. STUART. Charles I. 1625-1649. AR Shilling (30mm, 5.87 g, 5h). ‘Declaration’ type. Bristol mint; im: –/(Br). Dated 1645. Crowned bust left; XII (mark of value) to right / REL : PROT :/ LEG : ANG :/ LIB : PAR :; three plumes above, 1645 below. Morrieson, Bristol C-1; Brooker –; North 2498/1; SCBC 3018. Hairlines and scratches, edge split, chip. Good Fine. Rare. ($1000)

Extremely Rare Restoration Medal

1083. STUART. Charles II. 1660-1685. AR Medal – ‘Pattern Broad’ (30mm, 8.12 g, 5h). The Restoration of the Monarchy. By T. Simon. Dated 1660. CAROLVS · II · D · G ANG · SCO · FR · ET · III · REX, crowned and mantled bust right / · MAGNA · OPERA · DOMINI · 16 60, crowned coat-of-arms. Lessen, Simon’s Type C; MI 463/60; Eimer –. Toned, holed and plugged. VF. Extremely rare – only three known to Lessen. ($1500)

Though not infrequently offered as a pattern for a gold broad, Simon’s own accounts indicate that the obverse and reverse types were both engraved for medals celebrating the restoration.

Key Date Guinea

1084. HANOVER. George II. 1727-1760. AV Guinea. Dated 1735. Young head. Bull, Gold I 593; MCE 311; SCBC 3674. Hairlines. Good VF. Rare date. ($1000)

Ex Triton I (2 December 1997), lot 2274.

1085. HANOVER. George III. 1760-1820. AR Dollar. Struck 1797. Oval countermark on a Mexican portait-type 8 Reales dated 1795 Mo FM. Bull 1852; ESC 129; SCBC 3765A. Iridescent toning, a few minor marks. Host: Near EF, c/m: Near EF. ($500)

Ex Tom Zimmer Collection (Triton XXIII, 5 January 2010), lot 2088.

1086. HANOVER. George III. 1760-1820. AR Dollar. Struck 1804. Octagonal countermark on a Peruvian portait-type 8 Reales dated 1801 (LIMÆ) IJ. Bull 1872; ESC 140A; SCBC 3766. Iridescent toning, test cut, c/m weakly struck. Host and c/m: AU. ($500)

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 45 (18 March 1998), lot 2861.

1087. HANOVER. George III. 1760-1820. AR Dollar. Dated 1804. Bull 1925: ESC 144; SCBC 3768. Iridescent toning, a few marks and scratches, large die break in field. AU. ($500)

Ex Tom Zimmer Collection (Triton XXIII, 5 January 2010), lot 2092.

1088. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. AV Sovereign. Dated 1871. Young head. Bull, Gold II 1201; Marsh 84A; SCBC 3856. In PCGS encapsulation 50264745, graded MS 62. ($750)

1089. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. AV Two Pounds. Dated 1887. Jubilee type. Bull, Gold II 1316; SCBC 3865. In PCGS encapsulation 50069007, graded MS 64. ($1500)

1090. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. AV Half Sovereign. Dated 1887. Jubilee type. Bull, Gold II 1359; Marsh 478C; SCBC 3869. In NGC encapsulation 406326-002, graded MS 64. ($500)

Extremely Rare Anonymous ‘Crown’ Groat

1091. IRELAND. Edward IV. First reign, 1461-1470. AR Penny (16mm, 0.74 g, 5h). Anonymous ‘Crown’ coinage. Dublin mint. Struck circa 1460-1463. Large crown within tressure of 9 arches with trefoils of pellets at upper cusps; small cross in top spandrels / Long cross pattée; triple pellets in quarters. IHP N-2; D&F 93; SCBC 6282A (6277). Find patina, some ghosting, small flan split. VF. Extremely rare. ($2000)

Ex Hibernia Collection.

1092. ANGLO-GALLIC. Edward the Black Prince. As Prince of Aquitaine, 1362-1372. AV Noble guyennois à la rose – Pavillon d’or (32mm, 5.32 g, 1h). La Rochelle mint. Struck 1362(?). Edward wearing rose wreath, standing facing, holding sword up in right hand and raising left hand; at feet, two leopards couchant; to left and right, two ostrich feathers with tips curved right; all within ornate Gothic portico / Ornate cross quernée with rose in center, lion passant and lis in opposite quarters; all within arched quatrefoil set on quadrate frame with roses in angles; pelleted cinquefoils in spandrals. AGC 157A, 4/n; Elias 151; Schneider 46-7; SCBC 8123. In NGC encapsulation 8222390-001, graded AU 55. Rare. ($4000)

1093. ANGLO-GALLIC. Henry VI. 1422-1461. AV Salut d’or (26mm, 3.41 g, 6h). Second type. Rouen mint; im: leopard. Étienne Marcel, mintmaster. Second issue, 1433-1444. The Annunciation: the Virgin standing right, receiving tablet inscribed AVЄ from the Archangel Gabriel standing left; heavenly light above, two coats-of-arms below; pellet-in-annulet under last letter of legend / Latin cross, with lis to left, lion passant guardant to right, and Һ below; all within polylobe, with lis in each point; pellet-in-annulet under last letter of legend. AGC 386F, 1/b; Schneider 111-2; SCBC 8164. In NGC encapsulation 6639746-039, graded AU 58. ($1500)

AN IMPORTANT GROUP OF ROYAL MINT SPLASHERS

CNG is proud to offer this historic group of “splashers.” Also known as “progress proofs,” these uniface pieces were most often made by engravers as they worked to check their progress in correct relief. They are distinct from other die trials, which were generally made from dies set into the coining press, and were made by gently hand pressing the die face onto a small amount of molten lead or tin that had been placed onto a piece of paper. The paper survives on a few examples of in this group, even preserving a few letters of words of the original print. They are an engraver’s numismatic scratch paper, pieces of ephemera that were never meant to be preserved or to survive.

Splashers for several kinds of dies are included in this group. By the early 19th century, most major European mints did not engrave the dies directly by hand, but would employ a hub (also known as a matrix) bearing the intended designs in relief, rather than incuse, which would then be used to strike the dies themselves. This enabled mints to strike a more standardized and uniform the coins through easily reproducible dies. To create hubs, engravers would first carve a master die (also known as a patrix), bearing the design in incuse, as on the regular dies, which would then be used to make the hub. An impression from a finished master die may look nearly identical to a coinage die, though one with an unfinished design would most likely have been produced from the master die.

All examples in this group are of dies that were created at the Royal Mint in London from about 1823 to 1841. Three engravers were particularly active in this period: Benedetto Pistrucci, William Wyon, and Jean Baptiste Merlen. Pistrucci, who had arrived in England in 1815, served as de facto Chief Engraver from 1821-1828, though as a foreigner he could not officially hold that position. The role was vacant for several years, during which time William Wyon held the role of second engraver. Both men felt they were entitled to the chief position. As a compromise, William Wyon was appointed Chief Engraver in 1828, with Pistrucci given the new position of Chief Medallist, with the salary of second engraver split between them – an awkward situation, to be sure. Into this tense work environment arrived the Frenchman Jean Baptiste Merlen in 1820.

Previously employed in Paris, Merlen excelled at the intricate heraldic designs so popular at the time, and was recommended to Master of the Mint William Pole as, “a skilful engraver on steel, and particularly in the arms and ornamental work usually struck on the Reverse of the Coins.” (Challis, p. 92). The three men mostly worked in a pattern where the obverses would be engraved by either Wyon or Pistrucci, with Merlen mostly left to handle the reverses. One notable exception to this rule occurred in 1823, when Pistrucci refused to engrave a bust of the king after the sculptor Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey, and the obverse of the 1823 Two Pound was given to the Frenchman instead. Forrer (p. 38) suggests that Merlen retired or died around the accession of Queen Victoria, though in actuality he worked at the mint until 1844, when he retired to France. (Challis, p. 492-493)

An overwhelming number of the splashers in this group were made by Jean Baptiste Merlen. The 1823 pattern crowns are particularly well represented, including examples from hubs and unfinished master dies of both the type with the engraver’s signature and the extremely rare type without it (lots 1094-1099). Splashers for two pattern crown reverses are present in various states of polish (lots 1103-1109), as well as for reverse dies that would be adopted and long used for the Victorian silver coinage (lots 1114-1116). Several splashers are for dies not preserved in the Royal Mint Collection and known from only a single pattern coin (lots 1110, 1112-1113). An incomplete pattern Halfcrown obverse is completely unpublished and otherwise unknown (lot 1101). The vast majority are of types that are or now must be attributed to Merlen, though one example each is present for both Wyon and Pistrucci.

As the preponderance of types are tied to Jean Baptiste Merlen in some way, it is certain that this group once belonged to the engraver himself. These are the first examples that CNG has offered since CNG 111 (29 May 2019), lot 1140 (hammer $2750, also coincidentally of Merlen) and Triton XXII (7 January 2019), lot 1434 (hammer $2250). All examples at a minimum are extremely rare and arguably unique, depending how one factors in the state of completion of the die.

for

GEORGIUS IIII D : G: BRITANNIAR : REX F : D :, bust left (All in intaglio). Reverse with paper still attached. For intended coin, see: W&R 218; Bull, Gold II 946; SCBC 3798. For intended hub, see Hocking 696 or 697. A few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

1094. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher

a Two Pound die hub (matrix) (30mm, 2.93 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823.

1095. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound die (28mm, 1.22 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823. GEORGIUS IIII D : G: BRITANNIAR : REX F : D :, bust left; small JBR below. For intended coin, see: W&R 218; Bull, Gold II 945-6; SCBC 3798. For die, see Hocking 698(?). Edge folded, a few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

W&R 218 and W&R 219 are distinguished by the presence of the engraver’s initials below the bust on the obverse. Close examination shows that there is also a slight variation in the hair whorl, with 219 having more strongly engraved lines than 218. This splasher was made from the hub used to create the die for 218, but before Merlen added his initials.

1096. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound master die (patrix) (29mm, 1.08 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823. Bust left; no initials. Reverse with paper still attached. For intended coin, see: W&R 219; Bull, Gold II 947; SCBC 3798. For intended hub, see Hocking 696 or 697. A few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. Only one example of the coin made from the dies of this hub is known, in the Royal Mint collection. ($500)

This and the following three lots show the progress of Merlin’s work as he completed the portrait on his master die, which was then used to create the hub. The differences are most evident at the whorl of hair on the top of the king’s head.

no initials. Reverse with paper still attached. For intended coin, see:

SCBC 3798. For intended hub, see Hocking 696 or 697. A few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. Only one example of the coin made from the dies of this hub is known, in the Royal Mint collection. ($500)

This and the adjacent lots show the progress of Merlin’s work as he completed the portrait on his master die, which was then used to create the hub. The differences are most evident at the whorl of hair on the top of the king’s head.

1097. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound master die (patrix) (27mm, 2.08 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823. Bust left;

W&R 219; Bull, Gold II 947;

1098. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound master die (patrix) (29mm, 3.00 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823. Bust left; no initials. Reverse with paper still attached. For intended coin, see: W&R 219; Bull, Gold II 947; SCBC 3798. For intended hub, see Hocking 696 or 697. A few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. Only one example of the coin made from the dies of this hub is known, in the Royal Mint collection. ($500)

This and the adjacent lots show the progress of Merlen’s work as he completed the portrait on his master die, which was then used to create the hub. The differences are most evident at the whorl of hair on the top of the king’s head.

1099. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound die hub (matrix) (28mm, 3.35 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823. GEORGIUS IIII D : G: BRITANNIAR : REX F : D :, bust left; no initials (All in intaglio). Reverse with paper still attached. For intended coin, see: W&R 219; Bull, Gold II 947; SCBC 3798. For hub, see Hocking 696 or 697. A few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. Only one example of the coin made from the dies of this hub is known, in the Royal Mint collection. ($500)

1100. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown hub (matrix) (38mm, 16.48 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1825. BRITANNIARUM REX FID : DEI :, coat-of-arms surmounted by crowned helmet with garland; below, banner reading DIEU ET MON DROIT. For intended coin, see: Bull 2231, 2340-2343, 2349; SCBC 3806. For intended hub, see Hocking 840. Minor spots. As made. Extremely rare. ($500)

Unique Splasher for an Unrecorded Design

1101. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Halfcrown master die (patrix) (31mm, 3.54 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1823(?). Bust left; no initials, faint guidelines visible in background. No known dies or patterns match this splasher. A few marks and scratches. Mostly as made. Unique. An important record of an otherwise lost type. ($500)

The master die this splasher was made from was evidently never used to create any patterns or circulating coins. The style is very similar to the Two Pound dies made by Merlen, but as assistant to William Wyon, he primarily worked on reverse dies, with the Two Pound obverse being the notable exception. As no similar obverse by Merlen is recorded in the Royal Mint Collection by Hocking, it is likely that the die was never completed and either destroyed or repurposed, making this splasher the sole record of it.

1102. HANOVER. George IV. 1820-1830. PB/Tin Splasher for a Third Farthing die (27mm, 0.64 g). London mint. By William Wyon. Dated 1826. GEORGIUS IV DEI GRATIA, laureate head left; 1826 below. Some paper remaining on reverse, with visible print. For intended coin, see: Peck 1453; SCBC 3827. For die, see Hocking 2213. A few light scratches and spots. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

1103. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (38mm, 4.58 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1834(?). BRITANNIARUM REX FID : DEF :, crowned, collared, and mantled coat-of-arms. Rose in center of left bundle of mantle. Small JM to lower left. No known dies or patterns match this splasher, but cf. Bull 24672469 for similar, without any decoration on mantle bundles. Mostly as made. As the following lot, but slightly rougher crown. Unique. ($500)

1104. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (39mm, 5.90 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1834(?). BRITANNIARUM REX FID : DEF :, crowned, collared, and mantled coat-of-arms. Rose in center of left bundle of mantle. Small JM to lower left. No known dies or patterns match this splasher, but cf. Bull 2467-2469 for similar, without any decoration on mantle bundles. Mostly as made. As the previous lot, but upper ornamentation of crown touched up and improved. Unique. ($500)

1105. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (49mm, 3.44 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1834(?). BRITANNIARUM REX FID : DEF :, crowned, collared, and mantled coat-of-arms. Thistle in center of left bundle of mantle. Small JM to lower left. No known dies or patterns match this splasher, but cf. Bull 24672469 for similar, without any decoration on mantle bundles. Mostly as made. Unique. ($500)

1106. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (39mm, 6.30 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Dated 1837. Coat-of-arms within Garter surmounted by crowned helmet with garland; below, banner reading DIEU ET MON DROIT; ANNO 1837 below; J.B. MERLEN to lower left. For trial strike in Barton’s metal, see: L&S 12 = Bull 2470 = Lingford (Glendining, 24 October 1950), lot 541. No surviving dies match this splasher. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

This and the following lot exhibit harsh die polish lines that Merlen apparently polished down before making the subsequent two lots. They were presumably made following the rejection of another example, lacking the Hanoverian arms at the center and the final two numerals of the date, of which only a single splasher exists. On the reverse of that piece appears a note from L.C. Wyon reading, “Merlen’s crown good, but too good, too high. LCW” (Bull 2470 = L&S 13 = Lingford [Glendining, 24 October 1950], lot 542 = CNG 111, lot 1140 [hammer $2750]).

1107. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (39mm, 8.19 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Dated 1837. Coat-of-arms within Garter surmounted by crowned helmet with garland; below, banner reading DIEU ET MON DROIT; ANNO 1837 below; J.B. MERLEN to lower left. For trial strike in Barton’s metal, see: L&S 12 = Bull 2470 = Lingford (Glendining, 24 October 1950), lot 541. No surviving dies match this splasher. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

1108. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (38mm, 9.95 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Dated 1837. Coat-of-arms within Garter surmounted by crowned helmet with garland; below, banner reading DIEU ET MON DROIT; ANNO 1837 below; J.B. MERLEN to lower left. For trial strike in Barton’s metal, see: L&S 12 = Bull 2470 = Lingford (Glendining, 24 October 1950), lot 541. No surviving dies match this splasher. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

Merlen apparently polished down the die after making the previous two lots, as this and the subsequent lot lack the harsh die polish lines exhibited there.

William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown die (38mm, 7.89 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Dated 1837. Coat-of-arms within Garter surmounted by crowned helmet with garland; below, banner reading DIEU ET MON DROIT; ANNO 1837 below; J.B. MERLEN to lower left. For trial strike in Barton’s metal, see: L&S 12 = Bull 2470 = Lingford (Glendining, 24 October 1950), lot 541. No surviving dies match this splasher. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

1109. HANOVER.

1110. HANOVER. William IV or Victoria. 1830-1837 or 1837-1901. PB/Tin Splasher for a Shilling die (26mm, 1.37 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen(?). Struck 1837. BRITANNIARUM REX FID : DEI : , crowned ONE/ SHILLING within wreath of roses, shamrocks, and thistles. Bull 3152 (there attributed to the reign of Victoria, but noting that it could be earlier). Minor marks. Mostly as made. Extremely rare – only one other example known, now in the Royal Mint Collection. No other shilling patterns exist for William IV. ($500)

The example recorded by Bull and now in the Royal Mint Collection is described as having the characteristics of C.H. Weiner. However, Merlen is known to have worked predominantly on reverses, and is otherwise remarkably well represented in this group.

1111. HANOVER. William IV. 1830-1837. PB/Tin Splasher for a Medal die or master die (patrix) (36mm, 4.77 g). Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. London mint. By Benedetto Pistrucci (or Jean Baptiste Merlen?). Struck 1830. Coatof-arms set on pile of arms and armor. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

Instituted in 1830, this particular variety of the medal, bearing the arms of Hanover at the center, was only issued under William IV. While commonly attributed to Pistrucci, Merlen’s skill with detailed, heraldic types suggests he may have been involved.

The Only Publicly Available Striking of Victoria’s ‘Trident’ Two Pound Pattern

1112. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound die or master die (patrix) (27mm, 1.38 g). London mint. By James Wyon (or Jean Baptiste Merlen?). Dated 1841. Ornate trident; downard facing dolphins flanking; 18 41 below. For uniface trial strike in gold, see: W&R 289 = Hocking 1968. For intended hub and dies, see Hocking 1135-1138. Mostly as made. Extremely rare – only one other example known, a unique trial strike in gold held in the Royal Mint Collection. ($500)

1113. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. PB/Tin Splasher for a Two Pound die or master die (patrix) (28mm, 1.76 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1838. BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID : DEF :, crowned coat-of-arms within wreath; spray of thistle, rose, and shamrock. For uniface trial strike in gold, see: W&R 288 = Hocking 1969. For intended hub and dies, see Hocking 1139-1142. Mostly as made. Extremely rare – only one other example known, a unique trial strike in gold held in the Royal Mint Collection. ($500)

An Order of Council dated 8 June 1838 called for the striking of Five and Two Pound pieces. Initial designs were apparently made by Merlen.

1114. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. PB/Tin Splasher for a Crown or Five Pound master die (patrix) (40mm, 4.04 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1838 or 1839. BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID : DEF :, crowned coat-of-arms within wreath; spray of thistle, rose, and shamrock. For intended patterns, see: Bull 2650-1, 2656, 2662; L&S 37, 39, 40. For intended hub, see Hocking 1233. A few minor marks. Mostly as made. A splasher from the die in an unfinished state, with the caul of the crown and the fur trim unfinished. Extremely rare. ($500)

Merlen may have intended this die for a Five Pound, as the previous lot, though it ended up being used to create pattern Crowns. It appears here in an unfinished state, with the caul of the crown in a rough state and the fur trim unornamented. The design would ultimately be adopted for the circulating coinage and would continue to be duplicated and used until 1887.

PB/Tin

for a

By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1838 or 1839. BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID : DEF :, crowned coat-of-arms within wreath; spray of thistle, rose, and shamrock. For intended patterns, see: Bull 2788-2790. For intended hub, see Hocking 12634. Some folding at edge. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

This splasher was made from a die in a nearly finished state. After it was made, Merlen strengthened and added detail to several of the wreath’s berries, as well as to the leaves at the middle left. The design would ultimately be adopted for the circulating coinage and would continue to be duplicated and used until 1887.

1115. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901.

Splasher

Halfcrown master die (patrix) (31mm, 2.44 g). London mint.

1116. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. PB/Tin Splasher for a Halfcrown die or master die (patrix) (32mm, 2.43 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1838 or 1839. BRITANNIARUM REGINA FID : DEF :, crowned coat-of-arms within wreath; spray of thistle, rose, and shamrock. For intended patterns, see: Bull 2788-2790. For intended hub and dies, see Hocking 1263-4 and 1268-71. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

This splasher was made from a die in a finished state, but lacking the final polishing. It is most likely from a master die later used to make a hub, but could be from a regular die. The design would ultimately be adopted for the circulating coinage and would continue to be duplicated and used until 1887.

1117. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. PB/Tin Splasher for a Medal die (36mm, 5.00 g). Coronation. London mint. By Benedetto Pistrucci. [VICTO]RIA D . G . BRITANNIARUM [REGINA F. D.], diademed head left. For intended medal, see: BHM 1801; Eimer 1315. Bent, a few marks. Mostly as made, from just enough medal to fill the portrait. Extremely rare. ($500)

1118. PORTUGAL, Kingdom. Maria II a Educadora (the Educator). 1826/1834-1853. PB/Tin Splasher for a 2500 Réis master die (patrix) (20mm, 1.21 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1836. Crowned and mantled coat-of-arms. Small incuse and retrograde 500 below. For pattern, see: KM Pn96; Gomes E16.01. A few minor marks. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

A splasher of an unfinished die, lacking the denomination. Evidently, the engraver began punching the numerals for the denomination with the incorrect punches. The following lot shows the same die, but showing die polish marks indicating the removal of the erroneous numerals and the denomination correctly added. The final master die or hubs would have been sent to the Lisbon mint.

William Wyon is usually given as the engraver for this issue, but it is most likely that the division of labor seen for the British coinage dies persisted for foreign orders, i.e., with Wyon engraving the portraits and Merlen the reverses. The basic design was used by Merlen on several British issues.

1119. PORTUGAL, Kingdom. Maria II a Educadora (the Educator). 1826/1834-1853. PB/Tin Splasher for a 2500 Réis master die (patrix) (21mm, 1.38 g). London mint. By Jean Baptiste Merlen. Struck 1836. Crowned and mantled coat-of-arms; 2500 REIS below. For pattern, see: KM Pn96; Gomes E16.01. Mostly as made. Extremely rare. ($500)

BRITISH MEDALS

1120. TUDOR. temp. Elizabeth I. 1558-1603. AR Medal (51mm, 37.79 g, 12h). Defeat of the Spanish Armada. By G. van Bijlaer. Dated 1588, though a later restrike. + FLAVIT × × ET × DISSIPATI × SVNT × 1588, large fleet of ships under sail right, being dispersed; above, name of God in Hebrew within rayed clouds / (castle) × ALLIDOR × NON × LÆDOR ×, church set upon rocky island, being buffeted by heavy winds and waves; below, crowned coat-of-arms. MI 145/112; Eimer 57; Van Loon (new ed.) 1588.13. Iridescent toning, hairlines. Near EF. ($3000)

The Association of 1696

1121. STUART (ORANGE). William III. 1694-1702. AR Medal (47mm, 42.40 g, 12h). The Association of 1696. By G. Sorberger. Dated 1696. GVILH : M . BRIT FR . ET . HIB . REX, armored bust right / FELIX . ASSOCIATIO . A . DOMINO ., Fame flying right, blowing trumpet and holding ribbon inscribed WIL REX ASSOCIATIONIS; globe below, 16 96 in exergue. MI 155/420; Eimer –. Lightly toned, hairlines, edge marks. Near EF. Extremely rare – one of only two examples in CoinArchives. ($1000)

Ex Noonan’s (15 June 2022), lot 351; Baldwin’s FPL (Winter 2014-2015), no. CM231; C. Foley Collection (Woolley & Wallis, 16 October 2014), lot 571; Künker 13 (11 March 2008), lot 5691.

1122. HANOVER. Victoria. 1837-1901. AR Medal (77mm, ~200.00 g, 12h). Golden Jubilee. By J. E. Boehm and F. Leighton. Struck 1887-1889. VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX, crowned and veiled bust left / IN · COMMEMORATION, personification of the Empire seated facing on throne, holding reversed sword set on ground and globe surmounted by crowning Victory; above, two cherubim flying and holding shields and wreaths; to left, Science, Letters, and Art standing right; to right, Industry and Agriculture standing left; at their feet, Mercury reclining right and Time seated left; all set on pediment above five interlocked shields inscribed ASIA, AMERICA, EUROPA, AUSTRAL/ASIA, and AFRICA. Eimer 1733b; BHM 3219. Toned, hairlines, scratches, a few light edge marks. Near EF. In original case of issue. ($500)

FORGERIES & REPRODUCTIONS

Part of Lot 1123. More photos are available online.

1123. BECKER RESTRIKES, A substantial collection of Becker restrikes. 19th century. Two hundred ninety-nine (299) pieces. Struck sometime after 1830. This collection includes a significant number of the known and extant dies of Becker’s work – 299 specimens of a total of 363 known – with a couple of duplicates. While most of his numbers are present in this collection, the cataloger has included those numbers that are missing, for the sake of completeness. Also included is a shekel of Tyre, dated CY 10 (117/6 BC), possibly by Peter Rosa (cf. DCA-Tyre 960; for rev.). This collection includes specimens of the following Hill, Becker numbers:

1-13 // 14 // 16-18/20 // 19 //// 20/18 // 22 // 23 // 27-32 // 34-35 // 36 (two examples) // 37-39 // 42 // 49 (two examples) // 50 // 51 (two examples) // 52-62 // 64-68 // 70-75 // 82 // 83 // 85-91 // 93 // 94 // 96 // 99-101 // 103 // 104-106 // 107-126 // 129 // 133-148 // 149b // 151-154 // 156-200 // 202-237 // 239 // 240 // 244 // 245 // 247 // 248-252 // 255-258 // 260 // 262 // 264 // 266-286 // 288-291/290 // 295-298 // 300-321 // 323 // 324 // 331-333 // 335 // 336 // 337 // 342 // 343 // 345 // 346 // 349 // 359.

Missing from this collection are specimens of the following Hill, Becker numbers: 15 // 24-26 // 33 // 40 // 63 // 69 // 76-81 // 82 // 91 // 97 // // 98 /// 102 // 105a // 149a // 155 // 201 // 238 // 241-243 // 246 // 253 // 254 // 259 // 261 // 263 // 265 // 287 // 292-294 // 299 // 322 // 325-330 // 334 // 338-341 // 344 // 347 // 348 // 350 // 351 // 353-358. As made. A near complete set. As sizeable an offering as CNG has presented since Triton X. ($10,000)

From the England/McFadden Counterfeit Collection.

Carl Wilhelm Becker (1772-1830) was one of the most prolific and accomplished counterfeiters of the 19th century. As early as 1806 he was engaged in the practice of manufacturing false coins and other antiquities, apparently as an adjunct to a trade in genuine antiquities. His market was the wealthy princes of Europe, who filled their cabinets of curiosities with Becker’s work. Although Becker was periodically accused of forgery, he defended himself by claiming his productions were “instructive” in nature, and never sold with the intent to deceive. Notes found in his diary after his death suggest this was not quite true. Becker’s death in April 1830 left his family with little money and a quantity of forged coin dies. From these dies, sets of coins were struck in a lead-tin alloy (actually a poor quality pewter) and sold to collectors and institutions. At some point Becker’s family sold the dies to the Saalfeld Museum, from where they finally were given to the Kaiser-Friedrich Museum in Berlin in 1911. The present set was struck at some time in the later 19th century, and represents the majority of Becker’s dies that had survived intact. An important and rare study collection of the work of this famous forger.

Part of Lot 1123. More photos are available online.

Part of Lot 1123. More photos are available online.

MISCELLANEOUS

Photos reduced.

1124. Elegant royal coin cabinet – Reportedly from the collection of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. Italy, circa early 20th century. Height 177cm (70”), width 100cm (39”), depth 45cm (18”). Tall coin cabinet of polished light-color wood. The two outer doors that swing open are carved into nine panels per door. The four corners are decorated with carved leaf vignettes. Behind the outer doors, the cabinet has two columns of drawers, each side consisting of 67 for a total of 134 drawers. Each drawer has a thin wooden spacer grid that accommodates 30 coins in 5 x 5cm (2” x 2”) spaces. The drawers are padded on the inside with red felt. The drawers are numbered with original metal round plaques from 1-67 on each side. The bottom two drawers are twice as deep as the other 132 and have no spacers or felt. Above each column of drawers is a letter, E on the left and F on the right, indicating that the original owner for whom the cabinet was made must have commissioned at least two other cabinets preceding this one. One drawer is not original, has a different knob, and has no drawer number (should be no. 18). Three drawers are lacking their knobs. The locking system of the outer doors is intact; the skeleton key is lacking and the original ivory surround for the keyhole has been removed. Otherwise in very good condition.

The cabinet is a large and heavy piece of furniture located in Tucson, Arizona. The buyer is responsible for transport and for the cost and risk of packing and shipping from Tucson. CNG will help to coordinate pickup and shipping, but all responsibility remains with the buyer. ($5000)

Ex Joel L. Malter Ancient Art Library (Malter 100, 16 October 2010), lot 1652, and in his collection for at least 35 years prior. Reportedly from the collection of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy (1869-1947, reigned 1900-1946).

Banti

GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

Please refer to our online bibliography at www.cngcoins.com for a complete listing of specialized and general references used, and abbreviations.

ANCIENT

A. Banti. I grandi bronzi imperiali. 9 Vols. Florence. 1983-1986.

BMC Various authors. Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum. 29 Vols. London. 1873-1927.

BMCRE

BN

Bodenstedt

H. Mattingly et al. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. 6 Vols. London. 1932-1962.

J. Giard. Bibliothèque Nationale, catalogue des monnaies de l’empire romain 3 Vols. Paris. 1976-present.

F. Bodenstedt. Die Elektronmünzen von Phokaia und Mytilene. Tübingen. 1981. Boehringer

E. Boehringer. Die Münzen von Syrakus. Berlin and Leipzig. 1929. Bopearachchi

O. Bopearachchi. Monnaies Gréco-Bactriennes et Indo-Grecques Paris. 1991. Depeyrot

G. Depeyrot. Les monnaies d’or (Diocletian à Constantin I, Constantin II à Zenon). Wetteren. 1995-1996. Calicó

X. Calicó. The Roman avrei catalogue. 2 Vols. Barcelona. 2002.

CNS R. Calciati. Corpus Nummorum Siculorum: la monetazione di bronzo 3 Vols. Italy. 1983-87.

Crawford

CRI

M. Crawford. Roman Republican Coinage. 2 Vols. Cambridge. 1974.

D. Sear. The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC. London. 1998. Fischer-Bossert

W. Fischer-Bossert. Chronologie der Didrachmenprägung von Tarent 510-280 v.Chr. Berlin 1999. Flament

Hendin

C. Flament. Le monnayage en argent d’Athènes. De l’époque archaïque à l’époque hellénistique (c. 550-c. 40 av. J.-C.). Lovainla-Neuve. 2007.

D. Hendin. Guide to Biblical Coins. 6th Edition. New York. 2021. HN Italy

N.K. Rutter, ed. Historia Numorum. Italy. London. 2001.

Kumar S. Kumar. Treasures of the Gupta Empire. A Catalogue of Coins of the Gupta Dynasty. San Francisco. 2017. Meshorer Y. Meshorer. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. Jerusalem. 2001.

MK R. Göbl. Münzprägung des Kušanreiches. Vienna. 1984.

MIR R. Göbl, et al. Moneta Imperii Romani 5 Vols. Vienna. 1984-present.

Price

M.J. Price. The Coinage in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. London. 1991.

Prieur M. Prieur. A type corpus of the Syro-Phoenician tetradrachms and their fractions from 57 BC to AD 253. Lancaster. 2000.

RIC H. Mattingly, et al. The Roman Imperial Coinage. 10 Vols. London. 1923-1994.

RPC A. Burnett, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. 9 Vols. London and Paris. 1992-present.

RSC D. Sear, et al. Roman Silver Coins 5 Vols. London. 1978-1987.

SC A. Houghton & C. Lorber. Seleucid Coins: A Comprehensive Catalog. 2 Parts. Lancaster. 2002 and 2008.

Sellwood D. Sellwood. An Introduction to the Coinage of Parthia. 2nd edition. London. 1980.

SNG ANS Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, American Numismatic Society New York. 1969-present.

SNG BM Black Sea Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, British Museum, 1: The Black Sea. London. 1993.

SNG Copenhagen Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Danish National Museum. Copenhagen. 1942-1979.

SNG BN Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Nationale Paris. 1993-2001.

SNG Kayhan Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Turkey 1: The Muharrem Kayhan Collection. Istanbul. 2002.

SNG Levante Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Switzerland; E Levante - Cilicia. Bern. 1986.

SNG Lloyd Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Lloyd Collection. London. 1933-1937.

SNG Lockett Sylloge Nummorum Greacorum, Lockett Collection. London. 1938-1949.

SNG München Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, München Staatlische Münzsammlung Berlin. 1968-present.

SNG von Aulock Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Sammlung Hans Von Aulock. Berlin. 1957-1968.

Starr C. Starr. Athenian coinage 480-449 BC. London. 1970.

Svoronos J. Svoronos.

Athens. 1904-08.

Traité E. Babelon. Traité des monnaies grecques et romaines. 9 Vols. Paris. 1901-1932. Weidauer L. Weidauer. Probleme der frühen Elektronprägung. Fribourg. 1975.

BYZANTINE, MEDIEVAL, WORLD, and BRITISH

Album S. Album. A Checklist of Popular Islamic Coins. 3rd ed. Santa Rosa. 2011. Biaggi E. Biaggi. Monete e zecche medievali italiane dal seculo VIII al seculo XV Torino. 1992. Bitkin V. Bitkin. Composite Catalogue of Russian Coins. 2 vols. Kiev. 2003. BMC Vandals W. Wroth. Catalogue of the Coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Lombards and of the Empires of Thessalonica, Nicaea and Trebizond in the British Museum. London. 1911. (Reprinted as Western and Provincial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum.)

CIS S. Goron and J.P. Goenka. The Coins of the Indian Sultanates. New Delhi. 2001.

CNI Corpus Nummorum Italicorum 20 Vols. Rome. 1910-1943. Davenport J.S. Davenport. Various works on European crowns.

ESC H.A. Seaby & P.A. Rayner. The English Silver Coinage from 1649. London. 1992. Friedberg R. Friedberg. Gold Coins of the World 8th ed. Clifton. 2009.

KM C.L. Krause & C. Mishler. Standard Catalogue of World Coins. Krause Publications. Iola. Levinson R.A. Levinson. The Early Dated Coins of Europe. Clifton, NJ. 2007. Lunardi G. Lunardi. Le monete delle repubblica di genova Genoa. 1975.

MEC P. Grierson & M. Blackburn. Medieval European Coinage. Cambridge. 1986.

MIB W. Hahn. Moneta Imperii Byzantini 3 Vols. Vienna. 1973-81.

MIBE W. Hahn and M.A. Metlich. Money of the Incipient Byzantine Empire. Vienna. 2000.

MIR Various. Monete Italiane Regionali. 5 Vols. Pavia. ND.

NM G. Depeyrot. Le numéraire mérovingien. 5 vols. Wetteren. 1998-2001.

North J.J. North. English Hammered Coinage. 2 Vols. London. 1963, 1975.

SB D. Sear, et al. Byzantine Coins and Their Values. 2nd edition. London. 1987.

SCBC Standard Catalogue of British Coins London. Annually.

SCBI Various authors. Sylloge of the Coins of the British Isles.