Oliver Reece Numismatist - Consignments (British and World Coinage)
Bradley R. Nelson Senior Numismatist
D. Scott VanHorn Senior Numismatist
Jeffrey B. Rill Numismatist - Cataloging
Tom Mullally Numismatist - Cataloging
Daniel Burch Numismatist - Cataloging
Jared Goldfarb Librarian
Christian Ventura Photographer
David James III Photographer
Dylan Ossman Office Manager - London
Siska Goldfarb Adminstration and Shipping
Sharon Pruzinsky Accounting
Kate Rill Customer Relations Manager
Julia Motter Shipping
Jennifer Ventura Shipping
Dawn Ahlgren Shipping
Lynn Gasvoda Administrative Assistant
A.J. Gatlin IT Consultant
Tim Wilkes Islamic Consultant
John W. Yurchak Printing Control
Jeffrey B Rill Auctioneer - PA License No. AU006206
Brian Callahan Auctioneers - PA License No. AU005870
Classical Numismatic Review
Volume L, No. 2
Summer 2025
Welcome to Classical Numismatic Group LLC’s summer ANA Worlds Fair of Money fixed price list, our Classical Numismatic Review (CNR). This price list is intentionally smaller than usual as we needed the additional pages to include the history of CNG. We are celebrating our 50 th anniversary in business this year and a new consignor medal has been created to help you become a part of this achievement (see the notice on page ?? for a description of the medal).
Our 50 th year has been an exciting one. We continue to grow at all our locations (US, UK, and EU). The London office has moved to new and larger quarters. We are pleased to have added several UK, EU, Hong Kong and FUN shows to our normal attendance list. We are now attending more shows than we have for many years. Most importantly, we have added a number of new staff members to help us serve you. Oliver Reece has joined our London team as our new British coin specialist. As I write this cover article I know that his introduction email/letter has just gone out to our customer list. His enthusiasm is contagious, and we know you will enjoy working with him.
We have added Marten Scherpenzeel to our numismatic staff in The Hague to assist Max Tursi with processing incoming consignments. With the resolution of import tariffs, we are processing more coins through this office than we could have imagined. In Lancaster we have several new additions beginning with Miles Thompson who has joined our numismatic consignment staff. Some of you may have already communicated with him as he is already actively processing incoming consignments in the US. We are pleased to welcome Jared Goldfarb as our company librarian and book cataloger. Jared joins us after previously working at the American Numismatic Society where he was the assistant librarian for several years. And, through the good fortune of Jared’s move to Lancaster, we are now also pleased to have his wife Siska join our accounting and shipping department where she is involved with our office management in those areas.
The hobby remains vibrant and our growth is designed to continue to make CNG your preferred destination for all things numismatic. We thank you, as always, for your patronage and continued support. We hope to see you at the ANA!
Happy collecting,
Mike Gasvoda Managing Director
Terms of Sale
1. General Information. The point of sale for all items online is Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All orders are sent from Pennsylvania.
2. Guaranty and Return Privilege. All items are guaranteed genuine. Any coin order may be returned within fourteen days of receipt for any reason. Coins that have been encapsulated (“slabbed”) by a grading and/or authentication service may not be returned for any reason, including authenticity, if they have been removed from the encapsulation (“slab”). The customer shall bear the cost of returning all items and shall insure them for their full value. Books are not sent on approval and are not subject to return.
3. Sales Tax. Several states require us to collect and remit sales tax. Where applicable the appropriate tax will be charged to the customer invoice.
4. Postage. All orders are charged for postage, insurance, and handling.
5. Payment. Orders may be paid by US$ check, credit card or wire transfer. US$ checks must be written on a US bank and may be sent to either office. We accept VISA and MasterCard; payment by credit card must be made within 14 days of the invoice date. Payment by credit card will be charged a 2.5% handling fee. Credit card payment may be arranged by phone, fax or mail. United States address and phone number: CNG, LLC, P.O. Box 479, Lancaster, PA, 17608, phone: 717-390-9194, fax: 717390-9978. United Kingdom address and phone number: CNG, LLC, 20 Bloomsbury St, London WC1B 3QA, phone +44 (20) 7495-1888, fax: +44 (20) 7499-5916. Office hours are 10AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. US$ bank account for wire transfers will be provided by phone, fax or mail.
6. Shipment. Please provide a specific shipping address and advise us of any special shipping instructions. Unless other specific shipping instructions are indicated, coins are sent by U.S. Insured or Registered
A Note on How to Order
As with our normal monthly uploads, these coins are available for purchase on our website, www.cngcoins.com. If you are viewing the virtual catalog, you may click on an image, which will bring you to the online lot description, where you can add the coin to your cart as usual.
Digital Publications Archive
Major Show Schedule
Additional Shows Listed on Our Online Calendar
54th New York International January 15-18, 2026
InterContinental New York Barclay 111 East 48th Street, New York
January 15, Noon-6:30PM Preview January 16-18, 10AM-6:30PM (2:30PM on the 18th)
Feature Auction Schedule
CNG 130 - 23-24 September 2025
A Live Online Auction to be held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Triton XXIX - 13-14 January 2026
A Public Auction to be held in New York City
CNG 132 - May 2026
A Live Online Auction to be held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Consignment Deadlines
Feature Auction Consignment Deadlines
Triton XXIX - 15 September 2025 CNG 132 - 15 February 2026
Deadlines for Electronic Auction Consignments Ongoing - About 90 days before scheduled sale
Contact us early, as sales do fill up in a hurry.
We may be contacted by email, fax, phone, or mail.
Classical
Numismatic Group, LLC
Email: cng@cngcoins.com
Mailing addresses & Phone numbers:
Attention: Mike Gasvoda P.O. Box 479 Lancaster PA 17608 Phone: 717-390-9194 Fax: 717-390-9978
or
Attention: Paul Hill De Morgan House 57-58 Russell Square London WC1B 4HS, UK
Phone: +44-20-7495-1888 Fax: +44-20-7499-5916.
or
Attention: Max Tursi Noordeinde 64a 2514GK The Hague, NL Phone: +31 851 301 541
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC Celebrating 50 Years of Service to Numismatics
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC (CNG) is proud to celebrate 50 years of service to the field of numismatics. The vision of the firm’s founder, Victor England, has blossomed over the years into an invaluable partner for the hobby. The company he founded has continued to expand and today is one of the leading numismatic firms in the world for ancient, world, and British numismatics.
Victor England, Ltd. 1975-1990
Classical Numismatic Group’s origin can be traced back to the spring of 1975, when Victor England graduated from the University of Denver and decided to enter the rare coin business. Victor first pursued the path of dealing in United States, ancient, and world coins, but after attending a coin show in Biloxi, Mississippi, he realized his merchandise was about the same as every other dealer’s. He consequently decided to switch his focus entirely to ancient, medieval, and world coinage, figuring that it was more fun to sell history rather than debate the nuances of grading U.S. coins. Victor England Ltd. was started in Denver, Colorado out of an office on South University Boulevard, not far from his alma mater.
Almost immediately, Victor began publishing fixed price lists and mail bid auction sales, and by the time he published Volume II, No. 5, he had announced his relocation to San Francisco, California. Business was conducted out of Suite 717, at 500 Sansome Street, and soon Victor hired his first numismatic employee, Stephen M. Huston. After a crippling burglary in February of 1980 at the Sansome Street office, Victor relocated back to Denver. He would remain in the Denver area until the fall of 1983, when he relocated to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where his parents still lived and where Victor had attended high school before he left for the University of Denver back in 1971. Victor married in 1983, and he and Cathy decided that Lancaster County was the place to start their family.
Victor purchased a home in the rural community of Quarryville, Pennsylvania, which would become his base of operations for the next ten years. In 1986, Victor decided to enter the competitive world of coin auctions. To further this goal, he hired Karen L. Zander to be his office manager, and formed Classical Numismatic Auctions, Ltd., which conducted its first auction on 1 May 1987 in New York City at the Sheraton Center Hotel & Towers, familiar to many as the home of the New York International Numismatic Convention since the early 1970s.
The auctioneer for the first sale was Herbert J. Kreindler, a noted dealer in ancient coins. Victor’s relationship with Herb would continue for three decades. Other important influences on Victor’s early career were Charles H. Wolfe Sr., John Barton (Owl Ltd.), Thomas P. McKenna, and Joel Malter.
San Fransisco, CA office (1978-1980)
Original sign for Victor England, Ltd.
Quarryville, PA office (1983-1993)
Victor decided he needed additional assistance to continue the auction sales; Kerry K. Wetterstrom joined the firm in time for the next sale held on 7 November 1987, this time in conjunction with the Grand Central Coin Convention which was hosted across the street from the Sheraton at the Omni Park Hotel. As the number of auctions increased, both public and mail bid, additional employees were added: first Peter L. Lampinen in late 1989, and then Dawn Ahlgren in mid 1990.
The next step in the evolution of what was to become Classical Numismatic Group began with conversations at several coin shows in the late 1980s between Victor and Eric J. McFadden. Eric was based in Southern California having studied Classics at Pomona College and at Oxford University (where he was president of the Oxford University Numismatic Society). He additionally worked as a volunteer at the Getty Museum organizing the museum’s coin collection before joining Numismatic Fine Arts, Inc. where he worked from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. He then left NFA to obtain his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he paid his expenses by dealing part-time in ancient coins. Eric continued to deal in ancient coins during his four years as an attorney, but eventually realized that he preferred the ancient coin field to a law career. Consequently, in 1990, Victor and Eric decided to join forces as partners.
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. 1990-2018
At this point, the company Victor England Ltd. was replaced by a new corporation: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. with offices in Quarryville, Pennsylvania and Beverly Hills, California. Eric’s tenure in Beverly Hills was short-lived, however, as a new opportunity presented itself during the autumn 1990 COINEX, the annual London coin fair. An agreement was made whereby CNG purchased the rights to the numismatic business of the venerable London firm, B.A. Seaby Ltd.
Effective March of 1991, CNG took over the daily coin operations of Seaby, which at that time was located at 7 Davies Street just off Berkeley Square. It was soon decided that Eric would close the Beverly Hills office and relocate to London in order to manage the Seaby coin business for CNG. The purchase of Seaby Coins gave CNG a foothold in the European market, and Eric helped to establish Seaby/CNG as one of the leading firms in ancient, British, and world coinage in London.
Back stateside, CNG’s U.S. business continued to grow, which prompted a move from the sleepy village of Quarryville to the larger community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A 19th century farmhouse was purchased and renovated in 1993, and the offices were moved there in January of 1994. Cathy England joined the firm full-time in 1991, and the numismatic staff grew with the addition of Barry P. Murphy in January of 1992. More office space (and bookshelf space!) was requried.
Lancaster, PA office (1994-2008)
Victor England, William Porter, Cathy England, Karen Zander, Benjamin Bell, Bradley Nelson, Barry Murphy, and Dawn Ahlgren (Spring 2002)
Barry Murphy, Kerry Wetterstrom, Bridget Roe, Peter Lampinen, Victor England, Karen Zander, Eric McFadden, Dawn Ahlgren, and Cathy England (1992)
As the firm continued to grow in the 1990s, CNG continued hiring and became a training ground for classical numismatists. As various staff members would leave to pursue other opportunities, others stepped in, and today Classical Numismatic Group’s list of alumni is impressive.
In alphabetical order, the following numismatists have worked for CNG Inc. in the United States during this time: Dr. Lawrence A. Adams, Benjamin R. Bell, Jeremy Bostwick, William A. Dalzell, A.J. Gatlin, Peter Lampinen, John C. Lavender, Ken McDevitt, David Michaels, Barry Murphy, Bradley Nelson, William B. Porter, Jeff Rill, Wayne G. Sayles, Col. Ted Schmidt, Scott VanHorn, Kerry Wetterstrom, and W. Jeffrey Winter. In the London office, the list includes: David Guest, Eugene Paunov, Bridget Roe, Julia Trocmé-Latter, Max Tursi, and Italo Vecchi. Various numismatists have served as interns at CNG, including William A. Dalzell, Leif Davisson, Sam Spiegel, and Alex Steinmetz.
The list of experts who CNG has consulted over the years is also impressive and includes (in alphabetical order): Basil Demetriadi, Catharine C. Lorber, William Metcalf, Wayne Moore, Y.T. Nercessian, Michel Prieur, Fred B. Shore, Dr. Gordon A. Singer, John Spring, Karl Stephens, David Vagi, and William B. Warden, Jr. CNG has conducted many joint auctions over the years with other leading firms, including: Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., Freeman & Sear, Gitbud & Naumann, Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co KG, Numismatica Ars Classica (NAC) AG, Nomos AG, St. James’s Auctions (Stephen Fenton), Karl Stephens, and M. Louis Teller & Company.
Over the years, CNG was privileged to handle the sale of many important private collections, as well as museum consignments from institutions such as the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Phoenix Art Museum, the American Numismatic Society, the MoneyMuseum (Zürich), the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
As the Internet and Digital Age evolved, CNG pioneered these new tools and became major presence on the Internet through its website www.cngcoins.com.
Today, in addition to our three printed auction catalogues per year, CNG has conducted nearly 600 biweekly electronic auctions on our website. Utilizing state-of-the-art digital photography, and the talents of our photography and research staff, CNG maintains a digital archive on its website under the “RESEARCH” banner, with access to our internal search engine including over 340,000 items we have sold since we began archiving material on the web in 2000. This part of the site is freely accessible to everyone (without registration), and is used by collectors, dealers, and academics from around the world.
CNG has also been active in the broader advancement of numismatics and has noteably published over 25 reference books, which range from specialist studies to practical guides. Additionally, many of these titles have won major awards and several are recognized as the standard references in their fields. In the U.S., CNG has worked with the American Numismatic Society in various endeavors, and in 2010
Victor England, Cathy England, Bradley Nelson, Bill Dalzell, Jeremy Bostwick, Dawn Ahlgren, Jeff Rill, Ken McDevitt, Dale Tatro, Scott VanHorn, Karen Zander, A.J. Gatlin, Jessica Garloff, Travis Markel (December 2010)
US Office: Kerry Wetterstrom, Ken McDevitt, Travis Markel, Dawn Ahlgren, Jeremy Bostwick, Karen Zander, Jeff Rill, Dale Tatro, Bill Dalzell, Jessica Garloff, Cathy England, Bradley Nelson, Victor England, Scott VanHorn (Summer 2015)
the ANS presented Victor with the ANS Trustees’ Award and made him the honoree at the annual ANS gala. In 2015, the American Numismatic Association presented Victor with the Harry J. Forman Dealer of the Year Award.
In the U.K., CNG sponsors the annual CNG Lecture at Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum. We remain active in the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN), the international numismatic trade organization, and in the IAPN’s authentication bureau, the International Bureau for the Suppression of Counterfeit Coins (IBSCC). In recent years CNG has also been active with the American Numismatic Association, teaching classes at their annual Summer Seminar.
By 2008, CNG was once more in need of larger office quarters, so a new building was purchased, remodeled, and occupied by the summer. In London, Seaby/CNG relocated in the fall of 2014 from its long-time space on Old Bond Street to a new location at 20 Bloomsbury Street, near the British Museum.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC 2018-present
In 2018, Victor and Eric sold CNG to Mike Gasvoda, reincorporating the firm as Classical Numismatic Group, LLC. Mike quickly set out to expand the staff to accomplish the many projects that both he and Victor and Eric had wanted to accomplish, all while continuing the strong traditions of CNG.
Paul Hill and Caroline Holmes were hired immediately to help run the London office. In the U.S., David Michaels returned to manage shows and consignments, while Steve Pruzinsky took over Cathy England’s role in Lancaster as CFO for the company with Sharon Pruzinsky in accounting. Our cataloging, consignment processing, and photography teams were all expanded in Lancaster, where we have welcomed: Lance Hickman, Manager of the Consignment team; Vera (Kan) Liu, consignment manager and marketing specialist; as well as the following consignment numismatists: Julian Okun-Dubitsky, Katie Vint, Aleeza Brown, and Miles Thompson. Tom Mullally and Daniel P. Burch have joined as cataloging numismatists, as well as Jared Goldfarb as librarian. Our photography and shipping departments have expanded as well. Christian Ventura and David James III both joined in photography (managed since 2002 by Travis Markel). In shipping, we have added Kate Rill, Julia Motter, Jennifer Ventura, Carrie Muller, and Siska Goldfarb.
We expanded into the field of Islamic coinage with the addition of Steve Lloyd, and later Tim Wilkes, in our London office. This change has allowed us to expand our regular offerings of the series and present new, field-specific sales held in London.
With the occurrence of “Brexit” it became logical to open an EU office. Max Tursi has rejoined CNG to open and manage this new location in The Hague, Netherlands. Max is now covering all of the EU for consignments and auction representation. We have also recently added numismatist Marten Scherpenzeel.
The year 2024 saw CNG’s London office relocate from Bloomsbury St. to De Morgan House, on Russell Square, also the home of the London Mathematical Society. This move will allow us to hold both auctions and lot viewing at our office, presenting many opportunities that we are eager to explore.
Lancaster, PA office (2008-present)
EU Office: Max Tursi, Marten Scherpenzeel (Summer 2025)
We have recently added Oliver Reece as a British and world coin specialist at our London location. Dylan Ossman, formerly in our Lancaster office, has moved to London to manage our office there.
Throughout this transition and to the present day, Victor and Eric have remained with CNG as consulting directors. Their input and involvement are invaluable as they have been instrumental in training a whole new generation of numismatists. CNG has held over 140 printed catalog auctions as well as more than 600 electronic auctions. We continue to be an important book publisher for the numismatic field as well. We are just two editions away from completing the publication of the Handbook of Greek Coinage by Oliver Hoover, which is perhaps the most useful introductory Greek reference this field has ever seen.
And of course, as under Victor, the honors continued: in 2019, Mike Gasvoda was made the honoree at the annual ANS gala, and in 2022 CNG won the Numismatic Literary Guild award for Best Auction Catalog of World Coins.
Turning 50 is indeed a worthwhile celebration that few numismatic firms have achieved. The past fifty years have been an incredible journey. Equally important, the future of CNG looks very bright. We thank you for your patronage over the years and look forward to seeing you at shows, auctions, and online.
VICTOR ENGLAND, Ltd. 1975-1990
Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. 1990-2018
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC 2018-2025
US Office: Dave Michaels, Dylan Ossman, Scott VanHorn, Jeffrey Rill, Travis Markel, Dawn Ahlgren, Jared Goldfarb, Brad Nelson, Aleeza Brown, Lance Hickman, Jennifer Ventura, Julia Motter, David James III, Christian Ventura, Steve Pruzinsky, Kate Rill, Daniel P. Burch, Sharon Pruzinsky, Tom Mullally, Mike Gasvoda, Julian Okun-Dubitsky, Siska Goldfarb, Miles Thompson, Victor England, Vera Liu, Katie Vint, Bill Dalzell (Summer 2025)
UK Office: Oliver Reece, Caroline Holmes, Eric McFadden, Steve Lloyd, and Paul Hill (Summer 2025)
GREEK COINAGE
EC Plate Coin – Pedigreed to 1980
5714696. ETRURIA, Populonia. 3rd century BC. AR 20 Asses (21mm, 8.48 g). Diademed facing head of Metus; c : c (mark of value) below / Blank. EC Group XII, Series 58.81 (O32 – this coin, illustrated); HN Italy 152. Old cabinet tone, trace deposits, a little off center. VF. ($2250)
Ex Malter XIV (8 June 1980), lot 32.
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. Their quirky designs do not owe much to Classical Greek numismatic art. Here we see Metus, the Etruscan version of the Gorgon Medusa, depicted frontally in a manner that nearly fills the entire obverse. The Etruscans typically used marks of value employing numerals in their own alphabet, later familiar as “Roman” numerals: the numerals X : X here value this piece at 20 units, traditionally thought to be the Italic “as” also employed by the Romans. Another feature of Etruscan coinage is that it tends to be one-sided – that is, having an obverse design and an essentially blank reverse.
5715880. SICILY, Leontini. Circa 425-415 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.29 g, 11h). Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath / Head of roaring lion left; 6E-o-n-t5-n-on around; three barley grains above, to left, and below; leaf behind. Maltese Period IV, 138 (D34/R106); Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 55 (same dies); HGC 2, 671; SNG ANS 257 (same dies); Gilet 453 (same dies); Rizzo, pl. XXIV, 4 (same dies). Faintly toned, trace deposits, minor marks, typical die break on obverse. Near EF. ($7500)
Ex G. Hirsch 275 (22 September 2011), lot 3220; Rauch 40 (18 January 1988), lot 64.
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 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.
5716223. SICILY, Syracuse. Gelon I. 485-478 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 17.11 g, 6h). Struck circa 480 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, holding wreath in right hand and placing left hand on rearmost horse’s head / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia and linear and pearl necklaces; four dolphins and s¨‰A-˚os5-o-˜/ around. Boehringer Series IV, 45 (V26/R29); HGC 2, 1304. Attractively toned, traces of find patina. Good VF.
($12,500)
Ex Scandinavian private collection; Numismatica Ars Classica 92 (23 May 2016), lot 126; Numismatica Ars Classica 64 (17 May 2012), lot 710; Gorny & Mosch 180 (12 October 2009), lot 41; Hess-Divo 310 (22 October 2008), lot 30; Numismatic Fine Arts IX (10 December 1980), lot 69.
Under the rule of Gelon I (485-478 BC), Syracuse not only began to be the dominant power in Sicily, but won a major international victory against the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 BC, supposedly on the same day that the Persians were defeated at Salamis. To achieve this success, the Syracusan mint greatly increased its output of coinage, mostly tetradrachms, to provide funds for war. These issues, however, were archaic in style, like this coin. However, the wealth and international renown that Syracuse gained following Himera created a long-term cultural benefit for the area, since mainland Greece saw it not as a western backwater, but as a bastion of Greek ideals against the barbarians. Scientists, poets, and artists, especially engravers, were now encouraged to emigrate to the city, bringing with them the experimental concepts then appearing in mainland Greece. Gelon’s victories provided the financial means for his successors to make use of these talented individuals to enhance the renown of Syracuse as one of the main cultural centers of the Greek world. Since the issuing of coinage was an important part of maintaining Syracusan power, it now also became the vehicle by which the city could demonstrate its importance as a center for new intellectual and cultural ideas. As the tetradrachm was the denomination that was used for large-scale payments and appeared to a wide audience of both Greeks and non-Greeks, it became the canvas upon which the new artistic concepts of classical art were tried. Syracuse’s success with classical style tetradrachms expanded to the city’s other denominations. Elsewhere in Sicily and Magna Graecia, cities wishing to keep in cultural step adopted the classical style for their coinages. Thus, by the beginning of the fourth century BC, the coinage of Syracuse and Sicily became recognized as masterpieces of Classical Greek numismatic art.
wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving quadriga right; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning horses with open wreath held in both hands / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia and necklace; s¨RAko-s5-o-˜ and four dolphins around. Boehringer Series VIIIb, 139 (V57/R86); HGC 2, 1306. Light die wear and tiny scrape on obverse, minor delaminations at periphery on reverse. EF. Well centered. ($5975)
Hieron I, assuming power after his brother, Gelon’s, death, expanded Syracuse’s influence onto the Italian mainland, where he won another signal victory over the Etruscans at Cumae in 474 BC. Like his brother, Hieron embellished Syracuse with amphitheaters, libraries, and other civic buildings, and were 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.
5716224. SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron I. 478-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 17.47 g, 4h). Struck circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer,
Fine Style Portrait
5716225. SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 17.02 g, 7h). Struck circa 310-306/5 BC. Head of Kore right, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ˚orÅs to left / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing right, erecting trophy to right; Å˝ÅQo˚¬Eos to left, [ in central field, triskeles to outer right. Ierardi 91 (O18/R60); BAR Issue 23; HGC 2, 1536; Basel 512 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 334 (same obv. die); Hermitage Sale II 379 (same obv. die); McClean 2835 (same obv. die). Attractively toned, a few minor marks. EF. Wonderful style and perfectly centered. A lovely coin in hand. ($14,750)
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 110 (24 September 2018), lot 16; M. L. Collection of Coins of Magna Graecia and Sicily (Numismatica Ars Classica 82, 20 May 2015), lot 65; Numismatica Ars Classica 4 (27 February 1991), lot 75.
The Kore tetradrachms of Agathokles were struck following a major victory over Carthaginian forces outside the gates of Syracuse in 310 BC, which prompted him to name himself King of Sicily and adopt the style and trappings of a Hellenistic ruler. The reverse, depicting Nike erecting a trophy, proved highly influential and was widely copied by Greek kingdoms and Romans centuries hence; a near-contemporary issue of Seleukos I Nikator has a similar reverse design, though Nike is more demurely clothed. The Kore tetradrachms are found in two main varieties based on the engraving style, termed “Sicilian” and “African,” although both were probably struck in Syracuse. This piece exemplifies the finest Sicilian style and is clearly the work of a master engraver
5716226. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.21 g, 12h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Arethousa right, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; four dolphins around / Horse prancing right; palm tree in background. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2d, 131 (O44/R118); CNP 213; HGC 2, 281; Gulbenkian 366 (same dies); McClean 3043 (same dies). Lightly toned, underlying luster, faint scratch on obverse. EF. Fine style. ($13,950)
Ex Peter Bowe Collection; Berk BBS 185 (9 July 2013), lot 75; Gemini X (13 January 2013), lot 24; Triton IV (5 December 2000), lot 123; Schweizerische Kreditanstalt 8 (27 October 1987, lot 730.
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.
While 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.
Artistic Portrait of Herakles
5715882. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 300-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 16.97 g, 7h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Head of horse left; palm tree to right, †nJM∆M` (‘MHMḤNT = “People of the Camp” in Punic) below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 5a, 319 (O103/R262); CNP 271; HGC 2, 293 corr. (varying legend); SNG Lloyd 1644 (same dies); SNG Ashmolean 2165 (same dies); Ward 361 (same dies). Attractive even gray tone, with golden hues around the devices, double struck on reverse. Near EF. ($7500) Ex Tkalec (28 October 1994), lot 49.
5722507. SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 300-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.57 g, 9h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / Head of horse left; palm tree to right, †nJM∆M` (‘MHMḤNT = “People of the Camp” in Punic) below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 5a, 321 (O104/R263); CNP 271; HGC 2, 293 corr. (varying legend); Gulbenkian 375 = Jameson 916 (same dies); Pozzi 3303 (same dies). Lightly toned, with some iridescence, minor die wear, a couple of light scratches on reverse. Good VF. ($6950)
Ex Elsen 83 (12 March 2005), lot 94.
5724007. CARTHAGE, Second Punic War. Circa 220-205 BC. EL Three-eighths Shekel (14.5mm, 2.82 g, 12h). Carthage mint. Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and linear necklace with pendants / Horse standing right. Jenkins & Lewis Group XV, 479; CNP 9; cf. MAA 73. Minor die wear, traces of find patina, minor marks. VF. ($2750)
Ex Carol Ross Collection; Coin Galleries (10 April 1996), lot 35.
Carthage, a Phoenician colony on the coast of North Africa, became a maritime powerhouse in the fifth century BC and challenged the Greek cities of Sicily and Southern Italy for control of the western Mediterranean. By the early third century, much of Sicily had fallen under Carthaginian control and mints were established on the island to produce coins used to pay the largely mercenary army. The stage was now set for the collision with Rome, newly dominant in Italy. Starting in 265 BC, Carthage and Rome fought three titanic wars that produced more death and destruction than any other conflict before the 20th century. This electrum piece, struck at the mother city of Carthage, was produced early in the First Punic War with Rome, which raged for more than 20 years and ended with a humiliating defeat for Carthage and the loss of Sicily to the Romans. Still, Carthage’s empire remained otherwise intact and the loss only laid the groundwork for the similarly destructive Second Punic War. The use of electrum points to the need to stretch Carthage’s gold supply while striking a coinage that would have special appeal to the mercenary soldiers that made up most of its army. A head of the Phoenician goddess Tanit adorns the obverse, while the “Punic horse” symbolic of Carthaginian cavalry stands on the reverse.
5711483. KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.19 g, 12h).
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. In 297 BC, he introduced a new type whose iconography would resound through the ages. The obverse was a portrait of the deified Alexander, diademed and bearing a ram’s horn sprouting from his temples, symbolic of the hybrid Greco-Egyptian god Ammon. This undoubtedly refers to one of the most famous episodes in Alexander’s legendary life, his visit to the shrine of Ammon in the Egyptian oasis of Siwa, in which the oracle greeted him as ‘my son.’ The reverse depicted Athena, Lysimachos’ patron goddess, seated on a massive throne and resting her arm on a shield. This vision of the seated warrior-goddess proved enduring and can still be seen as the figure of Britannia on modern coins. Dozens of mints produced Lysimachos types in both silver and gold, and would continue to do so for decades after his own battlefield demise in 281 BC at the ripe age of 79. The range of styles varies greatly by mint, ranging from highly idealized to stunningly lifelike. G.K. Jenkins noted the power of the Alexander portrait in his commentary on the Gulbenkian Collection (vol. 2, p. 117): “[T]he best of the Alexander heads on Lysimachos’ coinage...have a power and brilliance of effect that is irresistible. It [is speculated] that these Alexander heads may have derived from an original gem carved by Pyrgoteles, an engraver prominent among the artists of Alexander’s court....” Regardless of the inspiration, part of the remarkable attraction of this coinage is its artistic variety, with each engraver creating his own fresh and distinctive portrayal of the world’s greatest conqueror.
5708041. MACEDON, Chalkidian League. Circa 383/2 BC. AR Tetrobol (14mm, 2.41 g, 3h). Olynthos mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / Kithara; c-Å-¬-˚5[d-E]W@ around; all within incuse square. Robinson & Clement Group H, 58 (A45/P39); AMNG III/2, 18–9; HGC 3, 498. In NGC encapsulation 3599321-001, graded MS, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. ($1250)
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 Chalkidian League’s coinage came to an end with the capture and destruction of Olynthos by King Philip II of Macedon in 348 BC.
5722510. KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Philip II – Alexander III. Circa 340/36-328 BC. AV Stater (18mm, 8.54 g, 2h). In the name and types of Philip II. Pella mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / f5¬5ππoU, charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga right; below, trident right. Le Rider Group II.1, 314 (D91/ R241); SNG ANS 144–54. Lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 8232251-003, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($9950)
Between 357 and 348 BC, Philip II, the dynamic king of Macedon, conquered the previously independent cities of the Calkidike and gained total control of the gold mines of Mount Pangaion near the city of Amphipolis. This windfall enabled Philip to begin striking a regular coinage in gold, something unique in the Greek world. The allure of gold, in turn, drew thousands of Greek warriors into Macedon’s service and made Philip’s already powerful army nigh invincible. Philip’s gold staters, bearing a youthful head of Apollo on the obverse and a racing biga on the reverse, become so popular and ubiquitous that “Philip” became the term for any gold coin in the Greek world. They continued in production for many decades after Philip’s death in 336 BC and even beyond the reign of his son and heir, Alexander III “the Great.”
High Relief
5711479. KINGS of MACEDON. Philip III Arrhidaios. 323-317 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.21 g, 3h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Babylon mint. Struck under Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I, circa 323-318/7 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / ∫Ås5¬EWs ŬE$Å@droU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left;  in left field, ¬U below throne. Price 3692; Waggoner Issue III, obv. die 157; SNG Saroglos 635. Faintly toned, underlying luster. Near EF. High relief. ($2375)
Born circa 359 BC, Arrhidaios was the illegitimate son of Philip II, king of Macedon, by a Thessalian dancer named Philinna. According to Plutarch, a poisoning attempt by Philip’s jealous wife, Olympias, left Arrhidaios mentally compromised and subject to epileptic fits. His halfbrother, Alexander III the Great, was quite fond of him and took him on all of his campaigns, although this was also a way of making sure he did not become a political pawn. When Alexander died in Babylon in June, 323 BC, a council of generals hammered out a compromise by which Arrhidaios was crowned as Philip III, to reign jointly with the infant son of the conqueror, Alexander IV. However, neither had any real power, this being held by a succession of regents. The new king proved as compliant and simple-minded as the generals had hoped, but in 320 BC, Arrhidaios married a niece of Philip II’s, Eurydike, who had enough ambition for the both of them. Eurydike plunged into the complex and deadly politics of the Diadochi. In 317 BC, she threw her support behind Kassander’s successful bid to become regent. Kassander left her and Arrhidaios in charge of Macedon while he went on campaign in Asia. However, Alexander’s mother Olympias raised her own army and invaded Macedon, capturing and ultimately executing the royal couple. The coinage of Philip III Arrhidaios is clearly based on that of Alexander, showing no innovations except for the name.
5722472. KINGS of MACEDON. Antigonos I Monophthalmos. As Strategos of Asia, 320-306/5 BC, or King, 306/5301 BC. AR Drachm (17mm, 4.21 g, 1h). In the name and types of Alexander III. Teos mint. Struck circa 310-301 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / ŬE$Å@droU, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, griffin seated left above ∫ Price 2279. Lightly toned, underlying luster, some die wear. EF. ($625)
After Perdikkas, Antigonos Monophthalmos was perhaps the most powerful of the Diadochs upon Alexander’s death. Having been entrusted with overseeing the 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, it was his skill of using the other Diadochs against one another that 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.
Attractive in Hand
5714726. KINGS of MACEDON. Demetrios I Poliorketes. 306-283 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 16.87 g, 10h). Uncertain mint in Macedon. Struck circa 291-290 BC. Diademed and horned head right / ∫Ås5¬EWs d˙µ˙tr5oU, Poseidon Pelagaios, draped from the waist, seated left on rock, holding aphlaston in extended right hand and grounded trident in left;  to inner left. Newell 135, dies CXXXII/– (unlisted rev. die); HGC 3, 1013; Jameson 1006 (same obv. die). Iridescent tone, underlying luster, minor marks, brushed, tiny spot of die rust on obverse. EF. ($3750)
Ex Heritage 3088 (6 November 2020), lot 34029.
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
5720557. AKARNANIA, Argos Amphilochikon. Circa 340-300 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 8.54 g, 3h). Pegasos flying left; Å below / Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard; År˝E5 above, to right, crested Corinthian helmet left. Imhoof-Blumer, Akarnaniens 12; Pegasi 11; BCD Akarnania 132–3; HGC 4, 783. Slight die wear on obverse. Near EF. ($2250)
5722501. SIKYONIA, Sikyon. Circa 350-330/20 BC. AR Obol (10.5mm, 0.81 g, 12h). Dove alighting right, holding fillet in beak / Dove flying right; s5 above tail. BCD Peloponnesos 245; HGC 5, 225. Faint cleaning marks. Near EF. Well centered. ($975)
Located in the northeast of the Peloponnesos, Sikyonia was a fertile territory stretching some sixteen miles. Sikyon, the area’s most important city and one of the Mediterranean’s most well-renowned artistic centers, was the site where legend holds that Prometheus famously deceived Zeus. The city joined Sparta during the Peloponnesian War and provided the bulk of the coinage used by the Peloponnesian League. In 303 BC, Demetrios Poliorketes re-founded Sikyon further inland, giving it the short-lived name of Demetrias. Sikyon’s output of coinage was large and uninterrupted from the 5th-1st centuries BC. The city’s status was diminished when Corinth was made a Roman colony and, aside from a small issue under Nero, Sikyon did not mint coins until the reign of Septimius Severus.
Interesting Symbol
5722471. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 450-400 BC. AR Hemiobol (11mm, 0.34 g, 1h). Forepart of boar left; to right, tunny upward / Head of lion left; to upper left, head of panther(?) facing; all within incuse square. Von Fritze II 13; SNG Arikantürk –; SNG BN 386. Lightly toned. Good VF. Interesting symbol. ($595)
5722505. TROAS, Abydos. Circa 80-70 BC. AR Tetradrachm (31mm, 16.06 g, 12h). Stephanophoric type. Iphiades, magistrate. Draped bust of Artemis right, wearing stephane, bow and quiver over shoulder / Eagle, wings spread, standing right; &∫Ud˙@W@ above; to right, star above radiate head of Helios right; 5f5&doU below; all within wreath. Callataÿ, Abydos, dies D32/R– (unlisted rev. die); CN Online 55090 (this coin); SNG Fitzwilliam 4250 (same obv. die); SNG München 32 (same obv. die). Iridescent tone, a few light scratches under tone on obverse. VF. Rare. ($2895)
5722458. IONIA, Miletos. Circa 340-325 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 3.45 g, 12h). Proxenos, magistrate. Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath / Lion standing left, head right; star above, Û (civic monogram) to left, [π]ro$E@[o%] in exergue. D-L Period I, Series IV, 232–6 var. (unlisted dies). Lightly toned. Near EF. ($775)
5722593. IONIA, Teos. Late 6th-early 5th century BC. AR Stater (20.5mm, 11.86 g). Griffin seated right, raising forepaw / Quadripartite incuse square. Matzke Series Bc1; Balcer Group I; SNG von Aulock 2252. Faintly toned, slightly compact flan, minor die break in field on obverse. VF. ($1775)
Ex CNG inventory 797794 (January 2010).
5722502. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Stater (20.5mm, 10.64 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 20; Kurth S1; Traité I 407–8; SNG Ashmolean 760. Faintly toned, typical granular surfaces and slight doubling on obverse. VF. ($3975)
While the Lydian Kingdom in central Asia Minor had previously struck coins in electrum, an alloy of gold and silver, the accession of Kroisos to the Lydian throne circa 564/53 BC ushered in an important milestone in economics: the first true bimetallic coinage in gold and silver. The design chosen by Kroisos, confronting foreparts of a lion and bull, thought to symbolize the sun and the moon, but are also possibly dynastic in nature, with the lion referring to the previous king, Alyattes, and the bull representing his son and successor, Kroisos.
Perhaps because of his association with gold and silver, Kroisos became legendary for his wealth. There are several accounts of his interactions with another legendary Greek, the sage Solon of Athens, in which they discuss wealth and fortune. The most famous ancient account of Kroisos occurred when he questioned the Delphic Oracle as to whether he should make war on the rising Persian Kingdom of Cyrus the Great. The oracle answered, with typical ambiguity, that if he attacked the Persians, Kroisos would destroy a great empire. On this advice he attacked the Persians, and, after an inconclusive battle, was besieged and captured at his capital city of Sardes in 546 BC, thus destroying his own “great empire.” The ultimate fate of Kroisos is uncertain; though Herotodus reports that he continued as an advisor to Cyrus after the Persians absorbed Lydia and advised him concrning his fateful campaign against the Massagetae.
only a hint of the typical granularity, usual slight doubling on obverse.
5722504. KINGS of LYDIA. Kroisos. Circa 564/53-550/39 BC. AR Hemistater (18mm, 5.33 g). Sardes mint. Confronted foreparts of lion and bull / Two incuse squares. Berk 23; Kurth S3; SNG Ashmolean –; SNG Kayhan 1024–6. Lightly toned,
VF. ($2750)
5711480. PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. Circa 380/75-330/25 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 10.95 g, 12h). Two wrestlers, nude, grappling; V@ between / Slinger in throwing stance right; EstVEd55Us to left, triskeles to right; all in dotted square. Tekin Series 4; SNG BN 99–100. Light iridescent tone, underlying luster, slight die rust on obverse. Choice EF. ($2375)
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.
5722503. PISIDIA, Selge. Circa 325-250 BC. AR Stater (24mm, 8.92 g, 1h). Two wrestlers, nude, grappling; ˚ between / Slinger in throwing stance right; %E¬˝EW@ to left; to right, triskeles above club and cornucopia. SNG BN 1947. Toned, tiny flan flaws. Near EF. Well centered. ($2475)
5722529. LYCAONIA, Laranda. Circa 324/3 BC. AR Obol (12mm, 0.68 g, 12h). Baal, nude to waist, seated left, torso facing, holding grain ear and grape bunch in right hand and scepter in left / Forepart of wolf right; inverted crescent above; all within dotted square border. Göktürk 82; SNG BN 443 (Cilicia); SNG Levante 223 (Cilicia). Lustrous, flan crack, struck with worn dies. Good VF. ($875)
5722536. CILICIA, Mallos. Circa 385-375 BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (9mm, 0.64 g, 8h). Head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin / Swan standing right; Â and e above, grain ear to left. Göktürk –; SNG BN –; SNG Levante 163. Find patina, a touch off center. Good VF. ($1975)
5722534. CILICIA, Tarsos. Pharnabazos. Persian military commander, 380-374/3 BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (9mm, 0.81 g, 9h). Struck circa 380-379 BC. Female head facing slightly left, wearing pearl necklace; dolphin(?) to lower left / Bearded male head (Ares?) left, wearing crested helmet. Casabonne Series 2–3, pl. 4, 14; Göktürk 21; SNG BN 303. Toned, compact flan, minor porosity. VF. ($895)
5722531. CILICIA, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (11mm, 0.62 g, 3h). Crowned figure of Artaxerxes III, in the guise of Baal of Tarsos, seated right, holding lotus flower in right hand and lotustipped scepter in left / Lion walking left; w (in Phoenician[?]) above. Casabonne Series 6 and p. 218, n. 913; Göktürk –; SNG BN 425 (Myriandros). Find patina, slightly off center and light scratch on reverse. Good VF. ($595)
The attribution of the walking-lion series of Mazaios had originally been given to the mint of Tarsos, but Newell argued that they more likely were struck at Myriandros in his study of that mint in AJN 53 (1919). Later, J.D. Bing, in AJN 1 (1989), argued for an alternative attribution of the Myriandros coinage to the mint of Issos. While most numismatic works continue to follow Newell, Casabonne’s significant study of Cilicia during the Persian period convincingly returns these coins of Mazaios to the mint of Tarsos (cf. Casabonne, pp. 215–7).
The appearance of Baal on this issue is significantly different from the relatively standard depiction of the deity on other coins of Tarsos. While the deity is typically shown nude to his waist, here the figure is fully clothed with attire that closely resembles that on the figure that appears on the royal Persian coinage struck at Sardes. More importantly, though, is the headdress on the figure. Baal typically wears a laurel wreath or no headdress, while this portrait shows the figure wearing an elaborate headdress. In a more recent article, Frank Kovacs analysed the type, and argued that this figure is actually the Great King Artaxeres III Ochos, in the guise of Baal, and the headdress is the combined crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, thus his appearance here is as pharaoh of Egypt (cf. F. Kovacs, “Two Persian Pharaonic Potraits” in JNG L [2000]; see also M. Thompson, in MN XII [1968], pp. 11–2, who notes the figure wearing a “high crown of Egyptian type”). This is plausible, as Artaxerxes was the first pharaoh of the Thirty-First Dynasty of Egypt, and the date of his rule there, 343-338 BC, comports well with this issue under Mazaios.
O. Casabonne, while acknowledging that the figure here may represent a synthesis of Baal and the Great King, disagrees with the identification of the headdress as the Egyptian crown. Instead, he views the headdress as being a Phrygian style cap that is often depicted in contemporary art as being worn by warriors (cf. Casabonne, p. 121, fig. 8) but is here shown with the cheek guards in a raised position.
Nonetheless, it is doubtless that the figure here is a synthesized portrait of Baal and the Persian Great King. The fractional silver of this issue, interestingly, may be most instructive, as the headdress on the figure is shown wearing a crown that is identical to that on the figure of the royal Achaemenid coinage and his robes have interlocking circles reminiscent of the darics of Carradice Type IV Late (cf. M. Thompson, op. cit., p. 12).
5722532. CILICIA, Tarsos. Balakros. Satrap of Cilicia, 333-323 BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (10mm, 0.64 g, 4h). Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace / Shield; ∫ to left. Casabonne p. 230, Series 1; SNG BN 489b. Lightly toned, traces of find patina, light cleaning scratches. Good VF. An attractive coin in hand. ($1350)
Incredible Detail
5722461. CILICIA, Uncertain. 4th century BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (11mm, 0.72 g, 4h). Head of Herakles facing slightly left, wearing lion skin headdress; tiny c(?) to left / Head of Aphrodite left, wearing earrings, necklace, and stephane decorated with palmette between two annulets. Göktürk –; SNG BN –; SNG Levante 242 var. (no mark in field on obv.). Lightly toned, a little off center, marks. Near EF. Great detail. ($2750)
5722535. CILICIA, Uncertain. 4th century BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (10.5mm, 0.93 g, 11h). Baal, nude to waist, seated right, cradling lotus-tipped scepter in right arm and holding grain ear and grape bunch in left hand / Head of Apollo(?) left, wearing laurel wreath. Göktürk 53; SNG BN 481. Much find patina, cleaning scratches. VF. ($1575)
5722463. CILICIA, Uncertain. 4th century BC. AR Twelfth Stater – Obol (9.5mm, 0.69 g, 8h). Female head (Arethousa?) facing slightly left, wearing single-pendant earrings and necklace with pendants / Facing head of Bes. Göktürk 44; SNG BN 486. Find patina, light cleaning marks, slightly off center on obverse. Good VF. ($1175)
5722537. CILICIA, Uncertain. 4th century BC. AR Twenty-fourth Stater – Hemiobol (8mm, 0.35 g, 12h). Veiled and draped bust of female facing slightly left, wearing hoop earrings and pearl necklace / Bearded head of Herakles left, lion skin around neck. Gökturk –; SNG BN –; Troxell & Kagan 21. Lightly toned. Good VF. Exceptional for issue. ($1175)
5716221. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos, son of Seleukos IV. 175 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 17.03 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head right within fillet border / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@t5ocoU, Apollo, nude, testing arrow in right hand and placing left hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos; tripod to outer left, J in exergue. SC 1369b; Le Rider, Antioche 9–10A, dies A1/P6; HGC 9, 610b; SNG Spaer 956 (same dies). Old cabinet tone, traces of find patina. Good VF. Rare. ($6975)
Ex Album 47 (14 September 2023), lot 13.
Cited in SC and Published in Le Rider
5716222. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Antiochos V Eupator. 164-162 BC. AR Tetradrachm (30.5mm, 16.72 g, 12h). Antioch on the Orontes mint. Diademed head right within fillet border / ∫Å%5¬EW% Å@t5ocoU EU∏Åtoro%, Zeus Nikephoros seated left; ∫ to outer left. SC 1575.2 (this coin referenced); Le Rider, Antioche 170 (A7/P128) = CH VIII, pl. LV, 6 (this coin); HGC 9, 752. Toned, with some iridescence around the devices. Near EF. ($5750)
Ex Heritage 231910 (7 March 2019), lot 61052; Syria 1990 Hoard (CH VIII 434).
5714715. SELEUKID EMPIRE. Demetrios II Nikator. First reign, 146-138 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 14.11 g, 12h). Phoenician standard. Tyre mint. Dated SE 167 (146/5 BC). Diademed and draped bust right / ∫Å%5¬EW% [d˙µ˙] tr5oU, eagle standing left on prow left; palm frond in background; club surmounted by i (Tyre monogram) to left; to right, z$r (date) above >. SC 1959.1c; HGC 9, 970; DCA2 92. Toned, remnants of find patina, slightly off center, minor scratches on reverse. VF. ($975)
5722538. PHOENICIA, Sidon. Uncertain king. Circa 435-425 BC. AR Sixteenth Shekel (8mm, 0.71 g, 11h). Phoenician galley under sail left; waves below / Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow, within incuse square. E&E-S Group II.4; HGC 10, 217. Lightly toned, traces of find patina, scratch on edge. Good VF. ($3475)
5722552. PERSIA, Achaemenid Empire. temp. Xerxes I to Darios II. Circa 485-420 BC. AR Tetartemorion(?) (6mm, 0.19 g). Uncertain mint. Head of the Persian Great King right / Quadripartite incuse square with raised globules in each quarter. Cf. CNG E-380, lot 337; CNG E-376, lot 263; CNG E-351, lot 411; Helios 7, lot 402; otherwise, unpublished in the standard references. Toned, traces of find patina. VF. ($1150)
Well Centered and Attractive
5714729. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305/4 BC, or king, 305/4-282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 15.75 g, 1h). Ptolemaic standard. In the name of Alexander III of Macedon. Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 306-300 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin, aegis around neck with tiny d in scales / ŬE$Å@droU, Athena Alkidemos advancing right; to right, ’, Corinthan helmet right, and eagle standing right on thunderbolt. CPE 70; Svoronos 164; Zervos Issue 29, dies 518/c; SNG Copenhagen –; Noeske –; SNG Lockett 3393; Weber 8226. Toned, traces of undertype. EF. Well centered and attractive in hand. ($7500)
Ex JTB Collection; North River Collection (Triton XXVI, 10 January 2023), lot 424; RCM Collection (Triton XVI, 8 January 2013), lot 587; Triton VII (13 January 2004), lot 372.
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 Alexandria. Ptolemy’s early coinage is modeled on that of Alexander and carries the conqueror’s image and name, as seen on this remarkable tetradrachm, which shows Alexander wearing an elaborate elephant-skin headdress in honor of his victories in India, backed with a striking image of Athena in a fighting stance. 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.
5722609. PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. 305/4-282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.22 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 294-285 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck, tiny d behind ear / ∫Å%5¬EW% πto¬EµÅ5oU, eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; π to left. CPE 174; Svoronos 339; SNG Copenhagen 88. Lightly toned, a few minor marks. Good VF. Well centered. ($4750)
Ex Paul James Collection; Roma E-Sale 73 (23 July 2020), lot 520; Dr .G. W. Collection (Gorny & Mosch 269, 9 March 2020), lot 674.
ORIENTAL GREEK COINAGE
5712960. KINGS of PARTHIA. Mithradates II. 121-91 BC. AR Drachm (22mm, 4.17 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Phase IV, circa 99/98-91 BC. Bust left, wearing tiara decorated with nine-rayed star; torque ends in sea-horse / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow. SNP 2 Va.α(1)/4d.α(1); Sellwood 28.1; Sunrise 296; Shore 95. Bright surfaces, worn obverse die, underlying luster, brushed. EF. ($795)
5712961. KINGS of PARTHIA. Phraates III. Circa 70/69-58/7 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 3.67 g, 12h). Mithradatkart mint. Struck circa 62/1-58/7 BC. Diademed bust left / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; ! below bow; Sellwood legend iii. Sellwood 38.6 var. (legend); cf. Sunrise 337 (for type); Shore 172. Hint of iridescence, slight die wear, obverse double strike, some underlying luster. EF. ($795)
5714695. KINGS of PARTHIA. Meherdates. Usurper, AD 49-50. AR Drachm (22.5mm, 3.85 g, 12h). Ekbatana mint. Facing bust, wearing tiara; stars flanking / Archer (Arsakes I) seated right on throne, holding bow; + below bow. Sellwood 67.1 (Vonones I); Sunrise 417-8; Shore 368 (Vonones II). Lightly toned, traces of underlying luster. EF. ($795)
5720555. KINGS of PERSIS. Napād (Kapat). 1st century AD. AR Hemidrachm (13mm, 1.59 g, 1h). Type 3, variety a. Istakhr (Persepolis) mint. Diademed and draped bust left, wearing Parthian-style tiara decorated with pellet-in-crescent / Diademed and draped bust left. van’t Haaff Type 613.1f (Napad II); K&M 4/49; Tyler-Smith, Parcel, Variety b; cf. Alram 613 (for type); Sunrise –. Lustrous. Superb EF. ($575)
Impressive Dynastic Tetradrachm
5708132. BAKTRIA, Greco-Baktrian Kingdom. Eukratides I Megas. Circa 170-145 BC. AR Tetradrachm (32mm, 16.93 g, 12h). Dynastic pedigree issue. ∫å%5GEU% ÂE˝Å% EUkrÅt5d˙% around, bust of Eukratides right, wearing helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear; all within bead-and-reel border / ˙G5okGEoU% above, kÅ5 GÅod5k˙% in exergue, conjoined draped busts of Heliokles and Laodike, wearing tainia, right; D to left; all within bead-and-reel border. Bopearachchi 15A; Bopearachchi & Rahman 263; SNG ANS 526-7; MIG Type 182a; HGC 12, 133. In NGC encapsulation 8213553-001, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, die shift. Fine style. Impressive dynastic tetradrachm. ($13,750)
CENTRAL ASIAN COINAGE
5720556. KUSHANO-SASANIANS. temp. Pērōz (Fīrūz) I – II. Circa AD 255-310. AV Dinar (28mm, 8.08 g, 12h).
Uncertain mint in Baktria. Early series. Vasudeva standing left, holding trident, sacrificing over altar to left; filleted trident to left; D to left of trident; ( between legs; ˘ below arm; 0 to right / Ithyphallic Siva standing facing, holding a garland or diadem and trident; behind, the bull Nandi standing left; to upper left, • and 6; ˘ below Nandi’s head. MK 694 (Vasudeva II) corr. (pellets below arm); ANS Kushan 1700; Donum Burns 476. Toned, deposits, double struck, minor peripheral weakness, underlying luster. EF. ($2875)
ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINAGE
5722500. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Æ (35mm, 16.84 g, 6h). Leon, son of Alcaios, prytanis. AY KAIC C ЄYHPO C IOYΛIA ΔOMNA, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius, seen from behind vis-à-vis draped bust of Domna; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma right within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / ЄΠ ΠPY ΛЄONTOC T OY AΛKAI CTPATONIKЄ Ω N, Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback right, holding transverse scepter in left hand; at feet right, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 73638; SNG Copenhagen 503; SNG von Aulock 2669. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Dark brown surfaces, flan adjustment marks. EF ($2775)
5714697. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Caracalla, with Plautilla. AD 198-217. Æ (34mm, 18.37 g, 12h). Tiberius Claudius Dionysios, president of the college of the grammateis. Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 202-205. [AY KPA KAI M AYP AN] KAI ΘЄ CЄB NЄ TCΛAYTIΛΛAN, draped bust of Plautilla vis-à-vis laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla, seen from behind; c/ms: helmeted head of Roma within circular incuse, and ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / ЄΠI TΩN ΠЄP TB KΛ ΔIONYCIOY CTPATONЄIKЄΩN, Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback right, holding transverse scepter in left hand, volumen in right; at feet right, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 73723; BMC 66; SNG von Aulock 2695. For c/ms: Howgego 188; 536. Brown surfaces, light roughness. VF. ($895)
RPC Online Feature Coin – Caracalla’s Damnatio of Geta
5722506. CARIA, Stratonicaea. Caracalla, with Geta as Caesar. AD 198-217. Æ (37mm, 25.31 g, 12h). Damnatio Memoriae. Jason, son of Kleoboulos, grammateus. Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 205-209. AY KAI MAP AY ANTΩN [...], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla, seen from behind vis-à-vis [bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta]; c/m: ΘEOY within rectangular incuse / ЄΠI ΓPA IACONO C T OY KΛ Є OBOY CTPATONIK/ЄΩN, Zeus Panamaros, draped, on horseback right, holding transverse scepter in left hand, volumen in right; at feet right, lighted altar. RPC V.2 Online 74178; SNG von Aulock 2685. For c/m: Howgego 536. Red-brown surfaces, light porosity. VF. Portrait of Geta erased, Caracalla’s damnatio memoriae of Geta applied after his murder in AD 211. Rare. ($1275)
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 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, like the Severan Tondo, erased. 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.
Online Feature Coin
5722554. PHRYGIA, Hierapolis. Otacilia Severa. Augusta, AD 244-249. Æ (28mm, 11.87 g, 6h). Pythian Games issue. MAPK • ΩTAKIΛ • CЄBHPA • CЄB, draped bust right, wearing stephane / IЄPAΠO ΛЄITΩN, agonistic prize crown inscribed ΠYΘIA containing two palm fronds set on table with three lion’s legs. RPC VIII Online 20714 (this coin illustrated); BMC 152. Red-brown surfaces, slight roughness. Good VF. An exceptional specimen. ($1995)
Ex Rex Numismatics Duo 10 (6 April 2024), lot 233.
RPC
The City Gate of Isaura
5722509. CILICIA, Isaura. Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ (30mm, 12.58 g, 6h). AY • K • Λ • CЄΠ • CЄOYHPOC
ΠЄPT, laureate head right / MHT PO Π OΛЄΩC ICAYPΩN, city gate with three towers; within; statue of Tyche seated left, wearing calathus, holding grain ears in right hand, cornucopia in left; at feet right and behind, prow. RPC V.3 Online 74813; SNG BN 490; SNG Levante 259. Dark brown patina, slight roughness. Near EF. A pretty coin in hand. ($1950)
Isaura was the chief city of the region of Isauria, which became part of the province of Cilicia in Severan times. Isaura gained the honorific of Metropolis at some point in this period, and all its Severan coinage has this title.
One Of The Finest Known – RPC Online Feature Coin
5714731. EGYPT, Alexandria. Galba. AD 68-69. Æ Hemidrachm (32mm, 15.30 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 68/9). ΣEPOYI ΓΑΛΒΑ AYTO ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒA, laureate head right / Bust of Nilus right, wearing taenia, slight drapery on left shoulder; cornucopia behind his right shoulder; L B (date) to right. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 17.25; RPC I 5348.6 (this coin, illustrated for type); Emmett 178.2 (R4). Brown patina, cleaning scratches. VF. Struck on a broad flan. Very rare. ($995)
Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Roma Numismatics, 30 July 2011.
Galba continued Nero’s emphasis on the production of billon tetradrachms at the Alexandrian mint. His bronze coinage, while not quite as rare as Nero’s, is known only from his second regnal year. The authors of RPC cite only six examples for this hemidrachm type, with an additional two in CoinArchives. This is the finest recorded example.
Ex Mabbott Collection
5714736. EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (36mm, 22.01 g, 12h). Sethroite nome. Dated RY 13 (AD 109/10). AYT TPAIAN CЄB ΓЄPM ΔAKIK, laureate bust right, aegis on left shoulder / CЄΘP ωITHC, young Horus of Mesen standing left, wearing pschent and military dress, holding spear in right hand and chlamys draped over left arm; to left and behind, lion advancing left; LI Γ (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 6387; RPC III 6490.4 (this coin); K&G N48.4; W&G II.2a; Emmett 785.13 (Male, Ares - R4). Dark green-brown patina, some roughness, edge splits, scrapes on reverse. Near VF. Very rare. ($1950)
Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection; Berk BBS 216 (27 July 2021), lot 553; Thomas O. Mabbott Collection (H. Schulman, 6 June 1969), lot 3787.
5714733. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Diobol (25mm, 10.25 g, 12h). Dated RY 11 (AD 126/7). Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / Bull butting right; L ENΔEKA TO V (date) above and around. Köln 977; Dattari (Savio) 2046; K&G 32.428; RPC III 5675; Emmett 1116.11. Dark brown patina. Near EF. ($1375)
Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection; CNG inventory 730494 (4 May 2002).
5714735. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Obol (18mm, 5.24 g, 12h). Arsinoite nome. Dated RY 11 (AD 126/7). ATY KAI TPAI AΔPIA CЄB, laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / APCI, head of the pharaoh Premarres (Amenemhet III) right, wearing nemes with uraeus; L IA (date) to right. Köln 3381-2; Dattari (Savio) 6210, 10876-80; K&G N6.6; RPC III 6296; W&G III.2b; Emmett 1221.11. Green patina, slight roughness, minor deposits. VF. ($1375)
Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection; Classical Numismatic Group 61 (25 September 2002), lot 1080.
Ex Dattari Collection
5716289. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (31mm, 23.48 g, 12h). Dated RY 18 (AD 133/4). ATY KAI TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CЄB, bare bust left, drapery on right shoulder / Sphinx seated left, wearing lotus crown, right paw on wheel. Köln 1136; Dattari 1998; K&G 32.603 var. (bust); RPC III 5916.10 (this coin); Emmett 1053.18. Red-brown surfaces, roughness, reverse flan voids. Near VF. Rare. ($2950)
Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection.
Pharos of Alexandria
5714734. EGYPT, Alexandria. Sabina. Augusta, AD 128-136/7. Æ Hemidrachm (29.5mm, 14.47 g, 12h). Dated RY 16 of Hadrian (AD 131/2). CABINA [CЄBACTH], draped bust right, wearing stephane / Pharos of Alexandria surmounted by two Tritons, each blowing a buccinum (trumpet), lantern surmounted by statue holding situla in right hand and scepter in left, entryway at bottom right; L Iς (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2072; K&G 33.8; RPC III 5809.5 (this coin); Emmett 1343.16 (R5). Brown patina, some roughness, weakness on obverse. Good Fine. Extremely rare, only five recorded by RPC. ($1475)
Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Nilus Coins, 31 March 2010.
One of the Finest Known
5716291. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (34mm, 27.10 g, 12h). Dated RY 8 (AD 144/5). AYT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωNЄINOC CЄB ЄYC, laureate head right / Nike advancing right, holding trophy in both hands; L H (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2704; K&G –; RPC IV.4 766; Emmett –. Red-brown surfaces, edge splits. EF. Very rare, one of the finest known specimens. ($5250)
Ex Naville Numismatics 84 (8 October 2023), lot 267.
Ex Dattari Collection
5714699. EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Diobol (23mm, 8.28 g, 12h). Zodiac series. Dated RY 11 (AD 147/8). AYT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTωNINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Sun in Leo – Lion standing right, head left; star above; L IA (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3129 = RPC IV.4 1080.7 (this coin); K&G 35.413; Emmett 1756.11. Green-brown patina, light roughness, short edge splits. Near VF. ($975)
Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection. Giovanni Dattari Collection (Naville Numismatics 29, 26 February 2017) lot 405.
With the star in the field, the lion is a representation of the constellation Leo.
ROMAN REPUBLICAN COINAGE
5716227. Anonymous. Circa 264-255 BC. AR Didrachm (22mm, 7.19 g, 5h). Rome mint. Diademed head of beardless young Hercules right, wearing lion skin around neck; club on shoulder / She-wolf standing right, head left, suckling the twins (Romulus and Remus); rOÂANO in exergue. Crawford 20/1; Sydenham 6; HN Italy 287; RSC 8; BMCRR RomanoCampanian 28; Kestner 38-9; RBW 23. Lightly toned with light iridescence, minor marks and scratches, obverse die break. Near EF. ($7875)
Ex Roma XII (29 September 2016), lot 477.
The Roman Coinage Reform of 211 BC
5724008. Anonymous. 211-208 BC. AV 60 Asses (15mm, 3.34 g, 6h). Rome mint. Bearded head of Mars right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; çc (mark of value) to left / Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, with wings spread; rOÂA below. Crawford 44/2; Sydenham 226; Bahrfeldt 4a; Biaggi 3; BMCRR Rome 185-6; Kestner 285-6; RBW 160–1. Obverse die rust, minor marks and scratches, dies a bit worn. Good VF. ($6950)
The Roman Republic’s earliest large-scale issue of gold coins was part of the massive overhaul of Rome’s coinage system circa 211 BC, at the height of the Second Punic War against Carthage. A whole new system of coinage replaced the old one based on the silver didrachm, or quadrigatus, and clumsy cast Aes Grave. At the top end of the value scale, three gold coin denominations were now issued, all marked with their value in copper asses. All gold coins bore the same design: A helmeted head of Mars on the obverse, and an eagle standing on a thunderbolt on the reverse (the eagle represented Jupiter and was one of the identifying standards carried into battle by the legions). These included a gold 60-as piece, weighing about 3.4 grams, marked with a çc (¨5 times c); a 40-as piece (cccc), and a 20-as piece (cc). A comparison of the weights of values of the precious metal denominations indicates the relative ratio of silver to gold at this time was about 12 to one. The gold for this considerable issue likely came from Rome’s capture and sack of Syracuse in 212 BC. Unlike the accompanying silver denarius and bronze denominations that were introduced during this reform, the gold issues were discontinued after a few years, and Rome would not resume any coinage in gold for another century and a half.
5711482. P. Maenius Antiaticus M.f. 132 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.94 g, 9h). Rome mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, ornamented with griffin’s head, the visor in three pieces, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace, hair arranged in three symmetrical locks; • (mark of value) to left / Victory, holding reins and palm frond in left hand and wreath in right, driving galloping quadriga right; p • »Mbelow; rOÂA in exergue. Crawford 249/1; Sydenham 492; Maenia 7; BMCRR Rome 988–90; Kestner 2250–1; RBW 1023. Lustrous, hairlines. Superb EF. ($1575)
Ex Bob Guynn Collection.
5711481. M. Aburius M.f. Geminus. 132 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.96 g, 3h). Rome mint. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, ornamented with griffin’s head, the visor in three pieces and peaked, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace, hair falling in three locks; ge downward to left, • (mark of value) below chin / Sol, radiate, wearing cloak, driving galloping quadriga right, holding whip in right hand and reins in left;  • äœi below, rOÂA in exergue. Crawford 250/1; Sydenham 487; Aburia 6; BMCRR Rome 995-7; Kestner 2260-3; RBW 1027. Lustrous with iridescent tone, hairlines, traces of find patina. Superb EF. ($1575)
5714737. Q. Fufius Calenus and Mucius Cordus. 68 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (21mm, 3.88 g, 6h). Rome mint. Jugate heads right of Honos, laureate, and Virtus, wearing crested helmet; hO to left, uiÛ to right; kALeNi below / Italia standing right, holding cornucopia in left hand, vis-à-vis Roma standing left, foot on globe and holding scepter in left hand, clasping right hands; to left, winged caduceus above ië; rO to right, COrDi in exergue. Crawford 403/1; Sydenham 797; Fufia 1; BMCRR Rome 3358-63; Kestner 3299-300; RBW 1445. Deep cabinet tone with iridescence, small scrape on obverse. Good VF. ($1775)
Ex CLA Collection.
5724009. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.88 g, 7h). Laureate head of Apollo right; plectrum behind / Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry, standing right, playing lyre which rests on column to right; œ · pOÂpONiuÍ to right, ÂuÍA to left. Crawford 410/2a; Sydenham 811; BMCRR Rome 3606; Kestner 3374; Pomponia 9; RBW –. Deeply toned, some weakness to strike, minor roughness, die breaks on reverse. VF. ($1450)
Ex Carol Ross Collection; Stack’s (10 December 1987), lot 3380.
The Muses were nine divine maidens, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (Memory), who embodied the human arts and sciences. They were Calliope (epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (erotic poetry), Euterpe (music, lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (hymns), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy), and Urania (astronomy).
Calliope – The Muse of Epic Poetry
Euterpe – The Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry
5724010. Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.95 g, 12h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath, hair rolled back and in loose locks over forehead; two crossed tibiae to left / Euterpe, the Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, supporting her head with her left hand by resting her elbow on column, and holding two tibiae in right hand; œ • pOÂpONi downward to left, ÂuÍA downward to right. Crawford 410/5; Sydenham 815; Pomponia 13; BMCRR Rome 3613; Kestner 3379-80; RBW 1487. Toned with iridescence, small edge cut, surface marks. VF. ($1650)
Ex Carol Ross Collection; Stack’s (9 June 1998), lot 134.
5715883. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus. 54 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.73 g, 6h). Rome mint. Bare head of L. Junius Brutus right; BruTuÍ downward to left / Bare head of C. Servilius Ahala right; AhALA downward to left. Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; Junia 30; BMCRR Rome 3864-7; Kestner 3487-9; RBW 1543. Toned with light iridescence, obverse scratch. EF. Two wonderful portraits. ($3975)
Ex Künker 397 (14 November 2023), lot 2468; Nomos 15 (22 October 2017), lot 204.
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.
ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE
Impressive Portrait of Galba
5722512. Galba. AD 68-69. Æ Sestertius (36.5mm, 26.84 g, 7h). Rome mint, 3rd officina. Struck circa October AD 68. SER • GALBA • IMP • CAESAR • AVG • TR P, laureate and draped bust right / LIBERTAS PVBLICA, S C across field, Libertas, draped, standing left, holding pileus in right hand and vindicta in left. RIC I 388; ACG – (A148/P– [unlisted rev. die]); BMCRE 69-70; BN 194. Brown patina, minor roughness. Good VF. Well centered on a broad medallic flan. ($7500)
Ex Meander Collection; Künker 280 (26 September 2016), lot 534; G. Hirsch 111 (12 June 1978), lot 2044.
Extremely Rare Domitian Denarius
5722604. Domitian. AD 81-96. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.43 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 13 September-31 December AD 81. IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M, laureate head right / COS VII DES VIII P P, filleted tripod surmounted by dolphin. RIC II.1 38 (R3); RSC –; BMCRE –; BN –. Peripheral iridescent toning, light scratches, slightly granular surfaces. Near EF. Extremely rare, when Ian Carradice and Ted Buttrey produced the second fully revised edition of RIC II.1 they knew of only one example, in the Walter Holt Collection in Australia. ($1375)
5722606. Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.13 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right / TR POT COS II, Pietas, veiled and draped, standing left, holding acerra (incense box) with raised lid in left hand and raising right hand to drop incense onto altar to left. RIC II.3 2641; RSC 53; BMCRE 972-4. Area of light iridescent toning on the obverse, minor edge split. Good VF. ($1475)
Banti Plate Coin – Ex Hartwig Collection of 1910 – Of Exceptional Quality
5706998. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 22.81 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck AD 147. ANTONINVS AVG PI VS P P TR P COS IIII, laureate head right / FELI CI TA S • AVG, S C across field, Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding capricorn in extended right hand and long caduceus in left. RIC III 770; Banti 150 (this coin, illustrated); BMCRE 1677. Beautiful even brown patina. Superb EF. Exceptional. ($6500)
Ex John Wright Collection, purchased from Jonathan Kern, January 2009; Dr. Paul Hartwig Collection (Santamaria [2], 7 March 1910), lot 1526.
Two Dynastic Denarii
5724020. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.09 g, 6h). Dynastic issue. Rome mint. Struck under Septimius Severus and Caracalla, AD 200-201. SEVERVS AVG PART MAX, laureate head of Septimius Severus right / IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Julia Domna right. RIC IV 161a; RSC 2; BMCRE 193. Toned, hairline flan crack. VF. Struck on a broad flan. ($1450)
Ex Carol Ross Collection; Coin Galleries (12 February 1997), lot 470.
5722607. Septimius Severus, with Caracalla and Geta as Caesar. AD 193-211. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.78 g, 8h). Dynastic issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 201-202. SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head of Septimius Severus right / AETERNIT IM[PE]RI, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right, facing bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Geta left. RIC IV 251; RSC 6a. Toned, some underlying luster, slightly granular surfaces, hairline flan crack. Good VF. Rare. ($1875)
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 rare issue proclaims the continuity – even the eternity – of the dynasty, depicting both of Severus’ heirs.
5722600. Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. AR Denarius (20.5mm, 3.10 g, 6h). Rome mint. 15th emission, AD 232. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right / SPE S P VBLICA, Spes advancing left, holding flower in right hand and raising hem of skirt with left. RIC IV 254; BMCRE 896; RSC 543. Lightly toned, lustrous. Superb EF. ($575)
5706997. Maximinus I. AD 235-238. Æ Sestertius (31.5mm, 21.66 g, 12h). Rome mint. 3rd emission, late AD 236-237. MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / SALVS AVGVSTI, S C in exergue, Salus, draped, seated left on high-backed chair, resting left elbow on chair, feeding out of patera in right hand serpent coiled around and rising from altar to left. RIC IV 85; BMCRE 175-6; Banti 24. Glossy brown patina, minor green deposits on reverse. Superb EF. ($2875)
Ex John Wright Collection.
5724755. Maximus. Caesar, AD 235/6-238. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 21.17 g, 12h). Rome mint. 3rd emission of Maximinus I, late AD 236-237. MAXIMVS CAES GERM, bareheaded and draped bust right / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, S C across field, Maximus standing left, holding baton in right hand and transverse spear in left; two signa to right. RIC IV 13 (Maximinus I); BMCRE 213-7 (Maximinus); Banti 6. Green patina. Good VF. ($1450)
Ex Geoffrey Cope Collection.
Commemorating the 1000th Anniversary of Rome
5711478. Otacilia Severa. Augusta, AD 244-249. Æ Sestertius (28.5mm, 18.38 g, 12h). Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) issue, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Rome. Rome mint, 4th officina. 9th emission of Philip I, AD 248. MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane / SAECVLARES AVGG, S C in exergue, hippopotamus standing right. RIC IV 200a (Philip I); Banti 13. In NGC encapsulation 4184344-004, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. ($2475)
5722468. Diocletian. AD 284-305. Æ Follis (24.5mm, 10.15 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 2nd officina. Struck AD 302-mid 304. IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POP VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, nude but for chlamys draped over shoulders, holding cornucopia in left hand and sacrificing out of patera held in extended right hand over lighted altar to left; –|B//PLG. RIC VI 108a; Lyon 337. Dark brown patina and toned partial silvering, small delamination on reverse. Near EF. ($525)
Ex Rauceby Hoard, Lincolnshire (PAS ID LIN-F6D516; BM Ref 2016 T649).
5722466. Maximianus. First reign, AD 286-305. Æ Follis (28mm, 9.65 g, 12h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck circa AD 303-1 May 305. IMP MAXIMIANVS P AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right / GENIO POPV LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, nude but for chlamys draped over shoulders, holding patera in extended right hand and cornucopia in left; S|F//PTR. RIC VI 576b. Dark brown patina and toned partial silvering, thin die break on reverse. Near EF. ($595)
Ex Rauceby Hoard, Lincolnshire (PAS ID LIN-F6D516; BM Ref 2016 T649).
5722469. Constantius I. As Caesar, AD 293-305. Æ Follis (26.5mm, 8.20 g, 12h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 1st officina. Struck AD 302-mid 304. CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate and cuirassed bust left, balteus across shoulder, holding scepter in right hand over right shoulder / GENIO POP VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left, nude but for chlamys draped over shoulders, holding cornucopia in left hand and sacrificing out of patera held in extended right hand over lighted altar to left; –|A//PLG. RIC VI 167a; Lyon 265. Dark brown patina with toned partial silvering. Near EF. ($475)
Ex Rauceby Hoard, Lincolnshire (PAS ID LIN-F6D516; BM Ref 2016 T649).
5708042. Constantius I. AD 305-306. AR Argenteus (19mm, 3.31 g, 1h). Serdica mint, 4th officina. 2nd Tetrarchy, AD 305-306. CONSTAN TIVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, three-turreted camp gate without doors; •SM•SDΔ•. RIC VI 11a var. (officina); Gautier, Argent 51; RSC 304A corr. (rev. legend). In NGC encapsulation 2412206-036, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, deposits. ($1750)
Anepigraphic Eyes to God Solidus
5715884. Constantine I. AD 307/310-337. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.48 g, 5h). Nicomedia mint, 5th officina. Struck AD 335. Laurel and rosette-diademed head right, eyes to God / VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVG, Victory, draped at waist, seated right on cuirass, supporting shield set on left knee with left hand and inscribing VOT/ XXX on it in two lines with stylus held in right hand; to right, small nude genius standing left supporting the shield with both hands; an additional shield resting beside the cuirass to left; SMNM. RIC VII 176; Alföldi 615; Depeyrot 44/1; Adda 605; Biaggi 2025; Mazzini 617a. Toned, scattered light marks, short edge split. Near EF. ($16,750)
Like the emperor Augustus before him, Constantine I adjusted his public image to meet the changing status of his political career. With Constantine’s defeat of Licinius I at Chrysopolis in AD 324, the empire was once again a unified state under a single emperor, a situation that had not existed since the accession of Diocletian some forty years earlier. As Constantine worked to re-establish peace and stability within a restored empire over the next several years – first, by establishing a new imperial capital at the Greek city of Byzantium (dedicated in AD 330 as Constantinople); second, by convening and overseeing an ecumenical council of Christian bishops in AD 325 at Nicaea to address trouble produced by the Arian controversy in the eastern portion of the empire; and third, by enacting a number of reforms aimed at civil administration – a new imperial visage began to emerge on the coinage. This new portrait depicted Constantine wearing a diadem, a feature that was adopted in AD 324 in place of the laurel wreath that previous emperors wore in their role as commanders-in-chief. It also showed the emperor looking slightly upward, as if in the attitude of prayer. This new depiction, which seems to have been intentionally ambiguous, could be viewed by various groups within the empire in the context of their own hopes and aspirations (For a discussion of Constantine’s use of deliberately ambiguous language and imagery, see T.G. Elliot, “The Language of Constantine’s Propaganda,” TAPA 120 [1990], pp. 349-353 and H.A. Drake, Constantine and the Bishops: The Politics of Intolerance [Johns Hopkins, 2000], passim).
For the Christians within the Roman Empire, who had suffered under a series of persecutions during the early fourth century AD, this new image could be interpreted as the culmination of God’s plan to defeat the pagans and create a new Christian Roman Empire. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea and biographer of the emperor, in his Vita Constantini (IV.15), specifically mentions these coins as an indication of Constantine’s piety: “The great strength of the divinely inspired faith fixed in his soul might be deduced by considering also the fact that he had his own portrait so depicted on the gold coinage that he appeared to look upwards in the manner of one reaching out to God in prayer. Impressions of this type were circulated throughout the entire Roman world.” This new imagery was also replicated on statues erected throughout the empire, a fact also mentioned by Eusebius: “His portrait also at full length was placed over the entrance gates of the palaces in some cities, the eyes upraised to heaven, and the hands outspread as if in prayer.” For contemporary Christians, this portrait was a clearly visible sign of imperial support for them. Likewise for Eusebius, whose imperial biography was intended in part to present Constantine as the paradigm of the new Christian emperor and is the source for this interpretation of the coins, this new image served to validate his argument that Constantine was truly a Christian prince.
For non-Christians too, this new image could be interpreted in the context of their own viewpoints. The diademed portrait without the accompanying obverse legend recalls those royal Hellenistic portraits seen on the silver coinage of the successors of Alexander the Great and subsequent eastern monarchs (R.R.R. Smith, “The Public Image of Licinius I: Portrait Sculpture and Imperial Ideology in the Early Fourth Century,” JRS 87 [1997], p. 187 and note 99). Symbolizing royal authority, it appeared not only on the coinage of various Greek monarchies, but also on Roman Republican coinage where the mythical early Roman kings were depicted (cf. Marcia 28, showing Ancus Marcius). The use of the diadem, which appeared in an array of designs – from a simple plain band to ones which were more detailed and complex, eventually becoming an elaborate and jewel-encrusted construction – served to refigure Constantine in his role now as a Greek βασιλεύς, rather than a purely Roman princeps. Like Alexander the Great before him, Constantine also tried to balance the various and seemingly disparate elements of his new empire. Given that Constantine ruled over both Christian and non-Christian populations - neither of which he wished to alienate - his new portrait on these coins could appeal to the viewpoints of both.
BYZANTINE COINAGE
5712962. Justinian I. 527-565. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.47 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 9th officina. Struck 542-565. D N IVSTINI ANVS PP AV, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left shoulder / VICTORI A AVCCC, Angel standing facing, holding in right hand long staff surmounted by staurogram and globus cruciger in left; d to right; Θ//CONOB. DOC 9i; MIBE 7; SB 140. Toned and lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 4625113-001, graded MS, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. ($1875)
Very Rare & Attractive Eastern Mint Solidus
5708043. Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine. 610-641. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.46 g, 7h). Uncertain eastern military mint(?), 1st officina(?). Struck circa 613-circa 616. dd NN ҺЄRACLIЧS Єτ ҺЄRA CONST PP AVI, crowned facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, both wearing chlamys; cross above / VICTORIA AVςЧ, cross potent set on three steps; A//CONOB. DOC 188a.1-2 var. (Alexandria; obv. legend); MIB 771 var. (Cyprus?; or eastern military mint; same); Bendall, Jerusalem, fig. 21 var. (uncertain eastern military mint?; same); SB 852 var. (Jerusalem; same). Toned and lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 3761048-004, graded MS★, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5. Very rare. ($2875)
Regarding this rare type, Bendall (p. 317) noted that: “There also exist other extremely rare solidi of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine struck at this time, all in the east in the experience of the writer, which are illustrated here (figs. 18-21), which can surely only indicate that in the troubled times between 613 and 616/8 there may have been a number of ephemeral mints connected with Heraclius’ campaigns in the east.”
Indeed, the historical context during which this coin was struck was tumultuous. After Phocas deposed Maurice Tiberius, the Sasanians invaded the eastern borders of the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine-Sasanian relations had been at their zenith since Maurice supported Khosrau II’s successful bid for the Sasanian throne. But once Maurice, Khosrau’s ally and father-in-law, was executed by Phocas, the Sasanian king used the unfavorable change in government to launch a retaliatory invasion. The war would drag on for over two decades and span the reigns of Phocas and Heraclius from 602-628. During the conflict, Jerusalem itself fell to the Sasanian forces in 614, and Egypt was occupied for the last ten years from 618-628. The loss and recapture of major cities and mints during this conflict somewhat muddies the waters for better understanding this eastern series. For now, the evidence suggests that this series does belong to an eastern military mint that exhibits varying degrees of style and sophistication. This particular example is very well struck and attractive and features the obverse legend ending in AVI rather than PP as is found on most examples of this type with the A at the end of the reverse legend.
WORLD COINAGE
5722542. AUSTRIA, Salzburg (Prince-Archbishophric). Sigismund III Graf von Schrattenbach. 1753-1771. AR Taler (39.5mm, 27.98 g, 12h). Dated 1759 MK. Coat-of-arms surmounted by cross; crossed crozier and sword behind; all surmounted by tasseled gallero / Nimbate figure of St. Rupert seated on clouds facing slightly right, holding crozier; to right, two small angels holding salt cellar. Zöttl 2973; Probszt 2279; Davenport 1252; KM 394. Toned, light pvc deposits. AU. ($975)
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5722518. BRAZIL, Colonial. Maria I. Queen of Portugal, 1786-1816. AV Peça – 6400 Réis (30mm, 14.37 g, 12h). Rio de Janeiro mint. Dated 1800 R. Crowned bust right / Crowned coat-of-arms. Gomes 25.12; KM 226.1; Friedberg 87. In NGC encapsulation 2734695-008, graded MS 62. ($2950)
Ex Triton XXI (8 January 2018), lot 968.
5712549. DENMARK. Christian IV. 1588-1648. AR Speciedaler (43mm, 28.51 g, 3h). København (Copenhagen) mint. Dated 1627 NS. Crowned, armored, and draped bust right, wearing ruff; below, legend in three lines within frame / Coat-ofarms at center of cross pattée with 13 smaller coats-of-arms around; crown above. Schou 11; Hede 55A; Bruun 5510 (this coin); Davenport 3524; KM 101. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8223328-039, graded XF Details, cleaned. ($1775)
Ex L.E. Bruun (1852-1923) Collection.
Top Pop
5722514. DENMARK. Frederik III. 1648-1670. AR 1/6 Speciedaler Klippe (20x20mm, 4.75 g, 12h). Largesse coinage. København (Copenhagen) mint. Dated 1648. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Vase with flowers. Schou 34; Hede 48; KM 160. Old cabinet toning. In NGC encapsulation 8378314-007, graded MS 63. Top Pop ($2775)
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection, purchased from B. Ahlström.
Cutting off an Usurpation
5712644. DENMARK. Frederik III. 1648-1670. AR Krone (41mm, 22.36 g, 2h). Københaven (Copenhagen) mint.
Dated 1659. Crowned monogram set on clouds / Hand holding sword reaching from the clouds, cutting off outstreched hand to right reaching for Danish crown above. Schou 34; Hede 100A; Bruun 6285 (this coin); Davenport 3576; KM 221. Old cabinet toning. In NGC encapsulation 8223208-022, graded AU 58. A stunning example with wonderful strike and eye appeal. ($8950)
Ex L.E. Bruun (1852-1923) Collection; Johan H. Guildal Collection.
On 11 February 1659, the Danish repelled an attack on Copenhagen by the Swedes. The reverse imagery on this coin colorfully illustrates the result of the battle, in which the Danish successfully held off the Swedish attempt to take the Danish crown.
5723985. FRANCE, Royal. Louis XVI. 1774–1793. AV Double louis d’or (30mm, 16.32 g, 6h). Bordeaux mint; différents: clasped hands/millwheel. Dated 1776 K. Bust left / Crown over two coats-of-arms. VG 362; Duplessy 1706; KM 592.1; Friedberg 474. Lustrous, some hairlines, faint adjustment marks. EF. ($4750)
Iconic Napoleonic Pattern in Bronze
5722516. FRANCE, First Empire. Napoléon I. 1804-1814. Æ Essai de 100 Francs (32mm, 14.46 g, 12h). Genoa mint. Dies by Vassalo. Dated 1807. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR, bust facing slightly right / EMPIRE FRANÇAISE, eagle standing left atop thunderbolt with wings spread, head left; 1807 in exergue. Le Franc 1090.a.5; Mazard 602b; KM –. In NGC encapsulation 8376126-007, graded MS 64 BN. ($2475) Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
The Siege of Landau
5715953. GERMANY, Landau. Besieged by Marshal de Villars, 1713. AR 2 Florin 8 Kreuzer (38x43mm, 21.36 g). War of the Spanish Succession issue. Dated 1713. Stamped with the coat-of-arms of Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, two rectangular stamps reading PRO/ CÆS : & IMP : and BEL : LANDAU/ 2 · FL : 8X, and four crowned monograms / Blank. Edge: hand reeded. Korchnak 314; Maillet pl. LXIX, 7; KM 13. Old cabinet toning, collector’s number ‘1753’ in ink in left field. Near EF. ($2475)
Ex G. Hirsch 308 (13 February 2015), lot 3423, purchased from M.G., 1959.
In 1701, a Grand Alliance against Louis was established. Consisting of England (after 1707, Great Britain), the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire, their candidate was Charles, the son of Leopold I. By this point, however, the Empire was weakened by the increasing independence of German states within it. Subsequently, Catholic Bavaria allied itself with France.
William III, Louis’ chief rival, had died shortly after the war began. His sister-in-law Anne succeeded him. The new queen relied on John Churchill, the 1st Duke of Marlborough, as her commander. His victories at Blenheim, Ramilies, Oudenaard, and Malplaquet, sealed his reputation as a great general. By 1710, however, the situation was at a standstill. Churchill’s victories in the Low Countries were offset by the Alliance’s defeat in Spain. The war’s cost made it unpopular in Britain. The succession of the Alliance candidate to the throne of Austria made an Austro-Spanish union no better to Britain than the Franco-Spanish one that made them join the Alliance in the first place. Now, with the Tories in power, the administration of Robert Harley initiated peace talks with France and ceased active military participation, much to the consternation of Churchill and the Whigs.
Without British support, the other Allies were forced to make peace. Under the treaties of Utrecht in 1713, and Rastatt and Baden in 1714. Phillip renounced his claim to the French throne and was confirmed as King of Spain. Spain retained is overseas possessions, while their European territories were divided between Austria, Britain, and Savoy. In the long run, Britain emerged as the leading European maritime and commercial power, bringing to an end almost a century of Dutch influence and the end of the Dutch Republic as a major power. The break-up of the Holy Roman Empire continued, paving the way for the creation of more powerful German states, most notably Prussia.
5715954. GERMANY, Besieged by Marshal de Villars, 1713. AR 1 Florin 4 Kreuzer (31mm, 11.05 g). War of the Spanish Succession issue. Dated 1713. Stamped with the coat-of-arms of Karl Alexander, Duke of Württemberg, two rectangular stamps reading PRO/ CÆS : & IMP : and BEL : LANDAU/ 1 · FL : 4X, and four crowned monograms / Blank. Korchnak 315; Maillet pl. LXIX, 8; KM 12. Attractively toned, deposits on reverse. Near EF. ($2550) Ex Baden-Württembergische Bank FPL (April 2002), no. 1080.
Rare Date
5715914. GERMANY, Württemberg (Duchy). Karl Eugen. 1744-1793. AR Taler (41mm, 28.02 g, 11h). Stuttgart mint. Dated 1776 H. Armored bust right / Crowned coat-of-arms. K&R 371a; Davenport 2866; KM 427. Attractively toned, a few light scratches and hairlines. Good VF. Rare date. ($4975)
Ex Künker 98 (8 March 2005), lot 4810.
5715900. LOW COUNTRIES, Breda. Besieged by the Spanish under Ambrosio Spínola, Marqués de los Balbases, July 1624-5 July 1625. AR 40 Stuiver Klippe (25x27mm, 9.53 g). Eighty Years’ War issue. Emission of January 1625. Dated 1625 • BREDA • OBSESSA • 1625 •, crowned coat-of-arms of Maurits van Oranje; all within pearl border; 40 stamp above, civic coat-of-arms stamp to left and right, rose stamp below / Blank. Korchnak 112; Maillet pl. XVII, 13; CNM 2.09.9; Delmonte, Argent 322. Toned. Good VF. ($1775)
Breda, a town in the Spanish Netherlands, was one of the lands of William the Silent, Prince of Orange, a major figure in the struggle for Dutch independence in the Eighty Years’ War. Maurice of Nassau, William’s son, was in command of the town when it was besieged in August of 1624 by Spanish troops under Ambrosio Spinola. The well-defended town eventually fell to the Spanish in June of 1625. Not long after the fall of Breda, however, the tide of the war began to turn against Spain. The Dutch and their allies grew increasingly powerful, and in 1637, Prince Frederick Henry of Orange retook the city. In 1648, the Dutch United Provinces were officially declared independent of Spain in the Treaty of Münster.
The Surrender of Breda, a painting by Diego Velásquez, vividly captures the end of the Spanish siege. The painting depicts the surrender of the Dutch by Justin of Nassau to the Spanish army. In his painting, Velásquez emphasizes the graciousness of the Spanish. He shows the two adversaries, Justin of Nassau and Ambrosio Spinola, meeting as if they are old friends. Spinola puts his hand on Justin’s shoulder, preventing him from kneeling, as if to reassure him that he will be treated with respect. The painting, completed ten years after this klippe was struck, is a fascinating depiction of the ideals of 17th century chivalry.
The Siege of Breda
5715901. LOW COUNTRIES, Breda. Besieged by the Spanish under Ambrosio Spínola, Marqués de los Balbases, July 1624-5 July 1625. AR 20 Stuiver Klippe (21x20mm, 5.11 g). Eighty Years’ War issue. Emission of January 1625. Dated 1625. • BREDA • OBSESSA • 1625 •, coat-of-arms of Maurits van Oranje; all within pearl border; 20 stamp above, rose stamp below / Blank. Korchnak 113; Maillet pl. XVII, 14; CNM 2.09.10; Delmonte, Argent 323. Toned, a few very light scratches. VF. An attractive example. ($1150)
The Siege of Groningen
5715902. LOW COUNTRIES, Groningen. Besieged by Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen, Bishop of Münster, 1672. AR 50 Stuiver – Daalder Klippe (36x35mm, 28.90 g). Franco-Dutch War issue. Dated 1672. · IVRE · · ET · TEMPORE · 1672 ·, crowned coat-of-arms; 50 and ST (mark of value) flanking / Blank. Korchnak 241a; Maillet pl. XLIV, 7; P&W Go17; CNM 2.20.1; Delmonte, Argent 736. Lightly toned, minor edge marks. Good VF. ($1275)
The Franco-Dutch War, sometimes called the Dutch War (1672-1678), was a conflict between the Dutch Republic and a coalition composed of France, Sweden, the Bishoprics of Münster and Köln (Cologne), and England. The lands of the Austrian Habsburgs, Brandenburg-Prussia, and Spain, later joined with the Dutch Republic to form the Quadruple Alliance. The first year of the war is often known as het Rampjaar (the Disaster Year), because a full-scale invasion by English, French, and German forces took the Dutch Republic completely by surprise.
Following his defeat of the Fronde, and now king in his own right, Louis XIV (1643-1715), considering the Dutch to be economic rivals, seditious republicans, and Protestant heretics, began to prepare for war with the Dutch Republic. This was a slow process, since the two nations had been allies since the time of the Dutch Revolt. The Dutch signing of the Triple Alliance in 1668 with England and Sweden in support of Spain changed this arrangement since it checked French expansion in the Spanish Netherlands in the French War of Devolution (1667-1668). Carefully, Louis shifted the alliances of England and Sweden away from the Republic. Then, through a series of maneuvers, the French forces, along with an English expeditionary force, occupied the seven provinces. The Dutch public panicked and rioted. In the ensuing chaos, the brothers Johan and Cornelis de Witt, were seized and lynched by a mob, who believed that the brothers were involved in an attempt to assassinate William of Nassau (later William III of England). William was proclaimed stadhouder. France’s promises to England stiffened Dutch resistence. The siege of Groningen then failed, and a series of Dutch naval victories under Admiral Michiel de Ruyter turned the tide toward the Dutch.
At this same time, the Dutch were acquiring allies. Brandenburg-Prussia, the Holy Roman Emperor, and Charles II of Spain. In 1673, Louis turned away from the Dutch and turned to the Spanish Netherlands. At Maastricht, where Louis personally oversaw French operations, the commander of the musketeers, Charles d’Artagnan, perished. Among the English delegation overseeing the battle was a young John Churchill, who would distinguish himself in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), as the 1st Duke of Marlborough.
From 1676 through 1678, Louis’ main strategy was to undermine this new coalition. The marriage of Mary, the daughter of Charles II to William of Nassau, meant that now England would be on the side of the Dutch. Louis quickly tried to campaign before the English could re-enter the war against him. After victories at Ghent and Ypres, Louis gained considerable territory through the Treaty of Nijmegen, which ended the war in 1678.
5715903. LOW COUNTRIES, Groningen. Besieged by Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen, Bishop of Münster, 1672. AR 25 Stuiver Klippe (28x29mm, 14.54 g). Franco-Dutch War issue. Dated 1672. IVRE ET TEMPORE 1672, crowned coat-of-arms; 25 and ST (mark of value) flanking / Blank. Korchnak 242; Maillet pl. XLIV, 11; P&W Go18; CNM 2.20.3; Delmonte, Argent 737. Toned. Good VF. ($895)
5715904. LOW COUNTRIES, Groningen. Besieged by Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen, Bishop of Münster, 1672. AR 12½ Stuiver Klippe (24x24mm, 7.15 g). Franco-Dutch War issue. Dated 1672. · IVRE · · ET · TEMPORE · 1672 ·, crowned coat-of-arms; 12½ and ST (mark of value) flanking / Blank. Korchnak 243; Maillet pl. XLIV, 13; P&W Go19; CNM 2.20.4; Delmonte, Argent 738. Toned. Good VF. ($1450)
The Siege of Maastricht
5715905. LOW COUNTRIES, Maastricht. Besieged by the French, 1794. AR 100 Stuiver (40mm, 30.32 g, 12h). Dated 1794. Stamped 1794, 100 ST, star, and LE monogram / Blank. Edge: hand reeded. Korchnak 354; Maillet pl. LXXVI, 17; Delmonte 756; KM 10. Toned. Good VF. ($1675)
The Siege of Middleburg
5715906. LOW COUNTRIES, Dutch Revolt. Middleburg. Besieged by Dutch and English forces, 1572-1574. AR 36 Stuivers – Daalder Klippe (35x35mm, 28.71 g). Third issue. Dated 1574
LIBERT : REST :/
S
P
Q · 3BL :/ · SOLI · DEO ·/ · HONOR · with floral sprays above and below, in oval stamp; above, stamp bearing the coat-of-arms of Zeeland / Blank. Korchnak 410; Maillet pl. LXXXIV, 15; P&W Mi07; CNM 2.35.7; Delmonte, Argent 167. Toned, a few light scratches, trace of double strike. Near EF. ($2575)
In 1559, William the Silent, Prince of Orange, was given the governorship of several Dutch provinces by the Spanish king Philip II. However, William’s good relationship with the Spanish Habsburgs did not last long. William’s frustration with the Spanish arose from several issues. He, along with many Catholic Dutch, was unhappy with the persecutions of non-Catholics. He also felt that the Spanish were undermining the influence of the native Dutch noblemen. Finally, taxation was a contentious issue; the rich merchants of the Netherlands felt that they were funding an unfairly large share of the Habsburgs’ costly wars. In response to these perceived injustices, William arose as a very popular supporter of the Dutch resistance, helping to form a confederacy dedicated to reducing Spain’s power in the region. When Philip II discovered William’s role in the rebellion, the Prince was stripped of his holdings in the Netherlands. In response, William raised an army and began attacking coastal towns held by the Spanish. In 1572, he besieged Middelburg, a town in the province of Zeeland. The city eventually surrendered in 1574 and was occupied. These events marked the opening phases of the Eighty Years’ War, a long struggle by the Dutch to gain independence from Spain.
The Siege of Amsterdam
5715896. LOW COUNTRIES, Dutch Revolt. Amsterdam. Besieged by the States-General, December 1577-8 February 1578. AR 40 Stuiver Klippe (35x36mm, 27.00 g). Dated 1578. Crowned city coat-of-arms with lion supporters; 1578 · XL below; all within circular pearl border; soldeervaasje (solder pot) stamp above / * P */ AR · ET/ * FO * in three lines; all within wreath. Korchnak 19; Mailliet pl. III, 3; P&W Am 01; CNM 2.02.1; Delmonte, Argent 186. Attractive old cabinet toning, edge split, a few light scratches and marks. EF. ($4950)
Ex Nederlandsche Muntenveiling (11 September 2000), lot 66.
In the Dutch Revolt, Amsterdam initially refused to join Holland, Zeeland, and the southern provinces, all of whom wanted to push the Spanish from Dutch territory. In late 1577, the rebel Dutch forces blockaded the city. The blockade ended in February of 1578, when Amsterdam grudgingly agreed to join the rebellion against Spain. Soon after, the Catholic town council was replaced by Protestant members loyal to William, Prince of Orange, thus positioning Amsterdam as a participant in the Dutch struggle for independence. During the blockade, the city struck several denominations of silver siege coinage.
5715898. LOW COUNTRIES, Dutch Revolt. Amsterdam. Besieged by the States-General, December 1577-8 February 1578. AR 20 Stuiver Klippe (28x28mm, 13.43 g). Dated 1578. Crowned city coat-of-arms; X X flanking crown, 15 78 flanking arms; all within circular pearl border; soldeervaasje (solder pot) stamp above / * P */ AR · ET/ * FO * in three lines; all within wreath. Korchnak 21; Mailliet pll. IV, 12; P&W Am 02; CNM 2.02.4; Delmonte, Argent 185. Toned, faint hairlines, graffito, small edge split. Good VF. ($1275)
5714711. LOW COUNTRIES, Kingdom of Holland. Lodewijk I Napoleon. 1806-1810. AR 50 Stuivers (36mm, 26.31 g, 6h). Utrecht mint; mm: bee. Dated 1808. Bare head right / Crowned coat-of-arms. Schulman 149; KM 28. Toned, hairlines, minor edge marks. EF. ($1275)
5722549. MALAY ARCHIPELAGO, Colonial. Netherlands East Indies. Dutch East India Company. 1602-1799. AR 3 Gulden (40mm, 31.72 g, 12h). Utrecht mint; mm: coat-of-arms. Dated 1786. Minerva standing facing, head right, holding cap on long pole and resting arm on book set on plinth / Crowned coat-of-arms; VOC monogram below. Scholten 61; KM 117. Lightly toned, hairlines, a few minor marks. AU. ($1695)
Ex Drewry Family Collection; Coin Galleries (12 November 1986), lot 760.
5717480. MEXICO, United States of Mexico. 1905-pres. AV 20 Pesos (27mm, 6h). Mexico City mint. Dated 1921/11 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 42043581, graded MS 64. ($2850)
Famed Waitangi Proof Set
5721094. NEW ZEALAND. George V. 1910-1936. AR Proof Set. London mint. Dated 1935. Includes: AR ‘Waitangi’ Crown. In PCGS encapsulation 56901502, graded PR 63 // AR Halfcrown. In PCGS encapsulation 56901501, graded PR 66 // AR Florin. In PCGS encapsulation 56901500, graded PR 66 // AR Shilling. In PCGS encapsulation 56901499, graded PR 65// AR Sixpence. In PCGS encapsulation 56901498, graded PR 66 // AR Threepence. In PCGS encapsulation 56901497, graded PR 65. KM PS3. Attractive, uniform toning. All in PCGS encapsulation. With original box of issue. A popular set. Mintage of 468. Six (6) coins in lot. ($12,500)
III. 1648-1670. AR Speciedaler (44mm, 28.72 g, 7h). Christiana mint. Dated 1654 FG. Crowned and armored bust right / Crowned lion rampant left, holding ax. Schou 7; Hede 17; Bruun 9682 (this coin); Davenport 3595; KM 48. Rich golden toning with underlying luster. In NGC encapsulation 8223496-002, graded AU Details, cleaned. ($11,500)
Ex L.E. Bruun (1852-1923) Collection.
8223500-010, graded AU 58. A well
Ex L.E. Bruun (1852-1923) Collection.
5717558. NORWAY. Fredrik
5717559. NORWAY. Fredrik III. 1648-1670. AR Speciedaler (44mm, 28.72 g, 8h). Christiana mint. Dated 1661 FG Crowned and armored bust right / Crowned lion rampant left, holding ax; all within wreath. Schou 23; Hede 33B; Bruun 9858 (this coin); Davenport 3607; KM 54. Toned with full luster underneath. In NGC encapsulation
struck lion. ($9775)
5715103. RUSSIA, Empire. Aleksandr I Pavlovich. 1801-1825. AR Poltina (26mm, 10.22 g, 12h). St. Petersburg mint. Dated 1810 СПБ ФГ. Crowned double-headed eagle facing with wings spread, holding scepter and globus cruciger; collared coat-of-arms on breast; crown above / Crowned denomination within wreath. Bitkin 141; KM (C) 129. In NGC encapsulation 6906684-009, graded MS 61. Rare. ($6975)
Ex Alexander Christopher Collection.
5714694. SWEDEN. Gustav III. 1771–1792. AR Riksdaler (41mm, 28.86 g, 12h). Stockholm mint. Dated 1776 OL. Head right / Crowned and collared coat-of-arms. Large cross atop crown. Delzanno 12; Davenport 1735; KM 514. Toned, scratches, marks, hairlines. Good VF. ($795)
Ex Drewry Family Collection; Coinhunter (C.E. Bullowa, 24 June 1978), lot 771.
BRITISH COINAGE
5714741. ANGLO-SAXON, Continental Sceattas. Circa 715-800/20. AR Sceatt (11mm, 1.05 g, 9h). 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; short cross below head. Abramson 104.10; MEC 8 Series X; North 116; SCBC 797. Toned. Near EF. ($1875)
5714742. ANGLO-SAXON, Continental Sceattas. Circa 715-800/20. AR Sceatt (12mm, 1.04 g, 12h). 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; three pellets below head. Abramson 104.10; MEC 8 Series X; North 116; SCBC 797. Toned, die rust on reverse. Good VF. ($1675)
5714738. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Mercia. Coenwulf. 796-821. AR Penny (19mm, 1.33 g, 10h). Cross-and-wedges type. Canterbury mint; Eaba, moneyer. Struck 805-circa 810. ม üɭዞn⎍⎍⌦ዟ ʼዞҟ M, diademed bust right / ม ዞ¥ዛ¥ ȮɭnዞͿ¥ , cross pattée with wedges in angles. Naismith C25c (this coin); SCBI 67 (BM), 135; North 344; SCBC 915. Deeply toned. Good VF. Rare. ($6975)
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection; Classical Numismatic Group 38 (6 June 1996), lot 1747.
Very Rare Anlaf Sithtricsson (Cuaran) Triquetra Penny
5714739. ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Hiberno-Norse Northumbria). Anlaf Sithtricsson (Cuaran). First reign, 941-944/5. AR Penny (19mm, 1.10 g, 5h). Triquetra type. York mint; Farmann, moneyer. ม ²/n⌦/²ዟ æ⎍n⎍næ˝ / , triquetra; crescent below / ม ዟ²ʼዡ²Ƀ ዡɭɃዞ˶ , fringed triangular standard bearing ‘X’ on cross-tipped pole. CTCE Group V; cf. SCBI 34 (BM), 1248-52 (for type); North 540; SCBC 1020. Toned, double struck. Good VF. Very rare. An unrecorded variety with the crescent on obverse. ($18,950)
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from J. Linzalone.
Anlaf Cunran, better known by his Norse name Olaf Kvaran, was driven out of York by the adventurer Erik the Bloodax, the son of King Harald Finehair of Norway. Olaf Kvaran thereafter ruled as the King of Norse Dublin (945-980). In the confusing fighting over York between these pagan Hiberno-Norse and the Christian Kings of Wessex, the Danish settlers eventually came to realize that they had far more in common with their fellow Christian English neighbors than they did with the Norwegian interlopers. So, in 955, the Danes of York accepted as their king Eadwig of Wessex.
5721092. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of Wessex. Eadmund. 939-946. AR Penny (21mm, 1h). Horizontal-Trefoil 1 (HT 1) type (BMC i). Winchester(?) mint; Otic, moneyer. ม ዞ²ዝዦ⎍nዝ ʼዞҟ / , small cross pattée / ɭͿዢüม / ዦɭnዞ / in two lines; three crosses between, trefoil above and below. CTCE 74; SCBI 34 (BM), 328-9; North 688; SCBC 1105. Old cabinet toning. In PCGS encapsulation 56901503, graded AU 58. ($2150)
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from Spink, 11 December 1983.
Ex Mack and the Duke of Argyll Collections
5724857. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Cnut. 1016-1035. AR Penny (19mm, 1.02 g, 3h). Quatrefoil type (BMC viii, Hild. E). Southwark mint; Beorhtmær, moneyer. Struck circa 1016-1023. Crowned and draped bust left within quatrefoil / ม ዛʼ ዢዡ˸ ዦ ® ʼ Ӳ⎍ T ű , voided long cross with triple-crescent ends and pellet at center; all over quatrefoil. SCBI 20 (Mack), 1079 (this coin); North 781; SCBC 1157. Old cabinet toning. Good VF. ($1450)
Ex Dr. Irving Schneider Collection; R.P. Mack Collection (Part II, Glendining, 23 March 1977), lot 184; Duke of Argyll Collection.
5714701. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Cnut. 1016-1035. AR Penny (18mm, 1.18 g, 3h). Short Cross type (BMC xvi, Hild. H). Norwich mint; Man, moneyer. Struck circa 1029-1035. Diademed and draped bust left; scepter to left / ม ዦana ɭn nɭʼ T Ḧ/ , voided short cross; annulet at center. SCBI 15 (Copenhagen), 3205-9; North 790; SCBC 1159. Light golden toning. Near EF. ($975)
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection, purchased from M. Vosper, February 2000.
5714702. ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Edward the Confessor. 1042-1066. AR Penny (17mm, 1.12 g, 8h). Facing Bust/Small Cross type (BMC xiiia, Hild. Ac var.). York mint; Snæbjorn, moneyer. Struck circa 1062-1065. Crowned facing bust / ม ˫n ® ዛɭʼn ɭn ዞɭዟ , small cross pattée; annulet in first quarter. Freeman 339; SCBI 2 (Hunterian), 1162 (same dies); North 830 var. (annulet on rev.); SCBC 1183 var. (same). Toned, green deposits. Near EF. ($1875)
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection; Classical Numismatic Review XVIII.4 (Fourth Quarter 1993), no. 357.
Distinctive York Mint From Mack & Parsons
5724858. NORMAN. William I ‘the Conqueror’. 1066-1087. AR Penny (19mm, 1.50 g, 3h). Two Scepters type (BMC iv). York mint; Authrgrimr, moneyer. Struck circa 1072-1074. Crowned facing bust; cross-tipped scepter to left, trefoil-tipped scepter to right / ม ɭ⎍ T űʼዢዦ ɭn ዞɭዟ , cross fleurée, with annulet at center; all over cross botonnée in saltire. SCBI 20 (Mack), 1377 (this coin); BMC 292 (same dies); North 844; SCBC 1253. Old cabinet toning. Good VF. Charming and distinctive York style. ($3250)
Ex Dr. Irving Schneider Collection; R.P. Mack Collection (Part I, Glendining, 18 November 1975), lot 184; H.A. Parsons Collection (Glendining, 11 May 1954), lot 219.
5714743. TUDOR. Edward VI. 1547-1553. AV Halfcrown (19mm, 1.44 g, 2h). Second period. Southwark mint; im: Y. Struck January 1549-April 1550. Crowned and armored bust right / Crowned coat-of-arms. Schneider –; North 1916; SCBC 2444. Edge chip, wavy flan, a few marks. Near VF. Very rare. ($4250)
Ex Spink Numismatic Circular C.1 (February 1992), no. 100; D. Dupree Collection.
5721033. HANOVER. George II. 1727-1760. AR Crown. Dated 1739 and RY DVODECIMO. Young head. Roses in angles. Bull 1665; ESC 122; SCBC 3687. Toned. In PCGS encapsulation 59071476, graded AU 58. ($4250)
5714703. ANGLO-GALLIC. Richard I. As Duke of Aquitaine, 1172-1189. AR Denier (19mm, 0.90 g, 12h). Bordeaux mint. ʽƱæ_ / ʽዝ⎍˫ in two lines; cross pattée above, ѽ below / Cross pattée. AGC 5, 1/a; SCBC 8004. Lightly toned, some faint porosity, small flan crack. VF. ($495)
Ex Sidney W. Harl & Kenneth W. Harl Collection; Classical Numismatic Group inventory 769152 (May 2006).
The handbook of Greek CoinaGe SerieS by
Oliver D. Hoover
More than three decades have passed since David Sear published Greek Coins & Their Values, his revision of Gilbert Askew’s A Catalogue of Greek Coins published by B. A. Seaby in 1951. Since then, the field of ancient numismatics and the hobby of collecting ancient coins have changed so much that now Greek Coins & Their Values would require a complete revision to include all of the most current numismatic information available, list the many new types and varieties unknown to Sear, and determine an approximate sense of rarity for all of these issues. In order to encompass this new material and create a viable reference for the beginning and specialized collector, such a handbook would have to be more than the two volumes which Sear found necessary. As a result, Classical Numismatic Group is publishing The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, written by Oliver D. Hoover, in a series of 13 volumes, each covering a specified area of Greek coinage with the first being The Handbook of Syrian Coins: Royal and Civic Issues, Fourth to First Centuries BC (Volume 9 in the series). This series is designed to aid the user in the quick, accurate, and relatively painless identification of Greek coins, while providing a cross-reference for each entry to a major work, which will allow the inquirer to pursue more in-depth research on the subject. The subject-matter of each volume is arranged chronologically for royal issues, and regionally for the civic issues; within each region, cities are listed directionally, depending on the region. For those rulers or cities that issued coins concurrently in all three metals, these issues will be arranged in the catalog with gold first, followed by silver, and then bronze; each metal is arranged by denomination, largest to smallest. Known mints for the royal coinage are listed below the appropriate type, making an easy search for a specific mint. Each entry will include a rarity rating based on the frequency with which they appear in publications, public and private collections, the market, and/or are estimated to exist in public or private hands. No valuations are listed, since such values are generally out of date by the time of publication. An online valuation guide at will allow interested individuals the opportunity to gauge the market, and reduce the need for repeated updates of this series. Whether one purchases the entire set for their reference library, or the individual volume pertaining to one’s area of specialization, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series should provide a useful staging-point from which collectors and interested scholars can pursue their research and interests.
Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Macedon and Its Neighbors. Part I: Macedon, Illyria, and Epeiros, Sixth to First Centuries BC [The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 3]. 2016. lxxviii and 431 numbered pp. Hardbound. (GR332) $65
Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of of Coins of Northern and Central Greece: Achaia Phthiotis, Ainis, Magnesia, Malis, Oita, Perrhaibia, Thessaly, Akarnania, Aitolia, Lokris, Phokis, Boiotia, Euboia, Attica, Megaris, and Corinthia. [The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 4]. 2014. lxxvii + 563 numbered pages (GR333) $65
Hoover, Oliver D. handbook of CoinS of bakTria and anCienT india Including Sogdiana, Margiana, Areia, and the Indo-Greek, Indo-Skythian, and Native Indian States South of the Hindu Kush. Fifth Century BC to First Century AD. [The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 12]. 2013. lxxxiv + 389 numbered pages. (GR341) $65
Please see our website for additional volumes.
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