510. Macrinus. 217-218 AD. AE 29-31, 16.49g (11h). Phoenicia, Byblos. Obv: AVT KAI MA - KPINOC CEB Laureate, cuirassed bust r., seen from front. Rx: IEPAC above, BVB / LOV* below, Temple with court attached to its rear; five steps lead to the front of the temple, within which an altar is seen; five steps lead to a side-entrance to the court, within which is a large cone surrounded by a fence. BM 38. Sear 2963. Price/Trell fig. 271. Pleasant red and green patination. Exceptional portrait. EF $3,000 The reverse type may show the great sanctuary of Aphrodite in Byblos that Lucian mentions. Unfortunately no actual remains of this sanctuary have been excavated, and it is uncertain how the three elements of the coin type, namely the temple, a colonnaded courtyard behind the temple with an entrance approached by a long staircase, and finally, within the courtyard, a large conical holy image surrounded by a fence, fit together in reality. See the discussion in Price/Trell, pp. 151-2.
Enlargement
Stunning Portrait
Enlargement
512. AE 42 Medallion, 43.95g (6h). Pergamum, Mysia, under strategos Aur. Neilos. Obv: AYTOKP.K.Γ.IOYΛ.BHPOC. MAΞIMEINOC. Bust laureate, cuirassed right, seen from front, fold of cloak on front shoulder, Medusa head on breast of cuirass. Rx: EΠI CTP.AYP. on left, NEI / ΛOY in two lines at top, ΠEPΦAMH. / NΩN. in two lines at right, ΠPΩTΩN.ΓNE / .ΩK.PΩN Asklepios standing front holding serpent-wreathed rod, beside Zeus seated left holding patera and scepter; in upper middle field, urn containing palm branch. Cf. SNG Paris 2263 (same obverse die, on reverse NEIΛOY arranged differently and no urn containing palm). Possibly unpublished with the urn containing palm in reverse field. VF $5,000 This medallion fortunately escaped the fate of many of Maximinus’ surviving coins and medallions from Pergamum, which had their obverses scraped flat, presumably as damnatio memoriae after the emperor’s death. So for example SNG Paris 2264 and 2272-3, the first of which has the variant of our reverse type lacking the urn with palm, from the same reverse die as the intact Paris 2263.
511. Maximinus I Thrax. 235-238 AD. Sestertius, 19.32g (12h). Rome, 236 AD. Obv: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed right; third portrait with hooked nose and protruding chin. Rx: PAX - AVGVSTI S - C Pax standing left holding branch and transverse scepter. MIR (Alram) 10-5/C, p. 80, pl. 7. Cf. BM 72, pl. 35 (second portrait). RIC 58. Cohen 34. Stunning portrait. Virtually Mint State $1,500
513. Diva Paulina, Wife of Maximinus I. Denarius, 2.62g (7h). Rome. Obv: DIVA PAVLINA Bust draped and veiled right. Rx: CONSECRATIO Peacock with tail spread standing front, head left. BM 135. Cohen 1 (50 Fr.). RIC 1 (R2). The scarcer of Diva Paulina’s two denarius types: only one specimen in Eauze hoard, compared to eight specimens with type flying peacock bearing empress. About EF $1,600
Ex Triton X, 9 January 2007, lot 703.
Ex Tkalec, 23 October 1998, lot 250.
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