Roman Silver & Bronze

Lot 2090    Session 6 (9.30am Thursday)    Roman Silver & Bronze

Estimate $500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $350

ANTINOUS (FAVOURITE OF HADRIAN), (d.A.D. 130), Paduan, bronze medal die struck, AE 40, by Giovanni Cavino, (33.3 grams), obv. bare headed bust of antinous to right, around OCT**IL*IOC MAPKE**LL*OC O IEPEYCTOY ANTINOOY, dotted border, rev. Mercury holding Pegasus and caduceus, around TIOC SXAIOIC ANE**QKE*, dotted border, (Blum 'Numismatique D'Antinoos', JIAN Vol. XVI (1914), No.3A [p.36], Lawrence 51 [p.16], Klawans 1-2 [p.84-5]). Of good style, some evidence of bi-metallic surface, cracks in the edge of the flan from striking, otherwise good very fine, very rare.

Ex H.P. Whittle Collection. This medal is by Giovanni Cavino (The Paduan) an Italian medallist, contemporary with Benevenuto Cellini, who was born at Padua in 1499 or 1500. Little is known of his life and his medals were probably made at Padua where he resided until his death in 1570. He was aided by his son Vincenzo who probably continued to use his dies after his death. He is best known for his numerous imitations of Roman large-brass coins and medallions which are known as 'Paduans'. One hundred and twenty two of his dies are preserved at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. However the great majority of the number of medals that survive today and called 'Paduans' are cast from moulds from these original die struck medals. All of Cavinos original strikings are very rare and the Antinoos 'Paduan' is particularly sought after, wheras the cast medallic issues in the following two lots are relatively common and these sometimes copied from the original stikes.