Catalogue
Sicily, Tauromenium, (275-210 B.C.), gold trihemiobol (fifteen silver litrai), (1.10 grams), obv. laureate head of Apollo head to left, monogram behind, dotted border, rev. tripod lebes, to right and left **TAUROME/NITAN*, API monogram at end of legend (S.1008, SNG ANS 1115, see example from same dies Peus Sale 29 October 2000 [lot 95]). File mark on edge, very fine/good very fine and rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $800
Thrace - Tauric Chersonesus, Pantikapaion, (c.320 B.C.), gold stater, (9.13 gm), obv. head of bearded Pan to left, with animal ear, wearing ivy wreath, rev. horned griffin with curved wings standing to left on an ear of corn, right foreleg raised, head facing, holding spear in jaws **P A N* around, (S.1693, SNG BM 867, Traite pl.353, 20, Kraay - Hirmer Pl.142, 440, Anokhin 109 Pl.3, SNG Pushkin 782). A magnificent coin, slight scrape on obverse highpoint and traces of hoard patination on reverse, otherwise good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $40,000
SOLD $33,000
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.30 gm), Callatis mint, posthumous issue c.88-86 B.C., obv. diademed head of Alexander the Great to right, wearing horn of Ammon, rev. Athena enthroned to left, holding Nike and resting left arm on shield, transverse spear resting against right side, to right **BASILEWS, to left **LUSIMACOU, HP monogram below arm, KA**L* on throne, trident below in exergue, (cf.S.6813, M.266, SNG Cop.1089). Extremely fine and about as struck.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $2,400
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.32 gm), Tomis mint, posthumous issue c.88-86 B.C., obv. diademed head of Alexander the Great to right, wearing horn of Ammon, rev. Athena enthroned to left, holding Nike and resting left arm on shield, transverse spear resting against right side, to right **BASILEWS, to left **LUSIMACOU, DION* below arm, TO on throne, trident and lion below in exergue, (cf.S.6813, cf.M.277, cf.SNG Cop.1093, cf.AMNG 2476). Interesting die crack above on reverse, otherwise extremely fine and virtually as struck, a very rare variant.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $1,300
Ionia, Phokaia, (c.477-388 B.C.), electrum hekte or sixth stater, (2.56 gm), issued in 396 B.C. [Bodenstedt dating], obv. Female head to left, with hair in bun behind, wearing a diadem, rev. quadripartite incuse punch, (S.4530, Bodenstedt 90h (same dies, h/**z*), SNG Fitz. 4563 [same dies], cf.SNG von Aulock 2127 [similar dies]). Good very fine, short on flan and very rare.
Estimate $800
Passed in
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy VI-VIII, (180-116 B.C.), gold oktodrachm, commemorative issue for Arsinoe II, (27.81 gm), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed and veiled head of Arsinoe II to right, lotus tipped sceptre over shoulder, K behind, within dotted border, rev. double cornucopiae bound with fillet, around **ARSINOHS FILADELFOU*, (S.7888A, Sv.1499, SNG Cop.321, Hazzard figure 112). About as struck, extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $20,000
Passed in
L. Cestius and C.Norbanus, (43 B.C.), gold aureus, Rome mint, (8.10 grams), obv. bust of Africa in elephant's skin to right, rev. L CESTIVS above curule chair C NORBA below and SC PR either side of chair, (S.11, Cr.491/1a, Syd.1153, B.Cestia 1). Slightly off centred on the obverse, otherwise good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $9,000
Passed in
Claudius, (A.D. 41-54), gold aureus, Rome or Lugdunum mint, issued A.D. 50-1, (7.57 grams), obv. laureate head of Claudius to right, around TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TRIB POT PP, rev. bare headed and draped bust of a youthful Nero to left, around NERO CLAVD CA[ES] DRVSVS GERM PRINC IVVENT, (S.1889, RIC 82, BMC 79, Calico 391). Good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $14,000
SOLD $13,000
Nero, (A.D. 54-68), gold aureus, issued c.65-66, Rome mint, (7.30 gm), obv. laureate head to right of Nero, around NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, rev. Jupiter seated left on throne, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, IVPPITER CVSTOS around, (S.1930, RIC 52, BMC 67, C.118). A nice example with golden red patination, nearly extremely fine or better and very rare in this condition.
Estimate $16,000
SOLD $16,000
Vitellius, (A.D. 69), gold aureus, Tarraco mint, issued January - March 69, (7.27 gm), obv. A VITELLIVS IMP GERMANICVS, laureate head to left, rev. Clementia seated to left, holding branch and sceptre, around CLEMENTIA IMP GERMAN, (S.2176, RIC 1, Calico 539, C.9). Very fine and very rare.
Estimate $14,000
Passed in
Vitellius, (A.D. 69), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued July - December 69, (7.26 gm), obv. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TRP, laureate head to right, rev. tripod-lebes surmounted by dolphin right, below a raven, around XV VIR SACR FAC, (S.2187, RIC 108, BMC 38, C.110). Struck on a full flan, lightly polished, otherwise nearly extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $14,000
SOLD $9,000
Vespasian, (A.D. 69-79), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 78-79, (7.26 gm), obv. laureate head of Vespasian to left, around CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, rev. Annona enthroned to left, holding a sack of corn ears on lap, ANNONA AVG around, (S.2247, RIC 131(a), Calico 591, C.29). Good very fine, very scarce.
Estimate $8,000
Passed in
Hadrian, (A.D. 117-138), gold aureus, issued 128, Rome mint, (7.20 grams), obv. laureate head to right of Hadrian, around HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, rev. COS III around, she wolf standing right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, (cf.S.3388, RIC 192, C.420). Nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $13,000
Passed in
Marcus Aurelius, (A.D. 161-180), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 166, (7.18 gm), obv. laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius to right, draped and cuirassed, around M ANTONINVS ARM PARTH MAX, rev. around TR P XX IMP IIII COS III, Victory standing right, holding palm in right hand and shield inscribed VIC PAR, (S.4869, BMC 405, RIC 160, C.877). Good very fine and rare.
Estimate $7,500
SOLD $6,000
Maximianus I, (A.D. 286-305, 306-8, 310), gold aureus, struck 286-7, Antioch mint, (5.13 grams), obv. laureate bust draped and cuirassed to right of Maximianus I, around IMP C M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, rev. Jupiter standing to left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre, around IOVI CONSERVA TORI AVGG, SMA in exergue, Z/Z left field, (cf.S.13042, RIC 620 [p.293], Calico 4705, C.369). Has been plugged at mint letters in exergue, otherwise nearly extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $9,000
Passed in
Galerius Maximian, (A.D. 293-305 as Caesar), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 294, (Calico 293-6) (5,39 gm), obv. laureate head of Galerius to right, around D N MAXIM IANO CAES, rev. around PRINCIPI IVV ENTVTIS, Prince standing to left, holding standard and spear, in exergue PROM, (S.-, RIC -, Calico 4943, C.178 [p.120], Depeyrot 9/14 [p.84]). Nearly extremely fine and extremely rare.
Estimate $9,000
SOLD $9,000
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.42 gm), issued A.D. 607-610, Officina I, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding cross, around dN FOCAS PERP AVI, rev. Angel facing, holding in right hand long staff, with partial chi-rho symbol at top, in left hand globe with cross above, around VICTORIA AVGU I, (S.620, DOC 10j, BMC 22, Berk, Harlan J., "Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World, 383-1453", No.102b). Broad flan but slightly off centred, about as struck with full mint bloom, nearly uncirculated.
Estimate $500
SOLD $600
Heraclius, (610-641), gold tremissis, Constantinople mint, (1.50 grams), obv. diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right, around d N HERACLI US PP AV I, rev. cross potent, around VIC[TO]RIA AVGU S, (S.786, DOC 53b, BMC 93-94, R.1287-8). Minor striking weakness, otherwise extremely fine with mint bloom, scarce.
Estimate $150
SOLD $350
Constans II, with Constantine IV, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued c.654-659, Class IV, Officina B, (4.37 gm), obv. facing long bearded bust of Constans wearing chlamys and crown with cross on top, Constantine IV on right wearing crown, cross in field, around dN CONSTANTINUS C CONSTANTIN, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUB, (S.959, DOC.[25b], BMC 40-41 = T.236, R.-, MIB 28). As struck with mint bloom, extremely fine and very scarce for variety.
Estimate $750
SOLD $600
Constans II, with Constantine IV, (641-668 A.D.), gold solidus (4.34 gm), Constantinople mint, 6th officina, struck c.654-658, obv. crowned busts of Constans, wearing long beard, and Constantine facing, both wearing chlamys; cross above, around DN CONSTANTINUS C CONT, rev. cross potent set on three steps, around VICTORIA AVGUS in exergue CONOB. (S.959, DOC 25f, MIB 26). Minor scratch on reverse, nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $700
SOLD $550
Leo V and Constantine, (A.D. 813-820), gold semis, (1.78 grams), Syracuse mint, obv. facing bust with short beard wearing crown and loros and holding cross potent, around LEO N bASILEU, **L* in right field, rev. facing bust of Constantine wearing crown and chlamys and holding globe with cross, around [CONST]ANTIN, (S.1632B, DOC 15, BMC -). Some shortness of flan as usual, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $1,200
Michael VII, (A.D.1071-1078), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.29 gm), obv. bearded Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +MIXAHL BACIL A, around bust of Michael facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum without pellet on shaft and globe with cross of four pellets, (S.1869, DOC 1, BMC 1, R.-). Weak in places, otherwise extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $600
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.27 gm), obv. bearded Christ facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +NIKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicephorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2). Flan crack, very fine/good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $400
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.29 gm), obv. bearded Christ enthroned no back, facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. [+N]IKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicephorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2). Very minor flan crack, very fine and scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $450
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.49 grams), second coinage transitional to late style, issued 1232-1254, obv. Christ enthroned facing nimbate, raising hand, IC XC either side of head, rev. John standing left being crowned by the Virgin Mary, to left and right traces of legend, cross to left and right above throne, (S.2073, DOC 4d, Vol.4, pl.XXIX, 4d; H.Pl.31, 14). Nearly extremely fine and very scarce, weak on head of obverse as not matching to two obverse dies.
Estimate $500
SOLD $500
Andronicus II and Andronicus III, (1325-1328 or later), joint reign, gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (3.27 gm), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters :./[K], :./X to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Andronicus III to left and right with Christ standing between both emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2461, Bendall PCPC 185.3 var.14, DOC 502). Large flan, very weak in places as usual, otherwise fine - very fine.
Estimate $300
Passed in