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, 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
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