Catalogue
Justinian I, (A.D. 527-565), gold solidus, issue of 545-565, Constantinople mint, (4.36 g), Officina I, obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust facing without pellets on breastplate, holding cross on globe, around DN IVSTINI ANVS PP AVI, rev. Angel standing facing holding long cross with chi-rho at top end, and cross on globe, around VICTORI A AVCCCI, in exergue CONOB, star in right field, (S.140, DOC. 9j, To.39, BMC 18). Full flan, well centred, good very fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $480
Justin II, (A.D.565-578), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 565-578, (4.48 g), obv. bust of Justin II facing, with plume and diadem, two pearls at each side, wearing cuirass, and holding globe surmounted by Victory, D N I VSTI NVS PP AVI around, rev. Constantinople seated looking right, with helmet tunic and mantle, on right shoulder aegis, left hand holds a spear, cross on globe, around VICTORI A AVGGG **Q*, CONOB in exergue, (S.345, DOC 4h, BMC 12). Some mint bloom, extremely fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $600
Maurice Tiberius, (A.D.582-602), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, 1st Officina, (4.42 g), obv. helmeted with plume, draped and cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, holding globe surmounted by cross, D N MAVRC TIb PP AVG around, rev. VICTORI A AVGGA, around, CONOB in exergue, Angel standing facing holding long staff surmounted by P with cross, and cross on globe, (S.478, DOC.5a). Good very fine, weak in places.
Estimate $500
SOLD $400
Maurice Tiberius, (A.D.582-602), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.42 g), 9th officina, obv. crowned, draped and cuirassed bust of Maurice Tiberius facing, wearing plumed helmet, holding globe surmounted by cross, D N MAVRC TIb PP AVI around, rev. VICTORI A AVCC**Q*, around, CONOB in exergue, Angel standing facing holding long staff surmounted by P with cross, and cross on globe, (S.478, DOC [5i], R.1011). Weak in places, struck with broad flan, otherwise good very fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $440
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.50 g), issued A.D. 607-610, 10th Officina, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding cross, around DNN 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 AVGUI, (S.620, DOC 10j, MIBE 9, BMC 22, Berk, Harlan J., "Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World, 383-1453", No.102b). Brilliant field, as struck, good extremely fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $550
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 610-613, (4.38 g), 10th Officina, obv. facing bust of Heraclius wearing cuirass, chlamys, paludamentum and crown, plume with cross inside, around dNN hERAC LI PER AV, rev. cross potent on base and two steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUI, (S.731, DOC 1, BMC 4, T.5, R.1282). Extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $550
SOLD $440
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 616-625, (4.48 g), Officina E, obv. facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, wearing chlamys and crown, around dd NN hERACLIVS ET hERA CONSt PP AVG, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGU E, (S.738, DOC 13d, BMC -, T.138). Nearly extremely fine, scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $440
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 632-635, Officina H, (4.46 g), Class IVA(a), obv. standing figures of Heraclius in centre, Heraclius Constantine on left, and Heraclonas on right, cross above, rev. cross potent on three steps, monogram to to right, around VICTORIA AVGUH, CONOB in exergue, (S.758, DOC [33e], BMC 47-8, T.407). Very fine or better and scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $480
Constans II, with Constantine IV, (641-668 A.D.), gold solidus (4.41 g), Constantinople mint, 1st officina, struck circa 654-659, obv. crowned busts of Constans, wearing long beard, and Constantine facing, both wearing chlamys, cross above, rev. cross potent set on three steps, VICTORIA AVGU, CONOB+ in exergue, (S.961, DOC 27 var. (unlisted officina), MIB 27). Extremely fine, scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $420
Constans II, with Constantine IV, (641-668), gold solidus, issued, (4.50 g), Constantinople mint, Class VI, issued 661-663, 9th Officina, obv. large crowned long-bearded bust facing of Constans, wearing chlamys and plumed helmet, ornamented with cross, Constantine IV on right wearing crown with cross on top, around dN C..T.., rev. cross potent above three steps, figures of Heraclius on left and Tiberius on right, each holding cross on globe, around VICTORIA A VGU**Q*, in exergue CONOB, (S.964, DOC 30h, MIB 31). Trace of mint bloom, nearly extremely fine, very scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $550
Constantine IV, Pogonatus, (668-685), gold solidus, (4.48 g), Constantinople mint, Class III, issued c.674-681, obv. three-quarter facing bearded bust of Constantine IV, wearing helmet with plume and cuirass, holds spear and shield, around dN COITNUS P, rev. cross potent above three steps, between facing figures of Heraclius on left and Tiberius on right, each holding cross on globe, around VICTOIA VGUH [H like an N], in exergue CONOB, (S.1154, cf.DOC 10g, BMC -, R.-, T.-). Extremely fine, with mint bloom, and rare variant.
Estimate $550
SOLD $600
Constantine IV, Pogonatus, (668-685), gold solidus, (4.35 g), Constantinople mint, Class III, issued c.674-681, obv. three-quarter facing bearded bust of Constantine IV, wearing helmet with plume and cuirass, holds spear and shield, around dN O..ANU PP, rev. cross potent above three steps, between facing figures of Heraclius on left and Tiberius on right, each holding cross on globe, around VICTOR VGUH [H like an N], in exergue CONOB, (S.1154, cf.DOC 10g, BMC -, R.-, T.-). Nearly extremely fine, with weakness in legends.
Estimate $450
SOLD $420
Constantine IV, Pogonatus, with Heraclius and Tiberius, (668-685), gold solidus (4.36 g), Constantinople mint, struck 674-681, obv. d N CO' T NUS P, bearded facing bust, wearing cuirass and crested helmet with plume and diadem, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman, rev. VICTOA A VGU, cross potent on three steps flanked by Heraclius and Tiberius, each beardless, standing facing, wearing crown and chlamys, holding globus cruciger, B+/CONOB in exergue, (S.1156A, DOC II -, MIB III 8a). Good extremely fine, reflective surfaces, rare as such.
Estimate $600
SOLD $650
Constantine V, (741-775) with Leo IV (from 751), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 751-757, (4.42 g), obv. facing busts of Constantine V and son Leo IV, each crowned bust facing wearing chlamys, cross above, around CONSTANTINOIS S LEON O NEOS, rev. Facing bust of Leo III with short beard holding cross potent, around G LE ON P.A. MUL, (S.1551, DOC 2, BN 6-10, BMC 7-10). Very fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $420
Basil I and Constantine, (867-886), gold solidus (4.41 g), Constantinople mint, struck 868-879, obv. Christ enthroned facing wearing nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, also holding Gospels, the throne has curved ornamented arms, around + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM*, rev. bASILIOS ET CONSTANT' AUGG' b' around, facing busts of Basil I wearing loros on left and Constantine wearing chlamys on right, both crowned, between them long patriarchal cross, (S.1704, DOC 2b, R.1858). Good very fine, scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $560
Constantine VIII, (1025-1028), gold histamenon nomisma, (4.35 g), Constantinople mint, obv. Christ bust facing wearing nimbus, in hand the Gospels, around [+ Ih]S XIS REX REgNANTinm rev. Constantine VIII, wearing loros and crown and holding labarum and akakia, around +CWnSTANTIn bASILEVS ROm, (S.1815, DOC 1, R.1969, BMC 3-5). Good very fine/extremely fine, scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $650
Romanus III, (1028-1034), gold histamenon nomisma, Constantinople mint, (4.40 g), obv. Christ enthroned facing with nimbus, around +IhS XIS REX REgNANTInm, rev. Virgin with nimbus placing hand on Romanus head crowning emperor, who holds cross on globe, around **Q*CE bOH**Q* RWMANW, M**O* above between figures, (S.1819, DOW No.1c, BMC 1-3, R.1972-3). Nearly extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $800
Constantine IX, (1042-1055), gold histamenon nomisma, (4.40 g), struck at Constantinople mint, scyphate flan, Class III, obv. Bust of Christ facing, with nimbus, rev. Constantine bust facing bearded wearing loros and crown, in right hand long cross, and in left hand globe with pelleted cross, triple border, (S.1830, DOC 3, BN 4-10), Large flan, extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $750
Constantine X, (1059-1067), gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.33 g), obv. Christ seated facing on throne with straight arms, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IhS XIS REX REgNANTInm around, rev. +KWN RAC **L D*OVKAC, around standing figure of Constantine facing, bearded, wearing crown, saccos and loros, holding labarum no pellet on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1847, DOC 1a, BMC 3, R.2010). Good very fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $380
Romanus IV, (1068-1071), gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, Class II, (4.33 g), obv. Christ standing on footstool, with nimbus crowning Romanus and Eudocia, IC XC, around +PWMAN EVDKIA (sic), rev. Michael in centre, Constantius on left, and Andronicus on right, without footstools, around KWN MX AND, (S.1859, DOC 1, cf.R.2026). Very fine.
Estimate $350
SOLD $420
Michael VII, (1071-1078), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.27 g), obv. bust of long bearded Christ Pantokrator facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +MIXAH**L* BACI**L O D*, around bust of Michael facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum without pellet on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1868, DOC 2d, BMC 3, R.2032). Good bust of bearded Christ, good very fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $380
John II Comnenus, (1118-1143), gold Hyperpyron (4.32 g), Constantinople mint, first coinage, circa 1118-1122, obv. seated facing figure of Christ Pantokrator IC XC across at top, rev. half-length facing busts of John and the Theotokos, holding labarum between themselves, manus Dei above John, (S.1938, R.2094-5, Hendy Pl.9, 1-3, BMC 10-14). Broad flan, extremely fine.
Estimate $600
SOLD $650
Manuel I, (1143-1180), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.33 g), obv. Christ bust facing, beardless wearing nimbus, IC XC over to left +KERO, to right H**Q*EI, rev. facing figure of Manuel standing wearing crown, holding patriarchal cross to right 'manus Dei' legend to left **ML/NW/UHLD/E*C/**PO /TH to right **P/OR/F/UR/OGE/NH/T/W*, (S.1956, Hendy Pl.12, 1-11, BMC 1-13, R.2111-4). Brilliant, extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $600
SOLD $440
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (2.83 g), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters M to left, uncertain letter to right, rev. Andronicus II and Michael IX to left and right with Christ standing between both emperors, traces of partial legend around each emperor, (S.2396, Bendall cf.PCPC 128, var. cf.type sigla 149, cf.DOC 488). Small flan, weak in places as usual, flan appears clipped in places and of light weight, otherwise very fine and scarce.
Estimate $200
SOLD $120
Andronicus II and Andronicus III, (1325-1328 or later), joint reign, gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (3.30 g), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters N X to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Andronicus III to left and right with Christ standing between the emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2461, Bendall PCPC cf.185 var.15, DOC 503). Small flan, very weak in places as usual, otherwise fine - very fine.
Estimate $250
Passed in
Sasanian Kingdom, kings of, Varhran (Bahram) II (A.D. 276-293), gold dinar, (7.43 g), obv. diademed and draped bust of Varhran II right with winged crown (curved wing) and korymbos decorated with pellets, rev. fire altar, flanked by two attendants, attendant on left wearing winged crown with korymbos, attendant on right wearing mural crown, plain below altar (SNS type I(1)/1(1a), G”bl+ I/1; Saeedi -; cf Sunrise 765B). Lovely style, extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $10,000
Passed in