Catalogue
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
Celtic, Eastern Europe, imitation of Philip II of Macedon, silver tetradrachm (13.49 g), 4th-3rd century B.C., Vollstandiger Legende (Compelete Legend) type, Struck in central Dacia, obv. laureate head of Zeus to right, dotted border, rev. horseman riding right, around **FILIP* v, **L above torch, below horse, dolphin below foreleg, (cf.OTA 4, Lanz 359-360, CCCBM I 3, cf.KMW 960). Nearly very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $250
SOLD $250
Italy, Lucania, Metapontum, (c.480 B.C.), silver stater, (8.02 g), obv. six grain ear of corn, META upwards on left, rev. six grain ear of corn, incuse, (cf.S.238, Noe 155, SNG ANS 223, HN Italy 1482). Good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $1,000
Passed in
Italy, Lucania, Thourioi (Thurium), (c.320 B.C.), AE 34, (40.46 g), obv. Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone, rev. bull standing right, above **QOURIWN, DAMWN* below, (magistrate), serpent in exergue, (S.-, SNG ANS 1183, HN Italy 1916). Good very fine, mottled multicolor patina, obverse slightly double struck, light corrosion on crest, reverse fields tooled, a very rare and very heavy example of fine style.
Estimate $750
SOLD $850
Italy, Bruttium, Croton (Kroton), (500-460 B.C.), silver stater or nomos (7.86 g), obv. tripod, crane to left on right, QPO upwards to left, rev. tripod, incuse, (S.256, SNG ANS 262, Gale 13, SNG Cop. 1750). Slightly of centred on reverse, weak in places, otherwise very fine/good fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
Passed in
Italy, Bruttium, Rhegion, (c.450 B.C. [Arnold-Biucchi chronology]), silver tetradrachm, (16.94 g), obv. lion's head facing, within dotted border, rev. Iokastos the traditional founder of the city naked to waist and seated to left, holding staff and resting left hand on hip, all within laurel wreath, legend around anti-clockwise, [R]ECI NOS, (S.498, Herzfelder, H., "Catalogue des Tetradrachmes et Drachmes de Rhegion" No.1i [This Coin], [obv.D1, rev.R1 same dies], Pl.XX 1q for reverse die break illustration, [Revue Numismatique (RN) 1956], Munzhundlung Basel Sale 4 (390) [This Coin], cf.Arnold Biucchi 7-10 [Same Dies], SNG ANS 635). Some light scratches in the region of the interesting die crack on the reverse, original obverse die somewhat rusted, otherwise good very fine/very fine and very rare.
Estimate $4,000
Passed in
Italy, Calabria, Tarentum (Taras), (272-235 B.C.), silver stater or nomos, (6.22 g), obv. naked rider on stationary horse to right, Nike flying to right above crowning him from behind, below traces of **DAMOKRITOS, above to right EY, rev. Taras astride a dolphin to right, holding a cornucopiae and trident, to left monogram of **IWPV, **TAPA S below, (cf.S.374, cf.Vl.914, cf.SNG ANS 1233, SNG Cop.935). With some original find patination, toned, very fine, a die combination not in Vlasto.
Estimate $250
SOLD $280
Sicily, Akragas (Agrigentum), (c.500-480 B.C.), silver didrachm, Jenkins Group IV, (8.37 g), obv. eagle with closed wings standing to left, AK behind, RA in front, rev. crab within circular incuse field, (A) **S* below, (cf.S.709A, cf.Jenkins (Gela) Pl.37,15/17, SNG ANS 960 [similar dies]). Very fine/fine with surface roughness on reverse, a rare variety.
Estimate $300
SOLD $480
Sicily, Akragas (Agrigentum), (c.422-406 B.C.), AE 28 (or hemilitron), (24.04 g), obv. eagle with open wings standing to left on hare, rev. crab with crayfish to left below, six pellets around, vine leaf above between claws, (cf.S.1022, SNG ANS 1029 [similar dies]). Dark green patina, earthern edge patination, nearly very fine and a rare type.
Estimate $100
SOLD $200
Sicily, Akragas (Agrigentum), AE 21, trias, (425-406 B.C.), (8.86 g), obv. eagle to right holding hare in talons, [AKPA] behind eagle, rev. crab, three dots below, with a crayfish below dots, (S.1023, Calciati I p.181 No.54/3, SNG ANS 1041, cf.SNG Morcom 523). Dark green patina, attractive very fine.
Estimate $80
SOLD $340
Sicily, Centoripae, (344-336 B.C.), AE drachm or litra, (32.25 g), (one of the largest ancient Greek bronzes), obv. head of Kore-Persephone crowned with ears of corn, four dolphins around to right, rev. crouching panther with arched back walking left with raised right paw, (S.1080, SNG ANS 1305, Calciati III, 165, 1). Good fine and well centered with pleasing dark green patina, rare.
Estimate $750
SOLD $600
Sicily, Gela, (c. 465-450 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.96 g), obv. slow quadriga driven left (only two horses are shown), by male charioteer holding reins, a column behind with heavy capital, ketos to left in exergue, dotted border, rev. forepart of man headed bull to right with long beard, to right around **GELAS, Nike flying above to right, (cf.S.795, Jenkins 219, obv. 58, rev. 117 [notes two examples known of these dies], SNG ANS 48). Attractive grey tone, a distinctive pair of dies, very fine or better on a broad flan, a rare die combination.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $2,800
Sicily, Kamarina, (c.420-405 B.C.) AE tetras, 17mm, (3.64 g), obv. Gorgoneion facing, rev. owl standing left, head facing, grasping lizard with talon [K]AMA upwards to left, three pellets (mark of value) in exergue, (S.1062, Westermark & Jenkins 195, CNS 21, SNG ANS 326). Good very fine, scarce.
Estimate $100
SOLD $190
Sicily, Leontinoi, (c.425 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.93 g), obv. laureate head of Apollo to left, dotted border, rev. head of lion to left, around three barley grains and olive leaf behind, around **LEONTINON, (cf.S.833, SNG ANS 256-7 same dies). Heavy obverse porosity, otherwise very good/very fine and scarce.
Estimate $250
SOLD $360
Sicily, Messana, (450-446 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.05 g), issued 455-451 B.C., obv. biga of mules driven to right by seated male charioteer, Nike flying above crowning horses, in exergue bay leaf with fruit, rev. MESSAN I ON (S letters reversed), hare running to right, B above, (cf.S.847, Caltabiano 323 [obv.die 142, rev. die 134, Randazzo 184 [same dies], SNG Cop. 394 [same dies], Caltabiano notes and records 12 coins from these dies]). Nearly very fine and rare.
Estimate $300
SOLD $850
Sicily, Messana, (445-439 B.C.), silver drachm, (4.14 g), obv. biga of mules driven to right by seated male charioteer, Nike flying above crowning horses, in exergue dolphin to right [ivy leaf has been suggested], dotted border, rev. **MESSA NION, hare running to right, all within olive wreath, (cf.S.848, Caltabiano Series IX, 388.6 [This Coin, illustrated plate 24, obv.die 175, rev. die 168], Jameson 651 [This Coin], McClean 2391, SNG Lockett 120 [same dies]). Toned, good very fine and very rare in this condition.
Estimate $1,500
SOLD $1,700
Sicily, Messana under the Mamertinoi, (220-200 B.C.), AE 27 a pentonkion, (11.90 g), obv. laureate head of Zeus to right, rev. naked warrior charging right holding spear and large circular shield **P* in field to right, on left [MA]MEPTIN[**W*N], (cf.S.1144, Sarstrom p.175 Series XVI, Group A, type c, 338-43, BAR Issue 28, CNS 41 Ds 2, HGC 2, 853, SNG Cop. 464). Good fine, some roughness on obverse.
Estimate $100
SOLD $160
Sicily, Morgantina, (c.340 B.C.), AE dilitron (23 mm), (14.62 g), obv. [**MORGANTINWN*], helmeted head of Athena right, wearing triple crested helmet decorated with serpent and spiral, owl and **G* behind, rev. lion right, tearing at stag's head, monogram in exergue, (S.1148, SNG ANS 466, Calciati III p.243, 1/3, SNG Cop.473, SNG Morcom 641, Laffaille 181, Virzi 1264ff). Attractive very fine and rare.
Estimate $250
SOLD $300
Sicily, Syracuse, Dionysios I, (405-367 B.C.), AE drachm, 28mm, (32.91 g), obv. head of Athena wearing Corinthian helmet to left bound with olive wreath, to left traces of **S*YRA, rev. starfish between two dolphins with central pellet, (S.1189, Boehringer Finanzpolitik Pl.39, 44, Calciati CNS 62, BMC 287, SNG ANS 454-469, Weber 1630). Brown patina, good fine and very scarce.
Estimate $100
SOLD $120
Sicily, Syracuse, period of Timoleon, (344-336 B.C.), AE litra, AE 26, (19.00 g), obv. head of Zeus Eleutherios laureate to left, around traces of **IEUS ELEUQERIOS*, rev. free horse prancing to left, around traces of **SURAKOSIWN*, (S.1191, BMC 311-312, SNG ANS 533-541, Weber 1651). Brown patina, very fine portrait and very scarce.
Estimate $200
SOLD $220
Sicily, Syracuse, period of Timoleon, (344-336 B.C.), AE hemilitron, AE 23, (14.60 g), obv. head of Zeus Eleutherios laureate to right, around **IEUS EL[EUQERI]OS*, rev. thunderbolt, eagle standing to right in right field, around **SURAKO SIWN*, (S.1192, BMC 313, SNG ANS 477-488, Calciati 71, Weber 1653). Dark brown tone, well centred, nearly extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $200
SOLD $340