Catalogue
Augustus, (A.D. 14-37), gold aureus, Lugdunum mint, issued after A.D. 13-14, (7.76 g), obv. laureate head of Tiberius to right, around CAESAR DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, rev. PONTIF MAXIM around, Pax or Livia seated to right, feet on footstool, plain leg chairs, with sceptre and olive branch, (cf.S.1630 (denarius), RIC 219, BMC 544, Calico 261, Lyon 93 [obv.D443, rev.R478]). Minor scuff on cheek, very fine and very rare.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $7,500
Domitian, as Caesar under Vespasian, (A.D. 81-96), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 77-78, (7.17 g), obv. laureate head of Domitian to right, around CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, rev. captive in oriental costume kneeling right, holding standard with vexillum attached, COS V in exergue, (S.2620, RIC V240, Cal.819, BN III 205, C.48). Highlights are toned, cut on reverse edge, otherwise nearly extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $6,000
Antoninus Pius, (A.D. 138-161), gold aureus, (7.30 g), Rome mint, issued A.D. 160-161, obv. laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right, around ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXIIII, rev. Pietas standing to left between two children, holding globe and child, around PIETATI AVG COS IIII, (S.4016, RIC 302, BMC 984). Nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $8,200
Faustina Senior, wife of Antoninus Pius, (d.A.D. 141) gold aureus, (7.34 g), issued A.D. 141, Rome mint, obv. DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, draped bust to right, rev. AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing to left holding patera and globe beneath rudder, (S.4549, RIC 349a, C.2). Slightly off centred reverse, nearly extremely fine, very scarce.
Estimate $4,000
SOLD $3,200
Marcus Aurelius, (A.D. 161-180), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 155-156, (7.26 g), obv. bare headed draped and cuirassed bust of Marcus Aurelius to right, around AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII FIL, rev. around TR POT VIIII COS II, Roma standing left holding Victory in right hand and cradling a parazonium in the left arm, (cf.S.4769, RIC 464a, Calico 1950a). Good very fine, nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $6,000
Faustina Junior, as Augusta, (A.D. 147-175), gold aureus (7.30 g), Rome mint, struck under Marcus Aurelius, (c.A.D. 154-57), obv. FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust to right of Faustina, hair waved and fastened in bun on back of head, rev. AVGVSTI PII FIL, Diana standing left holding arrow and bow (CF.S.4687, BMC 1096 (Pius), Biaggi 915). Extremely fine with lustre, well struck, rare.
Estimate $9,000
SOLD $8,000
Valentinian I, (A.D. 364-375), gold solidus, Antioch mint, issued 366-367, 2nd Officina, (4.31 g), obv. rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right of Valentinian I around DN VALENTINI ANVS PF AVG, rev. Valentinian standing facing head to right, holding labarum and Victory on globe, RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE around, ANTB* in exergue, (S.4088, RIC IX 2b xiii, C.28, Depeyrot 27/2). Light surface marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $600
Valens, (A.D. 364-378), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 367, (4.40 g), obv. pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right of Valens around DN VALENS P F AVG, rev. Valens standing facing head to right, holding labarum and Victory, RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE around, *CONS wreath in exergue, (S.4104, RIC IX 25b, Depeyrot 21/2). Light graffiti in reverse field, otherwise very fine or better and scarce.
Estimate $550
SOLD $760
Arcadius, (A.D. 383-408), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 383, (4.50 g), obv. rosette diademed draped and cuirassed bust of Arcadius to right, around D N ARCADI VS P F AVG, rev. Constantinopolis helmeted seated facing foot on prow, head to right on throne, the arms of which are decorated with lion heads, holding sceptre and globe, around CONCOR DI A AVGGGA around, in exergue CONOB, (S.20697, RIC 45e, Depeyrot 34/2). Extremely fine and rare. $$ Ex Noble Numismatics Sale 109 (lot 3519). Previously D.J.Foster Collection and previously from Noble Numismatics Sale 45 (lot 2042) from the Richard A. Williams Collection. RIC does not list officina A for this type.
Estimate $1,300
SOLD $1,300
Theodosius II, (A.D. 402-450), gold solidus, issued Constantinople mint in A.D. 422-423, (4.38 g), obv. helmeted bust to half right with elaborate dress, holding shield and spear, around DN THEODO SIVS P F AVG, rev. Victory standing to left, holding long cross, around VOT XX MVLT XXX I, exergue CONOB, (S.4290, RIC 219 (Vol.X), G.12, T.46). Well struck, good extremely fine with mint bloom.
Estimate $800
SOLD $850
Justinian I, (527-565), gold solidus, issue of 538-545, Constantinople mint, (4.46 g), obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding cross on globe, rev. Angel standing facing holding long cross and cross on globe, (S.139, DOC 8h). Gash on centre of reverse, otherwise extremely fine/good very fine.
Estimate $350
SOLD $450
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.34 g), issued A.D. 602-603, 2nd Officina, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, with pendilia and cross, holding cross on globe, around ON FOCAS PERP AVI, rev. Angel facing, holding in right hand long staff, with partial P on cross symbol at top, in left hand globe with cross above, around VICTOR[I]A AVGG B, (S.616, DOC 1a.2 [same dies], BMC -, T.-, R.-). Broad flan as struck, good extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $800
SOLD $650
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.45 g), issued A.D. 607-610, 5th Officina, 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 AVGUE, (S.620, DOC 10e, BMC 10-11, T.8, R.1181). Brilliant field, as struck, good extremely fine.
Estimate $650
SOLD $650
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 616-625, (4.35 g), Officina H, obv. facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, wearing chlamys and crown, around dd NN hERACLIVS ET hE[RA CON]St PP AVG, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONO[B], around VICTORIA AVGUH, (S.738, DOC [13g], BMC -, T.150, R.-). Broad flan, weak in places, otherwise, extremely fine and as struck, a rare officina.
Estimate $550
SOLD $460
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 slight weakness in legends.
Estimate $600
SOLD $550
Basil I the Macedonian and Constantine, (A.D.867-886), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 867-879, (4.27 g), 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 Romanus II wearing chlamys on right, both crowned, between them long patriarchal cross, (S.1704, DOC 2b, R.1858). Nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $600