Catalogue
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.51 g), Byzantium mint, posthumous issue c.205-195 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, to right **BASILEWS*, to left **LUSIMACOU*, lion's head to left in outer left field, trident below in exergue, (cf.S.6813, cf.Seyrig, `Monnaies de Byzance et de Calcedoine' [Essays to S.Robinson], No.7-10 [Plate 23]). Extremely fine but virtually as struck, once in jewellery but extremely rare and apparently unpublished for these marks.
Estimate $3,000
SOLD $2,700
Lesbos, Mytilene, c.412-378 B.C., electrum hekte (2.41 g), Bodenstedt dates 410 B.C., obv. forepart of winged lion to left, rev. Sphinx seated to right all within linear square, (cf.S.4243, Bodenstedt 63 [same die as obv.], Boston 1694-6, BMC 35, Weber 5608). Attractive, fine and rare.
Estimate $450
SOLD $400
Caracalla, (A.D. 198-217), gold aureus, issued 213, Rome mint, (7.11 g), obv. laureate head to right of Caracalla, around ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, rev. Securitas enthroned right, resting head on right hand, holding scepter in left, altar at feet, around SECVRITATI PERPETVAE, (S.6748, RIC 229a, BMCRE 101, Calico 2813, C. 575). Finely centered on generous flan, a splendid mature portrait in the finest style of the period, with mint bloom, good extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $12,000
SOLD $11,000
Aelia Eudocia, wife of Theodosius II, (423-460), gold tremissis, Constantinople mint, issue c.430's, (1.34 g), obv. AELEVDO CIA AVG, pearl-diademed and draped bust right of Eudocia, wearing earring and necklace, rev. Latin cross pattee within wreath (wreath ties type 8), circular jewel above, CONOB* beneath, (RIC 281, MIRB 50, Depeyrot 72/2). Some surface scratches, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $3,200
Passed in
Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, 9th officina **Q* dated RY 12 = 638-639, (4.25 g), obv. standing crowned figures of Heraclius in centre, Heraclius Constantine on left, and Heraclonas on right, cross on each crown, rev. cross potent on three steps, monogram to left, IB monogram to right, around VICTORIA AVGU**Q*, CONOB in exergue, (S.767, cf.DOC 41, cf.MIB 48). Good very fine/very fine and a rare variety, not listed for officina in usual references.
Estimate $500
SOLD $460
Tiberius III, (A.D. 698-705), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.48 g), officina B, obv. cuirassed bust facing with short beard, wearing crown and holding spear, around d TIbERI US PE AU, rev. VICTORIA AUG**Q* around, cross potent on three steps, beneath CONOB, (S.1360, BMC 2 = T.2, DOC 1b, MIB 1). Brilliant, extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $1,200
SOLD $1,300
Nicephorus II Phocas (AD 963-969), with Basil II, gold histamenon nomisma (4.09 g), Constantinople mint, issued 965-969, obv. around + IhS XIS REX REGNANTIhM, bust of Christ Pantocrator facing, wearing cruciform nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, and holding book of Gospels cradled in left arm, rev. around + **Q*EOTOC' B' H**Q* hICHF DESP', facing busts of the Virgin, nimbate on left and Nicephorus (on right), wearing short beard and holding between them the patriarchal cross, the Virgin dividing M and **Q*, the emperor wearing crown and loros. (S.1778, DOC 4, B.N. 5-10, BMC 3-5, R. 1912). Good very fine and rare.
Estimate $1,000
SOLD $950
Alexius I, (1081-1118), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, post reform issue, 1092-1118 (4.25 g), obv. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels, IC XC over to left KE RO, to right H**Q*EI, rev. facing figure of Alexius standing wearing crown, holding patriarchal cross to right 'manus Dei' legend to left **A/LE/SIW/ DE*C/**PO /TH to right **TW/ KO/ MNH/ NW*, (S.1913, DOC IV, 20, Hendy Pl.3, 4-10, BMC 4-6, R.2057-8). Nearly extremely fine with slight die shift, very scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $320
Manuel I, (1143-1180), electrum aspron trachy (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.13 g), third coinage, obv. Christ facing on dais, bearded and wearing nimbus, in hand the Gospels, IC XC to left and right, star on each side, rev. facing figures of St. Theodore on right and Manuel I on left wearing divitision and chlamys, holding a patriarchal cross between them, globe at base, around MANUH**L* to left, **Q/Q E/O/D/P/[O/S], (S.1959, Hendy Pl.13, 5-6, cf.BMC 27-30). Large flan, pale gold, very fine/good very fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $260
Leo I, (A.D. 457-474), modern copy of a gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 468-473, (3.87 g), obv. Leo three-quarter facing bust, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding spear and shield, around DN LEO PE RP ET AVC, rev. Victory standing to left, in right hand holding long cross, in right field a star, around VICTORI A AVGGG O, in exergue CONOB, (cfS.21404, cf.RIC 630, cf.Depeyrot 93/1). Red toning, good very fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $240
India, Taxila, late imitative of Kushan, as a Kidara issue of anonymous issue (400-450 A.D.), base gold stater, (8.01 g), obv. debased standing king facing with head to left, rev. crude representation of Goddess Ardoksho enthroned facing, (M.3696). Very fine and rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $200