Catalogue
Severus Alexander, (A.D.222-235), gold aureus, issued 230, Rome mint, (5.83 g), obv. laureate head to right, drapery on far shoulder, around IMP SEV ALE XAND AVG, rev. P M TR P VIIII COS III P P, Romulus, bareheaded walking to right, holding spear and trophy, (S.7833, RIC 103, BMC 620, C.561). About as struck, uncirculated and very rare.
Estimate $20,000
Passed in
Herennia Etruscilla Wife of Trajan Decius, (A.D. 249-251), gold aureus, Rome mint, (4.60 g), obv. diademed and draped bust to right, around HER ETRUSCILLA AVG, rev. Pudicitia seated to left, drawing veil from face and holding transverse sceptre, around PVDICITIA AVG, (S.9489, RIC 59A, C.18, Calico 3308). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $15,000
Passed in
Diocletian, (A.D. 284-305), gold aureus, issued 284, Antioch Mint, (4.63 g), obv. laureate draped bust of Diocletian to right, around IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, rev. around VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing right holding wreath and palm, mintmark SMA in exergue, O in field, (S.12584, Cal. 4570, RIC 320, C.272). Light marks in obverse field to right of bust, otherwise good extremely fine with mint bloom and rare.
Estimate $15,000
Passed in
Maximianus, (A.D. 286-305, 306-8, 310), gold aureus, issued 303-4, Nicomedia mint, (5.30 g), obv. laureate head of Maximianus to right, around MAXIMIA NVS AVGVSTVS, rev. within wreath in four lines, XX/ MAXI/ MIAN/ I AVG/ SMN, (S.13079, Cal. 4768, RIC 14, C.704). As struck, extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $15,000
SOLD $16,000
Julian II, (A.D. 360-363), gold solidus, Antioch mint, issued as Caesar 347-355, (4.49 g), obv. draped and cuirassed bust of Julian to right, around D N IVLIANV S NOB CAES, rev. Roma and Constantinopolis seated enthroned facing, each support between them a shield inscribed with six pointed star, around legend GLORIA REI PVBLICAE, in exergue star SMANZ, (cf.S.4057, RIC 167 [R3], C.22). Nearly extremely fine/good very fine and a very rare variety.
Estimate $3,000
SOLD $3,800
Anastasius I, (491-518), gold solidus, issue of 491-498, Constantinople mint, 3rd Officina, (4.18 g), obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter face to right, holding spear and shield, around DN ANASTA SIVS PP AVC, rev. Victory standing left holding long cross, around VICTORI A AVCCC**G* exergue CONOB, star in right field, (S.3, DOC 3c, T.71, R.-). Holed, minor field scratches, otherwise good very fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $300
Justin II, (A.D.565-578), gold solidus, Thessalonica mint, (4.37 g), obv. bust of Justin II facing, with 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, CONOB in exergue, (S.345, DOC -, BMC 7, MIBE 16, SB 346D). Struck on a broad flan, graffiti in upper reverse field, extremely fine or better.
Estimate $600
SOLD $480
Justin II, (A.D.565-578), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.52 g), issued 565-567, 3rd officina, 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 **G*, CONOB in exergue, star in left field, (S.346, DOC 5c, MIBE 1). Very broad flan, nearly full mint bloom, extremely fine, minor flan flaw on reverse.
Estimate $500
SOLD $480
Phocas, (602-610), gold Solidus (4.27 g), Constantinople mint, 2nd officina, struck 603-607, obv. D N FOCAS PRP AVI, crowned and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and shield decorated with soldier on horseback riding right, rev. VICTORIA AVG' B, Angel standing facing, holding globus cruciger and long staff terminating in staurogram, in exergue CONOB. (S.618, DOC 5b, MIB 7). Large flan, nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $700
SOLD $750
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.38 g), issued A.D. 607-610, 10th 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 AVGU E, (S.620, DOC 10e, MIBE 9, BMC 10-11, R.1181, Berk, Harlan J., "Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World, 383-1453", No.102b). Wavy flan, very fine or better.
Estimate $500
SOLD $420
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 613-616, (4.39 g), Officina E, obv. facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, wearing chlamys and crown, around dd NN hERACLIVS ET hERA CONSt PP AV, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, N in right field, around VICTORIA AVGUE, (S.741B, DOC -, BMC -, T.-, R.-). Light scratches in reverse field, otherwise struck on a full flan, extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $750
SOLD $650
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 616-625, (4.45 g), 10th officina, obv. facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, wearing chlamys and crown, around dd NN hERACLIVS ET hERA CONSt PP, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGU I, (S.738, DOC [13i variety], MIB 11). Die flaw on reverse, otherwise struck on a full flan, nearly extremely fine, a rare officina.
Estimate $600
SOLD $600
Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 626-629, (4.46 g), 7th Officina, obv. facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, wearing chlamys and crown, cross above, around dd NN hERACLIVS ET hERA CONSt PP, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUZ, (S.743, DOC 20g var., MIB 21). Broad flan, good extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $800
SOLD $750
Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas, (610-641), gold solidus (4.45 g), Constantinople mint, 5th officina, struck circa 639-641, obv. Crowned figures of Heraclonas, Heraclius, and Heraclius Constantine standing facing, each holding globus cruciger, rev. VICTORIA AVGUE around, cross potent on three steps, monogram to left, CoNOB in exergue. (S.769, DOC 43d, MIB 50). Extremely fine with light scratches on the reverse, rare.
Estimate $700
SOLD $520
Heraclius, with Heraclius Constantine, (610-641), gold solidus, 13mm, (4.55 g), Carthage mint, Dated IY 4 (AD 630/1), obv. Crowned and draped facing busts of Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine, cross above, traces of legend around, rev. Cross potent set on two steps, VICTORIA AGGv **D*, (date), in exergue CONOB. (S.867, DOC 222, MIB 84b3). Extremely fine, rare.
Estimate $700
SOLD $600
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, with Romanus I and Christopher, (913-959), gold nomismata, (4.44 g), Constantinople mint, struck AD 924-931, obv. IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM* around, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, rev. half-length crowned facing busts of Romanus, wearing loros, and Christopher, wearing chlamys, holding long patriarchal cross between them, around ROMAN ET XPISTOFO AVGG B, (S.1745, DOC 7.6, F?eg 7). Very fine, scarce.
Estimate $900
SOLD $850
Michael VII, (A.D.1071-1078), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.26 g), 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, (S.1869, DOC 1, BMC 1, R.-). Good bust of bearded Christ, heavy obverse scratches, otherwise good very fine/extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $370
John II, (1118-1143), electrum aspron trachy (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.45 g), obv. Christ enthroned facing, wearing nimbus, IC XC to left and to right, rev. facing full length figures of John to left and St. George to right holding sword, both holding between them the patriarchal cross on three steps, portions of ethnic each side, (S.1942, Hendy Pl.10, 3-4; BMC 44-48, R.2098). Superb portrait of Christ, extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $750
SOLD $550
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 $800
SOLD $1,200