Catalogue
Seleukis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare, (78/7-17/6 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (15.05 g), dated CY 24 (58/57 B.C.). obv. veiled, draped, and turreted bust of Tyche right, rev. Zeus Nikephoros seated left, **DK* (date) in inner left field, AK monogram reversed below throne, **XW* in exergue, all within wreath, (S.5874, Morkholm (MN 28, 1983, Autonomous 14a, HGC 9, 1398). Very fine with need for cleaning on the reverse, toned, rare date.
Estimate $300
SOLD $420
Phoenicia, Sidon, (time of Baalshallim I-Ba'ana, c.425-402 B.C.), silver half shekel (6.41 g), obv. Phoenician galley to left before city walls with four crenellated towers, in exergue, two lions prancing in opposite directions, rev. Persian Great King standing to right, holding a dagger with his right hand and grasping, with his left hand, the head of a lion standing rampant to left, all within a shallow incuse square, (S.5931 [?650], Betlyon 9, Elayi & Elayi 275-349, Rouvier 1085. Very well reverse otherwise fine/extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $1,000
Passed in
Phoenicia, Tyre, uncertain king, (c.425-394 B.C.), silver shekel (13.56 g), obv. Melkart, holding bow in extended left hand and reins in right, riding hippocamp right, below, waves above dolphin right, rev. owl standing right, head facing, crook and flail diagonally in background, (S.5912, E&E-T Group II.1.1.1.a, 288, Betlyon 17, Rouvier 1788, HGC 10, 315, BMC 19-22). Toned, edge cut, some porosity, very fine and very rare.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $1,100
Palestine, Gaza, (Mid 5th - late 4th century BC), silver drachm (3.70 g). obv. bearded male head right, rev. facing head of Bes, test cut down centre (Gitler & Tal VI 13D). Toned with rainbow highlights, slight surface roughness, good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $1,500
SOLD $1,300
Palestine, Judaea, Hasmonean king, Mattathias Antigonus, (40-37 B.C.), AE 25, copper eight prutah, Jerusalem Mint, (12.70 g), obv. double cornucopiae, Hebrew inscription, "Mattatayah the high priest and Council of the Jews", rev. wreath with partial inscription within **[BASILEOS ANTIGONOU]*, (S.6103, H.1162 [481], Meshorer 36, HGC 10, 646). Rough green patination, very fine and rare.
Estimate $250
SOLD $160
Parthia, Kingdom of, Mithradates II, (121-91 B.C.), silver drachm, (4.14 g), obv. silver diademed and draped bust of Mithridates II facing left, wearing tiara with ear flap, decorated with eight pointed star, rev. archer in Parthian dress enthroned and facing right, bow in outstretched right hand (S.7372, Sellwood 28.3, Shore 97). Hoard deposits in devices, otherwise extremely fine.
Estimate $150
SOLD $550
Kings of Parthia, Gotarzes II, (40-51 A.D.), silver drachm, (2.97 g), bearded bust of Gotarzes II left, wearing tiara, rev. king seated, facing right, holding bow in right hand (Sellwood 65/30). Good fine, nearly very fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $200
Parthia, Vonones II, (c.A.D. 51), silver drachm, Ecbatana Mint, (3.26 g), obv. short bearded bust facing, wearing tiara, with lateral motif a horn, stars either side very low over shoulder, rev. archer enthroned to right, mint mark below, (S.5797, Sell.67.1). Toned, very fine, scarce.
Estimate $100
SOLD $190
Parthia, Vologases I, (A.D. 51-78), silver drachms, (3.50 and 3.48 g), Ecbatana Mint, obv. large size bust wearing a diadem to left with square cut straight beard, hair in five separate waves, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, monogram AT and dot, (S.5801, Sellwood 70.13, Shore 373). Toned, good very fine/very fine, both scarce.
Estimate $200
SOLD $340
Parthia, Kingdom of, Pacorus I, (78-120 A.D.), silver drachm, (3.58 g), obv. bearded and draped bust of Pacorus I, wearing earrings and diadem with three bands, rev. archer enthroned, facing right, in Parthian dress, bow in right hand (S.7462, Sellwood 78.6). Surface roughness and scratches on the reverse, otherwise nearly very fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $280
Parthia, Kingdom of, Vologases III, (c.A.D. 105-147), silver drachm, (2.82 g), Ecbatana mint, obv. medium size bust wearing a diadem to left with short square triangular pointed long beard, hair in three waves, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, monogram AT and dot, (cf.S.5831, Sellwood 78.3, Shore 413). Toned, good very fine/very fine.
Estimate $160
SOLD $170
Paertia, Kingdom of, Mithradates II (c.123-88 B.C.), silver drachm, (3.81 g), Ecbatana mint, obv. long bearded bust to left wearing tiara, star in centre, rev. archer seated right on throne, five line inscription, (S.7372, Sellwood 28.3, Shore 97) (illustrated); Orodes I, (90-77 B.C.) silver drachm, (3.88 g), Ecbatana mint, obv. small size bust wearing a tiara to left with short beard, with six pointed star in centre, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, (cf.S.7389, Sellwood 31.5, Shore 122). Toned, very fine - nearly extremely fine and scarce. (2)
Estimate $260
SOLD $1,300
Sassanian, Shapur I, (A.D. 241-272), silver drachm, (4.00 g), mint I (Ctesiphon), obv. "The Mazda worshipper, the divine Shahpur, the king of kings of Iran who is descended from the Gods" in Pahlavi, crowned and cuirassed bust right, wearing diadem and mural crown with ear flap and korymbos, rev. "Fire of Shahpur" in Pahlavi (crude), fire altar with attendants wearing mural crowns, (Sellwood 12, SNS Type IIc/1a. Karlsson D4, Gobl I/1. cf.Sunrise 741). Good very fine.
Estimate $240
SOLD $800
Sassanian, Yazdgerd I, (A.D. 399-420), silver drachm, (4.19 g), probably AS (Isfahan) Mint, obv. bust to right with crown with korymbos, crescent on crown, rev. fire altar flanked by two attendants with swords, (cf.Sellwood 41, Gobl 147, type 1/1 (Pl.8), cf.SNS 376, 1b1/13a [Pl.35]). Bright, nearly extremely fine, scarce.
Estimate $180
SOLD $300
Arab-Sasanian, Umayyad Caliphate, style of Sasanian, Khusru II (A.D. 590 - 627), silver drachm, (3.95 g), Darabgird Mint, dated year 31 (A.D. 621), with word "praise" in outer margin, (cf.Walker alpha [p.2] Plate I, alpha, cf.M.21, Sellwood type 62, Gobl 214). Very fine, scarce.
Estimate $150
SOLD $100
Sassanian King, Khusru (Husrav) II, (A.D. 590-628), RY 26, silver drachm, (3.49 g), mint of NIH (Nihavand), obv. text in Pahlavi, mural crown with frontal crescent, two wings and star in crescent, ribbons and crescents on shoulders, star and crescents on three sides of outer two rings of border, rev. "Fire of Shahpur" in Pahlavi, fire altar flanked by two attendants, star and crescent to left and right flanking flames, stars and crescents around the three outer rings, (Sellwood 65, Gobl type II/3, cf.illustration 213). Toned, nearly very fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $90
Arab-Sassanian Coinage, Khusro type, in the name of Zivad b. Abi Sufyan (AH 45-54, AD 665-673), silver drachm, (31mm), (3.99 g), DA (Darabjird) mint, frozen date AH 43, obv. crowned Sasanian-style bust right; bism allh in margin, rev. fire altar flanked by attendants, star and crescent flanking flames, (Album 8, cf.SACA 1, 239-240 [year 43], Wilkes ICC 7). Irregular patination nearly extremely fine, scarce.
Estimate $200
SOLD $220
Babylonia, Alexandrine Empire, uncertain satraps of Babylon, probably struck by Seleucus I, (c.328-311 B.C.), silver tetradrachm (15.88 g), obv. Baal seated left, holding sceptre, Dotted border, rev. lion walking left on base line, tip of tail between legs, above a pentagram, (cf.S.6147, Mitchiner Vol.1 type 8a, [p.14], H. Nicolet-Pierre 5 (Essays Le Rider, Pl.28, 50, SNG Cop.265, Weber 8201, ACNAC Dewing 2677, BMC 39-41, McClean 9564). Very fine/extremely fine, rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $2,200
Sogdiana, Bukhara, local issue, (6th-8th centuries A.D., Mitchiner c.700 A.D.), billon drachm, (2.49 g), imitating Merv Mint drachm of Sasanian King Bahram V, obv. crowned bust right, Bokharan legend around, rev. Fire altar with attendants and ribbon and crude crowned bust of Bahram right superimposed upon altar, (Mitchiner ACW 1395 [same dies], Zeimal fig. 1, 10-12; Walker, Arab-Sasanian, pp. 166, [Pl.XXIX, 5]). Worn and fine as usual, rare.
Estimate $100
Passed in
Arabia, Sabaeans and Himyarites, (c.3rd Century B.C.), silver drachm, (5.18 g), obv. helmeted head of Athena to right, Figure N on cheek, rev. owl standing right, head facing, olive branch and crescent before, **AQE* to right downwards, (S.6112, SNG ANS 1456, Babelon, Trait? 1114, pl. CXXVI, 9, BMC Arabia pg. 45, 14., SNG ANS 1456). Very fine.
Estimate $200
SOLD $380
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy II, Philadelphos, (283/2-246 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, Joppa Mint, struck year 35 = 251/250 B.C., (13.75 g), obv. diademed head of Ptolemy I to right, dotted border, rev. eagle to left on thunderbolt with closed wings, to left monogram, around **[PTOLEMAIOU] SWTHROS*, M/T in left field **LE/Q* in right field (cf.S.7772, CPE 277, Sv.548 [Pl.xiv,2]). Toned, very fine/good fine and a rare mint.
Estimate $500
SOLD $300
Egypt, Ptolemy III, AE hemidrachm (35.88 g), Alexandria Mint, obv. diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right, rev. eagle standing on thunderbolt left, Chi-rho between legs, cornucopiae to left (S.7187, SNG Cop 176). Minor encrustations in devices, brown patina, good fine.
Estimate $80
SOLD $50
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy IX Soter and Cleopatra III, (116-106 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, Alexandria Mint, struck year 3 = 115-114 B.C., (14.64 g), obv. head of Ptolemy to right with aegis, rev. eagle to left on thunderbolt with closed wings, to left L**G*, to right **PA*, around **BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU**, (S.7921, Sv.1663 [Pl.LVII, 4]), cf. Cop.348-9, BMC 13). Grey patination, very fine or better and very scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $850
North Africa, Carthage, (5th-4th centuries B.C.) AE16, (2.98 g), obv. head of Tanit to left, rev. horse facing right, palm tree behind (cf. S,6514/15, Muller 232b). Very fine.
Estimate $80
SOLD $130
Ancient coins, Greek and Roman, Macedon, Philip II, (358-336 B.C.), obv. head of Apollo right, rev. horseman (cf. S.6696); Roman, Antoninus Pius, (136-161 A.D.) AE dupondius, obv. bust facing right, wearing radiate crown, rev. Salus holding spear and feeding snake (RIC 668, S.4283); Roman Provincial, Septimius Severus, (193-211 A.D.), Petra, obv. laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, coutermark to right, rev. Tyche seated on rocks, facing left, holding trophy, within distyle shrine (c.f. Sofaer 33, Rosenberger 21 , possibly an imitative issue?); Elagabalus, (218-222 A.D.), Petra, obv. laureate and draped bust to right, rev. founder ploughing field to right with pair of oxen (SNG ANS 1374); plus an unidentified fourth century AE, and three tourist copies of a Syracuse dekadrachm, Athens tetradrachm, and Ptolemaic drachm. Fine - very fine. (8)
Estimate $200
SOLD $150
Ancient Greek Cities, from 350 B.C. to Roman Provincial of the 3rd century, a mixed group of AE 15-28, most probably identifiable struck for various cities, mostly from cities in Greece and Turkey. Good - very fine. (16)
Estimate $200
SOLD $220