Catalogue
Sicily, Syracuse, Time of Agathokles, (317-289 B.C.), electrum fifty (50) litrai, (3.538 grams), obv. laureate head of Apollo head with long flowing hair, lamp behind, all within dotted border, rev. **[SUR]AK OSION around, tripod lebes with legs ending in lion's feet, (S.957 [£400], Jenkins 'Electrum Coinage of Syracuse' Essays Robinson, p.157 (Pl.14, obv. die 12, rev. die 16, same dies), BMC 257 (same dies), Boston 448 (same dies). Attractive red tone, very fine, rare.
Estimate $1,200
SOLD $1,550
Sicily, Syracuse, Kingdom of, Agathocles, (317-289 B.C.), gold two thirds stater or octobol, (5.652 grams), Attic standard, equivalent to 80 silver litrai or two silver decadrachms, obv. head of Athena to right, wearing necklace, pendant earring and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin running right on the bowl, her hair is long and knotted on the neck with the ends hanging loose with a few strands escaping above the ear, rev. winged thunderbolt, above **AGAQOKLEOS, below **BASILEOS* and monogram TP, (S.970; BMC 416, Robinson 'Calouste Gulbenkian Collection', Part I, No.341). Trace of original mint bloom, very fine or better and rare.
Estimate $3,500
SOLD $3,500
Macedon, Kingdom of, Alexander III, (336-323 B.C.), gold distater, (16.900 grams), `Amphipolis mint', issued 330-320 B.C., obv. head of Athena to right in crested Corinthian helmet, rev. Nike standing to left, holding wreath in outstretched hand and ship's mast, cantharus to left upright, downwards to right, **ALEXANDROU, (S.6700; Price 167, M.192, BMC 167a-c). Nearly very fine and very rare.
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $0
Mysia, Cyzicus, fourth period, (400 - 350 B.C.), electrum stater on Phocaic standard (15.732 grams), obv. head of Attis right in Phrygian cap, tunny fish below rev. quadripartite incuse punch mark (cf S. 3840, Von Fritze 142, Greenwell 56). Very fine and very rare.
Estimate $5,000
SOLD $4,600
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third stater, (4.742 grams) of Lydo-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, knob with three rays on forehead, rev. double incuse punch, (S.3398, BMC 7 [p.2], Weidauer 89). Very fine, edge flaws and rare.
Estimate $1,000
SOLD $850
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum hemihekte or twelfth stater, (1.162 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, knob on forehead, rev. single incuse punch, (S.3402 [£300], BMC 17 [p.3], Boston 1770, Weidauer 90). Clear wart, good fine and very rare, being much rarer than the larger electrum third stater.
Estimate $700
SOLD $720
Zeugitania, Carthage, (c.310-290 B.C.), electrum stater, (7.292 grams), Group V, obv. head of Tanit to left, wreathed with corn, wearing necklace, dotted border, rev. horse standing to right, double exergue line below, dot before horse's front leg, dotted border, (S.6462, Jenkins 246). File mark on edge, good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $1,900
Republic, Julius Caesar, (assassinated 44 B.C.), gold aureus, Rome mint, moneyer A. Hirtius, (8.154 grams), obv. C CAESAR COS TER, veiled female head to right, dotted border, rev. A.HIRTIVS P R, lituus, jug and axe, dotted border, (S.349, Cr. 466/1, Syd. 1017). Large flan nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $0
Nero, (A.D. 54-68), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 64-65, (7.282 grams), obv. laureate head of Nero to right, around NERO CAESAR, rev. around AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS, Nero radiate wearing togate facing holding branch and Victory on globe, (S.668A, RIC 46, BMC 56). Very fine and rare.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $0
Domitian, (A.D. 81-96), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 86, (7.548 grams), obv. laureate head of Domitian to right, around IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V, rev. around IMP XI COS XII CENS P P P, Minerva to left with spear, (cf.S.895, RIC 76, C.191). Light scratches on reverse, very fine and rare.
Estimate $3,500
SOLD $3,200
Antoninius Pius, (A.D. 138-161), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued 140-3, (7.208 grams), obv. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head to right, rev. LIBE RA LITAS, around, in exergue AVG III, Antoninus seated to left, on platform, before him Liberalitas standing holding account board and cornucopiae, citizen facing emperor holding out fold of toga, (S.-, RIC 75, C.485). Very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $1,900
Faustina Junior, wife of Marcus Aurelius, (d.A.D. 175), gold aureus, (7.442 grams), issued at Rome under Antoninus Pius, obv. FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust to right, with hair in a bun or chignon high on the back of the head, rev. VE NVS, Venus standing to left, holding apple and rudder with a dolphin entwined around the anchor, (S.-, RIC 517a, cf.C.266 [denarius], BMC RE 1065). Lightly toned, superb high relief, full flan, practically uncirculated and extremely rare in this condition.
Estimate $12,500
SOLD $0
Pertinax, (A.D. 193), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued 193, (7.230 grams), obv. laureate head of Pertinax to right, around IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, rev. around PROVID DEOR COS II, Providentia standing left, raising hand to receive star, (cf.S.1701 (sestertius), RIC 11 [same obverse die], BMC 11 [same obverse die], C.42). Perfectly centred, well struck, slightest wear on wreath and hair, otherwise nearly extremely fine and extremely rare.
Estimate $18,500
SOLD $0
Theodosius II (A.D. 402-450), solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 443-445, (4.312 grams), obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust facing holding spear and shield, around DN THEODOSI VS P F AVG, rev. Constantinopolis seated to left holding cross on globe and sceptre, IMP XXXXII COS XVII P.P. around, CONOB in exergue, star in left field, (cf.S.4288, RIC 314). Large flan, superb quality nearly as struck, nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $500
Justin II, (A.D.565-578), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 565-578, (4.4 grams), 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 **Q*, CONOB in exergue, (S.345, DOC 4h, BMC 12). Some mint bloom, minor scratch on reverse, otherwise nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $380
SOLD $400
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, Officina **Q*, issued 638-639, (4.263 grams), 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, B to right, around VICTORIA AVGU A, CONOB**L* in exergue, (S.768, [DOC 42], BMC -, T.-, R.-). Slightly double struck on the reverse, extremely fine and a extremely rare officina.
Estimate $600
SOLD $600
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 650-1, (4.48 grams), officina B, obv. bust facing of Constans with beard, wearing chlamys and crown, around [dN] CONStAN T[INU]S PP AV, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOBI, around VICTORIA AVGUB, (S.955 [£400 EF], [DOW 18]). With some mint bloom, weak on legend, otherwise extremely fine.
Estimate $400
SOLD $320
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued c.654-659, Class IV, Officina **G*, (4.398 grams), obv. facing long bearded bust of Constans wearing chlamys and crown with cross on top, Constantine IV on right wearing crown, cross in field, around dN CONSTANTINUS C CONSTANTIN, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGU**G*, (S.959, DOC.25c, BMC 42, T.238-9, R.-). As struck with trace of mint bloom, extremely fine/ nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $500
Constantine IV, (668-685), gold solidus, (4.438 grams), Constantinople mint, Class III, issued c.674-681, Officina **D*, obv. three-quarter facing bearded bust of Constantine IV, wearing helmet with plume and cuirass, holds spear and shield, around dN C A NUSP, rev. Cross potent above three steps, between facing figures of Heraclius on left and Tiberius on right, each holding cross on globe, around VICTOA AVGU**D*, in exergue CONOB, (S.1154, DOC [8], BMC -, R.-, T.-). Extremely fine, with mint bloom, and extremely rare for this officina.
Estimate $600
SOLD $0
Constantine IV, (668-685), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, Class III, issued 674-681, (4.394 grams), officina E, obv. helmeted three-quarter cuirassed bust to right, with frontal plume, holding spear and shield, around dN CO [T N]VSPP, rev. Cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, around VICTOA AVGUE, (S.1154, DOC 8c, To.22-4). Possibily has been mounted, weak in places, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $250
SOLD $240
Theophilus, (829-842) with Constantine and Michael II gold solidus, (4.077 grams), Constantinople mint, issued 830/1-840, Officina **Q*, obv. facing bust of Theophilus bearded wearing chlamys and crown with cross, in right hand patriarchal cross, around **+QEO*FI LOS bASILE'**Q*, rev. around +MIXAHL S CONSTANTIN, facing busts of Michael II on left and Constantine (deceased father and his son), each wearing crown and chlamys, cross between head, (S.1653, DOC 3e, BMC 7, T.-, R.-). Scuff mark on head on obverse, otherwise good very fine/extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $900
SOLD $780
John I Tzimisces, (A.D. 969-976), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.350 grams), obv. Christ bust facing wearing nimbus, raising right hand in benediction, and holding Gospels, + IhS XIS REX REgNANTIUm around, rev. **QEOT*OC BOH**Q*'IW dESP around, facing busts of Virgin on right and John holding cross, Virgin crowns emperor, John wears loros, above head 'manus', (S.1785, R.1917, DOC 3, BMC.-). Good fine and rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $660
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1294-1320), joint reign, gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, issued c.1300-1310, (3.758 grams), obv. Andronicus II and Michael IX to left and right with Christ standing between crowning both emperors, partial legend downwards of each emperor, rev. bust of Virgin within city walls of six towers, (S.2396, Bendall p.62 type I variety ii). Small flan, very weak in places as usual, otherwise fine.
Estimate $150
SOLD $120