Catalogue
Sicily, Syracuse, Time of Hiketas, (287-278 B.C.), gold drachm, (4.238 grams), obv. head of Persephone to left, hair rolled and wreathed with corn, bee behind, **SURAKOSIW[N]* around, rev. galloping biga driven to the right by Nike, crescent above, **Q* below, **EPIKETA* in exergue, (S.978 [£900], SNG Munich 1292, SNG Klagenfurt 523, not in ANS or Copenhagen). Attractive very fine and rare.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $3,150
Macedon, Kingdom of Philip II, (359-336 B.C.), gold stater, (8.584 grams), Pella mint, issued c.323-315 B.C., obv. head of Apollo to right with laureate wreath, rev. galloping biga driven by charioteer holding goad to right, trident below, in exergue **FILIPPOV*, (cf.S.6663, cf.Le Rider 491 [Pl.68], M.105). Abrasion marks on obverse and reverse on horse, horse's leg and in legend, otherwise, good very fine and rare.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $2,600
Macedon, Kingdom of, Alexander III, (336-323 B.C.), gold stater, (8.504 grams), Miletus mint, issued 323-319 B.C., obv. head of Athena to right in crested Corinthian helmet, ornamented with serpent, rev. Nike standing to left, holding wreath in outstretched hand and ship's mast, HK monogram in left field and double headed axe under wing in the right field, around to right ALEXANDP[OU], (cf.S.6702; Price 2114, M.577, BMC 2114a-c). Well centred, good very fine.
Estimate $2,200
SOLD $2,600
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.204 grams), Istrus mint, posthumous issue c.88-86 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 **BASILEWS, to left **LUSIMACOU, **DI below arm, **IS on throne, trident below in exergue, (cf.S.6813, M.285, SNG Cop.1094). Good very fine and virtually as struck.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $2,200
Kings of Bosphoros, Sauromates II with Septimius Severus and Caracalla, electrum stater (A.D. 172-211), (7.42 grams) of year 500 = A.D. 203-204, obv. BACI**LE*WC CAVPOMATOV diademed and draped bust to right, rev. laureate head to right of Septimius Severus facing laureate and draped bust to left of Caracalla with a spear between, **F* (500) below, (cf.S.5477, Frolova (p.179, Pl.34, 11 as unlisted dies, V.V. Anokin (Monetoe delo Bosphora), Kiev, 1986; No.580. Very fine/good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $1,850
Lesbos, Mytilene, c.450-330 B.C., electrum hekte (2.550 grams), Bodenstedt dates 357-326 B.C., obv. head of Poseidon to right, in laurel wreath, rev. trident head with scrolls within linear square, (cf.S.4252 [£600]; Bodenstedt 98a [same dies as obv. a/ rev. a], [dies illustrated enlarged Pl.32, 5]; de Luynes 2562 [same dies], Boston 1732 [same dies, Pl.82], BMC 117, SNG Cop. 328). Light filing on head, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $700
SOLD $800
Ionia, Phocaia, (c.477-388 B.C.), electrum hekte or sixth stater, (2.508 grams), obv. Youthful male head with diadem to left, rev. quadripartite incuse punch, (cf.S.4530 [£550], Bodenstedt 63b [same dies], M&M list 318 (1970) No.16 [same dies]). Nearly very fine, and rare.
Estimate $750
SOLD $750
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third stater, (4.686 grams) of Lydian-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 66). Clear wart, nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $1,300
SOLD $3,500
Lydia, Persian Imperial Coinage (c.420-375 B.C.), struck in period of Artaxerxes II, gold daric, (8.332 grams), obv. bearded archer (king?) running to the right with transverse spear over shoulder, and bow in right hand, rev. oblong punch, (S.4679, Carradice type IIIb (early), Group C, nos.42, Pl.XIV). Nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $1,700
SOLD $1,750
Egypt, Kingdom of Ptolemy II, (282-246 B.C.), gold tetradrachm, (13.882 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. conjoined busts to right of Ptolemy II diademed and draped and Arsinoe II diademed and veiled, above **ADELFWN*, shield behind, rev. conjoined busts to right of Ptolemy I diademed and wearing aegis and Berenike I diademed and veiled, above **QEWN*, (S.7790 [£1400], Sv.604, BMC 4-5 [p.40], SNG Cop. 133, Hazard C1034). Attractive extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $7,200
Zeugitania, Carthage, (c.300 B.C.), electrum stater, (7.500 grams), obv. head of Tanit to left, crowned with wreath of corn, wearing earring with triple pendants and necklace, dotted border, rev. free horse standing to right, double exergue line below, one dot before horse's front leg, another before last leg, dotted border, (cf.S.6462, Jenkins Group V No.252 [same dies, dies noted in Jenkins p.97, Pl.10], SNG Cop. 976). Well centred, very fine/nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $1,500
SOLD $2,100
Vespasian, (A.D. 69-79), gold aureus, Lugdunum mint, issue of A.D. 69-70, (7.10 grams), obv. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P, laureate head to right, rev. VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing to left holding palm branch and wreath, (S.-, RIC 295, C.597). Slightly porous field, very fine and very rare.
Estimate $4,000
SOLD $0
Lucilla, wife of Lucius Verus, (m.A.D.164, d.A.D. 182), gold aureus, Rome mint, (7.23 grams), obv. draped bust to right hair plaited over head and in bun at back, around LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F rev. around PIETAS, Pietas standing left holding perfume box in her left hand and at her feet an altar, (S.-, RIC 275, BMC 428, C.49). Nearly extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $0
Anastasius I, (491-518), gold solidus, issue of 498-518, Constantinople mint, (4.486 grams), obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust three-quarter face to right, holding spear and shield, around DN ANASTA SIVS PP AVC, rev. Angel standing facing holding long cross, and cross on globe, around VICTORI A AVCCC**Q* exergue CONOB, star in right field, (S.3, DOC 3f, T.73). Mint state as struck, brilliant proof-like field, uncirculated and rare in this condition.
Estimate $900
SOLD $0
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.494 grams), issued A.D. 607-610, Officina I, 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 I, (S.620, DOC 10j, BMC 22, Berk, Harlan J., 'Roman Gold Coins of the Medieval World, 383-1453', No.102b [This Coin, illustrated]). Broad flan, as struck with full mint bloom, uncirculated and one of the finest known.
Estimate $1,000
SOLD $1,300
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.358 grams), issued A.D. 607-610, Officina **Q*, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding cross, around ON 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 crudely lettered VICTORIA AVGU **Q*, CONOB in exergue, (S.620, DOC 10i, R.1186). Heavy field and edge knocks particularly on the reverse, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $200
SOLD $150
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 610-613, (4.238 grams), mule issue of Class 1b, obv. facing bust of Heraclius wearing cuirass, chlamys, paludamentum and crown, plume with cross inside, around dN hERACLI VS PP AVC, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUE, (S.731, DOC 3b, BMC 5-7, R.1279). Weak in places, otherwise good very fine.
Estimate $380
SOLD $350
Heraclius, (610-641), solidus, issued 639-641, Constantinople mint, Officina S, (4.112 grams), Class IVB(m), obv. standing figures of Heraclius in centre, Heraclius Constantine on left, and Heraclonas on right, cross above, rev. Cross potent on three steps, monogram to left, E to right, around VICTORIA AVGUS, CONOB in exergue, (S.770, DOC 44d). Minor graffito in reverse field and probably has been mounted, very fine and scarce.
Estimate $350
SOLD $310
Heraclius, (610-641), gold semissis, Constantinople mint, Officina S, (2.148 grams), obv. diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right, around d N HERACL IUS PP AV, rev. cross potent on globe, around VICTORIA AVGU S, (S.785, DOC 52B, BMC 86-90, R.1284-6). Weak in places, otherwise very fine and scarce.
Estimate $300
SOLD $0
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 654-659, (4.416 grams), Officina **G*, obv. facing busts of Constans with long beard and bust of Constantine IV beardless each wearing chlamys and crown, around dN [CONSTANTINUS] C CONSt AI, cross above, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB+, around VICTORIA AVGU**G*, (S.961, DOC.27b). Extremely fine with mint bloom, scarce.
Estimate $350
SOLD $360
Theophilus, (829-842) with Michael II deceased father (d. 829) and Constantine (deceased son), gold solidus, (4.418 grams), Constantinople mint, issued 829-830/1, obv. facing bust of Theophilus, bearded wearing loros and crown with cross, patriarchal cross in hand, around *OEOFI LOS bASILE **Q*, rev. facing busts of Michael II and Constantine, each wearing crown and chlamys, cross between heads, around +MIXAHL S COnStANtIn', (S.1653 [£600 EF), DOC 3, BMC 2). Large flan, nearly extremely fine.
Estimate $900
SOLD $750
Basil I the Macedonian and Constantine, (A.D.867-886), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 867-879, (4.388 grams), 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, D.O.2b, R.1858). Good very fine/very fine and scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $500
Romanus III, (A.D. 1028-1034), gold histamenon nomisma, Constantinople mint, (4.390 grams), obv. Christ enthroned facing with nimbus, around +IhS XIS REX REgNANTInm, rev. Virgin with nimbus placing hand on Romanus head crowning emperor, who holds cross on globe, around **O*CE bOH**Q* RWMAnW, M**O* above between figures, (S.1819, DOW No. 1c). Good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $420
Michael VII, (A.D.1071-1078), electrum gold histamenon nomisma, Constantinople mint, (4.330 grams), obv. bust of long bearded Christ facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +MIX AH**L* RA[CIA O], around bust of Michael facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum and globe with cross, dotted border, (S.1868, BMC D.O.2c). Large flan, minor field bump, otherwise extremely fine.
Estimate $450
SOLD $460
Alexius I, (A.D. 1081-1118), gold hyperpyron, Constantinople mint, post reform coinage (4.182 grams), obv. Christ enthroned facing, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, [IC] XC across, around KE RO H**Q*EI, rev. in rows on left side **L/L*E/XIW/ **D*EC/**PO/TH, right side TW/KO/MNH/NW, Alexius standing facing wearing crown and exagerated jewels on chlamys, also holding labarum and globe surmounted with cross, (S.1913, DOW 20c [p.216], BMC 7-8, R.2059). Crinkled edge, otherwise nearly very fine/very fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $280