Catalogue
Macedon, Kingdom of, Alexander III, (336-323 B.C.), gold stater, (8.576 grams), Sardes mint, issued 319-315 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, star in lower left field, to right **ALEXAN[DPOU]*, (cf.S.6702; Price 2669, M.151, BMC 2669a). Severe edge scrape, otherwise extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $1,500
SOLD $1,300
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachus, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.562 grams), Pella mint (?), issued before 281 B.C., obv. head of Alexander to right, with diadem and horn of Ammon, rev. Athena enthroned to left, supporting Nike, spear behind, **SI* to left, to right **BASILEWS*, to left **LUSIMACOU*, (cf.S.6813, Thompson -, cf.Price 236 [simalar Alexander the Great but earlier?), M.453, CNG Sale 64 lot 155 [similar example suggest Byzantium?]). Of great rarity, unpublished, nearly extremely fine, of superior style and probably the second known example.
Estimate $4,500
SOLD $3,800
Thrace, Kingdom of, Coson, (c.42 B.C.), gold stater, (8.415 grams), Northern Greece mint, obv. three togate figures advancing to left, the first and third carrying an axe over left shoulder, KO**SWN* in exergue, without Brutus monogram to left, rev. eagle standing to left on sceptre, holding wreath in one claw, (S.1733, RPC I 1701B, BMC 2, Winkler 1-3). Good extremely fine and virtually as struck, rare.
Estimate $1,500
SOLD $1,100
Lesbos, Mytilene, c.412-378 B.C., electrum hekte (2.404 grams), Bodenstedt dates 410 B.C., obv. forepart of winged liuon to left, rev. Sphinx seated to right all within linear square, (cf.S.4243 [£850]; Bodenstedt 63 [same die as obv. f/ rev.-], Boston 1694-6, BMC 35, Weber 5608). Attractive, fine and rare.
Estimate $750
SOLD $600
Ionia area, (c.600-500 B.C.), electrum half hekte or twelfth stater, (1.250 grams), obv. undetermined raised type, rev. quadripartite incuse square punch, (S.-, cf. ACNAC Rosen 252 [half stater]). Extremely fine and very rare and possibly unique.
Estimate $500
SOLD $280
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum hekte or sixth stater, (2.342 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, rev. double incuse punch, (S.3400, Boston Museum 1769, cf.BMC 16 [p.3], Weidauer Typos I Nos. 76-78, Bellinger [Essays to Robinson] Gordion Hoard No.1104, Class XVI, SNG Cop. 452, ACNAC Rosen -, ACNAC Dewing -). With some hoard patination on edge and reverse, otherwise fine/very fine and very rare.
Estimate $500
SOLD $300
Bactria, Kingdom of, Diodotos I, (256-239 B.C.), gold stater, (8.356 grams), Bactra (Balkh) mint, issued before 256 (Newell suggests c.255-246 B.C.), in name of Antiochus II, obv. diademed head of Diodotus I to right, dotted border, rev. Zeus striding to left, aegis on his extended left arm, wielding a thunderbolt, at his feet an eagle to left, wreath above, to right **BASILEWS* and to left **[A]NTIOXOU*, (S.7497, cf.Newell ESM 713 (p.246, Pl.LIII, 5), M.63 variant [p.39 Vol.I]). Well centred, minor gash in head on obverse, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $5,000
SOLD $0
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy II, (285-246 B.C.), gold octadrachm or mnaeion, (27.82 grams), Alexandria mint, issued 262 B.C. (Svoronos suggested date), in name of Arsinoe II, obv. veiled head of Arsinoe II to right, wearing stephane, sceptre behind head visible above behind I, dotted border, rev. double cornucopiae, bound with fillet, dotted border, around ARSINOHS and to left FILADELFOU, (S.7768, Sv. 471, cf.Hazzard 1036-7, cf.SNG Cop.134). Well centred, nearly extremely fine/extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $13,000
SOLD $0
Tiberius, (A.D. 14-37), gold aureus, Lugdunum mint, issued A.D. after A.D. 16, (7.662 grams), obv. laureate head of Tiberius to right, around TI CAESAR [DIVI] AVG F AVGVSTVS, rev. PONTIF MAXIM Livia seated to right, with inverted vertical spear and branch, (S.1760, RIC 27, Cal.305, BMC 39, C.15). Slightly short on flan, otherwise nearly very fine and scarce.
Estimate $1,600
SOLD $1,400
Vitellius, (A.D. 69), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. July - December 69, (7.154 grams), obv. laureate head of Vitellius to right, around A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, rev. PONT MAXIM Vesta seated to left, holding patera and sceptre, (S.2186, RIC 106, Cal.571, BMC 33, C.71). Well centred and very fine/nearly very fine and rare.
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $0
Domitian, (A.D. 81-96), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 81, (7.266 grams), obv. laureate head of Domitian to right, around IMP CAES DOMITIANVS AVG P M, rev. TR P COS VII DES VIII P P throne facing with semi-circular diadem above, (S.-, RIC 17, Cal.927 [This Coin, illustrated], BMC 17, C.572). Well centred nearly extremely fine/ very fine and very rare.
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $0
Honorius, (A.D. 393-423), gold solidus, Ravenna mint, issued A.D. 408-422 (4.450 grams), obv. pearl diademed bust draped and cuirassed of Honorius to right, around D N HONORI VS P F AVG, rev. VICTORI A AVGGG, emperor standing right holding standard, Victory on globe, left foot on captive, R V either side, CONOB in exergue, (S.4244, RIC 1323, DOCLR 7/1, C.44). Large flan, nearly extremely fine/good very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $900
SOLD $720
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, issued 639-641, Constantinople mint, Officina A, (4.400 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, A to right, around VICTORIA AVGUS, CONOB in exergue, (S.764, DOC [39a], BMC 50). Minor scratches in reverse field, very fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $280
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, Officina **G*, issued 638-639, (4.424 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, A to right, around VICTORIA AVGU **G*, CONOB in exergue, (S.766, DOC 40b, BMC -, T.-, R.-). Nearly extremely fine and a very rare variety.
Estimate $550
SOLD $400
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 $500
SOLD $500
Justinian II, (first reign 685-695), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 687-692, (4.234 grams), officina A, obv. bust facing of Justinian with slight beard, wearing chlamys and crown, holding cross on globe, around DIUS[TINIA NU]S PE AV, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB**G*, around VICTORIA AVGU A, (S.1247, DOW 6a, BMC 9 = T.2). Edge has been lightly filed in places, otherwise nearly extremely fine and a rare variety.
Estimate $600
SOLD $480
Basil I the Macedonian and Constantine, (A.D.867-886), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued from A.D. 867-879, (4.354 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, DOC 2b, R.1858). Nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $800
SOLD $720
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.322 grams), obv. bearded Christ enthroned no back, facing, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, in left hand the Gospels, IC XC across, double dotted border, rev. +NIKH**F D*EC T W ROTANIAT, around bust of Nicophorus facing, bearded wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and globe with cross, (S.1881, DOC 3, BMC 7-11, R.2051-2). Very fine/extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $360
John III, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D.1222-1254), scyphate gold hyperpyron, Magnesia mint, (4.452 grams), obv. Christ seated facing on throne, wearing nimbus, raising right hand, IC XC across, cross of four dots in field to left and right, rev. half length figures of John on left and Virgin crowning him on the right, traces of legend in field, (cf.S.2073, DOC (4h), Num. Chron. 1980 Metcalf 'Agrinion Hoard' No.72 illustrates variety, cf.Hendy Pl.32, 2). Nearly extremely fine and very rare variant.
Estimate $400
SOLD $400
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.356 grams), second coinage transitional to late style, issued 1232-1254, obv. Christ enthroned facing nimbate, raising hand, IC XC either side of head, rev. John standing left being crowned by the Virgin Mary, to left and right traces of legend, (S.2073; DOC 6a, Vol.4, pl.XXX; H.Pl.32, 3). Weak in places, otherwise nearly extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $0
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.044 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters (sigla) **P* and **F* to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Michael IX to left and right with Christ standing between both emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2396, Bendall PCPC 128, var. type sigla 32, DOC 251266). Small flan, weak in places as usual, otherwise nearly extremely fine and a very rare set of sigla.
Estimate $400
SOLD $300
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.054 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, control letters (sigla) K and N to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Michael IX to left and right with Christ standing between both emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2396, Bendall PCPC 128, var. type sigla 175, DOC 366). Large flan, weak in places as usual, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $300
SOLD $300