Catalogue
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.434 grams), Byzantium mint, issued after 281 B.C., probably about 195-190 B.C., obv. head of Alexander to right, with diadem and horn of Ammon, rev. Athena enthroned to left, supporting Nike, spear behind, monogram C**Q*/NM to left, to right **BASILEWS*, to left **[L]USIMACOU*, trident in exergue, BY on throne base, (cf.S.6813, M.153, SNG Cop.188 [Pl.21], Thompson -, cf.Seyrig 'Essays in Greek Coinage' to Stanley Robinson, Plate 23, 11 [similar obverse die]). Nearly extremely fine of fine style and very rare.
Estimate $2,500
SOLD $2,500
Thrace, Kingdom of, Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.274 grams), Byzantium 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, to right **BASILEW[S]*, to left **LUSIMAC[OU], monogram **DMHPA* below arm, BY on throne, trident and monogram below in exergue, (cf.S.6813, AMNG 2477, cf.SNG Cop.1090, cf.M.175, cf.Seyrig Pl.24 No.14, De Callatay p.142, Pl.XXXVIII, dies D-/R4 [this reverse die], Naville Sale V, lot 1693 [Same reverse die]), Extremely fine, well centred on the obverse and virtually as struck and very rare.
Estimate $2,200
SOLD $1,700
Black Sea Area, similar to Thracian issue of King Lysimachos, (323-281 B.C.), gold stater, (8.050 grams), Uncertain mint, barbarous posthumous issue c.1st century 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, to right **BASILEW[S]*, to left **LUSI*WAXV, N below arm, trident in exergue, (cf.S.6813, cf. Gobl OTA 282, CNG Sale 60 [lot 3, This Coin]), Minor field marks, good very fine with very large flan, unpublished and extremely rare.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $1,500
Thrace, Kingdom of, Coson, (c.42 B.C.), gold stater, (8.504 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, Brutus's monogram to left, rev. eagle standing to left on sceptre, holding wreath in one claw, (S.1733, BMC 2, Winkler 1-3). Extremely fine and virtually as struck, rare.
Estimate $1,400
SOLD $1,100
Mysia, Lampsakos, (c.5th century B.C.), electrum stater, (15.204 grams), obv. forepart of winged horse to left bridled with round wings, vine branch to left and above, rev. quadripartite incuse square with alternatively raised and sunken squares, (cf.S.3881 [£2500 commoner variety], Boston 1582 [p.206, Pl.77 similar dies], cf.ACNAC Rosen 523, cf.SNG von Aulock 1289, Bab. I, 323 var., Baldwin Period I, [AJN 1914, p.7, Pl.I, 9] No.11, cf.BMC 7, Weber 5105). Good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $6,000
SOLD $0
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third stater, (4.716 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, rev. double incuse punch, (S.3398, BMC 7 [p.2], Weidauer [Essays to Robinson] Class XVI, 61-63, SNG Cop. 449-451, ACNAC Rosen 231, ACNAC Dewing 2421-3). Full head within flan, good very fine and rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $0
Persia - Lydia, Achaemenid Empire, Persian Imperial Coinage (c.455-420 B.C.), struck in period of Darios I - Xerxes I, gold daric, (8.286 grams), Sardes mint, 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 (late), Group C, nos.42, Pl.XIV, BMC Arabia 58, cf.SNG Cop. 274). Good very fine, with underlying mint bloom, scarce.
Estimate $3,200
SOLD $3,300
Bactria, Kingdom of, Diodotos I, (256-239 B.C.), gold stater, (8.356 grams), Bactra (Balkh) mint; (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]NTIOXOY, (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 but hardly noticeable, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $4,500
SOLD $3,600
Sassanian King, Shapur II, (309-379), gold dinar, (7.192 grams), Kabul mint type, obv. bust to right with crown, flowing hair type, cross before, rev. fire altar, text around, (Sellwood 31, Gobl 1309.4 [Kushan Gold very similar dies]). Good very fine and rare.
Estimate $5,000
SOLD $0
Egypt, Kingdom of Ptolemy II, (282-246 B.C.), gold tetradrachm, (13.834 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. conjoined busts to right of Ptolemy II diademed and draped and Arsinoe II diademed and veiled, above **ADELFWN*, shield behind, dotted border, rev. conjoined busts to right of Ptolemy I diademed and wearing aegis and Berenike I diademed and veiled, above **QEWN*, dotted border, (S.7790 [£1400], Sv.604 [Pl.14, 19-21], SNG Cop. 133, BMC 4-5, Hazzard C1035). Attractive good very fine and rare.
Estimate $3,800
SOLD $3,700
Nero, (A.D. 54-68), gold aureus, Rome mint, (7.486 grams), issued A.D. 58-59, obv. bare head of Nero to right, around NERO CAESAR AVG IMP, rev. oak-wreath enclosing EX SC, around PONTIF MAX TR P V P P, (cf.S.1936 [denarius], RIC 16, BMC 17). Small trace of old mounting, minor edge nick, otherwise very fine and rare.
Estimate $3,500
SOLD $2,700
Vespasian, (A.D. 69-79), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 73, (7.170 grams), obv. laureate head of Vespasian to right, around IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, rev. A circular shrine of Vesta on the Palantine showing four columns, flanked by two statues on pedestals, statue of Vesta within, VES TA above, (S.2255 [£5500 EF], RIC 304, Cal.695, C.581). Good very fine and rare.
Estimate $8,000
SOLD $0
Domitian, as Caesar under Vespasian, (A.D. 81-96), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 74-75, (7.398 grams), obv. small laureate head of Domitian to right, around CAESAR AVG F DOMIT COS III, rev. Spes advancing to left, holding flower, PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS around, (S.2622, RIC V233, Cal.912b, C.374). Extremely fine, with some original mint bloom and rare.
Estimate $8,000
SOLD $0
Domitian, as Caesar under Vespasian, (A.D. 81-96), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 77-78, (7.170 grams), obv. laureate head of Domitian to right, around CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, rev. captive in oriental costume kneeling right, holding standard with vexillum attached, COS V in exergue, (S.2620, RIC V240, Cal.819, C.48). Highlights toned, nearly extremely fine and very scarce.
Estimate $7,500
SOLD $0
Honorius, (A.D. 393-423), gold solidus, Ravenna mint, issued A.D. 402-406 (4.426 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 1319, C.44). Large flan, good very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $1,100
SOLD $0
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.430 grams), issued A.D. 607-610, Officina E, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding cross, around dNN (sic) FOCAS PERP AV, 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.6-7, cf.BMC 6-7, cf.T.9, R.-). Extremely fine, proof-like field, nearly as struck with some mint bloom.
Estimate $650
SOLD $450
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 647, (4.430 grams), officina **D*, obv. bust facing of Constans with very slight beard, wearing chlamys and crown, around dN CONStAN TINUS PP AV, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGU**D*, E in right field, (S.942 (£300 EF), DOC (5b], BMC 12 = T.25). With trace of mint bloom, extremely fine/good very fine and rare.
Estimate $600
SOLD $450
Constantine IV, (668-685), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, Class II, issued 674-681, (4.496 grams), officina B, obv. helmeted three-quarter cuirassed bust to right, with crest and plume, holding spear and shield, around dN COT NVSP, rev. Cross potent on three steps, between Heraclius and Tiberius, around VICTOA AVGUB, CONOB in exergue, (S.1153, DOC [10aa], W.-, R.-, To.-). File mark on edge, possibly has been mounted, weak in places, otherwise extremely fine and an unlisted officina.
Estimate $400
SOLD $360
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.222 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). Good bust of bearded Christ, good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $450
SOLD $210
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.348 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, cross to left and right above throne, (S.2073, DOC 4d, Vol.4, pl.XXIX, 4d; H.Pl.31, 14). Nearly extremely fine and very scarce, weak on head of obverse.
Estimate $600
SOLD $0
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (3.876 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and four towers, star to right and left over 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 185, DOC 336-349). Minor flan crack, weak in places as usual, otherwise very fine and scarce.
Estimate $300
SOLD $0
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.154 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and six towers, control letters (sigla) B and **G* 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, (cf.S.2396, Bendall PCPC 127, type sigla 10, cf.DOC 244). Weak in places as usual, otherwise very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $300
SOLD $0
Constantine I, (A.D. 307-337), forgery of good style in gold of a copper folles (3.10 grams), obv. pearl rosette draped bust to right, around CONSTANTI NVS MAX AVG, rev, Two soldiers two standards, around GLOR IA EXERC ITVS, SMAN**D* (Antioch mint) in exergue, (cf.S.3886). Good very fine and unusual copy to be in gold.
Estimate $100
SOLD $80