Catalogue
Thrace - Tauric Chersonesus, Panticapaeum, (c.320 B.C.), gold stater, (9.148 grams), obv. head of bearded Silenus to left, with animal ear, wearing ivy wreath, rev. horned griffin with curved wings standing to left on an ear of corn, right foreleg raised, head facing, holding spear in jaws **P A N* around, (S.1693, SNG BM 867, Traite pl.353, 20; Kraay - Hirmer Pl.142, 440, Anokhin 109 Pl.3). A spectacular coin with some weakness on the reverse, obverse with a scratch, otherwise extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $35,000
SOLD $0
Thrace, Kingdom of, Coson, (c.42 B.C.), gold stater, (8.308 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 4). Extremely fine but weak in places but virtually as struck, rare.
Estimate $2,000
SOLD $0
Thrace, Kingdom of, Coson, (c.42 B.C.), gold stater, (8.426 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 $1,000
SOLD $0
Lesbos, Mytilene, c.450-338 B.C., electrum hekte (2.6 grams), Bodenstedt dates 346 B.C., obv. wreathed head of Apollo to right, rev. female head (Persephone) to right, hair tied up behind, all within linear square, (cf.S.4250, Bodenstedt 95, Boston 1727, SNG Lockett 2764). Off centred on the reverse, otherwise good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $800
SOLD $0
Mysia, Cyzicus, second period, (c.450-400 B.C.), electrum hecte on Phokaic standard (2.65 grams), obv. prow of ship to left, below tunny fish to left, rev. quadripartite incuse punch mark (S.3831 [£850], SNG Von Aulock 1183, cf.Von Fritze 80 [stater], cf.Greenwell 170 [p.124, Pl.VI, 35 this being the stater], BMC -, Boston -). Slightly off centred on the obverse, otherwise good very fine, very rare and important type.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $0
Asia Minor, uncertain Ionian mint (Miletus?), electrum twenty-fourth stater, (0.55 grams), c.575-550 B.C., obv. Lion's head facing, the mane indicated by striated lines in the field. rev. Rough incuse square. (S. -, cf.ACNAC Rosen 342 (1/48th). cf.Weidauer 166 (a 1/48th with a very similar facing lion's head but with a scorpion on the reverse, Leu, auction Sale 91, May 10, 2004 [lot 159] similar dies realised 750 SFr.). Unpublished very fine and very rare.
Estimate $350
SOLD $0
Asia Minor, uncertain Ionian mint, electrum twenty-fourth stater, (0.58 grams), c.late 7th early 6th century B.C., obv. octopus facing, the body a large blob and clear tenticles in the field. rev. Rough incuse square. (S. -, cf.ACNAC Rosen 360 (hecte). Weidauer -, Gemini III, Auction Sale, January 9, 2007 [lot 173] similar dies but a hemi hekte). Good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $600
SOLD $0
Lydia, uncertain king, issued before 561 B.C. and probably c.575 B.C., electrum trite or third stater, (4.714 grams) of Lydian-Milesian (Phoenician standard), probably issued at Sardis, obv. head of roaring lion to right, knob with trace of three rays on forehead, rev. double incuse punch, (S.3398, BMC 7 [p.2], Weidauer Class XVI, SNG Cop. 449-451, ACNAC Rosen 231, ACNAC Dewing 2421-3). Countermark on cheek and two on edge, very fine and rare.
Estimate $1,800
SOLD $0
Lydia, Persian Imperial Coinage (c.350 B.C.), struck in period of Darius III or earlier, gold daric, (about 8.3 grams), obv. bearded archer or king running to the right with transverse spear over shoulder, and bow in right hand, rev. oblong punch, (S.4679, Carradice type IIIb, nos.30-31, Pl.XIII). Fine/very fine and scarce. The coin is housed in a double sided gilt velvet frame (263x205 mm) with gilt metal description and identification below coin, coin visible also from behind.
Estimate $1,200
SOLD $1,000
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy I, (323-283 B.C.), gold pentadrachm, issued 284-283 B.C., (17.788 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed head of Ptolemy I to right, with aegis, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on thunderbolt, in front monogram **PAR*, around **BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU*, (S.7757, Sv. 210 [p.36, Pl.VII, 7], cf.SNG Cop.106 [Ptolemy II]). Attractive good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $7,000
SOLD $7,000
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy V, (204-180 B.C.), gold octadrachm or mnaeion, (27.89 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed head of Ptolemy V to right, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on thunderbolt around **BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU*, before eagle B, (S.7852, cf.Sv.1275 [p.212, Pl.XLI, 7], SNG Cop.-). Extremely fine and extremely rare.
Estimate $20,000
SOLD $22,000
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy VI-VIII, (180-116 B.C.), gold oktodrachm, commemorative issue for Arsinoe II, (27.83 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed and veiled head of Arsinoe II to right, lotus tipped sceptre over shoulder, K behind, within dotted border, rev. double cornucopiae bound with fillet, around **ARSINOHS FILADELFOU*, (S.7888A, Sv. 1499, SNG Cop. 321, Hazzard figure 112). About as struck, good extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $26,000
SOLD $0
Pertinax, (A.D. 193), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 193, (7.312 grams), obv. laureate head of bearded Pertinax to right, around IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, rev. around AEQVIT AVG TR P COS II, Aequitas standing to left, holding scales and cornucopiae, (S.6032, RIC 1a, BMC 14, C.1, Calico 2380). Nearly extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $35,000
SOLD $0
Trajan Decius, (A.D. 249-251), gold aureus, issued 250-251, Rome mint, obv. radiate bust to right of Trajan Decius, draped and cuirassed, around IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, rev. Abundantia standing half right, emptying cornucopiae held in both hands, around ABVNDANTIA AVG, (S.9352, RIC 10a, C.1, Calico 3282b [This Coin], Biaggi 1391 [This Coin]). Extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $14,000
SOLD $0
Leo I, (A.D. 457-474), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, Officina I, (4.422 grams), obv. Leo three-quarter facing bust, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, holding spear and shield, around DN LEO PE RP ET AVC, rev. Victory standing to left, in right hand holding long cross, in right field a star, around VICTORI A AVGGG I, in exergue CONOB, (S.4333, RIC 605). Slightly crinkled, heavy scratch on the obverse, worn face, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $500
SOLD $0
Justin II, (A.D. 565-578), gold solidus, issued at Constantinople mint in A.D. 565-578, (4.474 grams), obv. helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globe surmounted by Victory, around D N I VSTI NVS PP AVI, rev. Constantinopolis enthroned facing head right, holding sceptre and globe with cross, around VICTORI [A] AVGGGZ, in exergue CONOB, (S.345, DOC 4f). With some flat and weak areas, Constantinopolis head with field damage, otherwise very fine.
Estimate $300
SOLD $300
Justin II, (A.D.565-578), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 565-578, (4.384 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 $500
SOLD $400
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 $1,200
SOLD $1,200
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.27 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). Flan crack, very fine/good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $300
SOLD $0
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.228 grams), second coinage transitional to late style, issued 1232-1254, obv. Christ enthroned facing nimbate, raising hand, IC XC either side of head, three dots to right above throne, rev. John standing left being crowned by the Virgin Mary, to left and right traces of legend, (S.2073, DOC (9c), Vol.4, [not illustrated], cf.l.32, 3-5, an example was in a Glendining Auction 24.1.1945 [lot 74] and two others in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum). Holed, extremely fine and very rare, double struck on obverse, coin being struck from three dies.
Estimate $350
SOLD $0
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320), gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.102 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 $200
SOLD $200