Catalogue
Persian Imperial Coinage, Kingdom of, Artaxerxes II and III, (375-340 B.C.), struck in Lydia at Sardeis, silver siglos, (5.494 grams), obv. king as bearded archer kneeling to right with dagger and bow, rev. oblong incuse punch, (S.4683, Bab. Pl.86, 18-19, BMC 175-177, Carradice type IV, Group C). Dumpy flan, good fine or better, scarce,
Estimate $100
SOLD $60
Persian Imperial Coinage, Kingdom of, Artaxerxes II and III, (375-340 B.C.), struck in Lydia at Sardeis, silver siglos, (5.492 grams), obv. king as bearded archer kneeling to right with dagger and bow, rev. oblong incuse punch, (S.4683, Bab. Pl.86, 18-19, BMC 175-177, Carradice type IV, Group C). Nearly very fine, scarce, small flan as usual.
Estimate $80
SOLD $60
Bactria, Kingdom of, Antialcidas, (c.145-135 B.C.), silver drachm, (2.356 grams), obv. bust of Antialcidas to right, wearing kausia, around **BASILEWS NIKHFOTOU ANTIALKIDOU*, rev. Zeus enthroned to left, with winged Nike and forepart of elephant holding wreath in left field, Karosthi legend around, PK monogram to right, (S.7629, SNG ANS 1085-1093, Bopearachchi Ser.13A, M.277a). Attractive steel blue and grey patina, nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $250
SOLD $0
Bactria, Kingdom of, Antialcidas, (c.145-135 B.C.), silver drachm, (2.436 grams), obv. bust of Antialcidas to right, wearing helmet, around **BASILEWS NIKHFOTOU ANTIALKIDOU*, rev. Zeus enthroned to left, with winged Nike and forepart of elephant holding wreath in left field, Karosthi legend around, PK monogram to right, (S.7629, SNG ANS 1078-1084, Bopearachchi Ser.12C, M.279). Nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $250
SOLD $0
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy I (323-283 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (16.68 grams), issued 314-312 B.C., obv. head of Alexander wearing elephant headdress to right, rev. **ALEXANDROU* on left, Athena Alkidemos to right with spear and shield, monogram on right, below lower right an eagle to right, (S.7748, Sv.39 variety (Pl.II, 19 same obverse die), Zervos -, (The Alexander Mint of Egypt PhD Thesis 1974), SNG Cop.-, Bank Leu 22, May 8, 1979 [lot 172, same obverse die with similar reverse striking characteristics]). Old dark grey patination, nearly extremely fine and extremely rare, the variety unpublished.
Estimate $3,000
SOLD $2,600
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy II, (285-246 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (14.038 grams), Sidon mint, obv. head of Ptolemy I to right wearing aegis, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on thunderbolt, in front **SI*, around traces of **BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU*, (cf.S.7772, Sv.713, SNG Cop 506-7). Bright, obverse and reverse banker punchmarks, otherwise nearly very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $120
SOLD $0
Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy IV, (221-204 B.C.), AE 34 or hemidrachm, (37.51 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed head of Zeus Ammon to right, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on thunderbolt, in front cornucopiae, around **BASILEWS [PT]OLEMAIOU**, between legs **DI, (cf.S.7841, Sv. 1127, SNG Cop. 202, BMC 65, Koln 48, Pitchfork 56). Attractive with brown patination, very fine.
Estimate $120
SOLD $100
Egypt, Alexandria, Claudius and Messalina, (A.D. 41-54), silver tetradrachm, (12.29 grams), issued year 3 = 42-43, Obv. TI K**L*AY**DI KAIS SEBA GE*PMANIAYTOK, head of Claudius to right, laureate, in front L **G*, Rev. Messalina as Demeter to left arm resting on column, veiled and clad in chiton and peplos, hold two small figures (her children, Britannicus and Octavia) and ears of corn, around ME**SSALI NA KAIS SEBAS*, (S.1869 [Sear Roman Coins], RPC 5131, Koln 75 (p.36), Datt. 123, BMC 71-72 (p.10), Curtis 13 variety, Milne 84-85). Extremely fine, grey tone and very rare in this condition.
Estimate $750
SOLD $600
Egypt, Alexandria, Nero, (A.D. 54-68), billon tetradrachm, year 11 = A.D. 64-65, (11.465 grams), obv. radiate bust of Nero to right wearing aegis, around NEP**W KLAU KA[IS S]EB GER*, rev. LIA to left, eagle standing to left, holding palm, around AY [TOKPA], (S.-, BMC 165, Milne 228ff., Koln 163-6); another billon tetradrachm, year 12 = A.D. 65-66, (13.158 grams), obv. radiate bust of Nero to right wearing aegis, around [N]EP**W KLA[U KAIS S]EB [GER*], rev. Alexandria bust to right, wearing elephant head, around off flan [AYTO] KPA, to right LIB, (S.633, BMC 163-4, Milne 238-245, Koln 172-4); Hadrian, (A.D. 117-138), billon tetradrachm, year 20 = A.D. 135-136, (10.794 grams), obv. laureate head to left, rev. Nilus reclining, trace of LK to left, (cf.S.3740, Koln 1196, Milne 1491); another year 10 = A.D. 125-6, (11.232 grams), obv. laureate bust of Hadrian to right, rev. Dikaiosyne standing to left, holding scales and cornucopiae, around date, (cf.S.3713, Koln 904, BMC 590, Milne 1117), Fine with weak legends, scarce. (4)
Estimate $200
SOLD $180
Egypt, Alexandria, Aelius, (A.D. 137), AE hemidrachm, year 21 = A.D. 136-137, (22.24 grams), obv. Aelius bust with bare head to right, around **LAILIO*C [KAICAP], rev. Homonoia seated to left, in exergue OMONOIA, (S.3996 [£100 F], Datt. 2076, Koln 1274, Milne 1546, SNG Cop. 419). Fine and rare.
Estimate $120
SOLD $60
Egypt, Alexandria, Aurelian, (A.D. 270-275), billon tetradrachm, year 4 = A.D. 272-273, (9.352 grams), obv. laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Aurelian to right, around A K **L DOM AURHL*IANOC CEB, rev. eagle to left, head to right, standing between two vexilla, above L **D*, (cf.S.4753, BMC -, Milne 4396, Koln 3077); others year 3 = A.D. 272, (7.786 grams), obv. laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Aurelian to right, around A K **L DOM AURHL*IANOC CEB, rev. eagle to right, with wreath in beak, palm over shoulder, across L **G*, (cf.S.4751, BMC -, Milne 4365-6, Koln -); another year 6 = A.D. 274-5, (7.952 grams), obv. similar, rev. eagle to left, head to right, ETOVC S around, (S.4755, Koln 3096, Milne 4456); Tacitus, (A.D. 275-276), billon tetradrachms, year 1 = A.D. 275-276, (7.568 grams), obv. laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Tacitus to right, around A K K**L TAKI* TOC CEB, rev. eagle standing to left head to right holding olive branch, ETOVC A around, another (8.536 grams), obv. similar, rev. Diakaiosyne standing to left holding cornucopiae and scales, ETOVC A around, (cf.S.4765, -, BMC 2406, 2403, Milne 4504, 4489, Koln 3113, 3115-6). Fine - very fine. (5)
Estimate $200
SOLD $180
Parthia, Kingdom of, Mithradates I, (c.171-138 B.C.), silver drachm, (3.924 grams), Nisa mint, obv. small bust to left in bashlyk, rev. archer seated right on omphalos, three line inscription N? below, (cf.S.7328, Sellwood 10.4, Shore -). Fine/good fine and rare. $$ Ex B.A. Seaby, London, with ticket c.1970 (£14).
Estimate $120
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Mithradates II, (123-88 B.C.), silver drachm, (3.990 grams), Rhagae mint, obv. medium bust to left with beard, wearing tiara with six pointed star in centre and torque ending in one dots, rev. archer seated right on throne, six line inscription, (S.7373, Sellwood 29.1, Shore 102). Very fine/good very fine and rare.
Estimate $100
SOLD $50
Parthia, Kingdom of, Orodes I, (90-77 B.C.) (Sellwood Unknown king), silver drachm, (4.144 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. large size bare-headed bust to left with short beard, wearing diadem, rev. archer seated right on throne, five line inscription, (S.7382, Sellwood 30.14, Shore 131). Minor cleaning on reverse required, otherwise nearly extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $160
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Gortazes I, (95-87 B.C.), silver drachm, (3.746 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. small bust to left with beard, wearing tiara with horn in centre, torque ends in dot, rev. archer seated right on throne, five line inscription, (S.7394, Sellwood 33.2, Shore 111). Toned, good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $120
SOLD $70
Parthia, Kingdom of, Gortazes I, (95-87 B.C.), silver drachm, (4.182 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. small bust to left with beard, wearing tiara with horn in centre, torque ends in dot, stags with horns, rev. archer seated right on throne, five line inscription, (S.7394, Sellwood 33.4, Shore 113). Toned, good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $130
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Orodes II, (c.57-38 B.C.) silver drachm, (3.946 grams), Mithradatkart mint, obv. large size bust without wart wearing a diadem to left with short beard, star before crescent behind, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, monogram MT over **W* below bow, (cf.S.7443, Sellwood 47.9, Shore 241). Bright, nearly extremely fine/ good very fine and rare.
Estimate $150
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Orodes II, (c.57-38 B.C.) silver drachm, (3.840 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. small size bust wearing a diadem to left with short beard, star before, crescent over star behind, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, monogram AT, anchor with curved trident above behind, (cf.S.7445, Sellwood 48.8, Shore 260). Bright, attractive nearly extremely fine a variant to the next lot.
Estimate $150
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Artabanus II, (A.D. 10-38), silver drachm, (3.730 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. medium size bust wearing a diadem to left with long pointed beard, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, monogram AT over . under bow, (S.5774, Sellwood 61.7, Shore 337). Dark tone, very fine.
Estimate $100
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Vonones II, (c.A.D. 51), silver drachm, (3.372 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. large size facing bust wearing a tiara with horn motifs, six pointed star each side, dotted border, rev. archer seated right on throne, seven line inscription, monogram AT and dot, (S.5797, Sellwood 67.1, Shore 368). Very fine, scarce.
Estimate $80
SOLD $50
Parthia, Kingdom of, Vologases V, (c.A.D. 191-208), billon tetradrachm, (13.438 grams), Seleucia mint, issued year 513 = 199-200 A.D., obv. large size bust to left with long beard, hair bunched above diademed and behind ears, rev. king enthroned to left receiving diadem from Tyche holding sceptre, date **GIF* between figures, (S.5870, Sellwood 87.20, cf.Shore 447). Good fine and rare.
Estimate $100
SOLD $0
Parthia, Kingdom of, Vologases VI, (c.A.D. 208-228), silver drachms, (3.386 grams), Ecbatana mint, obv. medium size bust wearing a tiara with neckflap, I) behind tiara, to left with pointed long beard, rev. archer seated right on throne represented, AT below, four line inscription, (cf.S.5876, Sellwood 88.18, Shore 456). Toned, extremely fine.
Estimate $120
SOLD $0
Sasanian King, Artashir, I (A.D. 224-242), silver half drachm, type I, (1.454 grams), obv. bearded facing bust of king, wearing close-fitting headress with ear flaps, legend around, rev. profile bust of father Papak to left, legend around, (Sellwood type I, Plate I, 2 [£1000], Gobl 3, M.-). Uneven tone, chip in edge, fine and very rare.
Estimate $200
SOLD $0
Sasanian King, Ardashir, I (A.D. 224-240), billon tetradrachm, (12.028 grams), obv. bearded bust to right of king, wearing close-fitting headress with ear flaps, legend around, rev. fire altar, without attendants (Sellwood type II, Plate I, 5, Gobl 7, M.784-6). Uneven tone, nearly very fine and rare.
Estimate $100
SOLD $0
Sasanian King, Varhran I, (271-274), silver drachm, (4.524 grams), obv. bust to right with radiate crown, globe above, with ear flap, rev. fire altar with attendants, plain shaft, (cf.Sellwood Plate II, No.18, Gobl 45, M.838). Extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $300
SOLD $250
Sasanian King, Vahran, II (274-293), silver drachm, (4.208 grams), obv. jugate busts of Vahran and consort, the queen's head topped with horse head, prince on right to left with eagle head, rev. fire altar with attendants, (Sellwood type IV, 23, Gobl 68, Pl.4, M.850). Nearly extremely fine, and rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $0
Sasanian King, Shapur II, (A.D. 309-379), silver drachm, Type I Gobl, (3.194 grams), obv. bust to right with crown, name in outer margin, rev. fire altar with attendants, bow on altar, (Sellwood 28, Gobl 97, Paruck 196, M.874-875). Grey tone, extremely fine, very scarce.
Estimate $300
SOLD $250
Sasanian King, Artashir II, (379-383), silver drachm, (4.126 grams), obv. bust to right with close fitting headress, pearl border and globe above, rev. fire altar with attendants, plain above flames, (cf.Sellwood Plate IV, No.34, Panuck 261, Gobl 121, M.911). Of fine style, very fine/extremely fine and very rare.
Estimate $450
SOLD $0
Sasanian King, Yazdgard I, (A.D. 399-420), silver drachm, (3.962 grams), obv. bust to right with crown, name in outer margin, rev. fire altar, crescent above both sides, (Sellwood 41, Gobl 147, M.940). Large flan, irregular tone, nearly extremely fine/very fine, scarce
Estimate $100
SOLD $110
Sasanian King, Yazdgard II, (A.D. 438-457), silver drachm, probably NVKI or "Navaki" mint, (4.184 grams), obv. bust to right with crown, name in outer margin, rev. fire altar, with "rasti" (just or truth) on shaft, (Sellwood 47, cf.Gobl 160, Alram 869, Panuck 337-340, M.971). Well centred, good extremely fine, very scarce.
Estimate $400
SOLD $390