Catalogue
Sicily, Syracuse, Time of Agathokles, (317-289 B.C.), electrum fifty (50) litrai, (3.640 grams), obv. laureate head of Apollo left with long flowing hair, altar behind, all within dotted border, rev. **[SUR]AK OSION around, tripod lebes with legs ending in lion's feet, (S.957 [£400], Jenkins 'Electrum Coinage of Syracuse' Essays Robinson, p.156 (Pl.14, obv. die 6, rev. die 4, same dies), BMC 255 (same obverse die), SNG ANS 622 (same obverse die). Attractive light tone, nearly extremely fine, rare.
Estimate $2,200
SOLD $2,900
Macedon, Kingdom of, Alexander III, (336-323 B.C.), gold stater, (8.454 grams), Citium mint (Cyprus), issued c.325-320 B.C., obv. head of Athena to right in crested Corinthian helmet, hair plaited, rev. Nike standing to left, holding wreath in outstretched hand, TK monogram in left field, to right **[AL]EXANDPOU*, (cf.S.6702; Price 3100, M.1296, SNG Berry 170, Newell 'Kition' 2). Off centred, otherwise good fine and a very rare mint.
Estimate $1,250
SOLD $1,000
Mysia, Cyzicus, second period, (c.475 B.C.), electrum hekte on Phocaic standard (2.748 grams), obv. winged female figure in rapid motion to the left, head turned back, wearing stephane and chiton, holds tunny fish [off flan] on a cord, rev. quadripartite incuse punch mark (S.3821 [£750], SNG Von Aulock -, de Luynes (Paris collection) No.2431 [p.11, Pl.XCII], Von Fritze 121, Greenwell 59 [p.80, Pl.III, 9], BMC 26 [p.21, Pl.IV, 7], Boston -). Slightly off centred on the obverse, otherwise good very fine and very rare.
Estimate $900
SOLD $1,250
Ionia, Southern Ionia, possibly Miletus, (c.600-550 B.C.), electrum twelfth stater (Lydo-Milesian standard), (1.152 grams), obv. lion's head to left, rev. quadripartite incuse with a dot as centre axis, dots at each end of a cross, (S.3532, cf.NFA Sale VI, 27/2/1979 [lot 281 $600US] = M & M sale 72 6 October 1987 [lot 39]). Good fine/very fine and very rare.
Estimate $400
SOLD $400
Titus, as Caesar, (A.D. 79-81), gold aureus, Rome mint, (7.29 grams), issued in 74 A.D., obv. T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN, laureate head right, rev. PONTIF TR POT, Fortuna standing to left on garlanded base, holding rudder and cornucopiae, (cf.S.2422, RIC 177b, C.166, Calico 752). Extremely fine, an impressive example with a strong portrait and traces of old red tone, scarce.
Estimate $18,000
SOLD $16,000
Septimius Severus, (A.D. 193-211), gold aureus, Rome mint, issued A.D. 205, (7.17 grams), obv. laureate head of Septimius Severus to right, around SEVERVS PIVS AVG, rev. around LIBERALITAS AVG VI, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand, (cf.S.6210, RIC 278a, C.297a, Calico 2479). Extremely fine, about as struck with a spectacular portrait, very fine style and very rare.
Estimate $18,000
SOLD $25,500
Gordian III, (A.D. 238-244), gold aureus, (4.976 grams), Rome mint, issued 241-3, obv. laureate bust to right of Gordian III, draped and cuirassed, around IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, rev. Sol standing to front, head to left, raising hand and holding globe, around AETERN ITATI AVG, (cf.S.2426, RIC 97, Cal.3186, C.37). Brilliant, full original mint bloom, as struck, uncirculated and very rare.
Estimate $12,000
SOLD $11,000
Uranius Antoninus, (A.D. 253-254), gold aureus, Emesa mint, issued A.D. 253-254, (5.28 grams), obv. laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Uranius Antoninus to left, around L IVL AVR SVL ANTONINVS, rev. around FECVNDITAS AVG, Fecunditas-Fortuna standing to left, holding rudder and cornucopiae, (S.9882, Baldus 83, RIC 3, C.-, Calico 3386). Slight scrape across the forehead otherwise extremely fine with mint bloom on a broad flan, one of the great rarities in the Roman series, only three other specimens recorded.
Estimate $40,000
SOLD $51,500
Tacitus, (A.D. 275-276), gold aureus, Tripolis mint (6.58 grams), obv. laureate draped and cuirassed bust to right of Tacitus, around IMP C M C L TACITVS AVG, rev. Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy, pellet in exergue, around P M TB P VI COS II P P, (cf.S.3298, RIC -, C.-, cf.Estiot 'Aurelian et Tacite: Monnaies d'or et faux modernes BSFN 9 [1990] fig. 4 same obverse die). Has been gilded and ex jewellery, otherwise choice good very fine and excessively rare.
Estimate $12,000
SOLD $10,000
Valens (A.D. 364-378), gold solidus, Antioch mint, issued 364-367, Officina **Q*, (4.24 grams), obv. pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust to right of Valens around DN VALENS PER F AVG, rev. Valens standing facing head to right, holding labarum with chi-rho symbol and Victory, RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE around, ANT**Q*. in exergue (S.4104, RIC type xiii [unlisted officina], 2d, C.32). Minor surface scratches in fields, otherwise very fine and very scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $750
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.338 grams), issued A.D. 602-603, Officina B, obv. Phocas facing bust, bearded, wearing cuirass, paludamentum and crown, with pendilia and cross, holding cross on globe, around ON FOCAS PERP AVI, rev. Angel facing, holding in right hand long staff, with partial P on cross symbol at top, in left hand globe with cross above, around VICTOR[I]A AVGG B, (S.616, DOC 1a.2 [same dies], BMC -, T.-, R.-). Broad flan as struck, good extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $1,400
Passed in
Phocas, (A.D. 602-610), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, (4.464 grams), issued A.D. 607-610, Officina E, 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 VICTORIA AVGUE, (S.620, DOC 10e, BMC 10-11, T.8, R.1181). Brilliant field, as struck, good extremely fine.
Estimate $800
SOLD $790
Heraclius, (610-641), gold solidus, issued 635-636, Constantinople mint, Officina E, (4.42 grams), Class IVA(a), obv. standing figures of Heraclius in centre, Heraclius Constantine on left, and Heraclonas on right, cross above, rev. Cross potent on three steps, monogram of Heraclius to left, around VICTORIA AVGUH, CONOB in exergue, **Q* in right field, (S.759, DOC [34 new officina], BMC -, T.-, MIB 40). Extremely fine and extremely rare variety.
Estimate $1,000
Passed in
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 651-4, (4.48 grams), officina Z (reversed), obv. facing bust of Constans with long beard, wearing chlamys and crown, around dN CONStAN TINUS PP AV, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGZ, (S.956, DOW [19g], BMC 33 = T.52, R.1515). Slightly off-centred reverse, otherwise extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $800
Passed in
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued 651-4, (4.384 grams), officina **D*, obv. bust facing of Constans with long 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*, (S.956 (£250 EF), DOC (19d], BMC 31). With some mint bloom, slightly off centred reverse, extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
SOLD $480
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued c.654-659, Class IV, Officina B, (4.37 grams), obv. facing long bearded bust of Constans wearing chlamys and crown with cross on top, Constantine IV on right wearing crown, cross in field, around dN CONSTANTINUS C CONSTANTIN, rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUB, (S.959, DOC.[25b], BMC 40-41 = T.236, R.-, MIB 28). As struck with mint bloom, extremely fine and very scarce for variety.
Estimate $900
Passed in
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, Constantinople mint, issued c.654-659, Class IV, Officina E, (4.45 grams), obv. facing long bearded bust of Constans wearing chlamys and crown with cross on top, Constantine IV on right wearing crown, cross in field, around [dN CONS]TATINUS C CONSTAN (sic), rev. cross potent on base and three steps, below CONOB, around VICTORIA AVGUE, (S.959, DOC.[25e], BMC 45, T.244, R.-, MIB 28). Weakness in obverse legend, otherwise nearly extremely fine/good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $600
SOLD $580
Constans II, (641-668), gold solidus, issued, (4.438 grams), Constantinople mint, Class VI, issued c.661-663, Officina B, obv. large crowned long-bearded bust facing of Constans, wearing chlamys and plumed helmet, ornamented with cross, Constantine IV on right wearing crown with cross on top, around dN [CONST] AN[U], rev. Cross potent above three steps, figures of Heraclius on left and Tiberius on right, each holding cross on globe, around VICTORIA A VGUB, in exergue CONOB, (S.964, DOC 30b, R.1605, T.287). Some mint bloom, extremely fine and scarce.
Estimate $700
SOLD $650
Leo III the 'Isaurian' and Constantine V, (717-741), gold solidus, (4.41 grams), Constantinople mint, issued 724-731, obv. facing bust of Leo III with short beard, wearing crown and chlamys, holding cross potent on globe, around dND LEO ND AMUL, rev. Constantine V beardless wearing crown and chlamys, holding cross potent, around DN CONST ANTINUS M, (S.1504, cf.DOC 4-5, BMC 8, T.54, R.1734). Trace of mint bloom otherwise good very fine and rare.
Estimate $1,600
Passed in
Leo V and Constantine, (A.D. 813-820), gold solidus, (3.942 grams), Syracuse mint, obv. facing bust with short beard wearing crown and loros and holding cross potent, around [LE]ON bASILEU, rev. facing bust of Constantine wearing crown and chlamys and holding globe with cross, around CONSTATINOS b, (S.1631B, DOC 14, BMC -). Some shortness of flan on obverse, otherwise extremely fine and rare.
Estimate $1,000
SOLD $4,000
Nicephorus III, (A.D.1078-1081), electrum gold histamenon nomisma (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (4.35 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 Nicephorus 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/good very fine and scarce.
Estimate $500
Passed in
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.49 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 as not matching to two obverse dies.
Estimate $600
Passed in
John III Ducas called Vatatzes, Empire of Nicaea, (A.D. 1222/3-1254), gold hyperpyron nomisma, Magnesia mint, (4.452 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, (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 $450
SOLD $450
Andronicus II and Michael IX, (1295-1320 or later), joint reign, gold hyperpyron (scyphate), Constantinople mint, (3.98 grams), obv. bust of Virgin within city walls and six towers, control letters C **D* to left and right, rev. Andronicus II and Andronicus III to left and right with Christ standing between emperors, traces of partial legend downwards of each emperor, (S.2396, Bendall PCPC cf.128 var.17, cf.DOC 250ff). Very fine.
Estimate $450
Passed in