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Click here to subscribe3rd-2nd cent. BC. Tetradrachm, 16.92gg (12h). Obv: Head of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet. Rx: Victory advancing left, holding out wreath; to left, pomegranate; across lower field, ΔEI - NO. SNG Paris 677. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Colonial Trading Co., Boston, November 2000. This coin is exceptional, like the previous lot, though not as perfectly centered. Mint State.
Year 18 = 30/29 BC (?). Tetradrachm, 14.58gg (10h). Obv: Veiled and turreted head of city goddess right. Rx: Athena standing left, holding with right hand Nike who crowns her with wreath, and with left hand shield and spear resting on ground behind her; AIΓEAIΩN to right, ΔI and club in lower left field, Δ in lower right field, date IH in exergue. Arnold-Biucchi, Aigeai, Travaux…Le Rider, pl. 2, 128 (D4/R16). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. A rare coin type, known in only four specimens up to 1979 and 16 specimens up to 1999, but now well documented because of the 187 additional hoard specimens published by Arnold-Biucchi in that latter year. This Aegeaen tetradrachm is recorded with only four dates, Year 4 and Years 16-18, and the known specimens were produced from only four obverse and nineteen reverse dies. Our coin will have been struck in 30/29 BC if the era used was the Caesarian era starting in 47 BC, but a considerably earlier date for the series, with an era starting c. 105 BC, has also been proposed. Near Mint State.
361-334 BC. Stater, 10.94gg (1h). Cilicia, TarsusObv: BLTRZ Baal of Tarsus enthroned to left, head front, holding eagle, ear of wheat, and bunch of grapes in right hand, dotted vertical scepter in left; in lower left field, R (in Aramaic); beneath throne, M (in Aramaic); dotted border. Rx: MZDY Lion stepping left, attacking bull; monogram below; dotted border. SNG Levante 106. The head of Zeus extremely sharp and complete. Wonderful Mint State coin..
281-261 BC. Tetradrachm, 17.23gg (8h). EcbatanaObv: Diademed head of Antiochus I right. Rx: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ Apollo, slight drapery on right thigh, seated left on omphalos, holding three arrows and resting left hand on grounded bow; by his legs forepart of horse grazing left (mintmark); monograms in inner left field above and below arrows. SC 409.2e. Houghton Coll. 1139 (same dies). Rare with the two monograms on the reverse in mirror-image form: our coin is from the same dies as Houghton Collection 1139, the only example of this variety cited by Seleucid Coins. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Calgary Coins, May 1998. "At Ecbatana, the Apollo on omphalos reverse has the local peculiarity that the god holds three arrows" (SC p. 147). EF.
Year 159 = 33/4 AD. Half Shekel, 7.06gg (12h). Obv: Laureate bust of Heracles (Melqart) right with lionskin knotted around neck. Rx: TYPOY IEPAΣ - KAI AΣYΛOY Eagle with closed wings standing left on prow, with palm branch behind shoulder and Phoenician letter between his legs; date PNΘ and club in left field; KP / A / N in right field. RPC 4693 (1 spec.). Prieur 1463 (1 spec.). Y. Meshorer thought that all Tyrian shekels and half shekels from Year 109 on, when the letters KP were added to their reverse design, were struck at Jerusalem rather than Tyre, but the authors of RPC I, pp. 655-6, do not accept this hypothesis. This coin was struck on one of the two dates, 31 and 33 AD, thought to be the date of Christ's crucifixion. VF.
Year 6 = 121/120 BC. Quarter Shekel, 3.20gg (1h). Obv: Laureate bust of Heracles (Melqart) right. Rx: TYPOY IEPAΣ - KAI AΣYΛOY Eagle with closed wings standing left on prow, with palm branch behind shoulder and Phoenician letter between his legs; date LC (apparently) and club in left field. Dated Coins of Antiquity p. 514, Coin 323. NGC 4625019-008. Purchased from Amphora Coins in 2011. A very rare fractional denomination at Tyre, listed by Dated Coins of Antiquity with only three dates, namely Year 2 (two citations), Year 6 (one citation: "in trade", perhaps our coin), and Year 9 (three citations). The extremely rare smallest deomination in this famous Tyrian series which usually included only shekels and half shekels. Toned EF/VF.
c. 380-332 BC. Obol, 0.63gg (11h). Obv: Galley left, at stern standard topped by crescent and globe, Samarian inscription above, double line of waves below. Rx: Persian king standing right, holding dagger in right hand, about to stab lion which he holds up before him by its head. Samarian Coinage 96. Sofaer pl. 167, 38. Hendin 1039. Well struck. This coin includes a virtually complete legend above the galley. EF.
Persian Period, before 333 BCE. Hemiobol, 0.37gg (4h). Obv: Lily flower. Rx: Falcon standing front, head right, wings spread, to right Hebrew inscription YHD. Sofaer 10, p. 241, pl. 193. Hendin 1060. NGC 4625017-003. Purchased from Herakles Numismatics, 6 March 2011. Of this series of hemiobols of Judaea, this coin has always been considered the most desirable. It is so rare that Hendin has only owned this issue once. While the head of the eagle is off flan, the legend is complete. EF.
40-4 BCE. Double Prutah, 4.39gg (12h). . , Year 3=40 BCE. Obv: Poppy pod on stem with leaves. Rx: HPΩΔOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ Winged caduceus upright, date LΓ to left, TP monogram to right. Hendin 1171. Sofaer 12, p. 257, pl. 207. Rare: only three obverse and three reverse dies attested by Menorah Coin Project up to 2010. EF.
40-4 BCE. Prutah, 2.13g (12h). . , Year 3=40 BCE. Obv: HPΩΔOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ Aphlaston upright, date LΓ to left, TP monogram to right. Rx: Palm branch with fillet. Hendin 1172. Sofaer 15, p. 258, pl. 207. Rare: only three obverse and one reverse dies attested by Menorah Coin Project up to 2010. EF.
4 BCE -39 CE. Quarter Unit, 3.42gg (12h). . , Year 43=39/40 CE. Obv: ΓAI / Ω KA / ICAP in three lines in wreath. Rx: HPΩΔHC TETPAPXHC Cluster of dates hanging downward, date L - MΓ across field at top. Hendin 1217. Sofaer 115, p. 261, pl. 210. Rare: only three obverse and four reverse dies attested by Menorah Coin Project up to 2010. VF.
66-70 CE. Prutah, 3.26gg (5h). Jerusalem, Year 2 = 67/8 CE. Obv: Paleo-Hebrew "year two", Amphora with broad rim and two handles. Rx: Paleo-Hebrew "the freedom of Zion", Vine leaf on small branch with tendril. Hendin 1360. Sofaer 11, p. 273, pl. 222. NGC 4625163-001. Again not a rare coin, but an exceptionally fine and complete specimen. EF.
Shekel, 13.95gg (11h). . , Year 5 = 70 CE. Obv: Chalice with pearled rim, base is raised by projections on ends; Hebrew "Shekel of Israel" around, date (Year 5) above chalice. Rx: Stem with pearled bottom and three pomegranate buds; around Hebrew "Jerusalem the Holy". Hendin 1370a. From the Baldwin's group of thirteen Year 5 shekels, all from the same dies as the previously unique example in BM: see Hendin's note to his no. 1370. This is one of the rarest coins in the Jewish series and one of the most highly desired. Several of these coins have come up recently, all declared as the "finest known", but they don't compare in any way to this exquisite coin. Perfectly struck and centered. Virtually Mint State..
132-135 AD. Zuz or Drachm, 3.37gg (6h). . , Year 2 = 133/4 AD. Obv: Paleo-Hebrew "Simon", Bunch of grapes in three lobes hanging from branch, which has a leaf to the left and a tendril to the right. Rx: Paleo-Hebrew "year two of the freedom of Israel", Palm branch. Hendin 1394. Mildenberg 40 (O7/R12'). Sofaer 53, p. 279, pl. 229. Overstruck: parts of the legend of the undertype survive to the left of the grape bunch on the obverse. NGC 4625018-009. Said to be from the W. Bick Collection, the coin cited by Mildenberg 40.6. Mint State.
132-135 AD. Zuz or Drachm, 3.09gg (6h). . , Undated = 134/135 AD. Obv: Paleo-Hebrew "Simon", Bunch of grapes in three lobes hanging from branch, which has a tendril to the left and a leaf to the right. Rx: Paleo-Hebrew "for the freedom of Jerusalem", Two trumpets with dot between. Hendin 1431. Mildenberg 199 (O24/R86, 28 spec.). Sofaer 139, p. 282, pl. 234. Overstruck on a denarius of Titus as Caesar: face of prince and end of obverse legend ESPASIAN[VS] from undertype visible on reverse. NGC 4625018-011. This coin is quite entertaining. Near Mint State.
70-79 CE. AE 21.5-23, 12.73gg (11h). Judaea, Caesarea Maritima. Obv: A[YTOKP] TITO - Σ KAΙΣAP Head laureate right. Rx: IOYΔAIAΣ E[AΛWKYIAΣ] Trophy, at base of which are, on left, captive seated left with hands tied behind back, and on right, large pelta-shaped shield. Sofaer 13 var., p. 275, pl. 224. RPC 2313 (41 spec.) var. The captive on reverse is seated on our coin, rather than kneeling as on Sofaer 13, pl. 224, and in the RPC description ("crouching"). VF.
285-246 BC. Tetradrachm, 14.21gg (1h). Sidon, c. 265/4-262/1 BC. Obv: Diademed bust of Ptolemy I right, aegis (off flan) knotted around neck. Rx: ΠTOΛEMAIOY - BAΣIΛEΩΣ Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, in left field mintmark ΣI above encircled N, these marks engraved over an earlier mintmark ΣI. Meydancikkale pl. 141, 4665. Svoronos 718. A reverse die with the field marks similarly re-engraved, proving that the issue with marks ΣI above encircled N followed that with just ΣI, was first noticed by Davesne and Le Rider, Le trésor de Meydancikkale, Paris 1989, p. 268. At least three reverse dies underwent this alteration: (a) Meydancikkale 4664-5; (b) our coin and Freeman & Sear, MBS 15, 27 June 2008, lot 222; (c) Argenor 5, 29 April 2002, lot 126. Two further specimens, BM 35 and in trade (Rollin & Feuardent), were listed but not illustrated by Svoronos 718, who wrongly interpreted the recut field marks as deriving from double-striking. VF.
c. 435-331 BC. Tetradrachm, 12.93gg (6h). Obv: Silphium plant with six leaves, K - V / P - A across field at corners of plant. Rx: Head of Ammon wearing ram's horn with short curly hair and scraggly beard. Porous surfaces but an impressive piece nonetheless. The obverse of this coin shows a very complete and elegant silphium plant. The reverse is very well struck with a sharp shadowing of an undertype that doesn't interfere with the image of the deity Ammon. BMC 73. Ex Frank L. Kovacs. Ex Nilus Coins. Ex G. Hirsch 275, 22 September 2011, lot 4150. Ex Schweizer Bankverein Zurich 33, September 1993, lot 463. Ex Christie's, 22 April 1986, lot 48. The Greek cities of Cyrenaica, namely Cyrene and Barce, were one of the main suppliers of grain for the Mediterranean (in one instance, they even saved mainland Greece from starvation). As long as the grain trade flourished, Cyrenaica enjoyed prosperity. The revenues from the silphium trade were also important. Silphium, a plant that is likely to be extinct since antiquity, was used as medicine; its importance to the ancient economy of the Cyrenaica is underlined by the fact that both Barce and Cyrene used it as a badge on their coins. The other side of their coins displays a head of Zeus in a version specific to North Africa, with the horns of a ram, thus equivalent to the Egyptian god Amun. Zeus-Ammon, as the Greeks called him, was introduced to the Greek pantheon as early as the early fifth century BC. According to ancient sources the Boeotian poet Pindar who wrote victory odes for Cyrenian aristocrats donated a statue of Zeus-Ammon to a sanctuary (c. 450 BC). Its head might have been reminiscent of the relevant type of Cyrenian coins, and it is fun to imagine what Pindar’s unsophisticated fellow-citizens might have thought about a statue of Zeus with the horns of a ram!. The silphium plant is beautifully struck and absolutely complete. With some traces of an earlier overstruck type on the reverse. About EF.
Denarius, 3.88gg (6h). Rome, 113-112 BC. Obv: Helmeted head of Roma right, ROMA in monogram behind, * below. Rx: Two soldiers fighting, one attacking with whip, the other defending with sword; T DEIDI in exergue. Crawford 294/1. Sydenham 550. RSC Didia 2. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Ex Berk 194, 9 July 2015, lot 141. Ex SC Collection. Marvin Tameanko has persuasively argued that this coin depicts a "bloodless 'warm up' act of mock fighters called 'paegniarii," rather than an actual battle or gladiatorial combat. Nice VF; toned.
Denarius, 3.89gg (3h). . , 100 BC. Obv: Bust of young Hercules right, wearing lionskin over shoulders and holding club, ROMA below; to left, shield and control mark B with dot above. Rx: Roma wearing triple-crested helmet standing facing, about to be crowned by half-nude Genius of the Roman People standing beside her; between the figures, control mark Y with dot above; in exergue, LENT MAR F (NT and MAR ligate); all within laurel wreath. Haeberlin 1119 = Banti 39 (same dies). Control mark variant of Crawford 329/1a, Sydenham 604, and RSC Cornelia 25. Possibly only the second recorded specimen of this denarius with a different control mark on the reverse than on the obverse. According to Crawford, "the control-mark on the reverse is invariably the same as on the obverse"; he apparently overlooked the Haeberlin coin contradicting this rule, which is from the same dies as ours. Banti 44/1 shows a coin with mark dot above Y on both obverse and reverse, as expected; this coin may be, but is not certainly, from the same reverse die as ours. Toned aEF.
84 BC. Denarius, 4.58gg (7h). . Obv: Head of Cybele right wearing turreted crown, AED CVR and deformed foot behind. Rx: Curule chair inscribed P FOVRIVS; in exergue, CRASSIPE[S]. Crawford 356/1a. Sydenham 735. RSC Furia 20. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Ex Berk 180, 16 August 2012, lot 457 ("Ex Kay Coin Company, 1960s"). Choice VF; nicely toned.
Denarius, 3.73gg (12h). , 42-41 BC. Obv: Head of Neptune ight., with trident over shoulder. Rx: Male figure on right, with right hand raising kneeling female figure on left; behind, trophy; in exergue, [MV]RCVS IMP. Crawford 510/1. Sydenham 1315 (R8). RSC Statia 1. Sear, Imperators 337. Lucius Staius Murcus began his political career as a legate of Caesar in Gaul and Africa from 48-46 BC. After Caesar's murder, he was appointed proconsul of Syria by the Senate. When Cassius arrived in the province in 43 BC, Murcus promptly transferred his allegiance and legions to the Liberator and was rewarded with command of a fleet. He demonstrated considerable skill as a naval tactician and in uneasy partnership with Ahenobarbus achieved complete control of the Adriatic and the seas around Greece. After the Republican disaster at Philippi, the two admirals waited developments in the Ionian Sea in support of no cause but their own, pirates in all but name. Murcus eventually made the ill-fated decision to throw in his lot with Sextus Pompey in Sicily. Pompey no doubt welcomed the arrival of Murcus' ships and well-seasoned crews, but Murcus himself was inconveniently accustomed to his own independent command. The two men soon quarreled; Pompey accused Murcus of conspiracy and ordered his execution in 40/39 BC. The rare coinage of Staius Murcus has never received the careful examination it merits. The depiction of Neptune on the obverse is an exact echo of an issue struck by Brutus in the previous year (Crawford 507/2), perhaps an indication of Murcus' lingering allegiance to the Republican cause. The type and legend of the reverse is more difficult to explain. For what victory did Murcus justify the adoption of the title IMP for Imperator? Sear in "Imperators" suggests the successful siege of Bassus in Apamaea in 43 BC as a suitable occasion, but Republican commanders didn't typically claim the title imperator for victory over their fellow Romans. Nor would that land siege two years earlier resonate with the sailors under Murcus' command in 41 BC, presumably the intended targets of the message. How does the title relate to the scene depicted? Is the standing male figure Murcus? Is the kneeling figure Roma, as suggested by Crawford? Again, what battle is represented by the trophy? An attractive example of an extremely rare coin, without the porosity, poor centering and double-striking that notoriously plague this issue. It's been plausibly suggested that the endemic double-striking indicates that these coins were actually struck aboard a ship in Murcus' fleet!. Bold Fine.
54-68 AD. Fourrée Denarius, 2.95gg (6h). Lugdunum, 54-5 AD. Obv: [AGRIPP AVG DI]VI CLAVD NERONIS CAES MATER Head bare of Nero right facing draped bust of Agrippina left. Rx: NERONI CLAVD DIVI F CAES AVG GERM IMP TR P around oak wreath enclosing EX S C. BM 3. Paris 8. Cohen 7 (30 Fr.). RIC 2 (R2). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Spartan Numismatics, September 2006. Agrippina's rapid loss of influence after successfully engineering Claudius' death and Nero's accession to the throne, culminating in her expulsion from the palace by Nero, is reflected in the gold and silver coinage of Nero's first regnal year. Agrippina is prominent in Nero's first coin type as emperor, shown by our denarius: her titles occupy the obverse, relegating Nero's titles to the reverse, and her portrait faces Nero's, though in the subordinate right-hand position. In the second type, the titles changed places, Nero's now occupying the obverse, and the portraits became jugate, with Agrippina behind Nero. Thereafter, Agrippina was entirely excluded from the coinage. Excellent vis-á-vis portraits of Nero and his mother. Planchet break on Agrippina's head. aEF.
68-69 AD. Sestertius, 23.28gg (6h). Rome. Obv: IMP.SER.GALBA.C - AES AVG TR P Bust laureate, draped right., seen from side. Rx: S - C across field, Victory advancing left holding Palladium and palm.. BM 107. Paris 174 (same obv. die). Cohen 261 (6 Fr.). RIC 352 (S). Ex Bertolami 37, 19-20 September 2017, lot 578. Ex NAC 78, 26-27 May 2014, lot 2148. Ex M. Ratto, Milan, 19 January 1956, lot 80. Ex M. Ratto, Milan, 26-29 January 1955, Dr. G. Giorgi Collection, lot 366. Ex M & M Basel VI, 6-7 December 1946, lot 796. Ex R. Ratto, Lugano, 8 February 1928, Morcom - Hands - Wertheim, lot 2213. Ex Naville II, 12-14 June 1922, Vautier - Collignon, lot 394. Kraay 73, Officina B, obverse die A1, reverse die P105, cited only our single coin for this die combination, though Kraay mistakenly made one of its auction appearances into a different, second, specimen; Kraay's specimens a and b are actually one and the same coin. The reverse type is interesting, conveying the idea that it was within Victory's power to bestow control over Rome (the Palladium); such a type occurred only on sestertii of the two successive emperors Nero and Galba, under Nero on a very rare coin of late in his reign showing Victory advancing right (BMC pl. 48.1), then under Galba on scarce sestertii showing her advancing either left or right, found by Kraay in a total of nineteen reverse dies (p. 56). Extremely sharp and complete, showing even the details of the leaves in Galba's wreath which are usually lost to flat striking or wear. Struck on an exceptionally broad flan and perfectly centered; probably one of the finest Galba sestertii in existence. Magnificent EF.
69-79 AD. Denarius, 3.36gg (12h). Rome, 72-3 AD. Obv: [IMP] CAES VESP AVG P M CO[S IIII] Head laureate right. Rx: Incuse mirror image of the same obverse portrait and legend. Cf. RIC p. 83 (with the intended reverse types, eliminated on our coin by the brockage). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Ex Berk 148, 29 March 2006, lot 250. EF.
69-79 AD. Sestertius, 27.57gg (6h). Rome, 71 AD. Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M T P P P COS III Bust laureate, draped right. Rx: PAX - AVGVSTI S - C Pax standing left holding branch and cornucopia. RIC 98 (R2). Bust variety of BM 772, pl. 34.3. Ex Glendining, 2 April 1952, V.J.E. Ryan Coll., Part 5, lot 2351 Ex Naville XI, 18-20 June 1925, H.C. Levis Coll., lot 445. Colin Kraay in his unpublished die catalogue of Vespasian's sestertii of 70-71 AD, no. 97, cited for this die combination our coin only, from the Ryan and Levis collections. This coin is part of Vespasian's earliest sestertius issue of 71 AD, with CAESAR VESPASIANVS...COS III in the obverse legend, which is characterized by a large and interesting variety of imperial portraits, bust types, and reverse types, for example the unusual laureate, draped bust on our coin, rather than the normal head laureate right. This draped bust type may be seen from the back as on our coin, or seen from the side as on BMC pl. 34.3, a distinction that is overlooked in the new RIC. Struck on a broad flan, this small flawless portrait of Vespasian is surrounded by an extremely long legend. The quality of this coin can be seen by the two exceptional collectors who owned it. Choice EF.
96-98 AD. Denarius, 3.68gg (7h). Rome, 96 AD. Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG - P M TR P COS II P P Head laureate right. Rx: CONCORDIA -EXERCITVVM Clasped hands before legionary eagle set on prow. BM 8. Paris 6. Cohen 25 (2 Fr.). RIC 3. Scarce: eight specimens in Reka Devnia hoard. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Ex Berk 126, 23 April 2002, lot 287. The eagle and the prow on the reverse of this coin face right, not left as usual. Paris 109-110 has the same variant on a dupondius reverse die in 97; all other coins with this reverse type illustrated in BMC, the Paris catalogue, and Berk photofile show eagle and prow facing left. Mint State.
96-98 AD. Tetradrachm, 14.44gg (12h). Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem, Year 1=96/7 AD. Obv: AVT NEPOVΣ - KAIΣ ΣEB Bust laureate right, aegis with Medusa head and snakes on front shoulder and behind neck. Rx: ETOVΣ. - NEOV.IEPOV. - A Eagle with wings raised standing right on thunderbolt, palm branch in right field. McAlee 419. Prieur 149 (87 spec.). RPC 3476. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Calgary Coin, April 1999. EF.
138-161 AD. Aureus, 6.88gg (6h). Rome, 143-4 AD. Obv: ANTONINVS AVG - PIVS P P TR P COS III Head laureate right. Rx: IMPERA - TOR II Victory flying right holding trophy with both hands. BM 492. Calicó 1548 (this coin). Cohen 429 (45 Fr.). RIC 109a (C ). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Ken Dorney, February 2000; ex M & M, November 1962, lot 612. Collectors must watch out for a deceptive modern fake of this aureus, published by the IAPN in Bulletin of Counterfeits 11, 1, 1988, fig. 10a. Our coin is from different dies, and is authentic; indeed fig. 11 in the cited article illustrates our very specimen as a genuine pendant to the replica there published. Near Mint State.
138-161 AD. Silver Quinarius, 1.64gg (7h). Rome, 145 AD. Obv: ANTONINVS - AVG PIVS P P Head laureate right. Rx: LIB IIII in exergue, TR PO - T - COS IIII Liberalitas standing left holding coin counter and cornucopia. King 22 (2 spec.), pl. 16 (same dies). Cf. RIC 155 and Strack 146 (the same quinarius in gold). Cf. King 19, pl. 15 and pl. G (silver quinarius from the same obverse die, but with rev. TR POT COS IIII, Hercules seated facing). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Alex Malloy, May 2000. A very rare denomination during this reign: our coin is apparently only the ninth known silver quinarius of Antoninus Pius, supplementing the eight examples of five types recorded by Cathy King in her quinarius book. Scratch on cheek. aVF.
138-161 AD. As, 9.96gg (12h). Rome, 145 AD. Obv: ANTONINVS AVG P[I] - VS P P TR P COS IIII Head laureate right. Rx: LIBERA - L - [I] - TAS - S - III[I] around, S C in exergue, Emperor seated left on curule chair on platform, Liberalitas standing left before him holding coin counter and cornucopia, citizen standing right on ground before platform, holding out toga to receive coins. BM 1750. Cohen 500 (10 Fr.) corr. RIC 819 (R ). This largesse was distributed on the occasion of the marriage of Marcus Aurelius Caesar and Faustina II, in spring 145. Distribution scenes were normally depicted just on sestertii, not on middle bronzes too. Dark green patina. EF.
177-192 AD. Sestertius, 30.32gg (11h). Rome, 184 AD. Obv: M COMMODVS ANT - ON AVG PIVS BRIT Head laureate right. Rx: SALVS in exergue, [P] M - TR P VIIII - IMP VII COS IIII P P S - C Salus seated left on throne ornamented with figures of Spes and sphinx, holding a patera to a snake coiling up from a box at her feet, to left a tree and a column which supports a figure of Bacchus. Cohen 683 (30 Fr.). BMC p. 797. RIC 439 (R ). Unusually broad, heavy flan. Ex Berk 151, 1 November 2006, lot 518 (weight wrongly 30.94g). This picturesque reverse type normally occurs with date TR P X not VIIII; BMC 1968 reprint p. 797 even contests the existence of sestertii of this type dated TR P VIIII. However, the reading on our coin is beyond question, and CoinArchives Pro contains two other specimens with this date, one from the same reverse die (Tkalec, 19 February 2001, lot 298), the other from different dies on both sides (Elsen 97, 2008, lot 405). VF.
. Antoninianus, 4.66gg (7h). Rome, 215-7 AD. Obv: IVLIA PIA - FELIX AVG Bust draped right, resting on crescent and wearing stephane. Rx: LVNA LVCIFERA Luna in biga of horses left, with the horses' hind legs bent and not resting on a ground line; Luna holds the reins and has a crescent on her head and a fold of drapery encircling her head. BM 9. Cohen 106 (3 Fr.). RIC 379a. Scarce: only eight specimens in Reka Devnia hoard.. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Ex Pegasi 23, November 2010, lot 529. C. Clay has observed that the standard catalogues fail to distinguish the two consecutive varieties of this reverse type: first as on our coin, with the horses' hind legs bent and no ground line, struck between 215 and early 217 AD; second with the horses' hind legs extended straight and with ground line, e.g. BMC pl. 67.10, struck from a little later in 217 until the end of Caracalla's reign. EF.
c. 350 BC. Stater, signed by Molossos, 7.99gg (5h). Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with Scylla. Rx: Bull butting right, head lowered, pawing ground with right foreleg and flicking tail; above, ethnic ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ; below, plinth inscribed with name [MO]ΛOΣΣOΣ. SNG ANS 1024 (same rev. die). Ex M & M 64, 26 October 1978, lot 64 Ex Vinchon Sale, November 1977, lot 30 Ex Art Monaco, 1970. "The name of Molossos was regarded by Noe (Thurian Distaters, p. 13) as that of a magistrate, but Robinson, adducing a plated coin on which MOΛOΣ is followed by EΠOE ("Molossos made it"), argued for an engraver's signature" (Rutter, HN Italy, 1784). Though it is uncertain whether Molossos was a die engraver or a magistrate, the coins with his name are rare and desirable, and our specimen is finer than most recorded examples, including the one in the ANS. Excellent pedigree, Toned EF.
222-235 AD. Denarius, 2.89gg (1h). Rome, 232 AD. Obv: IMP ALEXAN - DER PIVS AVG Bust laureate, draped right, seen from front. Rx: LIBERALI - TAS AVG V Liberalitas standing left holding coin counter and cornucopia. Bust variant of BM 946*, Cohen 142 (10 Fr.), and RIC 243 (S). Rare: only 3 specimens in Reka Devnia Hoard, not in BM by1962. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Classical Coins, October 1999. Mint State.
244-249 AD. Antoninianus, 4.40gg (12h). Rome, 248 AD. Obv: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG Bust radiate, draped, cuirassed right. Rx: SAECVLARES AVGG Antelope standing left, UI (officina 6) in exergue. RIC 21 (C ). Cohen 189 (2 Fr.). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Calgary Coin, April 1999. Mint State.
249-251 AD. Sestertius, 25.08gg (1h). Rome. Obv: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Bust laureate, cuirassed right. Rx: VICT - ORIA AV - G S - C Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm. On an usually broad and heavy, but irregularly shaped, flan. RIC 126d (S). Cohen 117 (5 Fr.). From the Bill Behnen Collection of coins of Decius and family. Ex Classical Cash IV, 30 August 1997, lot 819. With a paper rubbing of the coin made about thirty years earlier, explained as follows: "This coin was offered to me in NYC sometime in the late '60s. Couldn't afford but weighed it and made the attached paper rubbing". VF.
Died 180 AD. Antoninianus, 4.08gg (7h). Rome, restored by Trajan Decius, 250-1 AD. Obv: DIVO MARCO Radiate head of Divus Marcus Aurelius right. Rx: CONSECRATIO Rectangular, lighted altar with four panels on front and two steps below. Though priced at only three francs in Cohen, Marcus Aurelius is one of the rarest emperors in the Divi series of Trajan Decius, represented by no coins at all in the Dorchester hoard. Joaquim Blay's online die catalogue of this coinage lists just 19 specimens of this particular type of Divus Marcus (RIC 92b), including our coin. RIC 92b (R2). Cohen (M. Aurel.) 1059 (3 Fr.). Ex Bill Behnen Collection of coins of Trajan Decius and family. Purchased from Tom Cederlind, CICF, 8 April 2000. Mint State.
308-324 AD. Aureus, 5.30gg (7h). Siscia, c. 316 AD. Obv: LICINI - VS P F AVG Head laureate right. Rx: IOVI CONSE - RVATORI AVG Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and scepter, at feet eagle holding wreath in beak, SIS in exergue, X in right field. Unpublished rev. legend var. of RIC 18 (11 spec.) and Depeyrot 16 (p. 101, 17 spec.). The date 316 AD is deduced from the X in reverse field, which may refer to Licinius' decennalia. This variant with Jupiter holding Victory on globe rather than thunderbolt and with AVG at the end of the reverse legend is not in the standard catalogues, though there is a similar coin in CoinArchives and another was sold by Ancient Auction House on eBay in January 2007. Cohen 89 (150 Fr.) describes an aureus like ours, but apparently only in error, since he cites the Vienna collection, which does not possess such a coin according to RIC and Depeyrot. FDC.
402-450 AD. Light Miliarense, 4.26gg (12h). Constantinople, 408-420 AD. Obv: D N THEODO - SIVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust left. Rx: GLORIA - ROMANORVM Emperor nimbate and in military dress, standing right, head left, raising right hand and holding globe in left; CON in exergue, star in left field. RIC 370 (S). Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. Purchased from Alex Malloy, March 2001. This issue normally comes in magnificent condition and this coin is no exception. FDC.
First Reign, 685-695 AD. Solidus, 4.44gg (6h). Constantinople, 692-695 AD. Obv: IhS CRIS[JOS REX REJNA]NJIuM Bust of Christ facing with cross behind head; he has long hair and full beard, wears pallium and colobium, and raises right hand in benediction; he holds the book of Gospels in his left hand. Rx: D IuSJINIANuS SERu ChRISJi Θ (officina 9) Justinian, wearing crown and loros, standing facing, holding cross potent set on two steps and akakia; beneath [CONOP]. Berk 186. DO 7c. MIB 8. Sear 1248. Ex Berk 158, 26 March 2008, lot 31. First portrait of Christ on a coin. Exquisite portrait of Christ making him look like Zeus. Mint State.
1071-1078 AD. Histamenon Nomisma, 4.32gg (6h). Constantinople. Obv: Bust of Christ facing, nimbate, raising right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in left hand; IC-XC across fields. Rx: + MIXAHΛ RACIΛ O Δ Half figure of Michael facing in loros, wearing cross and pendilia, holding labarum and globus cruciger. Berk 326 (this coin). Sear 1868. DO 2. Privately purchased from Ed Waddell. Mint State.
Usurper, 1078 AD. Follis, 9.83gg (12h). Thessalonica. Obv: Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator. Rx: Patriarchal cross on base; barred. NC 1992, pl. 36, B. Sear 1903A. Listed incorrectly in DOC, p. 706, N 1 as anonymous. P. Grierson, Nicephorus Bryennius or Nicephorus Basilacius?" NumCirc LXXXIV.1 (January 1976), type a; R. Bland, "A Follis of Nicephorus Basilacius?". There were always doubts as to who issued this coin. It was thought of as Anonymous N because there was no readable legend. In 1976 a partial readable legend was discovered which is also included in this coin. Very few examples of this coin are recorded. Though messy and weak because struck by a usurper with worn dies, this coin is actually little worn so technically aEF.
c. 483-472 BC. Didrachm, 8.63gg (8h). Obv: ΗΙΜΕ[ΡΑ] Cock standing left. Rx: Crab. SNG ANS 157. Sear 718. NGC 4625019. Ex Berk 153, 13 March 2007, lot 101. Apparently minted when Theron, tyrant of Akragas, was master of Himera: hence the crab on the reverse, the emblem of Akragas. The cock on the obverse of this coin is more fully struck and has much more detail than usual. aEF/EF.
c. 410-405 BC. Tetradrachm, 17.33gg (7h). Obv: Quadriga galloping left, driven by female charioteer, holding long torch in right hand; above, Nike flying right to crown the charioteer; in exergue, ear of wheat. Rx: Head of Arethusa right, wearing crescent earring with hanging pendants and simple necklace, hair bound up in bun; around, two dolphins swimming down to right, one swimming down to left, and one swimming up from below Arethusa´s neck. Tudeer 61. SNG ANS 280. Gulbenkian 283. Ex Philip T. Ashton Collection. This coin is flawlessly centered with all four dolphins on the reverse, and complete quadriga with Nike flying above on obverse. Struck on an exceptionally broad flan and beautifully toned. There are some minor contact marks on the cheek, but this is an exceptional example of this highly desirable and rare issue. VF.
c. 400-390 BC, unsigned dies by Euainetos. Decadrachm, 43.13gg (8h). Obv: Quadriga galloping left, driven by a charioteer holding reins and directing the horses with a goad; above, Nike flying right to crown the charioteer; in exergue, panoply of arms on two steps: cuirass, two greaves, and a Phrygian helmet. Rx: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of nymph Arethusa left, wearing a reed wreath, triple ear pendant, and necklace; around, four dolphins. Gallatin F VIIa/RIV. Ex Stack's, 12 January 2009, Golden Horn, lot 2135. On the obverse, the charioteer seems to be rounding the turning post, the most dangerous moment of the race, so urges on the right-hand pair of horses with his goad while pulling back the left-hand pair with the reins. The drama on the obverse has its counterpart in the eternal beauty of the reverse, depicting the head of Arethusa, the nymph of the local well on Ortygia, a small island belonging to Syracuse, whose features were copied on many other Greek coinages and have also inspired modern connoisseurs such as Winckelmann, Payne Knight, and Goethe. Of the Euainetos decadrachms, while many are signed, there is a large group unsigned with the cockle shell symbol behind the head of Arethusa. In many cases these are struck with some of the most beautiful dies. This coin has incredible centering. The obverse is complete except for the tip of one horse's nose. The reverse, bearing the portrait of Arethusa, is struck on a very broad flan showing the complete name of the city above Arethusa's head and all of the dolphins are extremely clear except for the fin of one and the tip of the nose of another. The centered head of Arethusa is beautifully struck, making it a monument of classical Greek art. More important than the decadrachms of Kimon, this reverse die is one of the most copied coins in the world starting with immediately after it was struck, copied by the Carthaginians in Sicily and continuing all the way to Victorian times and beyond. Near Mint State.
c. 405-395 BC. Tetradrachm, 16.12gg (2h). Obv: Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding goad in right hand, reins in both; Nike flying right above, crowning charioteer; dolphin swimming left in exergue. Rx: ΣYP-A-KO-[Σ]I-ΩN, head of Arethusa left wearing double looped earrings and a necklace with a small pendant, large band in hair from under which hair flows upward and backward in flame-like locks (meant to depict her beneath the water), surrounded by four swimming dolphins. Tudeer 103 (V35/R70). SNG ANS 300 (same obverse die). SNG Lloyd 1407 (same obverse die). SNG Copenhagen 682. Jameson 809 (same obverse die). Ex Berk 137, 31 March 2004, lot 77. Ex Triton VII, 12 January 2004, lot 93. This beautiful issue reminds us that Syracuse was originally located on an island, since Arethusa's hair is shown lifted by water Normally the hair of Arethusa is somewhat cut short by centering, this coin is perfectly centered showing not only all four dolphins, but also all of her hair. aEF/EF.
A Dutch iron banded painted wood alms box, 17th century and later redecorated, of rectangular form, the hinged cover with coin slot, loop handle and clasp, the front with painted inscription above an aperture now lacking lock, the sides painted with the figures of a man and a woman in arched reserves, the back painted with an armorial, 20cm high excluding hanging chain, 16cm wide
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![70-79 CE. AE 21.5-23, 12.73gg (11h). Judaea, Caesarea Maritima. Obv: A[YTOKP] TITO - Σ KAΙΣAP Head laureate right. Rx: IOYΔA](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d18086ee-2a2e-4b57-8755-a8ab01121a14/c67508f0-346b-4c23-8070-4ea4384a934a/468x382.jpg)
![54-68 AD. Fourrée Denarius, 2.95gg (6h). Lugdunum, 54-5 AD. Obv: [AGRIPP AVG DI]VI CLAVD NERONIS CAES MATER Head bare of Ner](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d18086ee-2a2e-4b57-8755-a8ab01121a14/42bf0dcd-511c-443e-be08-9628313e4f2b/468x382.jpg)
![69-79 AD. Denarius, 3.36gg (12h). Rome, 72-3 AD. Obv: [IMP] CAES VESP AVG P M CO[S IIII] Head laureate right. Rx: Incuse mir](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d18086ee-2a2e-4b57-8755-a8ab01121a14/97aafe37-e89b-4910-9324-dae1f4820b68/468x382.jpg)
![138-161 AD. As, 9.96gg (12h). Rome, 145 AD. Obv: ANTONINVS AVG P[I] - VS P P TR P COS IIII Head laureate right. Rx: LIBERA -](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d18086ee-2a2e-4b57-8755-a8ab01121a14/8d40277f-0c41-4b64-8301-c020e8ff6cc9/468x382.jpg)
![First Reign, 685-695 AD. Solidus, 4.44gg (6h). Constantinople, 692-695 AD. Obv: IhS CRIS[JOS REX REJNA]NJIuM Bust of Christ](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d18086ee-2a2e-4b57-8755-a8ab01121a14/c5149ffa-7f47-42b1-be8f-1c851f61db4c/468x382.jpg)
![c. 483-472 BC. Didrachm, 8.63gg (8h). Obv: ΗΙΜΕ[ΡΑ] Cock standing left. Rx: Crab. SNG ANS 157. Sear 718. NGC 4625019. Ex Berk](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/d18086ee-2a2e-4b57-8755-a8ab01121a14/f384e8ee-ffb8-4a26-984e-e722858b966f/468x382.jpg)
