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A Royal Artillery brass helmet badge

19th century AD. A bronze helmet with domed and spiked top, rim decorated with rosettes to the upper edge, to the centre a Medusa head, a green man to the back; tow British medals to the side forming ear guards, male busts between; to the back thirteen chains with bells to the end. 1.02 kg, 36cm (14 1/4"). Property of a London gentleman; acquired 1990-2000. Fair condition.

20th century AD. A polychrome glazed ceramic figure of Guan Yu with helmet, cuirass and vambraces; to the right hand a stringed musical instrument resting on the shoulder. 10.9 kg, 61cm (24"). From an old London collection, formed in the 1980s. Fine condition.

An early 20th century Pith helmet, bearing the label for Hobson & Sons, 1939. Condition Report: Age related wear, but generally good. Circa 51cm internal circumference

A first aid case marked ARP, a gas mask, tin helmet and two swords (5)

British Coins and Medals, George IV, halfcrown, 1825, plain edge, bare head l., rev. crowned helmet over ornate shield of arms (S.3809; ESC.644; Bull 2373), certified and graded by PCGS as Proof 65

British Coins and Medals, George IV, halfcrown, 1825, milled edge, bare head l., rev. crowned helmet over ornate shield of arms (S.3809; ESC.643; Bull 2372), certified and graded by CGS as 78

A PAIR OF SILVER-PLATED HELMET-SHAPED SAUCE BOATS, each with scroll handle and three pad feet; another small plated gravy boat; a pair of serpentine shaped oval silver plated entree dishes, covers and handles; a rectangular silver plated entree dish cover and handle; and another oval ditto with bead edge. (7)

A GERMAN PICKLEHAUBE HELMET WITH BLACK LEATHER SKULL AND SPIKE FINIAL AND WINGED GRIFFIN HELMET PLATE. ALSO TO INCLUDE A CLOTH COVER WITH RED STITCHED NUMBER 185

Two early possibly Tibetan wicker-worked helmet covers/liners with side and back flaps, one with paper labelled No.305 (2)

A GERMAN PICKLHAUBE HELMET WITH BLACK LEATHER AND SPIKE FINIAL AND A SILVER CROSS CENTRED HELMET PLATE.

AN RAF LEATHER FLYING HELMET, A PAIR OF GOGGLES, POCKET WATCH, MAP READING INSTRUMENTS AND LATER RELATED RAF COLLECTABLES. (QTY)

A VICTORIAN MILITARY BLUE CLOTH HELMET WITH GILT BRASS PLATE AND SPIKE FINIAL COMPLETE WITH METAL CASE.

A GERMAN PICKLHAUBE HELMET WITH BLACK LEATHER SKULL AND BALL FINIAL.

A GERMAN PICKLEHAUBE HELMET WITH GREEN CLOTH SKULL AND SPIKE FINIAL.

A retro 20th century Phillips ' Discovery ' colour television / tv set in the orange / red colourway  with dark tinted astronaut helmet style body

Uruguay P 17a El Banco de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay 1 Peso 18 July 1930. Woman with helmet at center on front. Indians at left and right coat of arms of Uruguay at upper center on back. # 390868. VF

Kingdom of Macedon, Alexander III 'the Great' AV Stater. Alexandria, circa 312-310 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, EY to left. Price 3980; Müller 1575. 8.58g, 18mm, 12h. Fleur De Coin. A perfect, gem-like coin.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, grape bunch over tail, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; Mitchiner 13e; N&A 13-15; SNG ANS -; Svoronos pl. 109, 8; Leu 83, 263. 16.97g, 25mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

Ionia, Lebedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-140 BC. Stephanophoric type. Apollodotos, magistrate. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet with laurel branch above visor / Owl standing right, head facing, on club between two filleted cornucopiae; ΛEBEΔIΩN above, AΠOΛΛ-OΔOTOΣ below; all within wreath. Amandry, Tétradrachmes, Group IV, 17f (D2/R13); SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 1; Boston MFA Sup. 170. 16.10g, 32mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine.

Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 478-455 BC. Head of Athena wearing crested Attic helmet to right / Incuse lion's head facing. Bodenstedt 30; HGC 6, 957. 2.54g, 11mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

Indo-Greek Kingdom, Strato I Soter AR Tetradrachm. Circa 105-85/0 BC. BAΣIΛEΩΣ EΠIΦANOYΣ ΣΩTHPOΣ ΣTPATΩNOΣ, helmeted, draped and cuirassed bust right, wearing crested helmet adorned with bull’s horn and ear / ‘Maharajasa pracachasa dhramikasa Stratasa’ in Kharosthi, Athena Alkidemos advancing left, brandishing thunderbolt and aegis; monogram to right. Bopearachchi 28A; HGC 12, 335. 9.69g, 25mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Exceptional condition for the issue. Extremely Rare.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Drachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, grape bunch over tail, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; SNG ANS -; Mitchiner -, cf. 13e (tetradrachm); N&A -, cf. 13-15 (tetradrachms). 3.93g, 15mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Excessively Rare.

Parthia(?), 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Ekbatana(?), circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram of Andragoras(?) behind / Owl standing right, head facing; prow behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; SNG ANS -; H. Nicolet-Pierre / M. Amandry, “Un nouveau trésor de monnaies d’argent pseudo-Athéniennes venu d’Afghanistan”, RN 1994, 36-39; Mitchiner 13a = G.F. Hill, "Greek coins acquired by the British Museum in 1920," in NC 1921, 17. 16.75g, 25mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only two other examples on CoinArchives. The presence of this particular monogram on these issues of the ‘Athenian Series’ coinage is confounding. It is (with the occasional inclusion or omission of a central vertical line) precisely the same monogram that appears on all of the silver tetradrachms of Andragoras, as well as the gold staters (BMC Arabia, North East Persia 1) which have been variously attributed to either a Satrap appointed by Alexander in c.331 BC, or the Seleukid satrap who declared independence in 246/5 BC. The monogram has three possible explanations: firstly, the monogram could be an engraver’s signature; secondly, it could be a magistral mark, the monogram of a mint or treasury official; thirdly, it could be the monogram of the issuing authority, i.e. the satrap. If indeed as we have proposed above there was only the one Andragoras, and that his silver and gold coinage is related, it is equally possible that the monogram could belong to engraver, official or satrap. However, examining the monogram itself, one can easily read ‘ANΔPAΓOPAΣ’, whether the central vertical line is present or not. The implications, if this is indeed correct, are significant. It may require the reconsideration of the attribution of at least part of the ‘Athenian Series’ and ‘Eagle Series’ coinage from Sophytes to Andragoras and therefore the Ekbatana mint. The matter is not so simple though, since the ‘MNA’ mark that appears on some other ‘Athenian Series’ coins also appears on the bust truncation of the helmeted coins of Sophytes. Additionally, there are other monograms and marks which cannot be tied to either Andragoras or Sophytes. One possible answer to this puzzle is that the ‘Athenian Series’ was not all struck at a single ‘uncertain mint in the Oxus region’, and that Athenian imitations were being produced at various satrapal minting facilities in the region for the purpose of local commerce, each utilising a different control mark or set of controls. Nicolet-Pierre and Amandry also reached the same tentative conclusion (see N&A p.40). We will not presume to attempt to solve a century old mystery in the few hours available to us - this must be left to others with more time - however in this cataloguer’s opinion the links between the ‘Athenian Series’ and the coinage of both Andragoras and Sophytes cannot be ignored, and for the time being we have elected to re-attribute part of the ‘Athenian Series’ and ‘Eagle Series’ to the mint under Andragoras’ control, since the same monogram can be found across those series.

Seleukid Empire, Seleukos I Nikator AV Stater. In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Babylon, circa 311-308 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet ornamented with griffin / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; BAΣIΛEΩΣ to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY to right, H in left field, MHP monogram within wreath under left wing. SC 81.7 var. (griffin on helmet, different position of control marks); Price 3707 var. (same); HGC 9, 3a. 8.56g, 19mm, 7h. Extremely Fine. Lustrous; well centred on a broad flan. Ex Roma Numismatics II, 2 October 2011, lot 354.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; behind, prow and grape bunch on vine with leaf, AΘE before. Cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -. 7.84g, 19mm, 6h. Near Mint State. Apparently unique variety without obverse monogram.

Seleukid Empire, Diodotos Tryphon AR Tetradrachm. Antioch, circa 142/1-138 BC. Diademed head of Tryphon right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΤΡΥΦΩΝΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Macedonian helmet adorned with ibex horn, Π monogram in inner left field; all within oak wreath border. Not listed in the standard references. 15.42g, 32mm, 2h. Near Extremely Fine. An apparently unique variety of this very rare type. Diodotos was a powerful administrator at Antioch during the reign of Alexander I, who played a key role in organising the rebellion that saw Alexander forced from the city and Demetrios II crowned king on the promise that Ptolemy VI would supervise his reign. This was met with one final challenge from Alexander, who was defeated by Ptolemy and subsequently assassinated by the Nabataean prince from whom he sought refuge. The victory was to come at the cost of Ptolemy’s life, who died days later from wounds received in the battle. Demetrios quickly lost the support of both the military and the populace after disbanding much of the Seleukid army and brutally crushing a rebellion at Antioch. Once again Diodotos seized the opportunity for rebellion and found an alternative ruler in Antiochos VI, the young son of Alexander and Kleopatra Thea, who he took under his protection. Their revolt against Demetrios started in Chalkis, where they gained the control of the surrounding districts before capturing Apamea in 144. It was around this time that Diodotos assumed a new name, Tryphon. He succeeded in removing Demetrios from Antioch around 144/3 and elevated Antiochos to the Seleukid throne. For two years, Antiochos reigned while Tryphon continued to campaign against Demetrios, expanding their territory into Cilicia Pedias and north Phoenicia. Around 142, Tryphon announced that Antiochos had died during surgery and having ensured the support of his soldiers with the promise of money, proclaimed himself king. He continued to wage war against Demetrios’ generals, who still held the Phoenician cities of Sidon and Tyre, Gaza, Mesopotamia, Babylonia and parts of northern Syria. The seizure of Babylonia by Mithradates I in 141 led Demetrios to embark on an eastern campaign which would see him captured in 138. This prompted Antiochos VII, the brother of Demetrios, to raise a substantial mercenary force to recover the Seleukid kingdom. He landed at Seleukia Pieria, where many of Tryphon’s troops had defected to Kleopatra Thea, who admitted his troops and married him. Antiochos quickly took northern Syria from Tryphon’s control and pursued him into Phoenicia, where he was besieged at Dora. Tryphon escaped and fled to Apamea, where he was besieged again and eventually executed late in 138 or early 137. The elaborate ibex-horned helmet used as a reverse type on the coinage of Antiochos VI and of Tryphon once he assumed the kingship is usually considered to have been Tryphon’s personal sigil. The horn and diadem together denote divinity and royalty, and the helmet itself, with its thunderbolt-adorned cheek-guards and two medallions depicting an eagle and a panther holding a thyrsos would certainly have been worthy of either, or both. While it is most unlikely to represent Tryphon’s personal choice of headwear, it has been speculated (H. Seyrig, The Khan El-Abde Find and the Coinage of Tryphon, ANS NNM, 1950) that the helmet may have been a spectacular offering, made by the young king Antiochos VI, under the direction of Tryphon, to the god that had favoured their claim to power.

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 125-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder / COS III, column with helmet set on top, surrounded by parazonium and spear, shield, cuirass, and greaves. RIC 194; C. 473 var. (bust type); Calicó 1237. 6.58g, 19mm, 6h. Good Fine; scrape and scattered marks on rev. Extremely Rare.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; behind, kerykeion, prow, and grape bunch on vine with leaf, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; SNG ANS -; N&A -; Mitchiner -. 8.03g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Apparently unpublished with these three reverse symbols.

Anonymous Ӕ Litra. Rome, circa 241-235 BC. Head of beardless Mars right, wearing Corinthian helmet / Horse's head right; sickle behind, ROMA below. Crawford 25/3; RBW 40; HN Italy 299 2.79g, 15mm, 8h. Near Extremely Fine.

Uncertain Eastern Satrapy, ‘Athenian Series’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint, circa 323-240 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena left, wearing earring, and crested Attic helmet decorated with two olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘ [E erased from die] before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -; cf. P. van Alfen, “The ‘Owls’ from the 1973 Iraq Hoard” in AJN 12 (2000), pl. 6, 116. 16.22g, 22mm, 5h. Very Fine. Exceedingly Rare. The style and fabric of this coin and the following 5 is quite unlike both the preceding ‘Athenian Series’ coins that we have re-attributed to Parthia on the basis of the presence of the Andragoras monogram, and the following issues that are attributed to Baktria. They also exhibit significant differences to one another. Because of the difficulty at this time of assigning them either a chronological or geographical range, we tentatively propose that these issues were struck at one or more different mints, perhaps (though not necessarily) in one of the two satrapies - Aria and Drangiana - that lie between Parthia to the west, and Baktria to the east. For the multiple mint hypothesis, see N&A p. 40. It is likely that they were produced for local commerce only, given that they have not been found west of Ekbatana, so far as we know. In this case they might have been produced as early as after Alexander’s death, and as late as the Parni invasion of Parthia and the assumption of power in Baktria by Diodotos II.

T. Carisius AR Denarius. Rome, 46 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing ornate crested helmet; ROMA downwards behind / Sceptre, cornucopiae on globe, and rudder, T•CARISI below; all within laurel wreath. Crawford 464/3a; RSC Carisia 4. 3.65g, 18mm, 10h. Near Mint State. Extremely rare in such high grade.

Parthia(?), 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Ekbatana(?), circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram of Andragoras(?) behind / Owl standing right, head facing; behind, prow and grape bunch on vine with leaf, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; SNG ANS 3; N&A 40-42; Mitchiner -. 17.24g, 23mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

Anonymous Æ Semilitra. Rome, circa 234-231 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet / Dog standing right; ROMA in exergue. Crawford 26/4; RBW 51; HN Italy 309. 1.90g, 12mm, 6h. Extremely Fine.

Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. Deinomenid Tyranny. Time of Hieron I, circa 475-470 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; Nike flying to right above, crowning horses / Head of Arethusa right, wearing earring, necklace and headband, her hair tied in a krobylos; ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ and four dolphins around. Boehringer -, (V140/R208). 17.45g, 25mm, 2h. Mint State; exceptional metal quality and preservation for a Syracusan tetradrachm of this period. Superb lustre with vivid iridescence. Extremely Rare; this die pairing not recorded by Boehringer. Ex Dr. Murray Gell-Mann Collection, Roma Numismatics XI, 7 April 2016, lot 105; This coin must certainly have a pre-2000 provenance, however this cataloguer has been unable to find it. This coin displays not only an incredibly sharp strike from fresh dies in the centre of a large planchet, but also a wonderfully deep cabinet tone with gold iridescence on the obverse and vivid green flashes radiating out from the portrait on the reverse. This has yielded a coin with gem-like qualities; it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful Deinomenid tetradrachms to have come to market in many years. Following the Battle of Himera in 480 BC, Syracuse had been unchallenged in Sicily. The reign of Hieron therefore was characterised by a period of great expansion in the power and prestige of Syracuse, and the effective carte blanche to do as he pleased; he removed the inhabitants of Naxos and Katane to Leontinoi, peopled Katane (which he renamed Aitna) with Dorians, concluded an alliance with Akragas, and espoused the cause of the Lokrians against Anaxilas, tyrant of Rhegion. Around the time when this coin must have been struck, Hieron achieved his most important military victory at the Battle of Cumae in 474 BC. Responding to a call for aid from Aristodemos, the tyrant of Cumae, to counter an Etruscan invasion, Hieron sent a fleet of triremes to assist the Cumaeans, whose combined navies met and defeated the Etruscan forces in the Bay of Naples. This defeat caused the Etruscans to lose much of their influence in Italy; they lost control of the seas and their territories were eventually absorbed piecemeal by the Romans, Samnites and Gauls. The Syracusans dedicated a captured Etruscan helmet at the great panhellenic sanctuary at Olympia, a piece of armour found in the German excavations there. Perhaps remembering this bitter defeat and hoping to avenge their ancestors, the Etruscans would later readily join the ill-fated Athenian expedition against Syracuse in 415 BC.

Gallienus AR Antoninianus. Rome, AD 267-268. GALLIENVS P F AVG, cuirassed bust left, wearing crested helmet, holding spear over right shoulder, shield with aegis on left / P M TR P X V COS•P P (sic?), Mars, wearing crested helmet and chlamys, and carrying spear and shield, descending right towards to Rhea Silvia, who reclines left, nude to waist, raising right hand above head. Roma XIII, 890 (same dies); RIC -; RSC -; C. -; Göbl, MIR -, cf. 945-946 for reverse type with alternate legends. 2.48g, 20mm, 4h. Extremely Fine. The second (and arguably finest) known example. A beautiful coin combining a bold militaristic portrait engraved in fine style, with a classic scene from Roman mythology. This scene, while well attested in surviving Roman artwork, occurs only one other time in the entirety of the vast Roman coinage series, on an As of Antoninus Pius; a medallion of Faustina Senior, clearly not intended for monetary use, also bears the type, and was probably created around the same time.

Constans II, with Constantine IV, Heraclius, and Tiberius AV Solidus. Constantinople, AD 661-663. DN C AN (sic), crowned and draped facing busts of Constans, wearing plumed helmet, and Constantine; cross above / VICTORIA AVGЧS, cross potent on three steps; Heraclius and Tiberius, each holding globus cruciger, standing facing to either side; CONOB in exergue. DOC 30e; MIB 31; Sear 964. 4.39g, 20mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; MNA behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -, cf. 18-19 (tetradrachms); CNG E-115, 180 (misdescribed). 8.03g, 18mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other didrachm of the MNA issue in CoinArchives.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Stasanor, satrap(?). Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 321-245 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; ΣTA behind, MNA below / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig, crescent and grape bunch behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A 1-3; Spink 3014, 124 = G&M 48, 604. 17.03g, 23mm, 12h. About Very Fine. Extremely Rare; only the fourth known example. The ΣTA MNA mark which appears on a small number of extremely rare tetradrachms is nearly identical to a mark on a double daric (BMC Arabia p. 178, 12) attributed to Babylon. F. Imhoof-Blumer read the two clearly separate marks as one, arriving at the name ‘Stamenes’, who was briefly satrap of Babylonia under Alexander after the death of Mazaios, before being replaced by a Macedonian, Archon, son of Kleinias, who governed until after Alexander’s death. There is however no evidence to support this attribution, and in fact the reverse punch of the double daric is considerably different in style to others of the series. Moreover, in considering the origin of that coin, which came from the Oxus hoard and entered the BM in 1881, it seems more logical to suppose, as proposed by Head (NC, 1906), that it was minted further east, perhaps under the then satrap Stasanor. The letters MNA remained unexplained to Head, but the appearance of these letters on their own, not preceded by ΣTA on ‘Athenian Series’ tetradrachms and the helmeted portrait issues of Sophytes, which also appear in abbreviated form as MN and M, further discredit the Stamenes theory, and strengthen the case for ΣTA being viewed independently of the second mark, MNA. For further discussion on the ΣTA-MNA marks, see N&A p. 50-54. Stasanor was a native of Soli in Cyprus who held a distinguished position among the officers of Alexander the Great. He probably entered the service after the siege of Tyre in 332 BC, but the first occasion on which his name is mentioned is during the campaign in Baktria, when he was despatched by Alexander with a strong force to reduce Arsames, then satrap of Aria, who was in revolt. As reward, Stasanor was confirmed in the now vacant position of satrap, whence he was soon promoted to Drangiana. In the Partition of Triparadisus in 321 BC, Stasanor was appointed the more important government of Baktria and Sogdiana. He is attested as having been still at his post in 316, and may possibly have remained there until his death before or in 305, when Seleukos is believed to have attacked and conquered the province. However, while an attribution of this type to Stasanor may seem attractive and even tempting, its context within this group and the rather moderate wear it has suffered suggest that it may have been produced somewhat later than the time of Stasanor, even if we accept that he may have still been at his post in 305. Moreover, in considering the redating of the coins of Sophytes (see lots 325, 364 and 365) we must admit the possibility that if MNA is an engraver or mint-master’s initials, then it seems unlikely that the same engraver or mint-master would have been active for so lengthy a span of time. It then follows that ΣTA might refer to neither Stamenes nor Stasanor.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, grape bunch over tail, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; Mitchiner 13e; N&A 13-15; SNG ANS -; Svoronos pl. 109, 8; Leu 83, 263. 17.02g, 23mm, 5h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.

Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III Arrhidaios AV Stater. Lampsakos, 323-317 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent / Nike standing left, holding wreath and stylis; ΦΙΛΙΠΠOY to right, buckle in left field and crescent-over-A beneath wing-tip to left. Price P13; Müller P77; ADM II Series IX, 182b = Bement 772 (same obv. die); SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG München -; SNG Saroglos -. 8.61g, 18mm, 9h. Fleur De Coin.

Baktria, Sophytes AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 246/5-235 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Cockerel standing right; kerykeion behind, ΣΟΦYΤΟΥ to right. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; Whitehead, NC 1943, pp. 60ff (drachm); O. Bopearachchi, "Royaumes grecs en Afghanistan. Nouvelles données“, in L'art d'Afghanistan de la préhistoire à nos jours, CERDAF, Actes d'une Journée d'étude, UNESCO, 11th March 2005, Paris, 2005, p. 60-2 = NAC 59, 655. 16.97g, 25mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Of the greatest rarity, the second and by far the finest known example. The question of who Sophytes was and when he lived is one that has confounded numismatists for a hundred and fifty one years. It should be quite clear to anyone reading this that the Sophytes of this coinage was not the Sopeithes described in classical sources as the ruler in the Punjab region between the Hydraotes and the Hyphasis who so impressed Alexander. We can say with certainty only that he was evidently Indo-Iranian by ethnicity, for Sophytes is the Hellenisation of a non-Greek name, and that he must have commanded an important region or city, most likely within Baktria, in the vicinity of the Oxus river. Though little (if any) attention has been paid to the choice of the cockerel as the reverse type, it is when considered properly, thoroughly Baktrian in character. The cockerel was a most sacred animal in Zoroastrian religion; besides its common name ‘Halka’ and its onomatopoeic name ‘Kahrkatas’, it was also referred to by a religious name, ‘Parodarsh’ - literally, ‘foreseer’ (of the dawn). It was the bird of light and hence of righteousness, scattering the darkness and the evil that dwells within. This remarkable tetradrachm provides direct evidence for a transitional phase coinage struck by Sophytes, on the obverse of which we can observe the continuation of the ‘Athenian Series’ using the helmeted head of Athena type, while the reverse replaces the Athenian owl for the cockerel that will remain the principal type of Sophytes on his helmeted portrait issues. The cockerel is joined by a kerykeion adjunct symbol already familiar to us from the preceding series, and the legend ΣΟΦYΤΟΥ. We have already established that the coinage of Andragoras and Sophytes should be considered roughly contemporary, with the former’s probably preceding that of the latter, judging by the patterns of wear that we have encountered. It seems fair to propose therefore, that emboldened by Andragoras’ placement of his own name upon the reverse of his coins, Sophytes decided to follow suit. Certainly, the hold of the Seleukid central government over its farthest eastern satrapies had been weakening since the death of Antiochos I; Houghton and Lorber (SC, p. 167) observe that “mint operations in the rich province of Baktria gradually escaped Seleukid control” throughout Antiochos II’s reign, and while it was previously accepted that there was only one Baktrian mint, recent scholarship and archaeology has shown this not to be the case.

Baktria, ‘Athenian Series’ AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; MNA behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -; Leu -. 17.18g, 24mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Apparently unpublished without grape bunch.

Seleukid Empire, Diodotos Tryphon Æ Tetarton (1/4 Mina) Weight. Circa 142-138 BC. Spiked Macedonian helmet to right, with cheek guards, adorned with ibex horn above visor; ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΤΡVΦΩΝΟΣ upwards to left, TE-TAPTON upwards to right / Latticework design. Unpublished in the standard references, for similar Seleukid weights cf. J. Forien de Rochesnard, Album des poids antiques 2, L Gece Antique, pp. 50-89 and Gewichte aus Syrien-Phoenizien, Münzzentrum Köln sale 49, 1983, 5078-5085. 130.15g, 57x57mm. Preserved in outstanding condition; concretions remaining on rev. Extremely Rare. This Seleukid commercial weight is remarkable on a number of counts. Firstly, unlike the majority of its surviving counterparts, it is bronze, not lead. Secondly, it specifically names the king, Tryphon, as the issuing authority, unlike most of the surviving weights which are civic issues. Lastly, it utilises as its main type the same motif that adorns the coinage of Tryphon, namely the spiked and horned helmet. The obverses of commercial weights such as this were often decorated with popular Seleukid motifs, but also necessarily featured a clear indication of their weight. The reverses were often given a pattern as a security measure to ensure that any modification should be apparent. The lattice, as on this piece, was a common reverse pattern.

Parthia, Andragoras AR Tetradrachm. Ekbatana, circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Turreted head of Tyche right, wearing pendant earring and necklace, rosettes on turrets; monogram of Andragoras behind / Athena standing right, wearing helmet, long chiton and peplos, holding owl on extended left hand and with right hand holding transverse spear behind her, shield at side; ANΔPAΓOPOY to left. Mitchiner -; BMC -. 17.23g, 25mm, 7h. About Extremely Fine. Unique, unpublished, and of significant numismatic interest. If we accept that the silver coinage of Andragoras was struck by the same individual responsible for the gold staters (BMC Arabia, North East Persia 1), and that this individual was the Andragoras recorded as being the satrap who rebelled against Seleukid rule in the early part of the second half of the third century BC, the types employed on this ruler’s coinage now make perfect sense given their context. Andragoras faced a belligerent tribe - the Parni - on his border, and with Seleukos II preoccupied with fighting an increasingly desperate war against Ptolemy III, no assistance would be forthcoming. Thus we find the types of Tyche, wearing her mural crown, who on the obverse is invoked as the goddess governing the fortune and prosperity of the city, and Athena as military protectress on the reverse. The gold staters depicting Zeus, the supreme Greek deity, and a war-chariot guided by Nike the goddess of Victory, likewise hint at production in a war-time setting.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; MNA behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS -; N&A -, cf. 18-19; CNG E-115, 180 (misdescribed). 8.14g, 19mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other didrachm of the MNA issue in CoinArchives.

Ionia, Lebedos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 160-140 BC. Stephanophoric type. Korabos, magistrate. Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet with laurel branch above visor / Owl standing right, head facing, on club between two filleted cornucopiae; ΛEBEΔIΩN above, KΩPA-BOΣ below; all within wreath. Amandry, Tétradrachmes, Group V, 27-30; SNG von Aulock 2027; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Munich -; BMC -. 16.36g, 33mm, 11h. Near Extremely Fine.

Kingdom of Macedon, Time of Philip V - Perseus AR Tetrobol. Pella or Amphipolis, circa 187-168 BC. Macedonian shield with MA-KE and club on boss / Macedonian helmet, two monograms to left, monogram and thunderbolt to right. SNG Ashmolean 3278 var.; SNG Copenhagen 1282 var.; SNG Alpha Bank -. 2.17g, 15mm, 12h. Extremely Fine. Rare.

Ionia, Phokaia AR Diobol. Circa 500-480 BC. Female head left, wearing helmet or close fitting cap / Rough incuse square. SNG Kayhan 522-526; SNG von Aulock 1813. 1.30g, 10mm. Extremely Fine.

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Corinthian helmet with large crest to left; tunny fish below / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 81, pl. II, 36; Gemini XIII, 60 = Hess-Divo 325, 211; Boston MFA -; SNG France -. 16.13g, 20mm. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only one other example in CoinArchives.

Parthia(?), 'Eagle series' AR Drachm. Ekbatana(?), circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Local standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Eagle standing left, head right; grape cluster on vine with leaf and kerykeion above. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 2A; SNG ANS -; Mitchiner 26d; N&A 63-64. 3.66g, 15mm, 5h. Mint State. Extremely Rare, and probably the finest surviving example.

Parthia, Andragoras AR Tetradrachm. Ekbatana, circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Turreted head of Tyche right, wearing pendant earring and necklace; monogram of Andragoras behind / Athena standing left, wearing helmet, long chiton and himation, holding owl on extended right hand and resting left hand on grounded shield, transverse spear in background; ANΔPAΓOPOY to right. Mitchiner 20; BMC 3-4, pl. xxviii, 2-3. 17.08g, 25mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. One of exceedingly few known examples, in outstanding condition for the type which is otherwise almost uniformly well worn, and very possibly the finest surviving specimen. The following 43 lots (325-367) represent a highly important group of coins which apparently came to light in the Oxus region in the 1960s, taken to Germany in 1975 when the owners emigrated there, and subsequently exported to the USA. Principally consisting of ‘Athenian Series’ tetradrachms, didrachms and drachms, also included are some highly important issues bearing the names of Andragoras and Sophytes. Additionally, the group includes (but not presented here) a 4th century drachm of Thebes, two well-worn mid-4th century Tyre owl-type shekels, two official Athens tetradrachms, five regional Athenian imitations, an Amphipolis mint Alexander-type tetradrachm minted circa 316-311 (Price 133), another attributed to the Susa mint, circa 322-320 (Price 3850), and another from the Ekbatana mint, struck under Seleukos circa 311-295 (Price 3899). Lastly (and significantly), the group also contained one elephant-quadriga type tetradrachm of Seleukos (SC 177.5) from the Susa mint, dated 296/5-281 BC. Though the possibility that they were stray finds from the same area cannot be excluded, their condition suggests otherwise and is indicative of having been within a contained and stable environment. Consigned now after half a century of having remained in the possession of the same family, these coins have significant implications for the chronology and sequence of the coinage of Baktria and the surrounding satrapies. Moreover, they may require the reassessment of some attributions, and potentially, amendments to our understanding of regional history. It has been suggested that the Andragoras of Parthia whom Alexander the Great supposedly conferred local authority upon (Justin, xii. 4), never existed at all and is only mentioned by Justin by mistake. Andragoras was in fact not included in the partition of power at the Treaty of Triparadisus in 321 BC, when instead Philip was named as the ruler of Parthia, and in other classical sources Phrataphernes is usually mentioned as the satrap of Parthia until Philip replaced him. Philip in turn was satrap until 318 BC, when Peithon, who was then seeking to establish his power over all the Eastern provinces, made himself master of Parthia, and put Philip to death. Andragoras therefore has no secure place in the immediate chronology of post-Alexandrine Parthia. It is of course possible that Justin was mistaken about his satrapy (numerous other small satrapies existed in the area), or had his dating confused - the existence of an Andragoras who was Satrap of Parthia under Seleukos I, is uncontested. This Andragoras appears to have taken advantage of what appeared to be the imminent collapse of the Seleukid Empire in the Third Syrian War, when - following the death of Antiochus II - Ptolemy III seized control of the Seleucid capital at Antioch, to secede from the empire and make his satrapy into an independent kingdom. Following the secession of Parthia from the Empire and the resultant loss of military support, Andragoras had difficulty in maintaining his borders, and in about 238 BC the Parni invaded under the command of Arsaces and his brother Tiridates and seized control of the northern region of the Parthian territory. Andragoras appears to have been killed either attempting to retake this territory, or while resisting the Parni conquest of the remainder of Parthia. Given the evidence we are presented with, the silver coinage of Andragoras and Sophytes should be considered roughly contemporary, but it seems apparent that Andragoras’ Tyche-Athena tetradrachms slightly pre-dated the helmeted head series of Sophytes. Earlier scholarship has often tended to date the coinage of both Andragoras and Sophytes much too early, occasionally to the period immediately following the death of Alexander. The presence in this group of a somewhat worn Seleukos elephant-quadriga type tetradrachm (SC 177.5) from the Susa mint, suggests a terminus post quem of 295 BC. Further considerations on the identical monograms found on the gold and silver coinage of Andragoras (see lot 329), and a thorough review of the political history of the eastern satrapies of the Seleukid empire from 321-250 BC lead us to conclude that there can have been only one Andragoras, and that both the silver and gold coinage must date to the time of his rebellion and secession from the Empire. We therefore propose redating this series to c.246/5-239/8 BC.

Uncertain Eastern Satrapy, ‘Athenian Series’ AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint, circa 323-240 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; small grape bunch behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; Mitchiner -; SNG ANS 5; N&A 24-29; NAC 77, 102; Triton VIII, 608. 8.12g, 18mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Trajan Æ33 of Caesarea Maritima, Samaria. AD 98-117. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OP AVG GER DAC COS VI P P, laureate bust right / Tyche standing left, resting foot on helmet, holding bust and sceptre, within Tetrastyle temple with central arch behind enclosure with altar in front; at her feet in right field, harbour-god holding anchor, C I F AVG CAES in exergue. Rosenberger 19; Kadman 22; Sofaer pl. 23 , 21; Samuels 172. 24.97g, 33mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. Earthen repatination. Rare this well preserved.

Vespasian Æ Dupondius. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III, radiate head right / ROMA, Roma seated left on cuirass set before a pair of shields, wearing helmet and drapery exposing right breast, holding wreath and parazonium; SC in exergue. RIC 476; C. 411. 15.15g, 28mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; lovely untouched dark green patina. Attractive, Amazonian style Roma.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-430 BC. Head of Athena right, in crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, wearing round earring with central boss / AΘE, owl standing three-quarters right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent moon behind; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31. 17.18g, 25mm, 3h. Good Extremely Fine.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Tetradrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram behind / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig, crescent and grape bunch behind, AΘE before. Cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; Mitchiner -; N&A -, cf. 13-17 (different monogram); SNG ANS -. 16.80g, 24mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Apparently unpublished with this monogram.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-430 BC. Head of Athena right, in crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, wearing round earring with central boss / AΘE, owl standing three-quarters right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent moon behind; all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31. 17.15g, 24mm, 1h. Good Very Fine, near full crest.

Baktria, 'Athenian Series' AR Didrachm. Uncertain mint in the Oxus region, circa 261-239/8 BC. Attic standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram behind / Owl standing right, head facing; behind, prow, and monogram, AΘE before. Bopearachchi, Sophytes -; SNG ANS -; N&A -; Mitchiner -. 7.98g, 21mm, 6h. Extremely Fine. Apparently unique and unpublished.

Parthia(?), ‘Eagle series’ AR Drachm. Ekbatana(?), circa 246/5-239/8 BC. Local standard. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; monogram of Andragoras(?) behind / Eagle standing left, head right; grape cluster on vine with leaf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 2A; SNG ANS -; Mitchiner -; N&A -; CNG 63, 920. 3.66g, 15mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.