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Click here to subscribe71 AD. Lyons mint. Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS III legend with radiate head right. Rev: PAX AVG legend with Pax standing left by altar, holding patera, branch and caduceus; S-C across fields. RIC 1144; Paris 803; Lyons 35; Sear 2349 variant (consular year"). See Wildwinds.com (this coin"). 12.66 grams. . . About extremely fine. Rare.
2nd century AD. A ceramic oil lamp with broad discoid body, stub nozzle with heart-shaped panel, pierced lug handle; the discus with ropework border and radiating leaves; central facing portrait of Luna with crescentic horns to the shoulders, seven stars of the Pleiades beneath. 142 grams, 12cm (4 3/4"). From the private collection of a German gentleman; acquired prior to 1999. . Fine condition, usage wear. Rare.
Late 1st century BC. Obv: vertical wreath with TASCI inscribed panel. Rev: stag standing, head looking back with VER before, pellet-in-annulet above and annulet below. S. -; BMC -; ABC 2634; see BNJ, 1989, no.12. See Celtic Coin Index, Oxford, reference CCI 00.0375 (this coin"). 1.24 grams. . Found Dunstable, Bedfordshire, UK, 2000. . Very fine. Extremely rare.
16th-17th century AD. A ceramic mould for making stove tiles, square with recess to the reverse and knop handle; the design comprising four florid elements in the corners, a geometric band surrounding a circular panel with bust of Christ and lettering 'IESVS.CHRITVS'; maker's initials M.L. and green glaze to the reverse; German workmanship. 1.7 kg, 21cm (8 1/4"). Property of a Sussex Gentleman; acquired before 1990. [No Reserve]. Very fine condition. Rare.
1504-1507 AD. Class IVa variant. Obv: facing bust with double arch crown and four crockets each side to upper arch within tressure with HENRIC DI GRA REX AGLIE Z FRA legend and 'cross-crosslet' mintmark. Rev: long cross and pellets with POSVI DEV ADIVTORE MEV and CIVITAS LONDON legends. S. 2200; N. 1706b (note"). 3.00 grams. . Found Nottinghamshire, UK, 1990s-2000s. [No Reserve]. Good fine. Very rare crown variant.
218-222 AD. Obv: AYT K M AYRHLIOC ANTWNEINOC CEB legend with laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left. Rev: MHTROPOLEWC FILIPPOPOLEEC NEOKOROY legend with octastyle temple containing a statue of Apollo on a base, emperor standing left before the temple, sacrificing over an altar, four priests and attendants and a sacrificial bull before and behind him. Varbanov 1735 variant (number of attendants); otherwise unlisted reverse type. See Wildwinds.com (this coin"). 33.32 grams. . Ex Gorny & Mosch Auction 233, lot 1883. . Good very fine. Extremely rare.
Dated 1707 AD. After Union, Edinburgh mint. Obv: profile bust with E below and ANNA DEI GRATIA legend. Rev: cruciform arms with harp showing five strings with MAG BRI FR ET HIB REG legend and date. S. 3620; see ESC 6th, 1463 variant (none cited with only five strings1462-1466 for this date"). 2.95 grams. . Ex Spink (with old ticket"). . Almost very fine. Very rare; unpublished with five strings to harp for this date.
Dated 1983 AD. A 'Martini' Royal Mint UK year set of eight coins comprising one pound, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p, 2p, 1p and 1/2p coins for 1983, contained as issued in a laminated card binder encapsulating the coins; the set includes the very rare mule twopence with the NEW PENCE legend reverse in error. S. 4236A. 99.23 grams, case 15 x 15cm. . The mule 'NEW PENCE' reverse for the twopence of 1983 was a rare example of a Royal Mint error in striking some two pence coins that year with the wrong reverse type. These mule coins were only issued in a small number of the year sets sponsored by Martini (any examples of single coins being offered are those that have been removed from year sets"). . Uncirculated, as issued; slight rubbing to card case corners. Very rare.
8th-9th century AD. A flat-section lozenge plate brooch with lateral piercings and hooked catchplate to the lower angle; the face with a repeated pattern of tight rectangular scrolls in a 4x4 grid; two rivets to the upper angle, perhaps to attach a replacement for the absent pin. Cf. examples in Hammond, B. British Artefacts vol.2 - Middle Saxon & Viking, Witham, 2010, items 1.1.6-a-d. 9.09 grams, 78mm (3"). Found Cambridgeshire, UK. In the Book of Kells on folio 7v, Mary is shown nursing the infant Jesus, wearing a red robe pinned by a lozenge plate brooch with grid design: see Hammond (2010) fig.1.1.6. This is believed to be the earliest depiction of Mary in a western European manuscript. . Fair condition. Rare.
2nd millennium BC. A carved chlorite(?) jar with high-relief image of two oxen tied to a tree, inverted nude male between them. 222 grams, 64mm (2 1/2"). From an important private London collection; formed in the 1970s and 1980s. Vessels made from steatite or chlorite have frequently been found at early to mid-third millennium BC sites in Mesopotamia, Iran, and along the southern shore of the Persian Gulf. On the island of Sarut, in the Gulf, sites have been discovered where large quantities of the raw material, unfinished and completed vessels, which would indicate that this was the centre of manufacture and from where they would eventually be disseminated through international trade. Motif on these vessels vary from scenes of animals, mythological creatures and deities, to representations of textiles and wool - important commodities to the emerging Empires at the time. Important animals, apart from sheep and goats, were bulls who were associated with important deities associated with rain and fertility. The nature of the representations would suggest that these vessels were used in religious ceremonies. . Fine condition, rim chipped. Very rare.
461-465 AD. Uncertain mint, with contemporary loop attached. Obv: D N LIBIVS SEVERVS P F AVG legend with rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VICTORIA AVGGG legend with emperor standing, foot on human-headed snake, holding cross-headed staff and stylized Victory on globe; R - A at sides; COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3754; MEC 174; see Sear 21596-21600 variant. 4.47 grams. . . Extremely fine; some scuffs. Rare.
36 BC. Copia (Lyons), Gaul mint. Obv: IMP CAESAR DIVI F DIVI IVLI legend around heads of Julius Caesar, laureate, left and Octavian, bare-headed, right, back to back with palm branch between them. Rev: prow of galley right, star superimposed on globe and a meta (racing chariot turning post) above; COPIA below. RPC 515; Cohen 8; Giard, Lyon 7; De La Tour 4669; SNG Cop 689; SGI 150. 18.99 grams. . With dealer ticket. . Very fine. Rare.
7th-6th century BC. A carved chalcedony cylinder seal with intaglio sun-disc above a pillar or stylised tree flanked by starburst and crescent moon above an opposed pair of rampant sphinxes. See Collon, D. First Impressions. Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East, London, 2005, item 659. 6.56 grams, 25mm (1"). Property of a London gentleman; part of his family collection since the 1970s. . Very fine condition. Rare.
183 AD. Rome mint. Obv: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG legend with laureate head right. Rev: TR P VIII (IMP V) COS IIII PP legend with Victory walking left, holding a trophy with both hands; S-C across fields. Obverse legend variant of RIC 352 and Cohen 862 (both listing obverse legend ending with AVG PIVS); Sear 5821 variant (obverse legend and Victory walking right); not in BMC; other coins of this issuing period have legends with and without PIVS, this legend should be added to RIC 352. See Wildwinds.com (this coin"). 24.14 grams. . . Near extremely fine. Very rare.
3rd-5th century AD. A bronze mount in a form of a standing male and a female couple, each with a right hand holding a stretched left hand touching each other's genitals, a female figure decorated with incised belt decoration; lower part of male legs missing. See Oldtidens Ansigt, Det kongelige Nordiske Oldskiftselska og Jysk Arkaeologisk Selskab, 1990, p.134, 138, for the gesture and design. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. 6.07 grams, 42mm (1 3/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Supplied with a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. A parallel to the style and pose of this 'couple' can be seen on several small bronzes inspired by Roman statuettes representing gods. However, similar bronze statues were already known in Scandinavia since the Bronze Age and were most likely of a ritual significance. The specific crossed hand on a chest is a puzzling symbol, possibly symbolising a gesture of a specific god, ritual act or blessing. Some facial similarities can be seen on the Broddenbjerg man, a wooden statue with a strong phallic symbolism, most likely pointing to fertility. Another similarity can be observed on rock art in Scandinavia, especially the long neck features and the image of a 'divine couple', a strong motif found extensively in the late Iron Age on many golden sheets, known as guldgubbers. Several scholars argue that this image represents the marriage of god Frey and giantess Gerd; however it may also represent a union of Frey with his sister Freyja. From later sources, it is known that the Vanir, an ancient race of gods, had a custom to marry or have intercourse with their siblings. Njord, the father of Frey and Freya was from this tribe, and sources suggest that they were conceived with his sister-wife. She might have been the mysterious Suebi goddess Nerthus, which Roman historian Tacitus wrote about in Germania. Her statue was kept in a sacred grove on an unknown island, drawn in a holy cart and only priests could touch her. Everywhere the goddess came she was met with celebration of peace and hospitality. After she returned to the temple, everything was washed by slaves, who were drowned short after. Her connection with fertility, peace, and water, definitely points to the Vanir race; and she shares several similarities with the later worshipping of Frey. This mount probably represents either Njord and Nerthus, or Frey and Freya, and may had been used as a votive offering or worn as an amulet to invoke the fertile powers of those gods. [No Reserve]. Fine condition. Excessively rare.
8th century AD. A hollow fabricated pendant comprising: transverse tubular suspension bar with beaded wire collars, granule and beaded wire detailing; waisted D-shaped plaque with granule and beaded wire bands, scooped eyelids and tubular eye sockets with black glass insets; old collector's accession number to the reverse. Cf. similar gold beast-head finial on the Alfred Jewel in Webster, L. & Backhouse, J. The Making of England. Anglo-Saxon Art and Culture AD 600-900, London, 1991, item 260. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate. 4.61 grams, 29mm (1 1/4"). From the Maurice Braham collection 1997; formerly in the collection of Lord Alastair McAlpine in the early 1980s. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. The pendant is one of a series of Middle Saxon type prestige items bearing fierce dragon-head imagery, of which the Alfred Jewel is the most notable example. Similar heads, facing and in profile, appear on the Anglian 'Coppergate' helmet from York where they form terminals to the nasal and to the decorative raised border of the ocular. The design reflects the Insular Style of ornament, with raised bands to the brow and roundels for the eyes. Similar animal heads are incorporated in the decorative schemes of contemporary manuscripts such as the Book of Kells. . Extremely fine condition. Excessively rare.
3rd-5th century AD. A bronze mount of a standing male and a female couple, each with one hand extending across the body touching each other's genitals. For the gesture and design see Oldtidens Ansigt, Det kongelige Nordiske Oldskiftselska og Jysk Arkaeologist Selskab, 1990, p.134, 138. 3.34 grams, 32mm (1 1/4"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. A parallel to the style and pose of this 'couple' can be seen on several small bronzes inspired by Roman statuettes representing gods. However, similar bronze statues were already known in Scandinavia since the Bronze Age and were most likely of a ritual significance. The specific crossed hand on a chest is a puzzling symbol, possibly symbolising a gesture of a specific god, ritual act or blessing. Another similarity can be observed on rock art in Scandinavia, especially the image of a 'divine couple', a strong motif known from the late Iron Age depicted on many golden sheets called guldgubbers. Several scholars argue that this image represents the marriage of god Frey and giantess Gerd; however, it may also represent a union of Frey with his sister Freyja. From later sources, it is known that the Vanir, an ancient race of gods, had a custom to marry or have intercourse with their siblings. Njord, the father of Frey and Freya, was from this tribe, and sources suggest that they were conceived with his sister-wife. She might have been the mysterious Suebi goddess Nerthus, which Roman historian Tacitus wrote about in Germania. Her statue was kept in a sacred grove on an unknown island, drawn in a holy cart and only priests could touch her. Everywhere the goddess came she was met with celebration of peace and hospitality. After she returned to the temple, everything was washed by slaves, who were drowned short after. Her connection with fertility, peace, and water, definitely points to the Vanir race; and she shares several similarities with the later worshipping of Frey. This mount probably represents either Njord and Nerthus, or Frey and Freya, and may had been used as a votive offering or worn as an amulet to invoke the fertile powers of those gods. [No Reserve]. Very fine condition. Very rare.
1038-1040 AD. Obv: profile bust with +HAROLD REX legend. Rev: long voided cross with lis and pellets in angles with +GORIC:ON CONC for the moneyer Godric at Colchester mint. S. 1164; N. 803. See Early Medieval Corpus, Cambridge, reference EMC 2007.0171 (this coin); see Portable Antiquities Scheme, reference SF-EB7F87 (this coin); see BNJ Coin Register 2008, 269 (this coin"). 0.88 grams. . Found Clare, Suffolk, UK, 2007 (PAS SF-EB7F87; EMC 2007.0171) . Good very fine; flan split. Rare.
A matrix specimen with numerous small crystals of the rare mineral spangolite, in white card tray with adhesive tape label reading: 'SPANGOLITE, BINGHAM'. See http://www.mindat.org/min-3721.html 210 grams, 72mm (2 3/4"). Found New Mexico, USA; from the historic ‘Victorian Museum’ and later collection of Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's); formerly Gregory, Bottley & Co. (1932-1981) and previously J. R. Gregory & Co. (1898-1932); originally James Reynolds Gregory (1858-1898"). This item is part of a historic collection of fossils and minerals which has recently been reviewed by leading geological expert Dr. Ronald Bonewitz. The firm Gregory, Bottley and Lloyd (Gregory's), was acquired by TimeLine Auctions in 2016. London-born James Reynolds Gregory (1832-1899) founded the company, which is the second longest-running gem and fossil dealership in the world. James was educated at Archbishop Tennison's School, and afterward found employment in a jewellery company on Regent Street. In 1858 he established his own business in King William Street. A few years later he moved to ‘very extensive premises’ in Golden Square, Covent Garden. He was one of the best known dealers in London, exhibiting at major commercial shows throughout the world and winning awards for excellence in Paris in 1867, Sydney in 1879 and London in 1862, 1883 and 1884. James primarily bought his stock at auction, from collectors and other dealers, and supplied many major collectors and scientists of his day. He built superb personal collections, a selection going to the British Museum. He wrote many papers and was a member of several learned societies including the Society of Arts. The business became known as J.R. Gregory & Company in 1896, still under James' management with the assistance of his son Albert Gregory (b.1864"). When James died three years later, the business passed to Albert. At the end of the 19th century most London dealers had folded or retired, many selling out to J.R. Gregory & Co. Albert continued by acquiring Russell and Shaw (Est. 1848) in 1925 and Francis H. Butler (Est. 1884) in 1927. Percy Bottley (1904-1980) took over the company in 1931, renaming it Gregory, Bottley & Company with respect to his predecessors. Percy’s company survived the 2nd World War by buying out all of its competitors, including the supplier to Pitt-Rivers, Samuel Henson (Est. 1840) and G.H. Richards (Est. 1897) in 1936. Percy also added many important collections to his stock including those of Rev. F. Holmes in 1940, and the Graves collection in 1943. Following Percy's death in 1981, the business was sold to Brian Lloyd, whereupon it became Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd. Brian had been Sotheby’s main Natural History expert in the 1960s and 1970s, and subsequently traded from Pall Mall. The business continued to thrive, and Brian purchased the Joseph Neeld (1789-1856) collection in 1974 and the historic gold collection of H.S. Gordon, first exhibited at the Empire Exhibition, South Africa in 1936. Brian moved the business to 12-13 Rickett Street in 1982, and to 13 Seagrave Road in 1993. He carried on the company's specialization in historic collections, most recently acquiring that of Robert Ferguson (1767-1840) in 2000. The business moved to Walmer in Kent in 2008, and was acquired by TimeLine in April 2016. Trading History Est. 1858 (59 Frith Street, Soho) 1859 - 1861 (3 King William Street, Strand) 1862 - 1866 (25 Golden Square, Covent Garden) 1866 - 1874 (15 Russell Street, Covent Garden) 1874 - 1895 (88 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square) 1896 - 1906 (1 Kelso Place, Kensington) 1907 - 1926 (139 Fulham Road, Chelsea) 1926 - 1981 (30 (Old) Church Street, Chelsea) 1982 - 1993 (12-13 Rickett Street, Fulham) 1993 - 2007 (13 Seagrave Road, Fulham) 2008 - 2016 (59 Liverpool Road, Walmer, Kent) 2016 - (363 Main Road, Harwich, Essex) [No Reserve]. Extremely fine condition. Rare.
1662-1685 AD.. Obv: profile bust with IIII behind and CAROLVS II D G M B F & H REX legend. Rev: cross over arms with 'coronet' mintmark and CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO legend with stop after REGNO. S. 3383; ESC 6th, 591 variant (stop after REGNO; old 1840"). 1.91 grams. . . Good very fine. Rare; the stop after REGNO not listed in ESC.
313 AD. Trier mint. Obv: IMP LICINIVS AVG legend with laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding mappa and sceptre. Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI AVG legend with Jupiter, head left, holding thunderbolt and transverse sceptre, sitting on eagle standing right on waved line with wings spread; mintmark PTR below. RIC VI Trier 825; ; Sear 15144. 2.82 grams. . . Very fine. Very rare.
1st-2nd century AD. A bronze weight formed as a dolphin with tail arched, scale detail to the body, flat underside to the body; the lower body with enigmatic Greek text '???????'. 98 grams, 54mm (2 1/4"). Private collection, North London; acquired in the early 1990s. . Very fine condition. Rare.
10th century AD. A silver pendant showing a male figure, Odin (?), with body composed of an interlaced strip with hands gripping the edge of the frame; suspension loop in the form of a bearded male face. 11 grams, 34mm (1 1/2"). Property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990. Supplied with a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. In Norse mythology, from which stems most of our information about the god, Odin is associated with healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, battle, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and is the husband of the goddess Frigg. In Old Norse texts, Odin is depicted as one-eyed and long-bearded, frequently wielding a spear named Gungnir, and wearing a cloak and a broad hat. He is often accompanied by his animal companions—the wolves Geri and Freki and the ravens Huginn and Muninn, who bring him information from all over Midgard —and Odin rides the flying, eight-legged steed Sleipnir across the sky and into the underworld. Odin is attested as having many sons, most famously the god Baldr with Thor, and is known by hundreds of names. In these texts, Odin frequently seeks knowledge in some manner and in disguise (most famously by obtaining the Mead of Poetry), at times makes wagers with his wife Frigg over the outcome of exploits, and takes part in both the creation of the world by way of slaying the primordial being Ymir and the gift of life to the first two humans Ask and Embla. Odin has a particular association with Yule, and mankind's knowledge of both the runes and poetry is also attributed to Odin. This pendant would appear to represent Odin sacrificing himself on the world tree, Yggdrasill, in his pursuit for knowledge and the sacred runes. Odin hung himself from a branch of the world tree that hung over the well of Urd, pierced himself with his spear and looked into the sacred waters. He hung for nine days and nights poised between life and death and on the last day the runes revealed themselves to him and he gained the sacred and secret knowledge that elevated him to an even higher state in the world of the gods. The Jelling style of art takes its name from the tenth century, Danish, royal cemetery at Jelling in Jutland and is noted for the ribbon like animals that decorate a silver cup and a memorial stone from the site. . Very fine condition. Rare.
19th-16th century BC. A terracotta plaque formed as L shaped throne with two miniature feet to the bottom; low-relief motif of a seated goddess dressed in long loose robe wearing horned tiara, holding a palm tree (?) in each hand, a flow of water coming from her tiara, a pair of birds standing at her feet. Cf. Ashmolean Museum Oxford, AN1924.670. 79 grams, 91mm (3 1/2"). From a German collection; acquired on the German art market before 1990. Nanshe was a goddess of social justice, prophecy, fertility, fishing and was associated with water. Her father was Enki, one of the most important Mesopotamian gods with patronage over magic, water and wisdom; her mother Ninhursag was a goddess of fertility and a mother goddess. She was assigned dominion over the Persian Gulf, on which floated her father's sea shrine. As a secondary function, she was to ensure that shipments of fish reached the mainland. She also had a strong connection with wildlife, especially birds, and divination. [No Reserve]. Fine condition. Rare.
An octahedral diamond crystal with stepped faces weighing approximately 1/4 ct in a matrix of kimberlite, from the Sakha Republic of Russia. See Bonewitz, Dr. Ronald Louis, Rocks & Minerals, 2008, p.122-123. 29 grams, 46mm (1 3/4"). Found Sakha Republic of Russia; from the historic ‘Victorian Museum’ collection and later of Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's); formerly Gregory, Bottley & Co. (1932-1981) and previously J. R. Gregory & Co. (1898-1932); originally James Reynolds Gregory (1858-1898"). This item is part of a historic collection of fossils and minerals which has recently been reviewed by leading geological expert Dr. Ronald Bonewitz. The firm Gregory, Bottley and Lloyd (Gregory's), was acquired by TimeLine Auctions in 2016. London-born James Reynolds Gregory (1832-1899) founded the company, which is the second longest-running gem and fossil dealership in the world. James was educated at Archbishop Tennison's School, and afterward found employment in a jewellery company on Regent Street. In 1858 he established his own business in King William Street. A few years later he moved to ‘very extensive premises’ in Golden Square, Covent Garden. He was one of the best known dealers in London, exhibiting at major commercial shows throughout the world and winning awards for excellence in Paris in 1867, Sydney in 1879 and London in 1862, 1883 and 1884. James primarily bought his stock at auction, from collectors and other dealers, and supplied many major collectors and scientists of his day. He built superb personal collections, a selection going to the British Museum. He wrote many papers and was a member of several learned societies including the Society of Arts. The business became known as J.R. Gregory & Company in 1896, still under James' management with the assistance of his son Albert Gregory (b.1864"). When James died three years later, the business passed to Albert. At the end of the 19th century most London dealers had folded or retired, many selling out to J.R. Gregory & Co. Albert continued by acquiring Russell and Shaw (Est. 1848) in 1925 and Francis H. Butler (Est. 1884) in 1927. Percy Bottley (1904-1980) took over the company in 1931, renaming it Gregory, Bottley & Company with respect to his predecessors. Percy’s company survived the 2nd World War by buying out all of its competitors, including the supplier to Pitt-Rivers, Samuel Henson (Est. 1840) and G.H. Richards (Est. 1897) in 1936. Percy also added many important collections to his stock including those of Rev. F. Holmes in 1940, and the Graves collection in 1943. Following Percy's death in 1981, the business was sold to Brian Lloyd, whereupon it became Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd. Brian had been Sotheby’s main Natural History expert in the 1960s and 1970s, and subsequently traded from Pall Mall. The business continued to thrive, and Brian purchased the Joseph Neeld (1789-1856) collection in 1974 and the historic gold collection of H.S. Gordon, first exhibited at the Empire Exhibition, South Africa in 1936. Brian moved the business to 12-13 Rickett Street in 1982, and to 13 Seagrave Road in 1993. He carried on the company's specialization in historic collections, most recently acquiring that of Robert Ferguson (1767-1840) in 2000. The business moved to Walmer in Kent in 2008, and was acquired by TimeLine in April 2016. Trading History Est. 1858 (59 Frith Street, Soho) 1859 - 1861 (3 King William Street, Strand) 1862 - 1866 (25 Golden Square, Covent Garden) 1866 - 1874 (15 Russell Street, Covent Garden) 1874 - 1895 (88 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square) 1896 - 1906 (1 Kelso Place, Kensington) 1907 - 1926 (139 Fulham Road, Chelsea) 1926 - 1981 (30 (Old) Church Street, Chelsea) 1982 - 1993 (12-13 Rickett Street, Fulham) 1993 - 2007 (13 Seagrave Road, Fulham) 2008 - 2016 (59 Liverpool Road, Walmer, Kent) 2016 - (363 Main Road, Harwich, Essex) . Extremely fine condition. Diamonds in matrix are rare.
84 AD. Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG GER COS X legend with laureate head right, aegis on shoulder. Rev: SALVTI AVGVST legend to left and right with front view of an altar with double-panelled doors; SC in exergue. RIC 209; BMCRE 286A; Sear 2808 variant (obverse legend, position of reverse legend"). See Wildwinds.com (this coin"). 9.72 grams. . . Very fine. Rare.
7th century AD. A gilt-bronze hollow-formed disc-shaped brooch with a central dot around which are four S-shaped birds with large eyes, curved beaks and bodies formed from interlaced lines; the outer sidewall with line decoration; remains of a catchplate to the reverse. Cf. MacGregor, A. et al. A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections (Roman Iron Age, Migration Period, Early Medieval), Oxford, 1997, item 2.2; Metropolitan museum of Art, New York, Accession Number: 53.48.6. 14.27 grams, 39mm (1 1/2"). Property of a 19th century collector; thence by descent. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. This Scandinavian Vendel period brooch preceds the Viking Era both in history and art style, as we can observe the use of box and disc brooches in both eras. There were lively contacts with continental Europe, and the Scandinavians continued to export iron, fur and slaves; in return they acquired art and innovations, such as the stirrup. Some of the riches were probably acquired through the control of mining districts and the production of iron. The rulers had troops of mounted elite warriors with costly armour, since their graves were found with stirrups and saddle ornaments of birds of prey in gilded bronze with encrusted garnets. The geometric and interlaced patter was popular especially in Scandinavia, although we can find ornaments with similar motif among continental Germanic people. Abstractly designed small brooches like this were fashionable until larger and more massive Viking oval and drum brooches replaced them. . Very fine condition. Rare.
6th-7th century AD. A bronze ovoid plaque with two spikes to the reverse, panel of La Tène spiral comma-scrolls with central geometric detailing; pierced lug to the lower edge. See Bruce-Mitford, R. Ireland and the Hanging Bowls - A Review in Ryan, M. Ireland and Insular Art AD 500-1200, Dublin, 1985. 7.83 grams, 39mm (1 1/2"). Found East Anglia, UK; before 2000. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. . Extremely fine condition. Very rare.
8th century BC. A domed bronze cap supporting a rectangular base with horse and rider figure, the rider with hands on hips, the horse with twisted reins, attached to an iron pin; mounted on a custom-made stand. See Godard, F. The Art of Iran, London, 1965 for discussion. 470 grams, 29.5cm (11 1/2"). Ex German collection, Cologne. . Fine condition. Rare.
9th-11th century AD. A gold pendant with domed bottom, flat-section wall and filigree handle, ornamented with granulation and filigree detailing. Cf. Meaney, A. Anglo-Saxon Amulets and Curing Stones, Oxford, BAR British Series 96, 1981, p.166-168. 2.10 grams, 16mm (1/2"). Property of a German gentleman; acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages. [No Reserve]. Extremely fine condition.
5th century AD. A gilt-bronze rectangular buckle plate with straps and rear riveted panel, vertical ribbing to the edges, complex inlaid pattern of cloison garnets, three with stepped edges; tongue with forward edge curved over the loop, discoid shield with raised cell and inset kidney-shaped garnet cloison; substantial carved rock crystal loop. See Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, for similar examples, e.g. I.12.1, I.13.1, I.15.4. 163 grams, 86mm overall (3 1/2"). Property of a gentleman; acquired in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. A small number of belt buckles made from rock crystal have been found and mostly related to the Ostrogoths, the Eastern branch of the Gothic confederacy of tribes; the Western branch being the Visigoths who would go on to settle Southern France, Spain and North Africa. The Ostrogoths traced their origins to the Greutungi – a branch of the Goths who had migrated southward from the Baltic Sea and established a kingdom north of the Black Sea, during the third and fourth centuries, and their name would appear to mean 'glorified by the rising sun'. The relative scarcity of rock crystal buckles would indicate that they were reserved for the elite and that they were only used for special occasions, such as religious ceremonies, diplomatic meetings, and other court ceremonial; the fragile nature of the stone would make them unpractical to wear on a daily basis, particularly in warfare. Rock crystal had been regarded as having special qualities since the Neolithic when pebbles of the crystal had been placed in graves. It would go on to be revered by the Romans and manufactured into luxury items, and it is possibly this influence, along with a native belief in the magical power of the stone, that led to it being used for the aristocracy. . Very fine condition. Rare.
14th century AD. A silver and gold quatrefoil mount with a figural scene, a dove above, foliage and crosslet decoration to the background, set in a later frame and chain; John Cherry, former Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities at the British Museum says: The central fragment of silver found in the Thames in 1907 shows a secular scene of two standing lovers, female and male, greeting each other. The date of the medieval piece is likely to be fourteenth century. The gilt area surrounding the medieval fragment is post 1907, (and frame, and probably the loop and chain), this was done by a goldsmith who was given the male lover a wing in the gilded area) in order to give the scene a possible interpretation as the Annunication. To have preserved the distinction between old (medieval) and new (post 1907) was a characteristic of Arts & Crafts architects and goldsmiths, so this piece is a particularly interesting example of medieval preservation and Ar ts & Crafts setting. The 1907 parts are not hallmarked by the goldsmith, since this was presumably done as a private commission.; inscription to the reverse: 'Made from a fragment of silver found in the Thames in 1907, depicting a part of the scene of the annunciation.' 25.26 grams; pendant: 39mm, chain: 66cm (1 1/2, 26"). Property of a Sussex lady; acquired before 1990. . Very fine condition. Excessively rare.
476-479 AD. Constantinople mint. Obv: D N ZENO-PERP AVG legend with diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM legend with Victory advancing right holding wreath and globus cruciger; star in lower right field; CON OB in exergue. RIC x, 919; Sear 21352. 1.48 grams. . . Near very fine. Very rare.
198-217 AD. Magistrate M. V. Car. Claudianus. Obv: AYT KAI M AY ANTWNIN legend with laureate, draped bust right. Rev: M OY KAR KLAYDIANOC ACIARX ANEQ legend around with Caracalla on horseback riding right, wielding spear at two fallen enemies beneath the horse; ATTOYDE / WN in two lines in exergue. SNG von Aulock 2505. See Wildwinds.com (this coin"). 52.74 grams. . . Very fine. Very rare.
Circa 3000 BC. A carved black stone cylinder seal with kneeling figures in front of a triangular structure, accompanied by a typed and signed scholarly note issued by W.G. Lambert, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham 1970-1993, which states: Cylinder Seal of Black Stone, 18 x 16 mm. The design is a frieze of three kneeling female figures, all raising their hands and wearing pigtails. Two are separated by a single vertical row of four fly-like motifs, the other intervening space has two row of the same kind. This is a variant of a Jemdet Nasr Sumerian design, but quite distinct in that the female figures are not squatting, but kneeling, they hold nothing in their hands, and the rows of apparent flies are not from the Jemdet Nasr repertoir. This is reported to have come from Kerman, and that would explain the phenomena. It is a little worn, but it is a rare item. It dates to c. 3000 B.C. 10.11 grams, 18mm (3/4"). Property of a London gentleman; part of his family collection since the 1970s. . Fine condition.
20th-19th century BC. A cuneiform clay tablet with text to both broad faces and one edge; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: ’Clay Tablet, 96 x 54 mm. with Cuneiform Inscription. This is an oblong tablet, written on both sides. The surface is abraded in parts so that no co[m]plete decipherment is possible, but its character can be ascertained and some of it can be translated. The text is of ten sections of three lines each, 6 on the obverse, four on the reverse, with four extra lines of different character as a kind of colophon. The ten sections are set out like a lexical text: a Sumerian sign is written as the first sign of the line, then after a gap the line is completed with a group of signs: in some sense rendering the initial sign. The first line of each section has such Sumerian signs, the second and third only one. They are: ŠITA, DIŠ, and Ù. The Babylonian complement is always an Old Babylonian personal name, and never the same name twice. Two sections will illustrate this: SITA-a-ap-xx a-li-ilu-ki-in/ DIŠ e-pe-es-ilu/ Ù a-pil-ili-su / ŠITA.nam èr-ra-da-pi-in/ DIŠ a-……-i-mi-id/Ù i-li-ip-pa-al-sa-am. This is so far unique in Old Babylonian lexical texts, and it is not clear how the names came to be mated to the signs in the first column, nor what was being achieved thereby. This is thus a rare document so far without parallel.' 158 grams, 96mm (3 3/4"). From a North London collection; acquired in the 1970s. . Fine condition, some abrasion. Very rare.
14th-15th century AD. A substantial D-section silver hoop with three radiating bosses, octagonal-section expanding bezel; niello field with reserved palmettes to the hoop, crosses to the lateral bosses, starburst to the lower boss; two bands of niello herringbone detail with separating line; plaque with niello border, panel with lion rampant regardant, punched texture to the body, limbs and tail, facial features. Cf. Bosselmann-Ruickbie, A. A 13th Century Jewellery Hoard from Thessalonica in Entwistle, C. & Adams, N. Intelligible Beauty, Recent Research into Byzantine Jewellery, London, 2010, items 7, 8, 14. 63 grams, 38mm overall, 19.19mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20.0, Japan 19) (1 1/2"). Property of a London collector, acquired before 1980. . Very fine condition. A large wearable size. Rare.
1st millennium BC. A chalcedony cylinder seal with intaglio design of a kilted hero with headgear and beard grasping the foreleg of each of two rampant sphinxes attacking him amid vegetation; supplied with an impression of the design, old Christie's label to the reverse. Cf. Collon, D. First Impressions. Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East, London, 2005, p.81 for similar. 16 grams, 35mm (1 1/2"). Property of a North West London gentleman; previously with Christies, South Kensington, sale 9599, 13 May 2003, lot 303. The identification of this figure could be that of Lahmu, meaning 'hairy'. He was a protective and beneficent deity who was later associated with Marduk, chief deity of Babylon. Figurines of the god, who is represented with long hair and a beard, were used in the Neo-Assyrian Period as foundation deposits to ward off demons and sickness. A number of mythological creatures are known from ancient Mesopotamia which are hybrids composed of various creatures. The human headed sphinx is quite rare compared to the usual representation of composite bull creatures. However, they seem to have a similar role to the other monsters in that they represent the forces of chaos that are subdued by the gods. The chalcedony is deeply patinated, a process taking many centuries. . Very fine condition.
3rd-2nd millennium BC. A terracotta bulbous vessel with tubular neck, slightly flared rim, bifid strap handle to the rear and pierced suspension lug to the shoulder; red painted lattice to the lower body. 529 grams, 14.5cm (5 3/4"). Property of a gentleman; acquired 1980s. . Fine condition. Very rare.
193-194 AD. Antioch mint. Obv: IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVST AVG legend with laureate head right. Rev: BONI EVENTV legend with Bonus Eventus or Fides standing left, holding plate of fruit and two grain ears. Reverse legend variant of RIC 5b; RSC 10c variant; Sear 6102 variant (all with BONI EVENTVS"). See Wildwinds.com (this coin"). 2.27 grams. . There is a large diversity of Pescennius Niger's legends from this mint. . Near very fine. Rare.
98-99 AD. Minted in or for the province of Asia. Obv: IMP NERVA CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM P M TR P PP COS II legend with laureate head right. Rev: COM-ASI legend to left and right of a distyle temple with ROMA ET AVG on the podium and four steps before; Trajan, holding sceptre, stepping left, being crowned by Roma, holding cornucopia. Woytek, Die Cistophori.., 4 in SNR 2010 (8 examples cited); Sotheby’s, Eton College Collection sale (1976), lot 518; not in RIC; Pinder; BMC; RSC or Sear with these legends. 10.16 grams. . . Almost extremely fine. Rare.
3rd-4th century AD. Group comprising: four uniface ceramic coin moulds, each depicting an incuse and reversed standing figure with inscriptions; with a copper-alloy coin of the same general type for illustration. See Sahni, Birbal, The Technique of Casting Coins in Ancient India, 1973 for information and illustrations of similar examples (photocopy included"). 31.13 grams total, 30mm average. . [4, No Reserve]. Moulds very fine, coin fair. Extremely rare survivals.
Dated 1758 AD. Old bust. Obv: profile bust with GEORGIVS II DEI GRATIA legend. Rev: cruciform arms with M B F ET H REX F D B ET L D S R I A T ET E legend and date with 8 over 7. S. 3704 variant; ESC 6th, 1734 variant. 6.00 grams. . . Near very fine. Very rare; the overdate apparenly not recorded.
9th century AD. A bronze mount depicting a scene of a male figure with almond-shaped eye, pointed curved chin, small nose, long hair with a curl above the forehead; dressed in a loose short-sleeve tunic(?), with hands and neck tied together; facing a bird with large almond-shaped eye, curved beak and prominent crest or feather(?) on the top of its head, finely incised feather decoration; a pin to the reverse; foreign workmanship. 12 grams, 47mm (2"). Property of a London businessman, from his grandfather's collection formed after World War II; thence by descent 1972. Accompanied by a positive X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate. The design on this mount is definitely inspired by Scandinavian and British Isles Viking art, however the style of execution points towards foreign workmanship, possibly continental European. Some features are very distinctive for Viking art, such as a curl on the top of the head and almond-shaped eyes, which can be found also on small mounts of female figures holding a shield, found both in Scandinavia (Vrejlev, Denmark) and England (Ipswich, Suffolk"). The face style, with distinctive curved chin, is typical of those on picture stones from Gotland, Sweden, especially the ones from Stora Hammar and Sanda. The style of bird is unusual, but the closest parallel can be found on the Franks Casket, which could have served as an inspiration for the style of the mount. The story is most likely the one of Wayland (also known as Volundr or Weland), the most famous blacksmith from Germanic mythology, attested both in Viking and Anglo-Saxon mythology. The poem Volundarkviða from the Poetic Edda tells how Volundr and his two brothers married swan maidens (valkyries) and lived with them for eight winters, after which their wives abandoned them. Unlike his brothers, Volundr decided to stay at home waiting for his wife to return, but was captured by kind Niðuðr and imprisoned on an island. A ring, which was given to Volundr by his wife, was taken from him and Niðuðr gave it to his daughter, Boðvildr. In revenge, Wayland killed the king's sons when they visited him in secret, and fashioned goblets from their skulls, jewels from their eyes, and a brooch from their teeth. He sent the goblets to the king, the jewels to the queen and the brooch to the king's daughter. To humiliate the king even more, he raped princess Boðvild when she visited him to mend the ring given to her. He then escaped with artificial wings he created from birds' feathers. The suffering of a blacksmith is attested also in the Old English poem Deor, in which there is also a mention of his imprisonment by king Niðhad. His story can be also found on artefacts, notably the Franks Casket and the Ardre picture stone. Some of the most famous swords and armour was said to have been forged by this legendary blacksmith. The other interpretation of a bound figure might imply it to be Loki, imprisoned after his betrayal of the Æsir gods and bound with the entrails of his own son. The bird, in this case most likely a raven, can represent a messenger of Odin. We know from the Norse poem Baldrs draumar that Odin visited a volva (seeress or wise woman) in the realm of the dead, Helheim. After an exchange of words, in the end he accuses her not to be a wise woman, but rather the mother of three giants to which she responds that no one will visit her until Loki will be free. Some scholars' (e.g. Ursula Dronke) interpretation is that the volva was Loki disguised, imprisoned in Helheim, who fathered three world monsters with giantess Angrboda (Fenrir, Jormungandr, Hel) and the mount can point to the scene of conversation between bounded Loki and the raven, the messenger of Odin. . Extremely fine condition. Excessively rare.
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![941-944 AD. First reign. Obv: triquetra with +[ A.NLA.FCVN]VNC.A legend. Rev: Danish standard with +F.A.[NA.NMONETA]E legend](https://cdn.globalauctionplatform.com/e1bb1e8f-1aff-4dc4-b99c-a6ad0101f48f/a0067f4c-3698-4e2a-aee9-a37609a1b3c2/468x382.jpg)
