A rare polychrome Dutch Delft jewellery box with cover, 18th C. - Dim.: 30 x 20,5 x 11,5 cm Marked GVS for Geertruij Verstelle, Het Oude Moriaanshooft, ca. 1760. Depicted in Aronson, 2009: Dutch Delftware - Including selections from A Distinguised Manhattan Collecto, p. 80, nr. 80. See also: Dim.: 30 x 20,5 x 11,5 cm Marked GVS for Geertruij Verstelle, the "Het Oude Moriaanshooft" workshop, Delft, 1761 - 1773. Provenance: Aronson, 2009, Dutch Delftware including selections from a distinguished Manhattan collector, p. 120, nr. 80. See also: - A manganese example with floral pattern and marked for the "De Witte Starre" factory, is illustrated in The Lavino Collection, page 65. - A polychrome example with a pastoral scene, also marked GVS is illustrated in C.H. de Jonge, Delfts aardewerk, Rotterdam/'s-Gravenhage 1965 (Oud Delft 5), p. 134, ill. 140. - A blue and white box with a floral pattern, marked LPK for the De Lampetkan workshop, is in the collection of the Musees Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Brussels (inv. no. Ev. 622 A-B), illustrated in Hudig 1929, p. 225, ill. 165. - Another blue and white box, marked DSK for the De Dubbelde Schenkkan (The Double Ewer) Factory, in the Musee National de Ceramique, Sevres (inv. no. Cl 7473), is illustrated in Lahaussois 1998, p. 179, no. 167 - Condition reports and high resolution pictures are available on our website at www.rm-auctions.com. Further questions are always welcome at info@rm-auctions.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our website and stay informed about all our auctions!
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A pair of rare polychrome Dutch Delft bowls and covers, early 18th C. - Dia.: 16 cm - H.: 10,5 cm - Condition reports and high resolution pictures are available on our website at www.rm-auctions.com. Further questions are always welcome at info@rm-auctions.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our website and stay informed about all our auctions!
A Dutch Delft blue and white wall cistern with basin, 18th C. - The decoration on this set carries more depth than one could grasp at first glance. From a philosophical point of view, the cistern could be considered as a fountain of youth. The deeper meaning of the decoration on this rare set, makes it an unusually interesting and inspiring whole. A first wink is already given with the cover, depicting a semi-nude female bust. Within the different chinoiserie panels, various ladies are depicted, each at a different stage of growth. The cycle commences near the the hole for the spout, where a young female child is depicted undressed. Both panels on the side of the cistern, depict an adolescent, not yet fully grown when compared to the size of the ladies in the next panels. The young girl is depicted pondering, looking at a pagoda-type structure in a mountainous landscape, possibly a metaphor for the path towards adulthood. The evolution continues in the panels surrounding the central part of the fountain, where an adult lady is shown in a quiet garden surrounding, near a flower vase. In the central panel above the spout opening, she is shown in the final stage of her life, walking with a cane, somewhat bent over, crossing a bridge, possibly a metaphor for the end of her life. As the circle is complete, we can now move on to the basin. The ladies have now been replaced by geese, depicted in a chinoiserie water landscape. Here, the geese are depicted in various stages of growth, again a wink towards evolution. Provenance: Acquired on the Belgian art market, ca. 1970 A private Belgian collectionDimensions: The wall cistern: H: 49 cm (incl. cover), the base: 24 x 17 cmThe basin: 41,5 x 37 x10 cmOther examples: A slightly later example with basin decorated in petit feu palette is in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, inv. nr. BK-NM-12400-388. As far as we could find, this is the only other example known with original basin.A closely related example of a cistern without basin was in the Gustav Leonhardt Collection, sold at Sotheby's, London, 29 April 2014, Lot 446 (GBP 9375).Another type of cistern, shaped as a house and also without basin, is in The Fitzwilliam Museum, inv. nr. C.2416.Another type of cistern, of rounded shape, was sold at Christie's, New York, 20-21 January 2004, Lot 592 (USD 5378).Condition: The basin with a restored hairline running inwards from ca. 11 o'clock, and a restored chip on one of the rounded parts.The cistern with a few small areas of inpainting on the extremities. - Condition reports and high resolution pictures are available on our website at www.rm-auctions.com. Further questions are always welcome at info@rm-auctions.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our website and stay informed about all our auctions!
A rare white Delft oval gadrooned dish, 17th C. - Dim.: 38,5 x 30,5 x 6 cm - Condition reports and high resolution pictures are available on our website at www.rm-auctions.com. Further questions are always welcome at info@rm-auctions.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our website and stay informed about all our auctions!
RARE RECOVERY OF WILLIAM, PRINCE OF ORANGE COMMEMORATIVE COINby M Holtzhey, 1734, the obverse with bust of William of Orange right, hair long, legend reading "W.C.H.F. Princeps AVR. ET Nass", marked "Holtzhey.F." below bust, the reverse with Hygieia holding a staff upon an alter encircled by a serpent, legend reading "Vota Pro Principis Avriaci Salvte" for the recovery of the prince of Orange and dated MDCCXXXIV, 28mm
RARE GENTLEMAN'S OMEGA SPEEDMASTER PROFESSIONAL PRE-MOON CHRONOMETER WRIST WATCHsigned 17 jewels calibre 321 manual wind movement numbered 25005310, the black dial with red and white baton hour markers, sunken subsidiary chronograph dials to three, six and nine, the bezel with dot over the 90, the 44mm stainless steel case screw back case numbered 145012-68 SP, fitted with a stainless steel strap with deployment clasp reference 1035, with paperwork
RARE AND EARLY GENTLEMAN'S 1920s EIGHTEEN CARAT GOLD PATEK PHILIPPE GENEVE WRISTWATCH1923, the signed manual wind calibre 10''' movement numbered 804.806, the square silvered dial with applied Arabic numerals, gold hands, the signed 25mm eighteen carat gold case numbered 289.095, fitted with a black leather Hirsch strap with an eighteen carat gold Patek Philippe buckle, complete with Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives paperworkPatek Philippe have been associated with the very finest of timepieces since their inception in the mid-nineteenth century and their watches have been worn by the rich and famous ever since. Even at the grand old age of 165, they continue to wow watch enthusiasts today with their technical excellence and artistic flair.It is telling that, of the ten most expensive watches ever sold at auction, nine have been manufactured by Patek Philippe. In 2014, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Super complication pocket watch sold at auction for a record breaking $24 million.This example is a very early wristwatch from 1923 and the oldest of its type that McTear's has ever sold.
Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Nike advancing left in kneeling-running pose, head right, holding tunny fish by the tail / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 121; SNG France 267. 16.13g, 20mm. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare as a stater; only one other example on CoinArchives.
Clodius Albinus AR Denarius. Lugdunum, AD 195-197. IMP CAES D CLO ALBIN AVG, laureate head right / GEN LVG COS II, the Genius of Lugdunum, towered and standing front with head left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae; eagle at feet. RIC 23c. 2.82g, 17mm, 11h. Near Very Fine. Rare. Ex HD Rauch Auction 76, 17 October 2005, lot 555.
Vespasian Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG P M TR P P COS III, laureate head right / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing [OB CIV SERV] on shield set on palm tree; S-C across fields. RIC 127. 27.18g, 35mm, 6h. Very Fine; tooled and smoothed. Very Rare.
Ionia, Phokaia EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Female head left, wearing helmet or close fitting cap; seal to right / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 31; BMC Ionia -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock 7943; SNG Kayhan 518. 2.59g, 10mm. Extremely Fine. Very Rare, Bodenstedt cites only four specimens.
Italy. Venice, Marco Foscari (1762-1763) AR Osella. MARCI / FOSCARENI / PRINCIPIS / MUNUS / ANNO I within cartouche / PICTIS VENETORUM ITINERIBUS AULA EXORNATA, female figure seated by globe; in exergue, MDCCLXII / VET M (Vettore Morosini, massaro). Paolucci II 245. 9.74g, 35mm, 7h. Extremely Fine. Rare.
Galba Æ Sestertius. Rome, circa November AD 68. SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG P M TR P, laureate head right / Livia, draped, seated left on stool, holding patera and vertical sceptre; S-C across fields, AVGVSTA in exergue. RIC -, cf. 432 (diff. obv. legend); BMC -; cf. Nomos Obolos 4, lot 574 (same obv. die). 26.53g, 35mm, 7h. Very Fine. Rare.
Anonymous Æ Quadrans. Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius. Rome, AD 81-161. Draped bust of Annius Verus right, as the personification of Winter / S•C within wreath. RIC 35. 3.70g, 19mm, 11h. Very Fine. Rare. The head on the obverse has been identified as Annius Verus, a son of Marcus Aurelius (Cohen). Van Heesch, in Studia Paulo Naster Oblata I, pp. 193-197, distinguished four types of busts in the series, and connects them with representations of the four seasons, the bust on this coin being that of Winter.
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I, as satrap, AV Stater. Alexandria, circa 312/11 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin and aegis, horn of Ammon over ear / Prow of galley to right, adorned with one large and one small protective eye. Svoronos 25; Zervos Type V, Issue 87 (unlisted dies); Gulbenkian 1071 = Jameson 999; Saida 41; Triton XIX, 2076 = Nomos 7, 149 = NAC 46, 303 (same dies). 8.60g, 16mm, 12h. Mint State. Extremely Rare, one of only six known, and one of only three in private hands (the others in Athens, Lisbon, and Paris). One of the greatest rarities of the Ptolemaic coinage, this type is not only wonderful in its simplicity, but stunningly beautiful in its execution. Bearing neither inscription nor control symbols – a unique feature that makes it stand out from the rest of Ptolemy’s coinage – the type nonetheless is inextricably linked to the Athena Promachos and Zeus Aëtophoros tetradrachms and a unique gold stater (NAC 66, 77) which all use the deified head of Alexander wearing an elephant skin headdress as the obverse type, as well as small bronzes which feature a portrait of Ptolemy I and a prow on the reverse. Zervos, in his study of the early coinage of Ptolemy I, although certain that the type was contemporary to the Attic weight silver coins and minted at Alexandria, was unable to ascribe it to a historical context. Clearly struck in celebration of his naval exploits, the occasion for the striking of this coin may be found in the reconquest of Cyprus in 313/312 from cities who had switched their allegiance to Antigonus Monophthalmos. Although his own Cypriot allies had been conducting operations against those aligned with Antigonos for several years with some success, Ptolemy himself proceeded to Cyprus at the head of a significant army and fleet. Once there he swiftly eliminated the pro-Antigonid factions, capturing and killing the king of Kition, and subduing Marion and Lapithos-Kyrenia, the former of which was destroyed. Many of the formerly independent kingdoms of Cyprus were subjugated or absorbed by his local allies. The use of the head of Alexander on the obverse of this coin and others mentioned above is a clear illustration of Ptolemy’s claim to be the legitimate successor to the legacy of Alexander. Intercepting the body of Alexander in 322/1 in Syria as it was being moved from Babylon to Macedon and diverting it to Memphis was a very direct statement of this claim, since by custom, Macedonian kings asserted their right to the throne by burying their predecessor. Alone among the Diadochi, Ptolemy did not attempt to regain control over the entirety of Alexander’s empire, but of all the successor states, his came the closest to realising Alexander’s dream of cultural unity.
Sicily, Syracuse Æ Hemilitron. Time of the Fourth Democracy, circa 289-287 BC. Head of Artemis left, ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ before / Thunderbolt, ΔΙΟΣ ΕΛΕΥ-ΘΕΡΙΟΥ above and below. CNS 147 corr.; SNG ANS 746; SNG Morcom -. 7.79g, 18mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare, and extremely well preserved for the type.
L. Mussidius Longus AR Denarius. Rome, 42 BC. Draped bust of Victory right / Victory in prancing biga to right; L•MVSSIDIVS above, LONGVS below. Mussidia 4; Sear Imperators 186; Crawford 494/40. 3.77g, 19mm, 7h. Extremely Fine, unobtrusive banker's mark. Very complete and in fine style for the issue. Very Rare. From the Alban Collection.
Geta, as Caesar, AR Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria. AD 205-207. GETAC KAICAP, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VΠATOC TO •A•, eagle standing left, head right, with wings displayed, holding wreath in beak, on thigh of sacrificial animal. Prieur 204; McAlee 716. 10.89g, 28mm, 11h. About Extremely Fine. Rare.
Titus, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Rome, AD 72-73. T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT, laureate head right / NEP RED, Neptune standing left, resting right foot on globe, holding acrostolium and spear. Biaggi -; BMC -; RIC 365; Calicó 743. 7.17g, 19mm, 5h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare. From the Thersites Collection; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica F, 17 April 1996, lot 1568; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica E, 4 April 1995, lot 2892.
Kingdom of Macedon, Philip V AR Tetradrachm. Pella, circa 202-200 BC. Head of the hero Perseus right, wearing winged helmet surmounted by griffin’s head; harpa in background; all in the centre of a Macedonian shield / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY, club; all within oak wreath tying to left, M monogram to left. F. Burrer. “Die Tetradrachmenprägung Philipps V. von Makedonien Serie II” in JNG 59 (2009), 3 (same dies). 17.04g, 32mm, 2h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, only one example of this variant cited by Burrer.
Sicily, Syracuse AV Dekadrachm. Time of Hieron II, circa 220-217 BC. Head of Persephone left with long flowing hair, head wreathed in grain ears; [torch behind] / Charioteer driving biga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; Π below horses, [IE]PΩN[OΣ] in exergue. Carroccio 39 (D24/R34); SNG Lloyd 1539; Jameson 875 (same dies). 4.23g, 24mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine. Minor flan flaw on cheek, beautifully detailed reverse. Rare. From the B.R.H. Collection, privately purchased c.1980s in Munich. Carroccio's redating of this series places it just prior to the outbreak of hostilities with the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War. He believes, therefore, that the issue was most likely struck to finance the imminent military conflict.
Attica, Athens AR New Style Tetradrachm. Circa 154-3 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with vine tendril and Pegasos / Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; AΘE across, monograms flanking, caps of the Dioskouroi to right; all within wreath. Thompson 61 (this obv. die). 17.05g, 34mm, 12h. Very Fine. Beautifully toned. Rare early issue. An obverse die of excellent style, vastly superior to the usual New Style tetradrachms. Ex Münzen & Medaillen List 483, November 1985, lot 28; Ex Münzen & Medaillen List 416, October 1979, lot 8. In approximately 165 BC, Athens introduced a new series of silver tetradrachm, referred to today as 'New Style Coinage'. At the time, it represented a landmark change in the coinage of Athens. Although the types had not changed, and still depicted Athena on the obverse and an owl on the reverse, this new coinage saw a marked change in the artistic styles employed in the engraving. The traditional, more archaising devices that had been the norm during the previous three centuries were replaced with a contemporary interpretation of the Athena Parthenos of Pheidias, wearing her triple-crested Attic helmet adorned on its visor with the foreparts of four or more horses, and a flying Pegasos on the bowl. On the reverse, the owl was now shown standing on a horizontal amphora, with a profligacy of magistrates’ names, symbols, and other letters occupying every available space, all enclosed within a large olive wreath. These new depictions were facilitated by, or more likely the result of, the coins’ oversized flans which were broader and thinner, offering the engraver a larger canvas upon which to work, while also requiring some innovative thinking to make use of the space. The new coinage was produced on a large scale, and this apparent improvement in Athens’ economy is attributed to the city’s recovery of the port of Delos in 166 BC. As with the fifth century issues, the new coinage became an important and respected trade currency, as attested by the hoard deposits throughout the Mediterranean, and indeed the broad, thin flan also gained favour at other cities, which began to issue similar tetradrachms in imitation. The series reached a zenith in the early first century BC, but Sulla’s capture of Athens in the spring of 86 BC was a severe shock to the city’s prosperity, and caused a dramatic reduction in the issue of coinage. Until this point, the coins had been produced in an unbroken annual cycle, but there were thereafter only a few sporadic issues, and the series ceased entirely in 50-40 BC.
Lesbos, Mytilene EL Hekte. Circa 521-478 BC. Forepart of winged boar right / Incuse head of lion right; rectangular punch behind. Bodenstedt 9.2; SNG von Aulock -; Boston MFA -; BMC -. 2.58g, 10mm. Mint State. Extremely Rare - apparently only the second known specimen, and the only one in private hands (the other in the ANS collection).
Constantius II AV Solidus. Antioch, AD 351-355. FL IVL CONSTANTIVS PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / GLORIA REIPVBLICAE,Roma, helmeted and draped, seated facing, holding spear in left hand, and Constantinopolis, turreted and draped, seated left, holding sceptre in left hand and resting right foot on prow; they support between them a shield inscribed VOT XXX MVLT XXXX in four lines; SMANE• in exergue. RIC 86; Depeyrot 7/1. 4.47g, 20mm, 6h. About Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
Karia, Achaemenid Period AR Tetradrachm. Circa 341-334 BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow; thunderbolt to right / Warrior, wearing kyrbasia, on horseback right, thrusting spear he holds aloft in right hand. Konuk, Influences, pl. XXX, 12 = Leu 28, 214. 15.06g, 21mm, 1h. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
L. Autronius AR Denarius. Rome, 189-180 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right; X behind / The Dioscuri, each holding spear, on horseback right; two stars above, AVTR monogram below. Crawford 146/1; Autronia 1. 4.00g, 19mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare, and exceedingly well preserved for the type. From the Alban Collection.
Corinthia, Corinth AR Stater. Circa 400-375 BC. Pegasos flying left, Q below / Helmeted head of Athena right, scorpion fish and AΓAΘOKΛEOΣ graffito to left. Ravel 603; Pegasi 158; BCD Corinth –; HGC 4, 1833. 8.33g, 23mm, 6h. Very Fine, die shift on obverse. Very Rare; only three on CoinArchives. Interesting graffito.
Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus AR Quinarius. Military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece, spring-early summer 42 BC. Diademed head of Libertas right; LEIBERTAS before / Stem of prow and anchor in saltire. Crawford 506/3; CRI 210; King 79; RSC 5a. 1.67g, 13mm, 10h. Very Fine. Rare.
Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar, AV Aureus. Struck under Antoninus Pius, Rome, AD 148-149. AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG P II F, bare head right / CONCORDIA TR POT III COS II, Concordia standing facing, head left, sheltering with her mantle small draped figures of Marcus Aurelius (on the left) and Faustina Junior; both figures of Aurelius and Faustina are standing facing, their heads turned toward Concordia. RIC III 441 (Pius) var. (COS II in exergue); Strack 205 (Pius) var. (same); Calicó 1820a; Biaggi –; BMCRE 680 (Pius) var. (same). 6.59g, 19mm, 5h. Extremely Fine. Very Rare, only three examples on CoinArchives. Ex CNG Triton XVII Sessions 1 & 2, 7 January 2014, lot 714. Beautifully rendered on this reverse of this stunning aureus is a charming scene representing the harmony (concordia) that prevailed between Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, who had been married in AD 145. Struck under Antoninus Pius, the depiction of Concordia gathering and sheltering Aurelius and Faustina near her, a representation of harmony in marriage and hope for a life of happiness, belies nothing of the forethought and planning that was undertaken to arrange the match. Instituted by Hadrian during his final two years of life with his adoption of Pius and the subsequent direction for Pius to adopt Aurelius, the wedding commemorated on this coin was, as seen under Roman law, of a brother marrying his sister and Pius would have had to formally release either the bride or groom from his paternal authority in order for the ceremony to go ahead. Inauspicious as the legal challenges may have been at the start of their union, Aurelius and Faustina were married for thirty years and Faustina bore thirteen children over this period, heralding a time of stability in the imperial family. As Carlos Noreña posits, "With the decline of independent senatorial authority and concurrent ascent to power of those individuals who had privileged access to the emperor, especially emperors' wives, concordia within the imperial family, above all between emperor and empress, became paramount." (Imperial Ideals in the Roman West: Representation, Circulation, Power, CUP 2011). Following the carefully orchestrated succession organised by Hadrian, propaganda such as this reverse type, which emphasised the harmony and benefits brought to the empire by the Antonine dynasty, were plentiful and became a lasting feature of imperial coinage.
Thessaly, Larissa AR Drachm. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of the nymph Larissa left, wearing pearl necklace and triple-drop earring, her hair raised and bound / Bridled horse trotting right, tail curling upwards; ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ around. Obolos 7, p. 22 (pl. 3), 23 (these dies). 6.09g, 20mm, 11h. Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; probably one of only two coins struck from this obverse die. From the Ambrose Collection; Ex BCD Collection, Triton XV, 3 January 2012, lot 184. Given not only the extraordinary beauty of the portrait we see here, but also the fact that it appears to be only one of two known coins struck from this obverse die, it is easy to forgive the light double striking on the reverse and the tiny metal flaw on the cheek of Larissa. The latter, far from detracting from the beauty of the piece, lends a certain charm to the artist’s fine vision of serene, noble beauty.
Etruria, Vetulonia Æ Sextans. 3rd century BC. Head of Nethuns right, wearing ketos headdress; •• (mark of value) to left / Ornamental trident between two dolphins; • • (mark of value) flanking. EC Series 13, 1–23 (O11/R9); HN Italy 203. 9.68g, 24mm, 1h. Good Fine. Rare. From the Alban Collection.
Octavian AR Denarius. Southern or central Italian mint, summer 37 BC. IMP•CAESAR•DIVI•F•III•VIR•R•P•C around empty field / Emblems of the augurate and pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, guttus, and lituus. Crawford 537/1; CRI 310; Kestner -; BMCRR Gaul 113-4; RSC 128. 3.71g, 20mm, 6h. Good Very Fine; banker's mark. Extremely Rare; only 9 examples on CoinArchives.
Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 140-144. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right / OPI AVG, Ops seated left, holding transverse sceptre and drawing up drapery with left hand, left elbow resting on throne; SC in exergue. RIC 612a; C. 569. 22.76g, 33mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. Lovely surfaces. Rare. Ex Venturi-Ginori collection, NAC R, 17 May 2007, lot 1531; Ex Santamaria 33, 24 Jan 1938, lot 551.
Caracalla AV Aureus. Rome, AD 201. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG PON TR P IIII, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / CONCORDIAE AETERNAE, jugate busts right of Septimius Severus, radiate and draped, and Julia Domna, diademed and draped, on crescent. RIC 52 var.; C. 1; BMC 260; Calicó 2849. 7.27g, 20mm, 12h. Near Extremely Fine; very slight wave in flan. Very Rare. Struck a during the period of rule in which both Caracalla and his father Septimius Severus were co-Augusti, this coin’s obverse legend refers to Caracalla’s official name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, given to him in order to further legitimise the rule of the Severans through a fictitious link to the Antonine adoptive emperors who came before them. A decade before the death of Septimius and Caracalla’s despicable murder of his brother Geta, the Severan family here portrayed as unified in the rule of the empire. The imagery present here is a strong propagandistic message of stability offered by a virtuous imperial family, creating the potential for a long-lasting dynasty by grooming the next generation for the duty of ruling the empire. Having been made Augustus at the age of ten, and only thirteen when this type was minted, the clear implication is that Rome should look forward to many more years of Severan peace. The mutual dependence of the sun and the moon is used as a means to portray the strong bond of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, while emphasising the concept of permanence – in this case, of the principate and the empire it ruled. Septimius’s radiate crown denotes him as a representation of Sol, and the bust of Domna is set upon a crescent moon, the attribute of Luna. The legend CONCORDIAE AETERNAE (eternal harmony) is intended to refer not only to the imperial family, connoting firm hands on the tiller of the empire and a secure succession, but also reflects Septimius’ (largely justifiable claim) to have brought peace and a renewed golden age to Rome. There existed among the general populace a heartfelt belief that a stable imperial family was conducive to having a stable domain, and this reassurance is dovetailed neatly into another key element of the Roman collective psyche - the idea that Rome and its empire were everlasting - a concept that features heavily in literature such as the Aeneid, a work that had had a profound impact on Roman culture.
Greco-Baktrian Kingdom, Antimachos I Theos AR Tetradrachm. Circa 180-170 BC. Diademed and draped bust right, wearing kausia; bead-and-reel border / Poseidon, laureate, standing facing, holding trident and filleted palm; monogram to inner right. Bopearachchi 1A var. (pellet border on obv.); Bopearachchi & Rahman 173-4 var. (same); SNG ANS 274-5 var. (same); MIG Type 124f var. (same); HGC 12, 106 var. (same); Qunduz 98 var. (monogram). 15.80g, 34mm, 12h. Very Fine. Very rare with bead and reel border. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 77, 26 May 2014, lot 113
Jovinus AR Siliqua. Arelate, AD 411-413. D N IOVINVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / RESTITVTOR REIP, Roma seated left on curule chair, holding Victory on globe in outstretched right hand and reversed spear in left; KONT in exergue. RIC 1721; King, Fifth, p. 290 and pl. 22, 9; Ferrando 1717; RSC 2†b; DOCLR -. 1.23g, 15mm, 5h. About Extremely Fine. Very Rare. Very little is known about the origins of Jovinus. During the anarchic period of AD 406-411, when the western Roman Empire essentially disintegrated under repeated barbarian invasions and local insurrections, Jovinus gained the support of several Germanic tribes near the city of Mogontiacum (Mainz) as an alternative to the distant and feeble regime of Honorius. In 411, he was proclaimed emperor at Mainz by the Alan king Goar and the Burgundian king Gundahar. Soon afterwards he won the support of Athaulf, king of the Visigoths, and for a time it seemed Jovinus had secured control of all Gaul and Roman Germany. The Gallic nobility supported him and coins were struck in his name at Treveri, Lugdunum and Arelate. However, Jovinus made a serious mistake in obtaining the backing of another powerful Visigoth, Sarus, who was a blood-enemy of Athaulf. In 412, Jovinus appointed his brother Sebastianus as co-emperor, which further alienated Athaulf and caused him to open secret negotiations with Honorius. In 413 Athaulf openly switched sides and allied himself with the Ravenna regime. Sebastianus was swiftly captured and executed. Jovinus took refuge in the city of Valentia but surrendered after a brief siege. Although he had apparently been promised a fair hearing, Jovinus was summarily executed en route to Ravenna and his head sent on to Honorius.
Septimius Severus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 195. L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VII, laureate head right / DIVI M P II F PM TR P III COS II P P, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and trophy. RIC 66; C. -; Calicó 2448. 7.27g, 20mm, 12h. Good Extremely Fine, almost as struck. Very Rare. Ex Gemini 1, 11 January 2005, lot 395. The death of Commodus marked the beginning of a turbulent year for the Empire, with five individuals claiming the throne in quick succession. Pertinax was immediately instated as emperor, but after just three months he was assasinated by the Praetorian Guard and succeeded by Didius Julianus. Three simultaneous challengers arose; Pescennius Niger in Syria, Clodius Albinus in Britain and Septimius Severus in Pannonia. Severus made an ally of Albinus and appointed him Caesar having entered Rome without opposition in AD 193. With Albinus placated and defending the west, he marched east and defeated Pescennius Niger, in so doing finally securing rule of the empire. Having removed the most serious threat to his power, Severus now sought to establish the legitimacy of his succession and in 195 styled himself son of the deified Marcus Aurelius (Dio, LXXVI.7), to which the reverse legend of this type refers (DIVI MARCVS PII FILIVS). In addition, Septimius renamed Bassianus, his eldest son, as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Thus did Severus hope to legitimise his rule by portraying it as a natural succession and continuation of the Antonine adoptive emperors. Seeing that Severus had no intention of sharing power, Albinus proclaimed himself emperor but was defeated at the Battle of Lugdunum in 197, paving the way for a Severan dynasty that spanned the next four decades.
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