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(FOLIO SOCIETY) `CLARISSA OT THE HISTORY OF A YOUNG LADY` two volumes in slip case ELEVEN OTHER VOLUMES various authors mainly with faults either spine faded or soiled and SEVEN OTHER VOLUMES LACKING SLIP CASES includes The Best of the Marx Brothers with silver metallic and pictorial spine and front cover (20 vols in total)
Double Signed Kimon Masterpiece Sicily. Syracuse. 406/5 BC. Tetradrachm, 16.16g (8h). Obv: Three-quarter facing head of Arethusa, artist`s signature ΚΙΜΩΝ on headband. Dotted border. Above, [ΑΡΕΘΟΣΑ]. Rx: Racing quadriga left, Nike flying right above, crowning driver; artist`s signature ΚΙΜΩΝ on exergual line. In exergue, wheat ear and ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ. Tudeer 80. Jameson Coll. 1835. SNG Oxford 2004. Nanteuil Coll. 358. For the meaning of the obverse type, see W. Fischer-Bossert in S. Vogt (ed.), Gedenkschrift Manfred Gutgesell (forthcoming). Some reverse porosity. A significant amount of horn silver has been removed from this coin since the 2011 Hirsch sale. EF/VF+ Ex Gemini X, 13 January 2013, lot 21. Ex G. Hirsch 275, 22-23 September 2011, lot 3289. Ex M&M 79, 28 February and 1 March, 1994, lot 186 Kimon’s facing Arethusa is one of the most famous head designs of antiquity, rivaling even the Arethusa of Euainetos’ decadrachm. Like the latter, Kimon’s facing Arethusa was quickly adopted by other mints in Sicily and abroad, as well as by vase painters and metal workers. The design’s adoption even in remote areas such as Lycia and Cilicia shows that it got to the heart. The point is not in the boldness to show a head 3/4 facing to the observer – this idea had been in the wind for many years, though mainly among vase painters. The revolutionary attraction is in the facial expression that gives voice to a new philosophy of life. In archaic and early classical times, heads looking to front were used by both vase painters and sculptors for characterizing dying and dead warriors, as well as monsters like the Gorgons. Then, facing heads were something scary. Heads about to turn around, thus seen in three-quarter perspective, only came into fashion in early classical times, c. 470 BC. Judging from the scenarios they were used in, they are thought to characterize a process of reasoning, or a sophisticated perception like listening to music. Kimon’s facing Arethusa, however, is totally different. The nymph is not acting as a mythological being, executing her role in the myth told about her and the river god Alpheios. She is not acting at all, but merely presenting herself to the observer, thereby enjoying herself rather than executing a role. This design appears to be the earliest forerunner of a new view of the Greek gods. In fifth century art, the gods were acting beings, engaged in human affairs. In fourth century art, the gods kept to themselves, enjoying their divine sphere, and no longer dealing with human trifles. On the one hand, this development accords with old Greek thinking, expressed as early as Homer who spoke of the “easy-living gods”. On the other, this view of the gods is totally new, and revolutionary. The old gnawing doubt as to whether deities were really controlling human affairs, thereby setting moral standards and balancing out the many great injustices of human life, forced its way into Greek philosophy during the fifth and fourth centuries, thus leading to new designs in Greek art. So Kimon’s facing Arethusa is likely to be the first, and most influential, predecessor of masterpieces of fourth century art like Praxiteles’ Cnidian Aphrodite and Olympian Hermes. The short die chain this coin belongs to consists of just four dies, two obverse dies and two reverse dies, three of which were signed by Kimon, and the fourth one made by him, too. The obverse die of our coin (Tudeer’s O29) might be the prototype; the late Leo Mildenberg demonstrated that Tudeer’s arrangement must be modified, thereby putting O29 first and O28 second. The reverse die (R53) is a highly sophisticated variant of a famous Catanean model, the tetradrachm made by Kimon’s rival Euainetos. Surprisingly in view of its importance – the influence that both the obverse and the reverse types were to exert on contemporaneous coinages, and the high esteem this die pair enjoys among coin collectors and connoisseurs of art – the die pair is extremely rare. Tudeer knew five specimens in 1913, just one of them in private hands (the Jameson coin that was to come up again in the Hunt Collection). Since then only three or four more specimens have emerged, one of them in the Ognina Hoard
Billon Tridrachm Zeugitana. Carthage. c. 215-213 BC. Billon tridrachm, 11.24g (12h). Obv: Young Tanit head left, wearing single-pendant earring. Rx: Horse standing right, palm tree behind. C. Lorber, CH IX, p. 285, no. 37, pl. 55 (this coin). These billon tridrachms were struck after the Punic War, when Hannibal had a need for money but was challenged by a shortage of silver. This coin was struck early in that period in a sweeter, more Sicilian style, rather than the harder edge Carthaginian style. The dies for this issue were cut in very low relief, thus the coins appear to be of a lower grade than they actually are. VF+
Historically Important Double Sheqel Carthago Nova. 237-227 BC. Dishekel, 13.41g (12h). Obv: Diademed male head left with curly hair. Rx: Prow of war galley with triple ram, on the deck a pile of shields. Beneath, hippocamp right. Dotted border. E.S.G. Robinson, Punic Coins of Spain, in R.A.G. Carson and C.H.V. Sutherland (eds.), Essays in Roman Coinage presented to Harold Mattingly (Oxford 1956), pp. 37 f., 49, no. 4(b), pl. II. G.K. Jenkins and R.B. Lewis, Carthaginian Gold and Electrum Coins (London 1953), p. 45 [on findspots]. L. Villaronga, Las monedas hispano-cartaginesas (Barcelona 1973), no. 12. Pleasant toning. Powerful portrait, virtually unaffected by two holes in left field. Historically important and excessively rare. About EF Ex NAC 72, 16 May 2013, lot 805 This intriguing issue of the Carthaginian ‘provincial’ series with diademed portrait and prow of galley was, to judge from the known findspots, issued by a mint in southwestern Spain, probably at Carthago Nova (Cartagena) rather than Gades (Cadiz). The dating is somewhat controversial, although the wide bracket 237-209 BC is generally accepted. The diademed head on the obverse is clearly a portrait, depicting a man in his prime so possibly Hasdrubal, the son-in-law of Hamilcar Barcas, rather than Hamilcar himself. After the Carthaginian defeat in the First Punic War (264-241 BC) and the Libyan rebellion (241-239 BC), Hamilcar attacked Spain, the main supplier of silver in the western Mediterranean, and started conquering vast territories in its southwest. In 230 BC a native revolt broke out, Hamilcar was killed in a skirmish, and his son-in-law Hasdrubal succeeded him. Being a capable governor, Hasdrubal restored the Carthaginian position, and founded Carthago Nova, which had an excellent harbor, as the seat of Carthaginian government in Spain. Carthago Nova is therefore likely to be the mint of this issue that combines the prow of a war galley with the portrait of a young ruler. A date of issue not long after the city`s foundation (for financing building activities and the fleet) seems more likely than a date in the Second Punic War (218-202 BC). At any rate, 209 BC, when Scipio Africanus Maior conquered Carthago Nova, would be the latest possible date. Ony two other specimens of this dishekel appear to be known, namely in Madrid, published by Robinson (14.80 g), and in NAC 66, 2012, lot 1 (ex A. Huntington,13.68 g); plus two specimen of the corresponding shekel, in Leu 20, 1978, lot 55 (7.38 g, 12 h), and in Copenhagen (SNG Cop. Suppl. 1332, 7.29 g, 12 h)
Macedonian tribes. Bisaltae. c. 470 BC. Octodrachm, 28.86g (11h). Bisaltian District, BisaltaeObv: Bridled horse walking right, in background nude warrior standing right, torso facing, wearing kausia and holding two spears whose points emerge above the horse`s raised left foreleg; CΙΣ--ΑΛ--ΤΙ--Κ--ΩΝ around. Rx: Shallow quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Svoronos pl. XI, 1-3. Beautifully centered and well-struck. Nearly EF Ex Richard P. Miller Collection The Bisaltian series is a short-lived one that might have lasted for ten or fifteen years only. The Macedonian king Alexander I undertook the task of conquering the Bisaltian district in order to gain control of the silver mines there. Having accomplished his goal, he adopted the coin type of the Bisaltian coinage but put his own name in place of theirs
Milbank 2 Attica. Aegina. 550-530 BC. Stater, 12.26g Obv: Smooth-shelled sea turtle with row of dots down center of shell. Rx: Rough incuse, divided into eight sections, two of them filled and three partially filled. Milbank 2. Dewing 1654. Beautifully centered. Struck in high relief with a full row of dots down the center of the shell. EF One of the earliest products of the Aeginetic mint, thus one of the earliest silver coins from mainland Greece
Excessively Rare Early Depiction of Homer Ionia. Smyrna. c. 200 BC, concurrent with the earliest bronze Homereia. Drachm, 4.02g (11h). Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right. Border of dots. Rx: Homer seated left, himation draped over knees, holding scepter in left hand, reading from scroll held before him; [Σ]MYPNAIΩN before. Milne, NC 1921, p. 143 f. (same dies). Leu 38, 13 May 1986, lot 116 (same dies; realized Sfr 5800 + commission!) Milne 1914-. BMC (not in catalogue, an example was subsequently obtained by the BM). Grose-. SNG von Aulock-. SNG Cop.-. Slight wave in planchet at 10h. VF/Good Fine Excessively rare. Apparently the fourth known example and the second in private hands, the other two being in the collections of the British Museum and Utrecht (Dutch Royal Collection). Milne knew of the Utrecht example from a cast when he wrote his 1914 NC article on Smyrna silver coins but declined to include it in that article. Presumably he entertained doubts about its authenticity, although he couched these doubts in euphemism about being "puzzled" by the cast. His excitement at being able to confirm the authenticity of this dramatic and brilliantly executed type is evident in his later article devoted to it alone. He writes, "This drachma is clearly earlier in style than any of the Smyrnaean drachmas previously published, and differs from all in the treatment of the figure of Homer on the reverse, wherein it is artistically far superior to either the later drachmas or the bronze Homereia, which have a similar type. In both of the latter groups the figure is in simple profile, with the right hand up to the chin, the roll held out almost horizontally in the left, the sceptre transversely resting on the right shoulder, and the whole body draped: the general effect is clumsy and huddled. The coin now under consideration shows a more majestic treatment, which suggests a derivation from a Zeus type: the upper part of the body is partly turned out of profile to the front, the roll in the right hand is pointed upwards on the diagonal of the knee-angle, the sceptre is vertical, and only the legs are draped. In the execution as well as in the conception of the type the superiority is equally marked." Milne places this coin--correctly in our estimation--at the very beginning of the Homereia series at Smyrna. The absence of a magistrate`s name points to the same conclusion. Milne saw the remnants of a monogram in the exergue of the BM coin, but we believe this to be a misreading as neither the present specimen nor the Leu example show anything at all below the exergual line. This is an opportunity to own what is arguably the finest depiction of the renowned poet Homer on any ancient coin
Ionia. Smyrna. c. 155-145 BC. Tetradrachm, 15.84g (11h). Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right. Rx: ZΜΥΡ-ΝΑΙΩΝ and monogram within laurel wreath. Milne, Autonomous 141. Milne, Silver obv. die A. SNG Cop.-. BMC 4 (same obv. die). Some porosity on obverse. EF to point of wear Ex CNG e-sale 266, 19 October 2011, lot 157
Seleucid Kingdom. Antiochus Hierax. 242(?)-227 BC. Tetradrachm, 16.86g (1h). LampsacusObv: Diademed head of king right. Rx: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ Apollo sitting left on omphalos, holding arrow, left hand resting on bow. Long torch in inner left field; Pegasus forepart and monogram in exergue. SC 849.2. WSM 1552α. Especially beautiful portrait struck in high relief. Horn silver behind portrait at 10h and at upper right on reverse. EF
Unpublished Julian II. 360-363 AD. Reduced Siliqua, possibly irregular, 1.97g (6h). Lugdunum, c. 361 AD. Obv: D N IVLIA - NVS AVG Pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from front, unbearded. Rx: VOT / V / MVLT / X in wreath, LVG in exergue. Obv. legend var. of RIC 229 (R2) and Bastien 272 (5 spec.). EF Ex Philip Ronzone Collection Is this coin official? The sloppy lettering on the reverse might suggest that it is irregular, but on the other hand the portrait and lettering on the obverse look official, and the metal appears to be good silver Julian`s obverse legend on this coin, D N IVLIA - NVS AVG, is new: unknown not only to Bastien at the mint of Lugdunum (p. 257), but also to Kent at any mint (RIC p. xxxix). The closest known legends add CL or P F: D N CL IVLI - ANVS AVG or D N IVLIAN - VS P F AVG. Bastien found only a few imitative siliquae of Julian with Lugdunese mintmarks, none particularly reminiscent of our coin: see his p. 147 and pl. XXXII-III, I 134-141
Anonymous. Bust of Constantinopolis. 1/3 Siliqua, 0.52g (6h). Constantinople, c. 530-580 AD. Obv: No legend. Helmeted and draped bust of Constantinopolis right, seen from front, wearing pearl necklace. Rx: Large letter K. Simon Bendall, Anonymous Silver, Revue Numismatique 158, 2002, no. 8c. VF Hoard evidence cited by Bendall suggests that this type, originally issued for the dedication of Constantinople in 330 AD, was revived and struck in some volume in the sixth century, presumably beginning on the two hundredth anniversary of the city`s dedication
Lot of Eight Greek Silver and Bronze Coins. . 1. Alexander the Great, AE 16, 6.05g. 2. Seleucus I, AE 20, 8.92g, ESM 415. 2. Macedonia, AE 11, 3.85g. 4. Pharsalos, chalkous, 1.79g, Rogers 509. 5. Demetrius I, serrate AE 16, 3.45g, SC 16.46. 6. Menander, tetradrachm, 9.56g. 7. Menander, drachm, 2.41g. 8. Apollodotus I, square drachm, 1.36g. VF to VG Ex Richard Miller Collection
Lot of Five Greek Silver Coins. . 1. Alexander the Great, tetradrachm, 16.95g, Price 3866. 2. Seleucus I, stater, 14.99g, ESM 275. 3. Seleucus II, tetradrachm, 15.08g. 4. Seleucus III, tetradrachm, 16.08g, SC 939.4. 5. Antiochus IV, tetradrachm, 14.78g. VF to Fine Ex Richard Miller Collection
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2466194 item(s)/page