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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Quality| ▸ |High Grade||View Options:   | | | When first introduced to ancient coins, most people are shocked to learn that some coins remain in mint state and even more surprised to learn that they are not all in musuems. Ancient people did not have stocks, bonds mutual funds, or bank accounts. The primary implement for holding wealth was coins, often buried, and often buried in uncirculated or mint state condition. If an owner died without recovering their coins or telling an heir where to find them, they were lost. Millions of ancient coins have been recovered, and thousands have been found in superb condition. |
The list of Kushan rulers and their dates of reign is constantly under review. This coin has a Brahmi inscription "Shaka" in the right field, in the same place where Vasudeva II's coins read "Vasu." It is natural to suppose that perhaps Shaka was the name of the king who issued the coin. There is a mention of one "Devaputra Shahi Shahanshahi Shaka Murunda" in Samudragupta's famous Allahabad inscription, as one of the rulers who paid him homage. In this context, Shaka could be a title, it could refer to a tribe, or it could be a personal name. Robert Göbl did not think Shaka was the name of a ruler; rather, he thought the coins were tribal issues, but Michael Mitchiner and the authors of ANS Kushan think Shaka was a king.SH85122. Gold dinara, ANS Kushan 1671, Göbl Kushan 585, Donum Burns 760 - 762, gVF, small hairline flan crack, scratch on reverse, weight 7.823 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain mint, c. 305 - 335 A.D.; obverse Shaka standing facing, head left wearing nimbus, diadem and conical hat, sacrificing over altar from right hand, filleted staff in left hand, filleted trident to left, Brahmi inscriptions: sya under left arm, vi between altar and leg, Shaka right; reverse goddess Ardoxsho enthroned facing, nimbate, diadem in right hand, cradling cornucopia in left arm, tamgha upper left, blundered Bactrian inscription (mostly off flan as usual); SOLD
Kingdom of Persis, Manchihr III, c. 150 - 200 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.GS06321. Silver drachm, Alram IP 643, BMC Arabia p, 243, 2 and pl. XXXVII, SGICV 5967, gVF, weight 3.00 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, die axis 270o, Persepolis (Fars Province, Iran) mint, c. 150 - 200 A.D.; obverse Manucithr the king (Aramaic/Pehlvi legend behind), bearded bust left in Parthian style tiara adorned with rows of pellets and pellet in crescent; reverse Son of Manucithr the king (Aramaic/Pehlvi legend before and behind), smaller bust left of Mancithr II (his father) wearing diademed headdress with top bent forward and ornamented with row of pellets; Sear graded as "good VF, rare and attractive"; SOLD
Aspendos, Pamphylia, c. 380 - 325 B.C.
Aspendos is about 40 km east of Antalya, Turkey about 16 km inland on the Eurymedon River. In 546 B.C. it fell to Persia. After a Persian defeat in 467, the city joined the Attic-Delos Maritime League. Persia took it again in 411 B.C., Alexander in 333 B.C., and Rome in 190 B.C. Although often subject to powerful empires, the city usually retained substantial autonomy.SH75373. Silver stater, SNG BnF 102 (same dies), Tekin Series 4, SNGvA 4544, SGCV II 5398 var, aEF, superb style, lightly toned, nice metal, flatly struck areas as typical of the type, light marks and scratches, weight 10.827 g, maximum diameter 22.4 mm, die axis 15o, Aspendos (Serik, Turkey) mint, c. 380/375 - 330/325 B.C.; obverse two wrestlers, the left one holds the wrist of his opponent with his right, K F between their legs; reverse EΣTΦEΔIIYΣ, slinger, wearing short chiton, discharging sling to right, triskeles on right with feet counter-clockwise, square dot border, no trace of incuse square; ex CNG e-auction 353 (17 Jun 2015), lot 177; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Anastasius, 11 April 491 - 1 July 518 A.D.
During the Anastasian War of 502–505 with the Sassanid Persians, the Sassanids captured the cities of Theodosiopolis and Amida, although the Romans later received Amida in exchange for gold. The Persian provinces also suffered severely and a peace was concluded in 506. Anastasius afterward built the strong fortress of Daras, which was named Anastasiopolis, to hold the Persians at Nisibis in check. The Balkan provinces were denuded of troops, however, and were devastated by invasions of Slavs and Bulgars; to protect Constantinople and its vicinity against them, the emperor built the Anastasian Wall, extending from the Propontis to the Black Sea. He converted his home city, Dyrrachium, into one of the most fortified cities on the Adriatic with the construction of Durrës Castle.SH12102. Gold solidus, DOC I 7i, Ratto 320, Tolstoi 8, Hahn MIBE 7, Sommer 1.4, SBCV 5, Wroth BMC -, Morrison BnF -, Choice EF, weight 4.492 g, maximum diameter 21.0 mm, die axis 180o, 9th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 507 - 518 A.D.; obverse D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, helmet with plume, trefoil ornament and diadem, pellets on cuirass, spear in right hand and behind head, shield on left arm ornamented with mounted cavalryman right attacking prostrate enemy; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG Θ (victory of the three emperors, 9th officina), Victoria standing half left, head left, long staff topped with
(inverted staurogram) in right hand, star left, CONOB in exergue; a touch flat on the forehead but with mint luster in fields and a wonderful reverse; SOLDCorinth, Corinthia, Greece, c. 345 - 307 B.C.
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She was believed to lead soldiers into battle as the war goddess Athena Promachos. The Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis was dedicated to her, along with numerous other temples and monuments across Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Her usual attribute is the owl and Nike is her frequent companion.SH26890. Silver stater, Pegasi I 427, Ravel 1009, gVF, weight 8.512 g, maximum diameter 20.9 mm, die axis 270o, Corinth mint, c. 375 - 300 B.C.; obverse Pegasos flying left, koppa below; reverse laureate and helmeted head of Athena (or Aphrodite) left, aegis behind, A-P below; SOLD
Roman Republic, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, Imperator 47 - 46 B.C.
Scipio was the Pompeian commander of the anti-Caesareans. His headquarters was at the provincial capital of Utica, near the site of Carthage, and this is likely the site of his mint. Defeated by Caesar's forces, Scipio committed suicide in 46 B.C.SH27786. Silver denarius, Crawford 459/1, Sydenham 1046, RSC I Caecilia 47, BMC Africa 1, Vagi 77, SRCV I 1379, EF, weight 3.887 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 135o, Africa, Utica mint, 47 - 46 B.C.; obverse Q. METEL PIVS, laureate head of Jupiter right, beard and hair in ringlets; reverse elephant walking right, SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue; SOLD
Anastasius, 11 April 491 - 1 July 518 A.D.
Anastasius I came to the throne at the age of 61 after being chosen by the wife of his predecessor, Zeno. He is noted for leaving the imperial government with a sizeable budget surplus of 23,000,000 solidi by reducing government corruption, reforming the tax code, and currency reform. He is venerated as a saint by the Syriac Orthodox Church. His improvements to the government, economy, and bureaucracy of the Eastern Roman empire were so dramatic that he is often described as the first Byzantine emperor.SH19042. Gold solidus, DOC I 3a (not in the collection, refs Tolstoi), Tolstoi 70, Hahn MIB 4, SBCV 3, Morrisson BnF -, BMC Wroth -, Ratto -, aEF, nice strike, nice coin, weight 4.480 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 491 - 498 A.D.; obverse D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVC, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, helmet with plume, trefoil ornament and diadem, pellets on cuirass, spear in right hand and behind head, shield on left arm ornamented with mounted cavalryman right attacking prostrate enemy; reverse VICTORI-A AVCCC A CONOB, Victory stands half left, head left, long jeweled cross in right hand which rests on ground, star right; SOLD
Diadumenian, Mid May - 8 June 218 A.D.
Spes was the Roman personification of Hope. In art Spes is normally depicted carrying flowers or a cornucopia, but on coins she is almost invariably depicted holding a flower in her extended right hand, while the left is raising a fold of her dress. She was also named "ultima dea" - for Hope is the last resort of men. On this coin, the Caesar, Diadumenian, the designated successor of the emperor, is identified as the hope for the future of the Roman people.SH82699. Silver denarius, RSC III 21b; RIC IV 117; SRCV II 7450; BMCRE V, p. 510, 93 var. (from front) and 94 var. (no cuirass); Hunter III 4 var. (no cuirass), Choice EF, excellent portrait, translucent look drapery, light rose tone on luster, excellent centering and strike, tiny edge cracks, but for slight obv. double strike it would be FDC, weight 3.000 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, as caesar, Jan - mid May 218 A.D.; obverse M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse SPES PVBLICA (the hope of the public), Spes advancing left, flower in right hand, raising skirt with left hand; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Theophilus, 12 May 821 - 20 January 842 A.D.
After Leo III, 717-741 A.D., the semissis and tremissis were issued only in small quantities and normally only on particular occasions for ceremonial distribution.SH10988. Gold semissis, SBCV 1674; DOC III-1 26c, Morrisson BnF 8-10, EF, weight 1.749 g, maximum diameter 12.8 mm, die axis 135o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 829 - 830 A.D.; obverse ΘEOFIΛOS, crowned bust of Theophilus facing with short beard, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger; reverse similar to obverse, but emperor wears loros instead of chlamys; ex Edward J. Waddell; SOLD
Kindarite Huns, Peroz, c. 345 - 350 A.D.
The Kindarite coins betray little of their Hun origins as the designs were copied from coins issued by the Kushan and Kushano-Sasanian kings, whom they succeeded. In Bactria, the coins of were struck in the name of the last Kushano-Sasanian king, Varahran Kushanshah, whom they may have retained as a puppet ruler, but the real power is identified by a Kindarite tamga.SH48317. Gold stater, ANS Kushan 2420, Mitchiner ACW 3592, Göbl Kushan 608, aEF, weight 7.796 g, maximum diameter 21.8 mm, die axis 0o, Gandhara mint, c. 345 - 350 A.D.; obverse Kushan style king standing facing, head left, nimbate, diademed, wearing pointed cap, sacrificing at altar from right hand, staff in left hand, trident above left; Brahmi inscriptions: Kapana next to altar, Peroyasa under left arm, Gadahara right; reverse goddess Ardochsho (Lakshmi) enthroned facing, nimbate, crescent on top of head, diadem with ladder-like ribbons in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, tamga upper left, Brahmi monogram sha right; SOLD
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