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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Quality| ▸ |Eye Appeal||View Options:   | | | The most important factor in determining the |price| of a coin is eye appeal. One coin of the exact same type as another can be priced ten times higher or more. So, what is this eye appeal? |
Samos is the birthplace of Pythagoras. One of the famous attractions of the island is the aqueduct-tunnel which was dug through a mountain to bring water to the city from a secret spring. The tunnel was in use for a very long period and discovered in 19th century thanks to Herodotos' writing of it. The tunnel is over 1000m long, an engineering marvel dug from both ends by two simultaneously working teams.GA41265. Silver drachm, BMC Ionia p. 354, 45; SNG Cop 1674; SNGvA 2290, EF/VF, weight 3.114 g, maximum diameter 12.9 mm, die axis 270o, Islands of Ionia, Samos mint, obverse forepart of winged boar right; reverse facing lion scalp within dotted square within incuse square; ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Edward Gans, 10 Rock Lane, Berkeley, 12/64, $75; from the Dr. J. Hewitt Judd Collection (author of United States Pattern Coins Experimental & Trial Pieces); 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
Sinope, Paphlagonia, c. 330 - 300 B.C.
SH42214. Silver drachm, SNG BM 1485; SNG Stancomb 773; Rec Gen I, p. 188, 34, aEF, weight 5.012 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 180o, Sinope (Sinop, Turkey) mint, c. 330 - 300 B.C.; obverse head of nymph left, hair in sakkos, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace; reverse eagle with dolphin in talons facing left, ΔIONY[ΣI] (magistrate's name) below wing, ΣINΩ below dolphin; beautifully toned, ex Baldwin & Sons, London; SOLD
Thebes, Boiotia, c. 425 - 400 B.C.
The largest city in Boeotia, leader of the Boeotian confederacy, and rival of Athens, Thebes sided with Persia during Xerxes' invasion in 480 B.C. Thebes ended Sparta's power at the Battle of Leuctra in 371. The Sacred Band of Thebes famously fell to Philip II at Chaeronea in 338. After a revolt in 335, Alexander the Great destroyed the city, except, according to tradition, the house of the poet Pindar.SH67175. Silver stater, BCD Boiotia 388; BMC Central p. 76, 72 and pl. XIII, 12; SNG Lockett 174; SNG Berry 595; HGC 4 1325, VF, banker's mark, weight 12.169 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 180o, Thebes mint, c. 425 - 400 B.C.; obverse Boeotian shield club across one half; reverse Amphora, ornate handles, fluting on upper half of body, Θ-Ε flanking across field; ex Triskeles Auction auction 2, lot 32 (25 Apr 2013); SOLD
Diadumenian, Mid May - 8 June 218 A.D.
Diadumenian was the son of Macrinus, made Caesar at the age of nine in 217 A.D. and Augustus in 218. After his father's defeat he fled towards Parthia but was overtaken and executed.SH77397. Silver denarius, RIC IV 107.1a (S), RSC III 12; Hunter III 1, cf. BMCRE V p. 508, M82 (antoninianus, but denarius noted); SRCV II -, NGC AU (about uncirculated) (3819479-44); full circle centering, mint luster, weight 2.935 g, maximum diameter 19.6 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, as caesar, May 217 - mid May 218 A.D.; obverse M OPEL DIADVMENIANVS CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse PRINC IVVENTVTIS (Prince of Youth), Diadumenian standing slightly left, head left, in military dress, baton in right hand, scepter nearly vertical in left hand, legionary aquila and standard standing in ground behind him on right; ex Forum (2009); NGC| Lookup; scarce; SOLD
Phokaia, Ionia, c. 487 - 326 B.C.
Phokaia (Phocaea) was the most northerly of the Ionian communities in Asia Minor and was the mother city of many colonies in the western Mediterranean area, including Massalia (modern Marseille, France).SH87221. Electrum Hekte (1/6 Stater), Bodenstedt 102 (b/ß); BMC Ionia p. 212, 63; Weber 6084; Boston MFA 1920; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -, Choice VF, well centered on a tight flan, attractive style, weight 2.528 g, maximum diameter 10.3 mm, Phokaia (Foca, Turkey) mint, c. 477 - 388 B.C.; obverse laureate head of nymph left, hair in sakkos, seal right below; reverse quadripartite mill-sail incuse square; SOLD
Phokaia, Ionia, c. 487 - 326 B.C.
Phokaia (Phocaea) was the most northerly of the Ionian communities in Asia Minor and was the mother city of many colonies in the western Mediterranean area, including Massalia (modern Marseille, France).SH75215. Electrum Hekte (1/6 Stater), Bodenstedt 102 (b/ß); BMC p. 212, 63; Weber 6084; Boston MFA 1920; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -, VF, fine style, crowded flan, light contact marks, weight 2.540 g, maximum diameter 10.2 mm, Phokaia (Foca, Turkey) mint, c. 477 - 388 B.C.; obverse laureate head of nymph left, hair in sakkos, seal right below; reverse quadripartite incuse square; SOLD
Julian II "the Apostate," February 360 - 26 June 363 A.D.
The common belief which identifies the bull with the Apis bull is probably wrong. An interesting passage from Dio Chrysostom compares a good ruler to a bull. Also, Julian was most likely born in May, in the sign of Taurus. The stars are probably the two important star clusters in Taurus, Pleiades and Hyades. Taurus or Apis, this bull is pagan and this coin was the last pagan coin type issued by the Empire.SH32850. Billon double maiorina, RIC VIII Constantinople 164 (S), SRCV V 19157, Cohen VIII 38, LRBC II 2059 var. (pellet at end of legend not noted), EF, weight 8.601 g, maximum diameter 28.7 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 3 Nov 361 - 26 Jun 363 A.D.; obverse D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse SECVRITAS REIPVB• (security of the Republic), bull right, two stars above, CONSP flanked by branches in exergue; scarce; SOLD
Arcadius, 19 January 383 - 1 May 408 A.D.
In 402, Germanic settlers laid siege to Milan. Honorius transferred the capital of the Western Empire from Milan to Ravenna. General Stilicho recalled troops from the frontiers of the Empire to defend Italy. On April 6 he defeated the Visigoths at the Battle of Pollentia. The Visigoths left Italy for Illyricum after Stilicho defeated them at the Battle of Verona in June 403.SH10008. Gold solidus, RIC IX p. 84, 35(b) & RIC X Honorius p. 318, 1205(c); DOCLR 265; Depeyrot p. 171, 16/1; Hunter V p. 467, 8; SRCV V 20724, Mint State, weight 4.45 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, Mediolanum (Milan, Italy) mint, 395 - 402 A.D.; obverse D N ARCADIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG (victory of the three emperors), Arcadius standing right, wearing military garb, standard in right hand, Victory on globe offering wreath in left hand, left foot treading on thigh of bound bearded captive seated left with one leg visible more or less straight, M left, D right, COMOB in exergue; SOLD
Leukas, Akarnania, Greece, c. 435 - 400 B.C.
Lefkada (Leukas) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea off the west coast of Greece between the islands of Corfu and Cephalonia. According to myth, the Kefalines, who lived on Lefkada, participated in the Trojan War, under the command of Ulysses. Laertis, Ulysses' father, occupied the town of Niriko and offered the island to Icarius, father of Penelope, after her wedding to Ulysses. The town of Leukas was founded by the Corinthians in the 7th century B.C. and issued coins with Corinthian types.
During the period when this coin was struck, Leucas joined the Spartan Confederation opposing Athens in the Peloponnesian War.SH56866. Silver stater, Pegasi II p. 395, 27; BMC Corinth p. 126, 15; SNG Delepierre 1230 (all same dies); SNG Cop -, aVF, toned, graffiti, weight 8.521 g, maximum diameter 22.5 mm, die axis 180o, Leucas (Lefkada, Greece) mint, c. 435 - 400 B.C.; obverse Pegasus flying left, unbridled, curled archaic wings, Λ below; reverse head of Athena (or Aphrodite) left in Corinthian helmet over leather cap; Λ above, phiale behind; scarce; SOLD
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