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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 Column of Marcian was dedicated to Marcian, built by the praefectus urbi Tatianus, sometime between 450 and 452. It still stands in modern Istanbul, though the statue of Marcian which originally topped it has been lost. Marcian also had a statue in the Forum of Arcadius, which contained the statues of several of Arcadius' successors. |  |
Leo I, 7 February 457 - 18 January 474 A.D.
RIC X divides this type into two phases. The earlier phase (457 - 468) is distinguished by an angular form of the letter G and the spear usually pointing between the second P and E of PERPET. The later phase (468 - 473) the G's are rounded and the spear usually points between the E and T.SH37571. Gold solidus, DOCLR 527, Hunter V 8, Tolstoi 11, Ratto 248, RIC X 605 (S), Depeyrot 93/1, SRCV V 21404, Choice gVF, weight 4.458 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 180o, 8th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, late phase, 468 - 473 A.D.; obverse D N LEO PERPET AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, spear in right over shoulder, shield on left decorated with horseman; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG H (victory of the three emperors, 8th officina), Victory standing half left, supporting long jeweled cross, star right, CONOB in exergue; SOLD
Balbinus, 22 April - 29 Jul 238 A.D.
Providentia is the personification of the ability to foresee and make provision. She was among the embodiments of virtues that were part of the Imperial cult of ancient Rome. Providentia apparently did not favor Balbinus. If he had a little foresight, he would have modified the chain of events that led to his murder after a reign of only 99 days.SH15470. Silver denarius, RIC IV-1 7, RSC III 23, BMCRE VI 33, Hunter III 2, SRCV III 8490, Choice aEF, weight 3.039 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 22 Apr - 29 Jul 238 A.D.; obverse IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse PROVIDENTIA DEORVM (to the foresight of the gods), Providentia standing left, in right baton over globe, cornucopia in left; full circle centering on both the obverse and reverse, nice style; rare; SOLD
Marcian, 24 August 450 - 31 January 457 A.D.
In 450, Vardan II Mamikonian, who was leading a revolt against the Sassanian Empire, sent an embassy to Theodosius to ask for assistance. This was favored by Theodosius but these plans were dropped by Marcian. Later, c. 456, Marcian risked the anger of the Sassanids to strike against Gubazes I, the king of Lazica, which was nominally a vassal Roman state, who was attempting to form an alliance with the Sassanians to break free of Roman control. Marcian launched a military campaign against him in 456, forcing him to abdicate.SH14768. Gold solidus, DOCLR 481 (also 7th officina), Ratto 217, RIC X Marcian 510, Hahn MIB 5, SRCV V 21379, Choice EF, weight 4.491 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 180o, 7th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 450 A.D.; obverse D N MARCIA-NVS P F AVG, diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield, diadem with large jewel and three pearls, shield decorated with horseman spearing a fallen enemy; reverse VICTORIA AVGGG Z (victory of the three emperors, 7th officina), Victory standing left holding a long jeweled cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue; scarce; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Heraclius Constantine, 11 January - 20 April 641 A.D.
Most references attribute this type to Heraclius; however, Hahn (MIB) convincingly argues that the K in the reverse right field refers to Heraclius Constantine. During his very short reign, he may have thought it prudent to maintain the same type struck by his father.SH26643. Gold solidus, Hahn MIB 52; SBCV 771 (Heraclius), gVF, weight 4.270 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 180o, 9th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, as Senior emperor; obverse Heraclius with long beard and mustache between his sons, Heraclonas on left and Heraclius Constantine on right, all stand facing, each wears crown and chlamys and holds globus cruciger in right hand; reverse VICTORIA AVGu Θ (victory of the Emperor, 9th officina), cross potent on three steps, Heraclian monogram
left, K right, CONOB in exergue; scarce; SOLDByzantion, Thrace, 2nd - 1st Century B.C., Restoration of Lysimachos' Type, Portrait of Alexander the Great
SH58093. Silver tetradrachm, SNG Cop 1140, Choice EF, weight 16.635 g, maximum diameter 33.0 mm, die axis 0o, Byzantium (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, c. 250 - 100 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Alexander the Great right, wearing the horn of Ammon; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena enthroned left, rests arm on shield, transverse spear against right side, holds Nike crowning name in right, herm facing inner left, BY on throne, trident in exergue; uncleaned with hoard patina!; SOLD
Zeno, 18 January - 17 November 474 and August 476 - 11 April 491 A.D.
RIC does not list this type with AVGG T in the reverse legend. DOCLR identifies the T as indicating the Thessalonica mint.SH87354. Gold solidus, DOCLR 664 (also 4th officina), Tolstoi 38 var. (TI), Ratto -, RIC X -, near Mint State, lustrous, radiating flow lines, a few light marks, weight 4.496 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 180o, 4th officina, Thessalonica (Salonika, Greece) mint, 2nd reign, Aug 476 - 11 Apr 491, 5th issue; obverse D N ZENO PERP AVG, helmeted bust facing, pearl diademed without jewel on crested helmet, cuirassed, spear in right hand over right shoulder, shield on left arm decorated with horseman riding down and spearing enemy; reverse VICTORI-A AVGG T Δ, Victory standing left, long jeweled cross in right, star right, CONOB in exergue; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 67, lot 660; very rare; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Justin I, 10 July 518 - 1 August 527 A.D.
This type is not rare, but apparently the 7th officina was not very active during this issue. Hahn identifies three specimens from the 7th officina, one from his own collection, but the 7th officina, is missing from the Dumbarton Oaks, British Museum, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Tolstoi and Ratto collections. Dumbarton Oaks and the other collections do list the type from other officinae - see DOC I 1a - 1h.2, Morrisson BnF 2/Cp/AV/3-12, Tolstoi 11-16, Ratto 381-382. Wroth BMC does not list the type but Sear notes this is only an error.SL96956. Gold solidus, Hahn MIB 2 (3 spec., one from his own collection), SBCV 55, Sommer 2.1, DOC I -, Tolstoi -, Ratto -, Wroth BMC -, Morrison BnF -, Ch XF, wrinkled, marks (4284830-010), 7th officina, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 518 - 519 A.D.; obverse D N IVSTI-NVS P P AVI, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, helmet with plume, diadem and trefoil ornament, spear in right hand over shoulder and behind head, shield on left arm ornamented with mounted cavalryman right attacking prostrate enemy; reverse VICTORI-A AVCCC Z (victory of the three emperors, 7th officina), Victoria standing half left, head left, long staff topped with
(inverted staurogram) in right hand, star left, CONOB in exergue; NGC| Lookup; rare from 7th officina; SOLDBasiliscus, January 475 - Late August 476 A.D.
"'Tremissis' is a Latin word which was created by analogy to the term 'semissis' and probably came from "triens as", meaning a third of an 'as'. It came to mean a coin having 1/3 the value of another. It is applied to the Roman gold (98%+ fine) one-third solidus, first struck about 385 to replace the 3/8 solidus (1½ scripulum) piece. It was one-third of the solidus' weight, or about 1.51 grams (theoretically 1/216 of a Roman pound). Roman gold fractions were scarce and never played a large part in the monetary system, but the tremissis was struck well into Byzantine times; the last known are of Basil I (867-886)." - from Moneta Historical Research by Tom SchroerSH10944. Gold tremissis, RIC X 1008, gVF, weight 1.479 g, maximum diameter 15.37 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, obverse D N bASILI-CuS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM (to the victory of the Emperor), Victory advancing front, head left, holding wreath and globus cruciger, star in right field, CONOB in exergue; very rare (R3); SOLD
Roman Civil War, Vitellius, c. 69 A.D.
This coin is M71 in Butcher, K. & M. Pointing, The Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage: From the Reform of Nero to the Reform of Trajan (Cambridge, 2015). There is a tiny drill hole on the edge where silver was extracted for testing. This was an important coin in the study, with test results indicating 93.9% silver bullion and Gallic isotope ratios strongly suggesting similarity with other Vitellius coins from Gallia, not coins minted for Galba.RS86684. Silver denarius, Butcher-Pointing M71 (this coin), RIC I Civil Wars 121, BMCRE I 65, RSC I Galba 363, BnF I 75, Martin 7, EF, toned, tight flan, light corrosion, test drill hole on edge, weight 3.127 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 180o, Southern Gaul(?) mint, c. 69 A.D.; obverse clasped hands, FIDES above, EXERCITVVM below; reverse clasped hands, FIDES above, PRAETORIANORVM curving along the edge below; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Helios, auction 4 (Munich, 14 Oct 2009), lot 270; ex Coll. A. Lynn collection; ex Classical Numismatic Group, auction 54 (14 June 2000), lot 1484; ex P. DeVicci collection; rare; SOLD
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