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Counterfeiting began almost immediately after the first coinage was introduced. The official Mytilene coin was solid electrum, a mixture of gold and silver. This coin is plated with electrum over a base core, struck by a criminal counterfeiter in ancient times, intended for circulation as the official prototype. The low weight identifies this as is a plated coin.GA114610. Fouree electrum plated hekte, cf. Bodenstedt 9.1, HGC 6 933 (official Mytilene mint prototype, solid electrum), VF, rough spots, weight 2.086 g, maximum diameter 10.3 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial criminal mint, 521 - 478 B.C.; obverse forepart of winged lion left; reverse incuse head of cock left, rectangular punch to right; $220.00 (€206.80)
Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.GS114664. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), F, rough, toned, oval flan, weight 3.590 g, maximum diameter 15.8 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $220.00 (€206.80)
Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.GS114666. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), gF, toned, oval flan, a little rough, weight 3.724 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $180.00 (€169.20)
France, Henri IV, 2 August 1589 - 14 May 1610
This variety is unpublished in the primary references. Henri Hoffmann in Les Monnaies Royales De France Depuis Hugues Capet Jusqu'ã Louis XVI (1884) does list the 4 vice IIII legend variation on other types, a quarter ecu of Navarre and an eighth of Béarn and Navarre, for example. ME112523. Silver 1/4 Ecu, Ciani 1517 var., Duplessy 1224 var., Legros 1066 var., Hoffmann 28 var. (all rev. leg. IIII vice 4, etc.); cf. Hoffmann 29 (Navarre), VF, toned, weight 9.549 g, maximum diameter 29.3 mm, die axis 135o, Bayonne mint, 1590; obverse SIT•NOMEN+DOMINI•BENEDICVM (Blessed be the name of the Lord, Bayonne mintmark), crowned shield of France (three fleurs-de-lis), II - II flanking across field, Bayonne mintmark (and control marks) at 6:00: +L+(flower)(anchor); reverse + HENRICVS4•D•G•FRAN•E•NAVA•R•1590 (Henry IV, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, 1590), Foliate cross, quatrefoil around cross of five pellets at center, lily arms, pellet at each end; ex Karl Stephens; $560.00 (€526.40)
South Africa, Elizabeth II, 5 Shillings, 1959
Key date!UK112524. Silver 5 Shillings, SCWC KM52, Choice UNC, weight 28.200 g, maximum diameter 38.8 mm, die axis 0o, Pretoria mint, 1959; obverse ELIZABETH II REGINA, young laureate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II right; reverse SUID-AFRIKA · 1959 · SOUTH AFRICA (bilingual Afrikaans-English), springbok right, 5s below; rare; $440.00 (€413.60)
South Africa, Lot of 3 Silver Coins
WO113070. Silver Lot, 2X 1960 5 shillings and 1936 Edward VIII fantasy crown, MS, $110.00 (€103.40)
Anglo-Gallic, Edward III, 25 January 1327 – 21 June 1377
The Aquitanian title on both sides seems to suggest this coin was struck c. 1325 - 1326, when Edward III was Duke of Aquitaine but not yet King of England, but Elias dates the type the second half of the 1350's based on style. This type and similar billon Anglo-Gallic coins looked silver when issued, but after some use turned black, hence their nickname, "black money." They were usually hastily and poorly struck, heavily circulated and worn, and seldom hoarded. Surviving examples are now rare and mostly low grade. This type is very rare.ME112522. Billon obole au lion, Elias 110c (RR), Duplessy Féodales 1109 var. (obv. title ED':REX: ARGLIE), Boudeau 503 var. (same), aVF, broken with fragment lost, clashed obv. die, deposits, corrosion, weight 0.489 g, maximum diameter 14.9 mm, die axis 270o, Bordeaux(?) mint, 4th type, 1350 - 1360; obverse + ED' : DVX : AeITANIE (Edward, Duke of Aquitaine), leopard passant left on straight line, mB' (Moneta Burdegalensis?) below line; reverse +DVX : AeITANIE (Duke of Aquitaine), short cross pattée within inner circle, pellet under crown in second angle; ex Gordon Andreas Singer, very rare with the Aquitanian title on both sides!; $240.00 (€225.60)
Anglo-Gallic, Richard II, 1377 - 1399
Richard II's posthumous reputation has been shaped to a large extent by William Shakespeare, whose play Richard II portrayed Richard's misrule and his deposition as responsible for the 15th-century Wars of the Roses.ME113073. Silver Hardi d'Argent, Withers AGC 275B, 1/a; Elias 228a (S) var. (obv. legend); Duplessy Féodales 1136 var. (legends); SCBC-SII 8143, VF, dark toning, clashed obv. die, weight 1.184 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 135o, Aquitaine mint, 1377 - 1399; obverse Latin: RICARD' R• AGLIE (Richard King England), half-length figure of the king facing beneath Gothic canopy, sword in right hand resting on right shoulder, pointing with left hand; reverse Latin: FRA-CIE - DnS - AQI (France, Lord of Aquitaine), long cross pattée, leopard in first and fourth quarters, lis in second and third quarters; ex Gordon Andreas Singer (Greenbelt, MD); $540.00 (€507.60)
Anglo-Gallic, Richard II, 1377 - 1399
Richard II's posthumous reputation has been shaped to a large extent by William Shakespeare, whose play Richard II portrayed Richard's misrule and his deposition as responsible for the 15th-century Wars of the Roses.ME113074. Silver Hardi d'Argent, Withers AGC 275B, 13(?)/d; Elias 228a (S) var. (legends); Duplessy Féodales 1136 var. (legends); SCBC-SII 8143, aVF, dark tone, ink museum number on obverse, weight 0.886 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 345o, Aquitaine mint, 1377 - 1399; obverse Latin: RICARD' RX• AGLIE (or similar, Richard King England), half-length figure of the king facing beneath Gothic canopy, sword in right hand resting on right shoulder, pointing with left hand; reverse Latin: •FRAC-IE Dn-S•AQI-TAnE (France, Lord of Aquitaine), long cross pattée, leopard in first and fourth quarters, lis in second and third quarters; $450.00 (€423.00)
France, Henri IV, 2 August 1589 - 14 May 1610
Henry IV, also known as "Good King Henry", was King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. Upon the death of his brother-in-law and distant cousin Henry III of France, Henry was called to the French succession in 1589. He initially kept the Protestant faith but after four years and at least 12 assassination attempts, he abjured the Calvinist faith. He promulgated the Edict of Nantes in 1598, guaranteeing religious freedom and ending the Wars of Religion. He was assassinated in 1610 by a fanatical Catholic. Unpopular immediately after his accession, Henry's popularity greatly improved after his death. The "Good King Henry" (le bon roi Henri) was remembered for his geniality and his great concern about the welfare of his subjects. Henry is said to have originated the oft-repeated phrase, "a chicken in every pot."WO113444. Silver 1/4 Ecu, Duplessy 1240, Ciani 1520, Roberts 3286, aVF, toned, flan adjustment marks, edge crack, weight 9.438 g, maximum diameter 31.8 mm, pendulum struck, Bearn, Pau mint, 1594; obverse HENRICVS•IIII•D•G•FRANC•ET•NAVA•REX DB (DB ligate) (Henry IV, by the Grace of God, King of France and Navarre, Bearn mintmark), Fleur-de-lis cross; reverse ••*GRATIA•DEI•SUM•Q•D•SVM•1594 DB*•• (DB ligate)• (By the grace of God, I am what I am, Bearn mintmark), crowned shield arms of France (three lis), Navarre (star) and Bearn (two cows), II - II flanking across field; $360.00 (€338.40)
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