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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Denominations||View Options:   | | | |
The moneyer Q. Titius is known only from his coinage.RR114996. Bronze as, Crawford 341/4a, Sydenham 694, BMCRR Rome 2231, Russo RBW 1277, SRCV I 742, gF, red-brown surfaces, flan flaws, smoothing, casting sprue, weight 13.212 g, maximum diameter 28.9 mm, die axis 315o, Rome mint, 90 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Janus, long pointed beards, no mark of value; reverse prow of galley right, Q TITI above, no mark of value or control symbol; ex Classical Numismatic Group e-auction 548 (20 Nov 2023), lot 433; ex Shetland Sheepdog Collection (purchased 31 Dec 2015); ex Bob Hurst Numismatics (Vero Beach, FL); ex Alex G. Malloy; $130.00 (€122.20)
Roman Republic, Anonymous (AN or AV Series), c. 194 - 189 B.C.
In 194 B.C., the Romans defeated the Boii in the Battle of Mutina, fought near Modena. The victory effectively ended the threat of the Gauls in Italy.RR114998. Bronze as, Crawford 136/2, Sydenham 327, Russo RBW 607, BMCRR Rome 568, SRCV I 667, F, dark green and brown patina with patches of red, scratches, weight 32.462 g, maximum diameter 31.9 mm, die axis 75o, Rome mint, c. 194 - 189 B.C.; obverse laureate and bearded head of Janus, I (mark of value) above; reverse prow right, AN (or AV) monogram above, I (mark of value) right, ROMA below; ex Classical Numismatic Group e-auction 548, (18 Oct 2023), lot 404; ex Shetland Sheepdog Collection; ex Classical Numismatic Group e-auction 377 (29 Jun 2016), lot 331; ex RBW Collection (purchased from M. Weder, Aug 1989); rare; $150.00 (€141.00)
Augustus(?), 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D.
This type has traditionally been attributed to Pergamum, c. 27 - 20 B.C. More recently, it has been suggested that it was struck at Samos, c. 21 - 20 B.C., when the city was Augustus' headquarters during his visit to the East. That all being said, David Sear has voiced skepticism to an Eastern origin in SRCV I (2000) where he writes, "the usual attribution of this issue to an 'eastern' mint is not supported either by the style of the engraving or by the evidence of provenance." In BMCRE I (1923), Harold Mattingly notes that specimens of the aureii of the same exact type (RIC I2 539) have been found at Ambenay (in France) and Xanten (in Germany).
The identity of the imperial portrait has been a matter of debate for many generations, a scholarly tug of war between an idealized depiction of Augustus and his adopted grandson, Gaius Caesar. While many nowadays prefer the former identification (note, for instance, the oak wreath), David Sear favors Gaius in SRCV I, seeing in the coin designs the "well established" connection to the Ludi Saeculares celebrations of 17 B.C., during which "year saw the birth of Gaius' younger brother, Lucius, and the adoption of both by Augustus." In 2012, a Canadian auction house sold a fascinating specimen overstruck on an earlier denarius bearing remnants of a "T R POT" legend and the suggestion of a head on the overtype's obverse. The cataloger(s) tentatively suggested the host coin was a Licinius Stolo denarius from the Rome mint (RIC I2 343), another coin with ties to the Ludi Saeculares in 17 B.C. However, in the present cataloger's view, traces of the undertype's thick edge beading may suggest a different denarius issue.
Lastly, the old description of the candelabrum being "surmounted by a crescent," noted as early as 1910 (in BMCRR II) and which is still widely cited today, was likely an incorrect interpretation of a partially visible patera.RS114560. Silver denarius, RIC I2 540, BMCRE I 684-685, BnF I3 1013-1016, RSC I 2 (Caius Caesar), SRCV I 1749 (same, $1,440 VF), Cohen I 2 (same, 30 Fr.), aVF, retoned, light scratches, banker's marks on obv., slightly off-centered, weight 3.448 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 180o, possibly eastern (Pergamum or Samos?) mint, c. 17 B.C.; obverse bare head of youthful Augustus(?) right, CA-ES-AR counterclockwise below, all within an oak wreath; reverse candelabrum, ornamented with rams' heads, all within a floral wreath entwined with two bucrania and three paterae, AVG-VST• across field; ex CNG e-auction 540 (15 Jun 2023), lot 397; ex Kalevala Collection; ex Baldwin's auction 48, (24 Sep 2020), lot 594; ex T. Hardaker Collection; ex CNG e-auction 277 (11 Apr 2012), lot 210; $500.00 (€470.00)
Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Irenopolis, Cilicia
Irenopolis or Eirenopolis or Eirenoupolis, known briefly as Neronias in honor of the Roman emperor Nero, was in northeastern Cilicia, not far from the Calycadnus river, on the site of modern Düzici, Osmaniye province, Turkey, at the mouth of the Darb al-'Ain pass. It was probably founded by Antiochus IV of Commagene. Coins of the city show that Asclepius and Hygeia were worshiped there, probably connected with the natural spring of the area. The city is mentioned by Hierocles, Nicephore, and Calliste. Christianity first came to the area in the 1st century; the mountain pass location made it an early candidate for missionaries. The city came under Muslim rule following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.RP114912. Bronze AE 31, RPC VII.2 Online 3221A (2 spec.; #1 = this coin), Isegrim -, Karbach Eirenopolis -, aF, green patina, highlighting light earthen deposits, both sides off-centered, weight 9.683 g, maximum diameter 30.8 mm, die axis 180o, Irenopolis (Düzici, Turkey) mint, 242/243 A.D.; obverse AY K M ANTW ΓOPΔIANOC, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EIPHNOΠO-ΛEITWN, Dionysos standing mostly left, wreathed in ivy(?), otherwise nude, cantharus in right hand, upright thyrsus in left, panther standing left at feet with head turned back and upwards in anticipation, ET (Greek abbreviation: ETOYC - "of year") in left field, BϘP (192, obscured) in exergue; zero sales of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decade; one of two known, listed on RPC Online; ex Pandora Numismatics auction 2 (27 Aug 2023), lot 415 (sold unattributed); extremely rare; $160.00 (€150.40)
Apollonia Pontika, Thrace, c. 540 - 470 B.C.
Apollonia Pontica was founded as Antheia by Greek colonists from Miletus in the 7th century B.C. They soon changed its name to Apollonia after building a temple for Apollo. The temple contained a colossal statue of Apollo by Calamis, which was later taken to Rome and placed in the Capitol. The anchor on the coinage is evidence of the importance of its maritime trade. MA114219. Silver hemiobol, SNG Bulgaria II 95; Topalov Apollonia p. 570, 17; SNG Stancomb 32; HGC 3.2 1326 (R1), VF, bumps, scratches, tight flan, weight 0.458 g, maximum diameter 7.0 mm, Apollonia Pontica (Sozopol, Bulgaria) mint, c. 540 - 470 B.C.; obverse anchor flukes up, large flukes, perpendicular crossbar, four pellets below; reverse swastika pattern, bends to right (clockwise), ends forked, two lines parallel to ends in each quarter; rare; $75.00 (€70.50)
Elagabalus, 16 May 218 - 11 March 222 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia
Kayseri, originally called Mazaka or Mazaca, is in central Turkey on a low spur on the north side of Mount Erciyes (Mount Argaeus in ancient times). During Achaemenid Persian rule, it was the capital of a Satrapy on the crossroads of the Royal Road from Sardis to Susa and the trade route from Sinope to the Euphrates. It was conquered by Alexander's general Perdikkas, was ruled by Eumenes of Cardia, then passed to the Seleucid empire after the battle of Ipsus. It became the capital of the independent Cappadocian Kingdom under Ariarathes III, around 250 B.C. During Strabo's time it was also known as Eusebia, after the Cappadocian King Ariarathes V Eusebes, 163 – 130 B.C. The name was changed again to "Caesarea in Cappadocia" in honor of Caesar Augustus, upon his death in 14 A.D. The city passed under formal Roman rule in 17 A.D. In Roman times, it prospered on the route from Ephesus to the East. Caesarea was destroyed by the Sassanid King Shapur I after his victory over the Emperor Valerian I in 260 A.D. At the time it was recorded to have around 400,000 inhabitants. Arabic influence changed Caesarea to the modern name Kayseri. The city gradually recovered and has a population of around 1 million people today. Few traces of the ancient city survive.MA113941. Bronze AE 29, cf. RPC Online VI T6661, Henseler 1038, Ganschow -, aF, weight 8.850 g, maximum diameter 29.0 mm, die axis 0o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 218 - 219 A.D.; obverse AY K M AYPHΛIOC - ANTWNEINOC CEB, laureate and draped bust right, seen from slightly behind right shoulder; reverse MHTPO-Π - K-AICAPI, agalma of Mount Argaeus on altar, three figures standing on peak, altar inscribed ET B (year 2) on altar, NEΩKO (neokoros) in exergue; ex Leu Numismatik web auction 24 (06 Dec 22), lot 4995 (part of); ex European collection formed before 2005; $5.00 (€4.70)
Lesbos, c. 500 - 450 B.C.
A most unusual use of illusion on a coin. The two confronting boars' heads can also be viewed as the facing head of a panther.GA114944. Billon 1/12 stater, SNGvA 7712; SNG Munchen 646; Rosen 542; BMC Troas p. 151, 15; HGC 6 1069 (R2); SNG Cop -, VF, dark toning, rev. encrusted, weight 1.175 g, maximum diameter 9.7 mm, uncertain Koinon of Lesbos mint, c. 500 - 450 B.C.; obverse confronting boar heads, creating the illusion of a facing head of a panther; reverse incuse square punch, M in one quarter; $100.00 (€94.00)
Persian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Darius I, c. 521 - 486 B.C.
The 1/24 siglos version of our coin (probably a 1/32 siglos) is the first coin type listed in Axel Winzer's 2005 numismatic work, Antike portraitmünzen der Perser und Greichen aus vor-hellenistischer Zeit (Zeitraum ca. 510-322 v.Chr.). And this is no coincidence as he explains in part, on page 11: "Together with the portrait coins of Darius I (1.1 and 1.2), these two numismatic rarities, minted by Cyrus the Younger (2.1 and 5.1), represent the beginning of the earliest portraits of living people on ancient coins described here." Stylistically, the closest match discovered for the present coin is the gold 1/48 daric (Winzer 1.2) in the Berlin Museum, represented by a drawing in Traité. Babelon makes no mention of the presence of a quiver on that piece, which may also be the case here.
An extraordinarily tiny coin. In later generations, the change-making role of very small silver coins would be replaced by bronze ones.GA113543. Silver 1/32 siglos, Apparently unpublished, cf. Klein 759 (1/24 siglos), Winzer 1.1 (same), Traité II p. 47, 6 = Winzer 1.2 (1/48 daric), Carradice -, aVF, etched surfaces with traces of earthen sediments in rev. crevices, good centering and detail for such a small coin, weight 0.160 g, maximum diameter 5.1 mm, Sardis (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 510 B.C.; obverse head of the Great King right, wearing a kidaris (Persian royal crown), quiver(?) behind; reverse semi-square incuse punch; extremely rare denomination of a historically important coin type!; $300.00 (€282.00)
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D.
Ceres' known mythology is indistinguishable from Demeter's. Her virgin daughter Proserpina (Persephone) was abducted by Hades to be his wife in the underworld. Ceres searched for her endlessly lighting her way through the earth with torches. While Ceres (Demeter) searched, she was preoccupied with her loss and her grief. The seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Some say that in her anger she laid a curse on the world that caused plants to wither and die, and the land to become desolate. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus sent his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring Proserpina back. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that she would spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Ceres grieves for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world, creating winter. Proserpina's return brings the spring.MA114413. Orichalcum dupondius, RIC I 110, BMCRE I 197, BnF II 222, Hunter I 84, Cohen I 1, SRCV I 1856, Fine/Fair, green patina, broad flan, pitting, weight 15.538 g, maximum diameter 31.6 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 50 - 54 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, bare head left; reverse CERES AVGVSTA, Ceres seated left on ornamented throne, veiled, two stalks grain in right hand, torch across lap cradled in left hand and arm, feet on footstool, S C (senatus consulto) in exergue; big 32mm bronze!; $70.00 (€65.80)
Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class F, Constantine X, 25 December 1059 - 21 May 1067 A.D.
The emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design on the Byzantine types referred to as anonymous folles. Instead of the earthly king, these coins depict Jesus Christ, King of Kings.MA114253. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, DOC III-2, class F; SBCV 1856, F, green patina, weight 7.442 g, maximum diameter 29.0 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 1059 - 1067 A.D.; obverse Christ seated facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction; gospels in left hand, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse ISXS / bASILE / bASIL (Greek abbreviation: Jesus Christ King of Kings) in three lines, cross above and beneath; scarce; $25.00 (€23.50)
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