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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Certified Coins||View Options:   | | | FORVM ANCIENT COINS is known worldwide for its expertise in the identification, grading, and authentication of ancient and medieval coins. Our guarantee of authenticity is for for eternity. On this page we include coins that have 3rd party certification by the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC), Independent Coin Graders (ICG), and David Sear. Most of the coins on this page were received from consignors certified and encapsulated. We also submit coins for a second opinion to NGC or to David Sear if we have even the slightest uncertainty about a coins authenticity. If you collect NGC certified coins, feel free to select any coin from our shop and add NGC certification (listed below) to your shopping cart. We will send the coin(s) you order to NGC prior to delivery to you. |
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
David Sear notes, "a handsome example of this remarkable coinage." Following Arsinoe's death in 268 B.C., Ptolemy II minted a massive issue of outstanding gold and silver medallic coins honoring his departed wife.
Arsinoe II is portrayed in the guise of Isis. Her worship was widespread during this period, and for generations following it.SH24847. Gold oktodrachm, Lorber CPE 390; Svoronos 475; BMC Ptolemies p. 43, 10 and pl. VIII, 4; SGCV II 7768, gVF, light marks, weight 27.702 g, maximum diameter 28.4 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, c. 252 - 249 B.C.; obverse head or Arsinoe II right, wearing stephane and veil, K behind; reverse APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia bound with fillet, overflowing with grain, pomegranate, grapes, and other fruits; SOLD
Vespasian, 1 July 69 - 24 June 79 A.D., Judaea Capta
On 14 April 70 A.D. Titus surrounded Jerusalem. He allowed pilgrims to enter to celebrate Passover but this was a trap to put pressure on supplies of food and water; he refused to allow them to leave. On 10 May he began his assault on the walls. The third wall fell on 25 May. The second wall fell on 30 May. On 20 July Titus stormed the Temple Mount. On 4 August 70 A.D. Titus destroyed the Temple. The Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av mourns the Fall of Jerusalem annually on this date. This type celebrates the victory of Vespasian and Titus. Coins commemorating this event are referred to as "Judaea Capta" issues.SL110372. Gold aureus, RIC II-1 1; BMCRE I 31; SRCV I 2252, Cohen 1 225, Hunter I 16, NGC F 5/5 - 3/5 (5771211-001), weight 7.13 g, maximum diameter 18.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 21 Dec 69 - early 70 A.D.; obverse IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right; reverse Jewess captive seated right in attitude of mourning, knees drawn up, head resting on left hand propped up on knees, trophy of captured arms behind her includes helmet, cuirass, oblong and round shields, and greaves, IVDAEA in exergue; first example of this type handled by Forum; NGC| Lookup; SOLD
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
Beautiful Roman gold! RIC in error does not identify the drapery on left shoulder. This type was issued prior to the emperor's expedition against the Sassanid Persians. The type with Annona combined with the legend extolling the emperor's foresight (Providentia Augusti) seems to be intended to reassure that the people's interests would not be forgotten during his absence from the capital.SH08970. Gold aureus, BMCRE VI p. 196, 812; RIC IV 251 var.; Calico 3133 (R2); Cohen IV 507 var.; SRCV II 7838, Choice EF, weight 5.61 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate bust right with drapery on left shoulder; reverse PROVIDENTIA AVG (the foresight of the Emperor), Providentia (or Annona) standing left, holding stalks of grain over modius and anchor; Sear graded as "attractive EF and rare"; very rare; SOLD
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
On the certificate, David Sear conservatively grades this coin, "almost EF, a superb example of this interesting dynastic coinage."SH24848. Gold pentekontadrachmon (50 drachms), Lorber CPE 314; Svoronos 604; BMC Ptolemies p. 40, 4 - 5; SNG Cop 133; SGCV II 7790, superb aEF, weight 13.813 g, maximum diameter 20.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 285 - Aug 272 B.C.; obverse AΔEΛΦΩN, jugate busts of Ptolemy II Philadelphos, diademed and draped, and Arsinoe II, diademed and veiled, Galatian shield behind; reverse ΘEΩN, jugate busts of Ptolemy I Soter, diademed and wearing aegis, and Berenike I, diademed and veiled; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander the Great, 323 - 317 B.C.
This coin was an early posthumous issue, struck during the nominal rule the puppet kings Philip III (Alexander the Great's brother) & Alexander IV (Alexander the Great's son), under one of the Macedonian satraps in Babylon: Archon, Dokimos, or Seleukos I. The regent Perdiccas suspected Archon of colluding in the theft of Alexander's corpse and, in 321 B.C., sent Dokimos to replace him. Archon was defeated and died from battle wounds. Seleucus, made satrap by Perdiccas' rival Antipater, arrived in Babylon in October or November 320 B.C. and defeated Dokimos.SL111465. Gold stater, Price 3691, Müller Alexander 1271, NGC CH XF, strike 5/5, surface 4/5, fine style (6558782-001), weight 8.569 g, maximum diameter 17.8 mm, die axis 0o, Mesopotamia, Babylon (Hillah, Iraq) mint, early posthumous issue, c. 323 - 317 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a coiled serpent, wearing pearl necklace, M behind; reverse Nike standing left, wreath in right hand, stylus in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on left, AΛEΞANΔPOY (Alexander) downward on right, ΛY low inner right; ex Harlan J. Berk; NGC| Lookup; SOLD
Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
On the Certificate, David Sear notes, "a very rare obverse variant and an excellent example of the early "Trajanic" style of Hadrian's portraiture."SH24853. Gold aureus, BMCRE III p. 250, 84 note; RIC II 46 var. (bust right), Cohen II 1368 var. (same), Choice VF, weight 7.124 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 118 A.D.; obverse IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left; reverse P M TR P COS II, Salus seated left, feeding snake coiled around altar, SALVS AVG (the health of the Emperor) in exergue; ex Freeman and Sear; very rare; SOLD
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
A rare and interesting type. LIBERALITAS coins commemorate largesses, distributions of money to the people of Rome, usually made upon important events or the return of the emperor after a longer absence. This coin commemorates Antoninus' seventh Liberalitas, perhaps on the occasion of the birth of a son to Marcus and Faustina in 152.
RIC only lists a draped and cuirassed bust obverse, and describes the reverse as Liberalitas holding an account board and a rod. The description must be based on a poorly preserved specimen, as our coin (and others) clearly show a male holding a simple fasces (rods bundled with an axe as seen on the back of a U.S. dime). The other object should be regarded more as a banner, on which dots were painted equal to the number of aurei distributed to each citizen. Another theory suggests it is actually a wooden shovel, with shallow pits which was used to draw an exact number of coins from a chest. True or not, we think it would be great fun to shovel through thousands of aureii.SH21931. Gold aureus, RIC III 229 var., Cohen II 520 var., Choice gVF, weight 7.276 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 152 - 153 A.D.; obverse ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVI, laureate bust right, very slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse LIBERALITAS VII COS IIII, Lictor, standing facing, head left, wearing cap and chlamys, fasces (rods bundled with an axe) in right, tessera in left; nice style, full circle centering on both obverse and reverse; very rare; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander the Great, 336 - 323 B.C., Lifetime Issue
In 334 B.C. the Siege of Miletus by the forces of Alexander the Great of Macedonia liberated the city from Persian rule, soon followed by most of Anatolia. Under Alexander, the city reached its greatest extent, occupying within its walls an area of approximately 90 hectares (220 acres). When Alexander died in 323 B.C., Miletus came under the control of Ptolemy, governor of Caria and his satrap of Lydia Asandrus, who had become autonomous. In 312 B.C. Antigonus I Monophthalmus sent Docimus and Medeius to free the city and grant autonomy, restoring the democratic patrimonial regime.SL97494. Gold stater, ADM I series I, 14 (same dies); Price 2077; Müller Alexander 8; SNG Munchen 571; SNG Saroglos 131; HGC 3.1 893f (S); SNG Alpha Bank -, ANACS Extremely Fine EF45 (6275437), weight 8.59 g, maximum diameter 17.9 mm, die axis 345o, Ionia, Miletos (near Balat, Turkey) mint, struck under Philoxenos, c. 325 - 323 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right wearing earring, necklace, and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled snake, small thunderbolt under neck truncation; reverse Nike standing slightly left, head left, wreath in extended right hand, stylus in left hand, HA monogram left, AΛEΞANΔPOY downward on right; scarce; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander the Great, 336 - 323 B.C.
Born a leader, his genius and charisma led the Macedonian army to create an empire covering most of the then-known world, from Greece to India. His reign begins the Hellenistic Age, a time when civilization flourished. He was regarded as a god and his fame grew even greater after his premature death at thirty-two.SL95868. Gold stater, Price 168a (same dies), Müller Alexander 193, Newell Tarsos 12, HGC 3.1 893a (S), ICG AU80 (1507680109, Tarsos, Pr#3004), Macedonia, Amphipolis mint, struck under Antipater, c. 328/5 - 323/319 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right wearing earring, necklace, and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a coiled snake; reverse Nike standing slightly left, head left, wreath in extended right hand, stylus in left hand, kantharos left; ICG| Lookup; scarce; SOLD
Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander the Great, 336 - 323 B.C.
Alexander the Great lifetime issue, struck by his Satrap in Lydia, Menander. Menander, the commander of a force of mercenaries in Alexander's army, was appointed by Alexander as the satrap in Lydia in 331. In 323 B.C., he was commissioned to conduct a reinforcement of troops to Alexander at Babylon, where he arrived there just before Alexander's death. In the division of the provinces after the death of Alexander, Menander received his former government of Lydia. He appears soon to have attached himself to the party of Antigonus. In the new distribution of the provinces at Triparadisus in 321 B.C., he lost the government of Lydia, which was given to Cleitus; but this was probably a promotion by Antigonus, as he commanded part of Antigonus' army in the first campaign against Eumenes in 320 B.C. The following year, Menander learned of the escape of Eumenes from Nora, and advanced with an army into Cappadocia to attack him, forcing him to take refuge in Cilicia. After this, no further mention of Menander is found in history.SL96805. Gold stater, Price 2537, Müller Alexander 145, SNG Cop 645, ICG AU50 (2064440108), weight c. 8.5 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 0o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, lifetime issue, c. 334 - 323 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Corinthian helmet ornamented with a coiled snake; reverse Nike standing half left, wreath in extended right hand, stylus in left, tripod lebes with loop handles (control symbol) to left, AΛEΞANΔPOY downward on right; mint luster that is not captured by the photograph; ICG| Lookup; SOLD
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