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Julius Caesar, Imperator and Dictator, October 49 - 15 March 44 B.C.
This issue was minted to pay for Caesar's military operation against the Pompeians in North Africa. The campaign ended with the dictator's victory at Thapsus on 6 April 46 B.C. The reverse depicts Aeneas carrying his father and the palladium away from burning Troy and refers to the mythical descent of the Julia gens from Iulus, the son of Aeneas.SH20394. Silver denarius, Crawford 458/1, RSC I 12, Sydenham 1013, BMCRR East 31, SRCV I 1402, gVF, weight 3.623 g, maximum diameter 17.8 mm, die axis 180o, North Africa mint, 47 - 46 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Venus right, wearing necklace, hair rolled back, in a knot behind, two locks down neck; reverse CAESAR, Aeneas, naked walking left, palladium in right, in left carries his father, Anchises; toned; SOLD
Tyndaris, Sicily, c. 380 - 254 B.C.
Tyndaris, 36 miles from Messana (modern Messina), was founded by Dionysios of Syracuse in 396 B.C., on land taken from Abakainon, peopled with Messenian exiles, and named for Tyndaris, the mythical king of Sparta and father of Castor. In Greek mythology, the Dioscuri, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, were sons of the Spartan Queen Leda. Tyndareus was the father of Castor, thus a mortal, while Zeus was the father of Pollux, thus a demigod. Helen of Troy was the daughter of Leda and Zeus, thus the sister of the Dioscuri.GI95231. Bronze AE 23, Calciati p. 79, 1/1; BMC Sicily p. 235, 1; Weber 1753; SNG Cop 948; HGC 2 1632 (R2); SNG ANS -; SNG Mün -; SNG Tüb -; SNG Lloyd -, gVF, dark brown tone, cleaning scratches, smoothing, weight 8.876 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 45o, Tyndaris mint, c. 380 - 254 B.C.; obverse TYNΔAPIΣ, head of Helen of Troy left; wearing stephane and earring, star of eight rays and central pellet behind; reverse Castor on horseback cantering right, wearing cap and chlamys, palm frond in left hand and over left shoulder, reins in right hand; ex Forum (2018); very rare; SOLD
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D.
SH21109. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC III 627, Cohen II 761, F, weight 22.385 g, maximum diameter 32.5 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 140 - 144 A.D.; obverse ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right; reverse S C, Aeneas advancing right, carrying Anchises and leading Ascanius; some pitting; ex Leu-NFA, Beverly Hills, 16-18 May 1984, John Work Garrett Collection of John Hopkins University, part III, group lot 1014; very rare; SOLD
Geto-Dacian, Roman Republic Imitative, c. 82 B.C. - 1st Century A.D.
In ancient Greek and Roman writing Dacus (plural Daci) and Geta (plural Getae) were interchangeable names for tribes of the Dacia region, distinct from but influenced by and possibly related the Thracians and Celts. Modern historians prefer to use the name Geto-Dacians.CE68430. Silver denarius serratus, cf. Davis C52 and M166; for the Rome mint, C. Mamilius Limetanus, 82 B.C., prototype see: SRCV I 282, Sydenham 741, Crawford 362/1, gVF, weight 3.846 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, die axis 135o, tribal mint, c. 82 B.C. - 1st century A.D.; obverse bust of Mercury right wearing winged petasus, caduceus over shoulder; reverse Ulysses (Odysseus) walking right, greeted by his dog Argos, staff in left hand, C MAMIL downward on left, LIMETAN (AT ligate) upwards on right; SOLD
Skione, Macedonia, Greece, c. 480 - 450 B.C.
The apotropaic eye was painted on Greek drinking vessels to ward off evil spirits while drinking. Fishing boats in some parts of the Mediterranean still have stylized eyes painted on the bows. This coin would have served both as currency and as a talisman to ward off evil. SH17300. Silver tetrobol, cf. SNG ANS 708 for obverse and 707 for reverse (obverse left); BMC -, SNG Cop -, Choice aVF, weight 2.273 g, maximum diameter 12.3 mm, die axis 90o, Skione mint, c. 480 - 450 B.C.; obverse youthful male head right (hero Protesilaos?); reverse Σ-K-I-O, apotropaic human eye in incuse square; rare; SOLD
Roman Republic, C. Mamilius C.f. Limetanus, 82 B.C.
This type alludes to the moneyer's claim of descent from Telegonus, son of Ulysses and Circe, and hence from Mercury -- Roman Republican Coinage by Michael H. CrawfordSH21139. Silver denarius serratus, SRCV I 282, Sydenham 741, Crawford 362/1, RSC I Mamilia 6, toned gVF, weight 3.661 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 315o, Rome mint, 82 B.C.; obverse bust of Mercury right wearing winged petasus, caduceus over shoulder; reverse Ulysses walking right, staff in left hand, right extended toward his dog, Argus, C MAMIL downward on left, LIMETAN (AT ligate) upwards on right; SOLD
Galeria Valeria, Augusta, June 293(?) - 311 A.D., Second Wife of Galerius
Venus (Aphrodite) can be faulted for the Trojan War. Upset that she was not invited to a wedding, she went anyway and maliciously left a golden apple inscribed "For the fairest" on the banquet table. The goddesses, as Aphrodite expected, argued who was the rightful possessor of this prize. It was determined the most handsome mortal in the world, a noble Trojan youth named Paris, would decide. Each of the three finalists offered Paris a bribe. Hera promised he would rule the world. Athena said she would make him victorious in battle. Aphrodite guaranteed the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. This was Helen, who was married to the king of Sparta. Paris awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite. Aphrodite enabled Paris to elope with Helen, Helen of Troy. Helen's husband raised a Greek army to retrieve his wife, starting the Trojan War.RT99579. Billon follis, Hunter V p. 72, 9 (also 2nd officina); RIC VI Heraclea p. 536, 43; SRCV IV 14593; Cohen VII 2, Choice VF, well centered, dark brown tone, weight 4.755 g, maximum diameter 25.6 mm, die axis 0o, 4th officina, Heraclea (Marmara Ereglisi, Turkey) mint, c. 309 - 310 A.D.; obverse GAL VALERIA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane, hair in looped plait on neck and up back of head; reverse VENERI VICTRICI (to victorious Venus), Venus standing facing, head left, raising apple in right hand, raising drapery over shoulder with left hand, HTB in exergue; from the Ed Strivelli Collection, ex FORVM (2020), ex Maxwell Hunt Collection, ex Pegasi Coins; SOLD