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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Featured Collections| ▸ |Jyrki Muona Collection||View Options:   | | | We are pleased to offer a large selection from the Jyrki Muona Collection of Roman Coins. While the collection includes a wide spectrum of emperors and types, the primary focus of the collection is on the emperor Otho and the emperor Philip and his family. Mr. Muona's coins include many rarities and many attractive high grade examples. We hope you find that elusive coin you have been seeking for your collection! |
In July 32 B.C., Octavian illegally obtained Antony's will and exposed it to the Roman public: it promised substantial legacies to Antony's children by Cleopatra and left instructions for shipping his body to Alexandria for burial. Rome was outraged, and the Senate declared war against Cleopatra (an important distinction, because Octavian did not want the Roman people to consider it a civil war). Octavian's forces decisively defeated the forces of Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium in Greece in September 31 B.C. In 30 B.C., Octavian chased Antony and Cleopatra to Egypt where they committed suicide. Octavian became master of the Roman world.RR86665. Silver denarius, RIC I 253 (S), RSC I 72, BMCRR 4329, BMCRE I 611, BnF I 6, Sear CRI 400, SRCV I 1549, F, broad flan, uneven toning, light marks and scratches, weight 3.671 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, Italian (Rome?) mint, autumn 32 - summer 31 B.C.; obverse draped bust of Pax right, wearing stephane, hair in a bun at low back, two locks in corkscrew curls down neck, top of cornucopia behind, olive branch before; reverse Octavian walking right, bare-headed, wearing military garb, raising right hand in adlocutio, transverse spear over left shoulder in left hand, CAESAR - DIVI F in horizontal line divided across field; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Harlan J. Berk; scarce; SOLD
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D.
Minerva was ancient even to the Romans. She was of Italian or Etruscan origin and directly identified with the Greek Athena. Although a war goddess, she was also the patron of handicrafts and of wisdom. The latter is probably what made her attractive to Claudius who reportedly authored several histories, none of which, unfortunately, have survived.RB86659. Copper as, RIC I 100, Hunter I 62, BMCRE I 149, BnF II 179, Cohen I 84, SRCV I 1861, VF/F, excellent portrait, some legend weakly struck, porosity/corrosion, flan cracks, weight 8.883 g, maximum diameter 29.9 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 41 - 50 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head left; reverse Minerva striding right, wearing crested helmet, brandishing javelin in right hand, round shield on left arm, large S - C flanking low across field; from the Jyrki Muona Collection; SOLD
The "zoo series" of coins calling on Diana to protect the Emperor was struck late in Gallienus' reign. His father, Valerian, had been particularly dedicated to the worship of Diana the Preserver and had dedicated a temple to her at Rome. Diana apparently did not favor Gallienus. Not long after this coin was struck, he was assassinated near Milan while attempting to deal with the usurper Aureolus.RA41950. Billon antoninianus, Göbl MIR 716b, RIC V-1 S181, RSC IV 165, SRCV III 10200, Hunter IV 102, gVF, nice portrait, weight 2.683 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 0o, 3rd officina, Rome mint, 267 - Sep 268 A.D.; obverse GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right; reverse DIANAE CONS AVG (to Diana protector of the Emperor), antelope walking left, Γ in exergue; SOLD
Otho, 15 January 69 - 17 April 69 A.D.
This is the rarest Otho denarius type and one of the rarest 1st century Roman denarii. Only two museums, Paris and ANS, hold examples. A further specimen was found in archeological context in Denmark in 1990s. Besides these, four additional specimens are known. This coin has the best portrait and is clearly the most attractive of the seven known. Jyrki Muona obtained it in 2002 at the NYINC from Glenn Woods.
Otho minted three separate issues. The first and second issues followed Galba's standard of 90% silver. Otho's third issue was debased to 80% silver. All coins of the third issue share the reverse legend PONT MAX, perhaps to make it easy to distinguish the debased coins. One might think our rare coin is a reverse legend error for Otho's third issue, PONT MAX Ceres type. However, as Butcher et al. have shown, this is not the case. If CERES AVG was a simple reverse legend error, the flan would be 80% silver. This CERES AVG type was struck in a second issue of 90% silver flans, probably during planning for the third issue, and perhaps only for testing. The type was apparently not distributed, and was withdrawn, and melted when it was decided to debase the coinage and use the PONT MAX legend. It appears a small number were released, most likely by mistake.RS85563. Silver denarius, Muona Otho 10b; Butcher-Ponting-Muona 6; ANSCD 1958.217.1; BnF III 1; RIC I 1 (R3, 7 spec. known, all minted with the same die-pair), Nice VF, the best portrait and most attractive of the seven known specimens, light rose toning, a few light marks and spots of porosity, weight 3.272 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 9 Mar - 17 Apr 69 A.D.; obverse IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TRP, bare head right; reverse CERES AVG, Ceres standing left, grain-ears raised in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; rarest Otho denarius type; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Glenn Woods (NYINC, 2002); SOLD
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D.
References disagree on who is the empress beside Nero. Most simply say empress. Sear (SRCV I) and Giard (BnF II) say the empress is Livia. RSC II says Messalina, but this type is now dated to the time of Nero's marriage to Poppaea Sabina. Nobody says it is his mother Agrippina, because he had her murdered in 59 A.D. We think it is Poppaea.
According to Tacitus, Poppaea was ambitious and ruthless. He reports that Poppaea married Otho to get close to Nero and then, in turn, became Nero's favorite mistress, and then wife. She bore Nero one daughter, Claudia Augusta, born on 21 January 63, who died at only four months of age. At the birth of Claudia, Nero honored mother and child with the title of Augusta. According to Suetonius, while she was awaiting the birth of her second child in the summer of 65, she quarreled fiercely with Nero over his spending too much time at the races. In a fit of rage, Nero kicked her in the abdomen, killing her.RS72960. Silver denarius, post reform; RIC I 45 (R), BMCRE I 54, RSC II 43 (Messalina), BnF II 201 (Livia), Hunter I 24, SRCV I 1940 (Livia), EF, excellent portrait, fantastic reverse style, weight 3.402 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 64 - 65 A.D.; obverse NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right; reverse AVGVSTVS AVGVSTA, Nero, on left, standing slightly left, radiate and togate, patera in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand; empress on right, standing left, veiled and draped, patera in right hand, double cornucopia in left hand; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Imperial Coins; rare; SOLD
Otho, 15 January 69 - 17 April 69 A.D.
Otho supported Galba's revolt against Nero in expectation he would be named heir. Since he was not, Otho had himself declared emperor. He ruled for only three months. After a minor defeat by Vitellius, Otho committed suicide. This was perhaps the only noble act of his life - he preferred to die rather than see more bloodshed in civil war.SH75694. Silver denarius, RIC I 19 (R2), RSC II 9, BMCRE I 6, BnF III 22, SRCV I 2158, aEF, toned, die break on obverse, flan flaw on reverse, weight 3.526 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 9 Mar - 17 Apr 69 A.D.; obverse IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right; reverse PONT MAX (high priest), Aequitas standing left, scales in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left; from the Jyrki Muona Collection; ex New York Sale XXVIII (5 Jan 2012), lot 1063; rare; SOLD
Galba, 3 April 68 - 15 January 69 A.D.
With this coin Galba asserts that he has restored freedom, but this was empty propaganda. Galba was notoriously cruel, sentenced many to death without trial, raised taxes, and rarely accepted requests for citizenship.RS72971. Silver denarius, RIC I 7 (R2); BMCRE I 197, BnF III 4, RSC I 132, Hunter I -, SRCV I -, VF, lightly toned, lightly etched surfaces, weight 3.204 g, maximum diameter 18.3 mm, die axis 180o, Tarraco mint, April - late 68 A.D.; obverse GALBA IMPERATOR, laureate head right; reverse LIBERTAS RESTITVTA (liberty restored), head of Libertas right, hair knotted behind, wearing pearl necklace; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Artcoins auction 6 (10 Dec 2012), lot 800 (the one and only sale of this type on Coin Archives); extremely rare; SOLD
Otho, 15 January 69 - 17 April 69 A.D.
Vesta was originally a household spirit but was later personified as the goddess of the hearth and given the stature of her Greek equivalent, Hestia. In the temple of Vesta her flame was kept alive by Vestal Virgins.SH68892. Silver denarius, RIC I 24 (R3), RSC II 7, BMCRE I 11, BnF III 29, SRCV I 2161, VF/F, scratches, weight 3.321 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 9 Mar - 17 Apr 69 A.D.; obverse IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right; reverse PONT MAX (high priest), Vesta seated left, veiled, patera in right hand, scepter in left hand; from the Jyrki Muona Collection; very rare; SOLD
Galba, 3 April 68 - 15 January 69 A.D.
The wreath on the reverse is the corona civica, the oak wreath awarded to Roman citizens ex senatus consulto (by special decree of the Senate) for saving the life of another citizen by slaying an enemy in battle. It became a prerogative for Roman emperors to be awarded the Civic Crown, originating with Augustus, who was awarded it in 27 B.C. for saving the lives of citizens by ending the series of civil wars. The shield in the center commemorates the golden shield awarded to Augustus by the Senate for his virtue, piety, justice and clemency, which was kept on display in the Curia Iulia.SH72982. Silver denarius, RIC I 47 (R2), RSC II 282, BMCRE I 190, BnF III 28, Hunter I 71, SRCV I -, VF, hoard patina, some smoothing around bust, weight 3.439 g, maximum diameter 16.6 mm, die axis 180o, Tarraco mint, 3 Apr - Aug 68 A.D.; obverse GALBA IMPERATOR, laureate head right, globe at point of bust; reverse S P Q R on round shield, surrounded by oak-wreath; from the Jyrki Muona Collection; ex CNG e-auction 202 (14 Jan 2009), lot 195; ex White Mountain Collection; very rare; SOLD
Vitellius, 2 January - 20 December 69 A.D.
In July 69, Vitellius learned that the armies of the eastern provinces had proclaimed their commander, Vespasian, as emperor. Vitellius, aware that he would be defeated, negotiated terms of resignation, but the praetorians refused to allow him to carry out the agreement, and forced him to return to the palace. When Vespasian's troops entered Rome he was dragged out of a lodge where he was hiding, taken to the fatal Gemonian stairs, and executed. His body was thrown into the Tiber according to Suetonius; Cassius Dio's account is that Vitellius was beheaded and his head paraded around Rome, and his wife attended to his burial. "Yet I was once your emperor," were his last words. His brother and son were also killed.SH68884. Silver denarius, RIC I 36, BMCRE I 94, RSC II 101, BnF III 13, SRCV I 2191, VF, a few small bumps and scrapes, weight 3.467 g, maximum diameter 18.5 mm, die axis 180o, Tarraco mint, Jan - Jul 69 A.D.; obverse A VITELLIVS IMP GERMAN, laureate head left, globe with palm-branch at point of bust; reverse VICTORIA AVGVSTI (the victory of the Emperor), Victory flying left, wings raised overhead, small round shield inscribed S P Q R in right; from the Jyrki Muona Collection; rare; SOLD
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