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Drusus, Son of Tiberius, Born 13 B.C., Died 14 September 23 A.D., Philippi(?), Macedonia
Drusus, the only son of Tiberius, never took the throne. Drusus' wife Livilla was seduced by the praetorian prefect Sejanus. She poisoned Drusus to support Sejanus' plot to become emperor. Years later the plot was discovered and Sejanus and Livilla were executed.RP111916. Bronze AE 16, RPC Online I 1659 (10 spec.); BMC Mysia - (similar types were previously attributed to Mysia, F, green patina, encrustations, scratches, weight 4.145 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 30o, probably Philippi (near Filippoi, Greece) mint, obverse DRV CAES, bare head right; reverse two priests with yoke of two oxen right, plowing the pomerium (sacred boundary), founding a new colony; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $100.00 SALE PRICE $90.00
Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D., Parion, Mysia(?)
The attribution of this very rare type to Parium is uncertain. See RPC II p. 137.
The ceremonial founding of a new Roman colony included plowing a furrow, the pomerium, a sacred boundary, around the site of the new city.RP94451. Bronze AE 15, RPC II Online 889 (12 spec.), SNGvA 6202, F, dark brown patina, light corrosion, tight flan, weight 3.575 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 0o, Parion, Mysia(?) mint, 13 Sep 81 - 18 Sep 96 A.D.; obverse DO-MIT AVG (clockwise from the upper right), laureate head left; reverse priest plowing right with two oxen, marking the pomerium (sacred boundary marked for the foundation of a new Roman colony), GERM in exergue; zero sales of this type recorded on Coin Archives in the last two decades; very rare; $80.00 SALE PRICE $72.00
Philip I the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D., Viminacium, Moesia Superior
Viminacium was a Roman Colony founded by Gordian III in 239 A.D. The usual legend is P.M.S. COL. VIM., abbreviating Provinciae Moesiae Superioris Colonia Viminacium. The usual type is a female personification of Moesia standing between a lion and a bull. The bull and the lion were symbols of the Legions VII and IV, which were quartered in the province.RP90243. Bronze provincial sestertius, H-J Viminacium 24 (R2); Varbanov I 132 (R2); BMC Thrace p. 16, 18; AMNG I/1 100; Moushmov 36, aVF, nice green patina, well centered, light scratches, weight 18.076 g, maximum diameter 30.2 mm, die axis 180o, Viminacium (Stari Kostolac, Serbia) mint, 244 A.D.; obverse IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse P M S COL VIM, Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands over bull on left standing right and lion on right standing left, AN V (year 5 of the Viminacium colonial era) in exergue; $70.00 SALE PRICE $63.00 ON RESERVE
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Eumeneia, Phrygia
Eumenea, Phrygia was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus (159 - 138 B.C.) at the source of the Cludrus, near the Glaucus, and named after his brother Eumenes. Numerous inscriptions and many coins remain to show that Eumenia was an important and prosperous city under Roman rule. As early as the third century its population was in great part Christian, and it seems to have suffered much during the persecution of Diocletian. The remains of Eumenia are located in Denizli Province, Turkey on the shore of Lake Isikli near Civril.RP110014. Bronze AE 26, RPC Online IV-2 T1989; BMC Phrygia p. 219, 56; SNGvA 3594; SNG Leypold II 1540; Weber 7096; SNG Tübingen 4014; SNG Cop -, F, rough, black patina, weight 10.205 g, maximum diameter 25.7 mm, die axis 0o, Eumeneia (near Civril, Turkey) mint, obverse AVTO KAICA ANTΩNEINOC, laureate and cuirassed bust right, aegis on left shoulder, seen from the front; reverse EVMENEΩN AXAIΩN, hump-backed bull walking left, Nike walking left on far side of bull, wearing chiton, grasping bull's left horn and guiding bull with left hand, brandishing knife to sacrifice bull in right hand; $60.00 SALE PRICE $54.00
Hyria, Campania, Italy, 405 - 400 B.C.
A beautiful example of this very rare type. More magnificent in hand!SH28126. Silver didrachm, SNG Cop 380, Choice gVF, weight 7.224 g, maximum diameter 21.1 mm, die axis 225o, Hyria mint, 405 - 400 B.C.; obverse head of Hera Lakinia facing slightly right, wearing necklace and polos ornamented with palmette between the foreparts of two griffins; reverse man-faced bull walking right; superb style, nice metal, well centered, few light scratches in reverse fields, old cabinet toning; very rare; SOLD
Seleukid Kingdom, Seleukos I Nikator, 312 - 280 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit
Superb ancient counterfeit with intact plating and of finest style.SH24647. Fouree silver plated tetradrachm, cf. Houghton-Lorber I 173 (official Susa mint), combining monograms of 173.14 and 173.16, Choice EF, weight 14.724 g, maximum diameter 26.8 mm, die axis 0o, unofficial mint, after 305 B.C.; obverse bust of Alexander or Seleukos wearing helmet covered with panther skin and adorned with horns and ears of bull; reverse BAΣIΛΕΩΣ ΣΕΛΕYKOY, Nike with spread wings, standing right, crowning trophy with wreath, AX and ΠA control-marks across lower field; ex Gorny&Mosch 141, lot 161; SOLD
Lydian Kingdom, Kroisos, c. 561 - 546 B.C.
The Lydian King Croesus minted the first silver and gold coins. He was famous for his extraordinary wealth, but after his defeat by Cyrus in 546 B.C. Lydia became a Persian satrapy. The Persian conquerors of Lydia continued to strike the same Croesus' silver half siglos and gold stater types. This coin is an early example issued under Croesus. We can tell it is an early example because the lion and the bull were struck separately, with one punch at a time. Later examples appear to have been struck with single punch only made to look like two separate punches.GA33281. Silver siglos (half-stater), BMC Lydia p. 7, 45, pl. 1, 18; SNG Cop 456; SNG Kayhan 1024; SNG Ashmolean 762; SNGvA 2877; Rosen 663; SGCV II 3420, gVF, weight 5.375 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, probably Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 561 - 546 B.C.; obverse on the left, forepart of a roaring lion right, confronting, on the right, the forepart of a bull left; reverse two incuse square punches, of unequal size, side by side; SOLD
Gortyna, Crete, 4th Century B.C.
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus. SH51407. Silver stater, SNG Delepierre 2378, Svoronos Crète 64, SNG Cop 442 var. (thinker pose), VF, toned, heavy flan, over-struck on an earlier coin, weight 11.592 g, maximum diameter 26.4 mm, die axis 180o, Gortyna mint, 4th century B.C.; obverse Europa seated right in a tree in a playful pose; reverse bull right, head turned back left; SOLD
Selinous, Sicily, c. 466 - 415 B.C.
Selinus was once one of the most important Greek colonies in Sicily. In 409 B.C., the Carthaginians attacked with a vast army believed to include at least 100,000 men. Selinus, with a population of about 30,000 excluding slaves, was unprepared and an auxiliary force promised by Syracuse, Agrigentum and Gela did not arrive. The Selinuntines defended themselves with courage, and after the walls were breached, continued to fight from house to house. After tens days the city fell. Of the citizens, 16,000 were slain and 5,000 made prisoners, but more than 2,600 escaped to Agrigento.SL90860. Silver didrachm, SNG ANS 702 - 705 (same obverse die); BMC Sicily, p. 141, 34; SNG Lloyd 1243; SNG Munchen 889 ff.; SNG Cop -, NGC XF, Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5 (4165998-006), weight 7.64 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, die axis 90o, Selinus (Selinunte, Sicily) mint, c. 466 - 415 B.C.; obverse ΣΕΛINOTION, nude Herakles advancing right, subduing the Cretan bull; reverse HVYAΣ, river-god nude standing left, holding phiale over canopied altar in right hand and branch in left; snake coiled around altar, heron under selinon leaf to right; ex Forum (2007); NGC| Lookup; SOLD
Neapolis, Campania, Italy, c. 320 - 300 B.C.
Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Bronze Age Greek settlements were established in the second millennium B.C. The city was refounded as Neapolis in the sixth century B.C. and became an important hub of Magna Graecia, playing a key role in the merging of Greek culture into Roman society. Naples remained influential under Rome and more so after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, serving as the capital city of the Kingdom of Naples between 1282 and 1816. Thereafter, it became the capital of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861.GI95914. Silver didrachm, SNG BnF 687, SNG ANS 380, SNG Cop 439, HN Italy 586, HGC Italy 454 (S), Sambon -, SNG München -, BMC Italy -, gVF, toned, tight flan cutting off ethnic in reserve, flow lines, obverse off center, mild die wear, weight 7.309 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 90o, Neapolis (Naples, Italy) mint, c. 320 - 300 B.C.; obverse diademed head of nymph left, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; reverse man-faced bull walking left, head turned facing, being crowned with wreath by Nike flying left above, NEOΠOΛITΩN in exergue (off flan); from the Errett Bishop Collection; scarce; SOLD
Molinari, N.J. & N. Sisci. Potamikon: Sinews of Acheloios. A Comprehensive Catalog of the Bronze Coinage of the Man-Faced Bull, With Essays on Origin and Identity. (Oxford, 2016).
Catalog current as of Sunday, October 1, 2023. Page created in 1.844 seconds.