vertical and not overlapping with the altar. Usually the torch on the reverse slants to
the right, pointing at c. 2 o’clock, and its bottom half overlaps with the altar. The
unusual placement of the torch on our die, vertical and not overlapping with the altar,
was pointed out by Giard in his description of Paris-195, which is from the same
reverse die. Extremely sharp portrait of Nero. Toned Tiber color. EF / VF............ 850
Incredible Reverse
321.
DOMITIAN
; 81-96 AD, Rome, 86 AD, Dupondius, 11.10g. RIC-477 (C), Paris-407,
BMC-p. 382, C-14 (3 Fr.). Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XII CENS
PER P P Bust radiate r., aegis with Medusa head on front shoulder and behind neck.
Rx: ANNONA - AVG around, S C in exergue, Annona seated r. with a small figure
standing l. before her; she and the small figure stretch out part of her cloak between
them, which is full of wheat ears; each of them has grasped a tuck of the cloak on
its upper edge, in order to hold it more firmly; in background, stern of grain ship l.
This interesting reverse type is usually under-described, for example by Cohen 9:
“Abundantia seated right, resting her elbow on her chair and holding wheat ears;
before her, a child standing; in the distance, a vessel”. Mattingly, BMC 304, corrected
the name of the divinity to Annona, and recognized that she and the little figure were
each holding two ends of a piece of cloth between them, so that it could serve as a
receptacle for wheat ears. Mattingly termed this receptacle an “open bag”, but it is
probably in fact the end of Annona’s cloak; compare the parallel type of Septimius
Severus, BMC pl. 57.3, whereAnnona holds out a fold of her drapery before her breast,
from which wheat ears emerge. Over the last 50 years, we have viewed thousands of
Roman sestertii, dupondii and asses. This is a coin that absolutely shocked us. We
have seen it before in poor condition and just ignored it, but looking at the reverse in
such stunning quality, it looks like something we have never seen before. Wonderful
olive patina. EF / Near Mint State......................................................................... 4500
322.
SABINA
; Pergamum, Mysia, AE 19-20, 5.33g. Sear-1287, BM-275. Obv: CABEINA
- CEBAC[TH] Draped bust r., hair up, wearing stephane. Rx: KOPΩNIC EΠI CTP
ΠΩΛΛIΩNOC around, Π / E / P - [Γ] / A in l. and r. fields, Koronis, mother of
Asklepios, standing front, r. arm grasping l. shoulder, l. arm round waist. aEF.... 200
323.
ANTONINUS PIUS
; 138-161 AD, 143-4 AD, Sestertius, 25.14g. BM-1637 pl. 39.9
(same rev. die), Strack-825, C-116 (20 Fr.), RIC-742 (R2) pl. V.111 (BM coin). Obv:
ANTONINVS AVG PI - VS P P [TR P COS I]II Head laureate r. Rx: [BRIT]A - N
- NIA around, S C in exergue, Britannia seated l. on pile of rocks resting elbow on
shield set on helmet and holding standard and spear. Ex CNG XXII, 2 Sept. 1992, lot
379. The reverse of this coin bears an image of Britannia seated which was the pattern
for the British penny. aFine..................................................................................... 650
324.
FAUSTINA I, DIVA
; Died 140 AD, Rome, Sestertius, 25.35g. BM-1443, C-240
var., RIC-1146A. Obv: DIVAAVGVS - TA FAVSTINA Draped bust r. Rx: PIET - AS
A[VG] S - C Pietas, veiled and wearing stephane, standing l. dropping incense on
candelabrum altar and holding open box. Bold portrait. aEF................................. 750
325.
MARCUS AURELIUS, DIVUS
; Died 180 AD, Rome, Sestertius, 28.41g. BM-
394, C-94 (10 Fr.), RIC-660 (Rare). Obv: DIVVS M AN - TONINVS PIVS Head
bare r. Rx: CONSECRATIO S - C Marcus Aurelius seated l., waving goodbye and
holding scepter, on back of eagle flying r., holding thunderbolt in claws, bearing him
to heaven. VF......................................................................................................... 475
326.
LUCIUS VERUS, DIVUS
; Rome, Sestertius, 21.26g. BM-1369, pl. 81.9 (rev. only,
same die as ours); C-53 (30 Fr.); RIC-1507 (R). Obv: DIVVS - VERVS Head bare
r. Rx: CONSEC[RATIO] S C Car bearing seated statue of Divus Verus in shrine,
drawn l. by four elephants, each with driver on back. Ex NAC E, 4 April 1995, lot
3021. Excellent portrait of Lucius Verus with a glossy green patination. Some isolated
pitting on the reverse. aEF / VF............................................................................ 2500
Ex H.P. Hall Collection
327.
COMMODUS
; 177-192 AD, Rome, 183 AD, Sestertius, 15.41g. BM-516, pl. 104.8
(rev. only, same die); C-898; RIC-374. Obv: M COMMODVS AN - TONINVS AVG
PIVS Head laureate r. Rx: TR P VIII [IMP] VI - COS IIII P P S - C Victory advancing
r. holding trophy in both hands. Apparently ex Glendining, 16 Nov. 1950, Platt Hall,
part of lot 1624, described as “fine”; with Hall’s own handwritten ticket, recording
purchase from Spink in January 1916 for 10 shillings. Bold portrait. Brown patination.
EF.......................................................................................................................... 1500
328.
COMMODUS
; 177-192 AD, Rome, 192 AD, Sestertius, 19.17g. BM-701, C-576,
RIC-611. Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG P FEL Head laureate r. Rx: P M TR P
XVII IMP VIII [CO]S VII P P S C Securitas seated l. holding scepter and extending r.
hand towards child before her representing the Human Race; star in r. field. The deity
on reverse is traditionally described as Pietas but a recently discovered aureus which
adds the descriptive legend SEC GEN HVM to the same type (Spink 65, 1988, 246,
now coll. Ben Damsky) proves that she is actually Securitas and the child before her
presumably the Human Race. Ex Gemini X, 13 January 2013, lot 577 Struck on a
broader flan than normal for Commodus, and with a rather sensitive portrait. Issued in
the last year of his reign. EF / aEF........................................................................ 2000
Troy - Second Recorded
329.
COMMODUS
; 177-192 AD, Ilium, Troas, AE 23, 8.33g. Bellinger-T191 (Paris only,
pl. 9, different dies). Obv: AV KAΛV - KOMOΔVC Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust
r. Rx: CKAMANΔPOC above, IΛIEΩN in exergue, River god Skamandros reclining
l., naked to waist, holding reed and resting l. elbow on overturned urn. Troy’s river, the
Scamander or Xanthos, fought on Troy’s side in the Trojan War, according to Homer,
Iliad, Book XXII: when Achilles was slaying many Trojans in the river’s waters, the
river protested, then overflowed and was about to catch and drown Achilles when
Hephaistos intervened, blasting the river with fire and forcing it to return to its bed!
Beautiful high relief portrait of a youthful Commodus. Some encrustation on reverse.
EF.......................................................................................................................... 2450
Troy
330.
DIADUMENIAN AS CAESAR
; 217-218 AD, Ilium, Troas, AE 19, 3.38g.
Bellinger-T270 (citing Paris, Berlin, and SNG Cop-431). Obv: ΔIAΔOY -MENIANO
Bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust r. Rx: IΛI - [E]ΩN Athena standing l. holding
Nike and spear, shield resting against bottom of spear. Good Fine....................... 400
Exceptional Paulina
331.
PAULINA, DIVA
; Rome, Sestertius, 18.59g. BM-129, RIC-3, C-3 (30 Fr.). Obv:
DIVA PAVLINA Bust draped, veiled r. Rx: CONSECR - ATIO S - C Paulina seated
l., waving goodbye and holding scepter, on back of peacock flying r., bearing her to
heaven. Extremely beautiful portrait of Paulina struck on a glossy green planchet.
There is a scrape on the body of the empress in the reverse type. EF.................. 2000
Unimprovable Gordian I Africanus
332.
GORDIAN I AFRICANUS
; 238 AD, Sestertius, Rome, 20.73g. BM-12, C-11 (70
Fr.), RIC-11 (R). Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG Bust laureate,
draped, cuirassed r. Rx: SECVRITAS AVGG around, S C in exergue, Securitas
seated l. holding scepter. Portraits of Gordian I Africanus are scarce but normally
available only in VG-Fine, sometimes in VF. This coin which is absolutely EF bears
a wonderful portrait of the aged emperor with complete obverse and reverse legends
despite it not being perfectly round which is typical of the issue. Choice EF.... 22500
BYZANTINE COPPER
333.
JUSTINIAN I
; 527-565 AD, Cyzicus, Yr- 13, Follis, 22.06g. Berk-232, DO-165b,
Hahn-120a. Obv: Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger and
shield; cross to right, Rx: Large M between A/N/N/O and X/III, cross and B in field,
KYZ in exergue. Beautiful green patination. EF.................................................... 550
334.
JUSTINIAN I
; Thessalonica, 6.64g. DO-98d., BMC-167, MIB-169d, Berk-164.
Obv: Diademed, draped, cuirassed bust r. Rx: Large I, surmounted by chi-rho. Fine /
VF............................................................................................................................ 200
4 Pentanummia
335.
JUSTIN II
; 565-578 AD. Cherson, 4 Pentanummia (as described by DOC) or 20
Nummi or 1/48 pound (as described by Hahn), 7.85g. Berk-358, Hahn-161b, DOC-31
(under Maurice), Sear-610 (under Maurice). Obv: [XEP] - CONOC Imperial couple
standing, cross between heads, crowned and nimbate, he holds globe cruciger, she
holds cross-scepter. Rx: Emperor standing, crowned and nimbate, holding staurogram
topped staff, Δ with cross above r. Ex HJB B&B Sale 93, 14 November 1996, lot
622. Featured on penelopecoins.com Very rare denomination. Olive patination with
reddish earth overlay. VF........................................................................................ 800
336.
JOHN III, NICEA
; Ducas-Vatatzes, 1246-1254.Billon Trachy, 1.63g. Hendy-Pl 43,
314. Obv: Half length figure of Emperor left with St. Demetrius beardless and nimbate.
Between them a cross within cirlce surmounting triangular decoration on long shaft.
Emperor wears stemma, divitision, collar-piece and jeweled loros. Saint wears tunic,
breast plate and sagion. Stunning portrait of John III. While these coins are beautifully
designed they are always miserably struck. This coin shows a wonderful portrait of
John III and not much else. EF for issue................................................................. 400
337.
MICHAELVIII
; 1261-1282AD. Constantinople. Trachy, 1.69g. S-2269, Bendall-30.
Obv: Bust of St. Michael holding spear and globe. Rx: Emperor and St. George
holding patriarchal cross. About EF....................................................................... 250
338.
ANDRONICUS II
; Sole Reign, 1282-1332 AD. Thessalonica. AE Trachy, 1.45g.
Sear/Bendall-2373, Bendall, PCPC-246, LPC-212, Grierson-1438. Obv: St. Demetrius
holding spear and shield. Rx: Andronicus holding scepter and globus cruciger; Manus
Dei above and stars around. Green patination. EF for issue..................................... 95
IMPERIAL TETRADRACHMS OFALEXANDRIA
339.
NERO
; 54-68 AD, Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, Year 5 = 58/9 AD, 12.71g. RPC-
5247 (11 spec.), Oxford-188, Cologne-136, Emmett-124/5. Obv: NEPΩN KΛAY
KAIC - CEBΑ ΓEPAYTO Laureate head r. Rx: OMO - NOIAHomonoia (Concordia)
seated l. holding patera, date LE at lower l. VF..................................................... 150
340.
NERO
; 54-68 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, Year 12 = 65/6 AD, Tetradrachm, 1314g. RPC-
5289 (99 spec.), Oxford-238, Datt-204, Cologne-172, Emmett-109/12. Obv: [N]EPΩ
KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP Radiate bust r. wearing aegis. Rx: AV[TO] - KPADraped bust
of Alexandria with elephant headdress r., date LIB in r. field. Good VF............... 150
341.
NERO
; 54-68 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, Year 11=64/5 AD, Tetradrachm, 12.42g. RPC-
5280 (2 spec.). Obv: Radiate head of Nero r., bangs falling onto forehead. Rx: Draped
bust of Poppaea r., date LIA before. Rare with this earlier hairstyle of Nero, only two
specimens recorded in RPC. Tetradrachms of this year normally show Nero’s new
hairstyle with the hair combed upward from the forehead and curving like a wave
about to break. Fine / VF........................................................................................ 200
342.
NERO
; 54-68 AD, Billon tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, Year 13 = 66/7 AD,
13.12g. RPC-5296 (39 spec.), Oxford-273, Datt-1263, Cologne-184, Emmett-121/13.
Obv: NEP[Ω KΛAYKAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP] AYRadiate bust of Nero l. wearing [aegis], date
LIΓ in lower l. field. Rx: ΣEBAΣ[TOΦOPOΣ] (“Bearer of the Emperor”) Ship sailing
r., with steersman in stern, large sail on central mast and small sail on slanting mast at
bow. The reverse apparently refers to Nero’s trip to Greece in 66-7 AD to participate
in the Olympics and other sacred games. Fine / VF.............................................. 275
343.
HADRIAN
; 117-138 AD, Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, Year 13=128/29 AD,
13.43g. Cologne-995, Datt-1525. Obv: Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of Hadrian r.
Rx: ΠATHP - ΠATPIΔOC Clasped hands, in field date L / IΓ. aEF / EF............... 300
344.
HADRIAN AND SABINA
; 117-138 AD, Billon tetradrachm, Alexandria, Year 13
= 128/9 AD, 11.13g. Cologne-997, Datt-1249, Oxford-1272, Emmett-886/13. Obv:
AVT KAI - TPAI AΔPIA CEB Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of Hadrian r. Rx:
CABINA CEBACTH - LIΓ Draped bust of Sabina r., hair braided and coiled atop
head. Excellent portrait and dark toning. Nearly EF / EF....................................... 750
345.
HADRIAN
; 117-138 AD, Billon tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, Year 22=137/38
AD, 13.63g. Cologne-1241, Datt-1438. Obv: Laureate head of Hadrian r. Rx: Nile
reclining l., crocodile below. VF............................................................................. 350
346.
AELIUS AS CAESAR
; 136-138 AD. Egypt, Alexandria, 137 AD. Billon
Tetradrachm, 12.84g. Cologne-1271, Datt-2074, Oxford-1537, Emmett-1350, Sear
RCV-3995 and GIV-1347. Obv: ΛAIΛIOC - KAICAP Head bare r. Rx: ΔHM EΞ - O
- VC VΠAT B Concordia standing l., sacrificing from patera over altar and holding
cornucopia. A great portrait of the scarce emperor Aelius in a provincial coin. Huge
price reduction from retail price. VF / EF............................................................... 600
347.
MARCUS AURELIUS
; 161-180 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, LE=Year 5=164/5 AD,
Tetradrachm, 11.43g. Dattari/Savio-pl. 181, 3372, Emmett-2079/5. Obv: M AVPHΛI
- ANTUNINOC CE Bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust r., seen from front. Rx:
Serapis standing l., kalathos on head, holding out garland over altar with large bowl
and narrow support, behind him short standard with billowing banner (?), L - E across
upper field. Rare and unusual bust type. Cf. Dattari/Savio pl. 181, 9176: similar bust
type coupled with a different reverse type of Year 5. VF....................................... 225
Second Recorded
348.
LUCILLA
; Alexandria, Egypt, Year 9 = 168/9 AD, Billon Tetradrachm, 10.10g.
Emmett-2474/5 (R5), BM Suppl-3097. Obv: ΛOYKIΛΛA C - ANT ΘY Draped bust
of Lucilla r. Rx: Tyche seated l. holding rudder and cornucopia; across field, date
L - Θ. Possibly only the second recorded Alexandrian tetradrachm of Lucilla with
the Tyche seated reverse, struck in year 9. The other known specimen, acquired by
the British Museum in 1936 and published in the Supplement to BMC Alexandria,
is from the same obverse die as our coin, but from a different reverse die, with
different placement of the date, L Θ together in left field rather than L left and Θ right.
Dattari-3815, a tetradrachm with the Aequitas standing type in Year 9, is also from
the same obverse die as the two Tyche seated coins: see Dattari (1901), pl. III, 3815.
Alexandrian tetradrachms of Lucilla as a class are very rare: only four specimens
in Dattari/Savio; two in Oxford and two in BMC with the Supplement; one each in
Cologne, Curtis, and CoinArchives Pro; none in Berk photofile. The flan is silvery,
apparently containing a substantial proportion of that precious metal. VF.......... 2000
Rare Consecration Issue
349.
CARUS
; Died 283 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, Billon Tetradrachm, 9.02g. Cologne-3168
(same obv. die), Dattari-5571, Oxford-4733, Emmett-3995. Obv: ΘEW KA - PW
CEB Head laureate r. Rx: AΦIE - PWCIC (“Consecration”) Flaming, garlanded
altar on base; in upper l. field, a star symbolizing the deified Carus. One of the few
Alexandrian coins issued for a consecrated emperor. Faint silvering in fields. aEF.250
Unique
350.
NUMERIAN
; 283-284 AD, Alexandria, Year 2=283/4 AD, Billon Tetradrachm,
7.06g. Obv: A K NVMEPIANOC (sic) CEB Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed r. Rx:
Spes advancing l. holding flower and raising skirt; date L - B across field. A most
unusual official tetradrachm, or possibly a competent ancient imitation. On the
obverse, our coin omits the usual M A that should follow A K at the beginning of the
legend, and also leaves out the first O of Numerian’s name, spelling it NVMEPIANOC
rather than NOVMEPIANOC. The Spes reverse type on our coin is well known on
tetradrachms of Carinus with date L B, but was previously unattested for Numerian.
The metal and fabric of the coin, however, seem official. aEF............................... 250
WORLD COINS
Color images of the following lots can be found on the front
page of the world section of the web site. Anyone wishing to
bid on these coins can do so by email, phone or fax.
351 wd53614
Austria, Ferdinand II
(1619-1637), 1621 Taler, Ensisheim. Bust right with
date before. Rx:Crowned arms in Order chain. Dav-3168, KM-A257. NGC, AU55.
................................................................................................................................ 600
352 wd53608
Austria, Leopold V
(1619-32), 1632 Taler, Beautiful Mint State coin and
nicely toned. Dav-3338. NGC, MS63....................................................................1200
353 wd53616
Austria, Ferdinand III
, 1654 Taler, Vienna, silvery-gray patina, Krause
catalog price(s) for this item: $375 in VF, $750 in EF. Dav-3183, KM-977. NGC,
AU55. .................................................................................................................. 1000
354 wd53615
Austria, Kremnitz, Ferdinand III
, 1657 KB, Holy Roman Empire.
Laureate and draped bust right / Crowned double-headed eagle facing, holding sword
