200BBS

13 / 40

C-309 (12 Fr.), RIC-500 (C). Obv: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR POT
P P Head laureate l., small globe at tip of neck. Rx: S - C View of triumphal arch,
surmounted by group of statuary with Nero in facing quadriga between standing
figures of Victory and Pax, showing front adorned with bas-reliefs of small figures
and side decorated with large figure of Mars standing on pedestal. Rather worn but
nice portrait of Nero and decent image of triumphal arch. Fine / VG.....................275
366. TITUS AS CAESAR; 70-79 AD, Rome, 72 AD, As, 10.47g. RIC-453 (R). Obv: T
CAES VESPASIAN IMP P TR P COS II Head laureate r. Rx: VICTORIA - AVGVSTI
S - C Victory advancing r., placing wreath on standard before her and holding palm
over l. shoulder. VF.................................................................................................350
367. DOMITIAN; 81-96 AD, As, Rome, 87 AD, 10.31g. RIC-545 (C), BM-401 note,
Paris-430, C-126. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM - COS XIII CENS PER P
P Bust laureate r., aegis with Medusa head on front shoulder and behind neck. Rx:
FORTVNAE - AVGVSTI S - C Fortuna standing l. holding rudder and cornucopia.
From the Larkin Collection, 1962. Some encrustation, but EF..............................600
368. ANONYMOUS TESSERA ; Rome, 2nd cent. AD, AE 19-20, 1.72g. Gorny & Mosch
142, 10 Oct. 2005, lot 1791 (different dies). Not in Cohen. Obv: Poppy between two
wheat ears. Rx: Anchor with snake entwined around its shank. Ex Roma Numismatics
E28, 2 July 2016, lot 110. Perhaps only the second recorded specimen, after the Gorny
& Mosch piece cited above. VF..............................................................................275
Exceptional Sestertius of Hadrian
369. HADRIAN; 117-138 AD, Rome, c. 123 AD, Sestertius, 24.35g. BM-1244, C-1075
var., RIC-610 var. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN H - ADRIANVS AVG Bust
laureate, cuirassed r., seen from front, the cuirass strap on r. shoulder decorated with
a thunderbolt, fold of cloak on l. shoulder. Rx: P M TR P - COS III S - C Ceres,
veiled, standing l. holding wheat ears and long torch. Ex NAC 52, 7 October 2009,
lot 426; ex Tkalec Sale 2003, lot 271. The standard catalogues do not mention the
thunderbolt on the right shoulder strap of Hadrian’s cuirassed busts on sestertii of
the early 120s AD, but such a thunderbolt was pointed out in the Forum Ancient
Coins Discussion group by the Hadrian collector Okidoki in March 2016, whereupon
C. Clay posted four additional examples with either the same reverse type or two
other types that he had found in CoinArchives Pro. Clay noted that “this is not a new
observation. According to Bastien, Buste monétaire I, p. 275, a thunderbolt on the
shoulder strap occurs with some frequency in other media: he mentions and illustrates
in his plates a statue of Drusus, a bust of Septimius Severus in the Vatican, a cameo
of Tiberius in Vienna, and a cameo of Caligula in New York. The motif is rarer on
coins, Bastien continues: he points to a bronze medallion of Antoninus Pius (Gnecchi
pl. 47.1), a bronze medallion of Commodus (Gn. pl. 82.3), and a gold multiple of
Constantine II (his pl. 185.4).” Apparently Bastien was unaware of the relatively
common thunderbolt on Hadrian’s cuirass strap on sestertii of the earlier 120s AD, for
otherwise he would surely have mentioned this example. An interesting fact about the
reverse die of our coin: the legend on the left was apparently recut in the die, perhaps
because the original spacing of the letters was found to be unsatisfactory. Traces of
eradicated letters can be seen between the M and the T, the T and the R, and the R and
the P. Excellent early portrait. No tooling whatsoever. Near Mint State...............7500
370. HADRIAN; 117-138 AD, Rome, c. 119-20 AD, Sestertius, 23.96g. BM-1202,
Strack-542 (this bust type in Vienna, Gotha, Rome), RIC-587a, C-974 var. Obv: IMP
CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIAN[V]S AVG P M TR P COS III Bust laureate, drpaed,
cuirassed r., seen from front. Rx: PIETAS AVGVSTI S - C Pietas, veiled, standing r.
before lighted altar, half raising r. hand and holding incense box in l. Reported to be
ex Vermeule Collection. Flan crack at 1h. Great portrait. VF / Fine.......................750
371. HADRIAN; 117-138 AD, Rome, c. 131-2 AD, Dupondius, 14.18g. Cf. RIC-719
(not specifying details of rev. type and legend arrangement, and not recording our
bust type, l in their list). Obv: HADRIANVS - AVGVSTVS Head laureate, draped
left. Rx: FELICITATI / AVG and S - C across field, COS III P P in exergue, Galley
rowed l. by six oarsmen, in stern emperor seated under arch, extending r. arm,
flanked by vexillum and standard, at prow slanting mast with small sail. Not in
BMC with the this bust type and with the legend FELICITATI AVG written across
the field rather than around the upper edge. The BM sestertius no. 1394, pl. 85.1,
however, has the same reverse type and legend arrangement as our dupondius.
The reverse commemorates Hadrian’s journeys by ship during his second great
tour of the provinces. Wonderful surfaces; somewhat worn but extremely pleasant.
Bold Fine .............................................................................................................425
Wolf and Twins Sestertius and As
372. ANTONINUS PIUS; 138-161AD, Rome, 140-144AD, Sestertius, 24.75g. BM-1321,
Strack-897, RIC-650. Obv: ANTONINVS - AVG PIVS P P Head laureate r. Rx: TR
POT COS III above, S C in exergue, She-wolf standing r. in grotto, suckling Romulus
and Remus. Rare with these legends and the grotto added above the wolf and twins; not
in Cohen, only the BM specimen and four others cited by Strack-897. Very pleasant
green patina with lighter highlighting around the types and lettering. VF / aEF...1950
373. ANTONINUS PIUS; 138-161 AD, Rome, 143-4 AD, As, 8.75g. BM-1627, C-448,
RIC-734a. Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PI - [VS P P TR P COS III] Head laureate r. Rx:
IMPERATORIIShe-wolfstandingandlookingr.,sucklingRomulusandRemus;boatand
S - C in exergue. Desirable mythological reverse type. Exceptional quality. EF..1400
374. JULIAN II; 360-363 AD, Antioch, AE 1, 8.88g. RIC-216 (C), officina B=2. Obv: D
N FL CL IVLI - ANVS P F AVG Draped, cuirassed bust r. seen from front, wearing
pearl diadem. Rx: SECVRITAS REI PVB Bull standing r., two stars above him, in
exergue ANTB between two palms. EF / Good VF................................................350
BYZANTINE COPPER
375. JUSTINIAN I, 527-565AD; Cyzicus, Year 13= 539-40AD, Follis, 22.26g. Berk-222,
Sear-207.Obv:DNIVSTINIANI-AN[VS]PPAVGBustfacing,holdingcrossonglobe
and shield with horseman device; in r. field, cross. Rx: Large M between A/N/N/O and
X/II/I; cross above; officina letter B below; in exergue, KYZ. VF / Choice EF....265
376. JUSTIN II; 565-578 AD. Cyzicus, Follis, 11.43g, Year 11 = 575/6 AD. Sear-372,
MIB-50, Berk-322. Obv: [D]N IVSTI - NV[S PP AVG] Justin, on l., and Sophia, on
r., seated facing on double throne, both nimbate; he holds globus cruciger, she holds
cruciformscepter; with [cross] between their heads. Rx: LargeMbetweenA/N/N/Oand
X/I; above, cross; beneath, officina letter B; in exergue, KVZ (Z retrograde). EF.225
377. FOCAS; 602-610 AD. Antioch, Year 5 = 606/7 AD, Follis, 11.40g. Berk-496, MIB-
83, Sear-671, DO-87. Obv: D N FOCA - N[E P]EAV Phocas (on l.) and Leontia (on r.)
standing facing; emperor holds globus cruciger, and empress holds cruciform scepter;
cross between their heads. Rx: Large M between A/N/N/O on l.and U on r.; cross
above, THEUP in exergue. EF................................................................................145
378. THEOPHILUS; 829-842 AD. Constantinople, Follis, 5.35g. Berk-894, Sear-1667.
Obv: ΘEOFIL’ - bASIL’ Facing, crowned bust holding labarum and cross on globe.
Rx: +ΘEO / FILE AVG / OVSTE SV / nICAS in four lines. EF............................150
379. ANONYMOUS CLASS A2, ATTRIBUTED TO BASIL II; 976-1025 AD.
Constantinople, Follis, 8.95g. Berk-948, Sear-1813. Obv: Bust of Christ facing,
wearing halo with cross, inscription ‘Emmanuel’. Rx: Inscription, ‘Jesus Christ,
King of Kings,’ in four lines with ornaments above and below. Anonymous
portraits of Christ are excessively common, portraits this good are excessively rare.
Virtually Mint State..................................................................................................850
Half Follis
380. JOHN I, ANONYMOUS CLASS A1; 969-976 AD. Constantinople, Follis, 4.28g.
Berk-946, Sear-1793. Obv: Bust of Christ facing, wearing halo with cross, two pellets
on each of the limbs of cross; inscription ‘Emmanuel’ around, IC - XC across field.
Rx: Inscription ‘Jesus Christ, King of Kings,’ in four lines, without ornaments above
and below. Half Folles are rather rare and unrecognized in literature, but because of
the small flan and small image they can be nothing but that denomination. EF......275
381. ANONYMOUS CLASSA2, BASILII ; 976-1025AD. Constantinople, Follis, 10.18g.
Berk-948, Sear-1813, DO-2.32.1. Obv: Bust of Christ facing, wearing halo with cross,
small crosses on the three limbs of cross and on Book of Gospels that Christ holds;
inscription‘Emmanuel’around, :Inscription‘JesusChrist,King
of Kings,’in four lines, with a cross above and another below.Acommon coin, but rare
with the four small crosses added to Christ’s halo and bible on the obverse. VF....265
ROMAN PROVINCIAL BILLON AND BRONZE
382. ANTONINUS PIUS LIGHTHOUSE ; 138-161 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, Year 12 =
148/9 AD, Drachm, 16.82g. Cologne-1601. Obv: Bust of emperor r., legend worn
away. Rx: [L] ΔWΔE - KA[TO]Y Isis Pharia advancing r. holding sail and sistrum,
before her the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, with door and steps on l., on top
beacon surmounted by statue. Obverse blank / Reverse Fine.................................300
383. ANTONINUS PIUS; 138-161 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, Year 15 = 151/2 AD, Drachm,
23.08g. RPC temp.-13743 (6 spec.). Obv: Laureate head of emperor r., traces of
legend including ANT before forehead. Rx: Ram walking r. towards altar, wearing
a crown consisting of a wavy line supporting one large and two smaller globes, and
bearing on its back horned bust of Zeus Ammon surmounted by disc; date L - IE in
field above. Apparently from the same dies as the Paris specimen illustrated by RPC
temp.-13743. Fine / Good Fine...............................................................................350
384. COMMODUS; 177-192 AD, Alexandria, Egypt, Year 23=182/3 AD, Diobol, 9.65g.
RPC temp.-14545 (3 spec.). Obv: [. ]ΚΟΜΜΟΔ - ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟС СƐ[Β] Head
laureate r. Rx: Draped bust of Serapis r. wearing kalathos, date K / L - Γ across field.
Rare, like all Alexandrian diobols of Commodus. Emmett-2613 records this type only
for years 21 and 27, not 23. VF / aEF.....................................................................385
385. GALLIENUS;253-268AD,Alexandria,Year5=257/8AD,BillonTetradrachm,9.10g.
Dattari-5768, Emmett-3739/5 (R2). Obv: AK ΠΛI OV ΓAΛΛIANOC EV EV C Bust
laureate, draped, cuirassed r., seen from front. Rx: Date LE in l. field, Nike seated l. on
cuirass, holding wreath and palm. This coin appears to have luster. Mint State.....375
386. GALLIENUS; 253-268 AD, Pontus, Sebastopolis-Heracleopolis, Year 266=263/4
AD, AE 26, 10.68g. RG-24 (rev. legend var., 4 spec.), SNG Aulock-137 (same dies).
Obv: AYT KAI ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC Bust laureate, draped, cuirassed r. Rx:
CEBACTOΠO HPAKΛEOΠO Hercules standing r. strangling Nemean lion, date ET
- S / Ξ / C in field. A scarce city, that struck only three issues of imperial coins, for
Trajan in 106/7 AD, Septimius Severus and family in 205/6 AD, and Gallienus in
263/4 AD. Bold Fine...............................................................................................200
387. HERENNIA ETRUSCILLA; Alexandria, Egypt, Billon Tetradrachm, 11.98g.
RPC-2259 (29 spec.), Cologne-2821, Oxford-3795, BM-2091. Obv: EP KOVΠ
AITPOVCKIΛΛA CEB Bust draped r. wearing stephane. Rx: L - A across field,
Homonoia standing l., raising r. hand and holding double cornucopia in l. EF......150
Becker Forgery
388. POSTUMUS, BECKER COPY IN BRONZE OF GOLD MEDALLION; 260-268
AD, Becker copy in bronze of gold medallion struck in 266 AD, 20.46g. Hill, Becker
224, pl. XII (same dies). Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P FAVG Jugate busts of Postumus
and Hercules r., both laureate, Postumus also with fold of cloak on front shoulder. Rx:
FELICITAS AVG Jugate, almost half-length busts of Victory and Felicitas r., both
laureate; Victory is winged and holds wreath with her bare r. arm, while her invisible
l. arm holds a palm branch over her l. shoulder; a branch which is to be thought of as
held by Felicitas emerges from behind Victory’s wreath. Apparently a fine old cast in
bronze of a strike from Becker’s gold-medallion dies. The same types are also known
on aurei (Schulte 108-110), but the only original gold medallion of the size copied by
Becker was in the Paris collection (Cohen-44), before unfortunately being stolen and
melted down in the deplorable Paris burglary of 1831. EF.....................................800
WORLD COINS
389. COLOMBIA, CIRCA 1635, 2 ESCUDOS, VF; Colombia, Circa 1635 2 Escudos,
VF, Shield type 2 escudos, Philip IV, Santa Fe de Bogotá mint, circa 1635Clear NR
for “Nuevo Reino de Granada” (the Spanish Colonial region that included the city of
Bogotá) at left, the II of the denomination mark (2 escudos) at right. 6.6g. Soft, muted
yellow, strong shield and fleur de lis......................................................................2200
390. FRANCE, 1811, A, 40 FRANCS, VF/EF; France, 1811 A, 40 Francs, VF/EF, KM-
696.1. Napoléon Bonaparte. Paris Mint. 0.3734oz..................................................700
391. GREAT BRITAIN, ND, ANGEL, VF; Great Britain, ND Angel, VF, Henry VII
(1485-1509). Class III, mm pansy(1495-1498). Archangel Saint Michael slaying a
dragon/English galley with the monogram ‘H’ and a rose set below the main topmast,
the ship surmounted by a shield bearing the King’s arms. 5.0grams. N.1696; S.2183..
...........................................................................................................2500
392. GREAT BRITAIN, 1786, GUINEA, VF ; Great Britain, 1786 Guinea, VF, George III
(1760-1820). Fourth bust. S-3728. No distractions with good eye-appeal............1000