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47
Ex Levis Collection, Ars Classica 1925
185.
Marcus Aurelius.
161-180 AD. As, 10.71g (11h).
Rome, 177 AD. Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG -
GERM SARM TR P XXXI Head laureate right. Rx:
FELICITATI / AVG P P in two lines in field, IMP
VIII above, COS III in exergue, S - C left and right,
Galley right with three oarsmen and Neptune stand-
ing under arch in stern. Commemorates the emper-
or’s survival of near shipwreck during his journey
from the East to Rome in fall 176 AD. BM 1621
var. Cohen 191 (4 Fr.). RIC 1195. Flawless surfaces.
Green patination. EF. A truly exceptional middle
bronze
$1,700
Ex Künker 280, 26 September 2016, lot 643; ex NFA
X, 17-18 September 1981, lot 352; ex Ars Classica
XI, 19-20 June 1925, Collection H.C. Levis, lot 607
.
186.
Faustina II, Wife of Marcus Aurelius.
Aureus,
7.23g (12h). Rome, c. 148 AD. Obv: FAVSTINAE
AVG - PII AVG FIL Bust draped right wearing ste-
phane, band of pearls, and Strack’s coiffure a. Rx:
VE - NVS Venus standing left holding apple and
rudder, dolphin coiled around rudder. Bust variety
of Strack 495, BMC 1063, Cohen 260 (40 Fr.), RIC
517b, and Calicó 2097c. Excellent portrait, Mint
State
$13,000
Ex Berk 198, 7 July 2016, lot 9. Ex Heritage ANA
Sale 3033, 8 August 2014, lot 23085 (Jonathan K.
Kern Collection; there in NGC capsule with grade
“AU 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style”)
.
Apparently very rare with portrait wearing ste-
phane. This variety is not in the standard references,
since the specimen cited by RIC 517b actually has
no stephane. CoinArchives Pro includes only two
examples of this aureus with stephane: our actual
coin, and one other from the same obverse die
.
187.
Commodus.
177-192 AD. Sestertius, 19.17g (5h).
Rome, 192 AD. Obv: L AEL AVREL COMM AVG
P FEL Head laureate right. Rx: P M TR P XVII IMP
VIII [CO]S VII P P S C Securitas seated left hold-
ing scepter and extending right hand towards child
before her representing the Human Race; star in
right field. BM 701. C 576. RIC 611. Struck on a
broader flan than normal for Commodus, and with a
rather sensitive portrait. EF
$1,000
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; with auction ticket
.
188.
Pertinax.
193 AD. Denarius, 3.22g (6h). Rome.
Obv: IMP CAES P HELV - PERTIN AVG Head lau-
reate r. Rx: AEQVIT AVG - TR P COS II Aequitas
standing l. holding scales and cornucopia. BM 15. C
2 (50 Fr.). RIC 1a (R2). Exquisite portrait. EF
$5,000
Ex Künker 243, 21 November 2013, lot 4929
.
Enlargement