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[King John]

Nomos AG > Auction 12 Auction date: 22 May 2016 Lot number: 48

Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction    Lot description:

GREEK COINS 

THESSALY 

Peirasia. Early to mid 4th century. Obol (Silver, 12mm, 0.86 g 7). Youthful male head to left,wearing taenia. Rev. ΠΕΙ - [ΡΑ-ΣΙ-ΕΩΝ] Warrior advancing left, seen from behind, nude but for his helmet, with shield over his left arm and a couched spear held in his right. Pendleton O2 (O2/R2, these dies). Rare. With a reverse of outstanding stylistic elegance. Usual rough surfaces, otherwise, good very fine.

The artistry of the engraving of the reverse die used for this issue is in many ways quite astounding! In fact, it is quite spectacular and is reminiscent of the best full-sized sculpture of the period.

 

[King John]

Karia, Achaemenid Period AR Tetradrachm. Circa 341-334 BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, drawing bow / Satrap on horseback right, thrusting spear; to left, bearded male head right. Konuk, Influences, Group 5 var. (head of Herakles); SNG Copenhagen (Persian Empire) 290-291 var. (same); Traité II 121 var. (same); CNG 72, 14 June 2006, 801. 14.66g, 23mm, 11h. About Very Fine. Very Rare, and unpublished in the standard references with this symbol. Struck in the last years before Alexander's invasion of the Persian empire, the archer-horseman tetradrachms of Achaemenid Karia are one of the rarest and most enigmatic Persian coinages struck in Asia Minor. We are unfortunately aware neither of where nor why they were produced - no inscription is present to facilitate identification of the issuing authority, with only various symbols and letters present as control marks. These control marks allowed Konuk to discern two distinct series: those with subsidiary symbols, and those without. Analysis of the Pixodarus Hoard has allowed the coinage to be dated from the decade beginning circa 350 BC. Additionally, since that hoard contained only the earlier, non-symbol, type, Meadows concluded that the date of deposit of the hoard (341 BC) should be seen as the earliest possible start of the second series, to which this coin belongs.

[King John]

STRAORDINARIA.

 

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XIX, 5 January 2016

Lot number: 2061

Price realized: 55,000 USD   (Approx. 50,919 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.

Lot description:


CYPRUS, Salamis. Evagoras II. Circa 361-351 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.20 g, 6h). Persian standard. Lion standing left, forepart lowered as if eating prey, on ground line; on its back, eagle standing left, head right, with wings folded / Artemis (or Apollo?) standing right, wearing short chiton, bow strapped on his back, drawing bow; EYA to left. Markou, L'or, p. 314, III (see note below); otherwise unpublished. Good VF, a few minor marks. Well centered. Unique. 


From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex Triton VII (13 January 2004), lot 335.

Evagoras II, the namesake of his illustrious grandfather Evagoras I, succeeded his father Nikokles upon the latter's assassination in 361 BC. Evagoras reigned for ten years but was expelled by his subjects in 351 BC after refusing to support a revolt against the Persians. He found refuge in Caria and was appointed satrap by the Persian king Artaxerxes III. In 350 BC, under instructions from Artaxerxes, the Carian satrap Hidrieus and Evagoras invaded Cyprus to reinstall Evagoras as King. The expedition failed and Artaxerxes then appointed Evagoras as king of Sidon. He apparently abused this appointment and was forced to flee to Cyprus, where he was captured and executed circa 346 BC.

E. Markou, in her book on the gold coinage of Cyprus, condemned this coin based on the iconography of the reverse. However, that determination was predicated on the assumption that the figure represented Herakles, which it clearly does not. In private correspondence with Markou, she agreed that the type more likely represented Artemis or Apollo, but still rejects this iconography on a Cypriot coin. In our opinion, the coin is clearly of ancient manufacture, and genuine in all respects. The appearance of this iconography, too, is unexceptional; though it may be unique to coinage on Cyprus, the depiction of Artemis or Apollo shooting a bow is well known on other coinage of the Greek world (see, e.g., at Abdera [cf. May 458], Ambrakeia [cf. BMC 20], Corinth [cf. Pegasi 454], Eleuthernai [cf. Svoronos 1], Larissa [cf. Rogers 307 and BCD 1174], and Syracuse [cf. HGC 2, 1412]). Moreover, the portrait of both Artemis and Apollo is known on other coins of Cyprus. In sum, it is our opinion that the type is not dispositive of the authenticity of the piece, and it has all the characteristics of an ancient coin. 

Estimate: 30000 USD

 

[King John]

The JD collection of Roman Republican Coins part II – Session I
C. Cassius with M. Servilius. Denarius, mint moving with Brutus 43-42, AR 3.66 g. M·SERVILIVS – LEG Laureate head of Libertas r. Rev. Q·CAEPIO. – BRVTVS·IMP· Trophy. Babelon Junia 48 and Servilia 39. C –, cf. 9 (aureus). Sydenham –, cf. 1314 (aureus). Sear Imperators 207. Crawford 505/5. Of the highest rarity, only the sixth specimen known and one of two in private hands. Toned, an absolutely insignificant chip on edge at nine o’clock on obverse and surface somewhat porous on obverse, otherwise very fine / good very fine Ex Auctiones sale 8, 1978, 695. This denarius is one of the surprising rarities of the Imperatorial series, with only a handful known to have survived. Almost inexplicably, more aurei appear to be known of this issue than denarii. Its design types are ideal for the Republican cause at the time: the head of Libertas paired with a trophy of arms and armour. While Crawford dates this issue to 43-42 B.C., Sear proposes it was struck in the summer of 42 B.C., when Brutus and Cassius met at Sardes. With the conflict between Octavian and the Republicans gaining final momentum, Brutus and Cassius met at Smyrna early in 42, and then at Sardes in the summer. By the time of their second meeting the strains of their partnership had reached an intolerable pitch. Plutarch writes: “...as often happens in great enterprises in which a large number of friends and commanders are engaged, there had been some sharp differences and mutual accusations had been exchanged. So...their first action was to meet in a room face to face. The doors were shut, and with no one else present the two men first began blaming one another and then fell to recriminations and counter-charges. These soon led to indignant reproaches and tears, and their friends, who were amazed at the vehemence and bitterness of their anger, were afraid that the quarrel might end in violence.” It is always quite difficult to assert the number of specimens known of an issue and sometimes it would be better to be more careful: in RBW part II we stated that only five were known of this issue and that the RBW one was the only one in private hands. Unfortunately, when we started cataloguing the JD collection we realized that one more was known….

[King John]

Greek Coins
Calabria, Tarentum
No.: 20
Schätzwert/Estimation: CHF 2500.-
d=20 mm
Nomos circa 344-340, AR 7.95 g. Helmeted horseman r., holding shield and spear with l. hand and bridle with r.; below horse, T. Rev. TARAS Taras on dolphin l. above waves, holding a one-handled vase; below dolphin, P. SNG ANS 396 (these dies). SNG France 1749 (these dies). Historia Numorum Italy 890. S. Garaffo, Per la cronologia dei "cavalieri tarantini" dei periodi I-IV Evans, RIN 84, 1982, pl. 1, 5 (this coin). Vlasto 448 (this obverse die). Fischer-Bossert 672a (this coin).
Of exquisite style. Traces of overstriking on a Corinthian stater (?),
lightly toned and extremely fine

 

Illustrazione: Macedonian cavalryman

Modificato 8 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

MARC ANTONY. AR Legionary Denarius (3.44 gms), Patrae Mint, ca. 32-31 B.C.
Cr-544/25; S-1479; Syd-1229. "ANT AVG III VIR R P C", Praetorian galley right; Reverse: Legionary eagle between two standards, "LEG XI" below. Beautiful pearlescent gray toning. A choice and attractive example this type. Well stuck with good metal quality. Lustrous and attractive.
NEARLY MINT STATE.

Modificato 8 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

RÖMER
RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK
RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK NACH 211 V. CHR
L. Farsuleius Mensor, 75 v. Chr. Denar (3,84g). Mzst. Rom. Vs.: MENSOR, drapierte Büste der Libertas mit Stephane n. r., dahinter XXIII u. Pileus, davor S C. Rs.: L FARSVLEI, Krieger mit Lanze hilft Togatus in Biga, darunter Skorpion. Cr. 392/1a; Syd. 789a. Leichte Tönung, fast vz

[King John]

The Prospero Collection of Ancient Greek Coins. KINGDOM OF MACEDON. Alexander III, The Great (336-323 B.C.), Silver Tetradrachm of 2 Shekels, 15.72g,. Minted at Babylon, struck c.327 B.C. Elephant walking to right, carrying two figures, one turning to look to left and holding a long standard, the other, in front, holding a goad. Rev. Charioteer driving a galloping quadriga to right, an archer stands in the chariot beside the driver, drawing a bow (M. Price, ‘Circulation at Babylon in 323 B.C.’, Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner, p. 70, 26 (this coin – plate 15, showing the Leu example (no. 25), is incorrectly numbered); Mitchiner Type 21i). Small metal-flaw on reverse, lightly toned, well-centred for these, good fine, exceedingly rare and im por tant. This coin published in ‘Circulation at Babylon in 323 B.C.,’ M. Price, Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner (1989), p. 70, 26. Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., London, 15 July 1989 This exceedingly rare tetradrachm of two shekels appeared on the market in 1989 and was published by Martin Price in the same year, alongside the other two known examples. It seems likely that it forms part of the same series as the dekadrachm and tetradrachm in the previous two lots. The obverse of the coin features the Indian elements that have already been seen on the previous coins. The reverse is full of animation, with an archer firing his bow from a galloping chariot. The exact context of this issue is still a little enigmatic and worthy of further research. US$ 15,000

[King John]

RöMISCHE MüNZEN
Republikanische Prägungen
A. Licinius Nerva.
No: 1225 Schätzpreis/Estimation DM 1000,-
Denar 47 v. Chr. Kopf der Fides / Reiter über barbarischem Krieger. Cr. 454, 1; Syd. 954. 3,82 g.
Vorzüglich

Modificato 10 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

RÖMER
RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK
RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK NACH 211 v. Chr.
Objekt-Nr.: 2397
C. Publicius Malleolus, A. Postumius Albinus und L. Metellus, 96 v. Chr.
Denar, (3,83 g.), Mzst. Rom. Vs.: ROMA, Büste der Diana mit Bogen u. Köcher. Rs.: Drei Reiter galoppieren über einen gestürtzten Krieger l., im Abschnitt A.ALBINVS.S.F. Cr. 335/9; Syd. 613. ss­vz
Estimation: € 100,00

[King John]

Hadrian AV Aureus. Rome, AD 125-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / COS III, Hadrian on horseback right, raising right hand. RIC 186; Strack 146; Calicó 1215a; BMC 430-2. 7.24g, 21mm, 6h. Near Extremely Fine. This attractive equestrian aureus was struck to mark the triumphant return to Rome of the emperor, and shows him riding into the city accepting the honours and praise of the people. Mattingly and Sydenham argue that during his four year absence from Rome there had been little change in the coinage, no development of style, and the mint had been virtually inactive. Upon his return there was a great new output of coinage, of which this is a stunning example. Hadrian drops the long legends favoured by his predecessor Trajan, preferring to simplify them to HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS on the obverse and COS III on the reverse. This new obverse legend very distinctly calls into mind the coinage of the first emperor Augustus, while the new, larger and more gracious style of imperial portrait that fills the fields of the flan is a complete change from the small, careful and cramped types of Trajan. Reverse types such as this one complement the new style and the result is a very attractive and artistic coin.

[King John]

TROAS. Ophrynion. Ae (Circa 350-300 BC).
Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev: OΦΡΥ.
Warrior, wearing crested helmet, crouching left, holding shield and spear.
BMC 8-9.
Condition: Very fine.
Weight: 1.4 g.
Diameter: 8 mm.

[King John]

The Roman Empire
Clodius Macer, April (?) – October (?) 68
Denarius, Carthago (?) April-October (?) 68, AR 3.80 g. L CLODIVS·MACER Bare head of Clodius Macer r.; at sides, C – S. Rev. PRO PRA – E / AFRICAE Galley r., with five oarsmen. C –, cf. 13 (S C below neck). Hewitt –, cf. 48 (this reverse die). RIC –, cf. 42 (S C below neck). CBN –, cf. 8 (S C below neck). CNG 46, 1998, lot 1186 (this obverse die).
Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. Struck on unusually good
metal and with a delightful iridescent tone, minor areas of encrustation,
otherwise about extremely fine / extremely fine Ex Freeman & Sear Manhattan sale III, 2012, 173.
The rebellion of Clodius Macer in North Africa was sparked at a time when the last thing Nero desired was more bad news. He had just overcome the uprising of Vindex in Gaul only to learn of the more formidable insurrection of Galba in Spain. The revolts showed that Nero's dismissive and callous treatment of his governors and administrators in the provinces would not pass without consequences. Of all the coinages from this civil war, those of Clodius Macer are the most inventive. It is remarkable that he uses the formulaic abbreviation S C (senatus consulto) on his denarii, for this abbreviation otherwise had not appeared on Roman silver coins since about 40 B.C. We may take this and his decision to portray himself without a laurel wreath or a diadem as evidence that he wished to portray his revolt as being against Nero, not the senate. Most coins of his contemporaries cling to the predictable themes of loyalty, unity, recovery and victory, but Macer's are restorative, recalling an event of precisely a century before: the battle of Actium in 31 B.C. Macer must have thought it no mere coincidence – but rather an omen – that Rome's new revolutionary war was being waged in the centenary year of Actium, the battle that for all intensive purposes had ended Rome's previous civil war. The reverse of this denarius is copied from the obverse of Marc Antony's famous legionary coinage, of which the denarii were still to be commonly seen in circulation. Furthermore, another of Macer's coins replicates the reverse of Antony's legionary coinage by depicting a legionary eagle between two standards. He was careful in his reproductions, for he even followed the arrangement of the inscriptions on Antony's originals: the obverse, with the war galley, had borne Antony's personal inscriptions, and the reverse, with the standards, had borne the names of various legions and specialised units. With Macer's versions the galley design bears his personal inscription (identifying himself as the legatus Augusti propraetor of Africa), and the eagle-and-standards type bears the names of two legions under his control, the Legion I Macriana and the Legion III Augusta. MSG.

[King John]

Philistia (5-4 centuries BC). AR quarter-shekel (14.5mm, 3.39 gm, 9h). Janiform heads, bearded male r. and female l. with oriental hairstyle, dotted border / Hoplite l. fights prancing lion r, border of dots, all in incuse square. Gitler-Tal XIX.19 Dc (this coin). Mildenberg 2000c (this coin). Extremely rare. Reverse test cut. Very Fine. One of three known examples.

Modificato 13 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XI Auction date: 7 April 2016 Lot number: 469

Price realized: 400 GBP   (Approx. 563 USD / 495 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.   Lot description:

Phrygia, Kibyra AR Drachm. Circa 166-84 BC. Young male head right, wearing crested helmet / Helmeted and cuirassed horseman galloping right, wielding spear and shield; M and ΚΙΒΥΡΤΩΝ below. SNG von Aulock 3709; SNG Copenhagen 267. 2.89g, 17mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine. Struck in fine style and remarkably well preserved. One of the finest known. Very Rare. 

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 46, 30 October 1989, lot 303.

Estimate: 500 GBP

 

[King John]

Naoussa (Macedonia). Tomba di Kinch, affresco parietale con combattimento fra un cavaliere macedone e un fante persiano. 310-290 a.C. ca.

[King John]

Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG > Auction 273 Lot number: 635

Price realized: 6,500 EUR   (Approx. 7,254 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.   Lot description:

RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN

MÜNZEN DER RÖMISCHEN KAISERZEIT

Gaius Caligula, 37-41. Æ-Sesterz, 37/38, Rom; 27,68 g. Kopf l. mit Lorbeerkranz//Kaiser steht l. und grüßt fünf Soldaten. BMC 33; Coh. 1; RIC² 32.

R Braune Patina, gutes sehr schön

Die Adlocutio ist die feierliche Ansprache des Imperators an das Heer, das zu diesem Zweck in Paradeaufstellung angetreten ist, die Standartenträger in der ersten Reihe, so auch auf unserem Stück.

 

[King John]

TROAS, Ilium. Anonymous. 20mm 4.70g Shewolf suckling Romulus and Remus; Hector advancing. BMC 17.60, 24. 

[King John]

TROAS, Ilium. Valerian I. AD 253-260. Æ Medallion (41mm, 27.02 g, 12h). Hector, fully armored, advancing right, ship prows at his feet, Bellinger T292 (image courtesy of CNG)

[King John]

M. Iunius Brutus, Iunia, Denarius, Rome, 54 BC (RRC) 59) BC (BMCRR), AR, gr. 4,2, mm 20, Head of Libertas r.; behind, LIBERTAS downwards, L. Iunius Brutus,cos. 509, walking l., between two lictors and preceded by an accensus; in exergue, BRVTVS. RRC 433/1; BMCRR Rome 3861; B. Iunia 30-32; Bf. i, 163;iii, 63;S. 906-907; Catalli 2001, 618.Fascinating style. Cabinet tone. Good extremely fine.The moneyer is M. Iunius Brutus, consul designatus in 41 BC. The ancestry of Brutus plays a substantial role in his choice of types for his issues. He claims to be the descendant of L. Iunius Brutus, RomeÕs first consul, and of Servilius Ahala, the man who saved the Res Publica by killing the would-be tyrant Spurius Maelius (Plut. Brut, I; Cic., Cat. I.1; Liv. IV,13-14). All types reflect part of a pattern of consistent opposition to PompeiusÕ intention of achieving sole rule.In this issue, after he minted on the first coins the portraits of his ancestors (RRC 433/2), he depicts L. Brutus walking between two lictores, magisterial attendants, and preceded by an accensus. The type refers to rumors of an impending dictatorship of Pompeius, as an oblique warning not to upset the role of the consules and Senatus. BrutusÕ ancestry is so current in the propaganda at the time when the conspiracy is uncovered that Cicero writes to Atticus about Brutus that he was identified as: Ò Ahalam Serviulium aliquem aut BrutumÓ (Cic., Att., XIII.40; see also Brutus 331; Nepo, Att XVIII,2; Plut, Brut 1).The obverse type displays the head of Libertas, a Roman deity which as other personified virtues, assumed goddess status, illustrating the historical connection of the Bruti with the defence of Res Publica.

[King John]

I due rivali: Ettore raffigurato sulla moneta di Settimio Severo e Achille nel dipinto.

 

Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD. AE 37. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. / Helmeted Hector in a charging biga l. brandishing a spear and shield. SNG-Cop--, v.Aulock--, BMC--. RARE. Rich deep glossy sea-green over some roughness on edges.

Modificato 19 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

La presenza delle exuvie elephantis (spoglia elefantina) nella ritrattistica alessandrina e la stessa adozione di tale attributo iconografico hanno una ragione storica nel ricordo delle imprese di Alessandro alla conquista dell'India. Già durante la vita del Macedone tali conquiste erano state celebrate e commemorate dall'emissione, da parte della zecca di Babilonia, di speciali decadrammi – detti decadrammi di Poro – sui quali viene rappresentata la messa in fuga di un elefante da parte di un cavaliere macedone (presumibilmente lo stesso Alessandro). Sull'altra faccia delle monete in questione si riconosce una figura virile stante in armi, con folgore nella mano sinistra, incoronata da una Vittoria alata, nella quale si suole riconoscere, ancora una volta, la figura del Re macedone in vesti divine.

 

 

Moneta:  decadrammo detto 'di Poro' emesso da Alessandro (3236-323)

 

Immagine tratta dal film su Alessandro

 

FOTO PROVENIENTI DAL SITO:  http://www.engramma.it/engramma_v4/rivista/saggio/44/044_exuviaeelephantis.html

Modificato 19 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

LOKRIS
LOKRI OPUNTII
Drachm, 340’s BC. AR 5.51 g., 6¢. Head of Demeter l., hair wreathed with three leaves of wheat, wearing triangular drop earring and necklace. Rev. Ajax advancing l, viewed ¾ from behind, with spear and shield decorated with Gorgoneion. OΠONTIΩN from top r. down circular. Corpus group 1, 2. Weber 3145 corr. (same dies).
Extremely rare, apparently only 7 Opuntii drachms are known, of which 3 in the
writer’s collection (of which this is by far the best), one each in Berlin, the
ANS and the BM, plus the Weber specimen. Good fine. Acquired from CNG, September 2007, for $ 1150.
Leonard Forrer, when cataloguing the Weber coin, saw Ajax as “thrusting sword to l.” whereas it is clear that he is holding quite a long spear. Babelon gives the right description (Traité II, 3, p. 369, 432) but refers for the photograph to pl. CCVII, fig. 4 instead of the correct fig. 6. He also mentions that the “Méduse” (Gorgoneion) is “transpercé par une flèche dont le fer y est resté engagé”. Careful examination of our coin (in spite of its wear) reveals that Babelon’s “flèche” is the head of a spear rather than the point of an arrow, embedded on the shield, below the Medusa head ornament.

[King John]

Marc Aurèle - Denier (172, Rome)
A/ M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XVII. Buste lauré à droite.
R/ IMP VI COS III. Guerrier debout à droite, tenant une haste et appuyé à un bouclier.
SUP. C.290
Ar ; 3.42 gr ; 18 mm
Starting Price: 60 EUR
Estimate: 120 EUR

Modificato 22 Aprile, 2016 da King John

[King John]

  ARVERNES (Région de Clermont-Ferrand)(IIe - Ier siècles avant J.-C.) Denier EPAD N° v15_0445   
Date : après 52 AC.
Métal : argent
Diamètre : 15mm
Axe des coins : 1h.
Poids : 1,85g.
Degré de rareté : R2
Etat de conservation : TTB+ Prix de départ : 400 €  Estimation : 750 €   
Prix réalisé : 473 €  Nombres d'offres : 4   Offre maximum : 512 €  
Commentaires sur l'état de conservation : Splendide denier avec une belle patine de collection multicolore, surtout au revers et plutôt grise au droit. Flan légèrement quadrangulaire. Type complet au droit et au revers. N° dans les ouvrages de référence : LT.3900  - BN.3907-3920  - ABT.458  - RIG.161  - Sch/L.409-410
Pedigree : Exemplaire provenant d’une ancienne collection constituée avant la seconde guerre mondiale.
Titulature avers : EPAD.
Description avers : Buste jeune, imberbe et casqué, à droite ; le casque lauré à panache, le cou orné d’un collier de perles et de pendeloques. Légende devant le visage, grènetis.
Titulature revers : Anépigraphe.
Description revers : Guerrier debout, tenant de la main droite une enseigne militaire munie de deux ailes ; de la gauche un bouclier rond et une lance. Son épée soutenue par un ceinturon, passe derrière le bouclier. Casque dans le champ, devant ses jambes.

Commentaire à propos de cet exemplaire : Cet exemplaire bien centré et de qualité exceptionnelle permet de bien distinguer la coiffure et les parures de buste au droit et l'armement du guerrier au revers.
Commentaires : Ce denier appartient à une série bimétallique argent et bronze au même type, frappée pour Epasnactus après 52 avant J.-C.. Epasnactus était un chef Arverne, allié des Romains. Après la prise d'Uxellodunum en 51 avant J.-C, il livre Lucterius qui s'était réfugié auprès de lui à César, relaté par Hirtius dans la Guerre des Gaules (VIII,44). Ce denier est postérieur à 52 avant J.-C. et doit être associé aux bronzes du type MONNAIES XV n° 446 qui précèdent la révolte de 52. Le droit est copié d'un denier de Marcus Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus frappé à Rome en 67 avant J.-C. (RRC. 409/1 = RCV. 349). Le revers est inspiré par les deniers gaulois aux légendes VIIPOTAL (LT. 4484), LVCIOS (LT. 4336) et DVBNOREX (LT. 5044), présentant tous au revers un guerrier, mais cette fois-ci romanisé. S. Scheers précise que “le guerrier d’Epasnactus porte la tenue d’apparat des Romains et tient une enseigne romaine, comme il convient à un allié de Rome”.
Historique : Les Arvernes, qui occupaient l'actuel territoire de l'ancienne province d'Auvergne, étaient le plus puissant des peuples de Gaule à la veille de la Guerre. On donne aussi ce nom aux différents peuples clients des Arvernes : Gabales, Vellaves, ou Helvii. Strabon évoque la suprématie qui avait prévalu aux IVe et IIIe siècles avant J.-C. quand les Arvernes dominaient la Gaule : 'leur territoire s'étendait à l'origine jusqu'à Narbonne et aux frontières de la Massaliotide et les peuples leur étaient soumis jusqu'au mont Pyréné, jusqu'à l'Océan et jusqu'au Rhin', soit la presque totalité de la Gaule à la veille de la conquête. Cette puissance reposait sur le contrôle du commerce de l'étain et sur le mercenariat. Il faut cependant abandonner l'idée d'une domination économique et monétaire des Arvernes sur les autres peuples de la Gaule avant la chute de l'Empire arverne. La société arverne était clanique, en raison de leur disposition géographique, dans des vallées isolées par les montagnes. Chaque groupe se retrouvait entre les mains d'une famille et de ses clients. Leur vraie capitale était l'oppidum de Gergovie, placé près de Clermont-Ferrand. Le Puy de Dôme constituait une sorte 'd'Olympe' pour les Arvernes où Mercure sous sa forme gauloise de Lug était vénéré. 'Avernorix' (roi des Arvernes) était une épithète du dieu. Les Gaulois connaissaient déjà les sources thermales de la Bourboule, du Mont-d'Or, de Royat, de Volvic et de Chaudes-Aigues qui étaient sacrées et utilisées pour leurs vertus thérapeutiques. La forêt de Pionsat qui séparait les Arvernes des Bituriges Cubes était sacrée. La réputation des Arvernes dépassait largement le territoire de la Gaule. Les Arvernes étaient considérés comme 'le plus belliqueux parmi les peuples gaulois de la Celtique' d'après Apollodore au IIe siècle avant J.-C. Mercenaires et guerriers émérites, il est possible qu'ils aient participé au sac de Delphes en 279 avant J.-C. et qu'ils aient pris part à la bataille du Télamon en 225 avant J.-C. qui les opposa pour la première fois aux Romains. Le premier conflit direct éclata au IIe siècle, quand les marchands romains s'installèrent en Transalpine dans ce qui allait devenir la Provincia (la Province, devenue la Provence). Les Arvernes étaient très riches et leur roi Luern était connu pour sa libéralité proverbiale. Les Arvernes, qui n'avaient pas une agriculture développée, contrôlaient certainement l'orpaillage et les mines d'or de leurs contrées et celles de leurs voisins. Le fils de Luern, Bituit (Bituitos), s'opposa aux Romains qui venaient de soumettre les Salyens en s'emparant d'Entremont en 123 avant J.-C. Bituit réunit une coalition forte de deux cent mille hommes qui fut successivement battue par Domitius Ahenobarbus à la confluence de la Sorgue et du Rhône, puis de l'Isère et du Rhône, près de Valence. L'Empire arverne avait vécu. La royauté abolie fut remplacée par un système oligarchique. Celtille (Celtillos), le père de Vercingétorix fut mis à mort vers 80 avant J.-C. pour avoir essayé de reconstituer un empire arverne à son profit. Au début de la Guerre des Gaules, Vercingétorix servira dans les troupes de reconnaissance de César. Gobannitio, oncle de Vercingétorix, était l'un des chefs de la faction pro-romaine. Ce n'est qu'en 52 avant J.-C. que Vercingétorix devint le chef de la coalition des peuples gaulois contre l'occupant romain. Fort de près de deux cent cinquante mille hommes, le contingent arverne ne réussit pas à s'imposer. Vercingétorix pratiqua la politique de la terre brûlée après la chute de Genobum (Orléans), mais ne put obtenir la destruction d'Avaricum (Bourges) qui fut assiégée et prise par Jules César avec toutes ses réserves de vivres. Il remporta néanmoins une grande victoire près de Gergovie. Ayant malencontreusement poursuivi l'armée de César, il se retrouva assiégé dans Alésia. Résistant avec acharnement, il comptait sur l'armée de secours pour le délivrer, mais vaincu, il dut se rendre à César qui le conserva en vie pour le faire participer à son triomphe en 46 avant J.-C. Vercingétorix fut ensuite étranglé dans sa prison. Après la conquête, Augustonemetum (Clermont-Ferrand) sera fondée et deviendra la capitale de la civitas. César (BG. I, 31, 45 ; VII, 3, 5, 7-9, 34, 37, 38, 64, 66, 75, 77, 89, 90 ; VIII 4, 46 76, 83, 88). Strabon (G. IV, 1-3). Tite-Live (HR., V, 34 ; XXVII, 39). Pline (HN., IV, 109 ; VII, 166, XXXIV, 45, 47) Kruta : 46, 71, 109, 111, 187, 308-310, 338-339, 349, 351.