Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

GRIECHEN
INSELN BEI SIZILIEN. GAULOS (Gozo). AE (3,23g). Vs.: Behelmter Kopf auf Mondsichel, davor V. Rs.: GAULITWN, angreifender Krieger n. r. RR! Schöne dunkelgrüne Patina, ss

 

[King John]

AUGUSTUS. 27 BC-14 AD. AR Denarius (3.84 gm). Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck circa 18 BC.
Estimate $750 
AUGUSTUS. 27 BC-14 AD. AR Denarius (3.84 gm). Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck circa 18 BC. Legionary eagle, toga picta over tunica palmata, and wreath / Triumphal quadriga right, ornamented with two Victories and small galloping quadriga. Cf. RIC I 99; cf. RSC 78. Good VF, partial flat strike. ($750) From the Tony Hardy Collection.The obverse depicts the elaborate regalia (ornamenta triumphalia) of a successful general awarded to him on the occasion of his procession through the streets of Rome as triumphator. The toga picta was an elaborate dress based on the attire of the Etruscan kings and is shown being worn over the tunica palmata, a tunic decorated with representations of palm leaves. On either side are seen a legionary eagle, symbolic of the Roman army, and a triumphal wreath, or corona triumphalis. This was worn by the triumphator as he paraded through the streets of the capital in the elaborately adorned chariot which is depicted on the reverse. In 19 BC, Augustus returned to Rome after a three-year absence in Greece and Asia; this reverse type may then relate to the celebration of Rome's recent military and diplomatic successes, namely Tiberius' activities in Armenia and the recovery of the standards the Parthians had captured from Crassus in 53 BC.

[King John]

Trajan AV Aureus. Rome, AD 106. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Trajan as triumphator in slow quadriga to left, holding branch and sceptre; car ornamented with Victory bearing wreath. Calicó -; RIC -; BMC -; Woytek 195n. 7.29g, 20mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, possibly only the second known example. The reverse of this coin depicts Trajan’s second triumph in AD 106, which he celebrated for his great victory earlier that year in the Second Dacian War. Trajan had in 101-102 launched an offensive against the powerful Dacian king Decebalus with whom Domitian had signed an unfavourable (and some would argue shameful) treaty some twenty years before, the price of which was the payment of an annual ‘subsidy’ of eight million sestertii and the presentation of a diadem from Domitian to Decebalus. In that war, Trajan succeeded in defeating the Dacians in a series of pitched battles, and reduced Decebalus to the status of client king. The victory was celebrated with a triumph (Trajan’s first), and later by the construction of the Tropaeum Traiani. Although this victory had greatly eroded Decebalus’ power, he nonetheless began to rearm straight away, to harbour Roman runaways and to pressure the neighbouring barbarian tribes to ally themselves with him. In 104 he organised a failed attempt on Trajan’s life by means of some Roman deserters, as well as capturing Trajan’s legate Longinus who he tried to use as a bargaining chip; Longinus however took poison to avoid compromising his country and emperor. Then finally in 105 Decebalus launched an invasion of the Roman-held territories north of the Danube. Trajan was not unprepared; by 105 the concentration of Roman troops assembled in the middle and lower Danube regions amounted to fourteen legions – half of the entire Roman army. Trajan ordered the construction of a massive bridge over the Danube designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, which for over 1,000 years was the longest arch bridge ever built both in terms of total and span length. The counter-offensive consisted mostly of the reduction of the Dacian fortress network which the Romans systematically stormed while denying the Dacians the ability to manoeuvre in the open. At last Decebalus’ main stronghold of Sarmizegetusa was taken by storm and razed to the ground. Decebalus himself escaped, but soon after committed suicide as a Roman cavalry scout named Tiberius Claudius Maximus was closing on him. Maximus delivered the head and right hand of the enemy king to his emperor, by whom he was decorated and immortalised in a relief on Trajan’s column. Trajan’s second triumph was understandably a grand affair, which was accompanied by spectacular games that the emperor held in celebration: ten thousand gladiators fought in these games, and ten thousand animals were sacrificed in thanks to the gods. The riches of Dacia (estimated recently at 165 tons of gold and 331 tons of silver) were invested in a series of important public works, the jewels of which were the forum and great market in Rome which bore his name, and the magnificent celebratory column depicting the glorious achievements of the campaign.

 

 

Modificato 10 Febbraio, 2017 da King John

[King John]

Vespasian. Gold Aureus (7.32 g), AD 69-79. 'Judaea Capta' type. Lugdunum, AD 71. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P, laureate head of Vespasian right. Reverse: TRIVMP AVG in exergue, emperor on triumphal quadriga right, holding palm and eagle-tipped scepter, being crowned by Victory standing behind him and accompanied by trumpeter; before horses, soldier escorting captive with arms bound behind his back. RIC 1127; BMC 397; BN 17; Calicó 689; Hendin 1475. One of the rarest types of Judaea Capta coinage, this handsome example was struck immediately after the Jewish War concluded. Boldly struck in high relief with excellent detail. Delicately toned. Choice Very Fine. 
 Simon bar Giora Aureus 

ILLUSTRAZIONE:  Bassorilievo, marmo, 90 d.C., dall'Arco di Tito.

Modificato 10 Febbraio, 2017 da King John

[King John]

LYKIEN
Claudius, 41 - 54 n. Chr. 3.42 g. Vs.: ΤΙΒΕΡΙΟΣ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, barhäuptiger Kopf n. l. Rs.: ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ, Krieger auf Pferd n. r. RPC 3352 (Var. andere Rs. Legende). RR! Dunkelgrüne Patina, ss

[King John]

GRIECHISCHE MüNZEN
KöNIGE VON MAKEDONIEN
DEMETRIOS I. POLIORKETES (294 - 287)
No.: 204
Schätzpreis-Estimation: DM 20 000,-
Goldstater, ca. 289 - 288, Pella. Kopf des Demetrios mit Stierhorn und Diadem rechts. Rs: BASILEWS / DHMHTPIOY. Makedonischer Reiter mit Kausia, Chlamys, Chiton und Stiefeln auf sich aufbäumendem Pferd rechts, in der Rechten eine eingelegte Lanze haltend; das Pferd trägt anstelle eines Sattels ein Pantherfell auf dem Rücken; im Feld unter dem Pferd links und rechts Monogramm. E. T. Newell, The coinages of Demetrius Poliorcetes (1927), S. 92, 83 (dieses Exemplar zitiert) und Taf. VII, 15 (stempelgleich). Gulbenkian II, S. 113 und Taf. LXXXI, 878 (stempelgleich). Jameson I, 1002 (stempelgleich). 8,62 g, St. 11. 
äußerst selten. Gutes Portrait, leichter Bug, kleine Schlagspuren, sonst fast vorzüglich. 
Aus Slg. Sir H. Weber, Band II, 2169, und aus Slg. C. S. Bement, Naville - Ars Classica, Auktion 6 (28. Januar 1924, Luzern) Nr. 779, und aus Slg. J. W. Garrett, Part II, Numismatic Fine Arts - Bank Leu AG, Auktion 16. - 18. Oktober 1984 (Zürich), Nr. 196.
Nach seiner Proklamation zum König von Makedonien ließ Demetrios Poliorketes in den Münzstätten Amphipolis und Pella heute außerordentlich seltene Goldstatere nach attischem Münzfuß prägen, zunächst noch im Namen Alexanders des Großen, ab 299 jedoch unter seinem eigenen Namen und auch mit seinem Portrait. Der vorliegende Goldstater, der wohl in den letzten Jahren seiner Herrschaft im Vorfeld des geplanten Feldzuges gegen die Aitoler herausgegeben wurde, zeigt auf dem Avers den Kopf des Königs mit dem Horn des Poseidon, der persönlichen Schutzgottheit des Demetrios, während das Reversmotiv der traditionellen, makedonischen Münzikonographie verbunden bleibt.

 

 

 

 

 

Modificato 12 Febbraio, 2017 da King John

[King John]

Griechische Münzen: Sizilien, Mamertiner, 220-200 v.: AE-Pentonkion, 12,01 g. Zeuskopf r. // Krieger mit Speer und Schild r, davor Π. SNG ANS 441. s/ss.

[King John]

ROMAN EMPIRE
LUCIUS VERUS, A.D. 161-169. Sestertius (25.50 gms), Rome Mint, A.D. 163-164.
RIC-(Aurelius) 1371. Armenia stood as the proverbial bone of contention between the empires of Rome and their neighbors to the east, the Parthians. In A.D. 161 the Parthians under Vologases IV attacked Armenia and installed a puppet ruler. The Romans, under the leadership of Lucius Verus, counterattacked. Having soundly defeated the Parthians in a number of engagements, the Romans then installed their own puppet ruler - Sohaemus, a Roman citizen of Armenian heritage - on the throne.
Laureate and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus, right; Reverse: Lucius Verus seated left on platform; behind him, two soldiers standing left; before him, officer standing right, holding rod; below platform to left, Sohaemus standing left, raising hand to forehead. Bold portrait and full legends. Light smoothing and tooling, small natural planchet split. Chocolate brown patina with darker highlights.BOLD VERY FINE.

[King John]

Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 31mm, 27.53 g 12), Rome, the late 140s-150s. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P Laureate and bearded head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. COS III / S - C Antoninus Pius standing left, wearing military dress, paludamentum and a radiate nimbus, holding a laurel branch in his right hand and a spear in his left. Banti 116. BMC 1667. Cohen 318. RIC 765. A splendid example of a perfectly struck sestertius with an excellent portrait and a fine brown patina. Extremely fine.
From a collection in Switzerland. 

[King John]

PHRYGIA. Kibyra (2nd-1st century BC). Drachm.
Obv: Helmeted male head right.
Rev: ΚΙΒΥΡΑΤΩΝ. 
Warrior riding horse right, holding spear; rose to left.
SNG von Aulock 3707; BMC 7.
Condition: Good very fine.
Weight: 2.88 g.
Diameter: 17.00 mm.

[King John]

Lot 141.  Lot of Two Birytis Æ's. Includes the following: Æ 11mm. Head of Kabiros left, wearing pileus; star on either side of pileus / B-I/P-Y and club; within laurel wreath. SNG Copenhagen 249 // Æ 11mm. Bearded head of Kabiros left, wearing pileus / B-I/P-Y and club; within laurel wreath. SNG Copenhagen 250. Both VF, first dark green, second almost black. 2 coins in lot.
Estimate: US$ 75

[King John]

RÖMISCHE KAISERZEIT
Constantin I., der Große, 307 - 337 n. Chr. AE Follis (1,68g). ca. 318 - 319 n. Chr. Mzst. Siscia. Vs.: IMP CON-STANT-INVS PERP AVG, drapierte Panzerbüste mit Pileus Pannonicus n. r. Rs.: VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP / ASIS, zwei Viktorien halten einen Schild mit der Aufschrift VOT / PR über einen Altar. RIC VII ­ (vgl. zur Dat. 52 ff.). RRR! Schwarze Patina, Vs. Spuren von Korrosion, gutes ssErstaunlicherweise spielt der Pileus Pannonicus in der Münzprägung kaum eine Rolle. Lediglich diese Prägung, von der nur ein paar Stücke bekannt sind, zeigt diese Art der Kopfbedeckung, die für römische Sodaten an der Donaufront so typisch war, dass sie auch in der kaiserlichen Ikonographie bei Statuen wie der berühmten Tetrarchengruppe von Venedig auftaucht. Mit der Zeit wurde die Kopfbedeckung geradezu zum Synonym für den römischen Soldaten schlechthin, weshalb im 4. Jh. n. Chr. einige Bildhauer christlicher Sarkophage in Rom dieses Detail verwenden, um die Soldaten als solche zu charakterisieren.

Illustrazione: monumento ai Tetrarchi in porfido (altezza m.1,30) collocato all'esterno sul cantone del tesoro di San Marco in piazza San Marco a Venezia,

Modificato 15 Febbraio, 2017 da King John

[King John]

RÖMISCHE PROVINZIALPRÄGUNGEN 
Estimate: 950 EUR
RRR! Unicum! Braune Patina, ss
Ex Tkalec Auktion 29.2.2008, 490.
SERDICA. Caracalla, 211 - 217 n. Chr. AE (15,60g). Vs.: ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΥΡ ΣΕΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟΣ, Büste mit Panzer und Lorbeerkranz r. Rs.: ΟΥΛΠΙΑΣ ΣΕΡΔΙΚΗ/Σ, der Kaiser steht begleitet von Offizieren auf einem Podest und hält eine Ansprache an Soldaten, die Feldzeichen halten. Ruzicka, Serdica - ; Varbanov, GIC - .
THRAKIEN

[King John]

RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN (ROMAN COINS)
MÜNZEN DER RÖMISCHEN KAISERZEIT
Gallienus, 253-268.
AR-Antoninian, 260/261, Mediolanum; 2.92 g. Gepanzerte Büste r. mit Speer und Strahlenbinde//LEG I ADI VI P VI F Capricorn r. Coh. vergl. 449; MIR 982 o; RIC vergl. 315. RR Attraktives, sehr schönes Exemplar
Die Legio I Adiutrix war unter Gallienus in Pannonien stationiert und zog mit dem Kaiser nach Italien, wo sie auch an den beiden Alemannensiegen des Jahres 260 beteiligt war. Der Beiname VI pia VI fidelis, den unser Stück der Legion beifügt, feiert einen dieser beiden Siege.
Estimate: 350 EUR

[King John]

The Roman Empire
Galba, 68 – 69
Aureus, Tarraco circa 68-69, 7.71 g. GALBA IMP Laureate head r. globe at point of bust. Rev. ROMA – RENASCENS Roma helmeted and in military attire advancing r. holding sceptre in l. hand and victory on globe in outstretched r. C 214 var. BMC –, cf. 182 note. RIC (1st edition) 89 var. CBN 13 var. (reverse legend inward and clockwise). Calicó 493 var. (Obverse legend outward and anti-clockwise; reverse legend inward and clockwise).
An apparently unrecorded variety of an extremely rare type. A very interesting portrait
struck in high relief on an exceptionally large flan. Good extremely fine Ex HSA 22302.
Of all Galba’s coin types, this aureus, issued in Spain at the outset of his rebellion, offers perhaps the clearest statement of his intentions: Roma renascens (‘Rome rising again’ or ‘Rome reborn’). The reign of Nero was in many ways a low-point in Roman history, and to men like Galba, who had benefited from their attachment to earlier Julio-Claudians, the time had come to restore traditional Roman ways. Though this type was used on singular occasions by Vitellius and Vespasian, it was used extensively by Galba both as Imperator and Augustus.
With faith in the more recent Julio-Claudians justifiably shaken, it was an appropriate message for the age. Galba proposed a return to the severitas of a bygone era that he promised to usher back. However noble his intentions, Galba was naïve to think that a reform of moral and social code might be achieved in short order, especially during a civil war. He removed incompetent men from their offices and was stern – even stingy – with the army. Tacitus reports he did not provide his soldiers even a “mere token act of generosity,” all of which assured his downfall only six months into his reign.

Roma, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, megalografia con una figura femminile in trono, riccamente ornata. L'affresco fu rinvenuto nel 1655 presso il Battistero Lateranense, e acquisito alla collezione Barberini. I guasti verificatisi durante il distacco dell'affresco vennero integrati con gli attributi tipici della Dea Roma (in particolare l'elmo) e l'apposizione dell'iscrizione VIRTUS - HONOR - IMPERIUM alla base del trono: di qui l'identificazione con la dea Roma. Il restauro moderno realizzato dal Museo Nazionale negli anni 1950 ha eliminato le ridipinture, evidenziato l'ornamentazione antica, e consentito di rileggere la figura rappresentata come la Venere vittoriosa protettrice della gens Iulia. Si è quindi ipotizzato, sulla base di numerosi confronti iconografici, che l'affresco riproducesse la statua di culto di Venere posta nel Tempio di Venere e Roma, che proprio all'inizio del IV sec. Massenzio aveva fatto restaurare

Modificato 17 Febbraio, 2017 da King John

[King John]

ROMAN EMPIRE
HADRIAN, A.D. 117-138. Bronze As (13.38 gms), A.D. 134-138.
RIC-909. "HADRIANVS AVG. COS. III. P. P." His laureate & draped bust right; Reverse: "[COH. PRAETOR. S. C.]" Hadrian standing right, on platform, left, with Praefectus Praetorio, haranguing three soldiers and an officer: the officer looks right, while the three soldiers hold shields and standards. Very rare reverse type. Some light smoothing, otherwiseBOLD VERY FINE.

[King John]

SLG. J. - P. RIGHETTI, Teil III
KARIEN
HYDISOS.
No.: 423
Schätzpreis/Estimate: EUR 150,-
d=19 mm
Bronze, 50 v. Chr. - 50 n. Chr. Athenabüste mit Helm und Aegis n. r. Rv. UDI-SEWN Krieger in militärischer Tracht und mit Helm frontal stehend, Kopf n. r., in der Linken Schild, in der Rechten Lanze haltend. 4,33 g. BMC 122, 1. Selten. Grüne Patina.
Fast vorzüglich

[King John]

Philippus I AE Sestertius, Dacia
Philippus I (244-249 AD). AE Sestertius (28 mm, 13.49 g). Provincia Dacia. 247-248 AD.
Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev. PROVINCIA DACIA, Dacia holding vexillums inscribed V and XIII, eagle and Lion at sides.
Ex. AN II.
AMNG I, 7.

Rare. Crisp Detail. About extremely fine.

The eagle and the bull were the symbols of the Legio V and XIII, whose Standards Dacia is holding. The Legio V (and likely also the XIII) took part in Philip's campaign against the Carpians in 247-248 AD, defending the remote Dacian province from the Barbaric threat.

I VESSILLI DELLE LEGIONI ROMANE

[King John]

ROMAN EMPIRE
HADRIAN, A.D. 117-138. Bronze Sestertius (23.61 gms), Rome Mint, ca. A.D. 132-135.
RIC-706. "HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS." His laureate head right; Reverse: "FELICITATI AVG. COS. III. P. P. S. C." Ship moving left with sail steersman and rowers standard and vexillum at stern, Neptune at prow. One small edge crack, some light corrosion. Dark brown patina.VERY FINE.

[King John]

Domitian Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 85. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XI CENS POT P P, laureate bust of Domitian right wearing aegis / Emperor standing left, holding spear; German captive kneeling right before, presenting shield set amongst various arms; S-C across fields, broken spear in exergue. RIC 357; C. 489; BMC 337; BN 358. 28.40g, 35mm, 6h. Good Very Fine. Rare. An interesting historical type, and relatively well preserved for the issue. Having lived his whole life in the shadow of his father and brother's military victories, and having had none for himself, upon being proclaimed emperor Domitian soon found an opportunity to win glory for himself. Leaving Rome for Gaul in late AD 82-early 83, ostensibly to conduct a census, he unexpectedly launched a campaign against the Chatti in Germania, who had been part of Arminius' coalition of tribes that had annihilated Varus' column in the Teutoberg forest. For this purpose, Domitian raised a new legion, Legio I Minervia. Little information survives of the campaign, though apparently enough early victories were achieved for Domitian to return to Rome in late 83, where he awarded himself a triumph, conferred upon himself the title of Germanicus and struck a series of commemorative coinage depicting his subjugation of the Chatti. Domitian's campaign was viewed most unfavourably by ancient writers, who noted that it was an unprovoked attack and mocked his supposed accomplishments.

 

Modificato 19 Febbraio, 2017 da King John

[King John]

Anthemius. AD 467-472. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 468. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield / Anthemius and Leo I standing facing, each holding a spear and holding between them a globus cruciger; RM//COMOB. RIC X 2811; Lacam 59; Depeyrot 69/1 var. (obv. legend break). VF, toned, graffiti, scratches, some deposits, edge marks, probably ex jewelry. Very rare.
From the Bramhall Collection, gift from Robert Bridge (with his ticket).
Robert Bridge (1904-1997) was a gifted linguist – fluent in German, Italian, and French – who found application for his talents in Britain’s secret intelligence service. He spent WWII in military intelligence and after the war became Berlin station chief for MI6. Among his more interesting assignments can be mentioned his interrogation of the infamous Gestapo chief of Rome, Herbert Kappler, who was captured by the British while unsuccessfully trying to seek refuge in the Vatican. Berlin in the immediate postwar period was a focal point for espionage, and in much later years Bridge would privately describe experiences that seem straight out of John le Carré – the secret station office entered through what appeared to be an ordinary shop, late night meetings in a cemetery with an eastern source, and his abiding anger toward one of the “Cambridge Spies” with whom he had worked and whom he blamed for many deaths.
 

[King John]

Heraclius. 610-641. Æ Follis (22mm, 6.93 g, 12h). Thessalonica mint, 2nd officina. Dated RY 18 (627/8). Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and the Empress Martina, all standing facing, each crowned, wearing chlamys, and holding globus cruciger; two crosses in field on either side of Heraclius’ head / Large M; cross above, A/N/N/O X/ЧI/II (date) across field; B//ΘЄC. DOC 147; MIB 221; SB 825. Near EF, attractive, dark brown patina contrasts with red earthen deposits. The date is partially obscured by a flan flaw, but the position of the visible numerals suggests RY 18 is correct.
From the J.-P. Righetti Collection, 672. Ex Classical Numismatic Group E-Auciton 108 (16 February 2005), lot 317.

[King John]

Greek Coins 
Satraps of Parthia, Andragoras late 4th century BC – mid 3rd century 
 Stater, Ectabana circa 315, AV 8.51 g. Diademed and draped bust of Zeus r.; behind, monogram. Rev. Fast quadriga driven r. by Nike holding kentron and reins; at her l., a warrior. Below horses’ hooves, .·. and in exergue, ANDRAGOROU. BMC 2. Mitchiner type 19, 1 (this obverse die). Of the highest rarity, only six specimens known. A wonderful portrait of superb style struck on a full flan, good extremely fine Ex Triton sale XVI, 2013, 550. The dearth of evidence concerning events in the eastern lands once ruled by Alexander III and his successors has led to much confusion about what followed the Macedonian conquest of the Persian Empire. The gold staters and silver tetradrachms bearing the name Andragoras, inscribed in Greek, are thus imperfectly understood. Since they are objects of such fascination they have been studied intensively ever since the first gold staters of this ruler, purportedly from the Oxus River treasure (IGCH 1822), unearthed in the territory of ancient Sogdiana in 1877, came to light. The staters bear on their obverse a highly individualistic, bearded, draped and diademed portrait of a ruler, behind which is a monogram composed of Greek letters, perhaps HPAI. The reverse shows Nike piloting a chariot drawn by four horses; she is accompanied by an armored figure – perhaps Andragoras(?) – who holds an uncertain object in his raised right hand. The tetradrachms show on their obverse the turreted head of Tyche, behind which is the same monogram as appears on the staters. The reverse shows the standing figure of Athena holding an owl in her extended right hand as she places her left hand upon a Gorgoneion-shield; a transverse spear is engraved in the background. The Roman author Justin, who in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Century A.D. compiled an epitome of the now-lost ‘Philippic Histories’ of Pompeius Trogus, offers two possibilities of whom this Andragoras may be, both of whom were satraps of Parthia. He states that the first was appointed by Alexander III, perhaps in 331 B.C., while he was on campaign in the East (xii.4.12). Except for this reference in Justin, there is no reason otherwise to question the testimony of Arrian and Diodorus Siculus, who indicate that Alexander had maintained the Persian satrap Phrataphernes in that position. Indeed, the answer may be that Andragoras is a Greek version of Phrataphernes. Justin’s second reference is to an Andragoras who was appointed to his satrapy in the early- to mid-3rd century B.C. by a Seleucid king, seemingly Antiochus II or Seleucus II, only to be overthrown by the Parthian King Arsaces I, perhaps in about 238/7 B.C. (xli.4.7). We must also consider a Greek inscription found at Gurgan, about seventy miles inland from the south-eastern tip of the Caspian Sea, near the western border of Iran and Turkmenistan, which names a certain Andragoras as a high-ranking official under Antiochus I (see J. Wolski, "Andragoras était-il Iranien ou Grec?" Studia Iranica 4 [1975], pp. 166-69). Though there are these three fragments of information to consider, none of them eliminates the possibility that the Andragoras in question was another person entirely, for whom no historical record (other than his coins) survives. The discovery of a new inscription one day may provide conclusive information, but at present it is most frequently suggested that these coins were issued by the Seleucid satrap described by Justin, perhaps while he was confronted with revolts in Bactria, Hyrcania and Parthia.

 

[King John]

The Byzantine Empire
Constantine IX Monomachus, 1042 – 1055
Miliaresion 1042-1055, AR 2.64 g. + DECΠOI – NA CωZOIC The Virgin orans, nimbate, standing facing on footstool, wearing pallium and maphorium ; at sides, MHP in monogram – ΘV. Rev. EVCERH – MONOMAXON Constantine, bearded, standing facing, crowned and in military attire, holding long cross in r. hand and resting l. on sheath of sword. DO 7a.1. Sear 1834.
Rare and possibly the finest specimen known. Struck on an exceptionally
large flan and finely detailed, extremely fine The most creative period for Byzantine silver coinage, 1028-1081, saw the introduction of many new types. Curiously, the inventiveness of design coincided with a great silver shortage in the 11th Century that affected all regions from India to Western Europe. There is no solid evidence for the cause of the shortage, but ideas range from the exhaustion of productive mines to the mass export of silver to the realms of the Vikings. It caused a reduction in the output of Byzantine silver coins, a virtual abandonment of it in Muslim states, and a reduction in the purity of the penny in Latin Christendom. By 1092, when Alexius I reformed Byzantine coinage, the situation was so difficult that he abandoned the miliarense all together. Constantine IX Monomachus, who reigned in the midst of this period of expansion of types and contraction of volume, produced some extraordinarily beautiful coins, among which we may count this miliaresion. The common obverse for his miliarense and two-thirds miliarense coins is the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary shown facing with hands raised in a gesture of prayer (orans). Grierson describes Her appearance in this case as "iconic" since Mary is shown singly, without the emperor. In other cases, when Mary is the sole subject of a design, She is shown orans with a medallion of Christ on her breast, or holding the Infant Jesus.
With notable exceptions under Leo VI and Zoe and Theodora aside, Grierson suggests that there is a hierarchy in which Christ tends to appear on the full gold denominations – the solidus and histamenon – and the Virgin appears on subordinate denominations, including the tetarteron and silver coins. In the case of Leo VI, it is believed that the tradition of separation had not yet been established, and in that of Zoe and Theodora we might consider that Mary was favoured by these empresses.

[King John]

The Bellum Sociale
Denarius, mint moving in Campania 87, AR 3.57 g. Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva r., with aegis ; crowned by Victory behind. Rev. Warrior clasping hand with another warrior disembarking from ship; in exergue, IIIΛ. Sydenham 632a. Campana 181. Historia Numorum Italy 416. Very rare. Toned and good very fine Ex CNG sale 54, 2000, 1264.