Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Limited, Auction 12, lot 289, 29/09/2016

Mysia, Kyzikos EL Stater. Circa 500-450 BC. Cerberus standing to left on tunny fish / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 10; Boston 1538. 15.90g, 19mm.
Etremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
Ex David Walsh Collection, privately purchased in 2001.
Early Greek descriptions of Cerberus (Kerberos) vary greatly. The earliest literary appearance of Cerberus in Hesiod’s Theogeny (c. 8th – 7th centuries BC) portrays the monster with fifty heads, while Pindar (c.522-443 BC) gives him one hundred heads. Later writers however almost all describe Cerberus as having three heads. For practical reasons, representations of Cerberus in Greek art often depict him with two visible heads (the third being assumed to be hidden), but occasionally three heads, and rarely only one, are also seen. The earliest securely datable artefact depicting a three-headed Cerberus is a mid-sixth century BC Laconian cup by the Hunt painter, which clearly shows the beast with three canine heads, covered by a coat of snakes, and a tail ending in a snake’s head, held on a chain leash by Herakles. A slightly later amphora fount at Vulci c.525-510 (Louvre F204) shows a two-headed Cerberus in similar pose to that on our present coin, also with a snake-headed tail.
Though representations of Cerberus in Greek art are fairly common, with the familiar story of Herakles’ twelfth labour being a popular motif, depictions of Cerberus on Greek coins are seemingly limited to only this issue of Kyzikos, an extremely rare bronze issue of Epeiros (see Roma Numismatics 4, lot 114), and an exceedingly rare stater of Cumae in Campania (Rutter 76). Barclay Head proposed that the appearance of the monster here was in reference to or in honour of the city of Kimmerikon, sited on the southern shore of the Cimmerian Bosphorus which had previously been known as Cerberion (Pliny 6, 6, 6, 18), based on the assumption that the city would have been a familiar destination for Kyzikene traders. However it is probably incorrect to assign any specific significance to the type, since it is well known that Kyzikos frequently took inspiration for its coin types from the art of other Greek city-states’ coins and wares. The designs of Kyzikos’ coinage appear to have been decided upon apparently without necessarily requiring said types to have any deep meaning to either Kyzikene citizens or indeed anyone else in particular, often being admired it seems purely for their compositional beauty. Since the design of this coin does not copy any known type (the Epeirote bronze not being issued until the mid-fourth century), and Cerberos on Rutter 76 being of markedly different style (and only part of the design), it is probable that it copies the design of a vase or other vessel, such as the aforementioned Louvre F204 - an Attic red figure amphora - which found its way to Kyzikos.
Regardless of the origin of the design, the present coin is a magnificent example of this important mythological theme, and is one of very few known staters of the type, the hektes being relatively more plentiful, but still rare.

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 140	Auction date: 7 November 2023
Lot number: 157 Price realized: 26,000 CHF   (Approx. 28,992 USD / 26,977 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Uncertain mint in Caria Stater, mint B circa 450, AR 21 mm, 11.70 g. Naked male deity, with wings at shoulders and heels, running r.; above l. shoulder, monogram (possibly o-y) or linear device. Rev. B – M – (koppa) retrograde Lion crouching l., with r. foreleg raised, looking backwards; above, monogram (possibly o-y) or linear device. All within dotted frame in incuse square. Traité pl. XXIV, 18. E.S.G. Robinson, A Find of Archaic Coins from South-West Asia Minor, NC 1936, p. 269, 12 and pl. 14, 12 (these dies). SNG von Aulock 2351 (these dies). SNG Lockett 2917 (this obverse die). Rosen 624 (this obverse die). Rare. Of exquisite late Archaic style and with a superb old cabinet tone. Minor area of weakness on reverse, otherwise extremely fine Privately purchased from Vinchon in 2011. Our understanding of the Archaic and early Classical coins of Caria has increased dramatically in recent decades due to an improved decipherment of the Carian language. Pioneering work was conducted by Egyptologist John Ray in the 1980s when he laid the groundwork through the study of Carian-Egyptian bilingual tomb inscriptions. He demonstrated, among other things, that ancient Carian is a member of the Indo-European language group. Other linguists have continued Ray's work, including Ignacio-Javier Adiego Lajara, The Carian Language, and (especially with coin inscriptions) Koray Konuk. This rare stater of an uncertain mint in Caria was struck to the Aeginetic weight standard. Five issues of staters are assigned to this mint, currently labeled by Konuk as "Mint B," all of which are linked by a symbol that looks much like a stylized caduceus. On this coin it appears on the obverse above the figure's raised left arm, and on the reverse above the center of the lion's back. Konuk considers it to be a linear device or an object rather than a monogram composed of letters from the Carian script. Four of the "Mint B" staters are close variants of the present type. The fifth is a separate type with designs derived from the Classical-period drachms of Cnidus. It shows on its obverse the forepart of a roaring lion and on their reverse the head of a wreathed male within a strongly defined incuse square (on the Cnidus originals the head is of Aphrodite). This type shows a naked male in kneeling-running position with his arms and legs in motion, creating a most pleasing and balanced composition accentuated by wings at his shoulders and heels. The identity of the figure is not known, but he presumably is a deity or a hero. The reverse shows a lion standing left with his back sharply bowed; his head is reverted, his tail curled forward and his right forepaw raised. In addition to the 'linear device' that appears on each side, the reverse bears a three-letter inscription that Konuk transliterates as sγp, (perhaps pγs?) which may abbreviate the name of a dynast. A related series that is considerably larger and more familiar – the "winged Carians" – is now attributed by Konuk to Kaunos, a native port in Caria. His conclusion was drawn from the study of a trilingual inscription – Greek, Lycian and Aramaic – found in an excavation of the Letoon near Xanthos. The winged female figure on those coins is described by Konuk as Iris, and the triangular object on the reverse a baetyl, a conical stone worshipped as an abode of the gods Estimate: 7500 CHF

[santone]

Ritratti di notevole bellezza 

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 140	Auction date: 7 November 2023
Lot number: 10 Price realized: 40,000 CHF   (Approx. 44,603 USD / 41,503 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Metapontum Nomos attributed to Aristoxenos circa 430-400, AR 23 mm, 7.99 g. Head of Demeter l., wearing pendant and necklace; her hair fastened at the back with a fillet ornamented with two stalks of barley, one of which projects above her forehead. Rev. META Ear of barley with a praying mantis on r. Noe 398. Jameson 274 (these dies). K. Schefold, Meisterwerke griechischer Kunst, 528 (this coin). Historia Numorum Italy 1510. Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, possibly the finest specimen in private hands. A very elegant portrait of masterly style struck on a very broad flan. Delicate old cabinet tone and good extremely fine Ex M&M 37, 1968, 40 and Morton & Eden 51, 2011, Exceptional Greek Coins, 9 sales. From the Roberta Käppeli collection. This nomos of the end of the fifth century BC follows the standard pattern for the coinage of Metapontum in this period. The obverse is typically given over to the head of a deity which was changed at intervals, while the reverse depicts a grain ear, which had been the badge of the city since the sixth century BC and the emblem of its source of wealth. Metapontum had been founded by Achaian Greek colonists in c. 630 BC and soon grew wealthy from the rich soil of its hinterland and the export of the grain crops it produced. So closely connected was Metapontum and its grain that the Metapontines are said to have once dedicated a "golden harvest" at Delphi. This is presumed to have been a dedication of sheaves of grain fashioned from gold. As a major producer of grain, it is not surprising that Demeter held an important position at Metapontum. Without her proper worship, the Metapontines would risk crop failure and an end to their great prosperity. Thus, Demeter makes frequent appearances on Metapontine coins, as one might expect. In the sixth century BC, Metapontum became an important centre for the political philosopher Pythagoras and his followers following their escape from Kroton. When Pythagoras died his house in Metapontum was consecrated as a new temple to Demeter. Estimate: 15000 CHF

[King John]

Numisfitz GmbH > Auction 2	Auction date: 4 June 2023
Lot number: 522 Price realized: 100 EUR   (Approx. 107 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: PHRYGIA. Hierapolis. Pseudo-autonomous (2nd-3rd centuries). AE. Obv: ΓЄΡΟVСΙΑ. Laureate, veiled and draped bust of Gerousia right. Rev: ΙЄΡΑΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ. Apollo, holding bipennis, on horseback right. RPC IV.2 online 9789. Condition: Good very fine. Weight: 7,60 g. Diameter: 23 mm. Starting price: 50 EUR

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 140	Auction date: 7 November 2023
Lot number: 103 Price realized: 1,200 CHF   (Approx. 1,338 USD / 1,245 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Aetolia, Aetolian League Hemidrachm circa 205-150, AR 15 mm, 2.54 g. Head of Aetolia r., wearing causia. Rev. ΑΙΤΩΛΩΝ Boar running r.; below, Φ and in exergue, monogram and spearhead. Tsangari 1134. SNG Copenhagen 11. BCD Akarnanien und Aetolien 476 (these dies). Wonderful old cabinet tone and extremely fine Ex Sternberg XXIV, 1990, 57 and Hirsch 272, 2011, 248 sales. Estimate: 300 CHF

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 97, lot 253, 17/09/2014

DYNASTS of LYCIA. Perikles. Circa 380-360 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 9.85 g, 11h). Struck circa 380-375 BC. Head of Perikles facing slightly left, drapery around neck / Warrior, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, in fighting attitude right, holding sword aloft in right hand, shield on left arm; star to left, triskeles to lower right, PERIKLE in Lycian around; all within shallow incuse square. Mildenberg, Mithrapata 27 (A16/R22); Podalia 434-47 (A3/P10); Falghera –; SNG Copenhagen Supp. 478 (same dies); SNG von Aulock 4253 (same dies). EF, toned, minor edge split, slight doubling on reverse, overstruck on uncertain type. Well struck for issue on a broad flan.
Ex Nomos 6 (8 May 2012), lot 100; Jacob K. Stein Collection (Gemini V, 6 January 2009), lot 138 (displayed at Cincinnati Art Museum, 1995-2008, no. 72 [obverse illustrated in guide] of exhibition of 182 coins from his collection), purchased from Harlan J. Berk, December 1995.
The portraits on coins in the later Lycian series are among the finest of the Classical period. Among the earliest to attempt depictions of their rulers on coinage, the Lycians' first portraits in the later 5th century BC were innovative, but static, idealized forms lacking individual characterization. Over the next half-century, however, the style progressed significantly toward realism, culminating in the issues of the dynasts Mithrapata and Perikles in the early-mid 4th century BC. The coins of Mithrapata came first, depicting on their reverse the profile portrait of a man with distinctive elderly features. Through the relative chronology established in L. Mildenberg's die study, one can even see the portrait become more aged as time progressed, reflecting the realism that had been captured in these issues. The coins of Perikles, Mithrapata's successor, continue this trend, but also have two innovations that set them at the pinnacle of classical portraiture. First, the portrait is moved to the obverse of the coin, emphasizing the importance of the individual. Second, and most prominently, the portrait is not in the traditional profile, but in a dramatic facing state. Obviously influenced by Kimon's facing Arethusa-head coinage at Syracuse, these depict Perikles looking out from the surface of the coin with a serene countenance and his hair flowing around him as if blown by the wind. This depiction captures the essence of the earlier idealized portraits, conveying to the viewer a sense that Perikles was more than a mere man, but retaining the realism in its individualized features. Interestingly, both Mithrapata and Perikles are depicted without any sort of satrapal headgear, which was always included in earlier Lycian portraits, perhaps indicating that they had declared their independence from the Persian king. Unfortunately, these astonishing developments in portraiture came to an abrupt end in Lycia when Maussollos of Caria invaded the region circa 360 BC.

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 140	Auction date: 7 November 2023
Lot number: 15 Price realized: 8,500 CHF   (Approx. 9,478 USD / 8,819 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Locri Epizephiri Nomos circa 320-280, AR 19 mm, 7.61g. Laureate head of Zeus r.; behind, thunderbolt. Rev. [ΛOKPΩ]N Eagle flying l. with dead hare in talons. SNG ANS 519 corr. (thunderbolt not noted). Dewing 523. Historia Numorum Italy 2323. Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A bold portrait and a wonderful old cabinet tone. Extremely fine Ex Baussant Lefevre sale 2, 2011, 52. Locri Epizephyrii was founded in the early seventh century BC by Locrians from mainland Greece, perhaps assisted by Syracusans (Strabo V.I.7); whose relations with Syracuse always remained close. These relations with Syracuse are attested, indeed, by the minting of pegasi and the high proportion of Syracusan coins found in the excavations of the site. Despite the importance of the polis in the sixth and fifth centuries BC, why Locri failed to strike coinage before the fourth century BC remains a mystery, especially since several of its less-important neighbours produced large coinages in the Archaic and early Classical periods. Robinson proposed that the city's coinage needs may have been met by nearby Caulonia, which had an inexplicably large output for a city of its size. Beyond its basic classification, little is understood about the coinage of Locri. However, numerous inscriptions dating from circa 350-250 BC suggest that at least by the time Locri was issuing coins, the sanctuary of Zeus had become the city's principal credit institution by granting loans by transferring sacred revenues to the public funds. Thus, it is hardly surprising that Zeus or his related symbols dominate the major coin types of the city. Indeed in the later fourth century BC, Locri struck a number of issues, frequently overstruck on Corinthian pegasi, with local types, using the Achaean standard for circulation in southern Italy, as in this specimen, where Zeus on obverse has been associated to the eagle with hare on reverse. Estimate: 5000 CHF

[King John]

Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH > Auction 117	Auction date: 8 December 2023
Lot number: 465 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: PAPHLAGONIA. Sinope. Drachme (6,11 g), ca. 425-410 v. Chr. Av.: Adlerkopf n.l., darunter Delphin. Rv.: Quadratum Incusum mit zwei gefüllten Feldern und zwei vertieften, Beizeichen: O. HGC 7, 388var, SNG von Aulock 6836. Attraktives Exemplar mit dunkler Tönung. R s.sch.+ Ex Leu Numismatik 77 (2000), 234. Starting price: 400 EUR

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group, AUCTION 100, LOT 1843, 7/10/2015

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (34.5mm, 27.76 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 40-41. C • CAESAR • DIVI • AVG • PRON • AVG • P • M • TR • P • IIII • P • P •, PIETAS in exergue, Pietas, veiled and draped, seated left, holding patera and resting arm on small draped figure, standing on a basis / DIVO AVG/S C in two lines across field, Gaius (Caligula) standing left, holding patera over altar; on either side, victimarius, holding bull for sacrifice, and attendant, holding patera; hexastyle, garlanded temple of Divus Augustus in background. RIC I 51; BMCRE 69; BN 118-9. Near EF, dark green-brown patina, areas of minor roughness. Exceptional detail on façade and roof of temple.

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 92, lot 766, 23/05/2016

AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF COINS OF JULIAN II (THE PHILOSOPHER) AND THE FESTIVAL OF ISIS
The Festival of Isis Faria
Julian II, 360-363. Medallion, Æ 4.05 g. DN FL CL IVLI – ANVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, and cuirassed bust l., holding Victory on globe and shield decorated with she-wolf and twins motif; in r. field, Gonzaga eagle. Rev. VOTA – PVBLICA Isis and Serapis, facing each other and both with a snake body, holding a vase from which emerges a snake. C 114. Alföldi 68 and pl. II, 19 (this coin illustrated).
Extremely rare and an issue tremendous interest and fascination. An interesting
portrait and a dark brown patina. The flan partially restored on the bottom
part of it, otherwise good very fine
Ex Rollin et Feuardent, 14-26 May 1888, de Quelen 2188; Gilhofer & Ranschburg-Hess, 22 May 1935, Trau 4360, and Sternberg XXXIII, 1997, 384 sales. From the Gonzaga, de Quelen and Trau collections.
The reverse of this interesting Festival of Isis of Julian II medallion shows the husband-wife siblings Serapis and Isis with serpentine bodies, holding between them a large, sacred vase from which emerges a uraeus-snake. The snake is clearly flat-headed, which suggests that it is a cobra, an extremely venomous serpent native to Egypt and which was closely associated with the goddess as amongst all beings only she held the antidote to its venom. The serpentine bodies of the two gods are an unusual feature, but should be construed as dually representing both their chthonic, or underworld, natures, as well as their roles in guaranteeing bountiful harvests. Isis is frequently represented in classical art in the company of serpents (see, e.g., the frescos from Pompeii in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, inv. nos. 8929 and 9558, the latter of which shows Isis holding a cobra with its body entwined around her forearm), and although we lack specific knowledge of the rituals associated with Isiaic worship – our only account of them is the fictitious work, Metamorphoses (or The Golden Ass), by the second century AD author Apuleius – they had to do with death and rebirth, and are putatively related to the Christian concept of ascension. Interestingly, many scholars have also noted the syncretistic nature of the frequently seen image of Isis nursing Horus to that of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ.
Of further interest is the small eagle inset in an oval behind the head of Julian on the obverse, which shows that this medallion was at one time in the collection of the Gonzaga family of Mantua in Italy. The collection was first formed under the guidance of Isabella d’Este (1474-1539), a humanist and trendsetter of the times who was deeply committed to the arts and had been educated in the classics – and, very interestingly, has recently been identified as a plausible candidate for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa (see Frank Zöllner, Leonardo da Vinci – Sämtliche Werke, 2007, p. 241) – and was further built upon by her descendants. The mark was applied to all of the coins in the collection by the early 17th century, usually in silver for gold coins, and in gold for silver and bronze. Although some or all of the coin collection may have been sold to pay off family debts, whatever remained was certainly looted in 1630 during the sack of Mantua by imperial Landsknecht forces who pillaged the city over the course of three days. Afterwards, coins from the collection appeared in all of the major coin cabinets of Europe. Although they are rare, coins with the Gonzaga mark still occasionally come up for sale on the coin markets of today, and conveniently provide proof of a pedigree to the early 1600s at the latest if not to the original collection formed by Isabella d’Este herself.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: Isis and Osiris (Serapis) with body of a serpent, between them a Canopus - limestone stele; F 1960/9.1; Greek-Roman period; Time frame from 332 BCE to 395 AD, Leiden, Museum of Antiquities

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 140	Auction date: 7 November 2023
Lot number: 191 Price realized: 70,000 CHF   (Approx. 78,055 USD / 72,630 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.	Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on
Lot description: Cyrene Tetradrachm circa 400, AR 23 mm, 13.16 g. Head of Zeus Ammon, facing three-quarters r., wearing a laurel-wreath and a ram's horn. Rev. K – [Y] / P – [A] / N – [A] Silphium plant. BMC p. xlix, 77b, pl. IX, 10 (this coin) = NC 1915, p. 99, 48. Gillet 1211 (this coin). Jameson 2528 (these dies). Of the highest rarity, two specimens known of which this is the only one in private hands. A very interesting and innovative portrait of masterly Classical style, the work of a very skilled master engraver. Wonderful old cabinet tone, obverse from a worn die, otherwise about extremely fine / good very fine Ex Leu 28, 1981, 226 and New York XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 634 sales. From the W. Giesecke and Charles Gillet collections. Cyrene was founded in North Africa by Greek colonists from Thera in 631 BC. These were driven to leave their original island home by a famine that had gripped Thera for seven years and the advice of the Delphic Oracle, which promised that their fortunes would improve if they founded a city in Libya. The colonists were led by a certain Battus and made an initial attempt to settle on the island of Platea off the coast of Libya, but after two years and further direction from Delphi, they moved to the mainland and settled at Aziris. After six more years at this settlement, the native Libyans showed Battus a site further inland that was thought to be more suitable for Greek agriculture as it was said to be located beneath a "hole in the sky." This peculiar remark recorded by Herodotus is thought to refer to greater rainfall in the region than elsewhere in Libya. The new site proved to be surrounded by rich farmland and was settled as the city of Cyrene. Battus became the first in a line of Cyrenean kings that survived until the mid-fifth century BC, when the city adopted a republican constitution.Cyrene grew wealthy from involvement in the Mediterranean grain exprt trade and trade with neighboring Egypt. Riches also accrued to the city through its export of silphium (possibly an extinct giant fennel), a plant widely used in antiquity for seasoning and medicinal purposes. Silphium, which grew only on a narrow coastal strip of the Cyrenaica was supposed to be a good cure for a cough, sore throat, fever, indigestion, general aches and pains, and even madness. However, it has been suggested that the plant may have been most desired for its use as a contraceptive. Excessive demand, overharvesting, and the encroachment of grazing animals appears to have resulted in the extinction of silphium in the first century AD. Pliny the Elder claims that the last known stalk of silphium was sent to Nero (AD 54-68) as a curiosity. The rarity and value of silphium, together with its uniqueness to Cyrene made it a popular emblem for the city's coins as early as the sixth century BC.In addition to silphium, Cyrene was famous for its connection to the oracular shrine of Zeus Ammon at the Oasis of Siwah. This god was really a local Libyan deity identified with the important Egyptian fertility god Amun, whom the Greeks in turn re-imagined as a form of Zeus. He is easily distinguished from other depictions of the supreme Greek god by the addition of ram's horns. This attribute was carried over from Egyptian Amun, who was regularly associated with the ram as a symbol of fecundity. The oracular responses of Zeus Ammon were much desired and were sought out by a number of ancient rulers, most notably the Lydian king, Croesus (560-546 BC) and Alexander the Great (336-323 BC). Croesus reportedly consulted the oracle in order to decide whether he should go to war against the Persians, while Alexander visited in person in 331 BC. It is unknown what the Macedonian conqueror asked, but after he was greeted as "son of Amun" in accord with his status as Pharaoh of Egypt, he began to style himself as a son of Zeus among his Macedonian and Greek troops. Estimate: 35000 CHF

[King John]

Stack's Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio) > August 2023 Global Showcase Auction	Auction date: 14 August 2023
Lot number: 50156 Price realized: 13,000 USD   (Approx. 11,924 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: CONSTANTINE II AS CAESAR, A.D. 316-337. AV Solidus (4.37 gms), Antioch Mint, A.D. 324. NGC AU, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 3/5. RIC-44; Depeyrot-39/6. Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left, holding globus and raising hand; Reverse: Constantine standing right, holding spear and globus; SMAN. Retaining excellent detail in the hair and attire of the youthful prince, this stunning specimen is undoubtedly one of the finest of the type that one can hope to encounter and stands as an EXTREMELY RARE and important opportunity. Golden-yellow throughout, with enchanting brilliance and crispness of strike. From the Dr. Michael Rogers Collection, Part III. Ex: Leu 83 (5/2002) lot # 844. Estimate: $15000 - $30000

[King John]

Chaponnière & Firmenich SA > Auction 17	Auction date: 19 November 2023
Lot number: 84 Price realized: 300 CHF   (Approx. 338 USD / 311 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: ROMAN REPUBLIC. Octavian. Denarius Autumn 32-Summer 31 BC, Rome. Crescent bankers mark on obverse. RIC 251. AR. 3.76 g. - XF+ Amazing reverse which is possibly depicting the Prima Porta Augustus' statue. Starting price: 300 CHF

[King John]

Bolaffi Spa > Auction 44	Auction date: 6 December 2023
Lot number: 581 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction -
Lot description: Monete Romane Imperiali Commodo (180-192 d.C.) Medaglione bimetallico databile al 186 d.C. - Zecca: Roma - Diritto: busto laureato dell'Imperatore a sinistra, con scettro ed egida sulla spalla sinistra - Rovescio: l'Imperatore, in abito militare, stante verso sinistra sul podio, accompagnato da un portatore di lancia, si rivolge a un gruppo di sei soldati, ciascuno con elmo e scudo; sullo sfondo signum, vexillum e aquila - gr. 42,78 - Molto rara - Gradevole patina verde, ritocchi, SPL - Proveniente dall'asta NAC 46, Zurigo 2.4.2008, n. 609 e dall'asta NAC 5, Zurigo 25.2.1992, n. 510 (Coh. n. 133) (Gnecchi tav. 78,8) Starting price: 7500 EUR

[King John]

Nomos AG > obolos 30	Auction date: 17 December 2023
Lot number: 348 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: PAPHLAGONIA. Kromna. Circa 340 BC. Drachm (Silver, 19 mm, 3.50 g, 11 h), Chian standard. Laureate head of Zeus to left, his hair partially rolled at the back of his head but with some locks falling down below the neck truncation on both sides of his head. Rev. ΚΡΩΜΝΑ Head of the City-goddess or, perhaps, Hera to left, wearing turreted stephane adorned with palmette and scrolls, triple pendant earring, necklace and drapery along the neck line; before, N; above, swastika to right. HGC 7, 369. Cf. SNG BM Black Sea 1330 (N retrograde, K behind). Well-centered. Good very fine. Ex Obolos 21, 2 January 2022, 379. Starting price: 150 CHF

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Ltd > E-Sale 115	Auction date: 14 December 2023
Lot number: 455 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction -
Lot description: Persia, Achaemenid Empire AR Hemiobol. Uncertain mint, time of Artaxerxes II to Darios III, 4th century BC. Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance to right, holding spear and bow / Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance to right, holding spear and bow. Cf. SNG BnF 401 (Mallos; obol); cf. Göktürk 34 (same); cf. Klein 762 (Persia; 1/8 Siglos). 0.31g, 9mm, 3h. Good Very Fine. Estimate: 40 GBP

 

Modificato 1 Dicembre, 2023 da King John

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII	Auction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 172 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction -
Lot description: THESSALY, Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-359 BC. AR Stater (22.5mm, 11.55 g, 5h). Head of Ennodia facing slightly right, wearing pearl diadem, earring in the form of a grape bunch, and linear necklace; torch to left / A-Λ-E-ΞA-N-ΔPOY, Alexander, wearing Thessalian military attire and sheathed sword, brandishing spear he holds aloft in his right hand, on horse, with labrys on it hind quarter, rearing right; labrys below. BCD Thessaly I 1309 (this coin); HGC 4, 576 (this coin illustrated); Traité IV 612 = Jameson 1106 (same dies). Deeply toned, slight roughness and a few tiny delaminations. Near EF. A wonderful example of this very rare issue, struck in high relief from dies of fine style. From the Father & Son Collection. Ex Sheikh Saud Al-Thani Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica 116, 1 October 2019), lot 119; BCD Collection (Nomos 4, 10 May 2011), lot 1309. One of the ironies of ancient Greek numismatics is how a cruel, treacherous tyrant like Alexander of Pherai could produce a coin of such surpassing beauty. The son of a previous Thessalian tyrant, Alexander murdered his way into his late father's position of power in 369 BC and immediately embarked on a rule so bloody that much of Thessaly rebelled and invited the armies of Macedon and Thebes to invade and depose him. Nearly a decade of warfare and atrocities followed, until a conspiracy led by his own wife ended his life and tyranny in 359 BC. Alexander's extremely rare silver staters depict Ennodia, a uniquely Thessalian goddess who shared attributes with Artemis, Hecate and Persephone. The reverse depicts Alexander as a mounted officer in full kit, paying tribute to the loyal Thessalian cavalry that helped maintain him in power against superior forces. Estimate: 75000 USD

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII	Auction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 352 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction -
Lot description: PHILISTIA (PALESTINE), Uncertain mint. Mid 5th century-333 BC. AR Obol (8.5mm, 0.75 g, 1h). Hunting scene with an archer, his torso right, drawing his bow, mounted on a horse facing; at each side, a lion couchant outward, their heads looking back at the archer; uncertain symbol or letter to upper right / Hunting scene with a warrior, holding a sword in his right hand, shield on left arm, crouching right; to right, two boars standing right above one another, the top one inverted; uncertain symbol or letter to left. Gitler & Tal XXIX.3O; otherwise, unpublished. Light scratches. Good VF. Well centered. Extremely rare, only one example cited by Gitler & Tal, in a private collection; none in CoinArchives. Estimate: 1000 USD ILLUSTRAZIONE: BASSORILIEVO DEL II SECOLO D.C., RAFFIGURANTE UNA SCENA DI CACCIA AL LEOPARDO, MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO DI PALMIRA

Modificato 6 Dicembre, 2023 da King John

[King John]

VIA GmbH > E-Auction 14	Auction date: 18 December 2023
Lot number: 33 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: PAMPHYLIA Aspendos Stater 465-430 v. Chr. Av.: Nackter behelmter Krieger mit Schild und Speer nach rechts. Rv.: E(Sigma) - T - E, Triskele aus Beinen in Quadratum incusum. SNG Copenhagen: 153 11.15 g. Selten! Sehr schön/vorzüglich Starting price: 1200 EUR

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII	Auction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 176 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: LOKRIS, Lokri Opuntii. Circa 360-350 BC. AR Stater (23mm, 12.24 g, 11h). Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace / Ajax, nude but for crested Corinthian helmet, holding sword in right hand, shield decorated with coiled serpent on left arm, advancing right on rocks; ivy leaf and broken spear below, OΠON-TIΩN around. H&D Group 12, 117–22 var. (O–/R37 [unlisted obv. die]); BCD Lokris 44–5 (same rev. die); HGC 4, 989. Lightly toned, with some iridescence and underlying luster, a few minor hairlines. Superb EF. From the James Fox Collection. Ex CNG inventory 701572 (May 1997). Estimate: 5000 USD

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII	Auction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 11 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction -
Lot description: LUCANIA, Herakleia. Circa 390-340 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.73 g, 1h). Head of Athena right, wearing triple-pendant earring, pearl necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone; Δ/Κ/Φ to right / Herakles standing facing, upper torso turned right, wrestling with the Nemean Lion; club and ΚΑΛ to left, |-HPA[KΛHIΩN] to right; between Herakles' legs, owl standing right, head facing. Work 39 (same dies); Van Keuren 50; HN Italy 1377; SNG ANS 63 = Sartiges 28 (same obv. die); SNG Lloyd 272 (same dies); Gillet 125; McClean 824 (same obv. die); Pozzi 148 (same dies); Ward 44 (same obv. die). Attractive deep iridescent tone. Good VF. Struck from wonderfully engraved dies for this type. From the Father & Son Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Review XLVI.1 (Winter 2021), no. 564443; Roma XX (29 October 2020), lot 15; Dr. G. W. Collection (Gorny & Mosch 269, 9 March 2020), lot 90. Herakleia was a relatively late foundation along the instep of the Italian "boot," starting out as a compromise settlement between the warring city-states of Thourioi and Tarentum around 432 BC. Although widely regarded as a colony of Tarentum, Herakleia considered itself independent and played host to an annual meeting of envoys from all the Italo-Greek cities. Named after Herakles, the city's coinage naturally depicted the powerful demigod on the reverse, here in a deadly embrace with the Nemean Lion. Estimate: 4000 USD

[King John]

Moneta da  1/2 Lek della repubblica di Albania  coniata nel 1926 dalla zecca di Roma, incisore Romagnoli, che si ispira chiaramente alla moneta di Eraclea del post precedente.

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII	Auction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 4 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 430-425 BC. AR Nomos (22mm, 7.91 g, 11h). Phalanthos, nude, holding akrostolion in his right hand and supporting himself with his left, riding dolphin left; retrograde TAPA[N]-[T]-INΩ-[N] above; below, crawfish left / Taras as Oikistes, his torso bare, wearing himation from his waist, seated left on stool, holding bird by both wings in his right hand and resting his left arm on the back of the chair; to left, dog leaping upward at the bird. Fischer-Bossert Group 17, 261d (V117/R184) = Vlasto, Taras, Type 38, i = Jameson 102 = A. J. Evans, "The 'Horsemen' of Tarentum" in NC 1889, pl. 12, 1 (this coin); Vlasto 221 (same dies); HN Italy 844; SNG ANS 856 (same dies); SNG Fitzwilliam 236 (same dies); BMC 81 (same dies). Cabinet tone, a few old scratches under tone. VF. Splendid classical style. Ex Dr. Roland Maly Collection (LHS 100, 23 April 2007), lot 34; Robert Jameson Collection (publ. 1913); Sir Arthur J. Evans Collection. Estimate: 2000 USD

 

Modificato 15 Dicembre, 2023 da King John

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII	Auction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 808 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Septimius Severus. AD 193-211. Æ Medallion (41mm, 59.51 g, 1h). Rome mint. Struck AD 194. L • SEPTIMIVS • SEVERVS PERTINAX • AVG IMP IIII, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / [P] M TR P III [COS] II P P, FIDEI • MILIT, Septimius Severus standing left on däis, right hand raised in salute and holding scepter with left; behind him, Caracalla and Geta, both in military attire, standing left; before, six soldiers standing right, the front row holding shields, the back row holding two signa and a vexillum. Gnecchi II, 16 (pl. 94, 7); Banti 51; Cohen 152; Grueber 3; Froehner p. 153. Attractive dark green and brown patina, slight roughness, a few light scratches. Good VF. Extremely rare. A very impressive piece. Ex Triton XX (10 January 2017), lot 786; Gorny & Mosch 232 (5 October 2015), lot 456. Although Septimius Severus is often described as first of the "soldier emperors," his early career was almost entirely civilian, rising steadily through the ladder of Roman magistracies, much like his predecessors. Nevertheless, his reign proved a major step in militarizing Roman government and life. He entered the Senate in AD 173 and gained some early military experience as legionary officer in Africa and Syria, where he served under the later Emperor Pertinax. After reaching the Consulship in AD 190, he was appointed as governor of Pannonia Superior, which placed him in command of Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix, strategically located within easy march of Italy and Rome. With the assassination of Commodus in AD 193, followed within weeks by the murder of his mentor Pertinax, Severus was hailed as emperor by the XIIIIth at Carnuntum. A lightning march to Rome deposed the pathetic Didius Julianus and placed Severus in firm control of the capital, whereupon he immediately prepared for civil war against two rivals who had likewise been proclaimed in the provinces, Clodius Albinus and Pescinnius Niger. Though wealthy and connected, Severus was from a "new" family and relied heavily on the army to cement his power. He raised military pay and showed his troops many preferments, including ending the longtime ban on marriage for regular soldiers. The army began to think of him as one of their own and, after disposing of Niger and Albinus, he suffered no revolts or serious internal threats for the rest of his reign. This remarkable bronze medallion, struck in AD 194 for presentation to a senior officer, depicts Severus being hailed as Imperator (victorious general) by his soldiers. Behind him stand his sons, Caracalla and Geta, whom he told on his deathbed, "get along with one another, enrich the soldiers, and despise everyone else!" Estimate: 15000 USD ILLUSTRAZIONE: SCENA DI ADLOCUTIO (DISCORSO DELL'IMPERATORE ALL'ESERCITO)  TRATTA DALLA COLONNA DI MARCO AURELIO