Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXIII	Auction date: 24 March 2022
Lot number: 850 Price realized: 9,000 GBP   (Approx. 11,866 USD / 10,781 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Nero Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 65. NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate bust to right, slight drapery on far shoulder / Roma, helmeted and draped, seated to left on cuirass, right foot on helmet, holding Victory in outstretched right hand and resting left hand on parazonium; to right, shields set on ground; S-C across fields, ROMA in exergue. RIC I 275 var. (wearing aegis); WCN 137 var. (same); BMCRE 180 var. (same); BN 364 var. (same). 27.90g, 35mm, 6h. Extremely Fine; engraved in fine style, with a superbly detailed reverse. This coin published at www.moneymuseum.com; Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 550; Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XVIII, 6 January 2015, lot 1033; Ex MoneyMuseum Zürich Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Triton XVIII, 6 January 2015, lot 1033 (hammer: USD 15,000); Ex Kurt P. Wyprächtiger Collection, Bank Leu AG, Auction 7, 9 May 1973, lot 346. The reverse of this magnificent sestertius displays a finely detailed depiction of Roma. Conceived of by Romans as 'Amazonian', militaristic by nature, holding Victory in her palm and gripping the parazonium (a leaf-shaped blade that was a ceremonial mark of rank and used to rally troops), she is the embodiment of the city of Rome, and more broadly the Roman state. Unexpectedly, the cult of dea Roma had emerged not at Rome, but in the Greek East. The earliest appearances of Roma are most likely found in the helmeted figure appearing on Roman cast bronze coins dating from 280-276 BC, however the identification is contestable. Other early Roman coinage displays a similarly warlike 'Amazon' type, who is also possibly Roma, but more likely a genius (defined as the individual instance of a general divine nature that is present in every individual person, place, or thing) of Rome than a distinct goddess. Certainly, Roma was in the time of the Republic not the subject of cult worship at Rome itself. The earliest attested temple dedicated specifically to Roma appears in Smyrna around 195 BC, and around the same time the cult of Roma appeared at Rhodes and other cities nearby. Such democratic city-states accepted Roma as analogous to their traditional cult personifications of the demos (the people). The cult of Roma spread relatively quickly within the provinces, and is accepted as having been the precursor for the later principate era state-sanctioned worship of living emperors as gods. When in 30/29 BC the koina of Asia and Bithynia requested permission to honour Augustus as a living god, a cautious solution was devised; republican values held monarchy and Hellenic honours in contempt (the courting of both had proved fatal for Caesar), but refusal might offend loyal allies. Thus it was determined that non-Romans could only offer worship to Augustus as divus jointly with dea Roma. This dual worship of the State together with the head of state was a political and religious expedient, but while Augustus, Tiberius and Claudius were careful to refuse divine honours within Rome itself, subsequent rulers of arguably less stern moral fibre allowed or actively promoted worship of their own person. Indeed, Nero had in AD 64, the year before this coin was struck, instituted his depiction on the Roman coinage with the radiate crown previously reserved for deified (and deceased) emperors. Estimate: 10000 GBP

[VALTERI]

Dal vecchio manuale di Sear, un bel tetradrammo di Abdera di Tracia con al rovescio piccola testa elmata della dea guerriera Atena, in cartiglio contornato da nome di magistrato .

Vale una curiosità notare che il magistrato nel nome  ricorda Melanippo, mitologico eroe guerriero difensore di Tebe dall' attacco dei " 7 contro Tebe " , protagonista, postumo, di un truculento episodio che sarà anche ricordato da Dante .

[VALTERI]

Da uno statere di Ambracia in Epiro, la testa della dea guerriera Atena è proposta con un particolare elmo corinzio, apparentemente ornato con una cresta a forma di toro .

[King John]

Nomos AG > obolos 22	Auction date: 6 March 2022
Lot number: 332 Price realized: 110 CHF   (Approx. 120 USD / 110 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: TROAS. Ophrynion. Circa 350-300 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 13.5 mm, 1.23 g, 7 h). Bearded, head of Hector facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing triple crested helmet. Rev. ΟΦΡΥ The infant Dionysos kneeling right atop ivy branch, holding grape cluster in right hand. SNG Copenhagen 456. SNG von Aulock 1559. Rare. Green patina. Very fine. From the collection of a scholar. The coinage of Ophrynion is one of the few instances in ancient numismatics that bears a portrait of the Trojan hero Hector. Thus, this is one of the only chances for a collector to acquire a depiction of the Trojan hero, who was killed by Achilles and whose tomb was reportedly located at Ophrynion. Starting price: 75 CHF

[King John]

Nomos AG > Auction 24	Auction date: 22 May 2022
Lot number: 213 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: PHRYGIA. Cotiaeum. Pseudo-autonomous issue, circa 200-230s. Diassarion (Bronze, 22 mm, 6.43 g, 7 h). ΔΗ - ΜΟC Bearded head of Demos to right, with light drapery over his far shoulder. Rev. Β / ΚΟΤ - ΙΑ/ΕΩ - Ν Ganymede, borne away by a large eagle (= Zeus) with spread wings who clasps him from behind, standing left, nude but for his Phrygian cap, holding a lagobolon in his left hand and raising his right above him to stroke the eagle's beak. Martin, Demos et al. Kotiaion 4.1 = SNG Copenhagen 315 (same dies, but B omitted or misread as K). Very rare and with a most interesting mythological scene on the reverse. Dark brown patina. About extremely fine. From an English collection, originally acquired prior to circa 2000. The tale of Zeus's infatuation with the Trojan shepherd Ganymede is well known: seeing him, and being transfixed by his beauty, Zeus transformed himself into an eagle and carried the youth off from his flocks on Mt. Ida to Mt. Olympus. The scene is found on a number of Roman Provincial issues, primarily from Ilium and Dardanos in the Troad, but none of them show precisely this version: here Ganymede is standing straightly at attention with his legs together, still holding his hunter's lagobolon and wearing his Phyrgian cap, but rather affectionally stroking the eagle's beak. Presumably Ganymede must have realized that his fate was not to be the same as that of the usual member of his flock when carried off by an eagle! Estimate: 2500 CHF illustrazione: Ganimede dei Musei Vaticani, copia della scultura di Leocare

[King John]

Nomos AG > Auction 24	Auction date: 22 May 2022
Lot number: 475 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: CRUSADERS. Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Amalric, Patriarch of Jerusalem, 1158-1180. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 41 mm, 46.29 g, 12 h). Η / ΑΝΑ - CΤ / ΑCΙC Scene of the Resurrection; at the center, Christ, nimbate, standing facing, holding a patriarchal cross with his left hand and drawing up the kneeling figure of Eve with his right; to left, Adam standing right with his arms extended in prayer; to left, two kneeling figures (kings David and Solomon). Rev. ✻☩✻ / AMALRICVS / SCERESURREC / TIONISECCLESI / ÆPATRIAR / [CHA] (= Amalricus S(an)c(ta)e Resurrectionis ecclesiae patriarcha) in five lines. DO Seals 5, 19.3. MAH Zacos 412. Rare. An attractive and historic seal with a lovely brown patina. The usual marks and edge faults, otherwise, good very fine. Amalric of Nesle became Patriarch of Jerusalem 1158, succeeding the powerful Fulk of Angoulême who had died the previous year. Amalric's most notable action must have been his coronation of the tragic Baldwin IV on 15 July 1174, the 75th anniversary of Jerusalem's capture by the Crusaders. Estimate: 2000 CHF

[King John]

Nomos AG > Auction 24	Auction date: 22 May 2022
Lot number: 42 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: THRACE. Abdera. Circa 365-361 BC. Stater (Silver, 23.5 mm, 12.44 g, 3 h). Griffin with curved wings seated to left, his right fore-paw raised and the others flat on the ground. Rev. EΠ API - ΣT/AΓ - O-PEΩ Youthful Dionysos, draped from the waist with a himation and holding a kantharos in his right hand and a thyrsos with his left, seated to left on the back of a leopard (a panther?) standing to right. May, Abdera 398 (A 278/P 324, and p. 237 , fig. 2 this coin). C. Severeanu, Bucuresti 1936, pp. 21-26 and figs. 1-2 (this coin). Also cited by K. Chryssanthaki, Abdera p. 122 and C. Lorber, Amphipolis, p. 178. Extremely rare, the second example known. Beautifully toned, struck from dies of exceptionally fine quality, and with a reverse of the very finest late Classical style. Extremely fine. From a European collection, and that of L. von Hoffmann, Sotheby's, London, 5 July 1995, 38, ex Monnaies et Médailles 61, 7 October 1982, 81, and from the collection of C. Gillet (Kunstfreund), Münzen und Medaillen/Bank Leu, 28 May 1974, 132, probably acquired prior to World War II and apparently found in southern Bulgaria prior to 1936 . The reverse scene on this stater is clearly taken from Greek painting, preserved to us on surviving mosaics and on painted pots. A contemporary Paestan Red Figure pot in the Louvre (dated to c. 370-360 BC) has a very closely related image (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifact?name=Louvre+K+240&object=Vase); while there is a similar scene on the famous, slightly later pebble mosaic from Pella, dating to c. 325-300 BC  Estimate: 100000 CHF

[King John]

Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3099	Auction date: 5 May 2022
Lot number: 30035 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Ancients LESBOS. Mytilene. Ca. 377-326 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte. (10mm, 2.54 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Laureate head of Zeus right; small serpent right before / Half-length bust of Nike right, wings spread; two stars above, all within linear square. Bodenstedt 101. HGC 6, 1027. Perfectly struck and centered, from fresh dies of magnificent style. Honey gold color with layers of orange hues. A truly stunning coin in hand. Estimate: 5000-7000 USD

[King John]

Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 133, lot 7129, 11/10/2007

AKRAGAS. Phintias, 287-279 v. Chr.
Æs, 287/279 v. Chr.; 5.62 g. Zeuskopf l. mit Lorbeerkranz//Adler auf Hasen l. Calciati 116; SNG ANS vergl. 1113 ff.; SNG München vergl. 163 ff. Dunkle Patina, sehr schön-vorzüglich
Phintias konnte nach dem Tod des Agathokles von Syrakus die Macht in Agrigent übernehmen und die Stadt von der syrakusanischen Dominanz befreien.
Estimate: 125 EUR

IL TIRANNO FINZIA CHE GOVERNO' AGRIGENTO DAL 287 AL 279 E CHE EMISE QUESTA MONETA, HA LO STESSO NOME DEL FINZIA, AMICO FIDATO DI DAMONE, DELLA FAMOSA LEGGENDA GRECA SULL'AMICIZIA CHE PROPONGO DI SEGUITO NELLA VERSIONE FORNITA DA WIKIPEDIA E ACUI SI RIFERISCE L'ILLUSTRAZIONE

 

Nel IV secolo a.C., Finzia e Damone, due cari amici e seguaci del filosofo Pitagora, si recano a Siracusa; qui, Finzia contesta il dominio tirannico di Dioniso il Giovane, e viene quindi condannato a morte (secondo altre versioni, l'accusa è falsa, orchestrata dai cortigiani di Dionisio per mettere alla prova l'amicizia dei due)^[2].

Finzia chiede che gli sia permesso di fare ritorno per un'ultima volta a casa, per salutare la sua famiglia e disporre delle sue cose, ma Dionisio rifiuta, convinto che se gli fosse stato concesso, Finzia avrebbe colto l'occasione per fuggire. Damone si offre allora di prendere il posto di Finzia mentre questi è via: Dionisio accetta, a condizione che, se Finzia non avesse dovuto fare ritorno, Damone sarebbe stato giustiziato al suo posto.

Damone accetta le condizioni, e Finzia parte; tuttavia, il tempo passa e Finzia non ritorna. Giunto il giorno dell'esecuzione, Dionisio dà il via ai preparativi per uccidere Damone, deridendolo per la sua malriposta fiducia; Damone rimane però convinto che l'amico farà ritorno, e infatti appena prima che il boia esegua il suo compito, Finzia arriva sulla scena. Scusandosi con Damone per il ritardo, Finzia spiega che la nave su cui si trovava per tornare a Siracusa era stata colta da una tempesta, e poi dei banditi l'avevano aggredito lungo la strada, ma era riuscito ad arrivare giusto in tempo.

Stupito e compiaciuto da questa prova di forte lealtà, Dionisio decide di perdonarli entrambi, e chiede anche di poter diventare a sua volta loro amico.

Modificato 28 Aprile, 2022 da King John

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 131	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 58 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus Aureus 196-211, AV 7.15 g. IVLIA – AVGVSTA Draped bust r. Rev. VESTA – MATER Six Vestals sacrificing over altar, in front of temple of Vesta. C 239. BMC S. Severus 97. RIC S. Severus 586. Calicó 2651 (these dies). Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, among the finest specimens in private hands. A very attractive portrait and an interesting and finely detailed reverse composition. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex Rollin & Feuardent 26 May 1909, Evans, 197; NGSA 4, 2006, 198; Tkalec May 2009, 159 and NAC 114, 2019, 758 sales. From the collection of a retired banker. The reverse of this stunning type depicts a sacrifice before the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum. Vesta was the Roman goddess of the hearth and marriage. The Romans believed that her first temple was built by Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome, in the seventh century BC. It housed a sacred fire that was perpetually tended by the priestesses of Vesta, the famous Vestal Virgins, for it was believed that if the flame went out so too would the power of Rome. It burned continuously from the seventh century BC until it was at last extinguished by the Christian emperor Theodosius I (AD 379-395). Although the original temple was destroyed by the Gauls during their sack of the city in 390 BC, the real enemy of the temple was the perpetual flame that it contained. The Temple of Vesta burned down in 241 BC, 210 BC, and in the first century BC. The sanctuary was fully rebuilt during the reigns of Augustus and Nero, but burnt down again in AD 191 causing it to be reconstructed by the reigning emperor, Septimius Severus. This aureus, struck in the name of his wife, the empress Julia Domna, commemorates Severus' rebuilding of the temple. The Temple of Vesta was important not only as the symbolic hearth of Rome, but as the depository of important documents, especially wills. One might question the wisdom of keeping paperwork in the same building as a large fire, however. The temple also contained many sacred relics from the legendary past of the city. Most notable among these was the Palladium, a statue of Minerva believed to have fallen from the sky and which Aeneas brought with him to Italy following the sack of Troy. The attention to detail of the ancient die engraver and the high level of preservation of this coin make it possible to still see the Palladium standing within the temple if one looks closely through the central intercolumniation. This is an exquisite coin that showcases the skill of a master engraver of the Severan age. Estimate: 50000 CHF ILLUSTRAZIONE: LE VESTALI COMPIONO UN SACRIFICIO A VESTA, MUSEO DELLA CIVILTA' ROMANA, ROMA

Modificato 1 Maggio, 2022 da King John

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 132	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 563 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Commodus augustus, 177 - 193 Aureus 185, AV 7.22 g. M COMM ANT AVG – P BRIT FEL Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. P M TR P – X – IMP VII – CO – S IIII P P / CONC MIL Commodus in military attire, standing l. between two pairs of soldiers; the inner soldiers clasp hands. C 60 var. (different obverse legend). BMC 198 var. (different obverse legend). RIC 127 (different obverse legend). Kent-Himer pl. 103, 356 (this reverse die). Calicó 2225a (this reverse die). Of the highest rarity, possibly the second specimen known of this variety of an extremely rare type. A very interesting issue with a spectacular reverse perfectly centred on a large flan. About extremely fine / extremely fine The reverse of this aureus features a remarkable scene in which Commodus-standing suitably taller than the other figures on a dais-personally oversees the shaking of hands by members of two different military units-indicated by the two standards. The scene is reminiscent of the conclusion of sporting events in which each team lines up to shake hands, even when bitter rivals. The difference here is that the two teams in question had the potential to kill each other and/or the Emperor, who appears here in the role of referee. The abbreviated exergue legend makes it clear that the type represents the concord of the soldiers, but the scene has a tense quality that any concord is not entirely the desire of the men shaking hands. Note that Commodus is not passively overseeing the hand shaking, but seems to be extending his arms behind the soldiers in order to bring them together in concord. The concord of the soldiers was a great concern for the administration of Commodus in 184-185, when this coin was struck. Due to the mismanagement of Britannia by the Praetorian prefect Sextus Tigidius Perennis, the legions stationed there mutinied in 184. The revolt was repressed, but Perennis then proceeded to remove the commanders from the offending legions, thereby earning himself the hatred of the men. In response, a large deputation from the British legions was dispatched to Rome in 185 to denounce Perennis before the Emperor. It was claimed that Perennis had plotted to overthrow Commodus and establish himself in the seat of imperial power. Commodus, who was already paranoid about assassination plots, found himself easily convinced and ordered the execution of Perennis. Thus did the son of Marcus Aurelius restore concord to the soldiers of Britannia. Estimate: 25000 CHF

[VALTERI]

Dall' Iberia, un denario battuto ad Emerita al nome di Ottaviano Augusto .

Il compilatore ricorda come tipiche celtibere le armi che al rovescio affiancano una curiosa testa di guerriero con elmo con vistosa crestatura .

L'esemplare è passato ieri l' altro in asta Artemide LVII al n. 450 .

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 132	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 270 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: The Oitaioi Didrachm after 167, AR 7.62 g. Lion's head l. with spear in its jaws. Rev. OITAI / ΩN Youthful Heracles standing facing, wearing ivy-wreath, holding club and lion's skin. de Nanteuil 850. SNG Copenhagen 179. Valassiadis, The Coinage of the Oitaeans, in Obolos 7, 10. SNG Lockett 1588 (this coin). Weber 2883 (this coin). BCD Thessaly I, 1217. BCD Thessaly II, –. Extremely rare and possibly the finest specimen in private hands. Struck on excellent metal and with a wonderful old cabinet tone. Good extremely fine Ex Ars Classica VI, 1924, Bement, 929; Ars Classica X, 1925, 528 and Glendining 12-13 Febraury 1958, Lockett part II, 1451 sales. From the H. Weber collection and from an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s. The types of this didrachm of the Oitaioi focus on the mythology of Heracles because it was within their territory that the greatest of all Greek heroes met his tragic end and subsequently ascended to the gods. Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, was almost carried off by the Centaur Nessos as she attempted to cross the Euenos River. She was saved by the timely arrival of Heracles, who shot the Centaur with a poisoned arrow. However, as Nessos lay dying, he told Deianeira to make a potion from his blood that he said would ensure the fidelity of husband Heracles, who had the unfortunate habit of fathering children with other women throughout Greece, Italy, the Near East, and North Africa. Deianeira followed his instructions and soaked her husband's shirt in the blood, not realising that it was contaminated with the poison (the venom of the Lernean Hydra) of the arrow that killed Nessos. When Heracles put on the shirt, the poison immediately began to burn his flesh and realizing that it would ultimately kill him, Heracles ascended Mount Oita, the mountain from which the Oitaioi derived their name, and built his own funeral pyre at the summit. Casting himself onto the flaming pyre, Heracles destroyed his mortal self, but freed his immortal self to rise to join the Olympian gods. Estimate: 20000 CHF

[VALTERI]

Probabilmente già comparso tra i moltissimi post, tuttavia ancora meritevole di uno sguardo, il parecchio raro statere attribuito a Temesa, con bell' elmo corinzio al diritto e coppia di schinieri al rovescio, che torna al mercato dopo il 20 Maggio in asta Nomos 24 al n. 13 .

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 132	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 245 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Kings of Macedonia, Alexander I, 498 – 454 Octodrachm circa 465-460, AR 29.01 g. Warrior, wearing causia and holding two spears, standing behind horse. Rev. AΛE – ΞA – NΔ – PO around a shallow incuse square frame which surrounds a quadripartite incuse square. Svoronos, Hellénisme Primitif, pl. XIII, 9. Raymond, ANSMN 126, 46. Boston MFA 627. McFadden, The ancient coin market, Minerva vol. 6, 1, p. 49 (this coin illustrated). Very rare and possibly the finest specimen known of this important issue. A spectacular issue of extraordinary style perfectly struck and centred on a very large flan. Light iridescent tone and good extremely fine Ex Tkalec sale 28th February 1994, 74. When Alexander I succeeded his father as king of Macedonia in 498 BC, the kingdom was already closely connected to the Persian Empire and paid tribute to Darius I. Indeed, Alexander used his family's friendly relationship with the Persians to expand his kingdom and gain access to the silver mines of Mount Dysoron. After the death of Darius, the Macedonian king recognized the authority of Xerxes I and supported him in his attempts to punish the Greeks for their involvement in the Ionian Revolt. He even went so far as to campaign alongside the Persian Great King and the general Mardonius during their invasion of mainland Greece in 480-479 BC. Despite his Persian connections, Alexander I was much more of an opportunist than a loyal ally. After the Battle of Salamis, the king began to realize the likelihood of a Greek victory and therefore abandoned his previous medizing ways and began to represent himself as a philhellene. Before the decisive Battle of Plataea (479 BC), he made secret contact with the Greek leaders, claiming that he had always hated the Persians and had murdered envoys sent to his father in c. 512 BC. Furthermore, he said that he had only served Xerxes out of compulsion and that he had tried to warn the Greeks of the Persian invasion in 480 at great personal risk. In the aftermath of the Persian War, Alexander I continued to develop his Hellenic image by establishing a specious association between the dynasty to which he belonged, the Argead house, and the Greek city of Argos through Temenos, a son of Heracles. He also made sure to maintain a friendly relationship with Athens and added a Hellenic character to his court by patronizing the great Greek artists and poets of the age. Although the Macedonians at large were still widely regarded by the Greeks as a barbarian people, Alexander's reinvention of himself was so successful that he was considered Greek enough to participate in the Olympic games of 476 BC. At the same time that Alexander I was emphasising his Hellenic connections, the present octadrachm, which was probably struck from silver mined in Mount Dysoron, reveals the strong influence of his non-Greek Thracian neighbours. The large denomination is inherited directly from the Thraco-Macedonian tribes. Likewise the types of a horseman leading his horse and a quadripartite square surrounded by a Greek legend are almost identical to types used by the Bisaltae. Estimate: 100000 CHF

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 132	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 237 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Thraco-Macedonian tribes, The Bisaltae Octodrachm circa 475-465, AR 28.20 g. C– ΙΣ – Α – Λ – ΤΙ – ΚΩΝ Warrior, wearing causia and holding two spears, standing behind horse. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. AMNG III/2, 4-5 var. (different arrangement of legend). Svoronos, Hellénisme Primitif, 5 -6 var. (different arrangement of legend). SNG Ashmolean 2242 var. (different arrangement of legend). Very rare and in an exceptional state of preservation. A spectacular representation perfectly struck and centred on a full flan and with a light iridescent tone. Good extremely fine Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein 38, 1995, 86 and Tkalec 25 October 1996, 20 sales. The Bisaltae were a Thracian or Pelasgian tribe inhabiting the reaches of the lower Strymon river valley in eastern Macedonia bordering the lands of Thrace to the east. The economy was one of pastoral-nomadism, although the aristocracy certainly exploited the silver mines in the mountainous region between them and the territory of the Krestones and Mygdones to their west, the bullion of which produced this handsome octodrachm. An interesting feature of these large coins, and also the larger issues of the Derrones as well as of Alexander I in Macedonia, is their manufacturing process. From the flattening that is always present on the reverse, it appears that the striking occurred in two distinct stages with the reverses and obverses having being stuck individually. First, the reverse die, which served merely as an ornamental device rather than having the functional purpose of pushing metal into the obverse die, was hammered against the planchet, then the planchet was turned over and struck again from the obverse die. This second striking caused some flattening on the reverse of the coin, as can be seen here in the slight flattening of the raised portions of the four inner divisions of the larger incuse square. The purpose of this unusual manufacturing process is not certain, but probably should be seen in the context of the massive size of the coins themselves. During Xerxes' invasion of Greece in 480 B.C., the Bisaltae refused assistance to the large Persian army. After they vacated the region following their costly campaign against the Greeks, Alexander I of Macedonia conquered and annexed the Bisaltaian homeland. In doing so he came to control the rich silver mines of the Pangaean district and subsequently struck his first coinage, which copies exactly these Bisaltaian octodrachms except that they are inscribed with his own name. Estimate: 25000 CHF

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 132	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 366 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Cilicia. Pharnabazus, 380-375 Stater, Tarsus circa 380-375, AR 10.38 g. bltrz in Aramaic characters Baaltars seated l., holding eagle-tipped sceptre in r. hand; in l. field, ankh. Rev. frnbz – hlk in Aramaic characters Bearded bust of warrior l. wearing crested helmet decorated with palmette on bowl. Moysey, Issue 2, 39-41. SNG von Aulock 5931. SNG Berry 1288. Rare. Surface somewhat porous, otherwise extremely fine Estimate: 3500 CHF

[King John]

Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 132	Auction date: 30 May 2022
Lot number: 175 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: Bruttium, The Brettii Reduced quadrigatus circa 215-205, AR 5.61 g. Jugate busts of the Dioscuri r., wearing chlamydes and laureate pilei; above, two stars and in l. field, cornucopia and Γ. Rev. BPETTIΩN The Dioscuri galloping r., raising r. hands and holding palm branches; above, two stars. Below horses, Γ and spear. H. Pfeiler, Die Münzprägung der Brettier, JNG 1964, pl. 1, 5 (these dies). Jameson 405 (these dies). Gillet 276 (these dies). SNG ANS 2 (this reverse die). Historia Numorum Italy 1941 (these dies). Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known of this intriguing issue. Struck on fresh metal and with a light iridescent tone. Extremely fine Ex Gemini sale IV, 2008, 22. This impressive and rare didrachm was struck by the Brettii to finance the ongoing war against the Romans. Although the Brettii had been Roman allies at the outbreak of the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), after the crushing defeat inflicted by Hannibal on the Romans at Cannae (216 BC) they threw their support behind the Carthaginians. Bruttium became a stronghold for Hannibal and a staging area for Carthaginian attacks on neighbouring regions and the Brettii some of his staunchest allies in Italy. The Brettii remained loyal to Hannibal even after 204 BC, when his former conquests and allies in Italy had been lost. Alas, Hannibal was not nearly so supportive of his allies. When he was recalled to defend Carthage in the following year he completely abandoned the Brettii to face the wrath of Rome alone. The Romans duly punished their faithless allies by seizing much of the territory of Bruttium, refusing to grant the Brettii a new treaty of alliance (even a severely disadvantageous one) and by establishing colonies to keep a perpetual watch over them. Interestingly, while the Brettii made themselves the enemies of Rome in the Second Punic War, this didrachm illustrates the great economic and cultural influence that the Romans had on them. The coin was struck to a weight standard that has been considered to reflect the declining weight of the Roman quadrigatus silver denomination. This denomination was finally destroyed by the financial pressures of the Second Punic War and replaced by the new denarius denomination in c. 211 BC. Ironically, the Brettian didrachm also prominently features the Dioscuri, the twin saviour gods who were said to have fought alongside the Roman forces at the Battle of Lake Regillus (c. 496 BC) early in the history of the Republic. The Dioscuri on the reverse echo the type chosen for the new denarius denomination although here they are unarmed and holding palms while on the denarius they charge with couched lances. The depiction of the draped busts of Castor and Pollux on the obverse is probably one of the finest in ancient Greek numismatics and may perhaps lie behind a very similar draped image of a single Dioscurus used more than a century later when Rome's disgruntled Italian allies revolted and embarked upon the Social War (91-88 BC). Estimate: 15000 CHF

 

Modificato 9 Maggio, 2022 da King John

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 516	Auction date: 18 May 2022
Lot number: 12 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: MACEDON, Potidaia. Circa 450-432 BC. AR Diobol (13.5mm, 1.39 g, 8h). Horseman riding right / Archaic female head right; [palm to left?]; all within incuse square. Alexander Period IIB, a, 2; HGC 3, 648. Toned, granular surfaces. VF. From the J. de Wilde Collection. Ex Herbert Cahn Collection (Numismatica Genevensis SA 7, 27 November 2012), lot 103 (part of); Numismatic Fine Arts 7 (6 December 1979), lot 97. Estimate: 150 USD ILLUSTRAZIONE: TERRACOTTA FEMALE BUSTS FROM ANCIENT MEDMA, NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF MEDMA-ROSARNO

Modificato 12 Maggio, 2022 da King John

[King John]

Questo splendido pezzo ha spuntato la ragguardevole cifra di 22.000 euro, direi meritatissima!!!! 

 

Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 120	Auction date: 11 May 2022
Lot number: 16 Price realized: 22,000 USD   (Approx. 20,858 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 315-302 BC. AR Nomos (22mm, 7.92 g, 8h). Warrior, holding shield and two spears, preparing to cast a third, on horseback right; star on rump of horse; ΣA below / Phalanthos, holding kantharos and trident, riding dolphin left; K to left; below, dolphin left. Fischer-Bossert Group 72, 867 (V341/R673); Vlasto 605 (same obv. die); HN Italy 937. Old iridescent tone, underlying luster, light scratch in field on reverse. Choice EF. Struck from fresh dies. A true work of art. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 42 (29 May 1997), lot 25. Estimate: 3000 USD

[King John]

Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger > Auction 431	Auction date: 27 April 2022
Lot number: 3644 Price realized: 100 EUR   (Approx. 107 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: Thrakien Pautalia Caracalla, 198-217 Bronze. AYT K M AVPH - ANTWNEINOS Belorbeerte Büste des Kaisers nach rechts; Perlkreis. Rev. OYLPIAC - PAYTALIAC Behelmter Krieger in Rüstung frontal stehend, den Kopf nach rechts gewandt, in der Rechten senkrecht auf Boden gestellten Speer, in der Linken ebenfalls auf Boden gestellten Rundschild. 12h. Ruzicka, Pautalia 856 var. (bartlos); Varbanov 4988. 16.21 g.; 29,0 mm. Dunkelbraune Patina - Ausdruckstarkes Kaiserbildnis Gutes Sehr schön Erworben von Münzhandlung Ritter, Düsseldorf, 2.5.2002. Estimate: 125 EUR

[VALTERI]

Dalla repubblica di Roma e dal rovescio di un raro denario al nome di L. Valerius Acisculus, un particolarissimo guerriero : un gufo o civetta con testa umana, con elmo corinzio ed armato/a con scudo rotondo e 2 giavellotti .

L' esemplare è passato a suo tempo in vendita NAC 63 al n. 434 .

[King John]

Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 517	Auction date: 1 June 2022
Lot number: 205 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction
Lot description: IONIA, Magnesia ad Maeandrum. Circa 350-200 BC. Æ (17.5mm, 3.88 g, 11h). Demagoras, son of Democharidas, magistrate. Warrior, holding couched lance, on horse rearing right / Bull butting left; circular maeander pattern above, ΔHMAΓOPAΣ/ΔHMOXA[...] in two lines in exergue. SNG Copenhagen 828 var. (ethnic above bull). Dark green patina, some chipping on edge.  Estimate: 100 USD

[King John]

Nomos AG > Auction 24	Auction date: 22 May 2022
Lot number: 167 Price realized: 38,000 CHF   (Approx. 39,091 USD / 36,921 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description: MYSIA. Kyzikos. Circa 500-450 BC. Stater (Electrum, 22 mm, 16.06 g). Head of a warrior wearing a Corinthian helmet to left - his eye can be seen in the eye slit - with a crest attached to the helmet by a band decorated by cords and pellets, and with a serpent's head and neck a the front; below, tunny to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA -. SNG Paris -. Von Fritze I, 81 and pl. II, 36. Very rare and attractive. The finest example known! Extremely fine. From the Villiers Collection, ex Roma XVII, 28 March 2019, 478. Corinthian helmets are not uncommonly shown on Greek coinage from the 6th and 5th centuries BC, but most of them are just helmets, i.e., they are empty, as if just picked up from a shelf. But in some cases, as here, the engraver tried to show them as alive: there is an actual eye in the vision slit next to the nose guard! Could this be thought of as some kind of guardian spirit? Estimate: 20000 CHF

Modificato 25 Maggio, 2022 da King John

[VALTERI]

Da un accattivante, piccolo bronzo di Mesembria di Tracia, 2 importanti accessori per guerrieri : un elmo ed uno scudo ovale, questo rappresentato nella vista da interno .

L' esemplare sarà il 12 Giugno in asta Nomos-Obolos 23 al n. 216 .