Le più belle rappresentazioni di guerrieri

[King John]

Thraco-Macedonian Region. AR Hemiobol.
Thraco-Macedonian Region. AR Hemiobol. 5th-4th C. BC. Gorgoneion / Crested helmet within incuse square. 0.28g, 13mm. Unpublished in the standard references, cf. LHS sale 100, 2007, 197 (Maroneia) and CNG 78, 305. 0.28g, 11mm. VF

[King John]

CENTRAL ITALY, Uncertain ‘Psudo-Mint A’ (Minturnae?). Circa 100-50 BC. Æ (16mm, 3.13 g, 7h). Helmeted head right / Warrior standing right, holding patera and spear. Stannard & Carbone Group 7, dies O15b/R22; HN Italy –; SNG Milan I p. 110, 163 (same dies). Near VF, brown surfaces. Very rare. From the Continental Collection.For the full die study of this coinage, click here.

[King John]

The Barry Feirstein Collection of Ancient Coins Part I
The Roman Empire The mint is Roma unless otherwise stated
Claudius, 41 – 54
No.: 102
Estimate: CHF 4000
d=28 mm
Tetradrachm, Epehsus (?) circa 41-54, AR 10.43 g. TI CLAVD – CAES AVG Bare head l. Rev. COM – ASI Distyle temple within which Claudius stands facing, on l., holding spear and globe, being crowned by female figure standing facing on r., holding conrnucopiae in l. hand. Architrave inscribed ROM ET AVG. RIC 120 (Pergamum). BMC 228 (Pergamum). C 3. CBN 304 (Pergamum). RPC 2221.
Toned and extremely fine / about extremely fine
Ex CNG Mail Bid sale 46, 1998, 1161 (illustrated on the back cover page).

[King John]

RöMISCHE MüNZEN
KAISERREICH
AUGUSTUS (31 v.Chr. - 14 n.Chr.)
No.: 320
Schätzpreis-Estimate: EUR 1000,-
d=18 mm
Denar, ca. 29-27 v.Chr. Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz rechts. Rs: IMP - CAESA[R]. Columna rostrata auf dem Forum: Statue im Mantel mit Lanze in der Rechten und Parazonium in der Linken auf Säule, die mit einem Anker und Schiffsschnäbeln verziert ist, en face stehend. RIC 271. BMC 633. 4,00g. Rs. kleine Kratzer, fast vorzüglich/vorzüglich.

[King John]

Constantinople. Dedication of the City. A.D. 330. Æ (billon). 1 gm. 15 mm. Laureate and draped bust of the Genius of the Roman people left, cornucopia over shoulder; POPROMANVS around / A bridge over a river, towers at each end; CONS over officina Δ between the towers. RIC VIII Constantinople 21 (see also p. 442). Vagi II: 3043. Near Extremely Fine; brown patina; light porosity; fine early style. Scarce. David Vagi suggests that this reverse depicts the famed Milvian Bridge over the Tiber River. Constantine battled Maxentius there in October of AD 312 allegedly after a vision that led to his conversion to Christianity. Estimate: 400 USD

[King John]

Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 25.92 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 107-109. IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right, slight drapery / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, S C in exergue, Arched, single-span bridge with seven posts across Danube River; single-bay arches at either end, surmounted by statues; boat sailing left in river below. RIC II 569; MIR 14, 314bD; Strack 385; Banti 262; BMCRE 847; BN 315 var. (six posts). Good VF, green patina with areas of red.
The bridge depicted on the reverse of this coin has been generally thought to be that constructed across the Danube by Trajan’s architect, Apollodorus of Damascus, in AD 104, while the emperor was in Moesia preparing to launch the Second Dacian War (AD 105-106). There is good circumstantial evidence for associating the bridges with one another. First, the date range for this coin’s issue is closely contemporary with the date of the bridge’s construction, and would fit in well programmatically with those war-related issues of the same time frame. Second, the statuary displayed along the roof line of the attic of the arches situated at either end of the structure – one of which is clearly a trophy – suggests that these arches are triumphal in nature and that the bridge should be associated with some war-related construction. Finally, there is no literary or epigraphic evidence describing the construction or restoration of another bridge during Trajan’s reign. Consequently, the only plausible structure is the bridge across the Danube.

[King John]

The Roman Empire 
Commodus augustus, 177 – 192
Bi-metallic medallion 186, Æ 42.78 g. M COMMODVS ANTONINV – S PIVS FELIX AVG BRIT Laureate half-length bust l., seen from behind, holding spear and with aegis on l. shoulder. Rev. P M TR P XI IM – P VII COS V P P Commodus, in military dress, standing l. on podium, accompanied by spear carrier, addressing group of six soldiers, each helmeted and with shield; in background, signum, vexillum and aquila; in exergue, FIDES EXERCIT. C 133. Gnecchi 7 and pl. 78, 8 (these dies). Michelini-Tocci pl. 10, 27.
Very rare. Green patina on obverse with some breaks and scratches,
otherwise good very fine
Ex NAC sale 5, 1992, 510.
Estimate: 6000 CHF

[King John]

The Roman Empire
Commodus Augustus, 177 – 192
No.: 559
Schätzwert/Estimation: CHF 20000.-
d=40 mm
Medallion circa 189, æ 73.11 g. IMP COMMODVS AVG PIVS FELIX Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VOTIS FELICIBVS Commodus, veiled, sacrificing at tripod placed at the entrance of a harbour towards which five vessels are approaching; a priest standing by the tripod accompanies the Emperor. On r., a pharos and beneath, on the sea-shore, a slain bull. C. 996. Gnecchi pag. 71, 175 and pl. 89, 7. H. Gruber, Roman medallions in the B.M., p. 30, 44 and pl. XXXV, 3. BMC p. Clxxxiii.
Very rare. A bold portrait of Commodus, and an impressive and interesting
reverse composition. Brown tone gently smoothed on reverse,
good very fine
Ex Ratto sale 1956, 188 (bought by L. Forrer). It has long been recognized that bronze medallions reached their apex in quality and variety under Commodus, and more specifically, in the last seven years of his reign. The high level of workmanship and elaborate reverse type of this medallion only reinforce that observation. The reverse shows a harbor scene with four commercial vessels and one naval galley encompassing a scene of the emperor, with attendant, sacrificing over an altar before a lighthouse, beneath which is a fallen bull, a victim of sacrifice. The largest vessel, which bears Serapis, is an exact match for commercial ships depicted on mosaics of Tunis now in the Sousse Museum. This remarkable composition inspired later medallions of Diocletian. Commodus rightly feared a grain shortage in the city of Rome, as history showed grain was the ‘Achilles Heel’ of metropolitan Rome. Shipments from Egypt might be disrupted for any number of reasons – poor inundation of the Nile, a bad sailing season, or even a strategic maneuver by a rival. Ever since early in his sole reign, when he left frontier wars to his generals, Commodus’ life was based in the capital. Perhaps better than any emperor before or after, Commodus understood the mentality and the demands of the mob. Commodus knew that his personal indulgences and longevity depended on appeasement of the mob, which needed to be fed and entertained. Because this medallion is undated, we must look to related evidence to date it, and to determine the significance of its design. Gnecchi, inexplicably, attributed it to 191. Mattingly, perhaps on the mark, tentatively placed it in 189, which makes sense based upon the bust style and the fact that its obverse die is shared with another medallion with a reverse naming Commodus’ 15th Tribunician, which he entered in December, 189. Alfoldi, Mattingly and Tonybee all agree this medallion was struck for the annual festival of Isis (the navigium Isidis) in Rome, an especially favorable view since that event was closely connected with New Year’s rituals – the very occasions for which so many medallions were struck. Further, the lighthouse very strongly resembles the pharos of Alexandria, and the main vessel bears Serapis. A more remote possibility is that it reflects a continued celebration of the new African grain fleet that Commodus had successfully outfitted in 186 to assure grain deliveries from Carthage.

[King John]

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS. 193-211 AD. Æ Sestertius (32mm - 26.36 g). Rome mint. Struck 210 AD. L SEPT SEVE-RVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right / P M TR P XVIII COS III P P, SC in exergue, Septimius standing left holding transverse spear, behind him stands Caracalla and Geta each standing left and holding a transverse spear; on left stand two soldiers, one holding a spear, the other a standard; on ground a captive seated right. RIC IV 799a; BMCRE 193. VF, dark greenish-brown patina, light roughness. Very Rare issue.
Estimate: US$ 1000

[King John]

LYDIA. Mostene. Ae (2nd-1st centuries BC). 

Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev: LVΔΩΝ / MOΣΤΗΝΩΝ. 
Youth riding horse right, holding labrys; EP to left, monogram to right.

BMC 1; Gitbud & Naumann 36, lot 212. 

Condition: Near very fine.

Weight: 9.43 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

[King John]

GRIECHEN
KORINTH
Objekt-Nr.: 181
Stater, (8,46 g.), 345 - 307 v. Chr. Vs.: Nach links fliegender Pegasos. Rs.: Kopf der Athena mit korinthischem Helm n. l. Dahinter N und Krieger mit Speer und Schild. Calciati 376. ss­vz
Estimation: € 200,00

[King John]

RÖMISCHES KAISERREICH
GORDIANUS III. 238-244
Pisidien, Antiochia. AE-32 mm. Belorbeerte, drapierte und gepanzerte Büste r. Rs: Behelmter Krieger r. mit Speer und Schild. SNG Frankreich 1223 f. Dunkle Patina. Felder etwas geglättet. vz-ss/ss

 

[King John]

Agrippa II (49/50 - 94/95 AD). Mint of Tiberias. AE (17.6 mm, 5.19 gm, 12h). BA ΑΓΡΙΠΑ ΝΙΚ CEB (King Agrippa, victory of Augustus); ET IE (year 15 = 69/70 AD) across fields; palm branch upright / TIBE PIAC within a wreath. Hendin 1280. TJC 134. RPC 2242. Very Rare. Very Fine. It has also been suggested that this coin might have been struck according to an era beginning in 60 AD, and thus dating to 74/75. In the first case, the coin would have been struck just after the Jewish War ended, and, in the second case, it would have been struck in the year after the absolute end of the war when Masada fell in 73 AD. In either case, the iconography, reflecting both the coins of Herod Antipas and the pre-royal issues of Agrippa II struck in Tiberias, suggests that this is a reference to the victory of Agrippa II's Roman allies in the Jewish War.
View This Lot on HA.com

[King John]

KLEINASIEN, KILIKIEN / Incertum
AR Obol (4.Jh.v.Chr.). Satrapenkopf l. Rs.Kopf der Tyche mit Stadtkrone l. 0,64g. Winter 18.3, SNG Aulock 8657. vz

Illustrazione: I persiani incominciano a devastare l'acropoli di Atene. Non furono erette mura più possenti prima della guerra contro i persiani in modo tale da non fornire in caso di insuccesso una roccaforte all'interno della Grecia.

 

[King John]

ROMAN COINS. ROMAN EMPIRE. Delmatius (AD 335-337). AE Follis, Siscia mint, circa AD 334-335.
Obv: Laureate, cuirassed and draped bust right.
Rev: Two soldiers standing facing, each holding spear; two standards between.
Billon. 2.22 grams. 
RIC.239.
Very Fine.

ILLUSTRAZIONE: soldato romano del IV secolo d.C.

[King John]

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos Æ22. Thrace, 305-281 BC. Male head in peaked Phrygian helmet right / Trophy. SNG Copenhagen 1164. 5.81g, 22mm, 7h.
Good Very Fine.

Illustrazione: particolare del cd. Sarcofago di Alessandro, Museo archeologico di Istanbul.

[King John]

Coins of Thessaly, the BCD Collection
Pherai
Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.55 g 5). Head of Ennodia facing, turned slightly to right, wearing pearl diadem, grape-cluster earring and plain necklace; to left, torch. Rev. A-L- E-XA-N-DROU Alexander riding horse galloping to right, the reins in his left hand and thrusting lance downwards with his right, wearing cavalry helmet, cuirass, boots and with his sheathed sword on a baldric around his chest; on horse’s rump, double ax; below horse, double ax. Jameson 1106 ( same reverse die ) = Traité IV, 612 ( citing the Jameson coin ). Cf. Wartenberg 16 ( same reverse die ). Very rare, of lovely style and nicely toned. Some minor surface roughness, otherwise , about extremely fine.

Illustrazione: particolare del cd. Sarcofago di Alessandro, Museo archeologico di Istanbul.

[King John]

Greek Coins 
Philoxenos, circa 100 – 95 
 Drachm, Pushkavalati circa 100-95, AR 1.72 g. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANIKHTOΥ ΦIΛOΞENOΥ Diademed and draped bust r. Rev. Maharajasa apadihatasa Philasinasa in Kharosti characters The King on a prancing horse r.; beneath horse, monogram. Mitchiner 339c. Bopearachchi série 4, 11. In exceptional condition for the issue, old cabinet tone and good extremely fine Privately purchased in 2001.

[King John]

Aureolus. Romano-Gallic Usurper, AD 267-268. Antoninianus (19mm, 2.89 g, 10h). Mediolanum (Milan) mint, 3rd officina. Struck in the name of Postumus, 3rd emission, mid AD 268. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Postumus right / Virtus advancing right, holding round shield and transverse spear; T. RIC V (Postumus) 388; Mairat 222-7; AGK (Postumus) 111b; RSC (Postumus) 441. VF, dark brown patina. Aureolus was an extraordinarily capable general who served under Valerian and Gallienus. Around AD 258, Gallienus stationed a new cavalry unit at Mediolanum that was to serve as a quick reaction force against any new invasions along the frontier of the central empire. Aureolus was given command of this unit. In AD 260-261 his forces defeated the armies of the usurpers Ingenuus and Macrianus, and recovered the province of Raetia. Following these victories, Gallienus and Aureolus led a Roman army against the breakaway Gallic provinces under Postumus. Gallienus was forced to leave the field after being injured in battle, and left the campaign in the hands of Aureolus. Aureolus ended the campaign shortly thereafter, and while the reason is uncertain, the historical record suggests it was due to either his incompetence or else treachery (he had come to a secret agreement with Postumus). While the former seems unlikely, given Aureolus’ record, the latter is possible, as there are indications that he had been preparing for a revolt as early as AD 262. Regardless, at some point in AD 267, Aureolus revolted and established his base at Mediolanum, where Gallienus besieged him in AD 268. The details of the revolt are unclear, but it appears that Aureolus first appealed to Postumus for aid, and, failing to gain the Gallic Emperor’s support, declared himself emperor. About the same time, Gallienus was murdered, and was succeeded by Claudius II Gothicus, who continued to besiege Mediolanum. Soon, though, it appeared that an agreement was reached, and Aureolus emerged from the city to meet Claudius. Any such concord, however, was simply a ruse, as Aureolus was taken into custody and executed.

[King John]

CARIA, Mylasa. Eupolemos. Circa 295-280 BC. Æ (17mm, 4.30 g). Three overlapping Macedonian shields, the outer two with spearheads in bosses / Sword in sheath; labrys below. SNG Kayhan –; SNG Keckman 221–2; SNG Copenhagen (Macedonia) 1166. Good VF, dark brown patina. Choice for issue.

[King John]

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Servius Rufus. 43 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.79 g, 5h). Rome mint. Bare head (of Brutus?) right / The Dioscuri standing facing, each holding spear and with sword hanging from waist. Crawford 515/2; CRI 324; Sydenham 1082; Sulpicia 10; RBW 1793. VF, toned, banker’s mark on obverse. Very rare.
From the RBW Collection. Ex Schweizerischer Kreditanstalt 5 (18 April 1986), lot 337.
This moneyer is only known from his coins. The bust has traditionally been regarded as portraying Servius Sulpicius Rufus, who was responsible for raising the siege of Tusculum in 377 BC. But since the moneyer is a Servius, not a Sulpicius, this identification is probably inaccurate. The portrait does bear a remarkable resemblance to Brutus, and it possible that the coin was struck as an expression of political sympathy toward Brutus' cause.

[King John]

AITOLIAN LEAGUE
Estimate $200
AITOLIAN LEAGUE . Circa 279-168 BC. Æ 19mm (5.42 gm). Head of Atalanta right, wearing necklace and petasos / AITW-LWN, spearhead left; grape cluster below. SNG Copenhagen 22-24; BMC Thessaly pg. 197, 34; Laffaille -. Nice VF, dark green, almost black, patina. ($200)

[King John]

THESSALY, Krannon. 3rd century BC. Æ Trichalkon (20mm, 7.97 g, 9h). Draped bust of Thessalos right, wearing petasos / [KPA-N-NΩNIΩN], Thessalian warrior on horse rearing right; monogram below. Rogers 202; BCD Thessaly I 1087; BCD Thessaly II 120.1; HGC 4, 382. Near VF, warm green patina, with some spots of red, some roughness on the reverse. From the BCD Collection.

[King John]

GRIECHEN 
ÄTOLIEN 
Ätolische Liga. Stater (8,52g). 279 - 168 v. Chr. Vs.: Kopf der Athena mit korinthischem Helm n. r. Rs.: AITΩΛΩN, n. r. auf einem Waffenhaufen aus Schilden und einem Speer sitzende Ätolia, auf dem Kopf Kausia, die Rechte auf einen Speer gestützt, in der Linken eine Nike, die sie bekränzt. Rechts im Feld zwei Mono­gramme. BMC 1 (Var.); BCD Akarnanien u. Aetolien 423ff. (Var.); SNG Cop. 1 (Var.). Tsangari 449ff. (Var.). RR! Unbekannte Stempel und Beizeichen! Gold! ss Beginning about the year 220 BC, the Aetolians were involved in a series of conflicts with the Macedonian kingdom, often in alliance with Rome. In this period the Aetolian League staters were struck and the extensive die links between the some two dozen varieties suggest a relatively short, extensive production of gold coinage in support of the war effort.

[King John]

PHRYGIA. Synnada. Gallienus (253-268). Ae.
Obv: AVT K Π ΛΙ EΓ ΓAΛΛIHNOC. 
Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: CYNNAΔEWN IΩΝΩΝ. 
Two gladiators fighting; above, baitylos between two palm fronds.
SNG v. Aulock 3998.
Condition: Very fine.
Weight: 15.63 g.
Diameter: 31 mm.