Medaglioni e miti

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Lucio Vero/Giove che protegge Marco Aurlio e Lucio Vero

Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Medallion (41mm, 49.93 g, 10h). Rome mint. Struck AD 168. L • VERVS ΛVG ΛRM PΛRTH MΛX, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / TR P VIII • IMP IIII COS III, Large figure of Jupiter, nude, standing facing, holding thunderbolt in right hand and vertical scepter in left, in the act of protecting Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus to left and right, each bareheaded and togate, standing facing, heads turned toward Jupiter. Gnecchi II, 22 (this coin referenced); MIR 18, 1040-11/38 (the obverse of this coin illustrated on pl. 1); Banti 185 (this coin illustrated and referenced); Cohen 309. Reddish-brown patina, minor roughness. Good VF. Extremely rare.

Ex Münzen und Medaillen AG XXVIII (19 June 1964), lot 376; Henry Platt Hall Collection (Part II, Glendining’s, 16 November 1950), lot 1575; Monsieur B. Collection (Ciani, 1 June 1920), lot 430; Consul Eduard Friedrich Weber Collection (J. Hirsch XXIV, 10 May 1909), lot 1685.

 

Roman Imperial, Bronze, Triton XXIII, Feature Auction– Session Three, Lot: 771. Estimated: $ 5 000, Sold For $ 12 000. 

 

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Diocleziano/Moneta, Giove, Ercole

THE EMPIRE OF PALMYRA
DIOCLETIANUS, AD 284-305
No.: 272
Schätzpreis - Estimation CHF 10000.-
Medallion, bronze, in the value of 6 antoniniani, n. d.; 23.32 g.
Obv. IMP C G VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG Laureate, cuirassed bust r. with beard, on the cuirass, aegis and head of Medusa.
Rev. MONETA - IOVI ET HERCVLI - AVGG Moneta, draped and diademed standing facing, holding cornucopiae in her l. hand, scales over pile of coins in her lowered r. hand, turning her head l. towards Jupiter, bearded, nude but for cloak, standing facing, head turned r., holding scepter in his r. hand, thunderbolt in his l. hand; on the right of Moneta, Hercules, nude, standing facing, bearded head turning l., holding club in his lowered r. hand, apple in his outstretched l. hand, lion's skin hanging down from l. forearm.
Very rare. Excellent style. Large flan. Nice dark patina with some very slight traces of silvering.
Extremely fine
EUR 6'800,-

Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel, Auction 92, lot 272, 22.11.2002

References:
Gnecchi II, 126, 129 and pl. 125, 9 (these dies).
C. 339.
Pedigree:
Ex F. Trau coll.
Ex Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Vienna - Adolph Hess AG, Lucerne sale (Vienna) May 22,
1935, 3273 (on pl. 39, lot 3272 by error).
Ex Numismatic Fine Arts Inc., Beverly Hills sale 18 (1987), 555.
Ex Sotheby's, London sale July 5, 1995, 172.
Ex I. Vecchi Ltd. / Nvmmorvm Avctiones, London sale 6 (1997), 1291.

 

 

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Alessandro Severo/Imperatore con Iside e Serapide

KAISERZEITLICHE PROVINZIALPRÄGUNGEN
THRAKIEN
PERINTH
Objekt-Nr.: 373
Severus Alexander, 222 - 235 n.Chr.
AE Medaillon. (31,78 g.), Vs.: K M AUR SEUH ALEXANDROS AVG, Büste mit Panzer, Paludamentum und Lorbeerkranz r. Rs.: PERINQIWN DIS NEWKORWN, auf einem n. l. fahrenden Schiff stehen Isis Pharia mit Segel, der Kaiser als grüßender Togatus mit Zepter und Sarapis. Schönert, Perinth 782 (stgl.). R! Schwarze Patina, ungereinigt, ss
Das Medaillon steht in direktem Zusammenhang zum Perserfeldzug des Jahres 231 n.Chr. Der Weg des Kaisers führte zu Land über Illyrien und Thrakien nach Perinth, von wo aus er die Überfahrt nach Kleinasien antrat. Auf diesem Weg steht er unter dem Schutz der Isis und des Sarapis, wie es das Reversbild deutlich ausdrückt.
Estimation: € 800,00

Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 117, lot 373, 14.10.2002

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Gordiano III/Imperatore su quadriga incoronato dalla Vittoria

Gordian III, AE 36mm medallion. 42.92 gr. 241 AD. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate, cuirassed bust right with aegis, holding spear over shoulder / PONTIFEX MAX TR P IIII, COS II P P in ex. Gordian standing facing in triumphal quadrigam holding branch and eagle-tipped sceptre, being crowned by Victory standing behind him and holding palm branch; the horses are being led by Virtus and Mars, both in military dress, holding spears. Cohen 291; Gnecchi 35.

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Gordiano III/Imperatore che fa un sacrificio con una patera in mano

Timesitheus Leads Rome Against the Sasanians

Gordian III. AD 238-244. Bimetallic Medallion (37mm, 65.96 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 243-244. GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust left, wearing balteus, holding spear over shoulder in left hand, in right a shield decorated with emperor on horseback to left, spearing enemy, being trailed by a soldier / PA X AETERNA, Gordian, in military attire, standing left, being crowned by Victory, holding signum in left hand and sacrificing over altar from patera held in right; to left, signum and reclining figures of the Tigris and Euphrates; above and in background, Sol, raising right hand in salutation and holding signum in left, standing facing, head left, in spread quadriga. Gnecchi II, p. 89, 24, pl. 104, 7-8 (same obv. die); Banti 57 (same obv. die); Cohen 172. Good VF, green patina, peripheral roughness. Very rare.

Ex Münzen und Medaillen Washington (7 December 1997), lot 361.

This impressive medallion was struck during the campaigns against the Sasanians led by Timesitheus, praetorian prefect and father-in-law of Gordian III. More specifically, it very likely commemorates the victory of the Romans at the Battle of Rhesaena in AD 243, when the Sasanians were driven back over the Euphrates. Neither Timesitheus nor Gordian III returned from the campaigns, both having died in the east under mysterious circumstances, possibly at the hands of Philip the Arab, although Sasanian sources tell us Gordian III died in battle.
 

The patinas on bimetallic medallions typically mask the impressive contrast of color that they would have possessed when first struck. Originally, the red, copper rims would have attractively framed the types found on the golden–hued, orichalcum center.

Triton XVII, Lot: 773. Estimate $30000. Sold for $30000. 

 

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Commodo/Efesto e Atena

Mythology - Armor of Achilles

LYDIA, Thyatira. Commodus. 177-192 AD. Æ Medallion (43mm, 49.61 g, 6h). T. Aurelius Barbarus, strategus. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; c/m: laureate and draped bust right within oval incuse / Hephaestus seated left on wreathed cippus, putting finishing touches with hammer on a Corinthian helmet set on low column, while Athena, standing left, holding spear and shield, touches top of column; EPI CTPA TIT-OV AVP-HLIOV BAPBAPO in legend. For coin type: cf. SNG Copenhagen 600 (Rape of Persephone; same obv. die); BMC Lydia 82; for c/m: Howgego 93. Fine, black olive and brick-red patina with lighter gray-green overtones. Rare and attractive mythological type. ($750)

Sale: CNG 70, 21 September 2005, Lot: 556. Estimate $750. Sold For $1300

[apollonia]

Come racconta Omero (Iliade 18), l'armatura di Achille andò perduta quando, ancora corrucciato nella sua tenda, permise al suo compagno Patroclo di indossarla spronando i Greci in una battaglia nelle pianure sotto Troia. Troppo sicuro di sé, Patroclo incontrò Ettore in un combattimento testa a testa. Scambiando Patroclo per Achille, l'eroe troiano Ettore lo uccise brutalmente e trascinò via il cadavere ancora corazzato di Patroclo come trofeo di guerra. La madre di Achille, la ninfa del mare Tetide, convinse il dio Efesto a costruire una nuova armatura oltre a uno scudo altamente decorato.

Il rovescio del medaglione raffigura Efesto seduto a sinistra su un cippo coronato mentre dà il tocco finale col martello a un elmo corinzio posto su una bassa colonna mentre Atena, in piedi a sinistra con lancia e scudo, assiste all’opera toccando con la mano la parte superiore della colonna.

[apollonia]

Medaglione Constans/Victory (Bertolami WEB AUCTION 92 LOT 1548 2 - 6 Oct 2020)

Starting price: 1.900 GBP

Lot 1548. Constans (337-350), Medallion. AE (g 15,46; mm 31; h 12). CONSTANS P F AVG, Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r., Rv. VICTORIA AVGG NN, Victory seated r. on cuirass, inscribing shield with VOT/X. Gnecchi II, 19. Rare, green patina, good very fine.

[apollonia]

Medaglione Gordiano III/Gorgoni dormienti (Triton XX)

Perseus Advances on the Sleeping Gorgones

LYDIA, Daldis. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ Medallion (48mm, 60.65 g, 6h). L. Aur. Hephaestionos, principal archon for the second time. AVT K • M ANT ΓOPΔIAN[OC], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Є–Π • Λ • AVP H–ΦAICTIΩNOC APX A T B, ΔAΛΔIAN/ΩN, Perseus advancing left, approaching the three Gorgon sisters (Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa) sleeping below a tree; winged Hypnos stands behind them; to upper left, Apollo Citharoedus within tetrastyle temple; to lower left, horse standing left, head right. RPC VII.1, 200 (A1/R1); Kraft pl. 45, 57 (same dies). Near EF, brown and green patina, very minor doubling. A beautifully composed and highly enigmatic mythological scene. Extremely rare and exceptional.

Four specimens are noted in RPC, all from the same dies as our massive medallion. This fifth example is the only one in private hands, the others being in Paris (RPC VII.1, pl. 17, 200), Berlin (two specimens, one of which is plated in Kraft), and Boston (NFA XII, lot 389). Our piece is the finest known, far superior to the published examples.

Triton XX, Lot: 455. Estimate $10000. Sold for $17000. 

Modificato 7 Ottobre, 2020 da apollonia

[apollonia]

Sul medaglione delle Gorgoni dormienti

Definito da Omero il "più noto degli uomini", Perseo è oggi conosciuto soprattutto per l'uccisione della Gorgone Medusa. La scena centrale raffigura le Gorgoni sdraiate sotto un albero, addormentate, come chiarisce la figura di Ipno, mentre Perseo avanza su di loro. Le Gorgoni sono variamente descritte nei racconti antichi, ma si dice spesso che avessero serpenti per capelli, ali dorate, artigli d'ottone e pelle a squame. Il grande tragediografo Eschilo ci dice che condividevano un occhio, e fu durante il rimescolamento di questo organo che Perseo decise di colpire, uccidendo Medusa, l'unica mortale delle tre sorelle.

Come si legge nel Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (p. 347), tuttavia, la scena attuale è "insolita e senza paralleli noti". Il tempio di Apollo era un importante centro religioso di Daldis. Non è certo se il tempio sia incluso solo come una sorta di stemma civico o se rifletta una tradizione locale che gli eventi della storia siano avvenuti nelle vicinanze di Daldis (RPC p. 149), con questo medaglione che potrebbe servire come copia abbreviata di una nota, anche se ormai perduta, opera d'arte di Daldis.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Medaglione uniface di Antonino Pio (Tkalec Auction September 2008).

ROMAN IMPERIAL COINS
ANTONINUS PIUS (138-161)
AE-Onesided Medallion, 54.99 g.
Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS IIII
Head r.
Gnecchi -; Coh. -.
Very fine
In Gnecchi, only vol. II, p. 21, 108 has obv. with head right without laureate and without paludamentum or cuirassed.
Estimate: 3000 CHF

[apollonia]

Medaglione Alessandro Severo/Imperatore su quadriga con in mano la Vittoria su globo (Gorny & Mosch 155).

Severus Alexander AE43 medallion of Apollonia Salbace, Caria. AD 222-235. 46.08 g. Magistrate Agatheinos. AY K M AYΡ CE AΛEZANΔΡOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. / CTΡA AΓAΘEINOY TO-Y IN AΠOΛΛΩNIATΩN, emperor in military dress, holding Victory on globe and raising right hand, standing front, looking left, in facing quadriga. Eylul-Aralik 69 in Istanbul Byz. Circ. 34, (this coin) = G&M 155, lot 216.

Unpublished. Extremely rare. Dark brown patina. EF. Gorny & Mosch Auction 155 (2007), lot no. 216.

The magistrate is known from contemporary coins and the reverse image was copied in all details for later coins of Gallienus (RevNum 1892, 87f. pl.III 8).

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Antonino Pio con Nettuno e Cerere sul rovescio (Hess Divo 309).

ROMAN COINS
COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD
Bronze Medallion (38 mm) after 142 AD. ANTONINVS AVG - PIVS PP IMP II. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / / Neptune standing right, holding trident in left hand, before him Ceres seated left, on basket, holding torch and modius full of wheat on stump. Coh. -; Dressel -; Gnecchi II cf. p. 36, 77 (rev. Marcus Aurelius); Froehner -; Toynbee cf. pl. XVI, 4. 51.84 g.
Very rare. Apparently unpublished. Detailed portrait in high relief. Impressive good very fine
Toynbee interprets this medallion with Neptune and Ceres on reverse as a New Year's gift. Cf. Toynbee, p. 94.
Estimate: 10000 CHF

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Antonino Pio che raffigura sul rovescio la leggenda dell’erezione del tempio di Esculapio a Roma (The New York Sale 25).

ROMAN COINS
ROMAN EMPIRE
ANTONINUS PIUS, 138-161
Medallion, bronze. AE 42.94 g. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS - PP TR P COS III IMP II Laureate head r. Rev. Galley emerging from a two arched bridge over the Tiber, on the prow, serpent erect; on the r., river god Tiber, nude, seated l., holding reed in his l. hand, globe(?) on his extended r. hand; above, three buildings on rocky ground; below, AESCVLAPIVS. Gnecchi, Medaglioni II, 9, 1. H. Küthmann - B. Overbeck e.a., Bauten Roms auf Münzen und Medaillen (1973), 65, 124. Very rare. Dark brown patina.
Good very fine
The rev. of this medallion tells the legend about the erection of the temple of Aesculapius in Rome: in 229 B.C. a holy serpent was brought to Rome by boat from Epidaurus, the most important sanctuary of Asclepius in Greece. Upon arrival in Rome, the serpent escaped from the ship and swam onto the Insula Tiberina, an island between two arms of the Tiber and linked to the shores by the pons Cestus. The temple of Aesculapius, of which there are no remnants left today (it is located on the actual Piazza of the church San Bartolomeo), was built at the place the serpent went ashore. The island was therefore also known as Insula Aesculapii.

Starting price: 4.400 USD - Estimate: 5.500 USD - Result: 9.500 USD

Il rovescio di questo medaglione narra la leggenda dell'erezione del tempio di Esculapio a Roma: nel 229 a.C. un serpente santo fu portato a Roma in barca da Epidauro, il più importante santuario di Asclepio in Grecia. Arrivato a Roma, il serpente fuggì dalla nave e si insediò sull'Insula Tiberina, un'isola tra due bracci del Tevere, collegata alle rive dal ponte Cestus. Il tempio di Esculapio, di cui oggi non sono rimasti resti (si trova sull'attuale piazza della chiesa di San Bartolomeo), fu costruito nel luogo in cui il serpente scese a terra. L'isola era quindi conosciuta anche come Insula Aesculapii.

[gpittini]

DE GREGE EPICURI

Di questo medaglione di Commodo, molto malconcio (e forse anche falso) mi rimane solo la foto del rovescio, di molti anni fa. Si vede una figura femminile seduta,  credo in un giardino, e davanti a lei una colonnina sormontata da una piccola statua virile. A quale storia o mito si riferisce, secondo voi?

[apollonia]

19 minuti fa, gpittini dice:

DE GREGE EPICURI

Di questo medaglione di Commodo, molto malconcio (e forse anche falso) mi rimane solo la foto del rovescio, di molti anni fa. Si vede una figura femminile seduta,  credo in un giardino, e davanti a lei una colonnina sormontata da una piccola statua virile. A quale storia o mito si riferisce, secondo voi?

Se non sbaglio la figura femminile è la dea Salus che nutre un serpente dalla patera, la statuina sul pilastro è di Bacco.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Salus, la divinità della salute nella religione a romana, era spesso rappresentata con le gambe incrociate e un braccio appoggiato sul bracciolo di un trono. Nella mano destra teneva un piatto fondo usato nelle cerimonie religiose (patera) per alimentare un serpente che era avvolto attorno a un altare. Qui è avvolto attorno a una vite e da qui l’attribuzione della statuetta sul pilastro a Bacco.

apollonia

[Illyricum65]

Piccolo contributo, esemplare di grande fascino anche se l'iconografia non è prettamente mitologica:

 

Commodus Medaglione. Roma, AD 192. L AELIVS AVRELIVS COMMODVS AVG PIVS FELIX, busti diCommodo e Roma drappeggiati e corazzati, con la seconda indossante elmo e corazza decorata con aegis / P M TR P XVII IMP VIIII COS VII P, Marte in piedi rivolto verso destra, testa a destra, nudo ma indossante elmo e mantello sulle spalle, reggente in mano la lancia e il parazonium che poggia il piede su una corazza (?) a terra, nel campo destro; la Vittoria a destra rivolta verso sinistra, reggente ghirlanda e palma in cima ad una colonna contro cui riposa uno scudo con in centro una figura di un animale. Gnecchi 120, pl. 86; Cohen 5/5. 70.56 g, 41 mm, 11 h.

Estremamente raro; nessun altro esemplare su CoinArchives e Gnecchi elenca solo tre esempi.

Provenza: Roma Numismatics Limited Asta 18 di 29.09.2019, lotto: 1181

Ciao

Illyricum

 

[apollonia]

 

La Salus compare sul rovescio di questo medaglione di Faustina Giovane già postato.

Salus era la divinità della Salute nella religione romana, la personificazione dello star bene (salute e prosperità) sia come individuo sia come Res Publica.

Proclaiming the Imperial Survival of Another Pregnancy

Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. Æ Medallion (37mm, 41.45 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 161-175. FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bareheaded and draped bust left / SALVS in exergue, Salus seated left on throne, adorned by sphinx and griffin, feeding snake uncoiling from branch; to left, column surmounted by statuette. Gnecchi II 3, pl. 67, 3 = Banti 103 (same dies as illustration); MIR 18, 1002-1/20. VF, rough green and red-brown surfaces. Extremely rare.

 To the Romans, Salus was the personification of health and the equivalent of the Greek goddess, Hygieia, the daughter of the Greek god of healing, Aesculapius. As such, the role of Salus, like Hygieia, was preventative rather than restorative - she was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health - both physical and mental. Consequently, her presence on Roman imperial coinage may be taken as the possible indication of the recovery of the imperial person from some bout of illness or indisposition or, as in the case of Faustina Junior, the recovery from the process of childbirth.

Originally betrothed by her parents, Antoninus Pius and Faustina Senior, to Lucius Verus, Annia Galeria Faustina Minor was subsequently married to Marcus Aurelius in AD 145. Over the next twenty-one years, she produced thirteen children, including the rare birth of two sets of twins - T. Aelius Aurelius and T. Aurelius Antoninus in AD 149 (both subsequently dying before the year was out), and T. Aurelius Fulvus and the future emperor L. Aurelius Commodus in AD 161. Of all her offspring, only three - Lucilla, Cornificia, and Commodus - survived to adulthood. Such repeated pregnancies, even for a woman in the imperial household, were fraught with danger, but, given the number of births which failed to reach adulthood, was necessary in the drive to produce an imperial heir. Faustina’s recovery from childbirth would have been of prime concern for the empire, if she needed to be called upon once again to produce a possible heir.

A differenza degli altri medaglioni che ho postato, questo è dedicato non all’imperatore ma all’imperatrice in carica, precisamente Faustina Junior Leggo nella descrizione che Faustina jr, nome completo Anna Galeria Faustina Minor, era stata promessa in sposa a Lucio Vero dai genitori Antonino Pio e Faustina Senior, ma poi s’era maritata con Marco Aurelio nel 145 d. C. Nel corso dei ventun anni successivi Faustina aveva messo al mondo tredici pargoli, inclusa la rara nascita di due coppie di gemelli – T. Elio Aurelio e T. Aurelio Antonino nel 149 (che però morirono senza raggiungere il primo anno d’età) e T. Aurelio Fulvo e il futuro imperatore L. Aurelio Commodo nel 161. Di tutta la sua prole solo due figlie, Lucilla e Cornuficia, e il figlio Commodo vissero fino all’età adulta. Questi parti ripetuti rendevano molta rischiosa un’ulteriore nascita allo scopo di portare alla luce un erede imperiale. Come augurio di un altro parto con esito felice, è stato dedicato all’imperatrice questo medaglione con la raffigurazione di Salus, per i Romani la dea personificazione della salute, seduta sul trono ornato da una sfinge e un grifone.

Salus è equivalente alla dea greca Igiea o Igea, la figlia di Asclepio, divinizzazione della salute fisica e spirituale, alla quale era sacro il serpente che nelle rappresentazioni beveva in un boccale da lei sorretto come si vede sul rovescio del medaglione. Come quello di Igea, il ruolo di Salus era di prevenzione piuttosto che di ristabilimento in salute, essendo la dea associata alla prevenzione delle malattie e alla prosecuzione dello stato di buona salute, sia fisica sia mentale. Ne consegue che la sua presenza sulle monete imperiali romane si può intendere come possibile indicazione di recupero di un familiare da una malattia o un’indisposizione, o, nel caso di Faustina Junior, di recupero della capacità di procreazione.

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Commodo con una scena del porto sul rovescio, che celebra la rinascita dopo la carestia che ha colpito Roma nel 189 (Nomos 9).

ROMAN & BYZANTINE COINS
Commodus, 177-192, Philippopolis. Medallion (Bimetallic (copper and orichalcum), 41mm, 60.01 g 12), Rome, January 190. M COMMODVS ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG BRIT Laureate bust of Commodus to left, wearing a cuirass ornamented with a head of Medusa and with the edge of his paludamentum on his right shoulder. Rev. VOTIS FELICIBVS Harbor scene. On the right, Commodus, togate, standing left, sacrificing over a tripod altar behind which stands an attendant; at his feet, on the rocky shore, sacrificed ox to left with an omphalos patera before; at the right, Pharos of four stories; above left, within the harbor, grain ship and skiff sailing to right; center left, within the harbor, three vessels: a large grain ship to right under sail, with Serapis at the tiller; a naval galley with four rowers and two standards moving to left; and, below, a small fishing boat with a fisherman. BM Medallions 44 and pl. XXXV, 3 (for the reverse). Cohen 993 var. Gnecchi 176 and pl. 89, 6-8. Very rare.

With an interesting and complex reverse, reminiscent of the Ostia issues of Nero. Tiber patina with typical roughness, otherwise, about extremely fine. From the collections of Barry Feirstein, IV, Numismatica Ars Classica 45, 2 April 2008, 133 and that of L. Benz, Lanz 94. This medallion was issued for the New Year of 190 and celebrates the relief of the famine, which plagued Rome in 189. This led to popular demonstrations against Commodus’s Praetorian Prefect Cleander: the emperor had him executed to appease the mob, but also made vows to Neptune in order to ensure that grain ships from Egypt would arrive in timely fashion. The ships’ arrival in Ostia, with Commodus making a sacrifice in honor of their safe arrival, is what is shown on the reverse of this exciting piece, which would have been designed and struck in late 189 and distributed on 1 January 190.

 

Starting price: 22.000 CHF - Estimate: 27.500 CHF - Result: 50.000 CHF

 

[apollonia]

Medaglione Marco Aurelio e Lucio Vero/Salus (NAC 100).

The Roman Empire
Marcus Aurelius augustus, 161 - 180. Bronze medallion 161 (?), Æ 23.82 g. Confronted heads of Marcus Aurelius l. and L. Verus r. Rev. Salus seated l. feeding snake coiled around altar. Gnecchi cf. for obverse p. 43, 3 and pl. 70, 2 and pl. 71, 2. Szaivert cf. Em. 3 pp. 176-177.
Extremely rare. A very interesting medallion with two superb portraits of fine style.
Dark tone, struck on a narrow flan, otherwise extremely fine / good very fine
Ex NAC sale 87, 2015, 269.

Starting price: 3.600 CHF - Estimate: 4.500 CHF - Result: 6.000 CHF

[apollonia]

Il 28/10/2020 alle 18:36, apollonia dice:

Medaglione Marco Aurelio e Lucio Vero/Salus (NAC 100).

The Roman Empire
Marcus Aurelius augustus, 161 - 180. Bronze medallion 161 (?), Æ 23.82 g. Confronted heads of Marcus Aurelius l. and L. Verus r. Rev. Salus seated l. feeding snake coiled around altar. Gnecchi cf. for obverse p. 43, 3 and pl. 70, 2 and pl. 71, 2. Szaivert cf. Em. 3 pp. 176-177.
Extremely rare. A very interesting medallion with two superb portraits of fine style.
Dark tone, struck on a narrow flan, otherwise extremely fine / good very fine
Ex NAC sale 87, 2015, 269.

Starting price: 3.600 CHF - Estimate: 4.500 CHF - Result: 6.000 CHF

Vedi post # 69

apollonia

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Commodo/Apollo Palatino e Vittoria (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=110615)

SL96389. Bronze medallion, Gnecchi II p. 51, 1 & tav. 78, 1, NGC AU, strike 5/5, surface 2/5, Fine Style (ex Coin Gall., 2/95, 1865; The Morris Collection; 4632497-011), Rome mint, weight 53.33g, maximum diameter 39.5mm, die axis 345o, 190 - 192 A.D.; obverse COMMODVS ANTONINVS PIVS FELIX AVG BRIT, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse APOL PALATINO P M TR P XVI IMP VIII, Apollo Palatine on left, standing facing, head right, plectrum in right hand, Victory on right, standing left, presenting kithara (lyre) to Apollo, COS VI P P in exergue; ex Heritage NYINC auction 3071 (6-7 Jan 2019), lot 32133; ex Morris Collection; ex Coin Galleries (15 Feb 1995), lot 1865; ex Spink & Sons (1950's); ex Dattari Collection; NGC Lookup; extremely rare; $4800.00 SALE PRICE $3880.00

[apollonia]

Per dettagli sul tempio del Palatino dedicato ad Apollo da Roma nel 28 a. C. vedi https://jt1965blog.wordpress.com/2019/10/09/apollo-palatinus-9-ottobre/

apollonia

[apollonia]

Medaglione di Antonino Pio che raffigura sul rovescio Apollo, nudo fino alla vita, seduto su un treppiede o una panca, in atteggiamento pensoso, con i piedi che non toccano terra, tenendo in mano un ramo e appoggiando il gomito sulla spalliera o appoggiayo alla lira; dietro, una piccola colonna sulla quale c’è una statuetta (Venere?) che ha in mano una cornucopia o uno specchio. In primo piano un treppiede (?) (NAC AG, Auction 27).

The Roman Empire
Antoninus Pius, 138-161
No.: 402
Estimate: CHF 35000
d=47 mm
Medallion in an ancient ring frame, circa 147-148, æ 68.76 g. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS – P P TR P XI COS IIII Laureate bust r. with aegis. Rev. Apollo, naked to waist, seated l. on tripod or banch, in pensive attitude, feet not touching ground, holding branch and resting l. elbow on back (?) or leaning on lyre; behind, small column on which statuette (Venus ?) holding cornucopiae or mirror. In the foreground, tripod (?).
Apparently unique and unrecorded.

A faboulous medallion with an extremely interesting reverse composition and an attractive portrait of Antoninus Pius struck in high relief. A superb untouched dark green patina, the obverse undisturbed, the reverse with signs of ancient modification to allow mounting into a second, larger frame. otherwise good extremely fine / about extremely fine
This remarkable medallion was struck during Antoninus Pius’ 11th tribunician, and though there are several mysterious aspects that prevent its easy classification, we may be sure it relates to his celebration of the 900th anniversary of Rome’s founding. Pius issued many coins and medallions for this occasion, most of which referenced the cult of Roma or depicted episodes from the formative years of the Republic. Pius must have been pleased that so important an anniversary occurred during his reign, for he was as pro-Roman as any man who ever donned the purple. Unlike his Greekling predecessor Hadrian, who spent most of his tenure in the provinces, Pius spent every day of his long reign in Italy. Since Pius used the anniversary to demonstrate his retrospective approach to religion on numismatic items, this Apollo reverse might relate to an early episode in Roman history. Based on his coinage we know Pius assumed the guise of Rome’s eponymous founder, Romulus (ROMVLO AVGVSTO; RIC 624) and identified himself with Augustus’ Palatine Apollo (APOLLINI AVGVSTO; RIC 63). Here Apollo is depicted principally in his guise as healer, Medicus, (or, as the vestals called him, Apollo Medice or Apollo Paean) for he holds a laurel branch. One of the earliest Roman associations with Apollo occurred in 433 B.C. when, based upon a recommendation of the Sibylline Books, he arrived to deliver the Romans from a plague (Livy 4.25.3). The grateful Romans built a temple to him just outside the city limit. About four centuries later Augustus adopted Apollo as his patron and built a second temple to him not far from his own house on the Palatine. Various details need clarification: is there a tripod in the foreground of the bench upon which Apollo sits, or is it the end of the bench? (The lion-paw feet are of the type typically found on tripods, but less so on furniture.) Why is the bench elevated such that Apollo’s feet dangle above the floor? Does he lean against a small lyre, or is it drapery over the back of the chair. Finally, the subject of the statuette is not clear (is it Venus gazing into a mirror?). If, in addition to holding a laurel branch, Apollo rests against a lyre and has a tripod in the foreground, we would have all three of his main functions represented: healer, patron of the arts, and instrument of prophecy. It is worth noting that the general form of this seated Apollo, holding a laurel branch and leaning against a lyre, is found on coins numerous emperors, including Caracalla (RIC 238a), Gordian III (RIC 87), Philip I (RIC 91), Herennius Etruscus (RIC 144), Hostilian (RIC 180) and Trebonianus Gallus (RIC 118). The physical properties of the medallion are also worth investigating. At present we have a medallion contained within an ancient "ring-frame" that was added after striking. The ring-frame was bonded to the edge of the medallion to create an additional surface area encompassing the medallion. This was meant to enlarge the medallion so it could be set into a larger, decorative frame that would have had any number of functions, perhaps even for attachment to a legionary standard. With the medallion’s extended border the decorative frame’s overlapping lip would cover only the ring-frame, allowing the entire surface of the original medallion to be displayed. The decorative frame no doubt had a metal-plate backing since the relief of the medallion’s reverse was mechanically reduced in ancient times to allow it to sit flush against the back of the frame. This flattening occurred after striking, indeed after the ring-frame was added, because in some of the flattening extends from the medallion to the ring-frame.