Provenance & Plate Coins III: Roman Provincial

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
BCD Collection [CNG EA 325, “Coinage of the Thessalian League…” (23 Apr 2014), 29];
Peter J. Merani (1936-2020) Collection [CNG EA 490, NVMMIS HISTORIAM DISCENS, Part II (21 Apr 2021), 65].
Published: Burrer 1.1 (A1/R1), this coin illustrated on pl. 9: Friedrich Burrer (1993), Münzprägung und Geschichte des Thessalischen Bundes in der Römischen Kaiserzeit bis auf Hadrian (31 v. Chr. – 138 n. Chr.);
RPC Online I 1439, ex. 25 (this coin illustrated online);
RPC Supplement I (1998), p. 20 (this coin cited) & Consolidated Supplement I-III (2015), p. 78 (cited).
See also: My “Numislit Exhibit” for Merani, BCD & Burrer.
Notes: An important type, probably intended to flatter Nero after his tour of the Greek Games, c. 66/7, during which he liberated Achaea. Suetonius described the Roman Imperial brass coins of this design.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection/Publication Hist.:
Peter J. Merani (1936-2020) Collection [CNG EA 490, NVMMIS HISTORIAM DISCENS, Part II (21 Apr 2021), 70];
BCD Peloponnesos II 2782 = BCD Collection [CNG 81.2 (20 May 2009), 2782];
Frank Kovacs Collection [acq. by BCD, Dec 1996];
[prob.] Ex Jacob Hirsch Estate [Kovacs tag indicating acq. from A.S.W., “Ex Bank Leu, Zurich, Old Stock,” which phrase usually denoted “Old Stock of Jacob Hirsch” (d. 1955)]
See also: RPC 1256, ex. 24, corr. = this coin, wrong photo & note (GERMANICVS), mistakenly using the BCD Peloponnesos I photo, which should actually be ex 32, corr. (GERM).
See also: My “Numislit Exhibit” for Merani, BCD & Burrer (comparandum).
Notes: Issued for Colonia Augusta Achaica Patrensis, the veterans colony for Legio X Fretensis and Legio XII Fulminata.

(Photo credit: Naumann.) Collection Hist.:
Francis Jarman (1948-) Collection: Mints of the Roman Empire [Naumann 100 (6 Mar 2021), 1215];
BCD Collection [NAC 55 (8 Oct 2010), 157 (part)];
Findspot, “West of Exarchos” (n.d.).
Published: BCD Lokris-Phokis 157.5;
RPC I Online 1342, ex. 14 (this coin illustrated online);
RPC Consolidated Supplement I-III (2015), p. 71 (this coin cited);
Humphris & Delbridge (2014), The Coinage of the Opountian Lokrians (London: RNS), p. 218, “unidentified dies” (this coin cited, but mercifully the only from the group not illustrated!).
Notes: The editors of RPC doubt whether this ex. is correctly identified. I could see the obv. remnants as Hades from RPC 1341, but since the Howgego 620 countermark appears only (& nearly always) on RPC 1342, I think BCD must be right. His notes: “poor … (but unique?),” the latter in reference to the pair of countermarks (“ΛΟ in circular incuse” [Howgego 620] + “helmeted head of Athena r.”).

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
Ex H.C. Lindgren Collection (unpublished, see note) [Antioch Associates BBS 42 (15 Nov 2002), 72];
Heather Howard Collection of Elagabalus;
George Spradling [Agora 38 (8 Nov 2015), 74];
Joe Winnett Collection [kerux, Tantalus 16683 (26 Jun 2006)];
Zumbly Coll. [Minotaur Coins (14 Jul 2023), Archived].
Published: HHJ Nicopolis 8.26.34.2 (this coin, editions from 2015-; see also HHJ 2014 Addenda III, #149);
RPC VI 1197 (Temp.) ex. 1 (this coin) & primary illustration (last checked: 8 Sep 2024).
Digital “Plate Coin”: Wildwinds (Elagabalus / Moesia, Niko. pages);
Coinproject 38-074 (after Agora 38, Spradling);
Aeqvitas Elagabalus 125 (H. Howard, archived Elagabalus Page).
Notes: Then unpublished, this coin was among those intended for Henry Clay Lindgren’s 4th volume on Greek/RPC bronze, the cancelation of which was announced Oct 2001 in FPL 64 of his firm Antioch Associates, which thereafter sold the coins.
(Incidentally, my set of Antioch sales — BBS 42 pictured below — is ex RBW library.)
See also: “Barbarians, Captives, and Enemies” page (this coin).

(Photo credit: CNG.) Sale Hist.:
Classical Cash MBS 1 (Matt Kruezer, Boston, 13 May 1995), 1116 (“Possibly Macedonia…Apparently unpublished and probably important”);
CNG 61 (25 Sep 2002), 1021;
Conti Collection [CNG EA 524 (28 Sep 2022), Lot 311, corr. (provenance & publication)].
Published: RPC IV.1 (Temp.) 11165 (this coin illustrated, only specimen);
Varbanov II 3145 (this coin illustrated from CNG 61, but edited).
See also: Wildwinds “digital plate coin” (corr., cited as Moushmov 2498) on pp. for Thrace, Hadrianopolis & Antoninus Pius.
Notes: Still the only specimen published anywhere since Kreuzer cataloged it in 1995. For a time, both CNG and RPC listed this as the second specimen, but on closer inspection I found that the Varbanov photo was edited from CNG’s.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
John Richard-Brinsley Norton, 5th Baron Grantley (1855-1943) Collection [Glendining, Lord Grantley Part VI – Greek II (29 Jun 1944), 2309 (part of 50)];
Richard Cyrill Lockett (1873-1950) Collection, Part XII [Glendining (23 Feb 1961), 2894 (part)];
Cornelius Vermeule (1925-2008) Collection, sold for the benefit of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts [Triton III (30 Nov 1999), 1709 (part)];
St. George Collection [CNG EA 550 (13 Nov 2023), 358; CNG EA 297 (27 Feb 2013), 172].
Published: RPC I 2681, ex. 30 (illustrated online).
See also: Recorded in Lockett Purchase Notebooks (BNS), Vol. 58 – Greek AE No. 20: p 18 (r. col.).
Notes: I have others from each individually but this is my first to connect all three old collections (Grantley-Lockett-Vermeule), though many flowed through the same pathway. Unfortunately, for different reasons, none of those very significant collections of Greek/RPC bronzes were well illustrated (or at all, in Grantley’s case) and many of their provenances have been lost.

(Photo credit: CJJ.) Collection Hist.:
Alfred J. Lawson (Smyrna, 1838-1921) Collection;
Sir Hermann Weber (1823-1918) [acq. 1891 ex Lawson ; coll. dispersed by Spink, 1920s];
Sammlung J.P. Righetti [Part IV, Münzen & Medaillen GmbH (21 Oct 2004), 796];
Dr. Hugh Preston Collection [Noble 135 (9 Apr 2024), 4181].
Published: RPC IV.2 (Temp) 1471, ex. 7 (this coin illustrated online);
GRPC Lydia 121 (this coin illustrated) in: Dane Kurth (2020), Greek and Roman Provincial Coins — Lydia (vol 3);
Weber 6868 (this coin illustrated) in: L. Forrer, The Weber Collection: Greek Coins, vol. III, p. 448 & Pl. 243 (1925-6, London: Spink);
Preston (2008), p. 105 Fig. 12 (this coin illustrated) in: Hugh Preston (2008), “Images in the Roman World,” Journal of Australian Numismatic Association vol. 19: pp. 93-109.

(Photo credit: Jacquier.) Collection Hist.:
Henry Clay Lindgren (1914-2005) Collection;
Marcel Burstein Collection [Peus 366 (25 Oct 2000), 745, pl. 39];
Michel Thys (Slg. Flussgötter-Darstellungen) [Jacquier 52 (15 Sep 2023), 588].
Published: RPC IV, 2 (Temp) 2502, ex. 6 (this coin illustrated online);
Lindgren I A831A (this coin illustrated), in: Lindgren & Kovacs (1985), Ancient Bronze Coinage of Asia Minor and the Levant.

(Photo credit: Noble.) Collection Hist.:
Richard Cyrill Lockett (1873-1950) Collection [Glendining, Lockett XII – Greek IV (21 Feb 1961), 2927 (Pl. 31, ill.)];
acq. by Lockett from Lincoln (multi-generational London coin dealer, prob. F.W. Lincoln, Jr. [d. 1929]);
Cornelius Vermeule (1925-2008) Collection, sold for the benefit of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts [Triton III (30 Nov 1999), 1668 (part)].
See also: Catalog Favorites: Lockett & my Hidrieus Tetradrachm also illustrated in Lockett XII.

(Photo credit: CJJ.) Collection Hist.:
Henry Clay Lindgren (1914-2005) Collection, w/ his envelope [pub. 1985];
Michel Burstein [privately sold, not in Peus 366];
Garth Drewry (1928-) [CNG EA 127 (23 Nov 2005), 101];
Noble Numismatics Auction 129 (29 Mar 2022), 3271, var. tickets.
Publication History: Lindgren I 955 (this coin ill.), in: H.C. Lingdren & Frank Kovacs (1985), Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant (San Mateo: Chrysopylon);
Phrygiens II 340 (this coin), in: Hans von Aulock (1987), Münzen und Städte Phrygiens, Teil 2 (Tübingen: Wasmuth);
RPC III 2482, ex. 17 (this coin).
See also: = AsiaMinorCoins 3158 [Archived].

(Photo credit: CJJ.) Collection Hist.:
Thomas Ollive Mabbott (1898-1968) Collection [Part I, H. Schulman (6 Jun 1969), 2045];
“Morris Collection” / Phil Peck [Part IV, Heritage 61160 (10 May 2020), 97068];
Ex NGC 4884253014, w/ tag (removed from encapsulation, c. 2020-3);
CNG EA 543 (2 Aug 2023), 319 (cataloged by TM).
Published: Pisidiens II 29 (this coin), in: Hans von Aulock (1979), Münzen und Städte Pisidiens, Teil II (Tübingen: Wasmuth).
Notes: My copy of Mabbott I: Greek (shown below) has Phil Peck’s (previous owner of this coin) name & number written on the cover, lower left! Did John Aiello (one of Peck’s coin dealers, reportedly his copy) buy this coin for him at the sale? Peck was then (1965-1977) a curator at the Chase Money Museum. Also written in the catalog, the phone number of a Chase Bank Vice President who was a philanthropist & AIA Trustee. Perhaps Aiello was acting as agent for Chase Bank and/or for Peck? (More: Catalog Favorites: Mabbott.)

(Photo credit: Leu WA 23.) Collection Hist.:
Rainer Postel (Hamburg, 1941-) [before 1977];
Henry Clay Lindgren (1914-2005) Collection [published 1985];
Slg. Gerhard Plankenhorn (1941-), w/ ticket [Gorny & Mosch 126 (14 Oct 2003), 1906 ; acq. Schenk-Behrens 72 (?) (Essen, 6 Dec 1996), 454]
Dr. Peter Vogl (1949-) [Naumann 56 (6 Aug 2017), 406].
Published: Lindgren I 1264 (this coin illustrated), in: H.C. Lingdren & Frank Kovacs (1985), Ancient Bronze Coins of Asia Minor and the Levant (San Mateo: Chrysopylon);
Pisidiens I 445 (this coin), in: Hans von Aulock (1977), Münzen und Städte Pisidiens, Teil I (Tübingen: Wasmuth).

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
Ex “Crescent Collection” [CNG EA 486 (24 Feb 2021), 332 ; acq. Freeman & Sear 2009];
Ex Mid-2005 Aegeae Hoard, Inv. # 4.3.6 (Lorber-Michaels 2007).
Published:
L&M 117 (O7/R19, this coin illustrated) in: Catharine Lorber & David Michaels (2007), “Silver Coinage of Aegeae in the Reign of Hadrian,” Quaderni Ticinesi v. 37: p. 224 & 234, pl. IV;
Haymann Pl. 37, O6/R12, corr. (this coin illustrated) in: (2014), “The Hadrianic Silver Coinage of Aegeae (Cilicia),” American Journal of Numismatics 26: pp. 143-186 + 20 pl.
See also: RPC III 3343, ex. 8 (this coin illustrated online);
Haymann 48b (possibly this coin?) in: (2014) Untersuchungen zur Geschichte und Identitätskonstruktion von Aigeai im römischen Kilikien (Bonn: Verlag Habelt).
Notes: I suspect the Haymann 2014 AJN plates were scrambled in editing (at least for this coin, which I can’t find in his catalog & whose die nos. seem incorrect); I’ve found no errata.
Apparently the lightest known Hadrian Aegeae Tetradrachm. (The usual weight is ~13.3g.) Nonetheless, fully struck w/ complete legends. Also, the only ex. of its rev. die.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
Henry Clay Lindgren (1914-2005) Collection;
MDA Collection [CNG EA 510 (23 Feb 2022), 419].
Published: Lindgren & Kovacs (1985): Lindgren I 2192, corr. (this coin illustrated, described as Caesarea Paneas, Caligula on p. 116; and “corrected” to Irenopolis in Errata on p. 187);
Lindgren (1993): Lindgren III 773 (this coin illustrated & corrected on p. 43, also in Errata Supplement, p. ii);
Ziegler, R. (1993), Kaiser, Heer und Stadtisches Geld…: Ziegler 73.3 (this coin illustrated);
RPC II 1750, ex. 4 (this coin illustrated online, cited in print vol.);
RPC Supplement I (1998), p. 50 & RPC Consolidated Supplement I-III (2015), p. 180, 5456: “Delete…” (this coin referenced in detail).
Notes: One of my favorite “object biographies” for the repeated errors of attribution in this coin’s initial publications! A perfect illustration of how rapidly our knowledge of previously unknown types was moving in the 1980s & 1990s.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
Hans von Aulock (1906-1980) Collection;
Edoardo Levante (1932-2007) Collection;
CNG EA 504 (17 Nov 2021), 204.
Selected Publications: RPC IV.3 4976 (Temp), ex. 6 (this coin illustrated);
SNG von Aulock 5572 (this coin illustrated);
SNG Levante 1586 (this coin illustrated);
Robert 27, pl. XXVI.77 (this coin illustrated), in: Robert (1964), La Déesse de Hiérapolis Castabala (Cilicie);
Howgego GIC 686 (this coin cited, Robert 77).
Et al. (full list saved in notes).
Notes: In addition to those listed above, this coin is commonly cited or illustrated as a reference coin after Levant, von Aulock, and Robert.
My copy of SNG Levante ex BCD Library. As BCD mentioned in the listing at Kolbe & Fanning, Hans von Aulock was Edoardo Levante’s mentor & encourage him to specialize in Cilicia. By my count, approximately 25% of Levante’s collection came from von Aulock’s.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
Edoardo Levante (1932-2007) Collection [CNG EA 123 (28 Sep 2005), 330 (corr., weight)];
Peter J. Merani (1936-2020) Collection [CNG EA 490, NVMMIS HISTORIAM DISCENS, Part II (21 Apr 2021), lot 109 (corr. weight)].
Publication History: SNG Levante 777 (this coin illustrated);
Erhan (2014) Dissertation: Antik Çağ Kilikia Sikkelerinde Dinsel Tasvirler, p. 45 (this coin cited).
See Also: RPC VIII 70283 (Temp), ex. 5 (this coin illustrated online, heaviest spec. recorded);
AsiaMinorCoins 2739 (this coin).
Notes: My copy of SNG Levante ex BCD Library.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection & Selected Sale Hist.:
(prob.) 1906 Caesarea Hoard (Noe 1937: 179) [dispersed by Indjoudjian Frères, Paris & Istanbul];
Franz Trau Jr. (1881-1931) [Hess/Gilhofer & Ranschburg, (22 May 1935), 394];
Walter Niggeler (1878-1964) [Leu/Münzen & Medaillen AG, Slg. Niggeler, Part II (21 Oct 1966), 659];
Peter J. Merani (1936-2020) Collection [CNG Triton XXIV (19 Jan 2021), 139; video on YouTube];
Four additional sales not naming consignors.
Selected Publications: RPC I 3637, ex. 5 (this coin illustrated);
RPC Supplement II (2006) p.56 & Consolidated Supplement (2015), 3637.5 (this coin cited);
CNR 16, p. 136, no. 73 (this coin illustrated), in: A. Banti & L. Simonetti (1978), Corpus Nummorum Romanorum, Vol XVI: Da Messalina a Nerone.
Trau 394 (this coin) in: Attic Books (1976) reprint, Hess/Gilhofer & Ranschburg, Sammlung Franz Trau: Münzen der römischen Kaiser.
Howgego 850i (6^th coin cited);
Wildwinds “digital plate coin,” Caesarea & Nero pp.

(Photo credit: Naville [ed.].) Collection Hist.:
Rev. E. A. Sydenham (1873-1948) Collection [Hess (28 Apr 1936), 130 (illustrated on pl. 3 & descr. on p. 5 as Syd. 296 w/ identical weight)];
“Mentor” Collection (George Muller) [Naville 87 (11 Feb 2024), 527 (prior prov. absent)];
(prob., see note) Count Georg de Laval (Stockholm, 1883 – 1970) [Glendining’s, “The Property of a Nobleman” (18 Apr 1955), Lot 550B].
Selected Publications: RPC IV.4 (Temp) 6922, ex. 3 (this coin illustrated & cited in “Reference”);
Sydenham 296 (this coin cited & described), in: E.A. Sydenham (1933), The Coinage of Caesarea in Cappadocia (London: Spink & A.G. Malloy’s [1978] Attic Books edition), and previously in Spink Numismatic Circular XXXIX (Sep 1931), p. 386.
Secondary Citations (not ill.): Metcalf 118b (this coin cited on p. 127, “Ref: S. 296”), in: Metcalf, William E. (1996), The Silver Coinage of Cappadocia, Vespasian-Commodus (NY: ANS);
SNG Righetti p. 120, No. 1772 (this coin cited as type ref.).
See also: This coin grouped in avg. weight calculations by Louis C. West (1941) in his Gold and Silver Coins Standards in the Roman Empire, pp. 1-199 in NNM 94. See pp. 97 & 22 (Table D).
Note: Muller almost certainly acq. this coin ex Laval (among others), who acq. most (all?) of his Cappadocian RPC from the Sydenham sale. Of Laval’s nine illustrated, at least four were illustrated from the Sydenham sale (3) or book (1 more). No doubt many others were ill. in only one catalog or only described.

(Photo credit: Künker/RPC.) Collection Hist.:
Salton Collection, w/ hand-written tag & envelope [Mark Salton (1914-2005, born Max Schlessinger) & Lottie Salton (1924-2020, née Aronson) ; Künker 378 (21 Oct 2022), 6739];
Salton-Schlessinger FLP 27 (Fall 1958), No. 133 (not illustrated).
Publication: RPC VI (Temp) 8177, ex. 23 (this coin as primary illustration).
Notes: The same Salton FPL (my copy is ex BCD Lib. Dupl.) also includes my Athens “New Style” Tetradrachm (ex Laval = Thompson 540d.3). More in Catalog Favorites.

(Photo credit: CNG.) Collection Hist.:
Richard J. McAlee Collection [acq. Malloy 42 (22 Mar 1996), 360];
Michel Prieur (1955-2014) Collection [CNG EA 453 (2 Oct 2019), 341];
Terence Cheesman (1951-2024) Collection [as “Wild Rose Collection,” CNG EA 565 (3 Jul 2024), 439].
Publication: RPC IX 1626, ex. 5 (this coin);
McAlee 1119a (this coin illustrated) in: Richard McAlee (2007), The Coins of Roman Antioch;
Sancinito 47 (this coin cited, corr.: new obv. die) in: Jane Sancinito (2017) “The Antiochene Coinage of Trajan Decius (249-251 CE),” AJA 29: 125-148;
Prieur 537 (this coin on p. 74) in: Michel Prieur & Karen Prieur (2000), A Type Corpus of the Syro-Phoenician Tetradrachms and Their Fractions from 57 BC to AD 253.
The Planchet v. 67, n. 1 (Jan 2020) “cover coin” (this coin illustrated on cover & p. 21) in: T. Cheesman, “The Last of the Tetradrachms.”
Notes: I don’t know if Prieur illustrates or only cites this coin on p. 74: “McAlee coll. = Malloy [XLII], 031996, 360”.

My copy of McAlee, signed by the author & inscribed to Jay Galst (1950-2020):

(Photo credit: CJJ.) Notes:
This coin has to be done differently because its publication history is so extensive. I suspect it is one of the most widely reproduced ancient coins in the world. (Precise quantification is impractical, but national newspapers [e.g., the New York Times] have printed millions of photos of its reverse. It has appeared in various documentaries & television programs totaling at least tens of millions of viewers over the past 20-25 years. And so on.)

The coin itself is common, but its previous collector (from 1970-2023), Michael Molnar, credited this specimen with inspiring his theory about the “the Star of Bethlehem,” which was/is extremely popular among large non-numismatic audiences (for religion, astronomy/popular science, ancient history). He always used this coin for narrative purposes, as did others when presenting his theory. Molnar was a very successful popularizer: he posted high-resolution photographs on his website & made them free-to-reproduce (many newspapers did so) and made frequent media appearances, always showing this coin. Finally, being part of a holiday story, this coin is perennially relevant and published again every December.