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Clodius Albinus (as Caesar, 193-195) AE Sestertius (17.9g, 29mm,12h). Rome Mint, 194/5 CE.

Obv: D CL SEPT AL – BIN CAES. Bare head of Clodius Albinus right. [Legend tooled to read: D CLODIVS – ALBINVS CAES.]

Rev: SAECVLO FR – V – GIFERO COS II / S-C. Saeculum Frugiferum radiate, standing left, holding caduceus (between corn ears?) in right hand & trident pitchfork in left. [No COS II visible, but reportedly die-match to Curtis Clay no. 74 in his unpublished 1972 catalog.]

References: RIC 56; Cohen 71. See RIC (VI.1), pp. 40-41; cf. also RIC 50 (draped); RIC 61A (AE As) & 61B (AE Dupondius).

Provenance: Ex-CNG Auction e-456, (Group) Lot 731 (part of 8; Lancaster, PA, 13 Nov 2019).

Notes: Several CoinTalk members gave helpful comments on this coin [CT Thread 374682, 2 Feb 2021]. Thanks especially to Curtis Clay for his comments [CT Comment 6184008, 2 Feb 2021].

The “full name” obverse legend Sestertius of Clodius Albinus (D CLODIVS ALBINVS CAES), which this coin was tooled to resemble, is only known during his first year, 193, and very rare (Banti 20; RIC 50). But it should have a different legend break (D – CLODIVS AL – BINVS CAES) & rev. (Providentia).

Weight (17.9g) is a bit light, but within range of >10% of examples in ACSearch. Possibly reflecting metal loss due to tooling.

The Saeculum Frugiferum reverse type — a patron god of N. Africa — is of particular significance for Clodius Albinus, born in Hadrumetum in N. Africa, near Carthage.

Clodius Albinus bronze coinage is generally scarce. Most Sestertii are from 194/5, w/ obv. legends D CL SEPT ALBIN CAES or D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES. There are several Sestertii with Frugiferum reverse, all COS II (i.e., in 194/5).

The reverse legend is incomplete on this coin, but Clay suggested it matches a rev. die in his 1972 catalog (see refs. above), SAECVLO FRVGIFERO COS II.

Album: All Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Large #Rare #Roman

Thessaly, Phalanna AE Dichalkon (18mm, 5.30g, 12h). Mid 4th century BC.

Obverse: Youthful male head right Apollo or Ares?). Border of dots.

Reverse: ΦAΛANNAIΩN (unbroken, 9h to 3h). Head of the nymph Phalanna right, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace, her hair bound in a decorated sakkos tied at the back.

References: BCD Thessaly I 1255.1, II 578, 583.3; Papaevangelou-Genakos 5, 22; Rogers 452; HGC (4) 170, 175.

Pedigree: Ex-BCD Collection (with original hand-written label; acquired 1992); CNG e-Auction 455, Lot 85 (30 Oct 2019). With his hand written tag, “V. ex Thess., June 92, DM 90.” (Purchased in Germany, June 1992?) Other coins from his collection have tags labeled “ex Thess.”, dated 1986 to 1998, preceded by a variety of codes (V., T/ne, S., and others). If the codes have been deciphered, I am unaware.

Numis. Notes: Oval shaped flan, strong green & red patina. Die crack around obv. nose. Very rare with this level of detail.

Struck from dies of exceptional quality. Writing about a coin struck from the same obverse die (Triton XV, Lot 578), BCD himself commented: “The style of this coin is superior to most from the large quantities of similarly sized dichalka that constitute the third and final period of the mint’s output according to Papaevangelou-Genakos. These dies were probably cut by a master engraver and were subsequently copied by lesser artists to the extent and amounts required at the time.”

See also: CNG e-Auction 458, Lot 47 (18 Dec 2019), same obv die struck later.

Album: All Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Greek #Pedigreed #Showcase

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Quintillus Billon Antoniniaus (2.68g, 17.5mm, 12h). Rome mint, 270 CE.

Obverse: IMP C M AVR QVINTILLVS AVG. Radiate and draped bust right.

Reverse: CONCORDIA AVG / Δ to right. Concordia standing left, sacrificing over altar & holding double cornucopiae.

Reference: RIC 13; Cohen 17.

Provenance: Ex-Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada Auction 2 (9 Nov 2019), Lot 210, from the “Orfew”/Andrew Short Collection; Naville Numismatics Auction 35 (London, Online, 29 Oct 2017), Lot 717, from the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection (1914-2001; Curator, National Numismatic Collection, Smithsonian), incl. her hand-written tag w/ notes.

Numis./Hist. Notes: The brief reign of Quintillus lasted only weeks or months in 270 CE. That he produced coins at all – in fact, a considerable number of issues in AE, billon and gold, including those at Provincial mints – despite reigning for as little as a few weeks, provides strong evidence of how important coin production was to Emperors to quickly legitimize and publicize their rule, as well as evidence of how efficient the process was.

Provenance Notes: Elvira “E.E.” Clain-Stefanelli (her husband, Victor, also a numismatist, is known as “V.E.”) was a curator, then Executive Director of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian, 1956-2001. She is known for bringing the national coin collection from provincial backwater to world-class status.

A famous numismatist, her obituary was published in 2001 in the Washington Post. Her wikipedia entry.

The Clain-Stefanelli Collection (begun by Vladimir in the 1930s, assembled together until his death, continued by Elvira until at least the early 1990s), was auctioned by Stack’s (“Demarete Collection”) and then Numismatica Ars Classica and their affiliated auctioneer, Naville Numismatics (London). Naville sold this coin to “Orfew” (online handle of collector subsequently named in CNG sales as the applied linguist Andrew Short); from there it was consigned to Ancient & Medical Coins Canada, from which it joined the Jackson-Jacobs Collection.

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Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Pedigreed #Rare #Roman #Showcase

A splendid Alexandrian Tetradrachm of Gordian III (Emperor, 238-244 AD), notable for its rarity, important pedigree, and being illustrated in important reference volumes.

Full writeup & video of this coin available here.

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Roman Provincial. Gordian III (238-244). Billon Tetradrachm (23mm., 12.35g, 12h). Struck in Egypt, Alexandria, 243-4 AD.
Obverse: Α Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ƐΥ (see Numis. Notes below). Laureate, draped & cuirassed bust of Gordian right, seen from behind.

Reverse: Bust of Helios facing right, radiate & draped, seen from behind. In fields, L-Z (Regnal Year 7).

References: Dattari 4731 (this coin, not illustrated); Dattari-Savio plate 252, 4731 (this coin illustrated); RPC VII.2 (in press) 3669.9 (this coin illustrated); RPC Online Temp. 3037 (this coin illustrated, #11417); Milne 3466; BMC Alexandria 1859; Emmett 3407; K & G 72.137.

Pedigree: Ex-Naville Numismatics (London) Auction 60, #308; from the Dattari collection, formed before 1901.

Album: All Coins

Categories: Provincial Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Greek #Large #Pedigreed #Rare #Roman #Showcase

NGC #3761188-001 VF, Strike 4/5, Surface 2/5, “core visible” (NGC Website certification lookup)

For more information on this type, see our writeup on the Julius Caesar Elephant Denarius

Sold 3 April 2014 (JJFN Ebay store, item # 231120578927)

Julius Caesar (Dictator, 49 – 44 BC) Fourrée / Plated Denarius
Mobile military mint traveling with Caesar in Northern Italy, 49 BC.
Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling on horned serpent or carnyx (Gallic war trumpet). CAESAR in exergue.
Rev: Pontifical emblems – ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis) surmounted by a wolf head, and priest’s hat (apex).
Ref: For prototype: RSC 49; Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006; Sear CRI 9; Babelon 1885, p10, Julia 9.
Pedigree: Ex-Jackson & Jacobs Family Numismatics (3 Apr 2014, Ebay item #231120578927; 1 Sep 2013, [Unslabbed] #330983650815); Lucernae Numismatica / Antonio Hinojosa Pareja (Alcala la Real, Spain, 20 March 2013)

Notes: Fourrées (or Subaeratus) are silver plated denarii with base cores. As NGC indicates, these were “ancient forgeries,” also known as contemporary counterfeits. (As Mattingly (1928/1960: 24) noted, though, there were times when the State officially struck plated denarii.)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Animals #Classic #Historic #Imperatorial #Republican #Roman #Silver #Sold

Pedigree: Ex-VAuctions Sale #292, Lot 283 (part, 6 Dec 2012); sold by Jackson & Jacobs Family Numis. on 21 November 2013.

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Greek #Large #Sold

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Animals #Celts & Imitatives #Greek #Large #Sold

Thrace, Maroneia AE Unit (16mm, 3.9g, 3h). circa 398-347 BC.

Obverse: Horse prancing right, monogram below.
Rev: ΜΑΡ-ΩΝΙ-ΤΩΝ around grape arbor in linear square, monogram below.
Ref: Schönert-Geiss 721-905, SNG Cop 632
Numis Notes: Very well centered & struck example, unusually clear and complete rev design & legend. Minor roughness/porosity to obverse surface.

SOLD
Pedigree: Ex-Holding History Coins (Nathan Hochrein; DePere, WI c. 2013-2015); CONSERVATORI Ancient Coins (Champaign, IL; 27 Oct 20; private treaty)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Animals #Greek #Sold

Zeugitania, Carthage. AE Unit (16mm, 2.04g, 3h), c. 400-350 BC.

Obverse: Wreathed head of Persephone-Tanit facing left with pendent earrings

Reverse: Horse standing right, palm tree behind.

Ref: SNG Copenhagen 111-119

Numis. Notes: Some remaining find patina/deposits on surface, but detailed & attractive coin in hand with beautiful dark green patina. Well-centered and complete for type.
Much finer artistic style than those of similar design struck in Punic Sicily and Iberia during the mid-to-late 3rd century

SOLD
Pedigree: Ex-CNG inventory with tag (“Carthage”); Agora Auctions, sale 35, Lot 455 (part, NYC 23-6-15); Holding History (Nathan Hochrein; DePere, WI; 11 Jul 15); CONSERVATORI Ancient Coins (C. Jackson-Jacobs; Champaign, IL; 27 Oct 20; by private treat)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Animals #Greek #Sold

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Celts & Imitatives #Greek #Large #Rare #Sold