Provenance: Ex CNG e-329, lot 564, “From the Fairfield Collection.”
Constans AE Silvered Maiorina (27mm, 6.24g, 6h). Thessalonica, 348-350 CE.
Scarce issue for Constans. Even more so at this size.
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Album: Sold Coins
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From The “BCE” Collection (“Barbarians, Captives & Enemies” on Roman Coins) — see the introductory page here, including selected examples, from Julius Caesar to Justinian.
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Roman Imperial. Constantius Gallus (351-354) AE Maiorina (4.44g, 22mm, 6h). Antioch mint, circa 351-354 CE.
Obverse: DN CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right. To left: Δ.
Reverse:FEL TEMP REPARATIO / AN- (exergue). Roman soldier with crested helmet to spearing fallen horseman (Germanic), reaching upward (FH3), bareheaded (hair braided in rear?), wearing loose tunic and trousers.
References: RIC VIII 139 (FH3). (Incorrectly cited as 181 by Peus & de Vries.)
Provenance: Ex-Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. e-Auction, Lot #599 (Frankfurt, 28 Jan 2020), from the de Vries Collection; purchased from Frank Taylor (Taylor’s Coin Service, Brisbane, 1982).
Video available of this coin in hand (2nd coin shown, along with two others) & additional photographs.
Numis. Notes: A scarcer variant with field mark on obverse only. Transitional issue between the earliest, heaviest Maiorinae (usually with a Γ fieldmark on the Rev. & often the Obv. as well), and the AE3 types which began in the middle of Gallus’ reign. Consequently, Gallus’ Fallen Horseman coins come in all sizes, like Constantius II (and unlike Constans, who only has large ones, and Julian II, who only has small ones).
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Superior example of a Numidian Obol, struck in lead (or highly leaded AE), with an unpublished and apparently unique control mark (pellet behind horse). Purchased from Specialty Coin (Champaign, IL), ex-Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. (Curtis Clay).
North Africa. Kings of Numidia, Massinissa or Micipsa AE or PB (Lead) Unit (26mm, 13.6g, 12h). Circa 203 – 138 BC.
Obverse: Laureate, bearded male head facing left. (King Massinissa?) Beaded border.
Reverse: Horse galloping left. Punic letters (“MN”) below AND pellet behind horse.
References: Unpublished variant (placement of control symbol on the reverse die), cf. Sear 6596-7; SNG Copenhagen 518.
Pedigree: Ex-Specialty Coin (Gary Dayton, Champaign), circa 2010-15; Ex-Harlan J Berk, Ltd. (Chicago), group lot purchased from Curtis Clay before 2010.
Numis. Notes: Typical flan irregularities illustrative of Numidia’s crude minting process. Casting flaw or “scoop,” rev. ~5h (scooping was a corrective used by mints to reduce weight when a batch of coins was above standards). On rev., red encrustations & minor pitting (9h); on obv., edge chip & crack (8h).
The pellet behind this horse is a seemingly unpublished and unique variant. The vast majority have a control mark below the horse, either a pellet (Sear 6597) or Punic letters (right to left) “MN” (Sear 6596).
Categories: Greek Coins
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One of the earliest coins in the Jackson & Jacobs Family Collection, purchased in the 1980s (Florence, 1986; possibly Paris, 1988).
Hadrian (117-138 AD) AE Sestertius (25.28g; 30mm; 6h). Rome mint, 134-138 AD.
Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP. Laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder.
Reverse: S – C. Diana Venatrix (“Huntress”), draped, standing left, holding arrow and bow.
Reference: RIC II 777; Banti CNR 713; BMCRE 1546; Cohen 1364.
Pedigree: Purchased by CSJ in the mid/late 1980s in Europe, probably Florence, 1986, possibly Paris, 1988.
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Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm (16.9g, 24mm, 2h). Circa 454 – 404 BCE.
Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll.
Reverse: AΘE. Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square.
References: Sear GCV 2526; HGC 4, 1597; SNG Copenhagen 31-40; Kroll 8.
Provenance: Jackson & Jacobs Family Collection, purchased with my mother & father circa Aug. 1986 (to 1988?) at a Paris coin shop on la Rue Vivienne. (I could try to guess which, based on photos and trying to remember, but there are so many it’s hard to be sure. Back then we didn’t know how important it would become to record provenance. Just for fun, try: https://www.google.com/search?q=La+Rue+Vivienne+numismatique.)
Although both of my parents would take me to the coin shops while traveling (and to museums and bookstores and everywhere else), it was really my father who “collected” along with me. I’m sure my mother enjoyed it, and she still appreciates Greek coins (or seems to), but only my father was interested in building a coin collection and library.
Numis. Notes: Attractive, fine style Athena w/ subtle smile, well-centered on a compact flan (rev. slightly off-center). Nicely toned. Punch mark & scuff on reverse.
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Commodus (177-192 CE) Billon Tetradrachm (10.7g, 24mm, 12h). Egypt, Alexandria, 189-190 CE.
Obverse: Μ Α ΚΟΜ ΑΝΤⲰ ϹƐΒ ƐVϹƐΒ. Laureate head of Commodus right.
Reverse: L-Λ. Radiate, draped bust of Helios right, seen from the rear.
Reference: Dattari 3865; Dattari-Savio Pl. 210, 9612 (this coin illustrated); Geissen 2247; Milne 2685; Emmett 2543.30; Kampmann & Ganschow 41.121; SRCV 5928; RPC (IV.4) Online Temp 14217.27 (this coin illustrated).
Provenance: Ex-Naville Numismatics Auction 60, Lot 296 (London, 27 September 2020), from the Giovanni Dattari Collection.
Numis. Notes: For more on the Giovanni Dattari (1858-1923) Collection, see here or click “Read More” button.
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Video of this coin in hand available here
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.
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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.
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.
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Pedigree: Ex-VAuctions Sale #292, Lot 283 (part, 6 Dec 2012); sold by Jackson & Jacobs Family Numis. on 21 November 2013.
Album: Sold Coins
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Sold by private treaty by our JJFN, 30 November 2012.
Celts in Eastern Europe / Dacia. Imitating Philip II of Macedon (posthumous prototype, issued under Kassander) AR Tetradrachm (14.2g, 25mm). Circa 4th-3rd cent BC
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