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Roman Provincial. EGYPT, Alexandria. Maximinus I. AD 235-238. Potin Tetradrachm (22.5mm, 13.81 g, 12h). Dated RY 3 (AD 236/237).

Obverse: ΑΥΤΟ ΜΑΞΙΜΙΝΟϹ ƐΥ Ϲ ϹƐΒ. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: Trophy; at base to left and right, bound captive; L Γ (date) across field.

References: RPC Online VI Temp. 10711 (24 Ex., 9 ill.); Köln 2576 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 4613; K&G 65.51; Emmett 3301.3 (R3).

Pedigree: From the Rocky Mountain Collection of Alexandrian; CNG Feature MBS 79 (17 Sep 2008), Lot 742 (Hammer, $242); CNG e-Auction 484 (27 January 2021), Lot 610.

Published (Online): Coin Project ID 79000742 = This Coin.

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Categories: Provincial Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Captives & Enemies #J & J Family Collection #Pedigreed #Roman

* Note: Rasiel Suarez’s photo, digitally published on Tantalus, Coryssa/Coinvac, used with acknowledgement.

Return to “Provenance Coins, Part VI: Byzantine (to this coin)”

Cover coin for ERIC II by Rasiel Suarez (2010).

Constantine IV Pogonatus (668-685 CE) AV Solidus (4.37g, 19mm, 6h). Struck at the Constantinople mint, 10th officina, circa 674-681.

Obverse: D N CO(●TN)-A-NЧS PP [or similarly devolved]. Pearly-diademed, cuirassed bust facing three-quarters right, with short beard, wearing helmet with frontal plume only, holding a spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif.

Reverse: (VICTOA) AVGЧ I / CONOB. Cross potent set on three steps between facing, standing figures of Heraclius and Tiberius, each crowned, draped in chlamys, and holding globus cruciger.

References: DOC 8e; MIB 7a; SB 1154; ERIC II 64 p. 1319, 5 (obv) and 8 (rev), and front cover (this coin illustrated).

Provenance: Ex-CNG Auction e-484 (Lancaster, PA USA; 27 January 2021), Lot 978; Rasiel Suarez Collection (Dirty Old Coins LLC); acquired 28 March, 2005 (Coryssa / COINVAC ID #1044946 = Tantalus Coin Registry 179).

Numis. Notes: This coin published in Rasiel Suarez’s (2010) Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins, 2nd ed. (ERIC II). An XRF Analysis performed by Suarez/Dirty Old Coins, LLC measured the alloy at 98.52% gold.

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Categories: Byzantine Roman Coins

Tags: #Byzantine #Gold #J & J Family Collection #Pedigreed #Roman #Showcase

* Note: Victor Clark’s photo, 2020 (to be updated).

From The “BCE” Collection (Barbarians, Captives & Enemies on Roman Coins) and Ex Giovanni Dattari (1858-1923) Collection of Late Roman Bronze Coins. A captive, hands bound in back, depicted with usual “barbarian” features: wild beard, baggy trousers, shirtless, and pointed Eastern cap (of Phrygian or Parthian style).

Licinius II AE Reduced Follis or Nummus (3.6g, 20 mm, 6h). Antioch mint, 317 – 320 CE.

Obverse: D N VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C. Laureate and draped bust to left, holding mappa, globus and sceptre.

Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS / H (right) / SMANT (exergue). Jupiter standing left holding Victory on globe and sceptre, bound captive to left.

References: RIC (VII) 29; Sear RCV 15415.

Provenance: Ex-Giovanni Dattari (1858-1923) Collection of Late Roman Bronze Coins; CNG e-Auction 470 (17 June 2020), Lot 641 (part of); purchased from Victor’s Imperial Coins (Victor Clark, 6 February 2021).

Numis. Notes: Struck a bit weakly around the legends at 1-3h/4-6h. The captive is well rendered, with considerable care given to details of his appearance on this die.

Hist. Notes: Licinius II (b. 315) was no more than 4 years old when this coin was struck, so we must look to his father Licinius I to understand its context. Licinius spent much of his rule in conflict with Constantine, though they held a temporary truce at this moment. This coin probably celebrates Licinius’ triumphs in the East against the Sarmatians, sanctioned by Jupiter. He had successfully campaigned nearly a decade earlier against Sarmatia, and was attacking again at the time this series was struck.

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Captives & Enemies #Pedigreed #Roman

Tarsos, Cilicia AR Stater (10.66g, 22.5mm, 1h). temp. Mazaios, Satrap of Cilicia, BC 361 – 334.

Obv: BLTRZ (Baaltars) in Aramaic to right. Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding eagle, grain ear, grapes, and scepter; TR (in Aramaic) to lower left, M (in Aramaic) below throne.

Rev: MZDI. Lion attacking bull left; monogram below.

Ref: SNG Levante 106; Casabonne Series 2, Group C. Cf. BMC 53; Babelon 695.

Provenance: (See the “Provenance Chart” for this coin.) Aside from being an aesthetically impressive specimen, this coin has an important provenance, illustrating the modern history of ancient coins through its intersection with key developments of the late 20th century (the rise and fall of “investment fund” ancient coins, led by Bruce McNall’s Athena Fund; the highly publicized first ever major auction of encapsulated ancient coins; and changes in the laws and practices surrounding cultural property and international trade in ancient coins).

Ex-CNG e-Auction 455 (30 Oct 2019), Lot 168 [no provenance given prior to Heritage 2002]; J.B. (Edmonton, d. 2019) Collection; purchased from Calgary Coin Galleries (Robert Kokotailo), Autumn 2004; Heritage Auctions Signature Sale 269 (New York, 27 Jul 2002), Lot 11134; Dr. Joseph M. Seventko Collection; CNG MBS XXIX (30 Mar 1994), Lot 252 (ill. on p. 25); Sotheby’s w/ Numismatic Fine Arts, “Greek and Roman Coins” [Athena Fund Sale II] (Zurich, 27 Oct 1993), Lot 808.1 (part of 2, this rev. ill.).

Almost certainly from the well-known but unpublished “Tarsus Hoard” (late 1970s) that flooded the American market in the early 1980s w/ perfectly preserved examples of this previously rare type (Bing, Daniel J. 1998. “Datames and Mazaeus: The Iconography of Revolt and Restoration in Cilicia.” Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte 47 (1): 41-76.: p. 63, note 6, and p. 73).

Ex-ICG (AU53) #5571290112 (removed from slab, Feb 2021, originally slabbed c. 2001-2002)

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #Animals #Greek #Pedigreed #Showcase #Silver

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).

Categories: Roman Coins

Tags: #AE & Billon #Captives & Enemies #J & J Family Collection #Large #Pedigreed #Roman

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

Tags: #AE & Billon #Animals #Greek #J & J Family Collection #Large #Pedigreed #Rare #Showcase

Purchased from Colosseum Coin Exchange Mail Bid Sale No. 59, 22 Nov 1991. This coin was my first-ever auction purchase. (More: “Catalog Collection Favorites” page.)

Attica, Aegina (Saronic Gulf Islands) AR Drachm (5.0g, 19.5mm). Circa 404-375 BCE.

Obverse: Testudo Graeca, tortoise (or “land turtle”) with segmented shell containing 13 plates.

Reverse: Large incuse square with two pellets in one of five-compartment skew pattern.

References: SNG Cop 520; Millbank Pl II, 16 (Period V; 404 – 375 BC)

Provenance: Ex-Colosseum Coin Exchange (Ira Teitelbaum, Hazlet NJ), MBS 59 (22 Nov 1991), Lot 2.

Notes: See also earlier archaic style Sea Turle stater.
Located in the Saronic Gulf between Attica and the Peloponnese, Aegina held a strong commercial position in maritime trade, making it a site of competition with neighbors (most famously Athens).

Aegina is thought to have been the first European mint to introduce coinage to “the West,” c. early 6th cent. BCE. According to Ephorus of Kyme it was established by Pheidon of Argos c. 650, though modern historians have claimed the date was probably no earlier than 550 (Milbank 1924; see also Numiswiki, Turtles).

Aegina’s ~12.2g stater was widely adopted as monetary standard (~6.1g for the drachm, 1g obol). The sea turtle style stater was struck until either the end of the Peloponnesian War in 404 (Milbank 1924) or Athens’ military victory over Aegina around 457 (Kraay 1976), after which the design switched to the land tortoise. (The tortoise had also appeared on an earlier electrum stater).

The exact reason is a matter of some speculation. Milbank’s 1924 conclusion still holds: “No plausible explanation has as yet been put forward for this change from the sea-tortoise to a land turtle.” Maybe it was a show of gratitude and honorary tribute to a military ally to whom the land tortoise was sacred (perhaps Sparta or Thyreatis [Milbank 1924]). Perhaps the design was switched after being conquered by Athens, reflecting Aegina’s loss of their proud navy and maritime privileges (Kraay 1976). Neither theory has achieved a decisive level of evidence.

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #Animals #Classic #Greek #J & J Family Collection #Pedigreed #Rare #Showcase #Silver

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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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Categories: Provincial Roman Coins

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

Justinian I “The Great” (527-565) AV Tremissis (1.45g, 17mm, 6h). Constantinople, circa 527-565.

Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.

Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / CONOB in exergue. Victory advancing right, head left, holding wreath in right hand & globus cruciger in left. Star to right.

References: SB 145; DOC I 19; MIB I 19.

Provenance: Ex-CNG e-Auction 455, Lot 394 (Lancaster, PA 30 Oct 2019), from the Jack A. Frazer collection; Harlan Berk Buy or Bid Sale 27, Lot 8 (13 Sep 1983); includes original inserts from CNG & HJB.

Numis. Notes: Typical slightly wavy flan. Tiny obv. graffito: large “B” between head/legend & crosses (11h, 1h).

Hist. Notes: Representative of shift from Pagan toward Christian symbols on Byzantine coinage (much like Imperial coinage of Constantine). Note, particularly, the figure on the reverse depicted holding a wreath (indicative of Roman deity Victory), but also a globus cruciger (perhaps suggestive of an angel, as on coins of Justin II & later, but clearly referencing Christianity).

The reverse figure is persuasively identified as Victory in the literature, but since the joint reign of Justin I and Justinian (c. 519; see SB [1987] p.14 & 44), an (always male) angel had largely replaced Victory on the AV Solidus. The figure of Victory seems to have been preserved on the Tremissis (sometimes visibly female). One wonders, though, whether and to what extent that shift may have influenced both the design of the Victory-type Tremissi by the mints and their reception by the public.

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Categories: Byzantine

Tags: #Byzantine #Gold #Pedigreed #Showcase

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.

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Categories: Greek Coins

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