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Pedigreed to 1901. Gordian III Billon Tetradrachm. Egypt, Alexandria, 243 AD. Ex-Dattari Collection, Illustrated in Savio & RPC

Pedigreed to 1901. Gordian III Billon Tetradrachm. Egypt, Alexandria, 243 AD. Ex-Dattari Collection, Illustrated in Savio & RPC

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.

Album: All Coins

Categories: Provincial Roman Coins

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

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Chersonesos AR Hemidrachm. 4th cent BC. Lion / Bee & EY Monogram (Unpublished variant? Cf. McClean 4116) Ex-Pecunem 21

Chersonesos AR Hemidrachm. 4th cent BC. Lion / Bee & EY Monogram (Unpublished variant? Cf. McClean 4116) Ex-Pecunem 21

THRACE, Chersonesos. Circa 386-338 BC. AR Hemidrachm

Obv: Forepart of lion right, head left
Rev: Quadripartite incuse square with alternating raised and sunken quarters; pellet and EY monogram in one sunken quarter, bee in other.
Ref: Unpublished variant, unique to our research. Cf. McClean 4116 variant (monogram orientation, pellet placement).
Note that the EY monogram is “facing outward” from the center, oriented 180 degrees from the normal placement of McClean 4116. The pellet is also placed (and shaped?) differently from published examples.

Pedigree: Ex-Gitbud & Naumann GmbH, Pecunem Auction 21, Lot 985 (part, Munich, 7 Sep 2014)

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #Animals #Greek #Rare #Silver #Sold

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Lucania, Velia AR Drachm. 440-400 BCE. Archaic Owl. Ex-Colin Pitchfork Collection

Lucania, Velia AR Drachm. 440-400 BCE. Archaic Owl. Ex-Colin Pitchfork Collection

Sold from our JJFN Ebay store, 3 Dec 2012

Lucania, Velia AR Drachm (3.69g, 18.5g, 6h). Circa 440 – 400 BCE.

Obverse: Head of nymph right, hair arranged in waves.

Reverse: YEΛH. Owl standing right, head facing, on olive spray with two leaves.

References: Williams 180 (O114/R138); HN Italy 1272 (var. right/right); SNG Ashmolean 1147; SGC (v1) 251.

Die matches: Rev (maybe obv), CNG 386-42, later Aegean [Vcoins SKU: 071813] (see also Bertolami EA 44, 91).

Provenance: Ex Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, CNG EA 233 (26 May 2010), 606.3; VAuctions Sale 284 (12 Jul 2012), Lot 10; Jackson & Jacobs Family Numis. (Tucson, AZ, 3 December 2012; ebay item #330831837178)

Notes: Rare type. Example of scarcer, earlier, transitional period style between the older archaic nymph and later depictions on Velian and other Lucanian (important region in southern Italy) coinage, often with tied or diademed hair. (The same is true of the owl on Velian and Lucanian drachm and nomos series, continuing into the 3rd century.) The Velia-Owl drachms continued to be minted throughout the 5th and 4th centuries, with variation in the style over time.

Album: Sold Coins

Categories: Greek Coins

Tags: #Animals #Archaic #Greek #Rare #Silver #Sold

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