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.
*If you happen to have bought this coin from us, we’d love to buy it back!
Album: Sold Coins
Categories: Roman Coins
Tags:
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.
Album: All Coins
Categories: Provincial Roman Coins
Tags:
* 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.
Album: All Coins
Categories: Byzantine Roman Coins
Tags:
* 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:
Roman Republic. C. Antestius AR Denarius (3.81g, 19mm). Rome Mint, BCE 146.
Obv: C•ANTESTI (ANTE ligate) to l. Head of Roma right, X below chin.
Rev: ROMA in exergue. The Dioscuri, each holding spear, riding right; dog running right, both fore-feet raised, below horses.
Ref: Antestia 1; Crawford 219/1e; BMCRR Rome 859.
Provenance: Ex-Artemide Aste srl e-Auction 11, Lot 236 (San Marino, 26 January 2020).
Numis. Notes: Spots of porosity/roughness, but overall good metal. A lively hound enjoying the hunt!
Hist. Notes: Although hounds were popular on Greek coinage as well, Roman Republican denarii provide much more varied depictions of the breeds and contexts of dogs in their society. This issue from Moneyer C. Antestius is notable for illustrating what today might be described as a “lion cut,” popular for poodles and other water dogs. The dog itself (or puppy?) is sometimes identified as a proto-poodle or water spaniel of some sort – a working dog. The “lion cut” is meant to permit buoyancy and warmth as the dog retrieved fowl from water. A similar breed may be portrayed on the denarius of L. Caesius, but in a distinctly domestic setting, hinting that, already in antiquity, canine coiffure may have been as much about fashion as function.
Album: All Coins
Categories: Roman Coins
Tags:
Coin-in-hand video here.
Roman Imperial. Faustina II (Augusta, 161 – 175) AR Denarius (3.21g, 19mm). Rome Mint, temp. Marcus Aurelius (Augustus, 161 – 180), Lucius Verus (co-Augustus, 161 – 169).
Obverse: FAUSTINA AVGVSTA. Draped bust right, gazing slightly upward.
Reverse: HILARITAS. Hilaritas standing left, holding cornucopia and palm frond set on ground.
Reference: RIC III Aurelius 686; RSC 111; Göbl MIR 18, Fa15-4/10b.
Pedigree: Ex-Artemide Aste srl e-Auction 11, Lot 450 (San Marino, 26 January 2020).
Notes: Fine style obverse die. Nick on Faustina’s neck below jawline. Attractive iridescent tone. Flow lines. Slightly off-center obverse (~10% to 2h).
Categories: Roman Coins
Tags:
PHOTO OF COIN IN ANACS HOLDER AVAILABLE HERE
Thracian Dynasts / Geto-Dacians. Koson, with Marcus Junius Brutus, AR Drachm.
Unknown mint (Skythia, Olbia?), circa 44 – 42 BC.
Obv: Roman consul accompanied by two lictors; BR monogram to left; KOΣΩΝ in exergue.
Rev: Eagle standing left on scepter, holding wreath in talon.
Ref: Fischer-Bossert (2016) Type B. cf. RPC I 1701 (AV Stater). For Drachm, see W. Fischer-Bossert (2016) “ΚΟΣΩΝ ΔΡΟΥΕΙΣ” in Festschrift Salzmann.
Pedigree: Ex-Silver City Auctions (Findlay, OH USA), 17 Dec 2019, Lot 228 (same coin previously unsold or unpaid at prior Silver City auctions). ANACS Certification # 6001074 (click for ANACS lookup)
Album: All Coins
Categories: Greek Coins Provincial Roman Coins
Tags:
From The “BCE” Collection (“Barbarians, Captives & Enemies” on Roman Coins) — see the introductory page here, including selected examples, from Julius Caesar to Justinian.
* Return to “Provenance Glossary” Page (to Private Collections)
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:
From The “BCE” Collection (“Barbarians, Captives & Enemies” on Roman Coins).
Roman Imperial. Constantius II (337-361) AE Maiorina (5.70g). Antioch mint, circa 350 AD.
Obverse: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse:FEL TEMP REPARATIO / Г (left) / ANЄ (exergue). Roman soldier with crested helmet to spearing fallen horseman & holding shield (long oval-shaped with squared edges, bead border and central hub). Sassanid (?) light cavalryman, bearded and wearing head & neck armor, still astride his horse, turns back to face the soldier, extending his arm in a defensive posture, his shield (plain & circular) on the ground to right.
References: RIC (VIII) 132.
Pedigree: Ex-Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. e-Auction 10, Lot 593 (Frankfurt 18 Jan 2020).
Video available of this coin in hand (3rd coin shown, along with two others) & additional photographs.
Notes: Despite the flan flaws & absent patina, an example with valuable detail and good artistic merit, particularly regarding the combat scene. (Interesting Obv. portrait artistry, the eye depicted by a single spiral.)
On many Roman Imperial coins, the captive or soldier’s armament, clothing, and beard are key to recognizing his tribe/ethnicity. On balance, they would seem to indicate a Sassanid warrior here, probably light cavalry (or another Eastern/Persian warrior, such as Parthian).
The light armor consists of baggy trousers, a loose-fitting tunic, and cap with neck covering. The helmet/cap may have a central ridge and may or may not be of a single piece with the neck armor (perhaps scale armor or leather/goatskin), which covers only the back and has a slit (i.e., two tails). (Perhaps this is the leather/scale covering meant to be worn under a heavy steel helmet that has fallen off in battle?)
The shield – small and circular, perhaps wicker, perhaps wooden, without decoration – also appears consistent with Sassanid light infantry and (presumably) cavalry. The tunic and trousers, though, are portrayed in baggy, loose-fitting style that are also typical of Roman depictions of Germanic & Gothic clothing. The beard, likewise, fits portrayals of both European and Asian “barbarian” peoples on Roman coins (e.g., Persian, Parthian, Sassanian, Gothic, Gallic, Germanic). The style of neck armor may be determinative.
Categories: Roman Coins
Tags:
From The “BCE” Collection (Barbarians, Captives & Enemies on Roman Coins): A scene depicting Constantius, triumphant with a standard bearing Christian symbolism standing over two defeated and bound captives of distinctively Eastern/Persian appearance (Sassanid or Parthian).
Constantius II AE Maiorina (4.79g). Antioch mint, 348-350 AD.
Obverse: DN CONSTANTIVS PF AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust left, holding globe in right hand.
Reverse: FEL TEMP REPARATIO / Star (left) / ANЄ (exergue). Constantius II in military garb standing left, spurning a captive with foot while holding standard, a cross decorating its banner, and resting hand on shield set on ground. To left, two bearded captives kneeling vis-à-vis, wearing Phrygian caps, hands bound behind their backs.
References: RIC (VIII) 125; LRBC 2614.
Pedigree: Ex-Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. e-Auction 10, Lot 592 (Frankfurt 18 Jan 2020)
Video available of this coin in hand (1st coin shown, along with two others) & additional photographs.
Numis. Notes: Alt. term: Labarum or Vexillum.
Hist. Notes: A remarkable scene, apparently portraying not only the conquest of the Empire over its Eastern enemies — typical of the FEL TEMP REPARATIO series as well as the previous century and a half of Roman Imperial coinage — but also the triumph of the newly-favored Christian religion over non-Roman, non-Christian Pagans. Constantine was famously the first Christian Roman Emperor, but the popularity and political supremacy of the new religion were not yet achieved. In the long history of European Imperial propaganda using Christianity to justify attacking foreigners and political enemies, this coin is surely among the first.
Categories: Roman Coins
Tags:
