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
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* 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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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).
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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)
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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)
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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).
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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.
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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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The deity for which Priapism is named (the condition familiar to many as a side-effect mentioned in Viagra ads on TV).
Purchased: Chicago, April 2014, CICF Bourse
Septimius Severus AE Assarion.
Moesia Inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum.
Obv: AVT CEΠT CEVHΡO. Laureate head right
Rev: NIKOΠOΛITΩN ΠΡOC IC. Ithyphallic Priapus standing left.
Ref: Moushmov 987; AMNG 1380; Sear GIC 2280
RARE
What I liked about this coin: If we imagine the obverse and reverse forming a single tableau, Septimius watches Priapus proudly pointing to his phallus and smiles with admiration.
Priapus: “Oi guvna! ‘S a right proper phallus here, innit?”
Septimius: “Why, yes. Yes it is, Priapo, old chap. Splendid phallus indeed. The Empire commends your accomplishment. And bids you bring continued fertility to Moesia.”
Priapus: “Won’t let you down, bruv. Cheerio!”
Septimius: “You forget yourself, Priapo. You shan’t speak to me in so familiar a tone.”
Priapo: “Are you taking the piss, mate? Don’t forget who’s the dee-ity and who’s the regular bloke with a fancy hat. Only one of us has superpowers, innit?”
Album: Sold Coins
Categories: Provincial Roman Coins
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