Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 119

THE NEW YORK SALE

Roman Imperatorial Period

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 100		Q. Metellus Pius Scipio. Silver Denarius (3.75 g), 47-46 BC. Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa. Q METEL above, PIVS below, laureate head of Jupiter right. Reverse: SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue, elephant advancing right. Crawford 459/1; HCRI 45; Sydenham 1050; Caecilia 47. Lightly toned. NGC grade XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimated Value $300 - UP A Pompeian loyalist, Q. Metellus Pius Scipio introduced the legislation that recalled Caesar from his Gallic command, thus precipitating the Civil Wars. This denarius was struck while Scipio was in supreme command of the Pompeian forces in North Africa, the elephant an obvious reference to the province, and was probably struck during the later stages of the campaign in a mobile mint traveling alongside his forces (stylistically it is quite distinct from the coins of Scipio struck at the provincial capital of Utica). In 46 BC, Caesar finally managed to corner the Pompeians at Thapsus, where he inflicted on them a crushing defeated. After the battle Scipio committed suicide, knowing that despite Caesar's usual leniency towards his enemies he would not allow so persistent an foe as Scipio to survive. Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $660
Lot 101		Cn. Pompeius Magnus. Silver Denarius (3.78 g), 49 BC. Uncertain mint in Greece. Cn. Calpurnius Piso, proquaestor. [CN] PISO PRO Q, head of Numa Pompilius right, wearing diadem inscribed NVMA. Reverse: MAGN above, PRO COS below, prow of galley right. Crawford 446/1; HCRI 7; Sydenham 1032; RSC 4. Boldly struck and well centered. Toned. Scarce.NGC grade XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5. Edge chips. Our grade is Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - UP The legendary king of Rome, Numa Pompilius appears on the obverse of this coin as an allusion to the nomen (family name) of the issuing proquaestor. According to tradition Pompilius had a son name Calpus, from whom the gens Calpurnia derived its name. The prow on the reverse refers to Pompey's famous victories over the Cilician pirates in 67/6 BC. Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $660
Lot 102		Cnaeus Pompey Jr. Silver Denarius (3.97 g), 46-45 BC. Corduba. M. Poblicius, propraetorian legate. [M P]OBLICI LEG PRO PR, helmeted head of Roma right. Reverse: CN MAGNVS IMP, Hispania standing right, shield on her back, holding two spears and presenting palm to Pompeian soldier standing left on prow, armed with sword. Crawford 469/1a; HCRI 48; Sydenham 1035; RSC 1 (Pompey the Great). Beautifully toned with slight iridescence. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5. Estimated Value $500 - UP The reverse type represents the support of Further Spain for the Pompeian cause. The female figure, who Crawford does not identify, is obviously Hispania, coming to lend her support (arms) which will lead to ultimate victory (palm-branch) and the restoration of a constitutional Republic. Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $810
Lot 103		Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.84 g), 49-48 BC. Military mint traveling with Caesar. CAESAR in exergue, elephant advancing right, trampling horned serpent. Reverse: Pontifical implements: simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat. Crawford 443/1; HCRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49. Nicely toned. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Bankers' marks. Estimated Value $250 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,560
Lot 104		Julius Caesar. Gold Aureus (8.02 g), 46 BC. Rome. A. Hirtius, praetor. C CAESAR COS TER, veiled head of Vesta or Pietas right. Reverse: A HIRTIVS PR, lituus, jug and axe. Crawford 466/1; HCRI 56; Sydenham 1018; Calicó 37. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5. Edge marks, banker's mark. The banker's mark is well hidden in the folds of her veil. Estimated Value $3,500 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,800
Lot 105		Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.87 g), 46-45 BC. Military mint traveling with Caesar in Spain. Diademed head of Venus right, with Cupid at her shoulder. Reverse: CAESAR, trophy of Gallic arms, composed of helmet and cuirass, oval shield and carnyx in each hand, at base of which captive Gallic woman seated left in attitude of mourning and captive Gaul seated right, hands bound behind him. Crawford 468/1; HCRI 58; Sydenham 1014; RSC 13. Lightly toned. NGC grade VF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Edge marks. Estimated Value $300 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,080
Lot 106		Julius Caesar. Gold Aureus (8.09 g), 44 BC. Rome. CAES DIC behind, Q VAR before, diademed bust of Venus right. Reverse: COS. QVINC within laurel wreath. Crawford 481/1; HCRI 117; Sydenham 1021; Bahrfeldt 23; Calicó 42. Very Rare. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5. Edge bend, scratches, edge marks. Estimated Value $3,000 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $5,280
Lot 107		Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.88 g), 44 BC. Rome. L. Mussidius Longus, moneyer. Laureate head of Julius Caesar right. Reverse: L MVSSIDIVS LONGVS, rudder, cornucopiae on globe, caduceus and priest's cap. Crawford 494/39; HCRI 116; Sydenham 1096a; RSC 29. Scarce issue. Excellent portrait and delicately toned. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Edge cut. (edge cut is quite minor). Estimated Value $1,000 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,980
Lot 108		Brutus. Silver Denarius (3.51 g), 42 BC. Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece. P. Servilius Casca Longus, moneyer. CASCA behind, LONGVS before, laureate and bearded head of Neptune right; trident below. Reverse: BRVTVS behind, IMP before, Victory advancing right, breaking diadem tied with fillet and holding palm; below, broken scepter. Crawford 507/2; HCRI 212; Sydenham 1298; RSC 3. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Flan flaw, edge scuffs. Estimated Value $250 - UP The image of Victory trampling upon a broken scepter and tearing the diadem powerfully evoke the long tradition of Roman hatred for monarchical rule. It was rumored that Julius Caesar had inclined to become king, purportedly wearing red boots as the Roman kings had worn and having his statue placed next to those of the kings, and these were all used by the tyrannicides to justify his assassination. The obverse type of Neptune was an obvious choice for Casca, who was the commander of Brutus' fleet. Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $769
Lot 109		C. Cassius Longinus. Silver Denarius (4.17 g), 42 BC. Military mint, probably at Smyrna. P. Lentulus Spinther, legate. C CASSI IMP behind, LEIBERTAS before, diademed, weiled and draped bust of Libertas right. Reverse: LENTVLVS/SPINT in two lines below, jug and lituus. Crawford 500/5; HCRI 223; Sydenham 1305; RSC 6. A superb example with a beautiful iridescent tone. NGC grade AU; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. Estimated Value $750 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,080
Lot 110		Mark Antony. Gold Aureus (8.02 g), 42 BC. Rome. L. Mussidius Longus, moneyer. M ANTONIVS III VIR R P C, bare head of Mark Antony right. Reverse: L MVSSIDIVS T F LONGVS IIII VIR A P F, Mars, nude except for a crested helmet, standing right, resting foot on shield lying on ground, holding spear and scabbard. Crawford 494/8a; HCRI 145; Sydenham 1097; Calicó 87. Extremely Rare - only eleven specimens known to Crawford. NGC graded Ch. VF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Estimated Value $7,500 - UP Ex The William Oldknow Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $54,000
Lot 111		Mark Antony and Divus Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.58 g), 43 BC. Military mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul. M (AN)TONI IMP, bare head of Mark Antony right; behind, lituus. Reverse: CAESAR DIC, wreathed head of Julius Caesar right; behind, capis. Crawford 488/2; HCRI 123; Sydenham 1166a; RSC 3a. Toned. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $600 - UP View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,440
Lot 112		Octavian. Gold Aureus (7.72 g), 32-31 BC. Uncertain Italian mint (Rome?). Bare head of Octavian right. Reverse: CAESAR DIVI F, equestrian statue of Octavian, his hand raised, on horseback rearing to left. RIC I 262; HCRI 394; BMC 594-5; Calicó 187. Pleasing artistic fine style portrait. Rare. NGC grade XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 1/5. Bent, ex jewelry. Estimated Value $5,000 - UP View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,400