|
Sale 119
THE NEW YORK SALE
| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 157 |
 |
Justinian I. Silver Light Miliarense (4.10 g), 527-565. Constantinople, 527-538. D N IVSTINI-ANVS P P AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I left. Reverse: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor, nimbate, standing facing, head left, raising hand in salutation and holding globe; in right field, star; COB. Cf. DOC 26.2; MIBE 47; SB 154. Rare. Some faint hairlines. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - UP
Ex Stack's (May 1984) 1594.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$1,920 |
|
Lot 158 |
 |
Heraclius. Gold Solidus (4.44 g), 610-641. Carthage, or perhaps a mint in Sardinia, Indicional year 5 (616/7). d N ERACLIVS ET ERA CONST PP E, crowned and draped busts of Heraclius, on left, and Heraclius Constantine, on right, facing; cross above. Reverse: VICTOR-IA AVGG E, cross potent set on two steps; CONOB. DOC 207.1; SB 867. NGC grade XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Ex jewelry. Estimated Value $500 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$630 |
|
Lot 159 |
 |
Heraclius. Silver Hexagram (6.67 g), 610-641. Constantinople, 637-641. Heraclonas, Heraclius, and Heraclius Constantine standing facing, each crowned and holding globus cruciger. Reverse: δEЧS AδIЧτA ROMANIS, cross potent set upon globe set upon three steps. DOC 68; MIB 146; SB 803. Fully struck and rare thus. Attractive light toning. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $1,000 - UP
Ex Gorny & Mosch 199 (10 October 2011), 800.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$1,800 |
|
Lot 160 |
 |
Heraclius. Silver 1/2 Siliqua (0.88 g), 610-641. Carthage, 617-641. d N ERAC-L[IO P P], crowned and cuirassed bust of Heraclius facing. Reverse: Crowned and draped busts of Heraclius Constantine, on left, and Martina, on right, facing; above, cross. DOC 233.1-3; MIB 149; SB 871. Scarce. Attractively toned. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $300 - UP
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$600 |
|
Lot 161 |
 |
Leo III, the Isaurian. Gold Solidus (4.44 g), 717-741. Constantinople. C N LEO-N PA MЧL', crowned and draped bust of Leo III facing, holding globus cruciger and akakia. Reverse: C N CONS-τANτINЧS, crowned and draped bust of Constantine facing, holding globus cruciger and akakia. DOC 7a; SB 1504. Scarce. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5. Edge mark. Our grade is Sharpness of Very Fine. Estimated Value $350 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$690 |
|
Lot 162 |
 |
Leo III with Pope Gregory III. Silver 1/8 Siliqua (0.28 g), 731-741. Rome. Crowned and draped bust of the Byzantine emperor Leo III facing, holding cross; in left and right fields, star. Reverse: Cross, the arms terminating in the letters G-R-E-O (GRegOrivs). DOC 92; O'Hara & Vecchi 29; MEC 1, 1030; SB 1534C. Probably the finest known example. Far superior than the only other example we could find selling recently (Künker 194, 2292, PRL EUR 4800). No corrosion. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,500 - UP
This exceptional and very rare fractional siliqua represents the very earliest coinage struck by the Popes of Rome. The obverse features the portrait of the reigning Byzantine Emperor Leo III but the reverse names Pope Gregory III through the use of a cruciform monogram. The type combination is notable because Gregory III was the last pope to fully recognize Byzantine authority and seek the approval of his election from the Exarch of Ravenna before his consecration on 18 March 731. However, Gregory's personal relationship with Leo III was very rocky.
When Gregory III attempted to rein in the emperor's taste for iconoclasm, his representative in Constantinople was arrested. To this, Gregory responded by calling a Church synod that outright condemned iconoclasm and took pains to encourage the veneration of sacred images and relics.
By this point Leo III was beside himself with rage and dispatched a fleet to force the pope to bring his views in line with those of the emperor. He subsequently ordered the appropriation of Papal territories in Sicily and Calabria.
Despite the great acrimony between Gregory III and Leo III over iconoclasm, both secular and religious ruler could agree that the Lombards were a major threat to their respective power in Italy. Thus, when Ravenna fell to the Lombard King Lituprand in 738, the pope assisted in its recapture. Unfortunately, the Lombards continued their advance in Italy despite attempts by Gregory III to gain additional support from the Frankish King Charles Martel. By the time of the pope's death in 741, mainland Italy was almost completely overrun by the Lombards, with only a small corridor of territory remaining to link Rome to the Exarchate of Ravenna.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$6,300 |
|
Lot 163 |
 |
Constantine V Copronymus. Gold Solidus (4.42 g), 741-775. Constantinople, 740-742. C N CO-N-SτANτINЧS, crowned bust of Constantine V facing, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia. Reverse: C LEO-N PA MЧL, crowned facing bust of Leo, wearing chlamys, holding cross potent and akakia. DOC 1a; SB 1550. Scarce NGC grade Ch AU; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimated Value $500 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$892 |
|
Lot 164 |
 |
Theophilus. Gold Solidus (3.83 g), 829-842. Syracuse, 831-842. ΘE-OFILOS, crowned bust of Theophilus facing, wearing loros, holding cross potent. Reverse: ΘEO-FILOS, crowned bust of Theophilus facing, wearing chlamys, holding globus cruciger. DOC 24; Anastasi 530; SB 1670. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Estimated Value $400 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$720 |
|
Lot 165 |
 |
Basil I, the Macedonian. Gold Solidus (4.41 g), 867-886. Constantinople. + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIЧM *, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. Reverse: bASILOS ET ConSτAnτ AЧGG b', Crowned busts of Basil, on left, wearing loros, and Constantine, on right, wearing chlamys, facing, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 2c; SB 1704. Boldly struck with full legends. NGC grade AU; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimated Value $500 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$1,020 |
|
Lot 166 |
 |
Leo VI, the Wise. Gold Solidus (4.35 g), 886-912. Constantinople, 908-912. + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIЧM, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. Reverse: Leon ET ConSτAnτ' AЧGG' Rom', Leo, on left, and Constantine, on right, standing facing, both crowned and wearing loros decorated with a cross at end, each holding globus cruciger and together holding together holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC 2; SB 1725. Very Rare. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Edge scuff. Estimated Value $1,250 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$4,800 |
|
Lot 167 |
 |
Romanus II. Gold Solidus (4.12 g), 959-963. Constantinople, 959. + IhS XPS REX REGNANTIVM, bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels; nimbus with three pellets in arms of cross. Reverse: Illegible (recut), Crowned busts of Constantine VII, with short beard, and Romanus II, beardless, holding patriarchal cross between them. F. Füeg, "Vom Umgang mit Zufall und Wahrscheinlichkeit in der Numismatischen Forschung," MI 76 (1997), pl. IV, B4; DOC III - (but cf. DOC 15 of Constantine VII); SB -. A magnificent bold strike with underlying luster. NGC grade Ch AU*; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Edge marks. Estimated Value $3,000 - UP
A coin of great interest and rarity, apparently a new discovery, as this unpublished type was struck at the very beginning of the reign of Romanus II and continued the types of his father, Constantine VII, whose dies he reused for this issue after recuting the reverse legend. Romanus did not care for the exertions of government, so left the decisions of the government in the hands of his wife, Theophano, and various court administrators, most notably Joseph Bringas. His reign was thankfully short, lasting less than four years, and he was the last Byzantine ruler to strike the solidus denomination before the tetarteron was introduced by his successor, Nicophorus II.
Cover Coin
(A forthcoming article on this coin is being prepared by David Vagi).
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$4,320 |
|
Lot 168 |
 |
Constantine VIII. Gold Histamenon Nomisma (4.40 g), 1025-1028. Constantinople. + IhS XIS REX REGNANTIhm, bust of Christ facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. Reverse: + CωnSτAnτIn bASILEЧS ROm, crowned facing bust of Constantine, holding labarum and akakia. DOC 1; SB 1815. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Wavy flan. Estimated Value $300 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$1,800 |
|
Lot 169 |
 |
Michael VI Stratioticus. Gold Tetarteron Nomisma (4.03 g), 1056-1057. Constantinople. (MHP) ΘV, Nimbate bust of the Virgin, orans, facing. Reverse: +mIΧAHΛ AЧτOC RA, emperor standing facing on cushion, wearing crown and loros, holding long cross and akakia. DOC 2; SB 1841. Rare and seldom offered. NGC grade XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Our grade Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $750 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$5,520 |
|
Lot 170 |
 |
Isaac I Comnenus. Gold Histamenon Nomisma (4.39 g), 1057-1059. Constantinople. + IhS XIS REX REGNANTihm, Christ Pantocrator seated facing on backless throne, raising hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels. Reverse: + ICAAKIOC RACIΛEЧC Pωm, Issac standing facing, crowned and wearing loros, holding labarum and sword. DOC 1; 1844. Lustrous. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $750 - UP
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$1,500 |
|
Lot 171 |
 |
Andronicus I Comnenus. Gold Hyperpyron (4.40 g), 1183-1185. Constantinople. (MHP) ΘV, The Virgin enthroned facing, holding facing bust of the Holy Infant. Reverse: ANΔPONIKO ΔECΠOTHC, Andronicus standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger, being crowned by Christ, holding Gospels; above and in right field, barred IC XC. DOC 1; SB 1983. Nice bold strike that is seldom seen with complete legends. NGC grade AU; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. Edge crimps. Estimated Value $700 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$2,280 |
|
Lot 172 |
 |
Alexius III Angelus-Comnenus. Electrum Aspron Trachy (3.81 g), 1195-1203. Constantinople, 1197-1203. Barred IC XC across field, Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. Reverse: Alexius and St. Constantine, each holding cross-tipped scepter, standing facing, holding labarum between them. DOC 2; SB 2009. NGC grade AU; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5. Graffiti. Our grade is Choice Very Fine, rough edges. Estimated Value $250 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Unsold |
|
Lot 173 |
 |
Michael I Angelus. Silver Aspron Trachy (3.54 g), ca. 1204. Mint of Arta. Nimbate bust of Christ Emmanuel facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. Reverse: + MIXAHΛ ΔECΠE, Michael standing facing, holding scepter and akakia; above to right, manus Dei. DOC 1; SB 2227 Extremely rare. A major Byzantine rarity - one of perhaps only three known. A bold, deep impression with full legends and excellent detail. Undoubtedly the finest known example. NGC grade MS*; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimated Value $2,000 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$22,800 |
|
Lot 174 |
 |
Burgundians. Gundobald. Gold Tremissis (1.48 g), 473-516. In the name of Anastasius I, ca. 510-516. D N ANASTA-SIVS P R (AV)C, diademed and draped bust of Anastasius I right. Reverse: VICTORA A[…]M, Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm; in right field, monogram of Gundobald; COHOB. MEC 1, 337-8. Wonderful bold strike. NGC grade XF; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5. Estimated Value $750 - UP
Ex The William Oldknow Collection.
View details and enlarged photos
Realized
$3,600 |
|
|
|