Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 132

The New York Sale

Roman Imperatorial Period

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 145		Q. Labienus. Gold Aureus, 40 BC. 8.05g. Uncertain mint in Syria or southeastern Asia Minor. Q LABIENVS PARTHICVS IMP, bare head of Labienus right. Reverse: Horse standing right on ground line, wearing saddle with quiver attached and bridle. Crawford 524/1; Hersh 3 (same dies); HCRI 340; Sydenham 1356; Calicó 70. Few scratches on the reverse. NGC Graded Choice AU* Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5 Grafitti, Scuff. Nearly Mint State. Estimated Value $500,000 - UP Quintus Labienus was the son of the Pompeian cavalry commander Titus Labienus. He sided with Brutus and Cassius in the war between the Republicans and the Triumvirs, and during the winter of 43/2 BC was sent by Cassius on an embassy to seek Parthian assistance in the Republican cause. Before he was able to do accomplish this task, however, he received the devastating news that Brutus and Cassius had been defeated at Philippi. Thus he found himself in the unpleasant situation of being stranded in Parthia and unable to return to Rome, where his former enemies were now unquestionably in control and would certainly execute him for being a traitor if he were to return. With nothing to lose, Labienus convinced King Orodes II to allow him a force of 20,000 cavalry, and with the king's son, Pacorus, he marched into Syria. Labienus and Pacorus, splitting the command between them, quickly overcame Roman resistance, defeating the local governor, Decidius Saxa. While Labienus continued into southern Asia Minor, Pacorus headed west and south into Phoenicia and Palestine. Although Antony realized the seriousness of the situation, his attention was called for in the West. He therefore sent his legate Ventidius Bassus with eleven legions to oppose the Parthian invasion, and Bassus routed the Parthian cavalry at Mt. Taurus where Labienus was killed. The obverse of this extremely rare aureus shows the handsome portrait of Labienus along with his name and titles, while the reverse depicts a saddled horse complete with archer's bow-case, a feature used by the Parthians who were most renowned for their mounted archers. Thus, the coin seems to have been designed to appeal to both a Roman and a Parthian audience, although perhaps shortsighted, as certainly no Roman would have considered the design as anything less than unconscionable. In any case, the extreme rarity of Labienus' coins today - and especilly his gold aurei, of which it is thought there are just five examples known - suggests the majority of them were melted down shortly after Labienus' excecuted in 39 BC. Ex Tareq Hani Collection. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $930,000
Lot 146		Mark Antony & Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.7 g), 41 BC. Ephesus. M. Barbatius Pollio, quaestor pro praetore. M ANT I(MP) (AV)G III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P, bare head of Mark Antony right. Reverse: CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C, bare head of Octavian right. Crawford 517/2; HCRI 243; Sydenham 1181; RSC 8a. Struck on a broad medallic flan! A light golden iridescent toning further adds to this coin's appeal. Superb Mint State. Estimated Value $5,000 - UP Mark Antony is reported to have lived extravagantly while in the East, and he exacted large sums from the cities of Asia Minor to finance this lifestyle. It is certainly from these funds where he obtained the bullion to produce this extensive and handsome coinage, struck with the name of his lieutenant M. Barbatius Pollio. Pollio's colleagues, M. Cocceius Nerva (a distant ancestor of the future emperor Nerva) and L. Gellius Poplicola, also struck similar types honoring both Antony's fellow triumvir, Octavian and his brother, Lucius Antony, but the majority are of a different style and are believed to have been struck after Antony's departure from Ephesus. Ex Roma XIII (23 March 2017), 755. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,300
Lot 147		Mark Antony & Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.69 g), 41 BC. Ephesus. M. Barbatius Pollio, propraetorian questor. M. ANT. IMP. AVG. III. VIR. R. P. C. M. BARBAT. Q. P., bare head of Mark Antony right. Reverse: CAESAR. IMP. PONT. III. VIR. R. P. C., bare head of Octavian with slight beard right. Crawford 517/2; HCRI 243; Sydenham 1181; RSC 8a. Well struck, both portraits well defined and in high relief, lustrous with just a hint of tone about the beaded borders. Among the finest known! Mint State. Estimated Value $5,000 - UP Purchased from Baldwin's with original ticket. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 148		Marc Antony, as Imperator and Triumvir. Silver Legionary Denarius (3.85 g). Mint moving with Antony in Greece (Aegae or Patrae) 32-31 BC. ANT.AVG.III.VIR.R.P.C., Praetorian galley. Reverse; LEG XIV, aquila between two signa. Crawford 544/29, Sydenham 1234, RSC 44. NGC grade Ch XF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Estimated Value $750 - UP View details and enlarged photos	Realized $900