Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 46

The Millennia Collection

Roman Coins Pt. 2

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 132		Roman Empire. Gallienus, 253-268 AD. Gold Aureus (3.17 g), Rome mint, struck c. 265-266 AD. Rare. Bearded head left, wearing a wreath of grain leaves. Reverse: Gallienus in military attire left, holding globe and scepter, is being crowned by Victory, who stands behind him, holding palm branch and wreath; VICT - ORIA AV - G. RIC 81; MIR 692b; Calicó 3614; C. 1112. Well struck, with very elegant portrait typical of this issue. Some very slight deposits. Choice Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000. ().* View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,625
Lot 133		Rome. Gallic Empire. Postumus, 260-268 AD. Gold Aureus (5.63 g), Colonia Agrippinensis mint, struck c. 260-268 AD. Laureate head of Postumus right. Reverse: Postumus, togate and laureate, seated left on curule chair and holding roll in left hand, extends right hand to small figure of kneeling recipient at his feet; INDVLG PIA POSTVMI AVG. Schulte 91-95 (8 specimens from 5 obverse and 4 reverse die pairings; the present coin from a new pair, which was unknown to Schulte); RIC 276; C. 145; Calicó 3737. Perfectly centered and finely struck. Some tiny contact marks apparent in central reverse field. Attractive and rare. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated. Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 53. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $67,850
Lot 134		Rome. Aurelian, 270-275AD. Gold Aureus (4.00 g), Siscia, struck 272-273 AD. Laureate, cuirassed bust of Aurelian right. Reverse: Mars, nude but for helmet and cloak, walks right, holding trophy over his left shoulder with his left hand and transverse spear with his right; VIRTVS AVG. Biaggi --; Calicó 4043; C. 262 var.; Estiot 137a (this coin); Göbl 128f (Rome); RIC 1 (Lyon). Sharply struck, lustrous and attractive, on wide flan. Rare. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated. Estimated Value $5,000 - 5,500. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, lot 103; ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXVI, 14 August 1991, 295; and from the collections of G. Mazzini, IV, pl. XLVIII, 262; the Vicomte de Sartiges, Ars Classica XVIII, 10 October 1938, 454 (= Sartiges private plates 377); and the Vicomte G. de Ponton d'Amécourt, Rollin & Feuardent, 25 April 1887, 563. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $14,950
Lot 135		Rome. Probus, 276-282 AD. Gold Heavy Aureus (6.34 g), Ticinum mint, struck 278 AD. Laureate, cuirassed bust of Probus left, armor decorated with aegis. Reverse: Sol, nude but for cloak on arm, stands frontal with head left, one arm raised, the other holding an orb; CONSE - R - VAT AVG. RIC 309; C. 176; cf. Fr-702. Marvelously detailed portrait, in high relief for the period. Rare. NGC graded Uncirculated. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $24,150
Lot 136		Rome. Diocletian, 284-305 AD. Gold Aureus (5.33 g), Cyzicus mint, struck c. 285-286 AD. Draped and laureate bust of Diocletian right. Reverse: Jupiter stands frontal with head left, nude but for cloak at shoulder; he holds thunderbolt and scepter; IOVI CONSERVATORI, SC in exergue, followed by star. Cf. Depeyrot 5. Unpublished with this exergue legend and symbol combination. Superb bold strike, finely centered on a virtually round flan. Sharp and highly lustrous -- the fields brilliant. Rare. NGC graded Choice Uncirculated. Diocletian eventually established the Tetrarchy, a system of ruling this immense empire by an emperor and a junior ruler in the West, and an emperor and his junior in the East. This would establish a thorough government in addition to solving the problem of succession. Diocletian then proclaimed himself Eastern Emperor, Maximian the Western Emperor, and Galerius and Constantius the princes of the East and of the West, respectively. The system worked well, but eventually there would be variations on a theme, with the human elements of jealousy and usurpation taking their toll. Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 54. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $16,100
Lot 137		Rome. Maximianus, 286-305 AD. Gold Aureus (5.28 g), Cyzicus mint, struck c. 290-292 AD. Rare. Laureate head right. Reverse: Togate Maximianus stands left, holding globe in right hand; COSVL III P P PROCOS. RIC 596; Calicó 4621; Depeyrot 11/5; C. 78. Perfectly centered, with attractive portrait in bold relief. Very lustrous. Superb, virtually Mint State. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. ().* View details and enlarged photos	Realized $10,638
Lot 138		Rome. Maximian Herculius, 286-305 AD. Gold Aureus (5.35 g), Nicomedia mint, struck c. 294 AD. Laureate head right. Reverse: Hercules stands frontal with head right, he holds club in right hand, lion skin draped over left shoulder. RIC 3; C. 294; Depeyrot 2/2; Fr-761. Superb strike, on nearly round flan. Sharp and highly lustrous. NGC graded Gem Uncirculated. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $19,550
Lot 139		Rome. Maximian Herculius, 286-305 AD. AR Argenteus, Rome mint, struck 294 AD. Laureate head of Maximianus right. Reverse: The Four Tetrarchs sacrificing before gate of camp with six turrets; VICTORIA SARMAT. RIC 20; C. 550; Jel. 58b. Nicely centered and well struck up, with superb bluish toning. NGC graded Uncirculated. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,783
Lot 140		Rome. Constantius I, as Caesar, 293-305 AD. Gold Aureus (5.38 g), Antioch mint, struck 293 AD. Laureate head of Constantius I right. Reverse: Hercules standing facing, head to left, holding club with his right hand and the apples of the Hesperides in his left; HERCVLI CONS CAES, SMAS* in exergue. Fr-783; RIC 8; Biaggi 1830; Calicó 4833; C. 145; Depeyrot 9/4. Sharp and brilliantly lustrous. A superb piece, in high relief, with a very dignified portrait of Constantius. Rare. NGC graded Choice Uncirculated. Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, lot 125. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $20,125
Lot 141		Rome. Galerius Maximianus, as Caesar, 293-305 AD. Gold Aureus (5.27 g), Nicomedia, struck 294 AD. Laureate head of Galerius right. Reverse: Sol standing facing, head right, raising right hand in salutation and holding globe and whip in left; SOLI INVICTO, SMN in exergue. Fr-795; RIC 7; Bastien, Donativa, p. 65, c; Biaggi --; Calicó 4948 (this coin); C. 200; Depeyrot 3/4. Brilliant and lustrous. Bold relief portrait. Extremely rare. NGC graded About Uncirculated. Estimated Value $8,000 - 9,000. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, lot 123; private purchase from J. Vinchon in February 1952. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $9,488
Lot 142		Rome. Licinius I, 308-324 AD. Gold Solidus (5.31 g), Nicomedia mint, struck 321-322 AD. Facing draped and cuirassed bust of bearded Licinius. Reverse: On high dais, Jupiter enthroned facing, holding scepter and Victory, who crowns him, eagle at his feet; IOVI CONS LICINI AVG; within dais, SIC X / SIC XX in two lines; SMN, gamma in exergue. RIC 41; C. 128; Vagi 3005; Fr-821. Very lustrous, with exceptional military portrait and remarkable image of Jupiter. Very rare. NGC graded Choice Uncirculated. Licinius came from a peasant background and rose to power through his military ability and connections. He was close to Galerius, who raised him to Augustus in 308 AD. Upon Galerius' death in 311, associate Augustus Maximinus II Daia moved quickly to shut Licinius out of most of the territories left him by Galerius. Licinius then allied himself with Constantine in order to protect himself against Galerius. After another rival Augustus, Maxentius, was eliminated, Licinius married into Constantine's family as a further safety precaution. Eventually the warring rival Augusti were reduced to Constantine and Licinius, both of whom knew that the Empire could have only one master. Their co-reign endured for 11 years, and involved two costly civil wars. The final conflict between the two ended in 324 with Licinius being totally defeated and surrendering himself to Constantine. Constantine the Great had him and his son executed the following year. Licinius struck this coin to honor the quinquennalia of his son, Licinius II. Frontal coin portraits, always rare in the Roman series, appear all the more interesting in this period of late and changing art styles. The stark, almost glaring face of Licinius confronts the viewer with a military fierceness rarely seen before. This is made all the more unsettling by his plump features, thin neck beard, and delicate mustache above the small, almost sensuous lips. Estimated Value $20,000 - 24,000. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 55. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $46,000
Lot 143		Rome. Licinius II, as Caesar, 317-324 AD. Gold Solidus (5.30 g), Nicomedia mint, struck 321-322 AD. Facing draped and cuirassed bust of bearded Licinius Junior. Reverse: On high dais, Jupiter enthroned facing, holding scepter and Victory, who crowns him, eagle at his feet; IOVI CONSERVATORI CAES; within dais, SIC V / SIC X in two lines; SMN, gamma in exergue. Depeyrot 31/2; Vagi 3026; RIC 42; Calicó 5152a; Fr-826. Very lustrous, with charming juvenile portrait and imposing depiction of Jupiter. Very rare. NGC graded Uncirculated. As in the case of similar previous junior son-Caesars, Flavius Valerius Licinius was inconsequential in the politics and actions of his father, but still suffered the same unhappy fate that befell his sire. Licinius Junior was 4 years old when his father made him Caesar, 8 when he celebrated his quinquennalia, 11 when he was deposed, and only 13 when Constantine had him executed. This coin was struck to honor his quinquennalia (5th anniversary as Caesar), and on it he is shown with a facing portrait just like that of his father. The style is a clear forerunner of all the Byzantine facing portraits, whether of Christ or saint, or of the emperors and their family. Estimated Value $20,000 - 24,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $37,950
Lot 144		Rome. Constantine I, the Great, 307-337 AD. Gold Solidus (4.47 g), Antioch mint, struck 335-336 AD. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Constantine right. Reverse: Victory walking left, holding pole with trophy, and in the other hand, a palm branch; VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVG, in right field VOT / XXX in two lines, and SMAN in exergue. Bastien, Donativa, p. 81, g; Biaggi 2013; RIC 96; C. 604; Fr-840 var. Very lustrous and exceptional, with handsomely styled, late portrait. Rare. NGC graded Uncirculated. There were 19 different mint cities for the coinage of Constantine I, the Great. Mintmarks were almost always confined to the exergue of the reverse, often preceded by SM (Sacra Moneta). Thus on this coin, we read the Sacred Money [of] Antioch. Officina or mint workshop numbers were usually included afterward, indicating the specific part of the mint responsible for the fineness, weight and quality of design and strike. Depending on the location of the mint, Latin or Greek letters might be used for the workshops. Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 56. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $14,375
Lot 145		Rome. Crispus, as Caesar, 316-326 AD. Gold Solidus (4.35 g), Sirmium mint, struck 321 AD. Laureate, nude heroic bust of Crispus to left, seen partially from behind, with shield held by a baldric over his left shoulder and a spear held before him. Reverse: Victoria seated right on cuirass, inscribing VOT / X on round shield resting on her knee and supported by Cupid standing to left; VICTORIA CRISPI CAES, in exergue SIRM. Bastien, Buste, pl. 183, 4 var; Bastien, Donativa, p. 77, k; Biaggi -; C. --; Depeyrot 6/3; RIC 33; Vagi 3162. Splendidly lustrous, with wonderful surfaces. A remarkable portrait bust of great beauty and dignity. Extremely rare, perhaps the second known example. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated. Estimated Value $20,000 - 24,000. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, no. 138; ex collection of N.B. Hunt, III, Sotheby's, 4 December 1990, 109. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $36,800
Lot 146		Rome. Constantine II, as Caesar, 316-337 AD. Gold Solidus (4.37 g), Thessalonica mint, struck c. 324 AD. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine II right. Reverse: Constantine in military attire left, his head to the right, holding legionary eagle in his right hand and long transverse scepter in his left; at right, standard; PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; in exergue, SMTSG. Bastien, Donativa p. 78, l; Biaggi --; C. 155; Depeyrot 10/6; RIC 132. Sharp, perfectly centered and struck. A beautiful, lustrous example. Very rare. NGC graded Uncirculated. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, no. 139; ex N.B. Hunt, II, Sotheby's, 21 June 1990, lot 870; ex S. Weintraub, ex Bank Leu 7, 9 May 1973, lot 438. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $6,325
Lot 147		Rome. Constantius II, as Caesar, 324-337 AD. Gold Solidus (4.52 g), Ticinum mint, struck c. 326 AD. Diademed head of youthful Constantius II gazing slightly upwards to right. Reverse: Victory striding left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm branch with her left; CONSTANTIVS CAESAR; in exergue, SMT. Bastien, Donativa, pp. 78-79, a; Biaggi 2129 (this coin); C. 14. Depeyrot 19/5; RIC 196; Fr-863. A few minor marks, but sharp and perfectly centered on very round flan, with considerable mint luster. A lovely youthful portrait -- an appealing example of this popular rarity. Very rare. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated. Estimated Value $4,000 - 4,500. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, no. 142; ex collection of L. Biaggi, Bank Leu 22, 8 May 1979, 390. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $20,700
Lot 148		Rome. Constantius II, 337-361. Gold Solidus (4.44 g), Antioch mint, struck 355-361 AD. Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Constantius II facing, holding spear with his right hand and with shield, ornamented with a charging horseman, at his left shoulder. Reverse: Roma, seated facing on left, and Constantinopolis on right, both supporting round shield inscribed VOT / XXX / MVLT / XXXX; GLORIA REIPVBLICAE, SMANI below. RIC 165; C. 112; Depeyrot 11/1; Fr-866. Crisply detailed, finely centered and highly lustrous. An elegant coin, with the obverse portrait among the most delicate and stylish of this series. Rare this nice. NGC graded Choice Uncirculated. Antioch was the chief city of Asia from Greek times through the Roman Empire. Note the final "I," which appears in the reverse exergue of this beautiful solidus. Greek letters often were used as numerals, and since Antioch is an eastern city, this solidus was struck at the tenth officina. Western mints usually employed Latin letters, again at the close of the mint signature, to further identify that particular section of the mint which produced the coin. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,400. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $7,763
Lot 149		Rome. Julian II, the Hellene, 360-363 AD. Gold Solidus (4.50 g), Sirmium mint, struck 361-363 AD. Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right of Julian, with full beard. Reverse: Soldier in full armor, advancing right with head turned back, holding trophy before his left shoulder, his right hand grasping the head of captive kneeling behind him; VIRTVS EXERCITVS ROMANORVM; in exergue, SIRM, flanked by branch and wreath. RIC 99a; C. 78; Fr-879. Finely centered and struck. Softly lustrous. NGC graded Uncirculated. One of my (P.R.) favorite biographies on the emperors is Julian, by Gore Vidal; its approach to this complex era is compelling. Others highly recommended are Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar (especially for young people) and all titles by Ferdinand Gregorovius, Robert Graves and those written by my friend, the late Michael Grant. Michael Grant has incorporated a wonderful realism in all his many works, and was a learned numismatist as well as historian. Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $8,913
Lot 150		Rome. Magnus Maximus, 383-388 AD. Gold Solidus (4.50 g), Treveri (Trier) mint, 383-384 AD. Draped and cuirassed bust of Magnus Maximus to right, with laurel and rosette diadem. Reverse: Emperor, in military dress, standing facing, head turned to right, holding Victory on globe in his right hand and labarum with chrysmon in his left; in field at left, star; RESTITVTOR REIPVBLICAE; in exergue, SMTR. Fr-898; RIC 76; Biaggi 2309; C. 4; Depeyrot 50/1. Finely centered and struck. Scarce. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated. Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000. Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, no. 145; ex Hess-Leu 36, 17 April 1968, 585. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $26,450
Lot 151		Rome. Marcian, 451-457 AD. Gold Solidus (4.47 g), Constantinople mint, struck c. 450-453 AD. Frontal pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed half bust of Marcian, head turned slightly to the side, holding spear over right shoulder, along with shield bearing armed horseman device. Reverse: Victory standing left, holding jeweled long cross, star in right field; Officina Z. RIC 510; DOCLR 481; Depeyrot 87/1; Hunter 5; MIRB 5b. Finely centered, sharp strike. The devices semimatte to lustrous, with brilliant fields. NGC graded Choice Uncirculated. Estimated Value $700 - 800. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 58. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $3,565
Lot 152		Rome. Romulus Augustus, 475-476 AD. Gold Solidus (4.47 g), Rome mint. Diademed, helmeted bust three-quarters frontal and holding spear, with elaborate cuirass, and shield decorated with rider over fallen enemy; D N ROMVLVS A - VGVSTVS P F AVG. Reverse: Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; VICTORI - A AVGGG:, COIIOB below; R M in field. RIC 3404; Lacam 9; C. 3. Nicely centered and solidly struck, with a few trivial dirt encrustations remaining. Extremely rare. Certainly among the finest known. NGC graded About Uncirculated. The last emperor of the West. While one of his names, "Augustulus," recollects the first real emperor of Rome, it is a fitting close, five hundred years later, to this long chapter of Western Civilization. Are we today suffering the same pitfalls that beset Rome; are we learning from these testaments and the times which produced them? Estimated Value $40,000 - 45,000. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 57. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $178,250