|
Sale 59
Pre-Long Beach Coin and Currency Auction
| Roman Imperatorial Period |
| |
| |
| Lot |
Photo |
Description |
Realized |
Lot 2408 |
 |
Pompey the Great, d. 48 BC. AR Denarius struck posthumously by his son in 46-45 BC in Spain. Helmeted head right of Roma with bead and reel border. Reverse: Hispania (or Baetica) presenting palm to Pompey, foot on prow. Cr. 469/1a; Syd. 1035; RSC 1. Choice Very Fine; well struck on a large flan, with full name.
Pompey, Caesar and Crassus formed the first triumvirate in 57 BC.
Estimated Value $350 - 425.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$776 |
Lot 2409 |
 |
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius struck 47-46 BC at the mint moving with Caesar in North Africa. Diademed head right of Venus. Reverse: Aeneas walking left, carrying Anchises and palladium. Cr. 458/1; Syd. 1013; RSC 12. Dark toning and beautifully detailed; Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $400 - 500.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$1,495 |
Lot 2410 |
 |
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius struck 47-46 BC at the mint moving with Caesar in North Africa. Diademed head right of Venus. Reverse: Aeneas walking left, carrying Anchises and palladium. Cr. 458/1; Syd. 1013; RSC 12. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $275 - 350.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$661 |
Lot 2411 |
 |
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius struck 47-46 BC at the mint moving with Caesar in North Africa. Diademed head right of Venus. Reverse: Aeneas walking left, carrying Anchises and palladium. Cr. 458/1; Syd. 1013; RSC 12. Choice Very Fine.
Estimated Value $275 - 350.
Ex Malter's Rindge Collection auction, lot 562.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$604 |
Lot 2412 |
 |
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. Gold Aureus (8.27 g) minted at Rome, 46 BC. Veiled female head right. Reverse: Lituus, jug and ax. Cr. 466/1; Syd. 1017; C. 2. Unusually attractive style on a large and heavy flan; NGC graded AU: Strike 5/5; Surface 4/5.
Estimated Value $2,750 - 3,250.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$10,350 |
Lot 2413 |
 |
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius struck in 46 BC at the mint moving with Caesar in North Africa (Utica?). Head right of Ceres. Reverse: Simpulum, sprinkler, jug and lituus. Cr. 467/1a; Syd. 1023; RSC 4a. Lightly scratched here and there. Choice Very Fine.
Struck for the campaign in Africa waged against Scipio and the supporters of Pompey. The reverse depicts the emblems of the augurate and pontificate.
Estimated Value $275 - 375.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$546 |
Lot 2414 |
 |
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. Gold Aureus (7.96 g) struck 45 BC at Rome by L. Munatius Plancus, moneyer. Bust right of Victory with wing. Reverse: Jug. Cr. 475/1a; Syd 1019. A few natural small breaks in metal on reverse; also, a few edge marks. Very Fine.
Just by holding an aureus in the palm, you know you have wealth. The coin has such heft; the color is so intense. An even greater sensation of riches is felt from the opulent gold oktadrachms of the Ptolemies that have recently been discovered in such profusion - the equivalent of "Binion" notes or multicarat diamonds.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$6,325 |
Lot 2415 |
|
Julius Caesar, d. 44 BC. AR Denarius struck 47-46 BC at the mint moving with Caesar in North Africa. Diademed head right of Venus. Reverse: Aeneas advancing left, holding palladium and carrying Anchises. Cr. 458/1; Syd. 1013; S-1013. Nicely toned, Extremely Fine. Together with: Mexico 1875 Go 1 peso gold, damaged; Mexico Maximillian 1 peso token; Holland 1733 1 stiver VF; French Indo-China 1900 Piastre VF. Lot of 5 coins.
Estimated Value $300 - 350.
View details
| Realized
$604 |
Lot 2416 |
 |
Marcus Junius Brutus, d. 42 BC. Gold Aureus (8.07 g), struck at a traveling mint in Macedonia or Western Asia Minor, summer/autumn 42 BC. With moneyer, P. Servilius Casca Longus. Bare head right of Brutus with short beard, BRVTVS IMP on either side, all within laurel wreath. Reverse: Combined military and naval trophies, with prows and shields at base; a small L to left of trophy; CASCA LONGVS on either side. Fr-24 (this coin); Craw 507/1b; BMCRR 62; Syd. 1297; Vagi 94; Kent-Hirmer 99. Faint double striking at back of head, otherwise a splendid likeness, in high relief. Lustrous and sharp! One of the most historic of Roman issues, gold or silver! Excessively rare. Probably the finest of only 8 recorded specimens. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated.
After Julius Caesar, the second most recognizable name of the imperatorial era is Marcus Junius Brutus. Was he the last guardian of the Republican age or only an infamous and most vile assassin of Caesar? Born about 85 BC, Brutus was thrust into the political realm and early became a follower of Cato, a staunch Republican. Later, Brutus built a fortune by lending money at usurious rates and eventually became a Roman senator. What did Brutus really want? Like Edward G. Robinson in Key Largo, "More"?
There grew a great friendship between Caesar and Brutus, but during the Civil War it was clear that Caesar would never return to the former Republican government. Instead, Caesar was swayed by his many victories and public adulation, ultimately accepting the title "dictator for life." Caesar's portrait graced many coin issues, and his likeness was the first of a living person to be depicted upon the specie we now revere. It is ironic to also find the portrayal of Brutus on Coinage.
The ensuing struggle, the loss of life and of ideals, and the change of government are witnessed and related on this wonderful coin. Shakespeare (perhaps one in the same with Francis Bacon) gave us the perfect glimpse into the stage as life; Joseph Mankiewiez and John Houseman created a magnificent vision in their 1953 film Julius Caesar. With Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gielgud, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr and other stellar actors, it is a movie to view and view again. The next time you see it, ponder this aureus and the previous denarius.
Estimated Value $400,000 - 500,000.
Ex John Whitney Walter Collection, Stack's-Berk Auction (11-29-90), lot 7; ex NFA Auction XXII (06-01-89), lot 23; ex Leu Auction 22 (05-08-79), lot 184. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 30. Ex Millennia, Lot 75.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$603,750 |
Lot 2417 |
 |
Brutus, d. 42 BC. AR Denarius struck 43-42 BC at the mint moving with Brutus. Laureate head right of Neptune; below, trident. Reverse: Victory walking right on broken scepter and holding broken diadem. Cr. 507/2; Syd. 1298; RSC 3. Some crystallization on upper right quadrant of reverse. About Extremely Fine / Very Fine.
A favorite issue of collectors, this denarius seems to possess an appropriate return to Republican types. The broken spear is likely symbolic of the crushing of Julius Caesar's supposed hunger for complete dictatorial power over Rome.
Estimated Value $400 - 500.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$604 |
Lot 2418 |
 |
Brutus, d. 42 BC. AR Denarius (3.59 g) struck at a mint moving with Brutus, 43-42 BC. Bare head right of Brutus. Reverse: Pileus between two daggers; below, EID• MAR. Cr. 508/3; Syd. 1301; BMC 68. A few scrapes and a bit porous. Superb portrait; Extremely Fine.
Nominated as the preeminent coin of One Hundred Greatest Ancient Coins by Harlan Berk, this denarius commemorates the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March (15 March), 44 BC.
How amazing that such a blatant numismatic memorial should have been issued! It marks the final chapter of the Roman Republic, as the dictatorial power of the emperors would soon come fully into being. While, on a variety of his coins, the portrait of the living and ruling dictator Julius Caesar incensed a great number of the populace, here we have the same egotism shown by Brutus, as Imperator, Caesar's prime assassin.
We have an active symbolism pictured on the reverse of this coin: the bloodied daggers wielded by Brutus and his cohorts in a futile effort to regain Roman liberty (pileus, or liberty cap).
Today, there are about 100 known specimens of this very rare coin, commanding steep prices. Their value has steadily increased, as befits their historical importance. There are quite a few fourrées (copper-core forgeries of the time) of this particular issue, with many of the finest examples having been test marked by bankers of the period, showing porosity or weakly struck areas and demonstrating other faults. Most of these have brought six-figure prices, with one selling over the quarter of a million mark. The present coin, while having a few marks and a bit of porosity, is a top-notch example which possesses a particularly fine portrait of Brutus and a rremarkably bold reverse.
Estimated Value $75,000-UP.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$143,750 |
Lot 2419 |
 |
Cassius, d. 42 BC. AR Denarius struck c. 42 BC at the mint moving with Brutus and Cassius. Diademed head right of Libertas. Reverse: Jug and lituus. Cr. 500/3; Syd. 1307; RSC 4. Choice Very Fine and attractive.
Cassius was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. A collection specializing in the sought-after coins of these ambitious, troubled republican loyalists is quite a challenge. Their numismatic issues are underrated in cost when compared to their rarity and historical importance.
Estimated Value $375 - 450.
Ex Superior's Moreira Collection Sale, Part 1 (31 V 88), lot 1823.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$900 |
Lot 2420 |
 |
Marc Antony, d. 30 BC. AR Denarius struck 41 BC at a mint moving with Antony. Bare head right of Marc Antony. Reverse: Bare head right of Octavian. RSC 8a; Cr. 717/2; Syd. 1181. Choice Very Fine, attractive portraits and without flan cracks.
Estimated Value $600 - 800.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$920 |
Lot 2421 |
 |
Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius struck as Octavian at an uncertain mint in Italy (Brundisium? Rome?), c. 32-29 BC. Bust right of Pax wearing stephane; behind, cornucopiae; in front, olive spray. Reverse: Octavian standing right in attitude of adlocutio. RIC 253 [as Scarce]; BMC 612. Choice Very Fine; a beautiful, well-struck, nicely toned example.
At this time, Brundisium (today's Brindisi, on the eastern side of the heel of Italy's boot) was likely Octavian's naval headquarters. Portrayal of Venus is an allusion to Caesar himself, as she was believed to be the founder of his gens.
Estimated Value $350 - 450.
Ex Superior's Metcalf/Ebsen Auction (7 VI 87), lot 4343.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$776 |
Lot 2422 |
 |
Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius struck as Octavian at an uncertain mint in Italy (Brundisium? Rome?), c. 32-29 BC. Bust right of Venus wearing stephane and necklace. Reverse: Octavian standing left in military dress with cloak flying behind. RIC 251 [as Scarce]; BMC 609. Two short marks in right field of obverse. Choice Very Fine.
Technically, Octavian received the title Augustus in 27 BC. Earlier, this nephew of Julius Caesar was referred to as Caius Octavius, or Octavian. Numismatically, though, his coinage is grouped together under "Augustus," as here.
Estimated Value $300 - 400.
Ex Malter's Rindge Colelction auction, lot 1937.
View details and enlarged photos
| Realized
$368 |
|
|